Page 75 of Branded
I went still, those words tearing through me, burning and breaking, reducing me to pieces and ash, and then I was whole again. Only this time, it was more. I was more.
Because of her.
Holding her against me, I dug out my wallet, threw some bills on the table, and signaled to Julie, our server, that we were out of there.
Then she was on her feet, eyes going wide, body leaning into me as I steadied her.
“What’s the matter?”
I bent, nipped her earlobe. “What’s the matter?” I asked, flicking out my tongue, tasting her, hearing the moan that escaped her lips. “What’s the matter?”
A shudder. “Y-yes,” she whispered. “What’s?—?”
I grabbed her hand, tugging her out of the room, narrowing my eyes at Julie when she smirked. She just waved and mouthed, “Another one bites the dust.”
And I couldn’t be annoyed with her for the teasing.
I was completely gone for Kailey.
Especially when she told me things that were a big deal. A really big deal.
I pushed through the outside door, still towing her along, but the cool air seemed to spark her to action, and she began dragging her heels. “Smitty,” she said, tugging at my hold. “No. Stop. Tell me what’s the matter, baby.”
Baby.
Fuck.
I turned, thanking God we’d parked out back.
Because one second, I was intent on getting her to my car, and the next I was on her.
Lifting her into my arms, encouraging (though she was pretty much doing it automatically by now) her legs around my waist. I pressed her into the wall, barely remembering to slide a hand behind her head so that it was protected.
Her hands came to my face. “Your eyes,” she whispered. “What is it?”
And I wondered how much of the crazed feeling that was twisting through me showed on my face.
Because what she’d said. The endearments.
Ash again.
To be put in a little jar solely for her possession.
“You,” I said.
She blinked.
“You’re fucking wonderful.”
She blinked again.
Then a slow smile built on her face, as though I were watching her erect it brick by brick. Small then larger. Gentle then wicked.
Wicked.
Because her palm was snaking down between us, drifting for the waistband of the sweats I hadn’t bothered to change because we’d just been going to CeCe’s.
But now there was no shield.
