It was like watching a cute, little bunny scurrying through the woods, unaware a predator was right behind her. The more she kept trying to explain her feelings, the more he was determined not to let her get away.
“I’m not confused. What am I confused about?”
“I’m confused now. I was saying that if we keep spending so much time together at night—”
“You mean when I sleep with you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so how does that make you confused? I throw a rock, you open the window, we go to bed. Seems simple to me.”
Jessie darted a quick look at his chest before blushing and lifting her eyes once again to his. “I don’t want to become confused about why we’re sleeping together and become hurt when you can’t meet my expectations.”
Dustin scratched the side of his temple. “What expectations do you think I can’t meet?”
Jessie waved her hand airily, blushing. “I don’t expect you to meet any expectations yet. That’s what I’m trying to tell you I don’t want to become confused about.”
“Let’s put it this way, then,” Dustin drawled out. “Which expectations are you worried that I can’t meet that would lead you to becoming hurt and confused?”
“Are you trying to twist my words?” she asked him suspiciously.
“No.”
“Oh … That was all I had to say. I don’t want your food getting cold.”
“Jess, answer my question.”
She lowered her head, staring down at her feet. “I can’t be friends with you, Dustin. The more time we spend together, the harder it will be for me. The women in town like to gossip about your booty calls and date nights. You’ll get tired of keeping me company and want to get back to your normal hound dog fun, and I don’t want you having to worry about blowing me off when you want to go out to scratch an itch. And as much I wouldn’t want to be, I could become hurt and confused when you do. So, it’ll just be easier if we quit seeing each other, so that I won’t become—”
“Hurt and confused?”
“Exactly.” She nodded as if he understood that clusterfuck of an explanation.
“Let me help you with your confusion.” Dustin had to shut down his baser instincts that had his cock hardening behind his zipper every time she stared at his chest, knowing she wasn’t ready for the sexual contact that his dick was wanting.
As he took a step forward, Jessie found herself backed against the house. Then he lifted a hand to the wall, blocking her from running away. Standing close enough that his chest brushed against her breasts every time she breathed out, Dustin lifted her chin, pinning her with his eyes.
“When I’m in your bed, I’m not thinking about booty calls with other women. Nor will I be regretting missing a date night at a restaurant before going to their apartment or to the hotel to get laid.
“I’m so … glad you’re starting to get your head on straight so that I can stop playing Mr. Nice Guy and tell you that friendship is the fucking last thing I want from you. Friends fuck you over. I make a lousy friend; you know that.
“What I do want from you, when you’re ready, is a relationship where you won’t have to wonder about why I’m in bed with you—you’ll fucking know.
“I’m not a kid anymore, and neither are you. I won’t have another woman in my life who isn’t willing to let everyone know we have committed ourselves both physically and emotionally to each other. I’m not talking about marriage. I want to be clear on that point. I don’t see marriage in my foreseeable future. And despite what you say about you having your head screwed back on again, you’re still under this misconception that I’m the same kid you can talk into doing anything and do whatever you want. You’re kinda bossy, in case you didn’t know that. And in a committed relationship with me, there is only one pair of britches that calls the shots, and it ain’t gonna be yours.”
Dustin arrogantly continued, despite her eyes spitting fire at him. “As far as expectations go, expect me to treat you pretty much the same way I’ve been treating you … until you’re ready for more. When you are, expect my dick to be buried in you at least a couple of times a day …” He paused, deciding to be more honest on that point. “Probably more if I’m in a frisky mood, or you’re wearing dresses.
“And lastly and more importantly, expect me to be outside your window tonight, because the only one who’s an emotional wreck right now is me. Holly only cooks fried chicken once every two months, and I can guarantee that Greer’s eaten all the breasts and left me the legs.”
Dropping his hand from her chin to show her that she could move her mouth away from him, he brushed a featherlight kiss along her open mouth before taking a small backward step.