So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(50)

I lie over the mini-fridge, heart pounding, breathing erratic. My mind finally takes in what happened a few minutes ago with whoever came through that door.

When he slips away from me, I turn, pushing my dress down and trying to straighten it so I don’t look so much like I’ve just been fucked mindless behind the bar.

Tyson grabs my frantic hands. “I can see you’re upset.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Really? Can’t imagine why. Oh, wait. Someone walked in while you were banging me so hard my eyeballs almost popped out.”

“Really? Almost fucked your eyes right out of your head, did I?” His grin shines.

I give him a disgusted huff. “Don’t let that make you think this is okay. It’s horrid. I’m so embarrassed.”

He crosses his arms, the look on his face telling me I’m being overly dramatic. “Don’t be. It was only Stevie. I bet she understands. Maybe if you don’t mention it, neither will she.”

I throw up my hands and march past him to the door. He’s faster than me, though, and he ducks around me, blocking my path. He takes me in his arms. “Don’t be mad at me. I didn’t think anyone would really walk in on us. Scout’s honor.”

I chew my bottom lip as I weigh his words. “You were never a Scout, as far as I know.”

He shrugs. “True. But I would never intentionally embarrass you.”

“Sure you wouldn’t.”

He leans close, his teeth tugging at my earlobe. “Consider this the first adventure of our married life together.”

I shove him out of my way and push through the door. “You mean the first disaster.”





SIXTEEN





I can’t keep my eyes off JoJo.

And she can’t seem to bring herself to so much as look at me—not since she stormed out of the bar.

Now, as we run for the limo amid the barrage of birdseed raining down on us, I’m more than looking forward to getting her alone. She’ll have to look at me when I make love to her tonight.

I’ll make her.

I open the door and usher her into the darkened interior of the stretch limo hired to take us home. I should have insisted on a honeymoon. But I was doing good to get JoJo to agree to an actual wedding. If I’d pushed for too much, she’d probably have bolted altogether.

Once in the car, I roll the window down so we can wave to the well wishers. Jo plays her part, plastering on her radiant smile. No one will suspect anything is amiss unless they really know her.

Stevie knows. She’s watched Jo almost as much as I have this evening. From the time she caught up with JoJo after she stormed out of the bar to now, her bland expression has progressively morphed into a full-blown frown, vertical crease between her brows included.

The first giant drops of the approaching storm thump the roof of the car as it pulls away from the curb. I slide my hand around to Jo’s nape and kiss her for the crowd. Applause erupts as I suck in her bottom lip.

Her hands come between us, pushing me away when we’re safely out of view of the onlookers. “That’s enough, Ty.”

I reach for her again, but she dodges me and moves to the far side of the opposite seat.

Jo leans her head against the window. Rivulets of water run down the glass, making a sad backdrop for my new bride and the way she obviously feels about this day.

She massages her temples. “I did what you asked of me and you’ve had sex. Now, please, leave me alone.”

Obviously, Terri doesn’t know what the fuck she’s talking about. Because the woman sitting across from me does not, in any way, show the slightest sign that she loves me.

If JoJo loved me, she’d be ecstatic to be my wife. She’d do everything she could to make me fall in love with her so she could stay married to me. She’d want to kiss me and make me happy. She wouldn’t be upset that I fucked her in the bar at our reception—she’d relish the opportunity to consummate our marriage.

At the very least, she’d look at me.

We’re not even halfway home when I can’t stand it any longer. I lean across the gap to touch her knee. She shifts away from me.

“I don’t deal well with the silent treatment, just so you know. My mother pulled that shit so often when I was a kid. I—I refuse to tolerate it.”

I wait, but she crosses her arms tightly over her breasts.

“You know, I could have asked any number of women to marry me. But I chose you. You said yes, and now you want to act like a child. This is ridiculous.”

Finally, she turns to me as a flash of lightning and an immediate clap of thunder vibrate through the car.

Perfect weather to reflect the mood.

Jo’s fiery eyes narrow as she looks at me. “You only asked me because I owed you. So don’t go on about how you chose me. If any other woman had been conveniently located and owed you something, you’d have asked her. Nothing makes me special to you. I’m under no illusions about that.”