Page 36 of The Rowdy Ones

“Hey,” I say, striding over to her. “I’m sorry.”

She’s stiff at first, but then she melts into my hug. I try not to inhale her hair or think about the sick shit I did last night. The reason my phone died is because I sat in the parking lot of my old apartment building I’d once shared with Evan and stared at the same photo of Destiny I jerked off to last night.

He doesn’t live there anymore.

I went up to the door, desperate for a distraction from my obsession with her. An older woman answered and told me she’s been the tenant there for over a year.

It was probably best I didn’t find him. Who the hell knows what I would have said or done. I was feeling too out of control and being that way around him could have been explosive.

My confusing feelings toward Destiny deserve to be blown up, though.

Anything to keep from thinking about her in ways I shouldn’t.

It was okay for Ryder and Raegan and Ronan…

Was it, though? Our parents lost their shit. And now, they’re the family “secret” that no one talks about. They’ll never be able to come to town or be around people. If Destiny even gave a shit about me in the way I’ve been thinking about her, I’d be asking her to give up everything she just got.

I can’t do that to her.

“I don’t like it when you’re upset,” I rasp out, stroking my fingers up and down her spine. “What can I do to fix this?”

She pulls back and tilts her head up as though she can actually see me. “Charge your phone and answer it when I call.”

Her pretty lips are pulled into a cute frown. God, why am I so fixated on her plump lips?

“Sure,” I rumble, voice raw with forbidden need. “I promise.”

Unable to stop myself, I reach up and take hold of her delicate jaw. Her sweet lips part and her eyebrows furl together. I could dip my mouth to hers and show her what it’s like toreallybe kissed. I’d eat her enticing mouth and suck on her pink tongue. Weston has no idea what it means to devour someone with a kiss.

I could show her.

She blushes and her eyes flutter closed. My cock thickens. Is it permission?

What?

Fuck no.

She’s probably mentally shutting down because of me.

I stroke my thumb over her bottom lip, unable to break away from her until I touch it. It’s thick and feels so precious beneath the roughness of my skin.

Destiny is pure and perfect.

I would destroy her. I’m too fucked up for something so fucking wonderful.

“I should go back inside,” she whispers. “I’m tired and have to get up early tomorrow for therapy.”

“I’ll walk you back.”

She puts on her coat and boots, and then I guide her back to the cabin. Unfortunately, I don’t get a kiss good night like Weston got. I do get a quick hug, though.

When I return, Wild is leaning against the RV, arms crossed. He’s still pissed at me, understandably so.

“What were you really doing?” he demands, eyes flashing angrily in the moonlight. “Drugs?”

I recoil at his accusations. “No. I just needed to get away from everything.”

“You’re lying.”