Heart-On: Turf Wars #2, Bella Jewel [ebook reader screen txt] 📗

hands up. “Which is stupid because all we do is argue. I don’t know how feelings can grow out of that. He has made it known I’m not his type, so it’s a waste of both our time. He’s not into me, he’ll never be the kind of man I need.”

“Adan’s a good man.”

“I never said he wasn’t, but he’s not the type to settle down. Look at him, he goes through vagina like it’s about to disappear forever and he needs one last taste. He’s not going to give me what I need.”

“You wouldn’t know, you haven’t asked.”

I roll my eyes. “You know Adan, there’s no point in asking.”

“Don’t know if you don’t ask.”

“Ugh, stop. You’re supposed to be here to fuck my brains out.”

Remy chuckles. “Believe me, I want to, but I’m not steppin’ on somethin’ that could make him happy.”

I cross my arms. “You’re wrong about this, Remy. I’m telling you.”

“We’ll see, babe. We’ll see. Now, get me a beer and we’ll watch a movie.”

I stand up with a groan. “My night is ruined!”

He laughs. “It won’t be if you speak up.”

“Whatever, Remy.”

I go into the kitchen, and I get us both a beer.

I want to be disappointed, because Remy is fine and I’d like nothing more than to be bent over and taken by him, but deep down I’m also relieved because he’s right ... dammit, he’s right.

Why do bikers always have to be right?

I’M ASLEEP BY THE TIME Adan gets home, but it doesn’t mean I can’t hear him. The fact that he walks right into my room and over to my bed, where he shakes me awake, is a good portion of the reason I know he’s here. He shakes me until I groggily leap upright, disoriented and confused. It takes me a minute to figure out where I am and what the hell is going on.

Adan is sitting on the edge of my bed.

“What?” I ask, confused. “Adan, what are you doing?”

“Lost a bandage.”

Shit.

I flick on the light and look down at his hand, where the bandage is unravelling. He hasn’t lost it, thank god. Images of his exposed hand came rushing into my mind for a moment there, and I panicked. The bacteria he could pick up, god, I don’t even want to think about it.

“It’s just unraveled,” I say.

“Yeah, Lorelei couldn’t figure out how to do it up so I said I’d ask you.”

Does that mean she’s here?

God, I hope not.

I really, really hope not.

Remy’s words replay in my head, over and over. Was he right? Are my feelings for Adan more than just some silly crush? It certainly feels like it, especially when he’s sitting here, at the edge of my bed, smelling like alcohol and man, looking like I would love nothing more than to pull him into my sheets and have my way with him.

“What time is it?” I ask.

“One AM.”

Oh, shit.

“Okay, just let me get some things.”

I climb out of bed and go and get my box of supplies, then I do a quick clean and change. Once I’m done, Adan doesn’t move. He just sits on my bed, and I wonder if I should ask him why he hasn’t gotten up to leave yet.

Maybe I should.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

“Did you have a good night?”

He nods.

He’s drunk, I mean I’m not stupid enough to have not figured that one out already. Still, he seems off in a way that is strange for him.

“Gotta ask,” he says, looking to me. “Did you not tell me about your past because you thought I’d judge you?”

That’s what he’s thinking about?

Oh boy, our minds are certainly in different places.

“Not exactly,” I say. “But it is hard not to judge me. I mean, I was in love with my step-father. It’s pretty hard not to judge that.”

“Fucked a teacher once, trust me it’s not.”

Oh.

Okay then.

“Ah,” I say, giving him an awkward look. “I mean, it’s a bit different.”

“Is it? I was sixteen. She was thirty-two.”

Okay then.

Not that different.

“Wait, did you get found out?” I ask, unable to stop myself.

“Yep.”

“Did she get locked up?”

“Yep.”

“Oh my god. I know I should be more serious right now but it’s hard not to ask a thousand questions, like, how did that even happen?”

“She was a hot thirty-two and I was a much older sixteen. Still, it was fucked up. She clearly had a thing for guys my age, turns out I wasn’t the first. I felt good about it, I mean she was a babe wantin’ to fuck me, I was sixteen and only thought with my cock. What else are you goin’ to do?”

I laugh. “Maybe not fuck a teacher.”

He grins at me, and oh, my beating heart.

It feels nice.

“Just told you, I thought with my cock.”

I laugh. “How long did it go on?”

“Six months. Then we got busted and when they asked me, I just told them the truth. She never came back after that. Pretty sure she went to prison, but she might have done a runner. Either way, it was the last I saw of her. Now, stop changin’ the subject and tell me about that piece of shit wantin’ to take your money.”

I tell him all about Devin and the way he treated me growing up. Before I know it, an hour has passed and we’re both lying on our backs, talking freer than we ever have before. The conversation is flowing in a way I never thought it could. It feels natural, and comfortable, and really, really good.

“I better get to bed,” he says, sitting up.

I sit up too, yawning. “Yeah, same.”

I look to him, and everything inside me wants to kiss him.

Maybe I should?

Maybe I should just take the chance.

I lean forward without thinking a second longer about it, and I press my lips to his.

For a second, he just sits there, and before the kiss can deepen, he pulls back.

“You already won the game, Ramona,” he murmurs.

“Is that why you think