I tried to restrain himself, tried to break away, but the next thing I knew, my hand was tracing along the path of his ribs, up to his chest, thumbing his peaked nipple through his shirt. He shuddered in my grip, and the scent of his arousal perfumed the air, fraying my control.
After a long, passionate, perfect first kiss, Joel pulled back just enough to gaze up at me with glazed eyes, blond curls tangled, his cheeks flushed with want. “Yep, you’re doing juuuust fine, but we should probably do that again… just to be sure.”
“Practice makes perfect,” I agreed, nodding eagerly.
But just as he leaned in, his eyelids drifting shut, one of the dogs let out a sharp yip. Three others joined in, high-pitched and excited. Joel’s eyes flew open. “Oh shi—” He gasped as all six dogs took off after a rabbit, scampering away between the trees. And since he was attached to theother end of the leashes, his body was jerked after them, torn out of my arms. He just barely managed to keep on his feet.
I just about shifted into my jaguar to rescue him, but his laughter rang out. I caught one last glimpse of his kiss-swollen lips, tipped in a crooked smile. He was in no danger. “Call me this time!” he yelled over his shoulder as he was dragged away.
Chapter 10
Joel
Unknown:Will you come over for dinner tomorrow night, 7pm?
Unknown:Just to clarify, it’s to eat, not be eaten.
Staringdownatmyphone, I read the texts for the third time. I couldn’t help the giddy excitement flooding me. I could practically picture the face he was making while he composed those words—undoubtedly frowning because he was so focused on getting it just right, charming with a touch of flirty. Just like I knew he was still clutching his phone, waiting for my reply.
Well, it wouldn’t be polite to keep the man waiting…
Me:Who is this?
As I imagined him debating whether I was kidding or not, I had to clamp a hand over my mouth to muffle my laugh. Outside the bathroom where I was currently hiding, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, Kedi and three of his “pack” friends were having a few beers and playing Mario Kart. They just loooved to tease me every chance they got, and if they found out about my crush on North, there was no chance they would leave me alone about it.
I quickly saved North’s number in my phone and changed his profile name. My phone buzzed in my hand with his incoming reply.
Stalker:It’s North. You gave me your number, remember? I’m totally not stalking you.
Me:That’s too bad. I have to admit, I kinda like the idea of you stalking me.
Whoops, I probably shouldn’t have hit send on that one. It felt a little too honest, and maybe we weren’t at that stage yet. We were still in that early getting-to-know-each-other phase, but so far, there wasn’t a single thing about him that I didn’t like. That probably meant I should behave so I didn’t scare him away before he learned how weird I was.
Stalker:That can be arranged.
My breath left me in a whoosh. Now I was the one wondering if he was kidding. Was his reply a red flag… or a green one? I nibbled on my thumbnail, my knee jiggling and setting the shower curtain flapping. Did I want to encourage this line of conversation? A smile spread on my lips. Hell yes, I did.
Me:You’re watching me right now, aren’t you.
Stalker:I wish. You’re way better-looking than this guy.
He attached a picture of his brother, Mace, making a face for the camera. I laughed, a comfortable heat spreading through me.
For someone who claimed he didn’t date—ever—he was doing pretty well at this flirting thing. Did he mean he’d never had a serious relationship before? Or did he mean he hadn’t, like…datedbefore. Like, of the one-night variety. Was North a… virgin? It seemed unlikely. He was so damn sexy, and he was in his mid-twenties, so it wasn’t like he wouldn’t have had plenty of opportunity. Besides, I never would’ve guessed it by the way he’d kissed. Yowza, that was hot. But maybe he was just a quick learner. Would that make me his teacher?
Did it bother me that he wasn’t experienced? No, not even a little. If anything, I felt guilty for not being a virgin too. It was like he’d been waiting to meet me specifically, but how was I supposed to know to wait for him? It was complete chance that led me to his tattoo parlor that day. Under different circumstances, I might not have ever crossed paths with him at all. What if I’d listened to Kedi that day and backed out at the last second? It wasn’t like North would’ve remained a virgin forever, waiting to run across me. Right?
The thought made my heart do a little skip. I snorted, shaking it off. No, that was crazy talk. He wasn’t actually obsessed with me, and it would be conceited of me to expect him to be.
Fidgeting, I stood from my perch on the tub and hiked up my shirt, twisting in the mirror so I could look at my tattoo again. North had set this ink on my body before he even knew me, and it felt important, but… what did it mean?
“Did you fall in?” Kedi called, banging on the bathroom door. “I’ve gotta take a leak.”
“No,” I snarked back, quickly tugging my shirt back down. “I’ll be out in a minute. Keep your pants on.” Just an expression, but with these guys, you never could tell.
I quickly picked up my phone and texted North back to tell him I would love to come for dinner tomorrow, and he directed me to meet him at Karma Katz at 7pm.
Me:I look forward to eating you.
