Page 58 of Detour

“And they won’t.”

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” Arms over my chest, I cock an eyebrow with as much attitude as I can muster. “Because you called dibs?”

“I didn’t have to, babe. They fucking know.”

My arms fall to my sides and I bite out, “Know what?”

In a flash, he’s there, grabbing my face between his hands. “That you’re mine.”

“Coty, look-”

“Don’t. Don’t try to deny it. I told you I’ll wait and I will, but you need to stop acting like this isn’t happening. Babe, you’re all I think about. Having you steps away every night and not being able to touch you is killing me. The thought of one of my boys touching you is enough to send me over the edge and do something I might regret. Do you get that?”

“That you need anger management?”

Smirking, he says, “God, you’ve got a smart mouth.” He leans down to place a soft kiss against said mouth. “I’d do anything for my boys, share anything with them, even my bike, just…not you.”

Completely deflated, I gently press, “Why?”

Gaze on my lips, he says, “You tell me.”

“I moved in next to three single guys but won’t sleep with any of them, it’s the ultimate challenge. A chase too great to turn down. It’s not that hard to figure out. Anyone would want to beat the odds.” Through the ache in my chest, I whisper, “You’ll get over it.”

“You’re right, you are challenging. But you’re so much more than that.” Bending, he gives me a lingering kiss that I greedily deepen before he pulls away, smiling. “But you’re wrong, too. I won’t get over it. You’re like a drug I can’t quit. Each hit filling a need but never enough to fully satisfy the want. That want is you, babe. I want you. And not just your body, which I’ll happily take anytime.” He winks cheekily when I frown. “But the rest of you. All of you. Everything.”

My eyes scan his for a hint of what I’m sure I’ll find. An angle.

“What do you mean?”

He sighs and leans his forehead against mine. “I mean what I said, Angela. I want you. No games, no hidden agenda, just you.”

Coty is asking for more than I’ve ever had, never mind what I’ve been able to give. Nights like tonight prove I can have some fun and let loose a little, but to hand over my heart and trust him to care for it the way nobody ever has? I just don’t know if that’s in the cards for me. If it’ll ever be in my grasp.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Coty’s tongue sneaks between my lips and I moan.

“Why are you pushing this? What if something bad happens? We live next door.”

His thumb pulls my bottom lip down. “It won’t. If it does-“

I shake his thumb off. “If it does, I’ll have to move. You guys outnumber me. Do you really not see the position you’re putting me in here?”

“I’ve been thinking about a lot of positions to put you in.”

Both hands braced on his chest, I push with all my might, making him barely take a step back.

“See? I knew you were a perv.”

“Can you blame me? You show up looking like a skater version of the girl next door rocking a slippery attitude and a string bikini and you think I’m not gonna fantasize about you? Sorry, babe, but any man in his right mind would.”

Didn’t I just say that? Ugh, men. “Here I thought you were sweet.” I roll my eyes, grabbing Beckett’s borrowed helmet while Coty puts his own on.

“I’ll be anything you want me to be, as long as you say you’re mine.” He then leans his helmet to mine, waiting for me to close the distance. Always letting me choose.

It’s clear I have a lot to think about but he’s right. There’s nothing neighborly about us except our addresses. Coty’s hot, sweet, patient, and drives me wild in the best of ways. All I can do is try to hold him off while I figure out how to slip a life vest over my head without him taking offense. Contrary to Coty’s naivete, there will come a time that I’ll need it.

My helmet meets his in a bobble-head-esque kiss. “I need time to think.”

“Then you got it. I just need to know, when can I see you again?”