D O V E

When I woke up the next morning, I felt like I was burning alive. I tried to escape the fire only to have strong arms pull me back into a firm chest. I had fallen asleep in Rhys bed after we’d migrated from the couch to his bedroom. I opened my eyes quickly as my stomach erupted with butterflies. His body was pressed up against me. If I weren't careful, I would only end up with him inside of me again.

I had let my feelings for Rhys get the better of me yesterday, more than once. I couldn't explain what it was about him that made me forget myself, but it was like a wire in my brain short-circuited whenever he was near. I pushed away from him.

"It’s too warm," I whispered over the growing lump in my throat.

He opened one of his eyes, practically glaring at me. Someone wasn’t a morning person. He groaned in annoyance but threw the blanket off me. I let out a yelp. Now, I was completely exposed. I scrambled to get out of the bed to find something to cover myself with, but Rhys looped his arm around my stomach and pulled me back against his chest.

“It’s too early for this. Go back to sleep.”

"Are you crazy? I’m not staying in this bed with you.” I hissed between my teeth as I pulled at the arm anchored around my waist.

He nipped at my shoulder. “Let me persuade you.”

I shivered, remembering all the things he’d done to me last night. I wiggled out from under his arm, not caring how ridiculous I looked. I needed space between our bodies before I gave into my desire for him. “Last night was a one-time deal, buddy. So, get a good look because this is last time you're going to get me naked,” I remarked as I slipped from the bed and out of his reach.

He eyed me through narrowed slits, slowly looking over my form. He lifted his head off the pillow; hair ruffled up from sleep. I found my fingers itching to smooth out the knotted curls and to comb through the dark waves that framed his face. God, he was a gorgeous man. A lady killer. I watched his lips quirk upward as if he was reading my thoughts.

"I think we both know that If I wanted to have you right now, you would spread your legs like the good girl I know you to be." He tilted his head back, nostrils flaring. "I'm already getting hard thinking about your tight little pussy." My legs felt like jello as molten lava seemed to be pooling at my core. My skin burned with embarrassment as my desire slickened my center.

I took a backward step, swallowing hard. "Stop talking to me like that."

He turned his dominating gaze on me, a predatory grin on his lips. "Why? I can tell that you like it." His eyes trekked down my chest and stomach, fixing on the apex of my thighs. I knew he could see my bodies reaction to him, smell it. There was no way to hide it, and still, I couldn’t resist the compulsion to do just that.

"Because it's embarrassing," I mumbled as I moved further from the bed, searching the room for anything to shield me from him.

Rhys sat up in the bed, chuckling. "Nothing is embarrassing about what's happened between us." He was calm about everything, which spoke volumes about the experience that he had in such things. I found my stomach twisting up with jealousy even though it was unnecessary. It was only natural for a man like Rhys to have women throwing themselves at him, it would have been more of a surprise if he had never taken any of them up on the offer.

Hell, I had thrown myself at him. I really wasn’t one to judge someone else. “We are going to have boundaries, Rhys,” I said before I snatched a discarded shirt up off the ground and slipped it on over my head.

“Whatever you say.” He didn’t seem too convinced as he conceded.

"Also, if I'm going to be staying here with you I'd like to have my things. I can't keep wearing your clothes." I pulled at the t-shirt that swallowed, nearly half of my body. I tried to pretend that the scent that clung to it didn't fill me with an unquenchable thirst. I couldn't expect myself to resist Rhys if I was forced to drown myself in temptation. I wasn't a damn saint.

His green eyes moved from the tips of my toes to the top of my head in a sultry dance, his lips spreading into a teasing smirk. "I like you in my clothes."

I threw my hands to my hips and heaved a heavy sigh. "Rhys." I was trying to have an actual adult conversation with him about our situation, but he was steamrolling it under all his sexual bravado.

"Dove." He mocked the way I had said his name as he fell back against the pillows, rolling over onto his side so that his back was to me. I took that as a sign that he had plans to ignore my request for the time being and go back to sleep. Something about that thought sent fire through my veins and anger pulsing into my twitching fingertips.

I glared at him. "Are you listening to me?"

"How could I not be listening to you, you've been screeching since you opened your eyes?" He rolled back over to look at me with a tired expression. My mouth fell open at his remark before I snapped it closed. I was caught in between wanting to throttle him and wanting to fuck him again. It was beyond frustrating.

I flicked my tongue over my lips. "Well, if you ever want me to stop screeching I suggest you get up out of that damn bed." I held his gaze with a pointed look. If he thought I was going to bow under his will, he would be sorely mistaken.

His brows shot up, and he propped himself up on his elbows. "Is that so?" I knew like every male that had ever lived he wouldn't be happy to be challenged by a woman. It was written in their DNA.

"Something you'll learn about me, Rhys. I never say anything I don't mean." I left the ball in his court waiting to see what he would do next. I found my stomach fluttering with anticipation and fear. I could tell from the way he grumbled under his breath as he slid from the bed that he wasn't used to being told what to do.

I couldn't help the victorious smirk that spread up my face. Rhy's eyes narrowed as he walked towards me not caring to hide his body from my view. He moved with a prowess that said he wanted me to look at him and I obliged. His broad chest was covered with a dark mat of hair, trailing down his chiseled stomach to his semi-hard cock that appeared to be growing harder the longer my eyes lingered on it.

"My eyes are up here, sweetheart," he said in a low voice that sent a ripple of excitement through me. I tilted my head back, tearing my gaze from his body.

Rhys stood before, looking down at me with a smug expression, "You better go put some pants if you want me to take you anywhere and you better be quick about it before I decide to put that smart mouth of yours to better use." I pulled my lips in, pressing them together as I moved backward never taking my eyes off of him until I was out of his room.