Bedwrecker(29)

Just before I land on my ass, Keen yanks me upright and subsequently tosses me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” I yell and kick and punch.

More lightning lights up the sky and I swear it has struck here. The feel of his skin against mine crackles with an energy I remember feeling only one other time in my life—the time he first pushed his naked body against mine.

With long strides, he’s whisking us through the open gate and in through my kitchen door, slamming it closed behind us before setting me down on my feet.

Anger courses through me as I stare at him standing in front of me, soaked to the bone in his boxer briefs, still looking incredibly sexy, which only pisses me off more.

Nipples popping, teeth chattering, I point my finger at him in my see-through white camisole. “Don’t you ever touch me again!”

Ignoring me, he grabs a dishtowel from the counter and hands it to me. “Here, you’re shivering.”

I contemplate not taking it, but in the end I do. The fabric is inadequate to do much more than wipe my face, but it gives me a chance to calm myself down. Reckless behavior leads to reckless actions and I am not looking for a repeat of New Year’s Eve, nor do I wish to chop his balls off, although that idea is somewhat appealing.

Lightning from outside flashes across the sky and lights up every square inch of him. Keen remains where he is, dripping wet, tousled and practically naked, without saying a word. Perhaps waiting for me to speak.

When I do not, he runs a hand through his wet hair, which seems longer than it was six weeks ago, and smooths it back only to highlight his gorgeous features.

A flurry of nervousness ripples through me. I am not this kind of girl. Men do not get under my skin. And this one will not either, not any longer anyway.

With an intake of breath, I let it out and finally speak. “I don’t want you anywhere near me, Keen. Visit your brother. Do whatever it is you are doing here in California, but stay the hell away from me. I never want to see you again, and I mean it.”

He exhales as if he’d been holding his breath. “Will you listen to me, Maggie? Just hear what I have to say. I’m not saying what I did was right, but I’d like a chance to explain myself.”

The power goes off, and then flickers back on. A second later it goes off again and doesn’t come back on. It happens all the time, and normally doesn’t bother me, but being alone in the dark with Keen isn’t something I need right now.

Although, I will say, darkness makes what I need to say much easier. “No, Keen, I won’t. I don’t want to hear it. Nothing will change what you did. I let my guard down for you. Let you in like I never have let anyone in. And you crushed me. Dropped me like what we had was nothing. And you know what? It took me a while to figure it out, but it was nothing.”

I can hear his harsh intake of breath.

The lights flick back on and without looking at him, I whisper, “It was nothing.”

I dare to glance up and he’s shaking his head.

A note on the kitchen table draws my attention away from him. I pick it up and read it. It’s from Brooklyn. “Gone to Sasha’s for the night. My brother stayed in my room. I should be back in the morning before he even wakes up. I’m pretty sure he’ll be staying at Cam’s since he has an extra room.”

Well, at least Keen won’t be staying here.

Sasha is Brooklyn’s go-to girl. You know, the one that when he doesn’t score, he goes to so that he can score. They’ve been at it for years, but neither ever wants to take it to the next level. He says they’re fuck buddies only. And for him that works. I’m not interested in such a thing anymore, and that’s all this will be if I listen to Keen make up excuses for why he left me hanging.

The truth is, he is a guy, and guys do what they want, when they want. It’s the truth, and the only one that matters. Yes, I truly believe in the whole “men are from Mars, women are from Venus” philosophy.

Lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize he’s moved closer to me.

“I miss you.” His tenor is deep, raspy, and if I didn’t know better I’d say sleep deprived from a night of mindless fucking.

This man screams sex appeal from the very tip of his beautiful dark head to the very bottom of his sexy bare toes.

Whirling around, I attempt to point my finger at him again but it winds up poking him in the chest. “You—” I start to say but stop. Lifting my chin, I try again. “You don’t get to miss me.”

Keen looks down at my finger and I can see it happening before I can step back, his arm lifting so fast as he starts to yank me flush against that smooth bare chest of his, but the kitchen door flying open forces him to stop.