Page 26 of Heat & Deceit
Pulling in a defeated breath, I move my gaze to meet his. His hand squeezes mine before he pulls it back.
“I’m not mad.” He searches my face. “I don’t know how Tabitha ran things, but I’m not like a regular boss. I’m a cool boss.” He offers me the mocha he made, and I have to take it. “Drink.”
“Is there alcohol in this?”
“What?”
“You said you were a cool boss...” I trail off and shake my head. “Never mind. I’m sorry about the daddy thing.”
A smirk flashes across his face. “Don’t be. It’s not a big deal. Besides, you were right. I shouldn’t have read your message.” He juts his chin toward the coffee. “Drink.”
A command without the push of an alpha bark and one I don’t want to deny.
I take a sip of the mocha and hum in approval, licking the corner of my mouth to grab a dash of latte that settled there. Something flashes in the depths of his eyes at the sound.
I take another drink and savor it. “Wow.”
“Good, right?”
“Yeah.” I cast my gaze around the shop. Things are really calm now, and my feet are screaming at me to sit down.
“You should go take a break. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Are you sure? If someone comes in—”
“You need a break,” he says with a little more force.
“I—”
“Don’t argue with me, Carmine.”
I swallow at the way he says my fake name, secretly longing to hear him say my real one. “Okay.” Walking toward the back room, I try not to notice the weight of his attention.
“Oh, and Carmine?” he asks before I push through the door.
I glance over my shoulder.
The corner of his mouth lifts, and his face transforms into a devastating picture of alpha confidence that’ll haunt my dreams. “I’m willing to try anything once.”
Wrinkling my brow, I say, “Okay?”
“I just thought you should know that.” He resumes cleaning the counter.
It isn’t until I’m sitting on a milk crate and halfway through my mocha that I realize what he meant.
I’ve never been a daddy. Is that your kink?
I’m willing to try anything once.
Those words play over and over in my head. He purred. He smells so good. He’s hot as hell. He’s acool boss.He’s a boss that’s going to be the death of all my plans. When I first got out of rehab, I was determined to live my life without drugs and sex. As far as sex is concerned, I haven’t really felt like it.
I haven’t been in a situation for my mind and body to crave that orgasmic euphoria. But now, with Javier saying he’s willing to try anything once and with the way he’s touched me, always helpful but more than what is appropriate, my core clenches with a familiar need.
Groaning, I drop my head back against the wall.
The heat suppressants will keep that feverish need at bay, but they don’t make get-rid-of-your-horninesspills. It’s been years since I’ve had sex that I’ve truly craved. It’s been years since I’ve last felt the prickle of need or skittering desire racing over my skin.
Less than a week in Javier’s presence has made me a complete mess.
