Truly, Madly, Whiskey(65)
He lowered his mouth to hers, and her arms wound around his neck. She made a sweet sound of surrender as they kissed, and his thoughts followed that needy noise all the way down to his greedy cock. He took the kiss deeper, earning another enticing moan. He wanted all of her. There was no stopping their passion. The other night had given him a taste of what their connection would amount to. Thoughts of skipping their plans for dinner and a walk tempted him.
“I missed you,” she said. “This was the longest week in the history of the world.” She slipped her feet into a pair of black sandals.
So much for skipping their plans.
“I missed you, too, babe.” Harley brushed against his leg, and he picked her up. “Missed you, too, little one. Did you keep my girl company at night?”
“Every night. It was like sleeping with a running motor.” She slipped the key to her apartment into his pocket and tugged him toward the door.
“In a hurry?”
Her stomach growled, and they both laughed. “Yes, but not just because I’m starved. Can we grab dinner at Jazzy Joe’s and eat at the beach? I don’t feel like sitting in a restaurant.”
After picking up sandwiches, they drove to the beach. It was still early enough that there were a handful of couples and families milling around. They left their shoes in the truck and walked down by the water to eat. Crystal filled Bear in about her busy week, speaking so quickly he wondered what she was nervous about.
“We put the costumes on the website. I’m excited to see if they sell.” She told him about meeting a woman named Tegan and how they’d met with her again last night to see some of her clothing designs. “Gemma’s ready to hire her if the costume idea takes off.” She pushed to her feet. “Can we take a walk?”
After he threw out their trash, they walked along the water’s edge. It was a balmy evening, and the cool water felt good on his bare feet, but his gut was churning over whatever was going on in Crystal’s head.
“What’s happening with the expansion of the bar?” she asked.
He drew her into his arms and gazed into her troubled eyes. “How about you tell me what’s really going on inside that beautiful head of yours?”
“I suck that badly at hiding it?”
“The question is, why are you hiding anything from me?”
She sighed, and a smile lifted her lips. “I lit and blew out candles in my apartment a dozen times before you got there.”
Reality swamped him. His worries over his career were nothing compared to what must go through Crystal’s mind when they were close.
“You’re nervous about getting more intimate with me. That’s understandable, and I meant what I said, that you’re in control of how far we go in the bedroom.” He held her tighter. “Just because we exchanged sexy texts all week doesn’t mean we have to do anything. I’ll never pressure you. I promise you that.”
“It’s not that. I’m more than ready. I wanted to drag you directly into the bedroom, which is why I hurried out of the apartment.” She paused, and softened her tone. “I just need to make sure that you are.”
He grinned, holding her closer. “Babe, I’ve been riding at half-mast for months. I’m more than ready.”
Smiling, she said, “I know that, but can you stop looking at guys like you want to kill them and let us live our lives without my past hanging over our heads every time we’re out in public?”
Well, hell. “It looks like I’m the one who sucks at hiding things.”
She held up her finger and thumb and mouthed, A little.
“Sorry, babe. I’m not going to lie. All sorts of crazy shit has gone through my head. I want you to feel safe, and I don’t know how you can knowing that guy is out there. But then I look at you, and you’re living your life without looking over your shoulder, and I know I need to learn from that. I realize it’s not my decision, but that doesn’t make it any easier.”
“Bear…” Her eyes teared up.
“Oh shit. I screwed up. I’m sorry. What did I say?”
“No, you didn’t. You make me wonder if it’s possible to care too much. You try to be everything for everyone, and I love that about you. And I love that you didn’t go behind my back and try to do anything stupid.”
“I thought about it way too many times, so I’m pretty sure I’m not done wanting to do the stupid part,” he said honestly.
She wrapped her arms around him and he held her.
“I only know one way to live my life,” he explained. “When it comes to one of our own, we fight together. I’ve never had to step back or ask for help. Not when my father suffered his stroke and I had to take over the bar, not when I lost my uncle and took over the shop, not when Tru and Quincy needed help. But, sweet girl, I want to do right by you, and to do that I think I need your help. I need you to be patient with me.”
She smiled up at him with a relieved look in her eyes. “I think we both need to ask for patience. I’ve kept my secret for so long, there was no one to question my decision other than David, and he only wanted to understand my reasons. He didn’t try to change my mind. I honestly don’t know if it’s too much to expect you to accept my decision without question. Maybe that’s why I never told Gemma or Jed. Maybe I thought they’d push me to go to the police.” She shrugged as if she had no answer. “All I know is that I did what I needed to do in order to move on, and I stand by that decision. But is it the right decision forever? I don’t know.”