Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(15)

“No,” I said.

“It was the first time you took me up to see my dad and the first time I got you to smile,” she said as she continued to rest her head on my chest. “You had a chocolate shake waiting for me in the car and I forced you to take a sip,” she continued.

I vaguely remembered stopping at Carvel on the way to pick her up. Jack rarely allowed Lacey to be around the clubhouse but the few visits she made he had one of the guys rent an ice cream truck. Wolf would pass out ice cream cones all day and chocolate was her favorite. I improvised with the shake, an attempt to remind her of good memories of her father and not the shit one she was about to make visiting him in jail.

“I was trying to persuade you to have a taste, and in your ‘don’t f*ck with me’ tone you called me Lace,” she reminded me.

“I see how well my ‘don’t f*ck with me’ tone works on you,” I muttered as I pinched her ass then squeezed both cheeks again. What I wouldn’t give to bend her over and take that sweet cunt from behind.

She deserved better than that.

All the shit you see in the movies.

Things I’m not capable of doing.

“I’m not scared of you,” she pulled back, cocking her head to the side as her eyes bore into mine.

For the life of me I couldn’t figure out why.

“I never was nor will I ever be afraid of you, Leather,” she said, threading her fingers through my hair. “I probably should be and not for the reasons everyone else fears you,” she added, pausing a beat before she inched closer.

I need you to love me,

I need you today

Give to me your leather

Take from me my lace

“Foolish girl,” I whispered.

“Shhh,” she said. “Let me hang on just a little more.”

But that time I saw you

I knew with you to light my nights

Somehow I’d get by

I didn’t say another word, and we both hung on, dancing to the song that seemed written just for us.

Leather.

Lace.

She pulled back slightly, brought her fingertips to my face before she leaned in and pressed her soft lips to mine. The instant her mouth was on mine I remembered the way she felt last night, how her inexperienced body eagerly arched into mine. I cupped her face with my hands, holding her still as my tongue swept across the seam of her lips, prying them apart. I felt her nails dig into the back of my neck as my tongue slid into her mouth tasting all she offered.

I came here to apologize for taking something I didn’t deserve. I came here with every intention to make things right with Lacey—being here with her in my arms I realize now that last night wasn’t going to disappear. It’s always been easy to forget the consequences of my actions and give into temptation.

I broke the kiss to look at her because looking at her was almost as intoxicating as touching her. Her eyes fluttered open, her lips swollen and wet, pursed as she brought her hands from around my neck to rest on my chest.

“I can feel your heart beat,” she said, lifting her eyes back to mine. “The only thing that makes me a foolish girl is wishing it’ll beat for me one day,” she murmured.

What the f*ck was I supposed to say to that?

I bit the inside of my cheek and stopped myself from saying all the things she wanted to hear, knowing every promise that left my lips would be a lie.

It’s a good dream.

To think this heart inside of me is alive and able to beat for someone else but a dream is all it is. I used to be that guy, the one who keeps a woman, loves her with everything he’s got and everything he’ll ever be. I had love, cherished it until I destroyed it. It don’t matter how much I wish I can resurrect the man I used to be, or how much the girl before me deserves a man like that, that guy is dead and buried and won’t rise again.

My phone rang inside my pocket, forcing me out of my head and into the present. I let her go, immediately feeling the loss of her in my arms, and reached into my pocket to pull out my phone.

I stared down at the screen and the name of the man who was calling.

And just like that the dream shattered.

“I’ve got to go,” I hissed, silencing my phone before I shoved it back into my pocket.

She nodded, tucking her hair behind her ears as she took a step back.

“Hey,” I said, placing my forefinger under her chin. “No more tears,” I added.

She stared at me for a moment before nodding.

“No more tears,” she repeated.

“Girl, ain’t nobody worth your tears don’t you forget that,” I lectured. “Nobody,” I reiterated.

I should’ve left it at that but I wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her body against mine. I bent my head, claiming that mouth of hers one more time, knowing the taste of her would linger on my tongue and drive me crazy.

“Sure as hell not me,” I rasped against her lips.

I finally pulled away, turning around and willed myself towards the door. I cursed myself for coming here, for touching her, for walking away from her…for everything.

“Blackie,” she called out.

Fucking hell.

My hair fell over my eye as I turned my head and glanced over my shoulder at her.

“Thank you for not taking it back,” she said hoarsely.

I narrowed my eyes in confusion, thought about asking her what she meant by that but left it alone, letting us both hang onto the dream of Leather and Lace for a little while longer.