Page 37 of Detour

CHAPTER 16

Coty

I look that fucker right in the eye before leaving.

I see you, asshole.

As soon as he walked up to my window, I knew I recognized him. I just wasn’t sure from where exactly. It wasn’t until I asked for Angela and he started acting cagey as fuck that it hit me. He’s the guy I’ve seen cruising through Creekwood. More than once, too.

Maybe it’s work-related. Some car wash emergency.

Yeah. Right.

No, dude looks like a real piece of work. I’ve been to this car wash a few times over the years and it’s never been short on hot, young girls as employees. It’s not hard to guess he uses his bogus authority to his advantage.

I’ll put an end to that shit if I see him creepin’ again though. I doubt Angela even knows he’s been pulling drive-bys right outside her open windows at night.

Jumping on the highway, I take the long way back to the shop.

I’m so wired right now, I need the extra time to work out some of this energy.

Damn, that girl is fiery.

She set my whole body ablaze in less than five minutes. I haven’t felt anything like that in a long time, if ever.

She pushes me every step of the way, refusing to give in and fuck if it doesn’t make me want to fight that much harder. I don’t want her to give in though. That’s who she is. Who she needs to be for whatever reason. I’m not trying to break her. No, I’m trying to bow with her. She’s got to realize she can bend without snapping first though.

My mind flashes to having her on my bike. She was molded to me like a second skin and I loved every minute of it. When we tore around that hairpin, she let me take over, trusting me to guide us safely through the curve. It was beautiful. I worried she would fight for control like she’s been doing since I met her. When she didn’t, it was like taking a hit of the most potent drug. Addictive. Getting her to let go, even for a second, was heady shit.

For her, letting go means giving someone else power. She’s made it obvious she’s not letting that power go either, no matter how small it might be. Angela keeps everything in her life wrapped up tight to ensure that power can’t be taken, so for her to hand me a small piece for those few moments meant something. Something significant.

She just needs to learn it’s okay not being so headstrong all the time, and I want to be the one to teach her. Show her what it’s like to let loose a little. Explain she’s worthy of more than just existing. Prove that life can be more than working to just work some more.

I’m not gonna lie, seeing her come close to losing her shit back there was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen. The fact that she kept her head while I was losing mine shows just how much restraint that girl possesses.

Damn.

I had no intention of pulling her inside the car today. I really did just want to drop off some food for her. Getting a good look around her place the other night, I could tell she doesn’t cook much. Beck mentioned the way she devours the food he’s gotten her to eat, almost like she’s not used to having any. She makes it clear that she won’t accept a handout, so we’ve been trying to find excuses to feed her without her taking offense. A fine line to walk, but I think I can manage. Hopefully anyway. So far, it’s worked out.

After my meeting, I was near someplace she’d talked about wanting to try, so I stopped off to grab her some dinner. Little did I know I’d be the one ending up ravenous.

My car getting new tires today ended up working in my favor and Beck’s SUV gave me just enough room to work up my own appetite.

Angela can get me hard with only a few smart-ass comments, never mind the grinding on my dick she was doing. I adjust myself again, groaning from the stiffness in my jeans.

Drew and his actual girlfriend eating at the same place wasn’t what I would call luck, but I’m glad it worked out that way. Once I found out she wasn’t really with the dude, I couldn’t resist teasing her. She may not have lied about him being her boyfriend, but she knew damn well what she was doing not telling us the truth. I should’ve known though. When we pushed, she shoved right back, never backing down.

When I pulled her onto my lap, I thought I would give her shit for trying to make me jealous. We haven’t been the best neighbors so far, so I understood when she explained why she let us believe she did have a man.

She’s had me tangled up since I first saw her. I tried to tell myself to stay away if Drew was in the picture, but then I’d catch sight of her and that effort flew right out the same window I would see her from. I’ve been going crazy with this friend-zone bullshit. Truth be told, I’d take whatever she’s willing to give. I look forward to any interaction I have with the girl. Her smile alone pulls me in and wraps me up like a hard-won victory. She doesn’t give them freely, so when she lets one loose it feels like an accomplishment.

Every exchange I have with her is better than the last. I thought riding with her plastered to me was pretty fucking incredible, until I felt her in the pool. It would’ve been too easy to push against her in that sexy bikini and show my appreciation for her swimwear. I was already so worked up from seeing her swimming that I almost lost it when Tony touched her. Dude pissed me off. She’s too good for a loser like him. Fucker deserved the jab he got to the jaw that night when he bragged about the easy access Angela could provide. Not to that asshole. Not to any asshole—if I can help it.

Then today having her so close, breathing her in—strawberries mixed with sunscreen—almost proved to be too irresistible. It took everything in me not to take a bite to see if she’s as sweet as she smells.

That kiss though.

That kiss will haunt me. Plain and simple. It was over before it even started and yet I felt more passion in that small taste than I would’ve thought possible. All that sass could have Angela flaunting her sexuality with pride, instead she tucks it away to wield as a weapon when needed. Funnily enough, I never saw myself as a masochist—until now.