Page 28 of Hate It with You

He couldn’t have. Over the last few weeks, Alex has been dropping by to fix a few things around my bookstore and apartment. Though he never comes over without going on his morning run first. He doesn’t strike me as the type of person to have such a strict routine, but he does. I find it intriguing, to say the least.

By the looks of his clothes, he’s been on his morning run, so there’s no way he could’ve heard me if he’s just now getting back.

“The stupid window in my bedroom won’t shut,” I say, gathering myself before turning back toward Alex.

He’s taken a few steps into my apartment, closer to me, our height difference once again overwhelming.

“Oh, is that why you called for me?” His tone takes on a dark edge, the corners of his mouth moments away from turning upward.

My heart drops to my stomach. “I-I didn’t call for you.” Confidence is nowhere to be found in my voice as I stumble on my words.

“Hmm. I could’ve sworn I heard my name come from your apartment as I was getting back from my run.” He points at the hallway, his pupils dilating when the words leave his lips.

He fucking heard me.

He heard me, and he knows I didn’t say his name because the window got stuck. No one calls for help through a moan. The asshole wants to play games.

Fine, I’ll play.

Alex’s eyes dart to my waist when I place my hands on my hips, straightening my shoulders as I say, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But now that you’re here, if you wouldn’t mind fixing the window, it’s fucking freezing.”

His eyes fall to my chest before making eye contact with me again and smiling. “I can see that.”

I don’t have to look down to know that my nipples are hard and visible through my white shirt. When he greedily takes a second glance at my breasts, I take the opportunity to look at his v-lines, only to find I’m not the only one affected by our proximity.

When he notices that I’ve caught him, he clears his throat, pushing past me to make his way to the bedroom.

His current, post-workout state intensifies his scent. He smells like spiced wood on a rainy day, mixed with a hint of leather and something so uniquely him.

It’s a scent I don’t hate, and it only makes me hate him more.

“This window?” He calls from the bedroom, and I make my way back to the scene of this morning’s crime.

I nod as I cross my arms, tucking a leg underneath me as I sit down on the edge of my bed.

“These always get jammed. If you pull up on it a tad, you can usually get it shut like—” Within seconds, he has the window closed. Demonstrating the technique for me for future use.

Although, after this morning, I don’t think I’ll be opening any of my windows ever again.

I’m not easily embarrassed by my sexual endeavors, but feeding Alex’s ego when I’m not interested in him in the slightest is not something I care to do.

I’m too distracted by my own thoughts to notice that Alex has gone silent, staring at my disheveled bed. His eyes are locked onto the item I’ve left sitting out in the open for him to see.

Grabbing the toy off the bed in front of me, I turn my back to Alex as I shove it in my top dresser drawer. Closing the drawer, I lean against the dresser, the wood cooling a slip of exposed skin on my back as Alex watches me.

“What? Never seen anything that big before?” The words escape me before I can think. Something that seems to happen a lot around Alex. Ragged breaths leave my lips once again when he walks toward me, his movements slow but precise.

A hunter sneaking up on his prey.

Against my will, my core flushes with desire, ready to go round two with the very man it needed for round one.

I’m too afraid to move as he approaches me, both of his hands landing on the dresser, boxing me in with his toned arms.

He leans down, his lips brushing my ear as he whispers, “No, baby.” A low-timbre chuckle escapes him before he continues, “If that’s all you can take, then you and I are going to have a problem.”

Pulling back from my ear, he looks at me, his eyes darkening as he stares at my lips. Our bodies are only inches apart. My hard nipples brush against his chest as I breathe. The sensation heats my core to the point of agony, threatening to take control of my body.

Pushing him off me before either one of us can take this any further, I move back toward my bed on the other side of my room. Though the distance doesn’t feel like enough when he faces me again. The sizable erection in his shorts is visible, and he makes no moves to hide it from me. My mind loses the battle with my body when I can’t pry my eyes from him.