Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(23)



“Sounds like fun,” he said.

“It is,” she agreed, taking another drink of her wine.

When their food arrived, they talked about foods they liked and didn’t like, but they both agreed that nachos were the best hockey food ever. They talked about more movies they liked, then music, and, of course, hockey. The food was amazing, like always, but the company was even better.

“I need to ask you something, Shea,” Elli said as she took another drink of her wine. He nodded as he took a bite of the dessert they had ordered.

“Okay?”

“This is gonna sound stupid, but I need to know.” She looked worried; she was biting the hell out of her lip, so Shea got nervous, sitting up straighter. He looked over at her as he laid his fork down.

“What is it?”

“Okay, so I know I’m not your regular type. I’ve always seen you with the leggy blondes and never with the same girl. I even read somewhere that the same girl doesn’t sit in your box more than once, so I guess what I’m trying to say, or ask even is that,” she took a deep breath, and he couldn’t help but smile at her, she was so sweet, “Is that, we’ve been out four times now, I’m not seeing anyone else, and I’m not saying that you can’t see anyone else, that’s not what I’m trying to say, it’s more like,” she was flustered, he could tell, but he also knew to let her get it out, so he sat patiently until it was time for him to answer “Why me? You know? I mean, I’m pretty sure there isn’t anyone else, if there is, I would like to know, but why me?” He shook his head.

“There isn’t anyone else.”

“Okay, so why me? You can have any girl with the flick of a wrist. I mean, I guess it’s just hard for me to believe that you want to spend time with me.”

“Why’s that so hard to believe?”

“Because I’m me and you’re you. I just a normal citizen, while you’re a celebrity. I’m ordinary, while your gorgeous, and-“

“Okay, shut up,” he said, since he had heard enough. She looked over at him, stunned. He smiled, and then reached for her hand, kissing her knuckles. “I want see you because I like you. I like you because your amazing, sweet, understanding, and if I ever hear you say your ordinary, I might smack your ass because you are gorgeous Elli. So freaking beautiful that sometimes, like tonight, I find myself speechless of your beauty.” She looked down at her hands, then back up at him with a shy smile.

“I don’t know. It’s just so hard to believe.”

He smiled before bringing her knuckles to his lips again. “Then I’ll just have to work hard to make you believe me.”





Elli still didn’t feel any better about why Shea was with her, but, hell, what was she supposed to do? He said his peace. She would either trust him or let him go. Since letting him go wasn’t an option now, she would try to trust him. After eating their desserts, Shea paid the bill, and they took off for the movies. She picked an action/thriller movie that she had wanted to see, and so had Shea. It was good, but it was even better to hold someone’s hand through the movie.

The walk to the truck was quiet, just the two of them walking with their fingers intertwined. After getting Elli in the truck, Shea came around the other side and joined her. The ride out to her house was nice. They talked about the movie and what they liked and didn’t like. They also made fun of the actor, who couldn’t act worth crap. Elli loved talking to Shea. He was so animated, so funny. So perfect.

When they arrived at Elli’s house, Shea got out and helped her down, holding her hand as they walked to the door. Adler started barking as soon as they reach the first step.

“Shh!” she scolded as she turned to look at Shea. He was on the bottom step while she was on the second, so they were the exact same height. “I had a wonderful time, Shea.”

“I’m glad. I did too.” He leaned a little closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. Adler chose that particular moment to start scratching like a mad man at the door.

“No treat!” Elli yelled. Shea started laughing, but the scratching stopped.

“You never did tell me your dog’s name.”

Elli froze, she couldn’t tell him the name; he would think she was crazy! So she did the only logical thing she could think off, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him hard. What was supposed to be a distraction turned into some heavy kissing, his hands tightened at her waist, making her dress tight around the middle. She would have cared any other time, but with Shea kissing her the way he was, she really didn’t care. She moved her hands from behind his neck, to his cheeks, feeling the dusting of hair on his cheeks and jaw. It was so sexy to feel a man’s face like that. He kissed like a dream, his lips so hard, but soft at the same time, and the way he used that tongue. Lord, help her. She kissed the side of his mouth, his breathing was hard, and so was hers. As she kissed the side of his neck, a low growl escaped his lips. She had forgotten how much she loved the sounds males could make, so she kissed him again, rewarded with the same sound. He pulled back, bringing her face up to kiss her lips softly, and then he leaned his head on hers.

“Jeez, Elli, you’re driving me crazy. So unless you want to move this inside, because I doubt you want a show for the neighbors, we need to stop, because my control is slipping,” he whispered against her lips. God, how she wanted him to come in. She wanted to rip his clothes off and screw his brains out. The lust was apparent on his face. He wanted her, all she wanted was to distract him and look what she did! She had not only turned him on, but also made herself hot as ever!

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