She looks at the chair. “No, they’re not, but I can’t ask—”
“You’re not. I’m offering.”
“What will your family think?”
“I’m a big boy, Haven. I don’t have to answer to anyone but myself.”
She nods in understanding. “How about you take the bed and I’ll take the chair?”
Okay, so she’s not opposed to me staying with her, she’s just opposed to me being uncomfortable, and I like that about her. She’s definitely not a pampered princess like the media makess her out to be. My heart softens as she moves toward the chair.
“Not happening, Haven,” I say and capture her hand. I spin her to face me and that’s when I see it—lust in her eyes as our fingers connect. She doesn’t pull away. Nope, instead she weaves her fingers through mine, and damned if that doesn’t stroke my cock.
With my traitorous dick thickening, I stand over her, hover close, watch a streak of pink crawl into her cheeks.
“I just don’t understand why you would do this,” she says so quietly I have to strain to hear.
“Because it’s the right thing to do,” I say.
Her tongue caresses her bottom lip, like she’s moistening it, for me, and so help me God, if I wasn’t in that chair tonight, I’d be rubbing one out.
“Do you…always do the right thing?”
“No,” I say flat out.
I let her hand go, and move around her before I show her just how often I do the wrong things. “Get some sleep, Haven.” I plunk down in the chair.
She hesitates, her gaze going from me to the big bed, back to me. “I mean…” she begins. “This is your room and your bed. Maybe we could share it. Put a pillow in between us or something.
I laugh again. “You think a pillow is going to do anything?”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven,” I say. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’d really like to fuck you. I’d like to fuck you into next week until you can’t remember your own name, but never forget mine. But that’s not part of the deal here. I’m going to take care of you because I want to. Wanting to fuck you is something different.”
“Oh,” she says and takes a fast gulping breath.
“Oh, is right and you need to understand this. If you invite me into that bed, a pillow isn’t going to keep me from you. Fuck, a goddamn brick wall wouldn’t be able to hold me back.” My gaze drops, takes in her damp pajama shirt and the way her nipples are puckering so beautifully. I fist my hands and release them again, eager to touch her, taste her, put my cock deep inside her until her walls clench around me in orgasm. My gaze travels back to her face, and while I know this is my buddy’s sister—bro code and all—and would rightfully hand me my ass if I touch her, I can’t help but want her. My dick has been hard since that kiss at the Winchester. But she’s vulnerable right now, afraid of her own shadow and I’m not a guy to take advantage of the situation. “Do what you want with that information,” I say.
4
Haven
Do what you want with that information.
As Tyler’s words ping around inside my lust-rattled brain, I move to my suitcase and pull out a dry T-shirt. I hug it to my chest and note the way he’s scrubbing his face like he’s in total agony as he watches my every movement carefully.
I inhale, sucking in a breath of courage. Honestly, I cannot believe what I’m about to do. Seducing a stranger is not my style, but why can’t I have a night with this guy? The second I pressed my lips to his, felt his strength—his protectiveness—it filled me with a kind of want I’d never experienced before. He’s big and tough, and like all MMA fighters, he’s scary and threatening, buzzing with power and control, but there is another side of him, one that draws me in and wraps me in safety. I’m not asking for forever here, just one night. One night to feel wanted, comforted—sheltered—in his arms.
“I…um…I need to change my shirt.”
“Yeah,” he says and turns his head and a small smile touches my mouth at his gentlemanly manners. He’s a fighter. A guy like him takes what he wants. He doesn’t ask for it, doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in his way. I’ve seen him in the cage, seen him knock teeth out with a single punch, his every hit deliberate and thorough. Would he be like that in bed? A fire burns low in my belly, eager to find out.
“The thing is though, Tyler,” I say, and his head slowly swivels back until his eyes are locked on mine. “If you were my boyfriend, you probably wouldn’t turn your head while I changed, right? I mean, if we were to really convince people, especially my stalker, that we’re a couple, we should probably be familiar with each other. Or at least display some type of intimacy in public.” I open my mouth to continue, but stop when the green in his eyes deepens.
“Do you know what you’re doing, Haven?”
I gulp. “Yes,” I say and as my gaze drops to take in the rippling muscles on his chest, I’ve never been more sure of anything. This man is a work of art, absolutely gorgeous and I want to touch him more than I want my next breath.
He tilts his head. “I’m a prick. You know that, right?”
I give a nervous laugh. “I’ve heard, but you’ve been nothing but nice to me.”
“I don’t always do the right thing,” he says, his voice rough and edgy.
“Maybe that’s okay with me. Maybe I’m not looking for Mr. Right tonight, Tyler.”
His green eyes go dark, feral almost, and he waves a finger back and forth between the two of us. Even though he’s warning me against getting involved, he wants this every bit as much as I do. It’s written all over him, and of course, he’d told me so with his own words.
“You’ve had a rough night. Trauma and emotional exhaustion can make you do strange things,” he says. “I need you to be sure.”
He’s right. I am emotionally exhausted, and that can make a person do strange things, but the way he’s checking in with me makes me want him even more. “My night hasn’t really been that rough,” I say, and slide my teeth over my bottom lip. His resulting growls sends shivers through me. “It could be rougher.”
Good Lord, what am I saying? Do I want it rough with this guy? I take in his mouth, his big hands. Do I want him to take me with that sexy mouth, demand with those rough hands? My God, I do, and honestly that surprises me. I’ve never wanted it like this before…then again, do I even know who Haven is, or what she wants? I don’t but tonight is a different story. Will I regret this come morning? I guess I’m going to find out.
“Tell me what you want,” he says.
“I want you.”
“If we start this, the second I get my mouth on you, there’ll be no stopping.”
“I have no intention of tapping out, Tyler,” I say. He angles his head, his gaze roaming my face, and I think back to what I know about this man. “Just one night,” I say quickly. “I’m not looking for a future, Tyler.”
His brow furrows and something dark and dangerous flashes in his eyes before he quickly blinks it away. “No future, got it.”