So what was it about this woman that turned all of my common sense on its head?
“I’d really like to forget this whole day. Forget all my troubles.” She gave me that shy look again, and my cock jerked in response. “And I’d like to do that with you.”
Josephine stopped speaking and looked at me, obviously waiting for a response.
I nodded at her glass. “Another drink?”
She laughed, but her cheeks pinked. “Maybe I haven’t been clear enough. Another drink would be lovely, but I wondered if you’d like to sleep with me?” Josephine pushed her hair over her shoulder and rushed on. “I mean, no strings attached. Just a wild night of wanton abandon. To make me forget.” She stopped talking again, and every thought in my head screeched to a halt.
I could only look at her and breathe in some more of that scent that made my heart beat faster. Her dark brown hair shone in the low light, and her green eyes pleaded for a degree of understanding that made me want to give her everything she might ever ask for.
But that was a ridiculous urge. No woman had ever inspired such crazy thoughts in me before. Not even Saundra.
And if I slept with her, would I be taking advantage of her obvious vulnerability right now? Surely that wasn’t right.
But she’d asked me. I argued back and forth with myself in my head, silent all the time, watching Josephine as her expectant waiting became fidgeting before she finally spoke again.
“You know what? I really shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry I put you on the spot like that. Forget I was even here.” She started to stand. “You’re probably married, anyway. I’ll find someone else to make my careless decisions with.” She stood awkwardly by the side of the booth as she finished talking.
Her last words galvanized me. Careless decisions? Someone else? Not on my watch.
I stood and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her and drawing her tight against my body. Then I lowered my head and captured her lips beneath mine. I tried not to lunge at her, but I probably did. That was a kiss I wanted more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.
It was a kiss thatmattered. And I needed her to know that it had meaning.
That I meant it.
It was a kiss like nothing I’d felt before as she relaxed against me, her lips parting to allow my tongue to touch hers. It sent fire down every blood vessel in my body, lighting me up from within and setting me aflame.
I drew back from her just a little, so little that our lips still touched just the barest amount. “I’m not married,” I whispered. “And I’m not looking for love or anything remotely like that.”
I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, after all. This was one night, one time. Two consenting adults blowing off steam and showing each other what it was like to be wanted.
She shook her head. “I don’t care what you want. Just want me. I want to lose myself this night. Just one night where I don’t need to be anything else to anyone.”
I nodded. “I can do that.” Holy shit, I could do that with bells on. “Come back to my place.” I bunched her hand in my hair, nuzzling against her neck, tracking that jasmine scent across her skin. “Come home with me. Lose yourself there.”
To my surprise, she nodded. “Okay.”
I didn’t want love or commitment, but something inside me wanted to show her where I lived. I wanted to show her everything I was capable of providing. It was more of that inexplicable, instinctive urge.
And maybe if she saw all of the bells and whistles, she’d stick around for a few more one-night stands.
Again, that was barely even my own thought, and I pushed my wolf away. He was behaving like a pup: all eager and fanciful, and I didn’t want to hear it.
If every careless mistake with Josephine felt like that kiss, I was definitely open to many more.
At the thought of the kiss, I was unable to resist the feel of her lips against mine again, and I pressed my mouth against hers. I’d take her home in a moment. This was more important. Again, heat licked through me, and I pulled her close as my tongue touched hers and she made a low moan of pleasure.
But this couldn’t happen here.
“My car’s just outside,” I murmured. “Let me take you to my home?”
We’d already agreed to that part, but I didn’t know what else to say.
She nodded and I slung my bag over my shoulder before taking her hand and leading her from Clover’s. For some reason, I craved a level of contact I rarely needed or wanted.
The ride home was smooth as always, the car engine barely audible as we purred through the streets. And we were quiet inside the car, too. Not a lot of small talk, but it was comfortable.