Page 9 of Hothead

“By all means ... show me.” That devilish glint in her eye was enough to make him gulp.

This was going to get embarrassing real quick. There are certain things a man cannot hide when a hot as fuck woman sits right on it.

“Angel,” he practically growled at her, “you better make a decision real fast ’cause once you climb on, I expect you to stay for the whole damn ride.”

She did not give two shits about his new predicament. It only seemed to spur her on more, moving that sexy ass in his lap until spots behind his eyes started to appear. But it wasn’t that which made him want to beg for mercy, no, it was when her head dipped and those red lips drifted over his mouth. Careful not to touch him. Instead, she teased. Whiskey-flavored sugar so close he could taste it.

“Let me guess ... this ride of yours is guaranteed to make me scream?”

“Damn fucking right it is.” His hands went to her waist, hauling her closer.

A moment later, he felt the vibration of her hum against his lips, forcing his breathing to pick up. If she carried on like this, he’d be hyperventilating in no time.

He tried to think back to the last time he wanted a woman so badly. And he came up blank. The answer was never. He’d never wanted a woman as badly as he wanted this one.

It wasn’t because he needed sex either, which, coincidently, he did. All the anger, unfairness, and regret had to go somewhere. And as far as outlets go, sex had always been a damn fine option. But it was more than that this time. Bella was more than that.

All the more reason to stop right fucking now.

He couldn’t even if he wanted to. Especially when those sexy lips dragged up his jawline, grazing his stubble and filling his stomach with fire. When they reached his ear, he felt goosebumps immediately break out across his exposed skin as her breath hit.

“What if I want to makeyouscream, Cappelli?” Did he actually just quiver? The tip of her tongue traced the shell of his ear. He was dangerously close to begging now. For what though, he still wasn’t sure. “Such a shame you’re not ready for me.”What? Like hell I’m not.“Not ready for me to run my tongue over every inch of this body, until it’s my name you’re screaming. Over. And over. And over again.”

Jesus H. Christ.

Her hips rocked, and those naughty teeth nipped hard enough to wrench a groan from the depths of his soul.

“I beg to differ, darlin’. You wanna make me scream? You go on right ahead.” He had a feeling it wouldn’t take long.

Just as he was ready to throw her down and teach that mouth of hers a lesson, he lost her. Her teeth unclasped his abused lobe, her hot body was no longer warming his lap, and her sexy as fuck eyes flared from a new position. Above. Standing next to the couch and looking down.

“Read the letter, Luke.” The familiar piece of paper was pulled from her pocket and tossed onto the table. “My number’s on the back. Call me when you’re ready to stop playing games.”

Before he’d had a chance to reply, or even compose himself, she gave him her back—a fine back it was at that—and swayed those hips right on out of his door.

What the hell just happened?

***

It was several hoursbefore Luke did in fact read the letter his brother had left him. And when he did, he couldn’t believe what he was reading. So much so, he read it again. And again. And then one more time.

Now he was parked up at the Evans ranch trying to figure out why he’d driven all the way out there. Why his first instinct had been to go to her. She was dangerous. This afternoon had proved that.

Sexual attraction he could handle, the other feelings she was stirring up, however, were another story. It was way out of his comfort zone. And what scared him most, was he had no idea how she’d managed to elicit such a reaction.

She may have thought he was playing games, but he wasn’t. He didn’twantto want her. He just didn’t know how not to. Which was bad enough. But the ultimate head fuck was that it wasn’t just his body that craved her. For the first time in his life, he needed more than just the physical. Sure, stripping her naked and taking her sounded like a good time, but discovering more about who she was, what she liked, and who she loved sounded a hell of a lot better.

What the hell is wrong with you, man? You stumble into a Hallmark fucking film or something?

He was cracking up. Clearly.

It’s the shock. Grief. The guilt. Marco’s gone.

Yes. That was it. He nodded to himself. That had to be it. Hearing Marco’s name, learning he’d been murdered, reading his letter, all of it. It had messed with his head. Brought up old wounds that had corrupted the attraction he was feeling for this woman.

He'd decided long ago relationships were not for him. And Bella ... well, he knew from the very first time she shut down the crap he liked to pull, she wasn’t the kind of woman you don’t walk away from. She’s the type you want in your bed every night. To wake up to every day. And who deserved more than what he could give her.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and make a damn decision.

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