Page 39 of Truck Me
I swallow, and it feels like rocks scratching my throat. I don’t want to have a repeat conversation from the last time I was here. “Are you saying you want me to leave?”
“No.”
His answer surprises me, and my heart flutters. “Then what are you saying?”
He lifts his hand and rubs a strand of my hair between his fingers. There’s a tortured look in his eyes that makes me ache to hug him, hold him tight until it goes away.
“You’re a good girl. I’m not what you need.”
I slowly lower the plate I’m still holding until it’s on the counter, while the other finds its way to his chest. He sucks in a breath at my touch. “How do you know what I need?”
He lowers his head until he’s close to my neck and takes in a deep breath. My legs feel weak, and my stomach feels light.
“You need someone like you,” he whispers, and yet his voice still sounds rough and growly.
I lean into him until my head is almost resting on his chest. “What does that even mean?”
He swallows hard, and it feels like a wave of anguish washes over his body. He pulls back, his breathing heavy. After a beat, he takes several steps away from me until it feels like there are miles between us.
“Someone good.” he says as if he’s suggesting he’s not a good person again. His insinuation about himself frustrates me.
“Not this again. What is good, Garret?” I try to keep my voice calm. I don’t want to poke the beast inside him, but I refuse to accept he’s anything other than a good man. A little rough around the edges, sure, but good, nonetheless.
“Not me. That’s for sure.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Don’t be ridiculous. You may be a grumpy bear who growls and glowers at me all the time, but you’re still a good man.”
“Then someone nice,” he says with a little more fight behind his words. “Someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Like a real princess. I’m not nice. I’m an asshole. Demanding and controlling. I take what I want. I’m rough and hard and would tear someone like you to shreds.”
“No!” I take a step toward him, and he takes one back. “I had a so-called nice guy. Someone I thought would treat me right. Take care of me and love me. Like the so-called princess you seem to think I am. Turns out, he wasn’t so nice after all. So maybe I need something different. Fuck the nice guy. I just want someone who wants me.”
We hold each other’s stare for several beats. We’re both breathing hard and the tension in the room is palpable. There is so much need and want swirling around us, I can almost see it in the air. I struck a nerve with my last statement. He definitely wants me.
He shakes his head before he spins around and runs his fingers through his hair. “I can’t. I’m not a relationship kind of guy.”
“Who said anything about a relationship? I was just publicly dumped by my boyfriend of seven years. Right after I foolishly proposed to him. A relationship is the last thing I want.”
He slowly turns around to face me. The look in his eyes is positively feral. “What do you want?”
I square my shoulders and lift my head high. “A release. A really, really good release.”
His nostrils flare as his breathing increases. “I’m not sure you can handle me, Princess.”
My eyes narrow at the nickname that’s starting to grow on me. “Try me.”
His eyes flicker down my body and back again. “You sure about that?”
“Yes.”
He reaches for his belt buckle, undoes it, and swiftly pulls it off. “On. Your. Knees.”
I drop, not hesitating for one second to obey.
“Take off your coat.” He commands.
Without breaking eye contact, I lift my hand and slowly unzip my coat. His gaze shifts to follow the movement. Then he grabs his crotch and squeezes.
Only then do I let my eyes fall. This time it’s me that gasps when I see his erection straining against his jeans. He’s hard and long and thick. I clench my thighs together in anticipation of what that will feel like between my legs.