Page 15 of Stealing Iris

“I’m glad you like it.” Bunny’s place is always bustling. No matter what time we showed up, she always had customers.

“I notice your dad’s name is Tony Gloria. So he owns the store.”

It’s sweet he saidisinstead ofwas. Though it’s a little thing, most people don’t catch onto how much it can hurt if you haven’t given up hope.

CHAPTER SEVEN

DANTE

Iris slides toward the edge of the worn booth, pushing off in a little bounce that has her shirt catching under her. The soft cotton tugs against her breasts and waist to show off her curves by the time she’s standing. I pick up the to-go plate while she turns, adjusting the shirt to drape across the curve of her ass, before heading to the exit ahead of me.

More than one man sits up straighter as she walks by, her hips swaying naturally with each step. I don’t like it. A flash of possessiveness tears through me, and I drop a hand to her waist, letting them all know to fuck off.

For once, I can appreciate the ugly smock she wears at work because nobody else needs to be watching her beautiful ass. I reach above her to push open the door, and she glances back with the sweetest smile. Then I do something I haven’t considered doing since puberty, I weave my fingers through hers, as we make it out of the little hole-in-the-wall café.

My dick’s been at attention since Bunny got me thinking about breeder’s hips. I had my hands around those bare hips…when I brought her down onto my stiff cock. Despite the way everything happened, I can’t get the feel of her wrapped around me out of my head.

My focus should be on my surroundings, on any danger from the people we pass along the way to the corner parking lot instead of the damn pants she’s wearing. They’ve been in style for months, and women wear them everywhere, but few show off their bodies like she does, and I’m not sure she’s even trying.

“Are you okay?” Those brown eyes look up at me with a shade of concern.

I study her face. Every angle, every slope of her features reveal her innocence. If she only knew where my mind went, to that moment at the motel when she was naked in my arms, her pussy filled for the first time. Is she the type to head back to the store on her own? Or will she use that knowledge against me, knowing how she affects me?

“I’m good.” I pull out my keys and click the remote to turn on the truck from a block away. Hopefully, the air conditioner will kick in so everything can cool down while we drive back to the market.

We cross the street, hitting the pockmarked asphalt, to the far end of the parking lot, where I backed into the last slot. “Let me get the door.”

She crosses her arms, her gaze covering my face as she tries to figure out what’s going on. It only gets me harder. “You didn’t like Bunny?” Her shoulders sag, and her voice lowers to a whisper, as if my opinion of her friend is important. Knowing what I think matters to her shouldn’t affect me, yet it does.

I relax against the door, still holding the handle. “Bunny’s great,” I reply honestly. “I like how much she cares for you.” Once I say it, I realize it’s true. I like the relationship between the two women.

“But the tension around you is so thick I can feel it.” She got me there. “Is it me?” She hunches in a protective pose.

How the hell did I screw this up? I went from giving her space to making her feel like I’m pushing her away. I exhale in a rush, knowing I have to fix this any way necessary. “I guess maybe it is.” She swallows hard, dropping her gaze until her lashes fan out on her cheeks.

How do you handle a woman who’s both innocent and not at the same time? I haven’t a clue. So the best thing to do is keep to the truth. “I want to kiss you.” Bright, beautiful eyes stare back at me in an instant. “But you didn’t seem okay with the idea.” I shrug, laying my cards on the table. “I was measuring the consequences because I’m going to do it anyway.”

She sucks in a breath, the vein at her neck fluttering with her pulse. I drop off the to-go bag on the seat then bring her in to take her mouth.

Kissing her is everything I remembered, the plump lips, the taste of the woman herself, and the underlying sizzle of something I can’t quite describe. It’s why I crave this, why I show up even though she shot me down when I asked her out. At least that’s what I tell myself.

She draws away, just far enough to have space but still close enough for her lips to brush mine.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since I saw you,” I admit.

“Mmmm,” is all she shares.

I run the back of a finger down the side of her face, my cock getting harder at the fire in her eyes.

She doesn’t move away. “Maybe since before then.” I brush her mouth. “This morning.” I kiss her again. “Or last night, while I was in bed.”

Her lips part. “Is that right…”

“Then I show up to find you in this.” I run my palm from the middle of her back to her side, then down to have the full curve of her ass fill my hand.

“My laundry’s still on the line.”

My mind fills with the image of a clothesline with little purple panties, lacy bras, and blouses that might barely cover the interesting bits. “Maybe I can steal you away for a little while.” I nuzzle her cheek, working up her jaw.

---