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He climbed the stairs two at a time, grinning at me as he got closer. “Your car was a piece of shit,” he said.
I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped when he cupped the side of my face.
His honey-colored eyes looked down at me like I was his favorite treat. “How’s that pretty ass today?” he asked. “Sore?”
That snapped me out of my Storm haze that seemed to come over me too often and too easy.
“YES!” I snapped. “I can’t sit down. And where is my car?”
I placed my hands flat on his chest and tried to shove him back, but it did nothing. He didn’t even budge. His pecs flexed under my palms, and my scowl deepened. Damn him.
“I’ll kiss it and make it better. You can lie across my lap and let me oil it up nice and easy.”
My stomach fluttered, and I fisted my hands, dropping them so I wasn’t touching him. “That ain’t happening.”
He chuckled. “My girl woke up all fired up today.”
“I woke up, and you were gone, and so was my car!” I pointed out at the driveway.
He licked his bottom lip, then pulled it between his teeth as he watched me like I was entertaining. God, this man was going to drive me freaking crazy. And unfortunately I was gonna let him. I was furious with him right now, but at the same time, I wanted to curl up in his lap and stay there. I had lost it. LOST. IT.
“Baby,” he said softly, and I refused to accept that my body warmed at the sound.
I narrowed my eyes and kept my hands fisted at my sides.
“Where were you going to go?” he asked me, although I knew he already knew the answer to this question.
I rolled my eyes. “As if you don’t know. It’s why you took my freaking car.”
His eyes softened at the fact that I was being honest. Had he expected me to lie about it?
“I don’t want you to go, but if you’re determined, then take this,” he said, holding out a key fob.
I looked down at it and the silver Mercedes symbol, then back up at him.
“What is that?” I asked.
“The key to your car. It’s not a red Jeep, but those aren’t safe enough. I need you safe.”
I jerked my head back toward the luxury SUV sitting in the front yard again. “What?” I asked incredulously.
The fob was pressed into my palm as Storm moved up behind me. “It’s the safest thing I could think of that was similar enough to your red Jeep that you had to trade in.”
I shook my head. “I heard that. It’s not what I mean. THAT is not my car.”
Storm’s fingers caressed the side of my neck as he pulled my hair back over my shoulder. “You’ll find that the title says it is in fact yours.”
I sucked in a breath as I stared at the vehicle. He’d bought me a … a … G-Wagon? Why? I’d had a car!
“Take it back. I can’t take a car from you. I have a car—or had one. I do not need you to buy me a vehicle that cost what, a hundred grand?” I couldn’t even fathom that much money.
“Maybe a touch more,” he said against my ear before taking a snip at the lobe.
“Storm,” I said. “Stop it. This is serious. You are not going to distract me with sex. I am not taking that vehicle from you.”
Moving away from him, I wrapped my arms over my chest and turned to face him. I couldn’t read the look on his face, but I knew he wasn’t happy about this.
Well, join the club, buddy. I wasn’t happy either.
“You don’t like the color?”
“Storm! You know the color is not the issue. I love red cars.” I shook my head. I didn’t need to get off point. “I am not yours to keep. You called me a gold digger just a few weeks ago. And here I am, living in your fancy house and not working a job to pay my own bills. Then, you go and buy me a car that cost more than some folks’ houses.” I threw my hands out in exasperation.
He was scowling now. “Don’t throw my words in my face, Briar.”
“Are you serious? I’m pointing out facts.”
His entire body tensed. “Do you love me?”
I sighed. “Yes. That’s not a factor—”
“Did you ever love any of them?”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
We had already done this. This was not the point.
“Did any of them tell you that you owned their goddamn soul?”
I let out a ragged sigh and shook my head again.
He took a step toward me. “Then, it’s nothing alike, is it?”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “I need it to be different with you. We are different. I can’t let you pay for me. Pay for Dovie.”
