by Devon Ashley
“Just the two.” Finishing his coffee, he placed his cup down. He leaned back against the counter, elbows high so his hands could clamp the edge. “And you? Any tattoos you’d like to share?”
Huffing dramatically, I snarked, “Do I look like the kind of girl that would do that?”
“Honestly?” I cocked my eyes, challenging him to finish. “You look like the kind of girl that wants at least one tattoo, but is too shy to show it, so you put it somewhere under those lacey undergarments of yours.”
Well, shit. All except the lace part. Nowadays I didn’t feel that sexy in my skin, so I didn’t bother with the lace.
“Am I right?” he interrogated, those vibrant green eyes trying to drill mine for answers.
“Maybe.”
Lightly laughing, he teased, “Let me guess. It’s something simple and cute. Cartoon character? Favorite flower?”
Oops. I sucked in my cheek so hard, it was obvious I was trying to deter my smile.
“Flower! I knew it.”
“Blue Hydrangeas,” I admitted. It was crazy how accurate he was. Was I really that much of a statistic?
“And it’s somewhere beneath those panties of yours, isn’t it? Maybe right around the hip bone?”
Damn. Dead right again. “Is that bad?”
“No, not at all,” he practically cooed. “It’s actually an incredibly sexy place to put one. Most men can’t get enough of the hips.”
Our conversation stalled, and the only voices came from whatever show he had on the TV. He continued to stare me down with flirtatious looks, knowing he’d break me down eventually.
“You’re not waiting for me to show you, are you?” I asked impishly.
“Why? Do you want to show me?”
My lips pressing together, I shook my head at his new tactic. “Don’t twist my words around like that.”
“So you don’t want to show me your panties then?”
“Again with the twisting,” I accused.
“Alright, alright. Don’t get your panties all in a twist.”
“Ha, ha. Lovely, Nick. Shouldn’t you be taking your ritual shower right about now, or something?”
“So now you just want to get me naked. And exactly how much attention have you been paying to me to know what my daily rituals are?”
My hands fisted at my sides. Apparently, I wasn’t going to win the battle of the wits this morning. Maybe there was something to coffee after all. My hand motioned in front of my lips, signaling that I was locking my mouth and throwing away the key. I was so not going to let him bait me all morning.
I waved bye now with my hand and retreated to my bedroom. Before I could close the partition, he asked, “Just out of curiosity, how long do you think you can hold out until you give in? I’d just like a time frame.”
“Give in to what?” I dared to ask.
My heart fired up like a souped-up race car watching him make his way over, pausing just inches away, hands grasping the edges of the doors I was just shy of closing. God, it was a sexy sight to behold.
“You wanted it as much as I did,” he declared boldly. “Still do.”
The kiss. I’d never admit to it, but I had ached for it every second since our bodies separated, even though my mind constantly tried to convince me otherwise. I just wished the two would agree already, but my mind would never allow me to forget that I’d never be safe. Never. I could be gone at a moment’s notice. But still, it was only human to want him for my very own.
“I should warn you,” I taunted. “I’m quite stubborn, so I can hold out like no other.”
His chest quietly vibrated with rumbles, the amusement on his face silently telling me he was accepting the challenge to break me down. I gave into my desires partially, and allowed my hand to trace the black ink on his shoulder. When he was completely enthralled by my touch, watching my finger swirl against his skin, I quickly and very playfully, shoved against both shoulders to remove him from my door frame. He took the hint and fell back, giving me the most delicious of grins as I closed him off.
Oh, shit I’m in trouble.
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