Page 32 of Tinder Embrace
"Believe me – I'd like to," I assured solemnly. "But only if you're okay with it."
He tipped his head back, pinching the bridge of his nose, pacing away from me.
"You don't make it easy on me, do you, Bee?"
"Davis, honey, I'm not here to make your life easy."
"Truer words," he grumbled, staring me down from across the room. His chest heaved as if he were still catching his breath, and I smiled, a wicked little grin to remind him what he was missing.
"Easy and happy aren't always the same paths," I cautioned gently. “Tell me what you want.”
"You. And not just for tonight.”
I thrilled at his words. Blunt. To the point. Sure.
“But I respect my sister. I don’t want to sneak around behind her back," he said, as if it were a magic spell that would make him less horny.
The reminder of Jo did the trick, at least for me. "Me either. She's been a good friend."
“Are you ready for this? For us? There’s no going back.”
I held back a snort. He was warning me that he planned to give me almost everything I ever wanted. I’d be fine. I’d bebetterthan fine.
“I’d rather be happy than easy,” I assured, trying to lighten his solemn expression.
He gave a huffy little sigh, playing into my glib answer. “Why notboth?”
I cracked a grin, fissures of delight bubbling through me as I waited him out. Secrets had a way of backfiring, and I didn’t want anythingcoming between us. Going slow wouldn’t kill us, and hurting Jo wasn’t something either of us wanted.
Davis interlaced his hands at the back of his head and let out a sigh that sounded like it came from the depths of his soul. He examined me from my no-doubt-wrecked brown hair, to my pink pajamas and rosy painted toes.
"I can wait," he vowed.
I wasn't sure I could. But I'd have to. Retreating quickly seemed wise, given the pure temptation he represented, all rumpled and delicious. I scampered quickly toward Jo’s room, pausing at the door.
“So, you’ll talk to her on Wednesday when she comes home?” I called back, injecting a chipper note in my tone. "Happy isn't always easy!" I reminded him as his low grumbles reached me.
"But I can be," I added quietly to myself, grinning wildly as I grabbed my phone.
Davis had barely admitted it, but the man was mine. He could grumble all he liked, but the way he kissed me revealed more than he realized. He wanted me every bit as much as I wanted him, and for now, that was what mattered.
Chapter 14
Davis
My erection made slipping out of my jeans tricky, but I didn't regret it, not one damn bit.
Sophie seemed determined to make my life as complicated as possible, but I didn't have it in me to be upset. Not when it was clear she wanted me as much as I wanted her.
I was already in too deep.
Maybe it'd be a flash in the pan, my draw diminishing quickly once we'd hooked up. But something about Sophie made me think we’d be well-matched beyond the bedroom.
Imagining her naked had taken up enough time to make my farm manager weep over my distraction, but it also inspired me to finish my tasks faster so I could see her. Be with her. Even when I was in a filthy mood.
She could read me. Tease me. Tempt me. Get me talking. Opening up with her didn’t feel like losing myself – it felt like finding a kindred spirit. I needed a woman who’d go toe-to-toe with me—shake me out of my own head. And no one made me lose my mind quite like Sophie.
And, really, would it be possible to hold on to a bad mood around my Belle? I snorted, enjoying my private nickname for her. The woman even smelled like a Disney princess, a mix of sweet spun sugar and books. It was addictive as hell.
