Page 5 of Second Draft

“Hey, sweetheart. Sorry I’m late.” I place an arm possessively around her shoulders.

“You’re right on time.” She gives me a look that says she doesn’t know if I’ve just saved her, or put her in more danger.

More danger, sweetheart. Much more.

I watch her doe-like gaze as I lean in and press my lips against hers.

Her hands come up to my chest, but she doesn’t push me away, instead she leans into the kiss, and I feel her body tremble against mine.

Like I expected, the chemistry between us is off the charts intense.

Deep inside of me something stirs, and something foreign shivers through my senses.

Damn, but the woman does something to me. Something I haven’t felt before.

Hating to break the contact, but knowing the douchebag is still watching us, I slowly pull back, gaze locked on hers.

“You mind?” I raise an eyebrow at the guy who’s looking at me like I’m a celebrity or something.

Which I’m not.

At least not anymore.

He turns back to his buddies, and I hear my name being tossed around among them.

“You okay?” I lean against the bar and see her gaze linger across the ink on my forearm, following the pattern until it disappears beneath my t-shirt.

Her lips tighten and she swallows hard.

“You didn’t have to kiss me,” she says, trying her best to feign indignation, but her gaze rests on my mouth, and I can practically feel her body begging me for more.

“No.” I grin, trying to suppress the small chuckle that rises in my throat. “But I wanted to.”

She licks her lips, a mix of fear and excitement in her eyes. “Apparently sitting alone means I’m looking for someone to take me home.”

“Are you?”

“No.” She shakes her head, but again her gaze trails down my torso.

“You sure about that?” I raise an eyebrow, and smirk.

Immediately her cheeks turn scarlet and she looks away. “I’m just waiting for my roommate. She works here and I’m picking her up…” She lets out a small, frustrated breath. “I don’t know why I’m explaining myself to you.”

She’s definitely got the good girl act down. If itisan act. She’s pretty convincing. I stay away from her type, because I know they always expect more. She’s not the kind of girl that just hooks up for a night. And that’s all I’m looking for.

But my mind races with all the things I want to do to her. My body aches with the need to taste her again, to hear my name on her lips when I make her drive myself balls deep inside of her.

You’ll only break hermy brain warns. There’s something fragile about her, something that makes me want to do more than just fuck her. An unfamiliar need to both possess and protect her.

I know I should walk away, leave her to her book, but she has me intrigued, and wanting to know more about her.

“Can I buy you a drink while you’re waiting for your friend?”

“I’m good with water.”

I chuckle.

“What?” Her eyes narrow.