“Okay.” Sully paused, looked her square in the eye, and added, “In any case, don’t give Lerfeld a new key to your duplex or shop.”
“He’s never had a key to either one. But why do you say that?”
“Just being careful like Detective Groves suggested.”
“What about your store?”
“I’ll let Roy know I won’t be in,” Sully said. “Randy is taking a small group out to ride tomorrow. But Roy can handle things in the store without us.”
“Will you stay here with me tonight, Sully?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Sully smiled at the beautiful woman with the wild brown hair and glittering blue eyes. On the sofa beside him with her bare legs curled under her short black dress, she smiled. He knew how soft her lips were, and he wanted to do so much more than just sleep beside her.
“I could be persuaded,” he said.
“What would it take to persuade you?”
He crooked a finger, and she scooted closer. Sully pulled her soft, feminine, sweet-smelling body into his arms. He kissed her, and she melted into him. Lying back lengthwise on the sofa, he tugged her on top of him. Her elbows braced her on the outsides of his shoulders as her legs slipped between his. He cupped the nape of her neck with one hand and flattened his other hand to her back. With a slight pressure to her neck, she lowered her mouth to his. Their lips touched, and he groaned when her tongue met his. Sully moved his hands down her slender back and massaged the cheeks of her sexy derrière. She wiggled and softly moaned. As their kiss deepened, he tugged up the hem of her dress. When his hand touched the silk of her bikini panties, a groan of desire escaped him.
“Charley,” he whispered. “Tell me no.”
“Mmm, Sully,” Charley murmured in his ear. “Yes.”
Gently, Sully rolled her off him toward the back cushion of the overstuffed sofa. When he leaned forward, with some of his weight shifting onto her, she gasped.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay.” But when Sully leaned down to kiss her, she stiffened again. “Come on,” he said and rolled off the sofa. Standing over her in admiration, he thought she was surely a goddess come to life. Her long hair was fanned out on a sofa cushion, and her royal-blue eyes held him captive. Her snug black dress was hiked up to the edge of her panties, and her long legs lay gracefully exposed. He held out his hand. “You go to bed. Alone.”
“I’m sorry.” Charley sat up, took his hand, and stood. “I don’t know why I pulled back.”
“Might be a little too soon for you to have sex again after the attempted assault.”
“I’ve never had—” She stopped and stared at the floor.
“Never had—” Placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up. “Sex?”
“No. Never.” Innocently, she asked, “Have you?”
“Well, hell yes,” Sully replied. He chuckled and wrapped her in his arms. He rested his chin against the top of her head and smiled. Damn. As if he didn’t like this gorgeous girl enough already, she was a virgin. Charley could be all his. He would happily teach her everything. “We just met. We don’t have to rush anything, Charley. If you promise to lock your door, I’ll leave.”
“No!” She instantly leaned back and looked up at him. “Please don’t go.” When Sully hesitated, she whispered timidly, “Can’t you stay and sleep with me like you did last night?”
“Yes, I can,” he replied. Charley’s smile stole Sully’s breath away. How many guys would gladly take his place with this woman? Countless. One had recently tried. He’d met two face-to-face who wanted to. He’d noticed several guys admiring her at Southside Suzy’s. Those thoughts put a crease between his brows until he saw the uncertainty in Charley’s eyes. Wiping the frown off his face, he said, “Let’s go fall sleep.”
Charley slipped into her bathroom as he walked into her bedroom. He switched on an overhead light and stripped off his long-sleeved shirt. Taking off his boots, he hesitated in removing his jeans. But he had slept beside her twice now, once in sweatpants and once in his boxer shorts, so he stripped off his jeans too. Tossing back the comforter, he stretched out on her bed, stacked his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. All he saw was Charley.
She had twirled around to face him at her ranch. She’d been angry as she told Rod Vaughn to leave her alone. She had sat shaking and terrified in his upstairs bedroom. She’d felt so good wrapped around him on the Harley. She was sad upon seeing her apartment and shop vandalized. She’d been patient with Leon Lerfeld who had a crush on her. She was smiling and laughing as they ate dinner at Southside Suzy’s. Charley exuded a thrilling combination of naïve innocent vulnerability and sensuous sex appeal when asking Sully to stay the night.
“Are you asleep?” Charley whispered.
