Page 98 of Kentucky Nights
Usually when I’m at a bar, I have to be alert and focused. When I was single, I would cover my drink, and I’d never go to the bathroom alone. Even with all my precautions, Louisville got through all my defense systems. No system is perfect, but Kentucky is.
He won’t let anything happen to me. He’ll kill anyone who gets too close, and I find comfort in that.
“Your existence is my royalty.” He kisses my shoulder, his beard scraping against me when he pulls away. “And I will always kneel at your feet. I am yours in any way you ever want me.”
Our gazes find one another, attracting one another like magnets.
“Here you are.” The waitress interrupts again.
How do servers always manage to come up to their tables at the worst times? Either mid bite or mid kiss.
“Thank you.” Kentucky slides my drink in front of me. He goes as far as stripping the paper from the straw to shove it in my drink.
“I could have done that, you know,” I tease.
“And? I don’t want you to have to lift a finger for the rest of your life. Now, try my favorite snack.” He plucks an onion petal, dipping it into the steak sauce, and shoves it into my mouth.
The crunch is just what I needed. “Mmmm,” I moan in surprise. “That’s…that’s actually so good.” I grab another piece, having to roll it into the sauce to get it covered. I bite into it, groaning again when the tangy zest bursts across my tongue. “I can’t believe I’ve never tried that. People are missing out if they don’t eat blooming onions like this.” I can’t help but moan again.
“You can’t be making sounds like that wearing those shorts. That just ain’t fair, Darlin’.”
“Who says I’m doing this to be fair?” I suck a finger into my mouth to lick the sauce off, giving him an unnecessary show of what I can do with my tongue.
His nostrils flare watching me with a laser-focused, lustful gaze. “This night won’t last long if you keep that up. I’m about to push you to your knees so I can experience you wrapping that tongue around my cock if you continue to test me.”
“Maybe that’s my goal.”
His eyes shift into the brilliant crimson, and he ducks his head to hide his fangs from the crowd. Those long, calloused fingers dig into my thigh, his claws poking into my skin.
I am so proud of myself.
When he is calm, he relaxes, letting go of the tight grip on my thigh. “You just wait until later,” he says. “You’re all mine.”
His.
I’m in love with that fact.
Kentucky grabs a few fried onion petals himself, and he dips them into the sauce too. “Damn, that’s so good. We will need another basket. I’m going to demolish these.”
“Another?” I squeal.
He chuckles, covering his mouth as he chews. “Darlin’, if you wanted to order the entire menu, I’d have no problem with it. Taking care of you is what I live for.” He leans forward, folding his arms on the table. The loud music dies down, and the DJannounces a fifteen-minute break. “Do you want to get on the bull?”
“You were serious? Do you think it will be okay? I don’t want to cause any harm.” I place a hand protectively over my stomach. “I’d feel terrible if anything happened.”
“Like I said, I’m going to mystify the operator to go very slow. No quick turns, no spins, none of that. You won’t be flying off. It will be a very easy ride, like going up and down a hill in a car.”
“Do you need to mess with his mind to do that?”
“When it comes to you? Absolutely. I don’t trust him to keep his word. He’d probably try to fling us off. I’m not risking that.” He dips another petal into the steak sauce. “I don’t care if he gives me his word. A man’s word ain’t enough these days. Actions are more important. Words can be lies. Actions are honesty—good or bad.”
I sip down my drink, the carbonation hitting the back of my throat. It’s so refreshing. The small bubbles fizz and pop in my mouth as I swallow, washing down the blooming onion perfectly.
“Come on.” He stands, pulls out my chair, and offers me his hand. “Let’s get you on that bull, Darlin’. And then I’m going to get you home, peel those shorts off you, and have my way.”
“I don’t know, don’t you owe me a dance too?”
“You don’t know what I have planned for the rest of the night.” He clutches my hand, dragging me away from the table to the operator.
