I never stopped to think how lonely the kingpin’s life must be. Other criminals want his position. There are constant threats. Culpability. Relationships must be impossible.
I don’t realize I’ve wrapped my arms around his neck until Easton gathers me tighter, rocking me on the couch, his face taking deep inhales in my hair.
“Well…” I pause, questioning the wisdom of what I’m about to do. Am I crazy? I don’t know. But I can sense this man’s need for me and my instinct is to fulfill it. “We have the night to get to know each other, then. To make this meaningful. Romantic.”
His laugh releases in a rush. “Is this where I point out I already have you half naked?”
“Fair point. But you don’t want me to regret my first time.”
I state it as a fact. Because somehow I know it is one.
He lifts his head and scrutinizes my features, as if memorizing them. “No, cutie,” he says hoarsely. “I…don’t.”
“So take me on a date, Easton,” I whisper, giving in to the urge to brush his hair back.
The gesture, plus me saying his name, seems to unnerve him and soothe him all at once. One affectionate slip and he’s a cornered animal. He yanks me forward and pins me down to the couch so fast, a scream lodges in my throat. And then he’s above me, his body poised above mine, lethal and powerful, his hand dropping down to grip between my legs. “I could fuck you right now. Easy at first. Then hard enough to make you sore. And you would love it, little girl. Are we clear on that?”
My vision doubles, I’m so dizzy. From shock, from lust. From whatever foreign and unexpected effect this man is having on me. “Y-yes, we’re clear.”
Something like agony slips through his eyes. “Then why don’t I?”
“Who are you asking?” I breathe. “Me or yourself?”
He swallows, leans down and bares his teeth against my mouth. “I don’t take innocent little virgins out on dates. I don’t take anyone out on dates.”
“Where are we going, though?”
I have no idea when I got so brave.
Am I the same girl who passed out when I walked in here?
I don’t know where this confidence is coming from, but I have the complete conviction down deep in my belly that this man is not what everyone thinks. And that he is incapable of hurting me. That when it comes to hurt…he’s the one who’s experiencing it.
“You get to know me,” he says in a low voice. “You might not like what you find.”
Following impulse, I lean up and kiss his mouth softly, working my mouth over his until he makes a broken sound, kissing me back, winding his tongue around mine, his lips voracious, his grip tightening between my thighs until I whimper, shift my hips. Sensing we’re reaching the point of no return, I pull away. “I’ll take that risk,” I manage through deep breaths.
For long moments, we stare at each other and he seems torn. Conflicted. Starved. But I know in my heart he’s going to do the right thing. I’m positive.
And he proves me right when he rips away, pushing to his feet. He stalks across the luxury box like an angry panther, shoving a hand through his hair. Then, “Fuck. Let’s go on a date.”
3
Easton
It feels very odd to have another person in the back of my SUV.
Normally I travel alone.
I always imagined it would make me uncomfortable or intruded upon to have someone occupying my private space, but it doesn’t feel that way with Scout. She is doing that thing where she looks around with big, blinking eyes, as if her surroundings are a constant surprise to her. And once again, I ask myself what the fuck I’m doing.
This can only be a one-night thing.
But the possibility of me letting her go without any lasting damage to my sanity is growing slimmer and slimmer by the second.
That kiss.
Her sweet body under mine.
The way she challenges me, makes me examine myself…
It’s refreshing and terrifying. Half an hour in her company and I’m already beginning to thaw. Beginning to wonder if I’m a normal, breathing human under the layer of ice after all. And that makes this girl very dangerous. When tomorrow comes and I have to leave her behind, I could be left in this new state of living, but she won’t be here to nurture it.
I should take her home now, before I sink too deep, but…
It’s already happened.
And I can’t allow someone else to be her first time. No, I would rather fucking die. Thoughts of it would plague me for the rest of my life. Who was the lucky man? Did he give her enough romance? Did she cry out?
My grip tightens on the car door until it creaks, searing jealousy ripping through my gut.
No. It will have to be me. She’ll spread her thighs for the devil or no one else.
But for the first time in a long, long time, I don’t have a plan. I don’t know exactly what I will be doing one moment to the next. What even is romance? How do I make it happen? She claims it’s about knowing the person you’re with, but I have totally lost sight of myself…and I have no idea what she’ll discover.
“Where are we going?” Scout asks, beside me.
“I own a restaurant downtown. I’ve texted the manager to let him know we’re coming.”
“Oh.” Once again, she tugs on the hem of her dress, wetting her lips nervously. “Am I dressed right?”
My hand curls into a fist to prevent me from reaching for her. To fuck her on the seat and end the torture. Jesus, the moonlight loves her. Filtering in through the car window and bathing the slopes of her tits. Tits I’m all too aware feel indecently ripe in my hands. Ripe and young. “We’ll eat on the roof,” I say roughly. “No one is going to see you but me.”
She tucks her hair behind one ear. “Okay.”
Why am I speaking to this innocent girl so harshly? It’s not her fault I’m a depraved criminal who has forgotten how to have a normal conversation. I clear my throat. “You mentioned you love science. Does your job involve something scientific?”
“It will someday.” She sneaks me a glance. “When I graduate college.”
Jesus Christ. “And how long until that happens?”
“Well…it depends.” She folds her hands in her lap. “I should have another year left to complete my degree in physics, but it’s complicated.”
“Why?”
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Now I’d really like to know.” When she says nothing, I unhook her seatbelt and pull her across the back seat into my lap, tipping up her chin. “Out with it, cutie.”
She shifts on my cock and I grit my teeth. “It’s kind of embarrassing, you know? My sister, Whitney, is two years younger than me. But she’s been scrambling to pay for as much of my tuition as possible. So I won’t be stuck with a ton of loans. My father is a gambler, you see, and there was never a college fund…”
“Whitney is who you were sitting with tonight?”
“Yes.” She presses her hands to her chest. “She’s probably so worried about me right now. I love my sister. She’s my best friend.” Her exhale is sharp, a little annoyed. “That’s why I couldn’t let her marry Banner.”