Page 98 of Until It Was Real

I kneel before her and cup her face. “You can be as sensitive as you want, Havoc. You haven’t had an easy life. I should be more considerate.”

“I don’t want you to have to worry about what you say.”

I kiss her nose. “And I don’t want you to be in pain, so we’re even.”

“Even?” She lifts a brow. “Everything’s a contest to you, isn’t it?”

She obviously doesn’t want to discuss the deep stuff now. I let her get away with it. “And I’m winning.”

“Of course, you are.”

I stand. “You ready for lunch?”

Her eyes widen. “Lunch? It’s lunchtime already?”

I indicate the clock. “Past lunch. It’s already one.”

“I didn’t notice the time.”

I offer her my hand. “Are you ready now?”

She slips her hand into mine and warmth spreads throughout my body. This must be how love feels. It’s not only sweaty nights spent tangled in sheets. It’s also the quiet contentedness of being around a person. Of wanting to spend all your time with that person.

She smiles up at me. “I’m ready.”

I can’t resist her smile. I need her taste on my tongue. I lean over and sip from her lips. The flavor of strawberry and sin fills me up. Since I’ve met Dakota, I can’t look at a strawberry without getting hard.

I wrap my arms around her but she pushes me away.

“No sexy times at work.”

I place my forehead against hers. “I have an office.”

“And every single one of your brothers knows how to pick the lock to it.”

“We can put a chair in front of the door.”

She giggles. “You’re incorrigible.”

I’m hard as a rock, is what I am. This woman has no idea how sexy she is. How she drives me crazy.

“Fine. We’ll have lunch at my house.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “Because your brothers have never barged in on us there?”

I herd her toward the door and outside to my SUV.

“You better have food in your house,” she says once we’re driving.

I waggle my eyebrows at her. “I know something I can eat.”

She slaps my shoulder. “Knock it off. I’m hungry.”

Her stomach rumbles in agreement. “I can tell.”

We arrive at my house a few minutes later. Dakota jumps out of the SUV before I can help her. I scowl.

“I told you I’m hungry. You shouldn’t mess with a hungry woman.”

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