Before I can think through what I’m about to do, I throw my arms around Ted’s neck and haul him down. My lips crash into his. It was meant to send a signal to David that I was taken. Then maybe he’d fuck off.
But I’m instantly pulled away from the drama I’m trying to avoid and swept into Ted’s vortex. The taste of him—the feel of, oh faelords—it is shocking to my system. He doesn’t hesitate for a second, parting his lips and sweeping his tongue across my mouth, arms closing around me.
The night is drenched with a sweltering heat, but I don’t mind being crushed against his hot, hard body. Pine and his unique masculine intermix, surrounding me, making my knees weak until parts of me turn liquid. That liquid rushes south with shocking speed, turning me lightheaded. But it’s okay because he is holding me to him, making me feel safer than I have in a long time.
Suddenly Ineed. I’m hot and wanty, and ready to grind against this fucking oak tree of a man. And judging by his reaction to my kiss, he’d let me.
Uptight, brusque, rude Ted kisses me with a passionate wantonness I would have never expected in a thousand years. Like whatever dam holding him back crumbled and he’s on the verge of doing every possessive male act to me.
Ted tilts his head the other way, gaining deeper entrance to my mouth. Usually, I don’t care for facial hair, but his well-kept beard is equal measures of soft and delicious friction against my skin. His chest crushes against mine. The tips of my breasts are hard against him and I’ve no doubt he can feel it.
“Goldie. . . ”
The kiss breaks, and I can’t even focus on the person who choked out my name. I’m too busy meeting Ted’s shocked gaze. He looks stunned, aroused, and maybe a little angry.
Is he pissed I kissed him, or that I stopped?
With a great deal of effort, I force myself to face David. I wipe the corners of my mouth. “David, I can’t marry you. This is my boyfriend.” I awkwardly pat Ted’s chest as if to prove my point.
I’m looking right at David, but every last molecule in my body is focused on Ted, screaming at me to kiss him again. Faehell, I’ve never experienced anything that intense in my life. The need to mount him still gnaws hungrily at me.
Part of me is also worried Ted’s going to refute my claim that he is my boyfriend in front of David.
This girl? *cue laugh of disbelief* She's just my annoying neighbor. I wouldn’t date her if she was the last girl on earth.
David looks back and forth between us, as if trying to do the math and coming up with unbelievable figures. He takes a couple steps toward us, but his body deflates.
My heart pounds against my ribs in violent beats.
Then Ted grabs my hip and drags me against his side. “You heard the lady, get lost.”
David’s hand bearing the ring box curls protectively against his chest, before he slinks away. He shakes his head as if trying to get rid of something in his brain, and he doesn’t look back.
More people begin to stream out of the club. The brawl is broken up and people are being ejected en masse. Ted releases my hip only to grab my hand. He drags me down the street before stopping at a familiar looking blue truck. He opens the passenger door for me.
I hesitate.
“Just until the street clears of your fan club,” he explains.
Swallowing over the lump in my throat, I nod and get in.
What the hell happened to ‘I don’t need a man,’ Goldie? That I am enough?
The first sign of trouble and I glom onto the one person who can’t stand me, even though he accused me of sleeping with his brother.
Ted shuts the door after me before climbing into the driver’s side. His intoxicating scent is even more intense in here. Hot tingles still rush through me, so I focus on how clean the cab of his truck is. I would have expected it to be full of dirty tools and fast-food wrappers, but it’s damn near impeccable.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “I didn’t mean to say you were my boyfriend. I panicked.”
Ted’s eyes are trained unerringly on the people on the street, making me feel like I’m talking to myself.
“I knew you were trouble the second I saw you,” he mutters, not even looking at me.
I bristle at that. My spine stiffens. “Hey Tedinator, I didn’t cause any of this. I didn’t show up ontheirdoorstep with a pink cake. This just started.” My hands flail uselessly. “And it’s been happening the last couple weeks.”
Two dark pools turn on me under knitted brows. “Tedinator?”
“Well yeah, you punched that guy out like a freaking murder machine.”
