“That new?” I tipped my chin as my eyes helplessly roamed down her body once again with nothing but clear appreciation.
Yeah, my self-control was slipping, but a man could only keep his hands to himself for so long. Kitty didn’t miss the way I looked at her. Her eyes widened for a moment before a slight barely-there tinge of pink painted the apples of her cheeks.
“Maybe.” She shrugged, that sexy-as-hell attitude of hers still in place.
“It’s beautiful,” I complimented before shifting against the couch, settling back, trying to give the illusion I wasn’t right on the edge of snapping. “Where did you buy it?”
“What?” Her voice was slightly huskier than usual.
“Where did you buy it?” I asked again, slower this time.
“Oh.” She pressed her lips together.
“Tell me, baby, trust me,” I silently goaded, hoping she could feel the request in my gaze.
“I made it,” she answered, and I smiled on the inside.
“Talented and stunningly beautiful is a dangerous combination.” This compliment made her roll her eyes like I knew they would. But it didn’t make that pink tinge on her cheeks lessen. If anything, it seemed to start creeping down her neck and chest. The beast in me started to pace. “Why are you all the way over there?”
“Are you bored?” she blurted out, and it took me a moment to process her question.
“Excuse me?” I asked, because there was no way I could have heard her right.
“Bored,” she repeated fearlessly. My brave, strong girl. “Are. You. Bored?” she enunciated each word carefully.Of me.What she was asking was if I was bored of her.
My head tipped to the side. Shit, she was refreshing as hell. No one ever spoke to me like that. My eyes never wavered from hers. I could see the hundred-foot titanium walls she’d built throughout her life in order to protect that soft heart she hardly ever showed anyone staying strong around her. If she only knew I intended on demolishing them into a heap of dust.
“With what?” I asked calmly, not letting her see how her questions were eating me up inside.
How the hell could she ever fathom I’d be bored with her? How could she ever doubt that she was my favorite part of my day?Because you’re too fucking quiet for your own damn good, dumbass!
“With me,” she blurted, and I swear that pink tint brightened. “I mean…” The cutest little lines furrowed deeply at her brow. “You and… well, with this arrangement.” She might have nervously tripped over the words, but she got them out.
She was magnificent.Mine,the animal inside of me she’d brought to life growled.Mine.
No more waiting.
The thing inside me had me standing, unable to sit quietly any longer. Something I hadn’t done in our time together. I was a big motherfucker, and she was so damn tiny, I never wanted to intimidate her with my size. But hearing her call it an arrangement had messed something up in my head. Kitty’s eyes grew wide, and she took a step back.
“Our arrangement?” I asked, ever the image of patience.
“This.” My stupidly brave girl stomped her pretty foot. “You and me. Reading,” my beautiful stubborn kitty cat pointed out. “I don’t know why you’re doing this. Or if I’m the first of the huge line that will follow me, but—“ Before she could say another fucking word, the beast took over.
My arms reached for her all too easily.
Gently but with a firm grip, I pulled her in front of me, wrapping one arm around her small little waist in order to keep her in place. Her place was right next to me, where she belonged.
“This isn’t an arrangement, Kitty,” I said, shocking the hell out of myself with how calm I still sounded.
“What?”
“An arrangement would mean clear boundaries. Set limitations. That’s not us. Do you understand?”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head slowly as her eyes left mine only to land on my mouth. I could feel her pretty stare so much my lips tingled to steal a taste from her.
“You and I? We don’t have any kinds of limitations or boundaries between us.”
“What? Jonas?—“
