Lowering my lashes, I bite my lip. Trying not to reveal just how pleased I am. “You really are going to wait up, aren't you?”
“Yup.”
I lift my gaze to his. “I’m a grown woman, Walker.”
“I'm aware.” His eyes do a quick pass over the lavender dress that he's been carefully not looking at until now. He swallows hard.
“I don’t want to bug you,” I say. “I’ll get a ride home if I need one.”
“You wouldn’t be bugging me. You could never…” He trails off. “You need me, you call me. All right?”
I’ve never had someone to be protective of me. Never had someone look out for me. It makes me feel all warm and fizzy inside, sends a rush of pleasure and warmth through me like I just downed a shot of whiskey.
And it’s got me feeling just as reckless.
I close the distance between us and rise up on my toes and wrap my arms around his neck to hug him.
He goes still. Completely, utterly still, like I've knocked the air out of him.
Then he exhales, slow and low, and his arms come around me. He has to bend down to do it because he has nearly a foot on me, and I feel the shift of his weight as he does. The warmthof his chest against mine, those big hands settling against my back and staying there.
He smells like leather and sandalwood, and I press my face briefly into his neck before I can think better of it.
He holds on. Not a brief, polite, acquaintance-type hold. He holds on, hands spread wide and warm between my shoulder blades, his chin just grazing my hair, and I feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing slow down and deepen.
Our bodies are pressed together all the way. I feel the muscles of his chest and abs against me, his thighs against mine, and the cold press of his belt buckle against my stomach. My nipples tighten. A swoop goes through my belly that starts at that belt buckle and ends between my thighs.
When I pull back to look up at him his eyes have gone dark and they’re fixed one my lips.
I wish he would kiss me.
I really, really want him to kiss me.
And he’s looking at me like he wants that too.
Except he’s making no other move to close the distance between us, and I’m sure as hell not going to be the one to initiate a kiss.
Still, I can’t resist the chance to tease him a little, to lighten up that dark scowl. Now that I know he has a sense of humor, I especially enjoy any chance to bring out that side of him.
“I’ll call you, I promise,” I murmur, dropping my voice to a breathy, sultry register. “But only if I desperately…” I put my hands on his chest. “Need you...” Slowly slide my hands up around his shoulder and lean in to whisper in his ear. “To come.”
His hands close around my wrists. Not stopping me, just holding on. For one heated second, he tugs me closer instead of pushing me away. His eyes drop to my lips again.
Then he seems to catch himself and lets go.
I take a step back and give him my most innocent look. “Cometome. You know. In case of emergency.”
The corners of his mouth lift, just a little. He shakes his head like he’s working to clear it. “Brat.”
Putting on a sunny smile, I toss my hair over my shoulder as I head to my car. “You know you love it.”
He doesn’t say anything. But I feel his eyes on me every step to my car.
Just as I get in and am about to pull into reverse, he taps on the window.
I roll it down.
“Hey,” he says. “Promise me something.”
