“The pizza’s here,” I said as the doorbell pealed again.
He nodded. “We’re gonna eat, then we’re gonna talk some more.”
“I think you’ve said enough.”
“Babe,” he said with a sigh.
“Let me up so I can pay for the pizza.”
“You’re not payin’ for the pizza, Dani.”
I let out a frustrated groan. “You are not the boss of me.”
He climbed off me. “For the sake of our current argument, baby, let’s say I am.”
I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping open as he sauntered away from me toward my front door. I knifed off the sofa and made my way to the kitchen muttering to myself. How could a man who drove me so frickin’ crazy manage to also make me mad with desire? It didn’t make any sense to me.
Austin joined me, setting the food on the counter as I opened the fridge, but before I could grab him another beer, he wrapped an arm around me and turned me to face him. His hand went to my neck again, his thumb to my pulse, and he studied me for several seconds. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
I sighed. “Same.”
“Will you be patient with me, Dani?”
I shook my head. “We can’t do this.”
“Yes, we can.”
“We can’t.” I pulled away from him. “My family’s all about the law, Austin. Your club’s not. It’s a total conflict of interest.”
He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “My club’s clean.”
“Clean, clean, or just untouchable?”
He frowned.
“Club business?” I snapped.
“What the hell do you want me to say, Dani?”
“I want you to tell me something, anything. But I want the truth.”
“Babe.”
“Forget it,” I said.
“Don’t shut down on me, Dani. Just tell me what you’re thinkin’.”
“I just want you to be realistic. It’s obvious we’re attracted to each other, but you can’t base a relationship on just lust.”
“We’re in a relationship now?” he challenged.
“Absolutely not.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “How about you take your pizza and go? I’ll find a way to pay you back for the car. I really appreciate all your help.” I started for the front door. “I hope you have a nice life.”
I’d made it just past my dining table when he grabbed my arm and tugged me into his arms. His mouth slammed onto mine and he kissed me with an intensity I’d never experienced before. I hated that I loved it. Hated that I couldn’t resist him. Hated that heat pooled between my legs as he slid his hand under my shirt.
Austin broke the kiss with a scowl. “You’re a fuckin’ pain in my ass, baby.”
“Then leave.”
He shook his head. “Not gonna happen.”
“I don’t understand what you want from me,” I snapped.
“I’m gonna show you.”
I shook my head. “Not tonight you’re not.”
“Dani,” he said, his tone pitched low in warning.
“What, Austin?” I bellowed. “I don’t know you. I’m not jumping into bed with you just because I’m attracted to you. For all I know, I could be one in a long line of women you like to “do” on a regular basis. I’ve heard about your types of gangs and how you pass women around and that is not me. You may be used to biker whores who like that… hell, they probably live for the chance to provide you with fellatio… or other kinds of sexual favors, but I’m not one of them.”
“Fuck me.” He raised an eyebrow. “Fellatio?”
“Yes. Oral sex.”
“You think I’m standing here expecting you to suck me off?” he asked.
“Don’t be crude,” I said, my face on fire.
“You can’t say it, can you, Dani?”
“I just did,” I countered.
His hand went to my neck again, the familiarity of his thumb sweeping over my pulse, and he smiled. “Baby, one day… soon… you and I are gonna take this further. Maybe you’ll suck my cock, maybe you won’t, but I will definitely eat your pussy, and you’ll love it. You will scream for more and I will oblige. I will take my time and make you come… more than once. I’m thorough and I’m very good at what I do, so you’ll beg for more and when you do, I’ll give you more.” He stroked my pulse again. “What I will not do is share. Neither will you. Get me?”
Danielle
I swallowed, squeezing my legs shut in an effort to stop my body’s traitorous reaction.
“Dani?”
“What?” I rasped.
“Do. You. Get. Me?” he repeated.
I licked my lips and nodded.
“Good.” He smiled again. “Let’s eat.”
I swallowed, but continued to stand where I was.
“Babe?” he said. “Food.”
I nodded again and followed him back into the kitchen, wholly unclear on what had just happened. Austin seemed perfectly at ease, while I felt like I needed a cold shower.
We sat at my small dining room table and ate in virtual silence, Austin leaving me to my thoughts which really wasn’t a good idea on his part, because I spiraled. Big time.
I made it through one piece of pizza before I realized if I ate another, I’d throw up. I took my plate back to the kitchen. Rinsed it, put it in the dishwasher, and turned to get his, but he was already right behind me.
His arms came around me and he gave me a squeeze. “You’re gonna be fine, Dani. We’re gonna make this work and you’ll learn to trust me.”
I did a face plant into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist and breathing him in. He smelled delicious. Leather and cologne… not too heavy… but just enough to make me want to lick every part of his body, starting with his mouth. I shook off my thoughts and let him hold me. “You freak me out.”
He chuckled. “I’m pickin’ up on that.”
I leaned back so I could see his face. “I feel like I’ve known you forever and that scares me. I just can’t trust you this fast. It’s unwise.”
“I’m gonna give you time. You’ll see.”
“What do we do about my family?”
He shrugged. “Whatever you want to do. But if this works out the way I want it to work out, I’m gonna have to meet them.”
I pulled away from him and poured a glass of wine. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms while I sipped and contemplated. He let me think for about six minutes before he took the glass from my hand and put it on the counter. “I’m still working on that,” I complained.
He pinned me in, his hands on either side of my hips, leaning against the counter. “You can have your wine in a minute. Right now, you need to listen to me.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Not the boss of me.”
He chuckled. “If you want me to be patient and wait, baby, you need to stop being cute.”
“I’m not trying to be cute, I’m being serious.”
Austin leaned closer. “That’s why it’s cute.”
He kissed me, and damn it if I didn’t melt right then and there. I had to figure out a way to get myself together and quit doing this. Of course, I thought of this while I slid my hands into his hair and deepened the kiss. Austin lifted me onto the counter and I wrapped my legs around him as he moved into me. His lips moved to my neck, while a hand went under my shirt and pulled one bra cup down, scraping a nail across my nipple. I gasped as he rolled it between his fingers and I couldn’t help myself from pushing into his touch.
“Austin?”
“Mmm?”
“We need to stop,” I said, my breath coming in short bursts.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.