One Choice (Hogan Brothers 2)

“This stuff is disgusting. I don’t know how you do it every day.” She grumbled the whole time cleaning up. He watched fascinated as she moved around.

When she finally made her way back to him, he saw the stain on the front of her dark blue tank top and couldn’t help the quiet laughter trying to break free.

“Shut. Up. Levi.” She was fighting her own smile.

“Come her, sugar.” He gripped her hand, pulling her into his body. Leaning down, he buried his head in her neck. Just breathing in her scent mixed with grease and oil was a big fucking turn on.

“Levi,” she moaned out when he pressed her more firmly against his throbbing erection. He had a tentative control on his need to claim her again.

“Hey, Hayes!” was called from somewhere in the distance, and he growled fiercely into her neck.

“Hi, Johnny!” she responded back, her voice cracking when he nipped her throat.

“Who the fuck is that?” Levi couldn’t help the snarl.

Laughter colored her words as she answered. “My neighbor.”

“Don’t sound so fucking happy when you say his name.” Before she could comment, his lips were on hers. Nipping, sucking, devouring.

His hands roamed her back as she fought to give him what he wanted. Her. It was all he wanted. Hearing another man’s name slip from her sweet tongue made him crazy with the need to possess her. Her fingers played on his neck before delving into his hair. When she gave a sharp tug, he smiled against her lips. She was trying to show her dominance as well.

Hayes was a force to be reckoned with, he was learning. She may be meek and quiet, but she sure as fuck knew how to get what she wanted. When she leaned her body completely into him, he realized it was her showing off who owned whom. She was claiming him in front of her neighbor and anyone else watching.

“Eeek!” she suddenly screamed, pulling away from him as he realized her father was spraying them with a hose.

“What are you two, dogs in heat?” The man laughed as Hayes tried hiding behind Levi.

“No, you don’t, sweet cheeks.” He chuckled, picking her up, so she got the brunt of the water.

She couldn’t believe they thought it was so damn funny! When her father had sprayed her in the back with the hose, Hayes thought for sure Levi would allow her to hide behind him. It wasn’t until she was dripping wet and her dad had gone back inside amidst the laughter that she realized Levi hadn’t sheltered her because her shirt was nearly see-through, and her nipples were peaked from the cold.

His cocky smirk slipped away as water dripped into his eyes and was replaced with lust and the biting

of the corner of his lip. Her gaze traversed down his body to see his pants tented with his arousal.

“The things I want to do to you right now.” His words were quiet.

“Too bad for you, huh?” She teased him, running inside before he could say or do anything further.

“Son of a bitch.” She heard the words from behind her.

Peeking over her shoulder, Hayes caught Levi with his head bowed to his chest as he walked forward and knew he was fighting off his desire.

“Thanks, Dad!” she yelled as she ran through the door and straight up to her room. It wasn’t until she was in the shower washing the oil from her body that she realized she’d left Levi alone with her parents.

Deciding not to dry her hair but instead braid it on her way down the stairs after dressing in a loose t-shirt and shorts, she found her Dad and Levi sitting on the sofa watching Sportsnet. Noticing her watching them, Levi turned to her, his gaze roaming her body appreciatively. Lingering on her shorts. She saw the questions in his eyes at seeing her scars. Ordinarily, she didn’t wear anything that revealed them, preferring to stay concealed.

Shrugging it off, she went into the kitchen to check on what her mom was up to. “Hello, Hayes,” she mumbled without looking at her. Her voice was strained, too.

“You okay, Mom?”

Sighing, the older woman turned to her, her face a mask of sadness and pain. Hayes sat at the counter, aware that she wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

“I don’t like him.” Hayes blinked, shocked. Her mother liked everyone. “He’s dangerous; he’s made you cry. He’s older.” Huffing out a breath, she continued. “I don’t want him dragging you down some rabbit hole you can’t get out of, honey. We almost lost you once, I can’t do that again. After Ryder, then your accident, it broke me.” Tears hovered on her eyelashes.

“Tell me how you really feel,” Hayes muttered, unsure how to take everything her mom had said. Looking to the woman who raised her, who taught her to be independent, grab life by the balls and never let go, she saw the burning fear hidden behind her tortured eyes. “I could love him, Mom. He pulls at me. From the first moment he ran me down, to the first time he made me cry. When he defended me. He makes me feel alive again.”

Her mother’s eyes glazed over as she listened to Hayes. “I want you to have all that, honey, I really do. You’re so much older than your age, and I worry he’s younger than his. His cruel words nearly broke you. Again.”