More of you.
Her head was still buzzing from the sex. Despite her inability to climax, she’d loved every minute of him. She loved losing herself in his strong embrace…and she loved forgetting, even if just for a couple of hours. Pangs of guilt and sadness washed over her.
He knitted his brow. “What’s wrong?”
Either she was terrible at hiding her feelings or he was excellent at reading people. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“I ask you a simple beverage question and you look like someone died.”
Her heart dipped.Oh, God.Clearly, she sucked at hiding her feelings. She needed to keep a clear head, so she opted for coffee.
As Dakota brewed a pot, she studied him. His private brand of confidence teetered on cocky, but there was a determination in his eyes and an intention in everything he did. Whether he was standing at a podium, or putting Matt in a choke hold, or role playing at the club, he was in complete control. Power and charisma clung like the throng of women who tailed him around The Dungeon. But it was the constant stream of frustration surging off him that intrigued her the most. What dark secrets did Dakota carry around that weighed him down?
What did he do besides run his real estate company and enjoy the late-night company of a masked woman? Only one way to find out. Rather than answerhisquestions, she’d do the asking.
Once the coffee had finished brewing, he poured two cups, slid the container of sugar packets toward her and opened the fridge beneath the bar. “Cream?”
“Almond milk.”
He set the container on the bar and pulled out a small pitcher.
“Carton’s fine.” He slid it over and their fingers brushed as she took it from him. Streams of electricity charged through her. Their gazes held across the bar for an extra beat. Had he felt that, too?
After pouring the remaining brew into a carafe, he sat beside her on the barstool. He was so close and so damn kissable. But she had this perfect opportunity to learn more about him, so she steeled her spine and forged forward.
“What do you do besides hang out here?” she began.
“I run a real estate company.”
She sipped the hot drink, savoring the hearty flavor. “That must keep you busy.”
A shadow fell over his eyes. “My managing partner runs the day-to-day operations.”
“Does that mean you’ve got a lot of time on your hands?”
As he paused to drink, she wondered if he was composing a canned response. “I’ve got a few other businesses that eat into my week. There are six of us—close friends from college—and we own several businesses together.”
While she had zero expectations he would confide his darkest secrets, she was hoping he’d tell her something about himself that she hadn’t already gleaned off the Internet. “What do you do for fun? Got any hobbies?”
She was drowning in a sea of inane questions and vague answers.
“I work, a lot. I play here.” He ran his hand down her arm. “I’m much more interested in you. Why didn’t you want me to know it was you?”
And just like that, he’d taken the offense. Rather than push back, she opted for the chill approach. Like him, she’d answer his questions, but disclose nothing.
“Stryker said no fraternizing with the clientele.” He hadn’t actually said that, but it was kinda assumed.
He chuffed out a laugh. “Stryker did not use the wordfraternizing.”
“Well, I’m here to do a job, not screw the members.” That part was true.
“You won’t hear any complaints from me.” He held her gaze while he ran the backs of his fingers down her arm, warming her skin from his touch. How could such a simple act elicit such a strong reaction?
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured. “Too beautiful, really.”
Her heart skipped a beat, but she couldn’t get snared in his web. “I’m not even sure how to respond to that.”
“Kiss me.”
