His head dipped lower and I thought for a second that he might actually kiss me. “But you know that, don’t you?” his deep voice inquired softly.
My head was swimming as I found the nerve to nod slightly. Cal and I had a chemistry there was no denying, but admitting that out loud was a different thing altogether.
That didn’t change the fact that I’d been in an abusive relationship for half a decade. Hell, I was stillmarried. I was in no position to date, and I had a feeling you didn’t just date a man like Cal.
“You also know that I’ll kill any motherfucker who dares lay a hand on your head or on that boy in there.” His gaze moved to where Mason slept before returning to mine. “Don’t you?” he pressed.
After a moment I found the nerve to nod again. I hadn’t allowed myself to explore much beyond that.
He took a step back and I felt myself nearly whimper in relief at the break in intensity.
He stared at his boots for a moment before his electric-blue eyes rose to meet mine. “You may not be ready for me, but baby, I’m ready for you. I’ve been ready. And I’ll be here when you come around to my way of thinkin’.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, trying like hell to find his arrogance annoying rather than sexy as all hell. “What makes you so sure I’ll come around?”
He stood up and in two strides was back in my space. His large hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me close so that my body was flush with his. His head dipped to my neck as he inhaled. “I can smell how much you want me.” His fingers trailed down my chest, swiping with a featherlight touch across my right nipple, which was beaded to a painful point.
I gasped as my entire body coiled tight with desire.
“Your body wants me. Of that I have no doubt,” his gravelly voice declared as his hand returned to my chest, pressing over my heart. “Now this, this will take more time. But I’m willing to work for it.” He stooped, lifting my chin so that my eyes met his. “You’re worth it, baby.”
I stared up at him, overwhelmed by the emotion his words and touch incited. I dropped my gaze to the ground as I took a very necessary step back. I’d never desired a man as I did Cal.
And that scared the hell out of me.
“Right,” he muttered, not sounding so much frustrated as resigned with the distance I constantly put between us. “I’ll give you that for now, babe. You’ve been through a lot. I don’t know the details but I know that much. Someday, I want you to tell me about it. No good bottling all that away. Trust me, I know.”
I looked up at him in surprise.
“We’re not there yet. And because of that I can move past the fact you didn’t tell me that motherfucker has disappeared, that I had to hear it from one of my men. This time,” he clarified before continuing. “I want you and Mason to come and stay with me.” He stared down at me. “I’m firm on that, Jill.”
“You’re firm on that,” I repeated through barely moving lips.
He nodded.
I straightened my shoulders, forcing myself to look him in the eye. “My baby is in there sleeping peacefully.” I cocked my head toward the closet. “I haven’t slept in twenty-four hours and I’m not leaving this apartment. I’m firm onthat,” I retorted.
A slow grin spread across his handsome face. “You’re lucky stubborn is a cute look on you.”
I glared at him.
He continued to grin. “All right, honey. What’s important to me is that you’re safe—not what roof you’re under.”
Why did his statement make me feel like I still hadn’t won the argument? When he sat on the couch and began to remove his boots, I knew why.
“You’re not staying here!” I sputtered.
He placed his boots next to my cowboy boots, which sat by the door, as though I hadn’t spoken. I tried like hell to ignore how something so seemingly simple as having his boots beside mine invoked something so powerful in me.
He prowled toward me, removed the cut that still lay across my shoulders, and hung it on a nearby chair. “I’m beat, babe. I’ll sack out on the couch if that’s what you want, but I’ll tell you right now, nothing I want more than to sleep beside you.”
It felt as though all the air left the room as I grappled with my next breath.
His gaze softened as he clearly observed my predicament. “Get to bed, baby. I’ll lock up.”
“B-but,” I sputtered, staring in wide-eyed shock as he moved around the room, locking up like he owned the place.
He ignored my protests and I knew there was no winning this one, especially with how exhausted I was.
