Page 18 of No Turning Back
My eyes flip up to his, and he’s grinning. He turns his back toward me to slip his Henley over his head, and I see a large tattoo across his back and more scars. The scars are primarily on his left side. I move off the sofa and walk to him.
He’s right, I’m not kissing any other men. I don’t like that he manipulated my body to answer his question, but I like how it sounded. I walk around him until I’m facing him.
“Did you just ask me to be exclusive to you and to be your girlfriend?” I smile at him, playing coy, and lean up to kiss the cleft in his chin. That sexy cleft has been calling me to kiss it since the first time I saw it. “You know I’ve been asked out at the zoo.” I don’t tell him it’s a kid, but I like teasing him.
He pulls me up his body, and I wrap myself around him. I love that he moves me around where he wants me. That he’s strong enough to pick me up.
“Yeah, spitfire, we are exclusive and you’re my girl. You tell any of the fuckers at your work you are taken now. I might have to come show them who you belong to.” He nuzzles his head into my neck and kisses me there. I giggle at his scruff tickling my skin. “Walk me to the door.” He lowers me back down. I watch as he lifts his jacket with the cut off the hook and slips it back on along with his work boots. He turns back to me and pushes my hair behind my ear. “I’ll be here at seven to pick you up.”
“Okay. I’ll call my mom and see if she’ll take Mari for the night. Because I know Aries and Wrenn are on baby watch now.” Wrenn is due on Valentines Day.
“Good, baby.” He leans down and kisses my forehead, nose, then my lips. I love how gentle he is with me. “Lock up and set the alarm,” he orders.
“Text me when you get to your room.” I tip my head to the side.
“Okay.” He walks out the door, and I watch him until he gets to his truck. He turns back around and waves at me. “Lock up, spitfire.”
I close and lock the door, then set the alarm as I hear him pull out of the driveway. Only then do I make my way to my bedroom after checking on Mari in her crib.
In the bathroom, I take in my swollen lips, the love bites across my collarbone, and my messy hair from his hands. But the flush on my cheeks and the glow in my eyes make me smile. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way. I still worry about him being a part of my life. But he wants to be here, and I’m safe. It’s time to move on from the past. I’ll never get through what happened to me until I start to live normally and move on.
No one has found me, and I’ll keep it that way.
I’m climbing into bed after changing into shorts and a T-shirt when my cell pings from the nightstand.
Tucker
I’m in my room. Are you in bed?
Me
Yeah.
Tucker
Care to show me what you sleep in?
Me
Soon.
I add the smiling emoji as I chuckle at his question.
Tucker
Night, spitfire.
Me
Night, handsome.
I set my phone on the charger before I roll over and fall asleep.
Chapter Seven
Sydney
“No. Please don’t shoot me,” I cry as I look up at him. The gun is aimed at me.
