Page 47 of Bullseye
Sure, she’s pissed, but that fire in her eyes is more than anger. It’s passion and desire…
“I’m sorry, I’m just concerned.”
“Well, don’t be. I think I’ve proven I can handle myself and anything that gets thrown at me. I’ve always been on my own.” Turning herself around with a huff, she starts storming down the path and toward her bike.
“Seneca? Please. Baby, please.” Being on her own now that Mikey and Tony know who she is… “I can’t let you go.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she adds, “Just try to stop me.”
Well, that’s a dare I can’t pass up… Walking up behind her and grabbing her by the waist, I swing her around and toward me. Momentum makes her body fall against mine…
Bending her arms upward, the bottoms of her forearms land against my chest, and she stays, wedged there, held in my arms.
“I won’t let you go, Seneca. Stay with me, I can protect you.”
“You can’t keep me against my will.”
“You’re right. I would never do anything against your will.”
Her soft, warm body relaxes in my arms, and she begins to give in slightly. She’s still resisting, although I know she really doesn’t want to.
“I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you.”
“Because of the brick?”
“Partly.”
She looks up into my eyes, and I get lost in hers. She presses against me harder, and then, freeing her arms, she snakes them around me. As she pulls me closer, I lean down, and brushing my lips against hers, ever so gently… I drink her in. All of her—her softness, her strength, her intelligence.
Letting my lips brush against hers for the briefest second, I pull back a fraction of an inch, just gliding my lips over her soft, pouty mouth, marking her one last time. Then, using my bottom lip, I open her mouth with mine, and finally, allowing my tongue to claim her, I thrust in and out, hungrily, exploring her mouth with my tongue, devouring her with my kiss.
I pull her closer still, and it’s almost painful to be standing here, dissolved in this one last embrace. Stopping for a breath, I pull back, resting my forehead against hers. Our racing breaths crash and mingle, and God, what I wouldn’t give to carry her back into that building and up the stairs to her bed. But I can’t. I have to keep her safe.
Reaching out, I take her hand. Even just being out here is risking exposure.
“Come on. Follow me to the Taphouse. I can’t explain everything now, but you’ll be safe there until I can figure this whole thing out.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
Bending slightly to look into her eyes, I can’t believe it was that easy.
But I’m sure as hell not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Hand in hand, quietly, we walk to our bikes.
***
I’m thrilled she rode right alongside me on the way to the Taphouse. I don’t know why, but some part of me was worried that she was just going to veer off and go at any moment, and then I’d have to chase her down. Which I would have.
But after that kiss we just shared, I can feel that she wants to run as much as I want her to. Which is not at all.
“Bullseye? Seneca?” Nick looks up from fidgeting with something behind the bar.
Since it’s after hours, there’s only Nick, Harry, and Seth hanging around. Harry and Seth are at a table, and Seth is wearing a now one-sleeved T-shirt with a big white taped-up bandage and sling on his left shoulder.
“Great look for you, Seth,” I tease. “Is that how we wear our shirts now?”
“Only since Dr. Holly made the shirt for him so he’d have something to wear home,” Harry tells me.
