My hands slide up his abdomen to his chest, and then I circle my finger around his erect nipple. He trembles and then bringshis hand up and covers mine, stopping me. “It doesn’t matter if I want you or not. I can’t have you.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Why not?”
He shakes his head. “You’re not listening. I’m too old for you.”
I shrug as if it’s no big deal. “You’re ten years older than me. My parents are fifteen years apart.”
He puts his hands on his hips. “People will think I’m after your money.”
I roll my eyes and laugh. “You don’t let me pay for anything. You refuse all bonus money, and you think I don’t know, but you deferred your paycheck to a disabled veteran program, so I know you’re not after my money.”
His mouth drops open as if he’s shocked. I’m sure he’s wondering how I know all this, but he doesn’t ask. He’s all tense and controlled. “It can’t happen, London. Me and you can’t happen.”
I want to argue with him. I want to convince him that we would be good together, but I recognize that stubborn look on his face. There’s no convincing him of anything right now. “Goodnight.”
I turn on my heel and get a few feet away when Dillon says my name. “London.”
I stop and turn toward him. “What?”
“You said you like for me to chase you.”
I jut my chin at him. I’m not the least bit embarrassed now. I do like for him to chase me. It’s the only time I get a glimpse of how much he wants me.
Dillon stands taller, fisting his hands at his sides. “I will chase you. Hell, I will follow you to the ends of the Earth, but no more putting yourself in danger. No more men.”
My forehead creases. No he didn’t. “No more men? Are you saying I can’t go out with anyone?”
He has no right to say that, so surely I’m misunderstanding, but Dillon juts his chin at me. “Yes, that’s what I’m saying. No more men.”
I’m shocked at first, and I burst out laughing. When I see he doesn’t even hint at a smile, I stop laughing. “You’re serious.”
He nods once, all seriousness. “Yes, I’m fuckin’ serious.”
I walk toward him and don’t stop until my chest is against his. “So you don’t want me, but you don’t want me with another man either?”
He glares down at me. He’s huffing his breath, and he’s not happy. “If you want a dead boyfriend, test me.”
My mouth falls open. “Dillon, you’re not making any sense?—”
He leans into me, and my body trembles at his touch. He puts his hands on my shoulders and leans down. “I never said I didn’t want you. I want you. I want you more than the air I breathe, honey.”
I gasp in a breath. He’s glaring at me as if he hates admitting how much he wants me. “You don’t go off with men for me to chase you, London. You got that?”
He shakes his head, voice deep and demanding. “You want something, you tell me.” He pokes his finger in his chest. “You need something from me, you tell me.”
His words hit me to my very core. Before he can stop me, I slide my hands up his chest and loop them around his neck. “I need something.”
My breasts are pressed against his chest, and I lean into him. He murmurs, “What do you need?”
“Kiss me,” I say without hesitation.
He leans his head down, and our lips are only inches from each other. All I have to do is move a fraction of an inch and they will be touching. I want it more than anything. And before he can pull away, I go on my tiptoes. “Dillon Carson, I don’t want to think about tonight and Mitch kissing me. I want to think about tonight and you kissing me.”
Without any hesitation, he leans down and captures my lips in a searing kiss. I practically climb up his body, trying to get closer, and he puts his hands on my hips and lifts me up. My legs go around his waist, and he holds me to him.
He tilts his head, deepening the kiss, and I moan.
The small whimpers that escape have him pulling his mouth from mine.
