Page 75 of Break Out

He let out a quiet sigh. “When I told you to put the credit card in my wallet, you got nosy didn’t you?”

“Not exactly, it was staring me right in the face.”

“I’m dangerous, Simone. You should keep that in mind.”

I dipped my chin. “I will. Can we go back to sleep now? This man who doesn’t want me to fall for him did an excellent job of fucking me earlier and I’m a wee bit wore out.”

He lowered his mouth to mine, and gently sucked on my lower lip. “You got it, Jade.”

I edged away from him. A moment later, he shifted to his side and spooned me. Yeah, this man was crazy if he expected me to promise something as outlandish as not falling for him. A strange thought hit me.

“Did you want that promise so you wouldn’t fall for me?” I whispered after a couple minutes.

He exhaled in a heavy, steady rhythm and I figured he’d fallen back to sleep. Men seemed to have that uncanny ability, not that I was jealous. I was completely jealous.

I closed my eyes and willed my mind to clear.

Then I heard him whisper, “No. I’m in free-fall, too.”

For the first time in a very long time, I fell asleep with a small smile on my face.

My boss had approved me working a half day on Friday because he knew I’d moved into a new apartment. This might have been the only reason I was willing to have a moonlight chat with Steel at two a.m. Though I was grateful I did. Knowing we were both in the same boat – free-falling for each other – gave me a reassurance like nothing else.

Steel’s phone vibrated before a tinkling alarm filled the bedroom at seven-thirty. I rolled away from the sunshine pouring into the room through the flimsy blinds, while Steel slid out of the bed and hit the shower.

The sound of water always made me drowsy and I dozed for a few more minutes. I cracked one eye open when I heard the door open. Steel sauntered out of the bathroom with a navy blue towel wrapped around his waist. His sparse chest hair failed to hide his luscious tattoos. I wondered how he kept his abs so ripped because I wasn’t the only one putting away fried shrimp and fish last night.

“Rest, woman. There’s no time for you staring me like that.”

I tossed the covers off and got out of bed. “No time in your schedule. I have plenty of time today, but I’ll let you get to it…whatever it may be.”

He dropped the towel and tugged on a pair of boxer briefs. “I’m not giving into your attempt to fish information out of me Jade. But, I’ll be back by six – maybe sooner depending on how shit goes.”

I nodded and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

After I washed my hands and brushed my teeth, I opened the bathroom door to find Steel in a pair of faded black Levi’s and a black t-shirt. My hands itched to run up and down his chest.

He grinned and shook his head. “You’re easy to read when you wake up, baby.”

I shrugged. “Can’t say I was trying to hide anything.”

“Does your buddy, Rafferty, have a truck? Or just a bike?”

I twisted my lips as I thought about it. “If he has a truck, it’s a beater, but he and I haven’t kept in touch that well while I was in Gainesville. I can ask him.”

He shook his head. “Don’t bother.”

“What do you need a truck for?”

A secretive smile made his eyes twinkle. “I’ll let you know later. Now come give me a goodbye kiss.”

I stepped into his space, and he wrapped his arms around me. What should have been a goodbye kiss quickly turned into a hot and heavy make-out session. Steel broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine. “Goddamn, Jade.”

I smiled. “You can say that again.”

He pulled away, but not before kissing my forehead. “Be good today.”

I rubbed my hands along his biceps. “I normally am.”

---