Her question catches me off guard and it takes me longer than I’d like to answer. “Because everything about you is soft in all the best ways. Soft curves. Soft, shiny hair. But when those claws come out…” I shake my head. “Let’s just say it does something to me no one else has ever been able to do before.”
I close her bedroom door behind me with a soft click, grinning when I hear her frustrated groan.
Downstairs, I pour myself a generous glass of whiskey andcollapse onto the couch with a sigh. Goonie hops up beside me, giving me his usual judgmental glare.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I mutter. “Your mom’s the one who wants to slow things down.”
He gives me a slow blink and a yawn before settling down next to my thigh, purring softly.
I take a long sip of my drink, the burn slowly easing its way down my throat. It’s going to be a long, frustrating next few days.
Back in my bedroom, I collapse onto the bed and stare up at the ceiling.
So, Noia wants a slow-burn?
Fine. I’ll make the burn so slow she’ll combust from the inside out.
Game on,kitten.
TWENTY-SEVEN
noia
I wakeup to an empty house and a note on the kitchen counter.
Gone to work. Made coffee. See you later. -R
That’s it. No “Have a good morning, kitten”? The bare-bones note leaves me feeling oddly disappointed.
Pouring myself a cup of coffee, I sigh and lean against the counter. Maybe I made a mistake last night. Maybe I should have just let things continue as they were.
No. I was right to ask to slow things down. This thing between us is moving way too fast, spiraling out of control. I need to get my bearings before I completely lose myself.
Ryder’s words echo in my head:“Give me a few days and you’ll be begging me to fuck you again.”
“Fat chance,” I mutter to Goonie as he winds between my ankles. “I have more self-control than that.”
Goonie’s meow sounds skeptical.
Figures.
After breakfast, I sit down to write.
I’m deep in the zone when my phone buzzes with a text.
SASHA:Just one more sleep and I’ll be at your door!
ME:Can’t wait! Fair warning though. Things have gotten... complicated.
SASHA:Good complicated or bad complicated?
ME:Both? I’ll explain everything when you get here.
SASHA:Now I’m REALLY excited!
I set my phone aside and try to focus on writing, but my mind keeps wandering. What will Sasha think of Ryder? What will she make of my crazy situation?
Around noon, my phone buzzes again.
