I glare up at him, annoyed by his clipped tone.

Ben clears his throat, shuffling his feet. “Yeah, of course I remember. Though we’ve never been formally introduced. How’s it going?” he says politely, offering Grayson his hand.

Heat burns in my cheeks when he doesn’t return the gesture, his narrowed eyes throwing daggers at the poor guy.

Ben’s hand retreats into the safety of his front pocket. “Okay, well, it was good to see you, Liv. Good luck with everything.”

As he turns to leave I shrug from Grayson’s hold. “Ben, wait.” I walk closer to him. “I’m so sorry,” I say, embarrassed by Grayson’s rude behavior. “It was really good to see you again, too. Maybe next time you’re home we can catch up?”

I don’t have to look behind me to know Grayson is brimming with disapproval, but I don’t care. I won’t let him intimidate my friends.

Although, I think it may be too late.

Ben’s eyes lift above my head before quickly coming back to mine. “Yeah, maybe. Take care,” he says, before quickly walking away.

“Bye,” I reply softly, to his retreating back.

I spin around to face Grayson, fury reflecting back at me in his stormy blue eyes. “I can’t believe you. That was so rude.” I race past him and swipe my purse from my seat.

“I was rude?” he asks, coming up behind me.

“Yes, you,” I snap. “Why…” I trail off when I see Mandy not far behind him, watching us with a pleased smile. It takes my anger to a whole new level. “You know what? Forget it. I’m out of here.”

I take off, pushing my way through the crowd. “Hey, Liv,” Terrell shouts with a grin. “How…” His words trail off when he realizes how pissed I am.

I bypass him, my determined steps tearing up the floor beneath me. I feel bad for ignoring him and not saying goodbye to Tania, but I need to get out of here before I lose my temper on both that bitch and Grayson.

Once I step outside I’m immediately pelted with heavy drops of rain.

This night just keeps getting better and better.

Swiping my already soaked hair out of my face, I consider going back inside to get Tania until Grayson comes flying out the door. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Home. Without you!” I stomp past him, heading to the field behind the bar.

I’d rather walk in the pouring rain than be around him right now. I don’t make it far before his arms encircle my waist and he picks me up. “What are you doing? Put me down!” I demand, swatting at his muscular forearms.

“Don’t think so, baby.” He turns around and heads toward his truck.

“I don’t want to be anywhere near you right now,” I shout, trying to wiggle out of his grasp.

“Well too bad, sweetheart. You’re not fucking leaving here without me.”

This is one of those times where his bossy attitude isn’t sexy. It’s downright irritating. “You can’t make me leave with you!” I fight harder, trying to squirm free when he pins me against the side of his truck.

“Stop it, Liv. Now.” His dark tone and furious gaze cuts through the relentless rain, halting my struggle but not my racing heart. He deposits me in the truck before getting in on his side and slamming the door.

“Why are you acting like this?” I yell, as he peels out of the parking lot, the rear end fishtailing only slightly before he regains control and maneuvers us onto the slick road.

His right hand clenches tight around the steering wheel. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“No, I’m not. You were a complete asshole back there. What did Ben ever do to you?”

“He had his fucking hand on my woman. He’s lucky I didn’t break it. How do you expect me to react when I turn around and see that shit?”

I gape at him. “Grayson, we were talking about what happened to me. He felt bad and was offering nothing more than sympathy. He was one of my really good friends back in high school.”

He grunts. “Oh yeah, so good that you haven’t seen him since?”

I grind my teeth, his comment making my blood spike with additional heat. I stare back at his hard features, remembering what I saw just before I ran into Ben.

Jealousy moves swiftly through my veins.

“What do you care anyway? I’m surprised you even noticed since you were so absorbed with your ex.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I scoff. “What? You think I didn’t see you? How do you think it made me feel to see her rubbing against you and you doing nothing about it?”

His jaw flexes. “That’s not what happened.”

“No? It sure looked like that to me. Was it as innocent as my talk with Ben? I have a hard time believing that considering the run-in I had with her earlier in the bathroom.” My blood rushes hotter and faster with the intruding memory. “Ben respected you and tried introducing himself. What I got from Mandy was an insult that I would never be able to keep your attention. Guess she was right.”

Okay, that was a low blow, but I’m so upset and hurt right now that I don’t give thought to the words flying from my mouth.

“Are you fucking serious?” He bellows so loud it makes me flinch.

“Very,” I grind out.

As we pull onto the farm he drives all the way up to the guesthouse, throwing the truck in park and killing the engine. “How can you even fucking say that? And why the hell didn’t you tell me what happened?”

“It didn’t matter because I trust you.” My words come out harsh and raw, burning my throat. “I thought we trusted each other. But after I saw her with you, and the way you’re acting about Ben, clearly, I was very wrong.” Leaving him with that, I swing open the door and jump out into the monsoon, the cool rain washing over my heated skin.

“Liv! Get the fuck back here. This isn’t over,” he shouts.

Shaking my head I turn to walk around the truck, heading for the main house.

I refuse to sleep in the same room with him tonight.

However, before I can make it far, he meets me at the front of the truck and grabs my arm, spinning me around to face him. Rain pours down his face, not affecting his hardened expression. “That’s bullshit and you know it,” he roars, his face inches from mine. “You fucking tell me right now that you know what she said is bullshit.”

“NO! Because I don’t. Not anymore.” Tears burn the back of my eyes and my heart pounds inside my chest.

“Then I’ll fucking show you.”

As soon as the words pass his lips, his mouth crashes to mine, hot and demanding. My hands immediately weave through his sopping wet strands, and I match him stroke for stroke. All of my pent-up hurt and frustration pouring into the kiss.

It’s hot, punishing and downright beautiful, eliminating any and all doubt that this man undeniably belongs to me.

With a growl he lifts me off my feet and pins me against the front of his truck, my legs locking into place around his waist. The hardness and heat from the engine greet my back. One arm holds me in place, his lips still attacking mine with fevered hunger. I feel his other hand dip between our soaked bodies as he quickly works to free himself. I grasp at his face, pulling him closer, needing him to eliminate any remaining space between us.

Then, seconds later, that same hand is pulling my panties aside. He poises at my entrance, his wild eyes holding mine. “Tell me yes, Liv. Tell me you want this.”

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more in my life. It claws at me, desperately seeking for him to claim me.

“Yes. I need you soo…” My words die on my lips as he glides in on one easy thrust, filling me with every smooth inch of his hard cock.

I gasp at the delicious intrusion.

“Do you feel this?” he asks, slamming into me again. “I’m yours, Liv. Yours. I could never belong to anyone else.” His mouth moves across my chilled, wet skin, setting fire to my heated blood. His hot breath finds the shell of my ear. “And you’re mine, baby. From this perfect body, all the way down to your beautiful fucking soul. Mine.”