“I didn’t want anyone else to know how good you smell,” he confesses. “That’s personal.”
I wait for him to say something about it belonging to him, but he doesn’t.
“God, you’re pretty.” Syrus sighs, holding me tightly as he continues to kiss me. My legs wrap around his waist naturally, my boots digging into his lower back as his fingers tighten against my skin.
A part of me wonders if he’ll leave little bruises for me to enjoy later, but there’s a controlled strength in his touch.
“Fuck, you make me want to commit at least three different crimes,” he says with a grunt. His words make me chuckle, low and throaty, and I can feel his erection against me.
Syrus doesn’t grind it against me, but it lays heavy between us, making me writhe as he holds me.
“No, don’t be a brat,” he says, though he’s the one who buries his face in my throat again to breathe me in. “It’s too cold for such a thin jacket, Spitfire.”
“I wasn’t planning to be out long,” I tease him. My stomach grumbles loudly, making me roll my eyes. “I was just going to dash to my truck and buy myself a pizza.”
“Since I interrupted you, the pizza is on me,” he offers, his voice rumbling.
“And for this relationship negotiation?” I ask. “I don’t play games, Syrus.”
“Good, because I hate them too. I know I’m not an alpha and that I can’t fully satisfy you?—”
“Wow,” I say, eyes wide as my fingers slide through his hair. I need to touch him while we’re having this conversation. There’s no way my cocky, self assured sheriff is actually saying this to me, right? “So far, you’re doing a pretty great job, Sy. Better than any alpha I’ve ever come across.”
“Yeah?” he asks, his blue gray eyes hooding as he gazes at me.
“Mmhmm. That’s saying something since you’ve barely touched me.”
I’m not going to ruin this with insight into my past. There’s nothing I can do to change things, and I don’t want to burden him with it.
“You’re this enigma,” Syrus says. “You give me just enough information to make me want to kill anyone who may have done so much as mess up your hair, but nothing else.”
I focus on how soft his hair is, having a hard time with how difficult it is to have so much of his attention on me. We don’t really have serious conversations.
“Trust me, it’s easier that way,” I insist before sighing.
“Well, one day I want you to tell me, Spitfire. I don’t want to fuck up with you or trigger you in some way,” he says. “I’m willing to go as slow as you need. It’s taking a lot of control not to mark up your pretty skin. It’s so smooth and soft. I don’t want you to have to answer a bunch of questions you’re not ready to answer if people see it.”
“I’m pretty sure Felix is going to tell his wife, who will definitely tell her friends,” I tell him. “The rumors will be buzzing down the grapevine, Sheriff.”
“That shouldn’t be as hot as it is when you say it.” He groans. “Since the cat is out of the bag, I want to make you dinner. You’re off Monday, right?”
“Damn, aren’t you a stalker?” I ask, unwrapping my legs from around his waist.
“I prefer the term ‘observant’,” he murmurs. Instead of putting me down, he adjusts his hands so that he can lift me into the driver seat. “I’ll also take that as a yes if you don’t mind.”
“Maybe I do mind,” I tease him, enjoying the way he cages my body with his. Syrus feels safe, he always has.
“Then I need to know what I need to do to change that,” he says gruffly. “Give your sister my address, send the pin to Emmett, and then come over so I can make you something toeat. I have ideas on eating other things too, we’ll see if you eat your vegetables or not.”
I gape at him as I huff out a laugh. There’s almost no sound to it, but Syrus grins regardless, enjoying my reaction to him.
“Am I surprising you yet?” he asks.
“You always surprise me,” I say honestly. Syrus’ delivery is the best, and even though I’ve never for a moment had a bad feeling about him, he’s also never boring.
“Good,” he says, pressing a kiss to my lips. “Let’s get food inside you. Your order is a pepperoni, ricotta, mushroom, and bacon pizza, right?”
“Syrus,” I say, my eyes practically bulging with shock.
