Page 37 of Freaks Of Nature

She gives him a soft smile. “Thanks, Jake.”

We drop the broken dishes into the tub as the kid cleans up the rest.

Emily pushes to her feet. I reach for my helmet, doing the same, and follow her toward the kitchen.

“Can we talk,” I prompt. “Just for a minute.”

“What makes you think I even want to talk to you after how you tricked me?” she fires back with a hiss.

God, how did I ever let Mason talk me into that?

“You’re right. I’m really sorry. That was wrong on so many levels, but you and I, we had something. Just hear me out, please.”

“Ash…” The sound of my name is laced with a sigh I recognize as rejection, and I can see the drop of her shoulders confirming the notion. She keeps walking without looking back at me. “I don’t know. I—”

“Please.” I cut her off by taking her hand and whirling her around to face me before she can disappear through the set of double doors.

I can be bold too when I’m desperate.

My breath stalls for a second while simply taking her in. My eyes flit over her features and catch on her mouth again. I want to kiss her, feel her soft lips press to mine, and my arms holding her against me.

I back her into the wall. “What we did was fucked up, I know,” I start, lowering my voice to a whisper only for us to hear. “I’m sorry for tricking you. We thought you’d be into it—the scaring, the adrenaline rush, the thrill of being with both of us. But we were never going to hurt you.”

My lips hover mere inches from hers, and the warmth of her breath sends a need through my body.

“And Mason isn’t bad,” I explain, holding her stare. “He’s just…Mason.” I give her a shrug, not knowing how to put it into words. But I can’t bad-mouth my brother. “I don’t knowwhat he said, or did last night… all I know is that I still want this.”

My thumb circles the soft skin of her hand I’m still clasping, and she doesn’t flinch away from the gesture. Her gaze flicks to our tangled fingers, then back up to me. I don’t dare move.

We stare at each other for several long seconds, locked in our bubble. I see her chest rising and falling heavily, her lips slightly parted, and I physically ache to be inside her. To sink into her soft, tight heat.

I want her. I can’t give her up.

“Can I pick you up later?” I ask, a pleading edge to my voice.

Her eyebrows twitch, and I can see the uneasiness forming there, so I tag on, “I don’t expect anything, I swear. I just want to talk.”

Emily’s features relax, and I know I have her.

“Okay.”

Em

Have I completely lost my damn mind? Why did I agree to him taking me home?

I wipe down another table, replaying my moment of weakness. I’m so fucked. His green eyes and the dimples when he smiled made my knees soft. I couldn’t say no to Ash.

And to Mason?

Yeah. I’m fucked, alright.

My shift is nearing its end. As we’re clearing the final tables, Laura nudges my side with her elbow, one eyebrow arched. “Did you see the hands on that boy?”

Before taking off, Ash grabbed dinner to go. Something I suggested from the menu.

Her voice carries a dreamy lilt. “Mmm-mmm. I would’ve loved to watch him polish that burger off right here in front of me.”

I’m about to say‘You should see the way he devours tacos’but then decide to keep that to myself.