9. River

NINE

RIVER

I had no clue what the fuck was wrong with me, how I was being possessed by this compulsion, but it wouldn't let me go.

My guts tangled, cock steel, interest piqued.

Which was how I found myself easing up to the doorway of a small breakroom, gobbling up the sight of her where she stood facing away at the far wall, digging into a locker with her name written on a piece of tape at the top.

She had her chestnut hair in a short, fat braid, and she was wearing pink scrubs, her tight little body concealed underneath.

But I remembered.

Remembered the way she'd looked in those shorts and that fitted tank. Remembered her smooth, soft skin. Remembered what I'd inked on her that she now had hidden beneath the sleeve of her shirt.

I knew the second she felt me there, the way the energy shifted, and her spine went straight. Tension rode through her system and blew back into me. Didn't know which of us was radiating it most, this frenetic buzz that curled and twisted through the air.

Only thing I knew was I'd never felt anything like it before.

She finally peeked back at me from over her shoulder, those delicate features carved in wariness and uncertainty, though there was no missing the spark of attraction that flared in those wide, brown eyes.

"Where's Nolan?" she asked, peering farther behind me.

"In the restroom right next door. Saw you in here when I passed."

What really happened was I felt you in here and you stopped me in my goddamn tracks.

Wasn't about to admit that.

"Is he okay?" That sultry voice was a whisper and doing stupid things to me. I wasn't sure I'd ever felt a pull like this before.

Wasn't sure I'd ever wanted to fuck and taste and take the way I wanted to do with her.

Drag her right out of those scrubs and spread her out on the breakroom table and pound this need out of my body.

Didn't like being distracted this way. Thoughts wayward and errant.

Had too much shit in my life to keep straight without slipping up this way.

But fuck, this girl emitted some kind of gravity.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I leaned against the doorframe. "Yeah. Adult tooth is already right there, so he won't be going hungry any time soon."

The softest smile kissed the edge of her lips. "I thought I could see it."

She stared across at me. Awareness stretched on a taut, keening band.

"How's that tat?" I asked, voice rough with this unfound greed.

Redness splashed her cheeks, no doubt envisioning that night, the tension that'd strained, the suggestion I'd made right before she'd left.

She gave a slight lift of that arm. "It's almost healed. It's just a little flaky."

"Wouldn't mind taking a peek at it."

Caution marred her brow. "I don't think that's necessary."

But I was already pushing from the jamb and moving across the room, slow yet sure, unable to stop the urge from towing me across the room.

"Yeah, I think it is," I rumbled.

Because there was something about her that wouldn't let me stay away.