Page 65 of Hate It with You

“I’m sorry about the window. I don’t think an incident like that will happen again. I’ve spoken with Sienna, and I’m confident that I have the situation handled at the moment.”

He scoffs a laugh, moving to the living room to sit on the plush sectional placed parallel to the bookshelves. He pats the seat next to him, and I follow, taking a spot a few inches away from where he silently asked me to sit.

When Alex looks at me in the dim lighting of his living room, I finally notice how exhausted he looks. At least we have that in common.

“What do you want from me, Beth?” The exhaustion on his face seeps into his voice.

I sigh, slumping down on the couch. “I’m not sure…” I pause, letting a moment pass for him to interject. When he doesn’t, I’m forced to continue, “We were having fun. I want to have fun again.”

“I need you to tell me what’s going on first.” His words hit me straight to the chest. I can’t give him everything, not if I want to keep him safe.

Turning to him on the couch, I pull my leg up, his eyes dropping to my thighs before coming back to my face. A hint of pain crosses his irises before the exhaustion seeps back in. Maybe this wasn’t the best conversation to have late into the evening.

“There is someone… from my past. He’s a bad man, and he went to jail. He’s out now. The notes are nothing I can’t handle.” The words are forced, my tongue having to use all its effort to pull them out of the darkest parts of me.

He doesn’t look entirely pleased with my answer. His jaw ticks as he stares at me.

He’s up in an instant, moving behind the couch, as though he can’t sit still. “That’s not enough, Beth, and you know it.” Frustration takes over both of us, his chest heaving as mine does the same.

I stand, throwing my arms out at my sides. “That’s all I can give you, Alex. There’s nothing more to say. I have it handled.”

“Bullshit. I’ve seen the look on your face when you get these notes. The way you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. You have it anything but handled.” He crosses his arms, his tattooed muscles flexing. My eyes are unable to take it in even in the heat of the moment.

Rounding the couch, I stand in front of him, only inches apart. His toned chest sits at my eye level. I’m unable to help myself when I reach out and place my hand on the center of his chest. I’ve gone too long without his touch, and my hand ignites when his erratic heartbeat pulses under my fingertips.

Alex grabs my wrist, pulling it off his chest, with the gentle force he wields all too well. His other hand laces through the hair at the back of my neck, tugging to tilt my head up so I’m looking at him. Something dark overtakes his eyes as he stares into mine, his jaw ticking again.

“You have to give me something, Beth. At least tell me why you’re here.”

When he peers deep into my eyes, I have no choice but to give him the truth.

“Because I miss you.” The words come out hushed, unsure of how he will react. Unsure of how I’ll react to finally saying the words out loud.

His only response is to forcefully bring his lips to mine, tongues tangling with each other. He deepens the kiss, tugging on my hair to tilt my head for better access.

I kiss him back, finally coming to terms with my feelings for Alex.

27

BETH

Our tongues collide in a whirl of passion. My mind clears as his hands roam my body, skating up my shirt to touch my skin. He holds me so tightly that I can’t tell where he ends and I begin.

Cold air hits me as soon as he pulls away, my mouth aching to touch his again. He tentatively reaches a hand up, grabbing at his glasses. I stop him before he can take them off, shaking my head ever so slightly.

“Keep them on,” I say, pulling his hand away.

His eyebrows pinch together. “You don’t mind?” He looks shocked that I would find him anything but heart-poundingly beautiful in his glasses. However, the small hint of lack of self-esteem I’m picking up in his eyes is all too familiar.

I place a gentle hand on his cheek, sure to maintain eye contact when I tell him, “Not at all. I actually find you quite breathtaking in them.” The last part slips free of its own will, my hand faltering on his cheek.

He catches my wrist, placing a kiss to the inside of my palm, a smile overtaking his lips. When he looks at me, the lust in his eyes has returned, the blue of his irises almost nonexistent.

“Good, ’cause I can’t see shit without them.” He chuckles, and I smile with him.

There’s the Alex I’ve been missing.

He pulls me into another kiss, caressing my body once more with his strong hands. Though when he kisses me this time, the way his tongue gently begins to brush against mine, the soft lingering fingers on my neck, the way he hugs my body against his…