My eyes dropped down. Her lip bite was cute.
Every reasonable thought flew out the window.
I could take her back to my place. I could lay her down on my kitchen counter like a feast and taste her cunt like the sweetest nectarine. I could find out exactly what it would feel like for her long legs to wrap around my waist and for my cock to fill her with every inch. For her to shatter around me as I pounded into her, for her nails to rake down my back and her teeth to sink into my skin.
But, we were standing in line around people thatknewme. The small town gossip mill was already turning over the big city artist visiting us. And here I was with my arms damn near around her, my cock threatening to strain against my jeans.
If we walked out together now, everyone would know. And while I wasn’t against it, I didn’t want to be interrogated by my siblings aboutwhat I was doingwith the new artist. I also didn’t want her to deal with any of that either.
“Because I’m a gentleman,” I finally said. Was I actually? Because all I could think about right now was what she’d looklike beneath me begging for me to make her come again. “And I want to know more about you before I have my way with you.”
Madi snorted. “Okay, sir.Have your way with me.We’ll see.” She pulled her wrist free of my grip with a smirk and put a couple inches between us as she glanced up at the menu.
Which was for the best.
Because the dominant part of me, the part of me I wrangled with every fucking day, wanted to yank her back against me and promise to fuck the sass out of her later.
But I was a patient man.
Madi decided on her lunch. “Avocado toast. I’m a basic bitch at the end of the day.”
She kept making me laugh. Fuck, I wanted to hold her. “Do you want to go pick us out a table?”
Madi nodded, her eyes slowly moving around the cafe. She was seeing it now. The way the entire room was sneaking glances at us. “Everyone is watching us,” she whispered. “I feel like I’m in a horror movie.”
“They’re all nosy,” I whispered back. “And you’re beautiful. So of course they’re staring.”
“I think they’re staring because of you. How about I grab a table outside so we have some privacy?”
“Perfect,” I agreed. “I’ll be out in a few minutes, princess.”
Madi took one more look around and then headed straight for the door. My eyes trailed from the counter at the cafe to out the window. She picked out a table with an umbrella, but the sun still found her. I would have too, if I were a ray of light.
“Oh,hiMr. Whynot. How are you? How’s your friend? What’s her name?”
Internally, I died. I was at that age now where all the teens called me Mr., and it made me want to rebel and claim I was still young and hip and with the times. I sighed as I looked up at Tabby.
“Why are you being so nosy?” I asked.
Tabby’s braces beamed. “Everyone is. I’ve already heard whispers that she’s reclusive. That the city artist showed up and has just been staying at the hotel.”
“Reclusive,” I growled. “That’s absolutely . . . You know what, never mind. Two avocado toasts, a cappuccino, and whatever the sweetest coffee drink you have.”
Tabby’s eyes lit up. “I know just the thing.”
“Great. Thanks.”
I paid quickly and moved out of the way of other folks in line, avoiding all eye contact. I really wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone but Madi. And who the fuck had called her reclusive?
I massaged my temples at the thought of anyone saying random shit about her. Gossip was by far my least favorite thing about Whynot. Everyone needed fucking hobbies.
My gaze moved back to her. I was completely out of practice when it came to flirting, and the last time I’d kissed someone . . .
Well, I wasn’t sure I could count that. It’d been a mistake. At least, it was a mistake according to June, who said it was “driven by New Year’s Eve drinking and seeing our friends in love.”
Except neither one of us had been drinking that night. And I’d definitely been thinking about kissing her for the last few years. Wanting her even though she always pushed everyone away. Keeping track of all the people she’d dated.
Fuck. I needed to put her out of my mind.
