Manaconda 2: The Second Coming(6)

“Don’t give me that look.”

He gave a great sigh that ended in a little whine.

“I’m home now. I didn’t leave you that long.” I ruffled his ears and gave him a thorough scratch before kissing his forehead. I swapped out my dress for an ancient sweatshirt and pair of boxer shorts.

Sammy followed me out of the bathroom, through my bedroom, living room, and to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and stared. Leftovers, a brick of cheese, and a bottle of wine.

“This sucks.”

Sammy whined again.

I grabbed the cheese and the bottle of Shiraz. Damn Carter for being so efficient. Groceries were beyond his scope, but he always managed to provide the wine.

I brought the bottle to the kitchen island and opened it, then poured it into a huge glass and took a swig. I broke off a hunk of the cheese and flipped a piece to my dog and munched on the other half. I didn’t even bother with a knife.

That was the level that I’d sunk to.

I took another gulp of the wine and wandered into the living room. I curled into the corner of my couch and Sammy jumped up next to me, dropping his head into my lap. “So, are we back to Supernatural on Netflix?”

He looked up at me with his big brown eyes.

“Dean therapy? Or should we go with Damon?”

Sammy barked.

I turned on the television, clicked off the light, and opened Netflix on my smart TV menu. “Yeah, fuck romance. Let’s go for murder.”

Halfway through the Bloody Mary episode, the damn doorbell rang. I was scrunched down, pillow up to my chin, second glass of wine flowing through my veins. Sammy leaped off the couch, back fur up as he spazzed out at the door.

Not too many people came to my house unannounced, and I sure as shit wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. “Go away. I don’t want any Girl Scout cookies.”

“Come on, Kenny. Open the door.”

“I especially don’t want any of your cookies.” I turned up the volume. Sammy kept barking and his namesake was blaring out of my surround sound speakers.

“I just want to talk for a second.”

I didn’t answer him. Because I knew that I was weak and would listen to him sweet talk me about the entire situation and then my boxers would fall off because I missed his face. I missed his skin. I missed his heavy arm over me in the deep, dark part of the night.

I had enough wine in me, minus any real food beyond a very small hunk of cheese, thank you very much, that I would definitely do something stupid.

Even though I was hurt way more than I should be about his reaction to another woman. I didn’t have any hold over him. And each of us had a past, but the way he talked about Victoria—the way he reacted about anything having to do with her?

Nope.

It made my stomach hurt. And I didn’t need any of that in my life.

I was doing just fine before he fed me that stupid pasta and lured me in with a sexy dimple. I was a strong, independent woman who didn’t need that kind of drama.

Orgasms were all well and fine—okay, so they were pretty fabulous, but I’d lived without them before Hunter. I could officially put one-night-stand on my bucket list, too. One and done, the rest was too much trouble.

Sammy whined and laid in front of the door.

Had Hunter left?

I pressed pause and stood up. Hunter slapped his palm against the door then another thud. Was that his head?

“Hunter?”

“Still here. What the hell are you watching?”

“None of your business.”

“Can I just talk to you for a second? Then I’ll go if you want.”

I stood in front of the door. “No, I want you to go now. I’m in my pajamas.” I pressed my palm to the cool surface. “I’m tired, and I’ve heard enough excuses for one day. Actually, enough forever.”

He sighed. “I get it. I fucked up. I more than fucked up, but I can’t make it up to you if I have to shout through your door.”

“What, so you can kiss me and distract me?”

“We can talk.”

I pressed my forehead to the door beside my hand. “Yeah, that’s what we do.”

“It’s not just sex, dammit. You know that.”

I swung the door open. “No, I don’t. It’s only been a week, and all we do is have sex or I clean up after a disaster. These are not the building blocks of a good relationship.”

He reached for me, and I stepped back. Sammy yipped and scampered out from under me. I stumbled and Hunter wrapped his arms around me before I could fall on my ass.

“Careful, Kenny.” He pulled me in closer and pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry.”

I knew it. Just had to be in the room. I could already feel all my girl parts fluttering and flooding. His fingers skimmed under my sweatshirt and up my back.