Page 59 of Stolen Bases

My only concern is Talia. The last thing I want is for her to get hurt.

Fuck Nico. After the way he grabbed her, he’s lucky I didn’t beat the shit out of him for laying a finger on my girl.

Aside from the douche-hole being an issue, we’ve only started seeing each other as more than friends—not that we ever were in my book—for a handful of days. The last thing we need is to further muddy the waters in an already complicated situation so soon.

I guide her down the path, away from bars, towards the small marina where my surprise is waiting for her. Looking over, I find Talia nibbling on that damn lip of hers again, and all I want to do is kiss her, hold her close, and tell her there’s nothing to be afraid of.

“Well, what do you think?” I ask, pointing to the sleek-black luxury pontoon boat in front of us, mostly hidden from lingering eyes. I wasn’t kidding when I said I had us covered.

Talia’s eyes widen in shock, and her lips turn down. “Is this your boat?”

“Kind of.” I wait and watch as a variety of thoughts drifts across her face.

“Kind of? So, then you rented it for the night?”

I stifle my chuckle as she glares at me, her disgust clear. Why is the idea of me owning or even renting a boat for a night so bad? I can afford it.

“No,” I half lie.

The boat has two owners—me and my buddy, Thompson. We bought it a couple of years ago to cruise around together during our off time. Now that he’s injured, it’s mine for the time being. I’ll see what he wants to do with the boat when he’s back in working order.

Talia’s shoulders tense, and I can sense her trepidation. She’s going to have to get over me having money real quick. I have more than I can spend in a lifetime, and if I want to splurge, I will. Like my family, she’s going to have to learn to accept my gifts without complaint. Once I let someone into my circle, I like to take care of them. And, well…

She’s in.

“Hey.” Grabbing Talia’s hips, I tug her to my body.

She grips my biceps and tilts her chin up to look at me.

“I need you to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

“It’s just… I don’t want you to spend money on me. I sure as heck don’t need expensive dates, and I don’t want you to think I expect presents and stuff.” She bites her lip and digs more than just her nails into me.

This woman. If she didn’t already have me wrapped around her finger, she certainly does now.

“Never.” With my thumb and forefinger, I pull her lip from her teeth. “I’ve known you’re not like that since the first night we met. That’s not who you are.” She is without a doubt not like the other women I have dated. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tired of the direction this conversation is going, I cup Talia’s butt, lift her up off the ground, and cover her mouth with mine. I kiss her with everything I’ve got. The only thing I want rattling around in her head is how much I want her.

How much I need her.

Talia wraps her legs around my waist, and her hands find purchase in the hair peeking out from under my hat at the nape of my neck. When she tugs and twirls the strands, I almost come in my pants. The move is a direct line to my eager cock.

Every. Fucking. Time.

The taste of her sweet tongue as it meets mine sends a shockwave of heat radiating through my veins. She tastes incredible. I’m dying to put my tongue in her pussy and find out if it tastes as sweet as her mouth.

My cock jerks in my jeans. Fuck, I’d kiss her all night, but I need to get her on the boat first. Biting her bottom lip, I pull away with a pop, leaving her dazed.

A job well done.

I place her on her feet, holding her elbows as she sways. “Think you can walk for a minute?”

With a grin and puffy, wet lips from my kisses, she rolls her eyes at me. I smack her ass a little harder than necessary, testing her threshold. Talia’s smile falters, and her brows jump to her hair as she stares at me in shock. I arch a brow back at her.

Yeah, baby, I slapped your ass. What are you going to do about it?

I wait, staring back. Her silence speaks volumes. The spark of defiance in her eyes does nothing to hide how turned on she is—the heavy eyelids, the heaving chest, the clench of her thighs. I see it all, and it screams “more”.

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