Page 35 of Husband to Go

Hidden by the bookcases, I sink to the floor, dropping my head in my hands. Images of Tanner, his piercing blue eyes, broad chest, and long legs rush through my head. The way his jaw tenses when he’s about to come. The way his abs flex, and how harsh streaks decorate his cheekbones when I’ve gotten under his skin.

And the worst is that I’m remembering every single time we were together. His thickness inside of me, overflowing me with pleasure as I cry out.

Not now! This can’t be happening! This is my sanctuary, where I go to get away from it all. Why is Tanner here with me?

I keep trying to focus, looking for a book that can make me forget, but nothing I pull off the shelf actually helps. I’m almost through an entire shelf before realizing this is truly a lost cause.

I can’t be here. If all I can think about is Tanner, I need to leave. At least in my apartment, I can wallow openly without feeling salty tears drip down my face as I fumble messily with various volumes. I pick myself up off the ground and head back home.

Crossing the courtyard, I think about the cookies I have waiting for me in my cupboard. Once I’m upstairs, I plan on tearing into them, and then downing them with a cup of milk. Hopefully, they’ll make me feel better. Food almost always does.

I’m almost at my apartment, but I can see that there’s someone waiting by the door. It looks like Tanner, but I know it can’t be. It’s just my mind playing tricks on me again. I get closer and closer, but it still looks like him.

I stop in my tracks, unable go any further. I’m not about to psych myself out.

“Excuse me,” I say.

He turns around, and itisTanner. Dear god, what am I going to do? I gulp even as my heartrate accelerates. My pulse pounds, and my pupils dilate because he’s just so gorgeous. The wind ruffles his black hair, before it drops in a wavy comma over one eye. His blue eyes seize mine, and I’d forgotten how big he is. He towers over my curvy five four, and I feel positively petite by comparison.

“What are you doing here?” I gasp.

He smiles and his blue eyes gleam.

“Thinking of you, sweetheart. What else? Can I come in?”

My heart judders in my chest. I shouldn’t let him in because god knows what will happen. I lose all my self-control with this man, and this would be the perfect time to give him the boot once and for all. Yet, happiness floods my being as I look into his handsome face. This man does something to me, and unfortunately, I’m helpless to stop it.

11

Kylie

Ishouldn’t even give Tanner a chance to explain. I should just walk past him and go upstairs to where my cookies are waiting for me.

“Kylie, I wanted to see you,” he says in a low voice. “Can I come in?” he asks again.

Something in my heart cracks at his admission. It’s like I mean something to him, and the air in my chest catches. What do I do? I have to say no. Instead, I’m silent, quickly unlocking the door to my apartment. I step inside, and just as fast, Tanner’s inside as well, his huge form looming in the small space.

“What are you doing?” I gasp.

“Like I said, sweetheart, I just want to talk.”

I take a deep breath before meeting his eyes.

“We’ve talked enough, Tanner. There’s nothing more to say.”

We’re at my bedroom door, but before opening it, I sharply turn around. He’s there, those blue eyes knowing in the low lights, his huge mass impossible to resist.

I take a deep breath, steadying my quivering form.

“Listen Tanner, every time we talk, it doesn’t end well. Every time I try to talk with you, you skirt the issue, and I just end up even more confused and sad than before. I’m tired of feeling like this, and I just want to get back to my old life before any of this started. Please, can you give me that? Leave me in peace?”

My words sound sincere but the truth is that I don’treallywant him out of my life. It’s just that everything is so out of control I don’t know what else to do.

Tanner doesn’t answer, so I turn around and walk away. The problem is that he’s fast despite being big, and soon enough, we’re both in my bedroom.

“Hey!”

“Kylie, please. Just give me a couple of minutes.”