Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(59)

A bell dinging draws Erin’s face toward the window to the kitchen, where more plates of food are waiting. “That’s been the hope. I gotta get those.” She gives us a wink. “You two eat up while it’s hot, and thanks for making my day. For making everybody’s.”

Bella watches as the waitress walks away and then flinches as she looks up at me. Her face wrinkles in as she whispers, “Oops.”

I shake my head. “More than an oops, darlin’.”

She grimaces again. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to take it so far,” she whispers. “Mom can drive me so crazy sometimes. Guess I’ve just never, well...never had an opportunity to...” She sighs heavily. “How do I even say it without sounding spiteful?”

“Get back at her?” I ask. “She had it coming.”

“I guess.”

The remorse in her tone makes my jaw tighten. My commitment to her grandfather is also a commitment to her.

Jonah wanted her to not only have the time to figure out what she wanted, but the strength and confidence to go for it, dammit. He said she had it in her, but that it’d been squelched for years.

I agree, and now that she’s finally taking the initiative, I can be the man to help pull her out of her shell.

I pick up my cheeseburger. “I’d say you won round one. That’s worth something. We’ll deal with the rumor mill.”

She frowns.

“Can’t deny I’m looking forward to round two.” I give her a wink as I take a bite.

“Oh, Jesus. Can you even imagine?” A smile slowly forms on her face. “I like the way you think, Drake. You’re a fighter. That’s worth something huge.”

Huge might be the understatement of the year as her little hand returns to my bicep.

I nearly choke on my food at the shock that hits my balls, unleashing a hard-on that could rival Mount Everest. Fuck.

Apparently, what fight I’ve got goes right out of me when it comes to controlling my own body around her. That’s a whole new worry that’s never interfered in my missions before, and it won’t be an easy one to win.

Bella’s too cute. Too innocent. Too tight and small and warm.

Too tempting, too teasing, too likely to make me stupid in ways neither of us can afford.

Jonah was right. She needs me. But I can’t believe the price, the toll, she’s forcing me to pay every second we’re partners in crime.

I chew my food, hoping at some point it’ll put a leash on my dick again.

After we’re done, I toss a couple twenties on the table, and we leave.

Holding the door for her to exit the diner, I notice her parents’ BMW parked across the street, and the black SUV next to it. My fingers instantly close into fists.

Avery Briar.

He’s got his window down, and so does her ma. They are talking, and both go quiet, noticing us walking out.

I make a point of pretending not to notice them and grab Bella’s hand, leading her to her side of my truck. All the street parking is diagonal and they’re directly across from us, but she hasn’t seen them, thankfully.

I stepped around her, making sure she doesn’t by blocking her view.

We’ve had a month’s worth of worries jammed into the last forty-eight hours.

She glances up me, smiling, after she climbs into the passenger seat while I hold the door.

Damn. If I move too fast, I know there’s a risk she’ll look past me, and see the sinister happenings across the street. I can’t let that happen.

A new idea strikes so hard and fast, I instantly take action.

Cupping the side of her face with one hand, I lean down and cover her mouth with mine.

She’s startled at first.

Her tiny hands land on my chest and go smooth against it, as if to push me away. But the rest of her is an open invitation.

The first second of our kiss is pure sugar rush. Tasting Bella Reed – really fucking tasting her – sends hot lava through my system, urging me to conquer.

My lips claim hers, gently at first, coaxing her to relax and fall the hell into it.

Just enough pressure so she can’t pull away.

It’s a hot minute before her lips move, catching up to mine, giving in to this insanity. Her arms shift up, folding around my neck, and with her fingernails grazing downward, I deepen the kiss.

Her lips part. My tongue finds hers and goes the hell to work.

I’m chasing, taming, and teaching her in one sweet blow. Somehow, knowing she’s never been kissed, at least not like I’m laying it on, just makes me fucking throb.

This could be virgin territory. Uncharted and ripe for the taking.

In another life, this could be mine. Tender young flesh begging for a man, begging for a mark, begging for me.

Goddamn.

I tell myself it’s all for show to strap my brain back together.

My body’s already gone, lost and sucking greedily at the sweetness of her mouth. It’s like an itch, this urge to reach down inside her, light her the hell up, burn her the hell down, then tongue-fuck her back into this honey puddle of Bella that’s mine to drink in as long and as fierce and as hard as I want.

I take the kiss as far as I can, delicious and deep. But the instant she moans, I have to tear myself away, before I push the seat down and take her right the fuck here in front of the Dallas evening crowd.