“I’m getting to that.”
I paused, though, to make sure I said it as I wanted.
“With you, at first, yeah, it sort of felt like it would be a fun thing to do, just a Thursday night hookup to satisfy me and get me through the weekend. But the morning after…”
I laughed as a huge grin crept over my face.
“No one has ever treated me like you did…this morning, wow, really was this morning. You took the time to feed me and talk to me, but you didn’t do it in a desperate, submissive way. I don’t know how to describe it. You were a gentleman but not a pushover.”
“Shit, I just thought it was common courtesy; we fuck, you spend the night, the least I can do is feed you some eggs and bacon.”
“Well, apparently, a lot of men disagree with you about what the least you can do is.”
Sonny looked genuinely surprised. He finished his drink, while I still only had consumed about half of mine.
“I know I’m an asshole. I’m a fucking Devil’s Patriot, for fuck’s sake.”
“You’re an asshole when you need to be.”
“Yeah, but still, let’s not pretend I’m a heroic nice guy who treats everyone with love and care. I’m hard-edged. My father’s in a coma. I’m talking with other bikers about how to kill someone and possibly many people who are fucking us over.”
“But that’s what I’m coming back to. You’re hard-edged when you need to be. With me, you’re a gentleman. You’re what I’ve been looking for.”
Oh, Jesus, did I say that out loud?
Sonny looked at me intently, his eyes locking into mine. I remained in place, wide-eyed like a deer caught in the headlights. I had blurted out a faint thought, one that had certainly sprung to mind today but not one I’d actually given serious thought to. And yet, if the words had come out like so…
“Are you sure about that?”
I gulped. I had to be honest.
“No, and I don’t think any of us can ever be,” I said, “but that doesn’t mean that youprobablyare what I have been looking for. I know you’ll say I shouldn’t get close to you and whatever. But Sonny…”
Words fell apart as his gaze got stronger on me. He looked like…I didn’t know what. My brain was starting to shut down as emotion and desire overtook me.
He stood up from his chair and walked over to me. I got up to face him. We stood eye-to-eye, just looking into each other, not saying anything, but also expressing so much.
His hands went to my cheeks. I knew where this was headed. I didn’t care. I wanted it.
But I didn’t want it for the reason that I had come over here. I didn’t want it for the physical release. I wanted it for the emotional bond that it would develop.
I closed my eyes as he did his, and our lips drew together.
