Follow Me Back (Fight for Me 2)

I could feel the force of her smile, and she gave a fake cough. “Oh, I smell smoke all right. Seems as if someone is trying to butter me up.”

Fantasies flashed, and I grabbed her round ass in both of my hands, giving her a good squeeze. “Don’t tempt me, Hope. You have no idea just what I could do with that.”

She choked over a surprised laugh. “I swear, you are worse than Jenna. I think maybe you should be hanging out with her, instead. She’d probably handle you a whole lot better.”

I gathered her close, her heart beating against mine.

Wild in its content.

Filling me with more of that joy that spun through the center of me. Winding up and taking hold.

“Sorry, Shortcake. That isn’t gonna work for me. Seems I’ve acquired a taste for you. Don’t want anyone else.”

I meant for it to be playful, but it hit the air like a sonic boom. It thundered and roared through the sudden silence. Dense and deep and heavy with questions.

Her blunted fingernails scratched across my chest, inciting a new kind of storm that was building inside me. “I don’t want anyone else, either.”

For a few minutes, we just stayed there, lost in the other.

Swam in the possibilities.

Finally, I cleared my throat, stepped back.

“I’m starving.”

Really. We needed a distraction. Because I had none of those answers.

But what I did know? I wanted her like I wanted the sun to keep rising in the morning. And if I didn’t put some distance between us in the next five seconds, I would have her tossed over my shoulder and laid out on my bed.

And going there would change everything.

For her.

For me.

Since I’d lost Melody, I’d spent my life living casually. Easily. But there was nothing casual about this girl, and if it went there, it was going to mean something.

And I didn’t want to be that asshole.

The one who took and took and took when I wasn’t sure what I could give in return.

What I could offer.

I mean, fuck, if I kept seeing her? I was going to have to write a report. Have Evan’s care transferred.

But if I was being honest, that was the easy part. Not a big deal except for the fact I hated the idea of not being able to treat him. Relinquishing the kid’s care to someone else.

Trusting his health to them.

Unease slithered through my senses. Hooks and lines, drawing me closer to the realization of how much I fucking cared.

Problem was, I didn’t know if I wanted to protect him because I couldn’t stand the thought of missing something again or if it was simply because it was this kid.

I was getting attached to him just as swiftly as I was getting attached to his mom.

Fuck.

I was.

I was falling.

Ripping myself from her, I locked down that train of thought because none of that needed to be entertained right then. I cleared my throat and started for the kitchen. “Are you hungry? Let me feed you.”

A moment’s hesitation brimmed around her, her gaze jumping around my loft before she gave a quick nod. “Sure. Something to eat would be nice. I’m never quite sure what to do with myself when Evan isn’t around.”

I glanced at the spot where we’d just been tangled, letting a smirk climb to my mouth. “I’d say I approve of your most recent choice of activities. Great use of your time, Shortcake.”

She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, like she didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or laugh. “I bet. It seems you really do have me at a disadvantage, Dr. Bryant. And here I thought I’d finally graduated to princess and ditched the whole Shortcake thing.”

“Ah, there’s no ditching the whole Shortcake thing . . . not when you’re so damned sweet.”

She stood there with that blush riding to her cheeks while I stepped up to the sink to wash my hands.

She angled her head toward the hall. “Do you mind if I freshen up a little bit?”

“First door on the right. Make yourself at home.”

She gave a slight nod before she reached down and covertly snatched her underwear from the floor. She tucked them in a ball to conceal them in her hand, like I hadn’t been the one just peeling them from her body.

I chuckled, shooting her a grin. “Feel free to leave those here if you want.”

“Kale,” she admonished, flustered, as she shook her head and fought a smile before she bolted down the hall. The door slammed behind her, shaking the panes of the windows.

And my smile?

My smile was wider than I thought it’d ever been.

Giggles floated through my kitchen. Wrapping around me like soft, lulling waves.

I smiled back at her from over my shoulder where I was digging something out to make for an early dinner.

Hope was propped up on my island, that dress bunched up around her thighs, her lush legs swinging over the edge.