A few feet from the bar, Akira was pulled up short by two large hands on her waist. She didn’t have to look behind her to know who had captured her. Those paws could only belong to one person.
“Let me go,” she said between her teeth.
His reply was immediate. “No. I don’t think so.”
If she didn’t know stamping her foot would make her look like a child, she’d do it. “I mean it.”
“Say the safe word then,” he replied, matter-of-fact. “That’s how it works, isn’t it? You say the safe word, and I have to stop?”
Spy. She tried to force her mouth to say the word, but she couldn’t. Just couldn’t. “Go home.”
“Nope.” His hands slipped around her waist to meet in the front, clasping her tight. The sighs and moans and gasps around her were like a soundtrack. Her own personal orchestra of need.
Jacob’s cock was thick where it nestled against her ass. He made no apologies for it. “I know shutting up is a challenge for you, but you’re going to do it.”
She snorted, unable to sputter anything else out.
“I’ll take that as an agreement,” he said. “Now, I get our history makes it difficult for us to have any kind of relationship. I’ve apologized, in every way I know how, short of cutting open my veins and bleeding for you. I told you I want you, and I understand you may be wary of that too. But you need to listen to me now.” He brought his lips directly to her ear, so only she could hear. “There is nothing you could do that would make me want you less. Nothing you could do that would kill this desire for you.”
“You don’t even know…” she wheezed. “You don’t know me.”
He laughed. The bastard laughed! All low and amused. “Akira. I do know you. I’ll wager I’ve known you longer than anyone else here.”
“Length of time doesn’t mean anything.”
“You’re right.” He nudged her hair aside so he could kiss her neck. “But you noted how good my observational skills are.”
“And what have you observed?”
“You seem to think I’m some sort of scared boy who’s going to run when I discover something about you I don’t like. Which is stupid.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. Let’s get one thing straight. Nothing you do with your body would shock me. And nothing could disgust me.”
She choked out the words, though a small, dangerous kernel of hope bloomed in her chest. “You say that now, but when…”
“No.” His hand clenched over her stomach. “There is nobut when.”
“You’re a decent guy…”
“Decency doesn’t equal a lack of a filthy imagination, Akira.” His breath coasted over her shoulder. “Look around. Tell me what you see.”
She glanced around her. They had drawn some attention, though she suspected friends were respectfully pretending not to listen in on their furiously whispered conversation. “I see sex.”
“Yes. And love. And trust. You’re not running from them. Why are you running from me?”
Because these people didn’t love her as anything more than a friend, a fun hostess. Their bond might be deep, but it wasn’t all-consuming.
Like it could be with Jacob.
“It’s just…not the same,” she said stubbornly. “I don’t have to defend myself to you.”
There was silence. “Perhaps I’m being unfair. I have to prove myself to you, right? That’s the whole point of tonight?” Jacob’s forefinger hooked under the laces on her corset. “Maybe you need to let me show you how bad I can be.”
“What are you doing?”
Dumb question. His fingers too blunt and clumsy to figure out the knot on her corset, Jacob merely grabbed ahold of the lace and tugged. Hard. The material tightened uncomfortably over her breasts before loosening with a snap, becoming more lax when he yanked the ties through the eyelets.
