I nodded.
“I almost lost you two weeks ago before I even had you,” he said, his voice steady but heavy.“Then someone tried to take me out right in front of your place.That kind of shit changes things.”His thumb brushed over my jaw.“What are we gonna do?Dance around it?Pretend we don’t know what this is?”
I exhaled slowly.“I know,” I said.“I just… needed to make sure we’re thinking the same thing.”Because I was in this.Deep.
And I wasn’t used to jumping without looking.
“You ever wonder why they call me Swift, sugar?”he asked.
I tipped my head, a small smile tugging at my lips.“I mean… not until right now,” I laughed.
“Because I make quick decisions,” he said.“I don’t hesitate when I know what I want.”
My stomach fluttered.“Good to know,” I teased.“I was hoping it wasn’t because you were secretly a Swiftie.”
He blinked at me.“A what?”
I stared at him.“You’re kidding.”
“Am I supposed to know what that is?”
“Taylor Swift,” I said.“The singer?”
He shrugged.“Are we playing a game right now?”
I laughed, shaking my head.“One of the most famous singers in the world?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell, sugar.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.“I don’t believe you.”
A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face.
“I don’t play games normally,” he said.
My stomach dipped.“But…” I prompted.
“But I’ve always been a fan of strip poker.”
I let out a full laugh, pushing lightly at his chest.“How in the hell did you get from Taylor Swift to strip poker?”
He didn’t move back.If anything, he stepped closer.“Doesn’t matter what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice dropping.“I’m always thinking of ways to get you naked.”
My breath hitched because this man didn’t say things halfway.
I reached up, cupping his cheek, and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.“With you,” I murmured, “it really wouldn’t take much more than you telling me to take my clothes off.”
His eyes darkened instantly.“That so?”he asked.
I nodded.And I meant it.
God help me, I meant it.
He leaned forward, reaching past me to turn off the stove.The quiet click of the burner shutting off sounded louder than it should have.Then he slid the pot of gravy off the heat.
“What are you doing?”I asked, even though I was pretty sure I already knew.
That slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips again.The one that made my knees weak.
