Free Freight Trained by Sarah Curtis Page B

"Because I want you."
    "Really? You could've fooled me."  She issued a mocking chuckle.  She watched him for a few beats before hugging herself and lowering her head to look at her feet, slowly shaking her head in clear disbelief.
    Planting his thumb under her chin, he raised her head to look at him.  "Don't mistake me pushing you away as me not wanting you."
    Her look of confusion was back.  "Then why?"
    The skin under her chin was even softer than her cheek, and he couldn't stop his thumb from brushing back and forth against it.  "I'm not a good man."  He chuckled.  "Hell, I'm not even a decent man, but for you, for once in my life, I tried to do the right thing.  One look at you, and I knew you were goodness and light and one touch from me would bring you darkness and pain, so I tried to walk away, leave you clean and untouched."  He chuckled again, and it sounded sinister even to his own ears.  "But I'm a selfish bastard and even if I thought I couldn't have you, I didn't want anyone else to have you either.  When I saw you in the bar, with another man's hands on you," he pinched her chin, focusing her gaze directly on him.  "Let's just say, I didn't like that very much, and it won't be happening again."  His lips twisted, and he was sure the smile he gave her was a bit sinister.  "I don't like to share what's mine."
    Her eyes grew wide before she whispered, "But I'm not yours."
    His jaw tightened as a sense of determination filled him.  "You are now."

        

     

     

     

Chapter Eight
    Abby wasn't sure how it happened but a few minutes later, she found herself sitting at Cole's breakfast bar, a full plate of food in front of her.  Cole stood directly across from her already digging into his equally piled plate. 
    He looked up, fork halfway to his mouth, noticing her lack of participation.  "Darlin', you need to eat.  It'll make you feel better."
    Her head was pounding, but the queasiness in her stomach made food sound like a really bad idea.  Plus the fact, still confused from the kiss he'd given her not five minutes ago, she was too distracted to eat.  She wasn't usually so slow on the uptake, but Cole had her tied up in knots, and she couldn't think clearly where he was concerned.  "Not to sound like a broken record, but what the heck is going on?"
    Their eyes crossed paths as he looked up from his plate, and she looked down at it.  She was shocked to find half his mountain of food already gone.  Either she'd sat in a daze longer than she thought, or he was a really fast eater.  "We're eating breakfast."
    Abby rolled her eyes, wondering whether he was intentionally trying to be obtuse and figured, he was too smart not to be.  But she wasn't backing down.  He wanted to play word games?  Fine.  She would be more direct.  Make him answer her questions.  "I meant between you and me.  The kiss.  You claiming I'm yours."
    He set his fork down on his plate, braced his hands on the counter for support, and leaned in close.  She noticed he did this a lot, got in her space, and she wasn't sure if she liked it or not.  Her family had never been the touchy-feely sort.  Waking in Cole's arms that morning was the closest she'd come to a hug in so long, she couldn't even remember.  Close human contact had not been part of her make-up.
    "I thought it was pretty self-explanatory, but if you need more explicit details, I'd be happy to share them with you."  She was weary of his sudden wicked smirk and evil twinkle in his eye.
    She cleared her throat, but it didn't help.  Her voice still came out raspy.  "I'm not sure I like you."  And that was the God's truth.  Her body might be in love, but her brain was flashing big, red warning lights almost impossible to ignore. 
    The smile he gave her lit his eyes, making him appear almost boyish, and she realized it was the first time she'd seen such a carefree smile from him.  "That's because you're smart."  He lost his smile as he leaned into