Page 85 of Lucky Shot
Nick and I stare at each other again. The air buzzes around us and my face flushes, possibly from the alcohol, probably from the thoughts of him running through my mind. I can’t get the idea of him hoisting me up with those big hands out of my head. Is it weird that I want him to manhandle me? Maybe. Probably. Oh well.
I wasn’t lying earlier. Travis isn’t my type. Matt was more like him than Nick, but he was an outlier. I had lots of guy friends in college that were fun, life of the party types, but I always fell hardest for the quiet, brooding types.
“I should probably say goodbye to Travis and Danny too in case I don’t see them again,” I say to Nick, looking around the bar for them. I spot Danny first. He’s got a girl in his lap and they’re kissing so intensely it makes my body light up.
“Or not,” I say, a little breathy. Note to self: No more going out and drinking without a quality masturbation session first. My pheromones are standing at attention, waving green flags in every direction.
“Don’t worry, Red. You’ll see them again. Travis will want to hear you tell him he’s hot again at least a dozen more times.” He places his hand on my back, and I melt into the contact.
Outside the bar, it’s quiet as Nick leads me to his truck. Correction: I’m quiet. I can’t think of a single thing to say that isn’t something that should be kept as an inside thought. Maybe I should tell him?
No. Too much room for error. The ride home will be torture if I’ve misread the signs.
He steps ahead of me to open the passenger side door for me. Very date-like behavior. Or maybe he’s just being nice?
His brows furrow when I hesitate to get in. “Everything okay?”
“Mhmm.” I squeak and then avert my gaze as I try to brush past him.
He cuts me off, moving in front of me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I insist and flash him my most convincing smile.
He doesn’t budge.
I fake a yawn. “Oh man, I’m so tired.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. Okay, not buying it and I guess he’s prepared to wait me out.
I sigh. “Inside thoughts, Galaxy.”
His brows lift and an amused smirk dances across his face. “I like your inside thoughts.”
“I’m not so sure you’d like these,” I murmur.
“Try me.”
“I…” Ugh. I feel so junior high right now. Exasperated, I say, “I like you.”
His smile lifts higher. “I like you too.”
“No, Ilikeyou.”
“I like you too, Ruby.”
“Yeah, but do you like me in a ‘she’s not as annoying as I originally thought’ sort of way or are you also wondering…”
Instead of letting me finish the question, he steps to me, places a hand at the nape of my neck and drops his lips to mine.
Sparks crackle between us. I lean up on my toes and wrap my arms around his neck. The movement closes the last stretch of distance between us. My body shivers as his warmth envelops me.
“Sorry.” His voice is gruff as he speaks against my lips and the word rumbles from his chest. “I didn’t mean to cut you off mid-sentence.”
“It wasn’t important. They were inside thoughts.”
He leans back to meet my eyes. “I want to know every one of your thoughts, Red. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
My answer is to slam my mouth back to his. He doesn’t miss a beat. His mouth slants over mine and we’re one big, tangledheap as our hands roam and bodies press together. His tongue sweeps into my mouth and he lets out a groan.
