“And if we were in the middle of…things…and I cried off. You wouldn’t be angry or throw a tantrum?” I’m not even sure where the question comes from; it just pops out before I can stop it or rephrase it.
We’re just having drinks. No one said anything about anything more.
But I won’t pretend my body isn’t hoping that’s where things are headed.
His eyes narrow. “Has a man done that to you?”
“Thrown a temper tantrum? You forget, I deal with five-year-olds for a living. I can handle a tantrum.” I try to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach truth.
He drops his gaze to my mouth.
“Even if I was balls deep in your pussy, two pumps away from coming I would stop immediately if you changed your mind. There would be no anger. No tantrum. Nothing.”
There’s something to his voice, a harshness, a realness I haven’t registered before with any man.
I stare at him, trying to read his expression, but it’s hardened. Like a wall has erected right in front of me, and I wonder if he’s closer to this topic than he’s letting on.
I touch his cheek, running my fingers over the roughness of his five o’clock shadow. “That’s good to know.”
He grabs my wrist and pulls it to his mouth where he places a warm kiss to my skin. His eyes stay locked on mine while his lips press against me.
“It’s getting late, Christiana.” He places my hand in my lap. “Your friends are watching us, waiting to hear the answer to the same question I’m asking myself.”
My face heats.
“What question is that?” Somehow I manage to get my voice in working order, even though my insides are quickly turning to molten lava.
He runs the tip of his middle finger along my bottom lip as he leans forward.
“Are you going home with them…or me?”
“You’re crazy.” Rosa grabs at my arm after I’ve given them the change in my plans for the evening. “You’ve been over there twenty minutes, and now you’re leaving with him?”
“I know.” I laugh. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done.
But I’m due for a small break in reality.
Kara raises an eyebrow. “You sure you know what you’re doing? What if your uncle finds out?”
“Finds out what? I’m not married yet. He’s a complete stranger.”
“Exactly!” Rosa lowers her voice when the girls at the next table over stop their conversation to look over at us. “That’s exactly it, Sienna. He’s a stranger. He could be anyone.”
“I know. And after tonight it won’t matter. One night.” I sigh. “Just for me. After tomorrow, who knows when the next time I’ll get to have something just for myself will be.”
Rosa’s expression softens.
“Well, let’s not be unsafe about this.” Kara picks up my purse dangling over my shoulder and digs out my phone.
“What are you doing?” I watch while she taps on the settings.
“I’m sharing your location with me and Rosa. When you get to the hotel, you text me the room number.” She drops the phone back into my purse. “If you don’t, I’m going to show up with guns blazing.”
“Okay. Room number the minute I get there.” I nod in agreement. “Got it.”
“He looks so scary. Are you sure about this?” Rosa whispers.
“He’s twenty feet away; he can’t hear you.” I assure her. “And yes, I’m sure. He only looks that way because of how big he is, and all those tattoos, and the beard.”
