Page 19 of Sheriff's Dirty Secret
“Brat,” he mumbled. Those beautiful blue eyes dropped to my mouth.
“You like it, though.” I called him out on it, and he didn’t bother to deny it. “Is this your thing?” I asked, wondering out loud.
“My thing?”
“A play from your sexy, guy-next-door handbook?”
“First off, I can tell you for certain I don’t have a handbook.” He grinned, flashing that sexy dimple.
“You never had one?”
“I mean… I’m thirty-six. I’ve learned a thing or two but…”
“But what?”
“I can tell you without a doubt what I’m doing with you feels like something I’ve never done before.” His voice dropped, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “This thing between us, Olive, feels like a first.”
“And secondly?” I turned us back to the subject.
“I’m a cop.”
“I know that.”
“I’m not exactly the guy next door.”
“Luke.” I grinned at him. “You look like you could have walked out of a Taylor Swift music video.”
“I don’t know what that means but, fuck, I love hearing you actually say my name.” My face heated up, and I pressed my lips together.
“Are you always so open and honest? I mean, to get what you want?” I was flustered!Luke got me all flustered!
“Olive, when I tell you I’ve never wanted anything or anyone like I want you, I mean it. Shit, that’s a fucking understatement.” Butterflies started to come to life along with the heat that coiled in my belly.
I knew how he felt.
Luke had inspired all sorts of aches and wants since I’d first seen him. Things I’d tried to fight, yet here we were, in his house, about to cross boundaries we’d never come back from. When his hand rose, I didn’t flinch. I stayed still, waiting for his touch on bated breath. His hand was calloused and warm and somehow exactly what I needed.
“I don’t know how you’re so damn soft all the time.” I rolled my eyes because it felt like a lie. He hadn’t touched me before. “And you smell like sin and mercy and—“ His jaw clenched as he leaned in closer. “And mine.” His words were rough against the side of my face. “Tell me I can kiss you, Cookie. Tell me I can have you.”
“For tonight?” I’d meant to say it for clarification, but it came out as a question.
The raw vulnerable underside of me was showing my heart. Something about the way he stared back at me made me feel like he knew that. Like somehow, Luke March could see right through me, all the way through to the jagged, frayed edges, and for some reason still wanted me. His hand stroked the side of my face, his face set as if he had an endless amount of patience.
“Forever, Cookie. I want you forever.”
“That’s a long time, Sheriff.” Something in his gaze dimmed.
“Back to sheriff, are we?” I opened and shut my mouth, but he smiled at me like it wasn’t a big deal. Almost like he had expected it. Maybe would have been disappointed if I hadn’t.
“One day at a time, and you’ll see that even forever won’t be enough for me when it comes to you,” he added, making me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Shit. How the hell was a girl supposed to stay strong when a man like Luke said things like that?
7
luke
I leaned forward,unable to hold back from my baser needs, and kissed her. I’d intended it to be soft and sweet. Slow. I didn’t want her to feel rushed. But the road to hell was paved with sorts of good intentions.
