Page 28 of Warrant
“Aw,” I said, dropping my voice down into a lower octave as I leaned over the table toward her. “Were you worried about me, Baby Girl?”
She froze, her fork full of lettuce halfway to that delectable mouth. I wasn’t sure if it was the tone or calling her Baby Girl that made that flash of lust and panic cross her face for a brief moment. “No.”
“No?”
“Just worried about the paperwork if I ended up unintentionally killing a civilian in my SUV,” she scoffed and shoved the salad in her mouth before breaking eye contact with me.
I hadn’t managed to throw her off her game much in the short time I’d known her, but the few moments it happened, I really fucking enjoyed it. Made me want to do it more and more. Made me want to see how far I could throw her off. How fast I couldgether off.
Shifting, I reached under the table to rearrange my cock. Just thinking about stripping off that shimmery tank top and those jeans was making me hard as fuck. The boots would need to stay on. I swallowed hard, letting my eyes roam over her.
She was doing her best to ignore me, but I could see the color in her cheeks even in the candlelight. She knew I was checking her out. And that I was appreciating what I was seeing.
I stopped eye fucking her when the waiter came back with the rest of our food. I didn’t want him seeing her looking so soft and self-conscious. Eyeing him, I kept watch as he did his job then scurried off. I wasn’t worried about anyone taking my woman from me, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to pay attention to everyone and everything when she was here with me. My observational awareness was at peak form with her sitting near me. I had a clear view of the door and everyone coming and going.
It was a hard habit to break from both law enforcement and the military, not to mention the shit I did with the club and Cypher’s firm. It was something that would likely never go away. That was fine by me. The fact that Ainsley had graciously sat facing away from the door—though I know that had to be killing her, just like it would me—told me everything I needed to know. She trusted me.
Which meant she knew more about me than she was letting on. I watched her study folders each night over the cameras I had placed in her house. Sure, some would say that was creepy stalker behavior. I called it good reconnaissance. I was starting to wonder what was in those folders.
It wasn’t going to be long before my curiosity won out. I had plenty of self-control, but didn’t often find it necessary to curb my natural inquisitiveness. Ainsley wasn’t wrong. I pretty much did whatever I wanted.
We talked more as we ate. She told me about her family. I didn’t miss the way her tone softened as she spoke about her mom and dad. We traded stories about some of our funniest cases. I had a shit ton of them, after years of being an MP.
And far too soon, it was time to take her home. The ride was easy and relaxed. The weather was cooperating today. Once we got further into summer those warm temperatures would stick around for a few months. But if she got too cold on the ride that would just be a bonus for me. I could warm her up.
Pulling up to her house, I cut the engine and held out my hand so that she could use me to balance as she hopped off. Not that she needed it. She was graceful as a cat. Completely competent in every move she made.
When she’d taken both Harold and Fred while barely breaking a sweat, I’d damn near fallen in love. She could handle herself. I fucking loved that in a woman.
She grinned at me as I walked her to her door. “Didn’t take you as the gentlemanly sort.”
“I’m not,” I admitted. “Just hoping that maybe you’ll let me get my hands on you.”
Her brows shot up at that. “You really do just say whatever you want to.”
I shrugged. “Say what I want. Do what I want. That’s me, Sheriff.”
She crossed her arms underneath her breasts and leaned against the door frame. “Well, you’ve asked out the kind of girl who doesn’t let men get their hands on her on the first date.”
My eyes were glued to where her tits were shoved up and nearly out of the sparkly top. Fuck it was hard to concentrate on anything when the top swells were encased by glitter. It was like a kaleidoscope for an adult man. Hours of fun. “What?” I asked when I realized the silence had gone on for too long.
She shoved off the door and gave me a sultry smile as she leaned toward me.
Fuck yeah.
Her lips brushed over mine, once, twice, but before I could grab her she danced out of my grasp and shut the door in my face.
I blinked at the wood, wondering if she was coming back. When she turned the porch light off, leaving me in the dark, I figured I had my answer.
I thought about climbing in through the kitchen window to steal that goodnight kiss, but that was probably a second date thing. So instead, I took the hint and went home. Cypher would be so damn proud of me for recognizing a hint in the first place. I was evolving. Sort of.
CHAPTER 12
Ainsley
Sleep had been nearly non-existent. I wasn’t the type to sleep in late and lounge in bed anyway, but after Warrant left, I’d been so revved up, I couldn’t settle. I’d worked out in my home gym, watched a movie, I’d even given in and used my damn vibrator until I was worried my clit would fall off.
Nothing seemed to satisfy me. The multiple orgasms I’d given myself were just…hollow. It’d taken hours of tossing and turning in bed to fall asleep and once I finally had, wouldn’t you know it, but Warrant showed up. All over my dreams.
