Page 23 of Nothing to Deny

“No.” Her hand was so small against his chest. “I don’t want to go…” Peeking at him, she kept her chin low. “Unless… do you want me to go?” His next blink was long and slow. “You’re under no obligation either… You’re not being paid to entertain me. This is personal. I shouldn’t be here… I—”

Touching her lips, he silenced her. “I don’t want you to leave, Little Skit.” Sliding his finger south, it kept going until his hand curved around her waist with the lightest grip. “Look at me…” Moving just the tiniest bit, her hair fell from her face. “Lift your chin…” As she complied, his arm left the wall above her head to trace the line of her jaw with the edge of his finger. “Relax,” he whispered. “Right here…” The digit drifted up herjaw again. Doing as told, her jaw loosened to part her lips. She didn’t think beyond his instruction, but some part of her had to know what was coming. “Good, Little Skit…” His voice was the gentlest whisper as his mouth came lower and his eyes grew heavier, eventually closing just a feather away from hers. “You are so good, baby.”

Joining their mouths, his soft, slow approach stretched time, minutes must’ve passed before he even let their lips engage all the way. He kissed like he had all the time in the world, like there was nothing around them, like it was just them and eternity.

Brushing his tongue across her mouth’s threshold, he let it just touch hers then withdrew, disappearing before she was ready. Clinging tighter, an aching squeak fled her throat. She couldn’t think of anything, nothing except the whisper of his tongue dipping into her mouth again, seeking permission to be somewhere it already knew.

Begging more, her nails bit into him, desperate as her tongue pressuring his, demanding it fight back, to raise the urgency from torment to gratification. Instead, his tongue retreated, and the pressure of his mouth ebbed.

He didn’t let their lips lose contact. Just the hint of his kiss was tease enough to heat her. Lost in the cocoon of his aura, she couldn’t open her eyes, couldn’t take a full breath.

“It’s not a race, Lil’,” he whispered, giving her another brief taste. “Stop trying to reach the finish… You’ll always get there first with me… I swear it to you, baby.”

Boneless, hot and aroused, she gripped him tighter, responding to the grace granted by his mouth.

“You didn’t read the right prep sheet if you think I need tender and slow.”

“No prep sheet,” he said, sweeping the hair from her eyes to match their gazes. “You hear me, Frey? No prep sheet… Not between us… not ever, okay? Do you understand?”

Her head moved in an involuntary nod. Did she? No. But what did that matter? It didn’t, not in the light of another truth. No one was paying either of them to be there at that minute. Whether or not he knew who she was, she wanted to be sucked in and wanted this to be doing to him what it was doing to her.

“I should get back to Pres…” Yes, his brother. She licked the remnants of their kiss from her lips. Just as her tongue slipped back into her mouth, he dipped to kiss her again. Straightening up, he ran a hand through his hair and grabbed the doorframe of Presley’s room to pull himself toward it. “Oh, uh… They don’t know what I do… My family, they… don’t ask questions and I don’t offer information. I know I don’t have to ask for your discretion, but—”

“Sure,” she said, surprised by his sudden composure. “No, I wouldn’t ever…”

He smiled and winked. “Thanks, Little Skit.”

Alone in the corridor, with whiplash, she’d need another minute. Was that kiss… something, or an attempt to ensure her silence?

From one lane to the next Baer could switch gears to floor the gas or slam the brakes. What was going on? Would she ever figure it out?

NINE

BURGERS WITH CHILCONN kids was a regular thing. The plastic tables and neon overheads may be tacky to some, not her. Though it had never been quite like that. Baer and Presley were an enthralling experience. Kidding around and messing with each other, their familiarity mesmerized her. In the arcade at the back of the burger joint, the brothers battled on various machines, Baer got the balance of competitiveness and going easy just right.

Baer paid for the meal and refused to take a penny. He wouldn’t let her pay a cent for their shared cab either. She knew better than to push, especially with a youngster around.

Despite Presley’s requests to see her apartment, she doubted he truly wanted to snoop. More likely his goal was to avoid facing his father, but, unfortunately for him, that appointment was inevitable. Kissing each male on the cheek, she’d bid them goodnight.

The next afternoon, she lingered over selecting ingredients at the store. Big first impression on the horizon. She couldn’t mess this up. Normally, she wasn’t so concerned about making a fool of herself.Why was she so worried about it? Baer. He was why.

Loitering outside Presley’s school with her paper sacks was conspicuous. There she was, a stranger, standing there as kids flooded the street. No one would notice, no one would care. Would they? If you see something, say something. If anyone reported her, could she explain her presence? Yes. So what was she stressing about? It had been a long time since she’d had firstdate nerves. Who was she worried about dating? The kids? Their father…? Or their older brother?

Picking out Presley was surprisingly easy. His bright cast cut through the noise and drew her eye. It didn’t matter though, he spotted her just as quickly.

Grabbing the boy at his side to rush through the melee of schoolkids, Presley was with her in a flash.

“You came! I can’t believe you really came!”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” She set her smile on the new boy. “You must be Charlie, I’m Freya. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Presley shoved his brother. “Say hello, idiot. Freya’s my girlfriend.”

She’d say it was never bad to be wanted, but anyone overhearing that on the street outside a school… Yeah, maybe they should get moving.

She elevated her paper sacks. “Still okay for me to cook you dinner?”

“Uh huh! Yeah! For definite!”

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