Page 79 of Obligation
“Jewelry, too,” he mumbled, not releasing her lips. “Lots and lots of jewelry. And a new purse. Girls like purses, right?”
Carissa sighed, her hot breath tantalizing. “Stop trying to buy me.”
“Consider it bribery, then.” He traced her bottom lip with his tongue, and her mouth parted for him. “I don’t really care what you want to call it.”
“Bradley?”
“Hmm?”
“Stop talking.”
This time, he was the one to laugh. “Answer me, and I will.”
With a frustrated huff, she firmly pushed against his chest. He eased back and met her gaze. “Do I really have a choice? You won the bet. Ihaveto do this for you,” she said.
“Hey. No.” He released her and stepped back. “I mean, yeah, I won the bet, but youalwayshave a choice, Carissa.” His tone was unwavering.
The very last thing he ever wanted to do was make her feel like she was trapped or had to do something she didn’t want to do. He wasn’t that kind of guy, and he needed her to know that, even if that meant he had to go to Texas alone and get auctioned off.
Gently, he rested his hands on her shoulders. “If you really don’t want to go, I’ll understand.”
“You will?” Her eyes filled with tears.
Where had those come from? And why? He assumed whatever had caused her tears was leftover stuff from how Danny treated her, but Bradley wasn’t Danny, and the sooner she realized that, the better.
“Of course I will.” He smiled softly. “How about you get to choose my prize? Either go to Texas with me, or let me take you out on a date.”
“Can I have a few days to think about it?”
He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Absolutely.”
“Thank you.” She smiled, rested her hands on his waist, and peered up at him with those big hazel eyes.
God, those eyes and that look she gave him was going to be his undoing. His heart raced, his skin tingled, and his insides thrummed with a need that rivaled anything he’d ever felt before. Gaze locked with hers, he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
The instant their lips touched, a surge of lustful desire shocked his system, and he lost all common sense. He operated on pure emotion, adrenaline, and raging hormones. His kiss was hard and dominant and somewhat demanding. He knew he needed to slow down, but she met every flick of his tongue with one of her own, her sighs and moans echoing in his head and reverberating through his body.
Picking her up, laying her on her bed, slowly peeling away what little clothing she wore would be so easy, and he didn’t think she’d stop him, either. And as badly as he wanted her naked and in his arms, he refused to have sex with her when he hadn’t even taken her on a proper date yet. Something so intimate wasn’t meant to be shared with just anyone, and he had a sinking feeling she felt the same way.
Groaning, he tore his mouth from hers. “I think I should go,” he said, panting.
“What?” Hurt laced that single word. “Why?”
“Because we both know what’s going to happen if I stay.” He cradled her face and caressed her flushed cheeks with his thumbs. “Believe me, I want that more than anything. I wantyou, but I also want to make sure we do this right.”
“God, you’re like an alien or something.” She covered his hands with hers, then eased them from her face. “I don’t know any other guy who would willingly walk out of this room right now when he has a sure thing standing in front of him.”
Her words slammed into him with the force of a wrecking ball. A sure thing? Maybe he should reconsider his decision. He shook the thought away. He was determined to do everything right with Carissa.
“Well, I’m not like other guys.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” Her smile was flirty if not a little grateful. “Thanks for being such a nice guy.”
“Just remember that this nice is going to get the girl.” He scooped his backpack from the floor and slung it over his shoulder.
“We’ll see about that.” She licked her lips, her face still flushed from the heat of their kisses.
She was a vision standing there like that, and he once again second guessed his decision to leave. But in the end, he knew his choice would pay off for both of them. He reached for the doorknob and opened the door.
