She heaved out a breath and shook her head. She looked around again, not answering my question but giving me one of her own. “Where’s Darius?”
“Cut both him and Brock loose early. Figured they deserved an early night to unwind considering the hours they’ve been putting in this week.”
Salem quirked a brow. “And Darius didn’t argue?”
“Told him to go on. That I had you.” I shrugged. “And I’m the boss.”
Amusement played at that pretty face, and she crept nearer, like she was testing out just how deep she could get before she went under.
Before that lure would be too intense.
But it was already there.
Baiting and tugging and pulling.
Drawing us closer.
Gravity.
“Wow, you really like using that to your advantage, don’t you?” A tease wound its way into her voice.
Fighting a smirk, I shrugged again. “Only when I really have to.”
“And this was one of those instances?”
Salem’s heels clicked on the hard floor. Each one sent a reverberation across the ground that vibrated my boots and climbed my legs.
Girl invading.
Sweet, sweet enchantress casting her spell.
Wrapping me around those fingers that I’d really like wrapped around my dick.
I edged her way, loving how her breaths went shallow when I moved to stand over her.
Woman this tiny, curvy thing with a big-ass presence that overflowed the room.
Thunderbolt eyes struck in the middle of it.
Motherfucking thunder.
Deep and dark and seductive.
Her plush lips parted like she was getting lost in the memory of that kiss, too.
Yeah, that wasn’t helping things, either.
My fingers twitched, urging me to reach out and take what I was itching to make mine.
Then she seemed to think better of it, and she took a step back. She toyed with the end of a lock of her hair, looking away for a beat as she pondered what to say. “Listen, Jud—”
“Let’s get out of here.”
Salem’s attention whipped back to me, a solemn line denting her brow. “I think we should talk.”
Yeah, and I knew what that talk was going to be. Could feel her reservations flying.
Spiky barbs of rejection.
I leaned in close, scent of the girl infiltrating my nose.
Toasted coconut and sultry sin.
I swept my fingertips along the length of her chin. “How about we get you on the back of my bike, instead? Right where you belong.”
Shock edged her back an inch.
Yeah, sweetheart, you keep shocking the shit out of me, too.
The way I couldn’t control my reaction.
The need that made me think I just might be losing my mind.
One second later, a playful scowl scrunched her forehead as she crossed her arms over her chest. “You want me on your bike? That’s what this was all about?”
All?
Not even close.
But it was a damned good start.
The truth was, I didn’t want to let her out of my sight.
Still, I played along, kept the words light. “Might be the only way I get those legs wrapped around me.”
She bit down on her bottom lip, though a slight giggle rippled free. “You’re unbelievable. Some savior you are.”
A grin took hold. “Have you looked in a mirror, gorgeous? You can’t blame a man.”
She glared at me, but there was laughter in her expression, and some of the edge I’d been fighting the entire day drained away.
“Fine. Since you already sent my ride home, I guess I don’t have any better options, do I?” she goaded as she turned and strutted to where my bike was parked in my personal bay.
Her hips and ass swaying across the shop.
Damn.
“You really, really can’t blame a man,” I mumbled under my breath. I grabbed my phone from the table and followed her. “Front locked up?”
“Yes, everything is ready.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
“It’s my job,” she tossed back.
I moved to press the button for the garage.
Warm, evening light tumbled in.
Bright, golden rays that lit up the girl and my bike.
My fingers itched with the urge to paint. To create something beautiful. Hope in the rubble.
I grabbed a helmet, situated it on her head, my fingers quick as I fastened the strap.
Whole time, my attention was trapped on that face, not a chance I could look away.
Not when I swung my leg over my bike, hit the starter, and stretched out my hand.
In a beat of contemplation, she dropped her gaze before she accepted it.
It damned near sent me spiraling again.
The way something that was a cross of desire and devotion went zapping through my veins.
The way I wanted to wrap her up and never let her go.
I fought that thought.
Knew it was stupid.
That my heart was pushing against a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.
What I needed to focus on was the task of getting her home.
To escort her across this small mountain city, drop her at her door, and ensure she was safe.
Leave it at that.
Except Salem wrapped her arms around my waist and exhaled at the sensitive flesh on my neck. Right about the time she was pressing those ample tits that I was dying to get my hands on again against my back.