Left (Left 1)

Astonished, I stall out like a stick shift not put into the right gear. What the hell just happened? I jog after her and grab her arm, spinning her to face me. “You can question me, but when I do the same, you’re pissed?”

“I’m concerned.”

“Because of today?”

She nods. “What if I’m doing more harm than good? I can’t fill in the place of mother. A Livy isn’t better, Houston. They deserve so much more.” Tears make her eyes sparkle like smoky quartz.

I cup the back of her head. “Hey. Don’t think that. Yes, you play a maternal role for them, and that's okay. So do Mam, and my sister. They’re lucky to have you. I couldn’t have done this without you, and I sure as hell don’t want to start now. He caught us off guard. We’ll regroup and make sure he feels safe and secure. It’s what we do.”

She studied the floor. “Maybe I need to lessen my presence.”

“You do that, and I’ll take you over my knee.”

She looks up at me with flashing eyes and flaring nostrils. Yes, give me your anger. That I can handle.

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Do you want to play that game?” I ask.

She growls at me. “This isn’t a game.”

“No, it’s not. You’ll do more harm than good if you change the things they’re used to.”

“I need space to think.”

“About what?" I press.

“Everything.” She snaps.

I throw my hands up in the air. “You're daft right now.”

“No, I’m looking at the bigger picture, and I’m not sure I like what I see.”

“Are you tired of us? Has the time finally come for you to bail? Do you want to walk? Don’t drag it out.” I say, hiding the alarm her words are causing.

The slap damn turns my head backward. “What the fuck.”

“How dare you say that to me after everything? I’m leaving before this gets any more out of hand.”

She stalks off, and I follow like a bull seeing red.

“You think you can put your hands on me and walk off like that, you got another thing coming, woman.” I shove her body against the nearest wall and grip her chin. “I don’t know what the hell has gotten into you, but you need to remember who you’re dealing with. I will not take your shit the way everyone else does.?

??

Her chest heaves and her lips part. My heart slams in my chest like a jackhammer. She’s so damn hot when she’s pissed. I lean in, and our lips meet. Current zaps through my body, and I light up like a pinball machine. She gasps. I take advantage of the opening and stick my tongue in her mouth tasting her. She moans and wraps her arms around my neck. I grip her coarse hair and tilt her head back. She returns the aggression, eating at my mouth. My cock strains against my pants. I don’t stop until my lungs scream in protests.

She places her fingertips on her swollen lips.

“No, we cannot do this.” She slaps her palm on my chest. “This is so wrong.”

“Why?” I rasp.

“We’re letting lust get the best of us.” She shakes her head and shoves me away.

Dazed, I watch her flee like the devil is after her. I’m not as convinced as she is that this isn’t exactly what we both should be doing. She’s not the only one who has thinking to do tonight.

Chapter Two