Page 10 of Ly to Me

“I see.” He nodded once, then moved to stand beside me and followed my steps. “Aren't you gonna ask what my name is?”

Clutching onto my shoulder straps, I rubbed my thumb along the inner seam. “Are you just gonna tell me if I don’t ask?”

His chuckle was warm. Inviting. My stomach twisted as he leaned in close near the shell of my ear. “Carver. But you can call me whatever you like, Ly.”

5

Carver

The Glass

Cracking an egg open, I watched as yolk fell into the pan, simmering with butter. Scrubbing a hand down my overgrown stubble, I cursed and had to hold back from throwing the pan into the wall. I could still taste her,smellher. It hadtaken years to forget the sounds she made when she came, and now that it was back, my mind wouldn’t fuckin’ drop it.

The soft patter of feet followed by a cupboard opening behind me had me flexing my hand out.

Shutting off the stove, I turned and leaned back against the counter. “Mornin’.” I let my eyes trail down her body, my lips twitching as I realized she was wearing the same clothes she’d been in the night before. Clothes I made her come in.

Not his shirt, not some cute ass pj set. Her hair wasn’t even as mussed as I used to make it, which means she hadn’t let Jamie touch her last night or this morning.

Good.

Her hands were propped on her hips as I skimmed back up. “Finished?”

“Just gettin’ started.”

She scowled. “Just because I didn’t kick you off me, doesn’t mean I want you.”

“Real cute, Ly.” I smirked, tapping two fingers to my temple. “Thought you’d get the hint and leave, actually. You’re good at that.”

Some of the color drained from her face before she raked her hand through her dyed hair, darting her attention away from me. “Thought you would have grown up. It appears we were both wrong.”

I jerked my chin, angling it toward the open space. “This not grown-up enough for you?”

“Same boy, just bigger toys.” My fingers clutched the edge of the counter as she grabbed a cup and filled it with water. I wondered if she could hear my molars grinding, warning her away. If so, she didn’t fuckin’ care. “And you even have a weed facility.”

“What’s the matter, wanted me to spend it all on you?”

She scoffed. “Got a barn and a couple horses, too. Also, a nasty habit of runnin’ through the town’s pick of women.”

I plucked a toothpick from the counter and stuck it in my mouth, the edge of my lips rising when her eyes fixed on the spot. “Were you askin’ about me, little Ly?”

“No.” She downed her glass of water, then walked closer to the sink, only a foot from where I was standing.

I slid in front of her, blocking her path. With the cup still in her hand, I jutted my chin toward the other side of the kitchen. “Trash is that way.”

Her brows furrowed together. “It’s glass. I’m not going to—”

I stepped closer, crowding her space while turning until her ass bumped back against the counter. I grinned as I put my hands on either side, caging her in.

“You spat your lies over the rim, so I don’t want it anymore. Throw it in the fucking trash, or I’ll show you where the other trash belongs.”

Her gaze darted to the trash can past my arm before narrowing on me. “Andwhere, pray tell, does the other trash belong?” Plucking the glass from her fingers, I held it to the side, then released it, letting it fall to the floor. She gasped as glass shattered around our feet. “Jamie could—”

“You think I give a shit about what Jamiecoulddo?” I lunged for her neck, my fingers covering her rapid pulse. “Do you not see whatIcould do?”

Her eyes moved to the archway leading down toward my roommate’s bedroom. “He could come in—” she tried to rush out, but I pulled her closer to my mouth, making her rise on her toes. She let out a soft whimper, and my cock twitched painfully in my sweats as her pulse picked up.

“I know he’s already at the facility, so that won’t work with me. How ’bout you tell me why the fuck you’re still here?”