Denton grimaced and laughed as he saw my perusal.

“Sorry. It’s my get-up for the…” He waved in the direction of his home. “It’s the crowd that I’m entertaining over there. The Hollywood crowd doesn’t do jeans and tee shirts.”

I leaned against the door and remarked, “I recall Mena wearing a shocking leather outfit today.”

“Yeah,” Denton rolled his eyes and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “She…she’s been a bit out of hand lately. I think she got it from Kari.”

“So what are you celebrating tonight?” Let’s swap evening stories. I’ve just been to a vigil for my murdered friend.

Denton seemed to choose his words carefully, but he said, “I’m trying to make it up to Kari for our argument last night.”

“Yeah.” I raised my eyebrows and taunted, “How’s that going?”

Denton smiled softly, seductively, and stepped closer. “Mena told me about your friend. I’m sorry. I saw your car pull in and wanted to offer my condolences.” He reached out and trailed a finger down my arm to my hand and threaded our fingers together.

I didn’t move, but I just watched.

I felt Bryce move around the corner. No sound. No reaction. Nothing, but I just felt him. I looked over my shoulder and stared into his cold eyes.

Denton didn’t notice him right away and murmured, “I was wondering if I could offer my condolences right now? Maybe in a bed this time?”

Bryce jerked awake and strode to us.

Denton looked up, startled, and was quickly pushed out the door. Bryce slammed the door shut and locked it.

He stood and breathed. His chest jerked up and down with each raging breath and then he hauled me against him and slammed his mouth down on mine. He ground into me and I whimpered once as pain and lust slammed full force into me.

I literally crawled up him and wrapped my legs around him.

Bryce clamped his hands around my legs and pawed where I knew bruises would appear within the hour. He turned and slammed me into the wall as he reached up and ripped my shirt into pieces. Different pieces hung off me. One wrapped around my wrist.

Another hung from my naked waist. And one strand was still wrapped around my neck as it hung down my back.

Bryce took my weight as he walked up the stairs and to my room. He threw me on the bed and pinned me down with his body as he unzipped my pants and flung them off.

I screamed in my throat from the force and anger that rolled off him, but I also screamed because I felt it and needed it. I needed him in that moment.

Bryce scooped me up and flipped me on my stomach. I heard a condom rip open and a second later, after he spread my legs wide, Bryce shoved inside of me. I felt him gasp just above my ear as his chest rubbed against my back.

I whimpered as I pressed my face into the blankets. I’d never felt anything like this before.

He shoved deeper and I felt myself stretch to take the full length. One hand held my arms pinned above my head. The other snuck underneath my body and grasped my breast. He rolled the hardened nipple in his fingers as I panted. I bucked underneath him, needing more. Bryce let my arms free as he moved to wrap my legs around his waist and he pistoned into me.

I twisted my neck, in search for him, and Bryce found me with his lips. He demanded entry and I gave it, gladly. After a short battle of the tongues, Bryce let go, clamped one hand to the bed’s headboard and another at my hip. He held me still as he levered himself up and down over me.

I could only lay there, gasping, as the onslaught of pleasure crashed over me.

The thrusts increased in tempo and both of us were gasping for release as Bryce exploded over me.

I was just behind and my body quivered as he fell onto me with his full weight.

Neither of us moved. We laid there and focused on getting our breath back.

Finally, I asked, hoarse, “Was that supposed to be punishment?”

Bryce sighed wearily and rolled off of me. He moved on his back and threw a blanket over both of us.

I propped myself up, on an elbow, and asked as I stared at him, “What was that?”

“You came.”

“Bryce,” I snapped and overpowered him this time. I straddled him and glared.

“What was that?”

He laughed bitterly, “The epitome of a dysfunctional and unhealthy relationship?”

“Are you smug about this?” I asked, incredulous.

“What do you want, Sheldon?” Bryce shoved me off. “I love you. You’re about to say it and that movie star slut shows up.”

“What do you want from me?” I snapped and shouted. I scrambled to my feet and flung a sheet over my naked body, but I stood and I demanded an answer. “What do you want from me?”

Bryce watched me intently from the bed. “What do you think?” he shouted back.

“I don’t know,” I grated out. “I don’t know…okay? I want you, but…”

“But what?” Bryce scrambled to his feet now. He towered over me and I felt his body heat radiate off his skin.

“I…how can I want to—all the girls, Bryce! All the girls that you just screw.”

“I don’t screw ‘em!” he cried back, frustrated. “I just…I don’t push ‘em away and why should I? It’s not as if I have a relationship to push them away for. I’m not going to hand over my balls just to feel the breeze in a different way.”

I choked in outrage.

Bryce said further, “I have told you. Others have told you. You know how I feel, Sheldon, and you don’t do a goddamn thing. Are you that deluded?”

“You’re leaving!” I shouted. “You’re leaving me for professional soccer.”

“No.” Bryce shook his head, fierce. “You didn’t find that out until today. That doesn’t count. Stop playing games!”

“I’m not!” I got in his face.

“That’s all you do!” He got in mine.

“My god—” I laughed, darkly, and shook my head as I stepped back. “I can’t believe this. We just…you just screwed me, literally, and we’re trying to tear each other apart. This isn’t…this isn’t right.”

Bryce sucked in his breath and retreated. He raked his hands through his Mohawk and sat on the edge of the bed as the sheets covered his slim hips. Even there, even with the hatefully-charged words and recriminations, even with all of that—I wanted him. I wanted him deep and I wanted him forever.