“You would?” She leans closer, her hands moving higher to my shoulders. “You don’t think that’s a bad idea?”
My face is lower, closer to her lips. “What do you think?”
“I think we work together.” Her eyes are fixed on my mouth, her lips seeming fuller as she speaks. “I think it’s risky. It could change how we think of each other.”
“How do you think of me?” My lips are at her ear, and I press them to the side of her neck. I feel the little pulse beneath her skin beating like a rabbit.
“I haven’t decided.” She lifts her chin, and I kiss her cheek, making my way closer to her mouth. “I was told you’re the devil.”
Blue eyes meet mine, and the chemistry between us is alive. “Do you believe that?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “When we met, you reminded me more of a tiger, watching for the chance to pounce.”
“A tiger?”
She nods, and I can’t hold back anymore. Leaning down, I touch her lips with mine. It’s a caress, soft and sweet. She tastes delicious, like good whiskey and fresh water.
Our kiss quickly becomes more intense, mouths open, and she makes a little noise when my tongue touches hers. It’s gasoline on the fire in my stomach. My hands are under her ass, and I lift her onto the bar. Her legs go around my waist, and she leans closer, devouring my mouth as her fingers thread into the sides of my hair.
“Patton,” she gasps. “I don’t know…”
I’m about to release her, but her legs tighten around me, pulling our bodies flush. I’m sure she can feel my erection on her thigh. She whimpers, sealing her mouth over mine again. We kiss; I trace my fingers under her sweater, finding the line of her bra. I want to remove it. I want to cover her small breasts with my mouth and kiss, suck, pull…
But I don’t want her to be sorry. I don’t want her to say later it was all too fast.
Lifting my chin, I find her blue eyes. They’re hazy with lust, and I almost can’t say the words. “Tell me to stop if you want me to stop.”
She blinks slowly. “I don’t want you to stop…”
It’s all I need to know. Stepping back, I undo the buttons on my shirt, one by one. She sits on the bar with her sexy legs spread, and her lip goes between her teeth as her eyes follow my progress. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
When it’s open, she reaches for me. I step to her, and she traces her fingers along the lines of the ink on my right shoulder. “What is it?”
I slide my hand from her wrist, to her elbow. Her skin is so soft. “It’s several things. A map, an eagle, a band of iron, semper fi…”
She looks up at me. “What does it mean?”
“Different things. Our missions, honor, brotherhood, always faithful.”
The bell on the fryer dings and we both look at it like it’s the end of a round of boxing. The mood shifts, and I walk over to pull out the basket and plate the sizzling food.
Stepping to the side, I grab the hot sauce and a big Ziploc bag. “We’ll need to shake it in the hot sauce when it cools.”
She grins. “I’m really impressed you used an air fryer.”
“Have you ever fried chicken?”
“No.” She makes a cute little disappointed face, and I step between her legs again. “It’s a big mess. This way it’s fast and easy.”
“Aren’t you the commercial.”
Reaching up, I catch her chin and pull her face closer. “Don’t be cute.” I give her a brief kiss on the lips. “When you live alone, you learn things.”
“Your place is so clean. It doesn’t look like anybody lives here.”
“I have a maid service.”
“Lucky.”