The scowl deepened. “Cold.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “You could’ve waited for me. I would’ve helped you with your…situation.”
“For the love of God, Rho. Please, don’t talk about my dick before I have to go work with about a dozen guys who are going to wonder why the hell I have a hard-on.”
I only laughed harder. “I’m sorry.”
That scowl shifted to an accusing glare. “You’re not sorry at all.”
I grinned at him. “No. I’m really not.”
Anson moved in a flash, pinning me to the wall and pressing his hips into me. “You’re gonna pay for this, Reckless. I’m going to tease you until you’re begging, pleading. And then maybe, if you’re really good, I’ll fuck you senseless.”
Then, he was gone.
And I was left just as desperate as he was.
28
ANSON
The day was never-ending.Part of it was the fact that we had to start over in more than a few areas of the house after the fire. Redoing work we’d already completed felt like Sisyphus and that damn rock.
Another piece was that Owen was in a mood. Back to his petty shit and testing my authority. The rest of the crew was giving him as wide a berth as possible.
And Shep kept looking at me. Not staring, exactly, but every so often he’d glance my way with a furrowed brow. It made me twitchy and feel more than a little guilty.
What the hell was I doing?
Rho was the last person I should’ve been getting involved with inanycapacity. I gripped the crowbar tighter as I moved to the next section of drywall. I should tell her it was a mistake, that it couldn’t keep happening.
The thought had me wanting to heave the crowbar into the wall and destroy everything around me. Because the moments I was withRho, when I heard her laugh, drowned in the feel of her, they were the only times since Greta died when I felt true peace.
I couldn’t give that up. Even if I should. I guessed that made me a greedy bastard. But what else was new?
I moved to the next section of wall but was so distracted I nearly knocked into Silas. Cursing, I moved out of his way. “Sorry,” I muttered.
Concern seeped into his expression as he took me in. “Everything all right?”
He pitched his voice low so no one else on the crew could hear. I should’ve appreciated that and the worry, but I was too pissed at myself to let it land. “Fine,” I clipped.
Silas held up his hands. “Just asking before one of us takes a crowbar to the back of the head or Owen suffocates one of us behind the drywall.”
I sighed. I was an ass. “Sorry. Not the best week.”
Silas nodded, then cracked his neck. “I feel you. Must be something in the atmosphere.”
I studied him closer and saw the shadows rimming his eyes. “You need anything?”
Who the hell was I? Offering help wasn’t exactly my M.O. But spending time with Rho was changing that.
Silas shook his head. “I’m good. Just been helping a friend with a project and not getting enough sleep.”
But as I really took him in, I wondered if it was more. I remembered Shep saying he hadn’t had the best homelife growing up. That kind of thing could have long-term effects, and not all kids were lucky enough to land with the Colsons. Some just had to endure their nightmares the best they could.
“Lunch,” Shep called, breaking into my thoughts. “Got subs delivered.”
There were a few cheers from the crew as everyone stopped what they were doing and made their way toward the front of the house. I let them go first, taking a moment to get my head right.
