Page 14 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
“You like plays? Grace and I were in theater throughout high school. We had so much fun. We used to dream about seeing our names in lights. She was going to write and produce plays, which she does, of course, and I thought I wanted to act. But once I got into college, I realized I didn’t really want to be in the arts. I had outgrown it, I guess, and I went into prelaw.” She realized she’d gotten off track and said, “Sorry. I’m rambling. What were we discussing? Oh, movies and plays. That’s the other thing that brought me here. When I was a little girl we watched Miracle on 34th Street every winter, and that spurred my love of New York. But I can’t see you sitting still long enough to watch a television show, much less a musical.”
He gazed out at the road with a faraway look in his eyes and said, “I’m not much for sitting still, but I do have an affinity for the theater…”
They walked for a while, making small talk and going for long stretches without saying a word, sharing heated glances, the brush of their bodies bringing a rush of anticipation. Sophie found herself drawn deeper into him, waiting for the next touch of his hand or a secret smile.
“Hungry?” Brett asked as he took her hand and dragged her into a café. “They have the best slutty pumpkin bars you’ve ever had.” He moved behind her and put one arm around her middle, leaning over her shoulder as he pointed to a layered dessert that looked delicious. “We’ll take one of those please,” he said to the guy behind the counter.
“Only you could find a dessert with the word ‘slutty’ in it,” she said as the guy bagged their treat.
Brett waggled his brows. When they left the café, he took the bar from the bag and held it up. It looked like a colorful brownie with pieces of Oreos and dribbles of caramel over the top. “You haven’t lived until you’ve had one of these. See the layers of pumpkin cheesecake and brownie, the creamy middle? Tell me that doesn’t look delicious.”
Her gaze raked down his body. “You look like you snub carbs and sugar, and anything other than muscle-building protein. Do you actually eat sweets?”
His eyes darkened again.
“Oh my God, Brett. Do you ever not think of sex?”
“Do you ever not think about me thinking about sex?” He drew her closer and moved to the side, letting a couple walk past. Then he pulled her even closer, so she was pressed against him, and said, “I like knowing you think about me, Sophie, and the answer is yes, I think about other things. But I can’t stop thinking about you—with and without sex involved.”
She was captivated by the honesty in his voice. Her insides whirled, and she finally managed, “You’re confusing me.”
“I could say the same to you.” His expression grew serious again. “I like you, Sophie, and I think it’s time you open up and let me in.”
She felt like she was teetering on the edge of reason, wanting to say yes but a little afraid of the emptiness tomorrow would bring.
He lifted the brownie between them and grinned. “Open up, sexy girl.”
“Geez,” she said, realizing she’d taken his words far too seriously. “You are such a pain.” She took a bite, and the decadent sweetness exploded on her tongue. “Mm. That’s amazing.”
“See? I’ll never lead you astray.” He took a bite, and then she went up on her toes and snagged another bite. “I love a woman who’s not afraid to take what she wants.”
“You just love women in general,” she said as they continued walking down the street, sharing the sugary goodness.
“There you go, thinking you know me.”
“Don’t I? You said you don’t lie, and you don’t hesitate to say exactly what’s on your mind.”
“That depends how much you want to know about me.” He lifted the last piece of brownie to her lips, and when she opened her mouth, he set it on her tongue. “I think you want to know me better.”
She was glad her mouth was full, because she just might agree with him.
He kept one hand on her back as they crossed the streets and weaved through the crowds. When his hand slid to the top of her butt, she let it stay there, knowing she was sending a message and not wanting to fight it. A group of teenagers rushed past, and Brett pulled her against him to clear the way for them. He gave them a dark look, and in the next breath, those eyes were on her, possessive and hungry, turning her into a hot and bothered mess. The urge to kiss him was so strong, she felt herself leaning forward.
