“Well, your name sounds a hell of a lot better than mine.” She turned and looked at him. “I actually thought about changing it a couple times over the past few years—”
He reached out and cupped the side of her face, cutting off the rest of her sentence. “I like your name.” He let his gaze travel over her face and down to her chest. “In fact, I love everything about you.” When he lifted his gaze up her throat and saw her pulse beating faster, he knew his words hit a chord with her. “Please don’t ever change for anyone.” God, he sounded like some kind of pussy-whipped boy, but honestly, he didn’t give a shit.
He liked being gruff but also gentle with her. In fact, she was the only one who he was gentle with, but he liked it that way, and he couldn’t explain why exactly. Her cheeks turned pink, and his grin widened. “I’ve embarrassed you.” He ran his thumb over her cheekbone.
“Yeah, and that isn’t an easy task.” They locked gazes and held them there for several seconds. “But I’ve noticed that when I’m around you, I feel things that don’t make any sense.”
His heart started beating harder at her words. “Yeah?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, but that also scares the shit out of me.”
Yeah, he knew what she meant.
“And I just got out of a relationship—albeit a shitty one.” She pulled away and stared out the front windshield. “Not saying you wanted anything more than last night—”
“Naggie.” He waited until she looked at him before he continued. “I am not the kind of man who goes around wanting more than one night with a woman.”
She opened her mouth, probably to tell his arrogant ass off, but he shook his head and stopped her.
“No, just listen, okay?” She didn’t say anything or nod, but he kept going anyway. “I’m not asking for your hand in marriage or anything—” He grinned and loved that she rolled her eyes. “—but I am asking to see you again.”
“For more sex?” There was a little bite in her words.
“No, I was thinking we could hit up the Spaghetti Warehouse in Denver before I take you back to my place again.”
She rolled her eyes, obviously knowing he was kidding about the latter—well, kind of kidding. He did want her back at his place, in his bed, and with his dick inside her.
“Naggie, baby.” He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “My life has always been lived on the edge. I don’t do anything half-assed, but I also live my life fast and without regrets.” He cupped her cheek with his other and pulled her closer. “Maybe that’s why I want you so badly, or maybe it’s because you are one pretty incredible woman.”
He lowered his gaze to her mouth.
“All I’m asking is to take you out to dinner.” Of course he wanted more, hoped she did too, but this was her call. “I won’t pressure you, won’t hound you to go with me, but I will say I have never wanted a woman more than I want you.” He let those words hang between them for a moment. “And I’d like to explore that.” He started moving his thumb back and forth along her skin once more. “I won’t lie and say my life is a fairy tale, because you live in Reckless and know all about the Vicious Bastards.” Yeah, their rep wasn’t all good, and a lot of people tended to keep their distance, but if the Bastards didn’t have that type of reputation, they wouldn’t be where they were right now.
And whether the town realized it or not, they kept them safe, and made sure others stayed out that would have otherwise run the town over. It happened all over the country, but Reckless was the Bastards’ territory, and had been for as long as he could recall. So, living up to their name, they had to be crude and harsh or others would come in and take what wasn’t theirs.
Booshie just hoped she understood that and was prepared to deal with all that shit if she decided to move forward with him.
“You want just dinner?” There was a slight lilt to her voice. Hesitance maybe? But she was a smart woman, and her instincts were telling her that he wasn’t all good. He’d be lying if he tried to tell her he was this knight in shining armor.
“No, Naggie. I want a lot more than that, but I think this is new to both of us, and taking it one day at a time is probably the safest route.” She may have been in a relationship just yesterday, so he couldn’t really say this was new to her, but Booshie felt something with her.