Page 50 of Static

"Sorry," Static said with a chuckle, but he was eyeing me. It was that careful look he often wore whenever I was around.

The one I knew was just for me, because I needed the damn thing. He had to be careful in how he handled me. Oh, how I wished I could just shove all my issues into some deep dark hole and never let them out again. "It's okay," I gasped. "You just startled me."

"Thought you heard me walk up."

They did tend to stomp in those heavy military boots they liked to wear. "I was just mentally cataloging what the kids will need for their sleepover with Jordan and Ricochet tonight."

Slowly, one of Static's eyebrows rose. "They're staying the night?"

"Yes."

He crossed his arms over his chest and he gave me a devastating smile. The kind that could singe a girl's panties at twenty paces. "Then how about you and I have a sleepover, too?"

"Oh." My mind went directly to, what if the kids needed me? But they wouldn't. They did just fine with their uncle and aunt.

"Your pace, Sugar," he reminded me. "Nothing will happen that you don't want, but I want to wake up with you in my arms again."

My breath caught in my throat. All I could do was nod. It was impossible to resist this man. I wasn't sure how I'd managed for so long, but now that we were trying this, I had a feeling I was going to be crashing through barriers faster than I ever believed possible.

"Good," he rumbled. "My place. I'll order take out."

A night off of cooking? That worked for me. "Okay," I told him with a smile.

He reached out slowly, grasping my chin and tilting my head to the angle he wanted it before he fit his lips to mine. He didn't seem to care that we were in the middle of the clubhouse where anyone could see us. No one was around right now, other than Scarlett, who was at the bar. But she was busy looking everywhere but at us.

I couldn't stop the sigh that escaped me. His kisses were so powerful and intoxicating. He ended the kiss before it could get too hot and heavy, leaving me aching for more.

"I've got to get back," he said, nodding toward the back part of the club. "But I'll see you around five?"

Nodding, I watched him walk away. I let myself revel in the fact that I, Gwen Barrett, had a boyfriend again. I felt as giddy as a teenager. Sighing happily, I went upstairs to pack the essentials my children would need.

"This looks great," I told Static as he set a plate of Chinese food down in front of me.

He gave me a crooked smile. "Thanks, but your food is better."

I laughed. "My food is nowhere near the level of Chinese food," I insisted, snagging up a piece of Sweet and Sour Pork with my fingers, then licking them clean. My kids weren't here so I didn't have to be careful about table manners. The silence went on too long and when I glanced up I found Static staring at me as though he were a starving man and I was the only nourishment he'd seen in a long time. Blushing, I tried to remember the last time someone looked at me like that. I tilted my head.

"What?"

"Huh?" I asked as he sat next to me.

"You look...surprised." He twirled noodles on his fork and shoved a massive bite into his mouth.

"Oh, it's nothing." I looked surprised because I realized the answer was no one. Not once in my life, before Static, had a man looked at me that way. Sure, there'd been desire. But not that all-encompassing need.

"If you're not going to tell me about it, store it away, Sugar," he suggested. He flashed me a smile. "I want to spend some time with my girl."

I set my fork down, fully aware that he frowned when I did, but it didn't derail my new train of thought. "Is this weird for you?" I asked. Hesitating, I wondered how much to admit. Then I figured part of this was to get to know one another on a new level. How could we do that if we didn't open up? "Because, I...sort of started liking you a while ago," I admitted. "But then I thought there's no way that this," I motioned between him and I, "would ever happen. So I ignored it. And sometimes had to mentally berate myself for thinking about you too much." I laughed and saw that there was amusement on his face as well.

"No, Gwen. It's not weird." He grinned at me. "All the guys have been waiting for this to happen. They knew it was only a matter of time."

My eyes widened. "They did?"

"Yeah. Guess I didn't hide the fact that I...liked...you very well either."

There was that heated stare again. I knew for a fact that even though Static had straight up told me he wanted to sleep with me, that wasn't all he wanted. One, he'd given me the commitment I requested, which is a huge clue. But even before that, the girls also knew he liked me. And now I was finding out the men knew, too. But it was the way he had always interacted with me. After my divorce, I'd gone on a few short, and thoroughly awful dates. Once they found out I was a single mom they split so fast my head had nearly spun. And one man's idea of a date was to insult me the entire time, thinking that was somehow going to get him laid.

After that, I just decided to focus on my kids and myself. I never got the chance to try again. Never really wanted to. And then Static showed up in my life.

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