Claire, on the other hand, had seen red.She’d become a spitfire when the man had shouted the hashtag.If Nick hadn’t held her back, his tigress would have mauled that guy.
“Are you okay?”she asked, as he parked his car in his driveway.
“Yeah.”He meant it too.So he’d been forced to hear that hashtag again.So what?Tonight, it had officially lost its power over him.
What did Nick care about a stupid hashtag when he had Claire next to him?
“But I appreciate you being willing to jump into the fray for me,” he said, grinning.“I had no idea you were so protective.”
“That guy was a dick.”She rolled her eyes.“And you were so calm and collected.You took the wind right out of his sails.”
“That hashtag can’t hurt me, not anymore.I don’t care what strangers say about me.The only opinion that matters to me is yours.”
As she whispered his name, her eyes reflected the softness in her heart.Her chest rose and fell with uncertain breaths and her lips turned up in such a way that it made him think of a secret only they shared.
He needed to get her inside, pronto.As tempted as he was to take her right there in the car, he knew his neighborhood was densely populated.They wouldn’t get very far before someone walked by and saw them.
“Let’s go inside.”
As soon as they entered his house and he locked the door behind them, Claire was on him.His tigress backed him up against the wall and tried to climb him.
“Damn,” he muttered against her mouth.“You’re ferocious.So fucking hot.”
“I want you.”She released him long enough to whip her blouse over her head and throw it into a corner.“I need you inside me.”
She cupped him there, where he was hot and hard, and Nick spat a few more curses.This woman would be his undoing.She would cause his early death, and he’d go to it willingly.
They smashed their mouths together, seeking and finding respite in each other.His breath caught, but it didn’t matter.Claire breathed for him, into him.
Forget death.She gave him life.
She tugged at his shirt.Only then did Nick remember he wasn’t exactly at his freshest.“I got really sweaty tonight.”
“I know.Believe me, I was watching.It was so hot.”
“Really?Well, there’s good sweat, and there’s bad sweat.I may have entered the realm of bad sweat.”
“Don’t worry.You’re going to sweat some more anyway.”Her eyes were bright with desire.“And so will I.I plan to make you work very hard.”
“It’s not work, believe me.”
“Glad we’re on the same page.”She reached for his hand and pulled him into the bedroom.
Nick followed her like a cheery balloon trailing after a child.
He’d fucking follow this woman anywhere.
As they entered his bedroom, his head began to pound, but not with pain.With wonder.Every time he tried to maintain control around Claire, it fizzled.He had no control around her, and certainly not over what was growing between them.As a result, he’d never felt more at a loss.
She owned him, heart and soul.
He’d been a fool to think he could do friends with benefits.He’d learned quickly enough that there were no real benefits to that situation, not for him anyway.He wanted her, and not just in his bed.
From the first time he’d seen her, resplendent in herSmall, but mightyT-shirt, he’d known.He wanted to dedicate himself to making her happy.
And making her come.
As they undressed, snatching kisses as they tossed clothing around the room, he marveled at her beauty.Everything entranced him.Her kind eyes, her breathtaking curves, the telltale glisten at her sex.
