Page 6 of Let it Ignite
She doesn’t know what she did to me. Or maybe she does. Hell, maybe she knew the second she touched my thigh. The second she pressed my hand to her tits like they were mine to take.
I shouldn’t have let it go that far. I know better. She’s vulnerable. She just lost everything. She’s looking for something to hold on to.
And God help me, I want to be that something.
But wanting her and taking her are two different things.
I shove open the truck door and circle around, yanking hers open before she can reach for the handle. My hands slide under her thighs, lifting her out like she weighs nothing.
She presses against me—bare skin against rough bunker pants—and for one second I forget who I am. I forget everything but her.
Then I set her down.
Firm. Gentle.
My hands linger longer than they should.
“Come on,” I mutter, grabbing her hand. Her fingers are soft and small in mine, but she holds tight.
The front door creaks open under my grip. I flip on the light. She follows me inside, her eyes darting across the space—leather couch, worn floor, stacked books, the smell of cedar and something faintly masculine.
“Nice place,” she says, voice quiet.
I grunt. "Got the basics."
The shopping bag on the couch catches my eye—Samira came through. I grab the bag and hand it over.
“My sister lives nearby. I asked her to bring you some clothes. And underwear,” I add.
Her eyes go wide. "You really didn’t have to."
“I wanted to.” I step back. My voice sounds rough even to me. “Go shower. Bathroom’s down the hall. Take your time.”
She hesitates, then nods, brushing past me. I don’t let myself look at her ass. The second the door clicks shut, I head tomy room and strip down like I’m on fire. Step into the shower and crank the water to ice cold. It doesn’t help.
“I’ve never done that before.”
That little whisper, soft and unsure, hit me harder than anything else tonight. She hasn’t been touched. She’s untried. Untouched. And still, she reached for me. She guided my hand. She made me feel wanted—needed—in a way I didn’t know I craved.
And then came that question. The one that’s been echoing in my skull ever since she asked it.
“Would you ruin me?”
God help me, the answer was yes. Hell yes. Every part of me wanted to say it out loud. Wanted to show her what it meant. But I bit it back. Because she deserves more than that. She deserves everything. I brace one hand on the wall, my cock is rock hard and throbbing. I clench my teeth.
It’s gonna be a long fucking night.
I step out of the shower, yanking on a pair of track pants, running a towel over my damp hair. I take a deep breath hoping it will help. I still can’t get over the fact that a sexy siren like Cassie has agreed to stay the night. Things like that never happen to me. I try to think of what she might need, what will make her feel at home enough to want to stay for more than just one night. First things first, she needs to eat. I head off to go see what I have in the kitchen.
I push open my bedroom door, and—
Smack. I run straight into her.
She’s standing in the hallway, wet hair curling around her bare shoulders, her skin still pink from the shower, her legs long and bare, her eyes wide and startled.
“Oh!” she gasps, stumbling back, her eyes flicking up to mine, her cheeks flushing, her lips parting.
I catch her before she can stumble back, my hands gripping her shoulders, her wide eyes locking on mine, her cheeks flushed, her breath coming in short, nervous bursts.
