Page 38 of Her Filthy Grump
“Between me and someone else.” I step forward and place my arms on either side of her, effectively pinning her in place. “Between us, it’s an entirely different story.”
Her eyes zone in on my mouth, and the pulse at the base of her throat throbs. “Is it?”
“Yes, it is.” I lean down until there is only an inch between our lips, but nothing else is touching. I can feel the heat radiating off her body, and I inhale her scent. She smells like vanilla and musk.
My dick throbs in answer. I want her more than anyone else I’ve ever been with. I crave her light even though I know in the end she’ll burn me when I walk away. And right afterward, her father is going to beat my ass.
Maybe we should keep this between ourselves. I cringe. No. I’m not that big of a jerk. If I’m doing this, I’m doing it. No matter how epically it blows up in my face.
“Layla, I can’t promise you anything. My time here is limited.”
She nods. “I know.”
“When we first met, I hated your sunny, over-the-top personality,” I growl as I raise my hands and cup her face.
She grins and gives me a saucy look. “And now?”
“Now, I fucking crave it.” My mouth lands on hers as I steal her smile and drop my hands to her waist. I need all of her. I need to soak in her goodness and wash away some of the ugliness that’s tinged my world. I’m going to hate myself for it, but I can’t stop.
She wraps her arms around my neck and nestles her leg between mine. When her knee brushes my aching balls, my eyes pop open.
Damn it. I want her right here.Laid out bare before me to feast on her goodness. But that can’t happen. We’re making out in her cousin’s kitchen. I lean back before I unravel and can’t put the strings back together.
As my mouth leaves hers, she arches forward and follows me, blocking my escape. Her tongue slips between my lips and dives inside.Oh, hell.I close my eyes and groan.I can’t stop.I suck down her breath as if I need her in order to live.
She jumps up, wraps her legs around my waist, and grinds her pussy against my dick. The sensation takes my breath away. I pull back, heaving as I try to regain control. I shake my head and stare into her lust-filled eyes. “Not here, Doll. There are people outside, and I’m not going to insult your cousin like that.”
She nods. “Okay.” A slow grin curves up to her cheeks, leaving her eyes twinkling.
God, I love that. Her joy is infectious. Panic wells in my chest.No. Not love. I enjoy her happiness.It reminds me of the good in life. At least for some people.
I rest her ass on the island. “What’s the smile for?”
“I couldn’t stand you either. You were so full of doom and gloom.”
“Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. At least not for everyone.” The dark clouds of my past ease in to dampen some of the joy which had seeped into my soul.
Her hands cradle my face. “What happened?”
I jerk back, shove my hands into my pockets, and pace the floor. It’s like she can see into my soul, and I don’t want her there. I don’t want her sympathy or her pity.
“My mom left when I was twelve. She took off to live the good life.” The muscles in my neck tighten until every part of my body aches. I embrace the comfort of pain. This is what I know.
“I’m sorry.” Her eyes are filled with sorrow for me. I rebuild the wall that was cracking around my heart. If nothing gets in, nothing can hurt me.
“Don’t be. It was just the way it was. She left. My dad took on extra hours at work, and I helped raise my siblings.” My response is robotic and clinical, like I’m reading off a news report.
“Kameron?” She hops down and places her hands on my upper arms. “It’s okay to–”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not getting all mushy about it and crying the blues. It is what it is. She left, and it was my first lesson in the lies women tell.”
“Not all women are like that.” Her expression is sincere as if she believes what she’s saying.
“Maybe in your world.” It wasn’t what happened to me.
“Kameron, it doesn’t have to be that way.” A tear slips down her cheek.
I swipe the tear away with the pad of my thumb. “I’m not the right man for you. The one who will sweep you off your feet and promise you forever.”