Page 35 of Slide
“Travis, I—”
“Naw, now it’s my turn to talk. I don’t much care for what people in this town think or say or do. In part, you serve as a reminder of what Artie did, of what too much money, too much greed, too much of everything can do. My brother doesn’t like that I’ve been seein’ you. And that reputation of … Well, it’s pretty much up in smoke now. Coming back here took guts and courage and while it may not be my place to say, I’m proud of you for it. You, Arabella Drake…damn baby. I want you. I want you here.”
“Then that leaves me still waiting for an answer. I know all that other stuff. I know people who’ll gossip and be all in our business. But I need an answer to my question.”
“Dinner, movies, picnics, walks? I can do that. P.D.A.? Yeah, I can do that too, though you should be careful what you ask for. You’ve been living in a little cocoon since you’ve been back. Work and home. Dating would change all that. It would put you in the position of having to endure more looks and more whispers. So …” Travis shrugged and shook his head. “What else is on your list of requirements for dating?”
“Well,” she hedged. Her eyes sparkled, her lips twitched, and Travis knew that nothing he’d said so far was going to deter her. “Sex, but I’d already said I wanted to keep that going.”
“Sex. Hmm. But isn’t that extortion? Respectable dates, which between us is questionable, in exchange for sexual pleasure?”
“Could be that it’s sex in exchange for questionably respectable dates. If it could be sex in exchange for getting my car fixed at a lower rate, then …” She shrugged. She gave her nails a once-over glance, acting for all the world as if this wasn’t a big deal, when in fact, he knew different. Asking him to take a chance on someone named Drake. Asking him for something normal, real. Something more than a closed-door affair.
“Bella.” He waited for her to look at him. When she did, her eyes were clear. There were no teasing sparks, no hints of playing. He only found interest in those blue orbs focused on him with unblinking intensity. “Are you sure you want to do this?” He’d give her this last chance to say no, but he was pretty confident she wouldn’t take it.
“I’m sure that the sex is incredible and hot between us,” she answered without a hint of shyness. “I’m sure I like you enough to see where it can go. I’ve begged for a lot since everything happened with my brother. It’s humbled me and made me more vulnerable than I can ever remember being in my whole life. I’ve been alone and I’ve had to learn how to live my life all over again. You said it took courage to come back home. It was the only place I could think of, the only place I wanted to be.
“I know some still don’t trust me or my name, but I’m not leaving. I’m stubborn like that. They’ve kicked my pride around. They’ve knocked my ego around a bit, too. I deserve to be happy, though. I want to see if that is possible with you. I won’t beg for it. I won’t plead with you to give me a chance at more than the few days we’ve had. I want you, Travis, but you have to want me, too. You have to want me as much as I want you.”
His response came swift and sure. “Come and kiss me, baby.” He had no doubt in his mind and he wouldn’t make her beg—right then.
Later, when he got her naked.
Later, when she was wet and ready to come.
Later. That’s when he’d make her beg.
“Yeah?” Surprise and happiness laced her voice. She took two steps off the curb, two steps toward him.
“Come and kiss me,” he said again, and she took another step toward him. “Come and take me home with you.” Heat lit her eyes and she pulled one corner of her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Come and get me, Bella Drake.” He spread his arms wide, the way he had a few days earlier when he’d offered her a fantasy. “I’m yours for the taking.”
The End
