Page 26 of His Dark Hunger

“I wished I’d made it.”If only to have consoled the grieving widow.

“If only we could turn back the clock, eh?” Her laughter was sad.

“Indeed.” It was fascinating to see her up close after so long of watching from afar. “I interrupted you.” He motioned to the check-out.

“I was trying to pay for my bread.” She glanced at the note in her hands. “I despise these machines.”

“They can be… temperamental.” He never had to waste time on things like grocery shopping anymore.

“That’s one way of putting it.” She sighed.

“Will you allow me to try?” He moved closer to her. “I have a way with these things.”

“Sure.” She thrust the money at him.

“Save your cash.” He reached into his pocket. “I have coins for this.”

“No, no!” she insisted.

A quick glance at her revealed her wonderful, blushing face.

“I can’t let you do that.”

“You’re notlettingme do anything.” Bless her. Apparently, she thought it was a discussion. “I’m offering to help.”

He slipped the coins into the slot to pay for her bread and waited as the machine processed the transaction and counted his change.

“That’s very kind.” She looked overawed as the transaction concluded. “Please, let me repay you.”

“I wouldn’t hear of it, Mrs. Kendal.” He presented her with the bagged loaf. “Consider it my good deed for the day.”

One I’ve been thinking about for longer than I’ve known you.

“Well, I’m exceptionally thankful.” Her eyes shone with gratitude. “And please, call me Amy.”

Amy.He liked the way she said her name, but he suspected his would sound even better on her tempting lips.

“Grateful enough to let me buy you dinner, Amy?” It was time to make his move. Perhaps her appreciation would blindside her into accepting a stranger’s invitation.

“Dinner?”

“Yes.” He couldn’t wait to taste her supple lips. She must be well into her forties, but even the hard life she’d endured didn’t show on her face. Amy was truly wonderful. “It’s a meal that people eat at the end of the day.”

“Yes.” Her brow rose. “I know what dinner is. I just can’t…” She hesitated. “Ishouldn’tsay yes. I don’t really know you.”

“I promise to be a gentleman.” He feigned a salute, ignoring the ache in his balls. “But I’d still like to have dinner with you.”

Lifting a hand to her cheek, that first meeting seemed like a hundred years ago, not less than a week. She was more his now than she’d ever been, and tonight’s indulgence would only reinforce his possession.

He kissed her crown tenderly, his feelings furling in his chest. It wasn’t only the scintillating sex or the way she was clearly born to surrender to his commands; there was the tugof something else, too, something deeper that stung at the thought of losing her. Something soul-aligned that terrified him.

“And let me make one thing abundantly obvious for you, little girl.” He drew their combined focus back to the task ahead, his heart speeding up at her widening blue eyes.

She spun, perhaps sensing the shift in his voice. “Sir?”

“If you inadvertently spill any course over my guests tonight, I’ll have you tipped over my lap to tan your gorgeous ass before you can even take another breath.”

He saw the moment the idea cemented in her mind, the instant she imagined him doing just that. A darker shade hued on her cheeks, convincing him that, although she’d loathe the embarrassment, there were parts of her that would welcome—and relish—that humiliating treatment.

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