“So you open that door and there won’t be people throwing hands and getting arrested?” Janelle presses me again. I like theway she phrases things and the way her voice sounds just a little deep for a woman. I find it sexy and comforting. Smooth, like molasses.
“No, ma’am.”
“Okay. Then no need for an escort. I’ll find my friend on my own.”
She takes a step towards the door and my body shifts quickly to block her from escaping. Janelle tilts her head up so her gaze meets mine with unmistakable terror. She knows that I want something from her. And it’s a small bathroom, even if we can both stand.
“Janelle…”
She shudders in response to my voice. Fuck, she looks cute. I like her soft, round features. And that scared ass look on her face. There’s something satisfying about getting under the skin of a woman who would otherwise be tough as nails.
“I can’t let you leave without payment, ma’am.”
She responds to my smirking with a hateful scowl that sends a shiver down my spine and all the way to my dick.
“My friend has my money.”
“That’s not what I mean.” She doesn’t like my teasing, but I sure like getting a rise out of her. If I can get an emotional response this way, I can get her another way too.
“I’m notsleeping with youfor assaulting someone.”
I laugh, because that takes me by surprise. And it’s a little funny that she thinks I would sleep with a strange woman in the bathroom of a bar just because I find her sexy.
“I meant a kiss. Doyounormally sleep with strangers in bathrooms?”
“No,” she snaps. “I assumed that’s what you wanted and I wanted to make my boundaries clear.”
Women are always talking about their boundaries these days and then going on to explain what I always called basic human decency without all the psychology talk.
“Fine. My boundaries are clear too. One kiss and I let you leave.”
Janelle rolls her eyes. “It is equally entitled to demand a kiss from me.”
“Even if you get safe passage for free?”
She scowls even harder and purses her lips. “Ireallyneed to get back to my friend.”
Her tension only makes me want her more. I know how wrong it is, but I don’t care. Those lips look fucking delicious. And in the Army, the darker girls preferred me. White women aren’t too interested in blond men with pale, terrifying eyes. Janelle can’t stop staring, even if she acts more disgusted than fascinated with me.
“Then this should be an easy choice,” I tease her further. “You kiss me, you get back to her a lot quicker.”
She closes her eyes. I haven’t touched her yet, but I already feel like I’ve won.
“Hurry up. And don’t tellanybodythat I let you do this.”
“Who would I tell?”
“Zebulon. Hurry.”
“I don’t want to rush this.”
“Why not?” she says, cracking open an eye and then quickly deciding to keep both shut. I suppose she’s worried about what kissing me might be like. Her doubt makes me want to torture her more.
“I want to savor your lips, that’s why.”
“Zeb–”
“Shh,” I whisper, taking the opportunity to run my fingers over her lips now that her eyes are shut and for this very brief exchange…Janelle is mine.Her body shivers when my fingers touch her lips. I’ve never pressed my skin to such full lips before and it shocks me how close they feel to bursting beneath my touch.
