Page 83 of Roses and Skulls

“To Heaven, baby. I’ll take you to Heaven,” I say, dropping my eyes to stare down at her.

Her gaze slowly climbs up my torso and I flinch. She smiles. Dammit, what this girl does to me. God, I want to tie her up and make her regret the way she is looking at me right now. Like she’s in control.

She jumps to her feet, dusting her ass off. “You know, I’ve never been convinced such a place exists.”

Time stops as we size each other up. She’s challenging me.

The ball on my tongue slides between my teeth and her breath hitches. I step into her, trailing my fingers down her arm. “Well, aren’t you lucky, because I know the exact coordinates to Heaven.”

Her eyelids drop a fraction, her muscles tense. She wants to step away from me, but it can’t happen. We’re magnetized. That is until the sliding door shoves open, and she falls backward. I wrap my arms around her, catching her seconds before she loses her balance.

“When I catch you, I’ll punch your ticket and you’ll see just how real Heaven is,” I inform her.

“Billie Rose, come inside and eat,” Dirk says, grinding his teeth.

She holds out her granola bar, not taking her eyes off me. “I’m good.” The wrapper rattles as she shakes her hand.

Dirk takes a step out, finally drawing our attention to him. He stands with his hands on his hips and points to the kitchen. “A real breakfast. Now,” he points to the door.

“You’ve got time, go on. I’ll shower and meet you in the kitchen.”

Billie Rose nods at me, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth.

Once she’s inside, I wait for the ass chewing to commence. Billie Rose already told me how her parents found leaves in her hair last night.

Dirk doesn’t scold me. In fact, the advice he gives me resonates deeply in his stormy eyes. “Don’t let your dick distract you so much that you miss something, and she gets hurt.”

I nod my head once, dropping my eyes to the ground.

“I’ll kill you if that happens,” he warns.

I meet his glare. “I’ll kill myself if that happens.”

Later that day, after I pick her up from Junkyard Treasures, Billie Rose and I decide to go to a quiet little ice cream shop for corn dogs and shakes. It’s the first time we’ve actually had to just sit and talk. I told her about my dream to open up a custom bike shop. She listened just like she did when we were kids, hanging on my every word. And I like that.

Lily pulled me aside when I picked her up and said she hadn’t seen Billie Rose smile this much since before the accident.

It makes me happy to be part of the reason for that smile.

I’ve enjoyed it all evening and that’s why it’s so noticeable when it falls from her face as we walk into the bar.

Grabbing her by the back of her hair roughly, I pull her into my chest, growling into her ear, “Am I going to have to shove my fingers back into your tight little cunt?”

A whimper falls from her lips.

“You’ve got this.”

Draven rounds the corner and spots us. He raises his brows and whistles. “Wow, he sure did a number on your face, didn’t he?” He whistles, his gaze bouncing over my face.

Billie Rose nervously glances up at me.

I smile wide. “Still got all my teeth,” I joke.

Draven laughs, he steps forward and places his arm around my girl, guiding her back to the office. “Anyhow, I’m glad you guys are back. The bar is fucking killing it. I’m going to need your help deciding if we need to increase our liquor order.” He snaps his fingers over his shoulder, indicating I should follow like a goddamn dog.

Flopping myself down on the leather couch, I listen as they discuss business and wait for my orders.

Honestly, the dude doesn’t seem to be interested in her for anything other than her knowledge and expertise at making him money.

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