Page 115 of Burning Ember

Actually, I made out with Mav and nearly lost my mind when he forced me up against the wall and kissed me, but I keep that part to myself.

Dozer’s as still as a statue for about half a minute. Then his chest puffs up, his hands thread into his hair. He hisses, “That self-righteous motherfucker. I knew it. That’s why he did it, sent you to Bethany’s, not because of some bullshit deal he was makin’ me keep?”

“I think so. He also knew after what he did, I was planning to leave. Either way, I was going to find somewhere else to go.”

“Why the fuck would you let him kiss you after what he did to you?”

I stare at my hands. “He didn’t ask permission. I tried to stop him at first, but then—”

“But then?” Dozer looks at me with a wounded expression.

“Then I didn’t want him to stop, and I kissed him back.”

He stares down at me with probably the harshest stare he’s ever had before. “You kissed him back. Like you kiss me back, or youkissedhim back?”

Meeting his gaze, I say, “I-I kissed him back.”

The muscles in his jaw pulse.

“That spark I told you we don’t have”—I gesture from him to me—“it’s there with him. I can’t explain it and I never wanted it. Actually, I’ve tried like hell to fight it every day I’ve been here. But I can’t shut it off.”

“Fuck,” he grates out.

I tangle my fingers together, anything to avoid his probing glare. “I’m sorry. I—”

“What about all the shit he’s done?”

It’s hard enough rationalizing my choice to myself. The last thing I want is to tell Dozer my reasons, but I have to give him something. “I believe in giving people second chances. He changed after that night and he’s been trying to make up for some of the things he’s done. But I guess I’ll find out one way or the other tonight.”

“So you’re not here to be with Edge. You’re here to see if you guys can work shit out, you and Mav?”

I raise my shoulders in a tense shrug. “I would’ve been able to go through with it.”

He blows out a breath. “I wouldn’t have let you.”

Lifting my face, I take in his earnest eyes and give him a small smile. “I believe you. You know, you’ve been nothing but good to me since I got here. I owe you a lot.”

He smiles mischievously. “Go out with me.”

“Dozer.”

He shakes his head and comes closer. “If shit between you and Mav doesn’t work out, then give me one day. We can go for a ride or dinner, whatever. But we can see where it goes from there. No promises. No commitment beyond the one day. I just want a couple hours of your time away from here.”

“And if Mav and I work it out?”

His grin falters but he covers it up by shrugging it off. “Then we’ll be friends until he fucks it up.” He winks at me and pulls me to my feet.

I stare up at him. I can see that he’s not going to give up.

He chucks my chin. “I’m here if you need me or if you change your mind.”

“Thank you.” He pulls me into him and wraps his massive arms around me. For the first time, I really hug him back. Maybe because he finally knows how I feel and my actions won’t be misconstrued to be more than a friendly gesture.

“Come on. We better get back or there’s not gonna be any food left.”

After leaving Dozer’s room, I wait in the hallway as he stops to close and lock his door.

We hear a heavy thump and then another and both turn our heads looking down the hallway for the source of the sound. It continues. Again and again and it gets louder, comes faster. After the seventh or eighth bang against the wall, a manly groan follows.