“What about you?” I shot back passionately as his eyes narrowed. I took a deep breath, trying to bring down the intensity a bit. “Look, I don’t want to fight. It is good to see you,” I nodded. “I just…I feel stupid really, naïve,” I shrugged.
“Why?” he asked when I’d paused, my embarrassment reaching a crescendo.
“I had thought maybe…maybe you and me…” I trailed off. “Sometimes the way you would look at me, I saw something there, but then you’d tell me I was too young or that I was Sal’s sister. It was always mixed messages with you,” I shook my head.
“We’ll get to that,” he interrupted. “I want to know why you left. What the hell are you doing in Texas?”
“We’ll get to that,” I retorted, throwing his words back at him.
We stared at each other in silent challenge before he nodded once and turned his gaze to his drink. I practically slumped back into my chair, relieved not to be the focus of his intensity for a few moments.
He completely undid me, always had.
“How are Sal and Kat?” I asked, unable to temper my curiosity and wanting to change the subject.
“They’re good,” he nodded. “They got married when they were in Spain,” he told me, rocking my world.
“What! That’s great!” I exclaimed, happy for my brother, while aching with regret that I’d missed so much.
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“How’s everyone else?”
“You should come home and see,” he challenged.
“How are you?” I asked quietly, ignoring his comment.
He turned to me, his hand reaching out to sweep my hair back from my neck. That slight touch made me shiver. He didn’t miss it. “I’ll be a lot better when my girl’s home where she belongs,” he answered without preamble.
Uh, what?
“Since when…?” I trailed off, utterly shocked.
“Since always, Soph,” he answered. “You and me, we have some shit to sort out. You need to tell me why you left and I need to prove to you that you’re mine.”
Oh, God, how I’d fantasized about hearing something like this from him. Now? Now I couldn’t do anything about it.
“Ax, this isn’t just about you and me,” I swallowed over the huge lump in my throat. “If it’s guilt you’re feeling or something like it, seriously, you can let that go. It’s not why I left,” I told him seriously. “I want you to be happy. I hope you will be.”
He looked at me, his eyes searching through to my very soul. “You’re telling me there’s no chance for us – none?” he demanded.
I met his gaze, knowing I needed to. “None,” I whispered.
“I don’t believe you,” he growled, vindication in his tone. No doubt he’d caught the lie in my eyes. He always seemed to be able to do that.
I looked at the time on my phone and winced. I knew Jill had it covered but Mad wasn’t sleeping so well with his teething. “I have to go,” I told him. “I’m sorry. It was good to see you,” I said quietly, sliding off my barstool and delivering a quick kiss to his cheek.
I slipped out of there before he could stop me.
“Sophie!” I heard his deep voice holler when I’d reached the sidewalk.
I took a deep breath, bracing myself before turning to meet his gorgeous face.
“What?” I asked impatiently.
“This,” his deep voice growled, pulling me into his big body with such force I had to put my hands up against his chest to stop from slamming into him.
Then his mouth was on mine with a kiss so consuming my knees literally went weak. His tongue stroked mine with beautiful skill, breaking only for his teeth to nip my lower lip, licking the sting away. His hands buried themselves in my hair tugging slightly as moisture pooled between my legs.
