Page 110 of The Fixer

He finally pried Joy away when the place thinned out at nine. On the way back to his place, she stuck to the speed limit, even dipping below it, and he smiled to himself. She was practically a local.

He turned his head toward her, studying her profile as the dim light from passing porches highlighted the contours of her cheekbones. She was deep in thought, and a touch of sadness painted her lips.

“Did you have fun tonight?” he ventured.

She seemed to emerge from whatever thought well she’d lowered herself into. “Hmm? Oh yes.” She nodded, as if trying to convince herself.

“But you’re worried about getting back to Chicago and whatever’s waiting for you there, aren’t you?”

She twirled a hank of her hair. “I … Maybe?”

“You don’t have to pretend with me. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I know.” Her voice was small, very un-Joy-like. Where was that kick-ass confidence he loved?

A thought—or a calling—struck him in that moment. He’d been in a shit mood, and being with her, just soaking her up, had lifted him into a good mood. He wanted to do that for her. He wanted to protect her from things that upset her, that chased away her smile. He wanted to put her in his pocket and carry her off where they could just be.

It was no longer just a structure he was trying to salvage. He wanted to save her too.

“You know you can stay with me beyond tonight, right?”

Her head swiveled toward him, her eyes round. “But I don’t know how long I’m staying.”

“Doesn’t matter if it’s a day, a week, two weeks. Just stay with me as long as you can. The dogs love having someone else to lick. So do I.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Are you implying you alreadyhavesomeone to lick and I’ll be an additional lickee? And if so, when is this person showing up?”

When she slowed down at the intersection of two quiet streets, he leaned over the console and nipped her ear. “Always so literal. You know what I meant.” He rubbed his nose against the shell of her ear and traced it with the tip of his tongue, immensely pleased when a subtle shudder moved through her. They hadn’t been together long, but he was learning her body, and that gave him immense pleasure too.

“What will people think?” Her voice carried that breathy, intimate quality that got his juices flowing.

“I don’t give a fuck what people think,” he murmured. “Besides, no one said anything tonight, did they?”

“No, I felt quite at home.”

“So are you staying?”

“I don’t see how a girl can say no to you,” she quipped.

“If she’s smart, she shouldn’t. And I know how smart you are. Just sayin’.”

“Well, I’m glad we both agree on that point.”

He took her hand in his and squeezed it, resting their joined hands on the console. Satisfaction thrummed in his veins.

When they got back to his place, he led her to the bedroom, where he kissed her languidly, slowly removing her clothes while she removed his, skimming his fingers over her, exploring her body inch by inch the same way he’d explored her mouth. He laid her on the bed and covered her, inno hurry to do more than kiss her lush mouth, her throat, the juncture of her neck and shoulders. She tasted so damn sweet, and he couldn’t get enough.

Her supple body began to undulate beneath him, the movement suggesting soft lapping waves rippling rhythmically along the shore. She was ready to move to the next step, and a chuckle of satisfaction gurgled in the back of his throat. Indulging her, he moved down her chest and let his tongue play over a tip. Half gasps and broken moans fell from her parted mouth. With her back arching off the bed, eyes shut, her face was soft, lost in a world of pleasure—pleasurehewas giving her.

He transferred his attention to the other side, but her hands gripped his shoulders in a silent plea. As he crawled back up her frame, she tucked her ankle around his leg in a bid to roll them. He held her to him and let her maneuver them the wayshewanted. Yeah, she definitely enjoyed his aggressive side running the show, but lately she’d been asserting her own desires, and he loved the give-and-take that had developed between them.

Like right now. And God, he needed this. Neededher.

He sank back into the mattress and let her take what she wanted—and prayed his spine didn’t decalcify before she was done with him.

Chapter 31

Lunacy

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