Born in Blood (The Sentinels #1)(67)

“Are you hungry?”

Duncan’s question jerked her out of her thoughts and she turned her head to study his chiseled profile.

Out of nowhere she was struck by a jolt of intense awareness.

God Almighty.

She struggled to breathe as she took in the stark beauty of his face. How many times over the past few years had she covertly snuck glances at the golden-haired cop with the grim expression? How many nights had her dreams been filled with ripping off his tight tee and faded jeans?

And now that she actually knew just how it felt to spend the night in his arms, his lips kissing paths of destruction down her throat as he slid deep into her body . . .

It was enough to make even nice girls think about handcuffing a man to her bed and having her wicked way with him.

Obviously puzzled by her sudden silence, Duncan sent her a searching glance. “Callie?”

A blush stained her cheeks as she cleared her throat. “Actually, I’m starving.”

“Good.” Returning his attention to the growingly narrow streets, he weaved his way through the traffic with the ease of a native. “I know a little joint that has BBQ to die for.”

Her gaze slid down to the broad chest outlined in magnificent detail by the T-shirt. Was the temperature rising? Suddenly it felt way too hot in the car.

“Do they deliver?”

“Of course.” He gave a lift of his shoulder. “It’s a beautiful day. We can go to the park or—”

“Your apartment?”

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. “That’s an option.”

Callie lifted her brows at his carefully bland response. “But?”

“But I thought I was supposed to behave myself.”

She gave a relieved laugh. For a second she’d wondered if he’d lost interest.

“You can’t behave yourself at your apartment?” she teased.

The hazel eyes flashed in her direction, a searing desire turning the gold flecks into molten need. “No.”

Her mouth went dry. “You’re at least honest.”

“Not always, although my ma tried her best.” His lopsided grin was strained. Callie felt her shirt stick to her damp skin. “She was convinced washing out my mouth with soap would cure me of my tendency to bend the truth.”

“She has my sympathy.” Callie tried to match his casual tone even as they both shivered beneath the sensual tension pulsing in the air. “My guess is that you were a precocious brat growing up.”

“And you weren’t?” he challenged.

“Not really. I was usually the shy kid sitting in the corner.”

“Serra never talked you into breaking the rules?”

She wrinkled her nose. Serra had been a vivacious child and a natural leader who’d taken huge pleasure in causing chaos. Of course, unlike Callie, she also had loving biological parents who often collected her from Valhalla when her teachers and foster family needed a break.

She never had to fear she might lose her only home.

“Maybe once or twice,” she conceded.

Without warning, Duncan pulled into an empty parking lot, turning to study her with a somber expression.

“Look, sweetheart, we can go anywhere you want, and I promise to try and keep my hands to myself.” His fingers brushed her cheek in a gentle caress. “But I want you in the worst way and I’m not entirely sure it wouldn’t be better to stay in public.”

She stilled at the fierce edge in his voice and the tight knot of muscles that throbbed in his jaw.

“Are you saying—”

His finger moved to stroke her lower lip. “What?”

“That you crave me?”

Their gazes clashed at her deliberate choice of words. No doubt a more experienced woman would have kept the question to herself.

Most men didn’t like to confess vulnerability. Not even with their lovers.

And she’d all but demanded to know if he desired her more than he’d desired his own wife.

Yeah, not too pushy. Yeesh.

But even as she was desperately trying to find a way to laugh off the question, he was surging forward to claim her lips in a kiss that was all raw male possession.

“Hell, yes,” he admitted without hesitation.

Oh. Her heart melted.

Tangling her fingers in the short strands of his hair, she determinedly ignored the warmth that spread like honey through her body.

She wasn’t about to ruin the moment with silly emotions.

“I want to be alone with you,” she murmured against his lips.

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely, positively.”

He pulled back, studying her for a long minute. Then clearly satisfied she was as ready as he was, he flashed a smile filled with sinful anticipation.

“Hold on, baby.”

Turning to face front, he shoved the car into gear, then with a flick of his finger he had the siren blaring.

Callie’s lips parted, but before she could speak he was pulling out of the parking lot and hurtling across town with speed that made her grip the dashboard.

She had brief glimpses of redbrick factories that gave way to warehouses. Then small, family-owned stores that were situated between shabby houses and squat apartment buildings.

They squealed to a halt in a narrow parking lot. Duncan shut off the engine and the siren with a twist of the key, leaving them in a strangely thick silence.