“I do. I like the ink more.” My fingers trace over the angel on his chest.
“You do?”
“Hell, yes. The ink’s one of the things I first noticed. Even though you were in a suit, so I could only see the neck and hands.” I kiss his knuckles, and then he’s carrying me again, his hands under my ass, my arms wrapped around his neck, as he takes me back to the bed.
When we’re all wrapped up in each other, ready to sleep for a while, I sigh and tighten my arm around his waist in a hug.
If anyone had told me a month ago that I’d run from my father’s home and find life-altering joy in the arms of a man twenty years my senior—a badass criminal with an enormous heart—I would have asked them what drugs they were on.
Yet, miraculously, wonderfully, I landed in this man’s life. He adores my curves, he showers me with kindness, and he fucks like a man starved for me.
“I’m really happy I found you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Me too, firefly.”
Thirty-Two
LULU
“Did you miss me?”
I’ve just passed a glass of champagne to a pretty blonde when the voice comes from my right, and my back is immediately up.
The mayor.
I turn to him and offer a polite smile. “Good evening. What can I get for you?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t pretend we aren’t friends. You’ll hurt my feelings.” He sticks his lower lip out in what I’m sure he thinks is an adorable pout when, in reality, he looks like an idiot.
The mayor is young, likely in his late thirties, and he’s handsome. Strawberry-blond hair and ocean-blue eyes with a little scruff on his chin. He’s trim and fit, and frankly, I don’t understand why he thinks he has to be smarmy. I’m sure plenty of women here would happily fuck him.
But that girl isn’t me. Even if I didn’t have Rome, the hottest man to ever live, I wouldn’t want the mayor.
I don’t answer. I simply tilt my head to the side, waiting for his order. We’ve been busy tonight. The lounge has been full, every seat at the bar and each table around the room spoken for all evening, and I’ve enjoyed the vibe. The energy has been up. The people have been friendly and happy to be here. There’s been no inappropriate flirting.
Until now.
This guy is such a creep.
“Would you like a whiskey neat?” I ask, remembering what he ordered last time, and his eyes gleam with predatory satisfaction.
Fuck.I should not have said that.
“See? I knew it. Yes, that sounds great. Pour yourself one and come sit with me at my table.”
I turn to grab the whiskey, but I reach wrong with my left arm, and the bottle almost drops out of my grasp.
“You okay?” Max asks with a frown.
“The mayor is here,” I mutter, and his face clears. He glances over my shoulder and nods.
“I can take it.”
“I’ve got this,” I assure him as I pour the drink. “But don’t go far, okay?”
“I got you, babe.” He winks and resumes filling his own drink order when I turn to deliver the mayor’s request.
He takes a sip, eyeing me, then smacks his thin lips together. “You make one hell of a drink, Lulu.”
