Craving The Player (Amateurs In Love Book 1)(56)
I don’t know what this all means, or if she feels even slightly the same in her feelings towards me—if there even are any beyond our shared lust for one another—but I can’t stay away from her anymore. That much I do know. I would rather take my chances than keep torturing myself.
"Have you always wanted to do that?" I ask before clearing the boulder from my throat.
"Yeah. I've worked really hard to get where I am."
Her words make me think of her boss and my jaw tightens. I think he would love for her to work just a little harder—
As if sensing my discomfort, she swaps the attention to me. "What do you do? You've never talked about your work."
"I train and fight at my dad's boxing gym. I don't do anything as glamorous as you." I crave to feel the same amount of pride in what I do as she does. I'm not ashamed of my job, but I can’t help but feel like it pales in comparison to hers. When it comes to being even merely successful, I left that up to everybody else I know.
"That explains Logan's broken nose. You have one hell of a punch," she giggles, eyes sparkling. My chest puffs at her compliment before deflating just as quickly. "Maybe I could come watch you sometime?"
Her question takes me off guard. She wants to come watch me beat someone up? She doesn't seem like the violence type, although she did enjoy watching me hit Logan. But isn't that different? He at least deserved that. The guys that I fight do it solely because they love the feeling of it. There are no chances to back away once the beating starts. They’re stuck there until the pain brings them to the brink of surrender.
"I never took you for the violence type,” I tease. "But if you really want to go, I have a fight tomorrow night. I can get Clayton to pick you up."
"Oh, you wouldn’t be picking me up?" Sierra doesn’t meet my eyes when she asks, and the pink colouring her cheeks has me grinning so wide that I’m sure she thinks I’m a lunatic. She’s disappointed that I won’t be the one picking her up and embarrassed that she felt the need to ask. There’s a heavy, impossible to ignore feeling of triumph threatening to take flight in my stomach.
“I’ll be at the gym too early getting everything ready. But I promise that Clayton will take care of you. He won’t spend another day on this earth if he doesn’t.”
Sierra seems happy enough with my answer, her eyes burning brighter than a few minutes ago. The way she’s looking at me has my breath catching in my throat as I struggle to swallow back the urge to jump over the table and sit down beside her. I want to pull her tight enough that we could be super glued together.
The waiter returns and slides his eyes over Sierra’s empty plate of pancakes before asking, "Everything going good over here? I would say so.”
He’s teasing her, but I know immediately that I don’t like it. I want him gone ASAP. Especially when Sierra flushes with embarrassment, and drops her eyes to her lap.
No, I don't think so. Nobody embarrasses Sierra but me.
Grinding my teeth together, I push my plate towards him, letting it scrape across the table to grab his attention. I speak when his eyes finally fall on me. "I want the bill."
His chin dips in acknowledgment while he reaches in his apron and pulls out a piece of paper. After he places it down on the table, I swipe it with a forced smile.
"Thanks, Wilson.” I scowl, eyeing the shiny nametag on his chest.
"I'll be back in a few minutes with the machine.” I don’t acknowledge him and he leaves without another word.
"I think it's hot that you have a healthy appetite, babe. Don't let that nerd embarrass you." The pink on her cheeks slowly diminishes as she gives me a weak smile, meeting my laid back gaze. I'm not just blowing smoke up her ass, despite the slight disbelief in her eyes.
The number of girls that I’ve hooked-up with that refused to eat for my benefit is such a turn-off. Guy's don't like that shit. I don't know where they even got that idea from in the first place. Probably from low-lives like Sierra’s ex-boyfriend.
"You don't have to pay for my food.” She reaches across the table and attempts to grab the bill from my hand. I pull it to my chest before she has the chance.
"If you want it so bad, you can always come and grab it." I cock a taunting brow, daring her to try. She huffs, exposing her irritation with me, but decides to sit back and glare at me instead of falling into my trap and giving me what I want.
"You're a child."
"Not the first time that I've heard that, sunshine."
"Sunshine? Really? Is little fighter not good enough anymore?"
"Are you saying that you like it when I call you my little fighter?" I smirk, obsessed with the way she can’t help but fight me on everything. I sit further into the booth and cross my arms for a few seconds, waiting for her to push me on it but she doesn’t. "That's what I thought, baby."
"Where is that damn waiter? It's been longer than a few minutes," she rambles, physically flustered. Her fingers brush at her hair, toying with the fallen ends. She slips her lip between her teeth, chewing on it anxiously.
Oh yeah, I got her right where I want her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sierra