His response? The man went to bed earlier, taking naps at all hours of the day. How the hell could he be guarding her if he was sleeping at all hours?
She drew in a breath and let it out slowly, then made her announcement. “I think the time has come.”
“For?”
She wanted to wipe that smirk off his face.So glad I’m entertaining you.“I think it’s time I entered the dating world again.”
The look on his face—priceless. Finally. She’d found the chink in his studly armor.
“I’m not getting any younger, and I’d like to have a family someday.” Someday far away. She had no plans for her own children anytime soon. “I miss being with a man.”
His scowl proclaimed her victory. “What the hell am I?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ma man.”
“Why yes, you are.” To add insult to injury, she patted his knee. “And a handsome one at that.”
She moved back and would have stood when Deacon suddenly loomed over her, pressing her back into the couch. “Come on, Solene. Stop being so stubborn.” He leaned close and feathered his breath over her lips. The scent of mint from the tea he’d been drinking stole her senses.
“Stubborn?” Her body came to shocking life. Stiff nipples, butterflies in her belly, an oversensitive sex drive. As usual, her thoughts went straight to the gutter with Deacon, wondering if tonight would be a good night for anal sex. She’d been thinking about it a lot, and also about what the act with Deacon might mean.
That teasing before, about the only way she’d let him take her that way would be if she loved him.
Well, damn it. She kind of did, but what kind of woman announced her feelings by letting a guy do her up the butt? Just thinking about it made her want to break down in hysterical laughter.
She sobered quickly, wondering how anal sex with Deacon would feel. Nothing funny about how hungry she was to have him. If he weren’t so freakin’ funny and kind, it would be easier to chalk up her attraction as mostly physical.
Butnooo,the blasted man just had to cook for her all the time. He asked about her welfare, genuinely cared about her opinions, and had no problem calling bullshit on her attitude when she deserved it.
Whodidthat? Most men agreed to anything she wanted to make her happy. Those who didn’t argued on general principal, trying to dominate her into doing what they wanted. But Deacon somehow worked around all that, spending time with her doing what they both wanted.
Maybe because they liked so many of the same things, he didn’t have to pretend.
He snapped a finger in front of her. “Hey, Blondie, stay with me. What’s this about needing a man?”
“Nothing for you to worry about. I figure you’ll wrap this case up soon enough. Then you’ll be back doing that thing you do,” she said lightly, wondering what the frown on his face meant. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to start dating now, bringing strange men around or anything.” She laughed. “But it won’t hurt to make some online friends.” She perked up. “I know. You can vet them for me. If I see someone I like, you could run a background check on him. Let me know if he’s okay.”
She waited for Deacon to say something. To encourage her, maybe? He looked like he wanted to strangle her.
Good.
“Well, guess I’d better get started. I’ll leave you to the TV. I’ll be on my laptop if you need me.” She made it as far as the hallway before he jerked her into his arms and hauled her over his shoulder like a caveman. He swore, most creatively, as he carted her to his room, not hers. This man had a thing about carting her around.
She thrilled at his possession, loving his anger, because it showed he cared. At least, she hoped that was what it meant.
“Are you fucking insane?” he barked and set her down none too gently. He gave a small push and she fell back onto the bed, her knees buckling against it. “Going out with strangers is unsafe, stupid, and ridiculous. I’m right here.” He tapped his chest. “Your problem is you refuse to come to me. Come on, Solene. Ask me. Tell me how much you need me inside you. I’ll give you whatever you want. Some hard cock, fingering, maybe even some kink if you want it. Just tell me what I want to hear.”
“Oh, Isee. You turn into this huge cock-tease to get me to admit I want you. How old are you again? Seventeen? Oh, no, that’s right. You’re thirty-five.”
“Thirty-two,” he growled as he stripped off his clothes.
Her pulse skyrocketed, and she watched every detail as he disrobed. “Right. Thirty-two. So why the song and dance to get some sex around here? I mean, if I wanted it, I could have it easily enough.” She wasn’t lying. “I have a lot of numbers I could call.”
“I have your number right here.” He stood with his hands on his hips, and she almost checked herself for drool. Dear Lord, he was cut. Talk about a ripped set of abs, thighs, and that thick flesh between his legs. It was hard and high and pointed right at her.
“What is your problem?”
