“Mia? You okay?” He tilts his head.
I realize I’m still holding the water in my mouth. I swallow and set my glass down. “What? Fine. Yeah. Sure.”
He laughs at my sputtering and steps into my personal space. “You sure?”
“Totally. Why do you ask?”
“You went white as a ghost there. Or should I say zombie?” His knuckles skim over my cheekbone, a tender graze and I have to shut my eyes as his hand cups my jaw.
“I’m fine. Promise,” I whisper as my pulse races along with thoughts of this man. Of being together. Which only leads to images of more sex together and my lids snap open. His lips, so damn plump I want to kiss them, are only a short distance away and all I can focus on. Even when he laughs at me. He’s totally laughing at me.
“What?” I snap more harshly than I intend. Doesn’t deter his amusement.
“Nothing. I really like when you look at my mouth like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want these lips on you. All over you. Fuck, Mia. I think about that more than I should.”
“Me, too.”
“Shit. I’m already distracted. My question.”
“What question?”
“Will you ...” My heart skips a beat. That or I hold my breath until the rest of the words leave his glorious lips. “Come watch my guys fight?”
“Fight?” I shake my head because my attraction toward this man is now fucking with my ability to process words.
“Yeah, the one I’ve been telling you about. My guy, Xavier, has a big match-up. I think it could be a life changer for him. Me too, really. I have a couple others on the card also. Could be a big night for my gym and I’d like you to come.”
“Oh.” I don’t know why I’m disappointed. I really thought he was going to ask for more. And I was going to give it to him. My pride is more than a little bruised, which is stupid of me. I set these boundaries. I made the rules. He’s only playing by them. “So, should I bring a friend? How do I get tickets?”
His laugher, that deep rumble that shakes his entire chest, prickles my irritation, but only for a moment. He steps closer and cages me between him and the kitchen counter. My breasts press against his chest as he claims my lips for a kiss. When he pulls back we’re both out of breath.
“No, Mia. I want you to go as my date. Though it’s not a very good one when I think about it. I’ll have to meet you there, and I’ll be back with my fighters the entire time.”
“So you’re asking me on a date, but we won’t really be together?” I lift my brow because considering all things between us, that is kind of funny.
His brow furrows. “Yeah, I’m sorry, retract my question.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “It’s perfect. Of course I’ll go.”
His smile comes immediately and fills his face in a way that even his eyes sparkle with delight. “God, you know how much I’m going to want you? Seeing you up in the stands, cheering us on? Afterwards I’m taking you out.” His arms wrap around my waist and his lips kiss from my neck to between my breasts.
I moan and run my hand down the front of his jeans where he’s already hard for me. “Or you could take me in?”
He nods his head, the scruff of his beard scratching against my skin. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s do that.”
“My place? Or we could go to yours.”
“Yours.” He steps back and his smile dims. “Unless you don’t want to. I can book us a place downtown for the night?”
We haven’t talked about it much, not since that one time, but I get the feeling he doesn’t have a lot of money. I don’t bring it up, though, because I don’t want him to feel badly or inferior because I have more. Besides, that’s not why I like spending time with him. I can buy my own damn food and entertainment. His company is better than what money can buy.
“No. Let’s come back here. I’ll subject you to moreWalking Dead.” I grin and his smile is back in full force.
“God, no! Please!”