She mattered to him, the baby they made mattered to him, but how could this be real when he wouldn’t even argue with her? Wouldn’t engage past some imaginary line he’d drawn for himself.
“Your dirty talk needs some work,” she said, aiming for light and teasing. She should probably take some time to think about the tour and think about what “see if it takes” really meant.
Bax scowled. “You’ve got a need. I want to take care of it.”
That was not sexy at all.
This was Bax. She’d heard him talk dirty to women all the time on tour. Never to her, but she knew he had it in him. He might not have gone to medical school, but the guy practically majored in getting underwear off the women around him.
“You want to provide for my sexual needs?” she asked, trying very hard not to giggle.
“Uh-huh.” He nodded. Bax had never been self-conscious. Never. “I’m around,” he finished.
She shoved at his shoulder with a light thud. “Seriously, stop before I laugh and make us both uncomfortable. Don’t be a goober.”
He nodded. “Well…” That was all he said before he strode to the door with purpose. Then he stopped, hand on the knob. “I wouldn’t mind if we…” He gestured to the bed. “You know.”
She shoved her hands on her hips, willing him to walk back to her, tell her something super dirty, and thendothat super-dirty thing.
Or… tell her that she mattered again. Reassure her he meant it. They’d both have the same effect, truly.
“You can’t even say it. How do you expect to do it?” she asked gently with genuine curiosity.
He thought way too hard about that. “I guess I figured I’d take off my pants. Then your shirt—”
She held up her hand and chuckled. “Stop. If you want to do the dirty talk, I know you can do better than that.”
His cheeks pinked adorably. He cleared his throat. Lifted a shoulder. “I’m just putting it out there. You need me. You call.”
“Bax, I’m so confused right now.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry I made things weird between us. I…”
Something in the air shifted. He seemed to struggle with the doorknob, then he clicked the lock button.
She didn’t move, because she wasn’t entirely sure what was happening here.
He turned on his heel, stalked toward her, and suddenly she was seriously concerned. In a good way. In a not pathetic get-in-her-pants attempt.
Maybe she misread before. Perhaps he wasn’t looking at the door like he wanted to leave. Maybe he was looking at the door to see if it locked?
That made more sense.
“I’m so confused,” she admitted. Confused about everything.
His expression turned cotton-candy soft. “How do you think I feel?”
“You’re just being so nice all the time.” She didn’t know how to handle this Bax. Brennan was gone, this was still Bax, but she didn’t understand this guy.
The jerk version? She was a professional. This guy? Gah. He was like a Bax and Brennan fusion that she couldn’t comprehend.
“So you want me to be a dick to you and then get you off?” he asked, but he wasn’t mean about it. The words were low and for her only and—
Was that too much to ask? Seriously? That was the foundation this relationship—or whatever it was—was built on.
“You want to know what I want to do?” he asked, moving to stand wickedly close but not actually touching her.
“Yes,” she said on a breath. Well, it sounded a little more like a croak. But, hey, it worked.
“I’m going to kiss you everywhere,” he said. “Starting here.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.
