Page 19 of It Takes a Thief
“So good,” he groans.
Wicked images flit through my head as I lightly blow on my piece. He’s making me wonder things, want things. Things that I shouldn’t be thinking about right now. There’s so much going on in my life, but my naughty thoughts keep returning to Linc, watching him savor his pizza as though it’s a lover.
Once it cools off, I bite the pizza off the edge of my fork and chew. “Mmm,” I moan. “I told you feta and olives is the way to go.”
I can’t help but notice he’s watching me, too, and the look in his eyes can only be described as hungry. But the kind of hungry pizza doesn’t satisfy.
Get a grip, Mer. He’s made it clear you’re just a job. Nothing more.
Still, I can’t help but feel like he’s mentally undressing me. Which is completely silly, because he isn’t.
Right?
We don’t say much as we demolish the pizza. On my next two pieces, I forgo the knife and fork and just pick it up and fold it in half like Linc does. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much in my life. Stuffed, I lean back in my chair and toss my greasy napkin on my plate.
“I think I just gained ten pounds.”
“You can afford to gain weight. What’re you? A buck ten?”
I weigh more than that, but it’s nice to hear he thinks I’m less. “No, but thanks.” I scrunch my nose at him, and he just shakes his head.
“Ready?” he asks.
“You might have to grease the door and roll me out,” I warn, standing up, and his deep, rumbling laughter makes me feel lighter than I have in the longest time.
After saying goodbye to Pops, we’re heading out the door when a man stops Linc. “Is that really you? Lights Out Decker is back in the old hood?”
Linc stops and chats it up with an old acquaintance for a few minutes. I can’t help but notice that, like Linc, he exhibits major arm porn and sports scars all over his knuckles. He possesses that same rough around the edges look, too, which makes me think he’s probably a fighter.
I also notice how Linc moves closer and lays a hand against my lower back. A tingle races through my body at that simple, yet protective touch. The guy tells him he should come to a fight happening tomorrow night.
“I’ll text you the address,” his friend says. “Think you’ll make it?”
“Maybe,” Linc says with a noncommittal shrug, and they say goodbye.
We start back up the sidewalk, heading to the subway. “We should go,” I say. “I’ve never been to an underground fight.”
“That’s because you’re royalty. These kinds of fights are lawless, Princess.”
“I don’t mind getting down and dirty.” The words fly out of my mouth before I realize that maybe they weren’t the best choice.
He clears his throat. “Yeah, well, you’re under my guard, and I am not subjecting you to a dangerous fight with a rambunctious crowd. We can find something tamer to do.”
I huff out a sigh. “Like what? Chess?”
“I don’t know how to play chess. How about Monopoly?”
Maybe strip Monopoly, I think, wondering what those naked abs of his would look like for probably the hundredth time today. No doubt, a feast for the eyes.
“That might work,” I murmur cryptically. Because as I’m getting to know him better, I decide I really like Linc. Even if he can be a little bossy and overbearing. A tad brusque, too. And even though he pulls away the moment he accidentallyallows himself to get too close, there’s an undeniable chemistry between us. He must feel it.
Rule number three: never mix business with pleasure.
Well, we’ll see about that. I’ve decided I want to kiss my bodyguard. And once I set my mind on something, it’s full steam ahead.
The entire trip back to my place, my mind wallows in the gutter. By the time we step through the front door, I’ve imagined Linc’s tongue down my throat, his big hands all over my body and us going at it on various pieces of furniture in my apartment.
After he flips on a lamp and checks the security system, I stalk closer, cornering him near the staircase. Even though it wasn’t exactly a date tonight, it felt like it. And any good date ends with a kiss.
