Heath (Wild Boys After Dark, #2)(33)

“That’s just it,” Heath admitted. “I don’t think I could care for her more than I do, and then the next day comes, and that feeling just gets bigger. Now I’m sitting here itching to see her, and I’ve become the clingy bitch I avoided all these years.”

Logan’s blue eyes twinkled with a brotherly taunt. “Shit, look at you. Man, don’t tell Coop and Jackson that. They’ll eat you alive. But I get it.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t you think I’m wondering how many guys are checking out Stormy right now? Even though I know she’s coming home to me, my gut’s on fire.”

“Join the club.” Heath inhaled a deep breath and blew it out fast. “Listen, tell Thing One and Thing Two I’ll see them at Mom’s Sunday, and tell Mick goodbye. I’m going to take off. You’re a bigger man than me, bro. I can’t sit here wanting to be with her for another second when my legs work just fine.” He patted his brother’s shoulder as he stood to leave. “Thanks, Logan. I needed to hear every word you just said.”

“Who would have thought you’d learn a lesson from your younger brother?”

“Logan, you’ve taught me more about bravery and loyalty in the last few years than anyone else ever could.” He tipped his chin as a way of saying goodbye and thank you, and headed for his woman.





Chapter Thirteen


ALLY PEERED THROUGH the peephole of her apartment door and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Heath pacing the hallway. Before pulling the door open, she allowed herself an extra second to gawk. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were trained on the ground, as if he were mulling something over or was annoyed. He rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. She wondered if something had happened with his brothers. It had been a while since she’d texted him about not meeting him at NightCaps.

She opened the door, and the second he lifted his eyes, all that tension seemed to melt from his body and float away. His full, beautiful lips curved up, and his gaze softened as he reached for her. There was a tingling in the pit of her stomach as one arm circled her waist while the other wrapped around her back and pulled her against him.

“You’re supposed to be out with your brothers.”

“I missed you too much to stay away a second longer.” The emotion emanating off of him was different from the fierce sexuality she was used to. The way he was looking at her spoke of the bond she felt forming between them.

Ally couldn’t deny the thundering of her heart at the realization that he had to be falling for her just as hard as she was falling for him. Fear tiptoed through her at the thought. As his lips met hers, her body filled with a light, dreamy emotion that made her feel warm and wonderful all over and swept that fear away. Everything Heath did and said made her feel and think in ways that were new and immensely meaningful and real.

She closed her eyes and reveled in the warmth of his lips brushing over her cheek and his breath whispering over her skin.

“I just had to be with you. We don’t have to make love. I just need the closeness.”

Ally didn’t even try to speak. She knew her voice wouldn’t come. Instead, she took his hand and led him into the apartment. She hadn’t ever spent the night with a man in this apartment, and the thought of doing so with Heath thrilled and terrified her.

He ran his hands over the curve of her hips, his gaze never leaving hers, and the air around them pulsed with too many emotions to decipher.

“I want to stay,” he whispered.

“I’m afraid.” As soon as the words left her lips she regretted them.

“Of?” He didn’t loosen his grip or step back. His eyes filled with empathy, and that drew her further in.

“Falling for you.”

His hands came up and warmed her cheeks. “Honesty will get you everywhere.” He kissed her forehead. “Do you not want to fall for me?”

“It’s not that. I can’t help myself from falling for you, but this is so fast. We’ve talked about this.” She nibbled on her lower lip, wondering why she was pushing away the only man she’d ever felt this much for. He was a good man, an honest man, a man she wanted to wake up next to.

A sweet, easy smile stretched across his face as he dropped his hands back down to her waist. “How about if I don’t let you fall for me?”

She pressed her forehead to his chest. “Everything you do makes me fall harder. Just the way you’re looking at me makes my heart go crazy.” She gazed up at him and he was still smiling, which made her heart squeeze even more. “We shouldn’t spend the night together.”

There. She’d said it.

She felt horrible and immediately wished she hadn’t said it. But for some stupid reason, she needed to be one hundred percent sure that she was ready to take this step before finding herself in Heath’s arms in the morning.

“Because you’re afraid of falling for me?” His eyes grew serious.

She nodded, knowing that if she agreed aloud, it would feel wrong, too.

He drew her in closer and pressed his hand to the back of her head. She felt his heart beating against her cheek. He felt so good, so safe. So loving. She was too emotional to separate how right he felt from the fear that had tiptoed back in.

“Okay.” He drew back and inhaled a long, even breath, then pulled his shoulders back. His brows knitted together as he readied himself for something.