Page 38 of Daisy Chain
The thought makes my body quiver. I stood at the window, wanting just that. Would I have gone in there if he’d asked me?
“It’s a shame you’re with Evan. We could’ve had some fun.”
“Evan and I are just friends.” Because it sounds like I’m encouraging him to take me to his bed, I add, “And anyway, I’m not interested in ‘having fun’ with you.” That is the biggest lie I’ve ever told in my life. Kade may not be my type—in a settling-down kind of way, he’s a sex dream come to life.
“You might think of Evan as a friend, but I know he wants more. I won’t touch you again.”
fourteen
CHAINS
Daisy’shandslandonher hips, and an annoyed expression crosses her face. “Who do you think you are, telling me you won’t touch me again? Who made you the decision maker? MaybeIdon’t wantyoutouching me. Did you ever think of that?”
“No.” My flat-out answer gives her pause.
“Well, I don’t.”
“Okay. You don’t want me touching you. Noted.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
We stand facing each other. No one moving. I’m trying not to break my promise and take her face between my hands and kiss her until she forgets her own name, let alone Evan’s.
Something inside me says, ‘Fuck it, take what I want.’
I always get what I want. Why should I stop now?
Just before I take a step forward, Lincoln comes bursting into the kitchen.
“Chains, we have a problem.”
“Tell me.” All thoughts of having Daisy drop when I see the look of concern on his face.
“Natasha’s foster father is here. He’s demanding to take her home.”
“What the hell?” I race from the apartment and into the elevator, Lincoln and Daisy following close behind.
“How did Bruce find her?”
Lincoln shrugs. “Don’t know. But he’s pissed that she’s settled into a fancy-ass apartment like she’s the fucking queen.”
“Why did you leave her alone with him?” If Bruce hurts her, I’ll kill him and fucking Lincoln.
He throws me a glacial glare. “You think I’d leave her with that sick bastard? Ash is with her.”
A surge of guilt rushes through me.
The elevator is taking its sweet time getting to Natasha’s floor. Once it arrives, we race to her apartment. Raised voices and Remi’s cries sound out from the hallway.
I punch in the code and practically rip the door from its hinges as I fly into the apartment.
When I storm into Natasha’s bedroom, the room is a mess. A chest of drawers has been knocked over, baby clothes are strewn across the floor, and a strong smell of beer and cigarettes coming from Bruce wafts through the air. Asher’s forearm is pressed against Bruce’s chest, holding him against the wall. The jeans and blue t-shirt Bruce wears have holes and stains, looking like he picked them out of a dumpster. He bares his teeth as he yells profanities and pushes against Asher’s strong hold. “If you don’t get your ass home, I’ll drag you there by the hair and beat the living shit out of you,” Bruce yells at Natasha.
“You can’t make me,” she yells back as she bounces a crying Remi in her arms at the opposite side of the room. The nurse has her arm protectively around Natasha’s shoulders, aiming a look of disdain at Bruce. Daisy rushes to Natasha’s other side,and Lincoln and I stand next to Asher. A wall of solid muscle surrounds Bruce. His eyes widen for a beat.Yeah, you fucker. Be afraid.
“You have ten seconds to get the fuck out of our building,” I warn.
