Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)(30)

I brazenly stood before him completely bare, and the way his eyes dilated confirmed that it had been the right move.

“Jesus Christ, woman,” he cursed, looping an arm around my waist before lying down on the floor.

I fell with him, catching myself on my arms by his head.

“People can see you!” he scolded.

Okay, maybe it hadn’t been exactly the right move.

I sheepishly looked away.

Using my chin to force my eyes back to his, he amended, “It’s just that I want these to be mine for tonight.” He gently rolled on my nipple, causing me to gasp. “I’d have to fight off half the city if anyone else saw you.” He leaned up, catching my mouth in another kiss. Once again using my chin, he turned my head to gain access to my neck. After teasing his way up to my ear, he whispered, “And if I’d had to do that, it would have taken time away from doing this.” He raked his teeth over my earlobe, spreading chills over my body.

He pushed up on his elbows, gliding his rough hands up and down my sides.

“What’s that?” he asked, stopping at the tattoo on my left side over my rib cage.

“A dream catcher,” I answered breathlessly as he continued to explore my body.

“You and your dreams,” he murmured.

I wanted him, and as I opened my legs to straddle his waist, I felt exactly how much he wanted me too.

And it scared the confidence right out of me, sending a sea of doubt washing over me.

Sitting up, he sucked my nipple into his mouth, and while it was amazing, I was unsure of the right reaction. What if I got it wrong? What if he thought my moans were annoying? What if he didn’t want to be with me again?

“Um,” I mumbled as he shifted to my other breast.

Leaning away to catch my eye, he asked, “You want me to stop?”

“No,” I told him unconvincingly. What I really wanted was to go home, read a bunch of books, maybe look up some porn, and figure out exactly how to do this. Then I’d transport myself right back to that exact moment, owning all the confidence I was attempting to fake.

“Ash,” he drawled in warning. “We can stop.”

“Can we . . . just, maybe . . . kiss some more?”

One side of his mouth hiked in a grin. “Absolutely.”

He grabbed the back of my head and reclined. My breasts pressed against his chest as he closed his mouth over mine. His soft tongue once again made its way into my mouth and rolled in a way that demanded mine to join it. He swallowed my sigh as my hips involuntarily rolled against his hard-on.

With one hand still on the back of my head, his other trailed down my back and over my ass, forcing me to groan all over again.

“Yessss!” was slurred from outside the van.

I sat up at the shock of being caught, completely forgetting that I wasn’t wearing a shirt.

“And she’s naked!” Quarry exclaimed as we made eye contact.

Well, I made eye contact—he made nipple contact.

“Oh Christ,” Max cursed, dragging Q away from the window as Flint wrapped me in his arms to block the view.

“For f*ck’s sake, cover up!” Flint bit out, searching with his hand around the floor of the van to locate my shirt. “Put this on,” he ordered when he finally found it.

While I pulled my shirt on, not even bothering with the bra, I tried to suppress my laughter at the whole situation. Flint didn’t look like he was in the mood for it. However, it bubbled out before I could stop it.

He gave me an unimpressed glare. “I’m glad you find this funny, because Q’s gonna be dreaming about you naked for the next six months.”

I grabbed my chest over my heart, feigning injury. “Only six?”

“You’re insane,” he mumbled as he shook his head, but he did it smiling.

Just before I climbed off his lap, I kissed him. “You know, I’m more concerned with what you’ll be dreaming about.” I tossed him a flirty wink.

However, never one to be outdone, Flint one-upped me. “Oh, that’s easy. Tomorrow night.” He confidently returned my wink.

His was better.

Damn cheater!





Me: Coffee or soda?

Flint: It’s seven in the morning.

Me: Uh, yeah. Hence the question.

Flint: Who drinks soda at seven am?

Me: Me. Caffeine is caffeine. Now answer the question. I’m on the way over to your place.

Flint: Right now? It’s seven am.

Me: We’ve established the time already. Coffee or soda?

Flint: Coffee.

Me: I knew it! I’m totally clairvoyant. Open your door. I’m here.

Flint: Already?

Me: Yeah, I was already at your door when I worried you’d want soda. I like you and all but I wasn’t willing to share mine.

A minute later, the door swung open to Flint staring up at me, shirtless in a pair of athletic shorts. I sucked in a fast breath as I openly gawked at him. His chest was thin but clearly defined, and a small amount of hair was dusted over it.

“Jesus, it’s early, Ash.”

“Well, good morning to you too.” I extended the coffee toward him.

Using one hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight blazing into his dark apartment, he took the drink without so much as a thank-you. “What are you doing here?”