Page 184 of The Way I Hate Him
One single eyebrow lifts, and he says, “Were you now? What were you saying?”
“Nothing of your concern.”
He leans in closer and presses a kiss to my neck. I really love those kisses, something that’s surprised me.Maybe it’s because it’s Hayes, and I like everything he does.
“Seems like it’s something that should concern me when you’re smirking like that.”
His lips move up to my mouth, and I settle in for his lips to control mine. He doesn’t kiss me, just hovers right above me. He’s within reach but not giving me what I want.
“Tell me,” he says.
“No. It’s embarrassing.”
“Nothing to be embarrassed about when you’re with me,” he whispers. “Was it about last night?” I nod, and he smirks. “Tell her how you basically made me addicted to your body?”
“No, I told her how you made me addicted to you.”
“Looks like we have a difference in opinion.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my lips. “I’ll never be the same man after last night.”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach as he stares down at me, his words so real. I know he means them because he never looks away. He’s not one to blow me up with false rhetoric. He’s true. He’s real. He’s raw, and I love all of it.
“When you say things like that, it makes me feel all gooey inside.”
He chuckles. “Gooey, huh?” I nod. “That’s cute, Hattie.” He kisses my nose. “What else did you say?”
“Just about last night and how you showed me what it was like to be with a real man. I might have told her you have a huge penis.”
He shakes his head and laughs while pulling me up so I’m sitting, and he’s standing in front of me. “Not going to complain about that.”
I snag my finger through his belt loop and pull him closer. His hand falls to my cheek as I stare up at him. “I said something about being your girlfriend, and she asked if that’s what you called me. I said I didn’t know because we haven’t done any introductions. It seems so juvenile to have that conversation, don’t you think?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I think it’s an honest conversation to have.” His thumb rubs over my cheek. “And just to clear the air, because I’m not sure what you told Maggie, but you are my girlfriend, and there better not be any other fucker in the picture. Got it?”
My stupid, giddy smile stretches over my lips. “Got it.”
“Good.” He steps away. “Now put the phone down, we need to finish this room before your brother gets home, and you lying on his bed, looking sexy as shit in those shorts, isn’t helping.”
“As if you walking around with your shirt off is helping.”
“It’s not, but it’s my choice to torture you. You don’t have that option.”
My mouth falls open as I stand up. “Pardon me?”
“You heard me.” He slaps my ass, the sound echoing in the barely empty room. “Get to work, babe.”
And then he walks out of the room, the dimples above his ass pulling my attention.
Damn him.
* * *
“I’m going to puke,”I say to Hayes as we stand in the living room. Ryland will be here any minute. Mac is with Aubree at the shop helping her make some cookies, so she’s taken care of in case this surprise goes haywire.
We had a little extra time, so we cleaned up Mac’s room, added a few of Cassidy’s items, touched up the paint, hung new curtains, and Hayes even put together a mini bunk bed for Chewy Charles and his friends.
“It’s going to be fine,” Hayes says as he holds my hand.
“What if he’s pissed, though? Like, what if he doesn’t want to live in Cassidy’s room? What if he wanted that room to live on forever?”
