Caged (Mastered, #4)(48)
The challenge in her eyes made his dick stir. “Good.” Deacon slid his hand down from her neck. “Remember you said that.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU sure you don’t wanna drive by the house?”
“No.”
“I don’t need to ask if you wanna say goodbye to your cousins and your uncle. But should we stop and get food?”
Molly shook her head. “Not here. I just want to go. Put this behind me.”
Deacon gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple. “I understand. But, babe, I want you to be sure. Regrets suck.”
She sagged into him. She never would’ve attributed intuitive and sweet to Deacon, but the more time she spent with him, the more she realized he kept so much of his true self hidden from the world. And little by little, he was letting her in to the part of him that no one else got to see.
So how long do you think you can keep this relationship just sexual?
“No regrets. Let’s hit the road.” She handed him the car keys without him having to ask.
Deacon slipped on his sexy, mysterious shades and took the wheel.
She’d managed to nap for the first hour, lulled to sleep by the perfect temperature in the car and Deacon’s gentle stroking on her bare leg.
After a quick stop for fast food and a bathroom break, they were back on the road. Deacon was the perfect road-trip partner. He didn’t listen to the radio. He didn’t blather on endlessly. He didn’t snack on sunflower seeds. He remained still and alert as they cruised across Nebraska.
Molly kicked her shoes off and grabbed her e-reader from the backseat. Within a few minutes, she became engrossed in the story. The next time she glanced at the clock, she realized almost two hours had passed.
Deacon looked at her. “Good book?”
“Yeah. Sorry I’m not great company. I tend to get lost when I read.”
He picked up her hand and rubbed his callused thumb across her knuckles. “I’m not much of a reader.”
“You play video games?”
“Some.”
“What do you like to do in your off-hours? Now that you’re no longer hitting strip clubs.”
“Hilarious, babe. It seems I don’t have many off-hours.”
Molly turned in her seat. “Do you do that on purpose?”
“What?”
“Pack your free time with MMA or martial arts stuff so you don’t have to figure out a hobby?”
“I ain’t exactly the hobby type.”
“Because you turned your hobby into your job?”
It took him a few moments to answer. “Yeah, I guess. Now I’m getting paid to fight.”
Ask me my hobbies, Deacon. This is what people in a relationship do.
“What kind of books do you read?”
“Promise not to laugh?”
“Nope.”
She laughed. “I read romance.”
His lips twitched. “I knew that.”
“How?” Had he noticed the books in her living room?
“Tim told me. Pissed me off that he knew your favorite books. But I saw you finger yourself while reading a dirty one, so I win.” He gave her a full-out bad boy grin.
Her cheeks heated. “I read more than just erotic romance. I like historical, paranormal, and suspense.”
“What makes a book erotic?”
“More sex scenes. Erotic novels also have some kink, which is, ah . . . fun to read about.”
He snagged his water bottle from the cup holder. “What kind of kink?”
“Spanking. Multiple partners. Bondage.” Molly sent him a sideways glance. “I’ve wanted to ask Amery about the rope stuff she and Ronin do, but I always chicken out.”
Deacon choked on his drink. “Jesus, Molly. Warn a guy first.”
“So what do you know about that?”
“It’s not my place to say. So if you wanna know more, ask Amery.”
“Fine.” She swiped her finger across the screen and the text reappeared.
She’d finished maybe a page when Deacon spoke again.
“Why do you like erotic books?”
“The level of intensity between the hero and heroine always seems . . . higher. They express themselves to each other through sex.”
“What else?”
Pushy much? “Never mind.”
“Oh, no, darlin’. You don’t get to admit you like them kinda books and then act pissy because I wanna know why you like them.”
“Because they make me hot, okay? The only place I’ll ever get to experience that kinkier stuff is through the pages of a book.” Embarrassed by that admission, she directed her attention out the window.
Deacon’s hand landed on the back of her head. “Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Please.”
“No. Keep your damn eyes on the road, Deacon.”
He slowed down and pulled onto the shoulder. After putting the car in park, he curled his hand below her jaw and turned her head, forcing her to meet his gaze.
He’d shoved his sunglasses on top of his head, and those icy eyes were scary as hell.
“Understand this. I’m not making fun of you for what you’re reading.”