Page 36 of Chasing the Sun

She was everywhere and I couldn’t find an ounce of peace. My beer bottle hit the table a little too hard.

I need to get the fuck out of here.

I gripped my thigh under the table in an attempt to ground myself. I had been too lonely for too long. Myphysical reaction had nothing to do with the fact that Elodie happened to be the embodiment of my ideal woman—thick curves, taut skin, pouty lips that begged to be wrapped around me.

It wasn’t her—it was just shitty luck. At least, that was the lie I had to tell myself to keep from turning into a caveman whenever some schmuck tried to dance with her.

When an upbeat song started, Elodie eagerly bounced on her toes, her tits bouncing along, and I finally lost it.

“Okay, I’m out of here.” I stood, the wooden legs of my chair scraping against the floor.

Surprised by my abruptness, Hayes lowered his beer bottle. “You sure?”

I dropped a handful of bills onto the table, abandoning my own drink. “Yep. I’ll catch up with everyone later.”

Hayes nodded. “Sounds good, man.”

As I made my escape, I risked a glance at the dance floor. Elodie’s eyes locked with mine and my pulse hammered in my ears. For a split second, time slowed as her doe eyes blinked. Her tongue wetted her lower lip before her lips hooked up in a defiant smirk.

Hot, hostile energy sizzled across the crowded bar.

With her eyes still on mine, she leaned over and whispered something to Kit, who nodded.

Annoyance rattled through me. It took everything inside me not to storm up to her and plant my mouth on hers just to wipe the cocky look off her face.

I tamped down the urge to claim her and prove to everyone that Elodie Darling had no hold over me whatsoever. Need, hot and angry, tore through me. My raging cock pressed against the zipper of my jeans and didn’t relent the entire drive home.

The inn was quiet, but I slinked into the side entrance,avoiding everyone. I needed to get my head on straight. To focus.

I needed a release.

I briefly noted that Levi’s door was closed, and the soft glow of light assured me that he was home. I slipped the key into my suite and kicked the door closed, not bothering to lock it behind me. I wasn’t turning in for the night, just doing what I needed to get some relief.

I scrubbed a hand down my face and paced the length of my room, dragging my palm over the back of my neck. The air inside felt stifling, thick with something I couldn’t shake.

Her.

That fucking smirk. That smug, infuriating look in her eyes when she met my gaze across the bar. Like she knew she was in my head. Like she belonged there.

Once inside the bathroom, I stepped into the shower and let the hot spray scorch the muscles in my back.

I should be thinking about anything else—the breakfast menu for tomorrow, how to be a better parent, the list of repairs waiting at the inn.

Anythingbut her.

But the second I shut my eyes, she was there—laughing, teasing, moving to music like she was made from it. My breath came heavier. I knew exactly where this was headed, and I hated myself for it.

But not enough to stop.

Heat unfurled inside me as my dick throbbed. Thoughts of Elodie and her gorgeous, infuriating face continued to fill my mind. I had never had a hatred hard-on, but it was a mysterious and powerful thing.

Feeling it, thick and heavy, I hated the fact that it wouldbe wasted on my hand when it deserved to sink into a warm, wet woman.

But I didn’t have a choice.

My hand wrapped around it and I groaned, choking on the sound as need drove me forward. Blood hammered in my veins, and I shut out the world. I let every rational thought leave my head as I lost myself in sensation.

I hadn’t been with a woman in years, and stroking my cock had become just another way to appease my base instincts. A means to an end.