Page 34 of You Can't Fight Lightning
I watched her carefully as she drove, keeping a safe distance, and making sure she seemed steady.
She pulled into a driveway that led to a small apartment building and parked. I stopped behind the parking space, turning off my engine. It was too loud for this time of night.
Roxy walk toward me. “Thank you.”
“You’re sure you’re all right?”
She nodded. “A little shaken. I’m surprised. I’m not usually that violent, but I just had no patience for his bullshit tonight.”
“I thought it was amazing.” I meant it. I liked strong women. I always have. Although it also meant that anger and strength might come at me someday… and I nearly tripped over my own feet as I realized I didn’t mind the idea. Not with Roxy.
“I don’t like losing control. Or being caught by surprise.” She kicked at the ground. “This isn’t going to do a thing for my bad dreams.”
“You didn’t know what he might do. Why have you been having bad dreams?” I saw no problem with it. An enemy attacked you, you were within your rights to defend yourself in any manner necessary. But I wanted an answer to my question. Her dreams were far more important than the dispatching of a small and cowardly man.
“Why were you still at the bar?”
Oh, shit. “I was checking my phone when I saw you come out.”
“What, some big business deal?” Her attempt to joke, to find some kind of normal after what had happened made me want to pull her into a hug, to hold her until she felt better.
Right now, though, I wasn’t sure I’d make her feel better.
I tried to shrug like me checking my phone was nothing out of the ordinary. “I’m part owner of a club in Seattle. I was catching up on emails from our employees.”
“Thank you.” Her words were curt, and abrupt.
Like the subject change.
“I didn’t do anything, Roxy.” Damn. I wanted to know why she was having bad dreams, but the moment had passed.
“But you would have.” Her words were part statement, part question.
“I would have. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to show my prowess because you stopped him cold and shamed him and all those of his family line before I even got close enough. His ancestors are cutting him from the family tree as we speak.”
She laughed as I hoped she would
I decided to risk it. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Roxy stopped and moved closer to me, her body turned toward me. I could smell her sunshine scent even now. “Thank you.” Her hand drifted up toward me, a pale shadow in the moonlight, to rest on my cheek.
The feel of her hand on my skin was electrifying. I felt myself get hard, and the desire for her rage through me like a volcano going off. Gods, how was I supposed to combat this?
While I was struggling with just the touch of her hand, she moved closer, and then her face was right in front of mine.
As if in a dream, her lips touched mine.
I thought the hand was intense.
I felt a growl rip through me, and I slid an arm around her waist, wanting to yank her closer to me and kiss her until she no longer knew her own name. Until I didn’t even know mine.
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
This wasn’t how things were done. Not with someone you cared for, wanted to have some kind of relationship with. That was one thing I’d gotten from all my reading lately.
With a superhuman—godly—effort, I kissed her back, lightly, and then stepped away.
