by Codi Gary
No, his expression was intense. Hungry.
She almost gulped, but that might give him the impression that he affected her.
He didn’t, of course. She was just observing him. Closely.
“You’re early.” His voice was deeper, surly, but his obvious irritation didn’t bother her.
“Yes.” The shiver that shot down to her lower belly did. She shouldn’t be turned on by Mike, no matter how nice his body was or how rumbly his voice sounded. She’d bumped into a cute guy while she was shopping and had given him her number. He was a dentist in Twin Falls, and his smile was amazing.
He didn’t exactly give you quivery, excited feelings, though, did he?
Mike reached out and took some of the bags from her hand, and it startled her out of her thoughts when his hand brushed hers. His fingers were cool, yet just that simple touch burned her skin. His hair glistened and the spicy, clean scent of his soap was delicious, intoxicating, and she almost leaned into him, but he was already pulling back, carrying all the bags inside.
Ever the gentleman.
The thought sobered her somewhat as she followed him inside. Mike was a good guy, or so he said. Raised right, close to his mama, held doors open…
And yet the expression in his eyes when he looked her way again contradicted it all.
It was bad in the melt-her-panties sense. It made her want to find out what was under his shorts, and that was beyond bad.
“You look really nice,” he said.
She smoothed her hands over the black skinny jeans that disappeared into knee-high lace-up boots. She’d planned on heading out with Jenny tonight, so she’d left her long hair down around her shoulders. She wore a leather jacket over her low-cut sleeveless purple top.
“Thank you.” She hated how pleased she was by the compliment. She took off her jacket and to change the subject, stepped up to him and ran her finger through his shaving cream.
“Why is your face covered in shaving cream?”
“Because I wanted to dress up like Santa Claus. Why do you think?”
She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she couldn’t fight the overwhelming desire to tease him. Taunt him. Stepping close, she watched his eyes stray down to her lips and a zing of pleasure made her mouth tingle.
“If you’re trying to shave off this prickly, dark hair”—she scraped off more shaving cream, the fluffy wetness and the scratchy hair delicious against the side of her finger—“don’t. Bad boys nearly always sport a little scruff. Just enough to leave marks on the skin.”
Slowly she walked over to the sink and grabbed a dish towel of the counter, running it under hot water for a minute. As she wrung it out, she looked over her shoulder at him, and he hadn’t moved, as though he was waiting to see what she had planned.
Why am I teasing him like this? He’s about to go out with someone else, and I don’t have any real interest in him…right?
But when she was standing in front of him again, running that warm towel down his cheek until she’d removed every inch of that white foam, she had the urge to smooth her hand over those rough whiskers. She wanted to feel the tickle and scratch on her palm as she reached up and tangled her hand in his messy hair, pulling his lips down to hers. Would he let her if she tried?
“Ellie.”
A dark threat lingered in the curt use of her name and she bit her lip to keep from sighing.
“What?” she said when she trusted herself to speak.
Ellie thought he’d make a joke, like he always seemed to when things got too intense, but he didn’t. It was a warning.
“Whatever game you’re playing right now, don’t.”
“Don’t what?” She watched his face for the irritation, but he oozed anticipation instead.
“Don’t think I won’t give you exactly what you’re asking for.”
“And what’s that?” Why did she sound so warm and inviting? She was practically begging him to—
Before she could move away, he grabbed ahold of her hand and pulled her along with him as he sat down on a kitchen chair. Her heart thundered in her chest as she was suddenly yanked across his lap, stomach down, and his arm held her in place as the first hard smack came down on her ass.
“Ow, what the fuck!” Another whack. “You son of a bitch, I will have your balls.” Yet another whack. “Stop it!”
He released her and she scrambled to her feet. As he stood up, she cranked back her arm. She would have let it fly, but he caught it, his chocolate-brown eyes boring into hers.
“Now take some time and think about what you did.”
“What the hell did I do?”
“You were being a tease.”
Ellie caught the twitch at the corner of his mouth, as if he was trying not to laugh, and she might have agreed with him, if her ass wasn’t stinging.
And if a small part of her didn’t like that he had surprised her.
But you hate surprises, don’t you?
“You’ll pay for that.”
“Probably,” he said, releasing her hand. “But it was worth it.”
And as he strode past her toward the bathroom, she rubbed her posterior. It didn’t hurt any longer, but she had never been spanked. And even if she had thought of it once or twice, she had never imagined a sexy-as-hell, slightly nerdy nice guy being the one to dish it out.
Wait, back up, since when did she start thinking of Mike as sexy? Well-groomed and nice to look at, sure, but panty-soaking-can’t-resist-him-sexy?
She realized he’d left the bags in the living room and hollered, “I have your clothes out here!”
“So bring them back,” he hollered.
She grabbed her bags and walked down the hallway, ignoring the shaking in her legs. She was completely thrown by her knee-jerk reaction to Mike.
“I can’t believe you agreed to go for a drink with this woman.”
“I told you, she’s hot and it’s just a celebratory drink.”
She scoffed loudly. “That was just an excuse to get you to go out with her. And after what you just pulled, I should just abandon you to the woman who is going to lock you up in a room, tie you to a bed, and probably sledgehammer your ankles.”
“You should stay away from Stephen King movies. Your imagination runs away from you.”
Ellie set the bags down on the bathroom floor and pulled out the jacket. “I got this for you, but now I’m not convinced you deserve it.”
“That looks expensive,” Mike said, frowning.
“I am an expert shopper, so it wasn’t as much as you’d think.”
“Still, I’ll pay you back. Or, instead of paying me for fixing your laptop, we can call it square.”
“Sure, fine, whatever, but what about theses pants?” Ellie held up a pair of boot-cut jeans.
“They look like jeans.” Mike picked up the other bag, and pulled out the boots, setting them on the counter. “Those are okay.”
Ellie rolled her eyes and reminded herself that men just didn’t seem to have the same reaction to clothes that women did.
Mike paused for a second and then pulled up the chaps with a grimace. “Please tell me you did not pay money for these.”
“Oh, come on. Those will be hot over the jeans and—”
“And there is no way in hell I’m wearing them.” Mike grabbed the jeans and stepped into them. As he lifted one leg and then the other, Ellie watched his leg muscles bunch and twist until he pulled them up and over.
As he buttoned and then zipped, he said, “Okay, show me your shirt choices.”
Ellie emptied the contents of her bag on the counter, even the clippers.
“What are the clippers for?” he asked.
“I just thought if you wanted to clean up the sides a bit. I could help you out.”
He picked up the army green T-shirt with wings and a slogan on the front, pulling it over his head without answering right away. The shirt hugged his pecs and shoulders, barely loose around his waist.
Yu
m.
Then he walked past her and came back carrying one of his dining-room chairs. She waited as he pulled a towel out of the cupboard and sat down.
“Do what you want. I’m at your mercy.”
Chapter Eleven
Mike tried to ignore the hard ache in his groin that began plaguing him the second Ellie had run her finger across his cheek. He knew she was just messing with him, but his cock didn’t, and when her fingers slipped into his hair, the sensation only intensified.
“So, I can do anything I want?”
Was there a husky tone in her voice or was that just wishful thinking?
“Anything. I’m all yours.”
She touched a switch and the clippers buzzed. “Lean forward.”
He did what she asked and felt the first vibration as the clipper ran up the back of his head and the whisper of his hair falling to the bathroom floor. He’d let it grow too long, but knowing she was shaving it all should have made him panic. Surprisingly, he kept thinking about what she said about liking men with short or shaved hair.
She isn’t who I should be dressing for.
But his body didn’t know that as her fingers brushed and stroked his scalp. It was agonizing torture that felt amazing.
When she finally turned the clippers off, he felt a warm, wet towel wiping across the back and sides of his neck.
“Can you sit up now?”
He did as she asked and she wiped along his forehead and ears, her brow furrowed in concentration. She picked up the clippers once more, probably to clean up the front and around his ears, and when she finished, she still hadn’t backed away from him, her legs straddling one of his so her breasts were right in his face.
“I think you’re done,” she said softly above him. He looked up into her hazel eyes and his hands ached to grab her hips and pull her down until she was sitting on his thigh. Would it make her wet and throbbing if he moved her hips back and forth across it?
What the hell was he doing? This was Ellie, too young for him and definitely all wrong.
Thankfully, she moved away from him and picked up the jacket. “Don’t look just yet, okay? Put this on first.”
Mike did as she asked, keeping his back to the mirror as he stood up. He took the jacket, sliding his arms into the sleeves and adjusting the collar. It fit well, and he was ready to turn and look in the mirror, but jumped when Ellie’s thumb rubbed across his chin, grazing his lower lip.
“Sorry, you had a hair.”
“Did you get it?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat and backed away from him. “You can look now.”
Mike glanced towards the mirror and hardly recognized himself. With his hair buzzed off and the shadow of stubble on his chin he looked darker, tougher. Dangerous. The leather jacket over the green, lightweight T-shirt looked damn good.
“Okay, you’re right.” He picked up the boots and started to walk past her, but paused. Leaning down, he let his lips brush the soft skin of her cheek. “Thanks.”
Mike saw the flush of color in her cheeks and wondered if he’d embarrassed her. He went out to grab some socks from his drawer and heard her say, “I’m going to take off, okay?”
Mike had just sat down to pull the boots on and hollered back, “Just wait a second and you can get the full effect.”
“I’m sure you look great.”
Mike rushed to get his boots on and catch her before she took off. Was she running out because he’d made her uncomfortable?
“Hang on.”
He walked into the living room and caught her at the door.
“So, what do you think?”
Ellie’s eyes traveled down and back up his frame, and the heat in those hazel depths gave him pause. “I think she’s going to turn to goo the minute she sees you.”
Her compliment hit him hard, but before he could say anything more she was out the door, shutting it with a click.
Ellie watched Jenny take another shot of tequila, and wondered why she’d agreed to go out to celebrate. They had headed to Buck’s even though Ellie knew Mike was bringing his date there. She should usher Jenny out the door, but her friend deserved to celebrate.
Tonight, it was hard not to kick back some Jose and forget about her weird, fluttery feelings for Mike Stevens.
The fact that she hadn’t seen him yet made her wonder if he’d taken Wendy somewhere classier than Buck’s. Wendy. Ellie was sure she was probably picture-perfect, just like a Disney heroine.
Ellie danced in place, pretending as though she was having a great time, but between Mike’s hard hand on her ass and the scorching fire that had raced across her skin from mere proximity, she wanted a drink and a distraction. To cut loose and not think about him.
Only, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him and his sexy, bad-boy biker makeover.
God, what the hell had she done?
“Graham, one more!” Jenny shouted to the bartender. “And bring one for Ellie, too! She needs it.”
Ellie didn’t even bother arguing and when Graham set the shots in front of them, she clinked her glass with Jenny’s and tipped it back. The hot liquid burned down her throat and warmed her stomach pleasantly.
She waved her hand for another round.
Ellie’s phone started ringing in her back pocket and she pulled it out. Glancing down at the screen, she saw Mike’s name and butterflies scattered in her stomach, hitting the walls.
“Who is it?” Jenny asked, peeking over her arm. “Is it Mike? How did his date go? Are you gonna tell him you lurve him?”
“You, meddlesome wench, mind your bidness.” Ellie knew Jennywas just being silly, that she really didn’t think anything was going on between Ellie and Mike, but the words struck a chord inside. Not that she thought she loved him or anything, but she couldn’t deny the thought of him out with another woman bothered her and it was unreasonable and nuts. Mike was just…not right for her.
Still, she did want to know how the date went and if she had been right, so she flicked her thumb across the screen. “What’s up, buttercup? I thought you were going to Buck’s.”
“How did you know I didn’t?”
“Cause I’m here and you’re not.”
“We went to Hank’s Bar, but you were right about Wendy being a bit aggressive.”
“Did she try to get you back to her place with promises of candy and puppies?”
“You are twisted. Wait, are you drunk?”
“No,” Ellie said. “I’ve had one shot, but Jenny’s drunk.”
Jenny put her mouth near the phone and yelled, “Mike! Can you come get us?”
“No, you don’t need to,” Ellie said.
“I don’t mind. I’ll be there in ten.”
The call ended, and Ellie slipped it into her pocket, her brow furrowing as she thought. “He’s a good guy, huh? He doesn’t just fake it so people will like him?”
“Nope, he is the genuine article.” Jenny caught sight of something, and said loudly, “Unlike some other jerk-offs I know.”
Ellie followed her gaze to find Tanner White standing at the end of the bar talking to a pretty brunette who seemed upset. Tanner and Jenny had dated for about six months before he’d abruptly dumped her last month. Ellie had tried to get her to tell what happened, but Jenny had been mum.
“I wish you’d tell me what he did.”
“He’s an asshat deluxe with double dickery.” Jenny tried to reach over the counter to grab one of the liquor bottles, and Graham shouted something at her to knock it off.
Jenny slid back down, making a face at Graham. “What? You’s slow!”
“I knew she was going to be scary,” Ellie said abruptly.
“Who?” Jenny waved at Graham for more shots, but he seemed to be ignoring her.
“Mike’s date tonight. But would he listen to me? Nope.”
“You talk like there is something between you.”
Ellie blew her tongue between her lips. “The only thing that is
there is that we like to fight and I think he looks good naked. Well, mostly naked.”
“Mostly? Did you see his twig and berries?” Jenny asked.
“No! He was wearing boxers, but the rest of him? Yum.”
Ellie glanced toward the doorway, thinking about Mike’s abs, and heard Jenny arguing with someone. She turned and realized Dalton Mitchell had intercepted their shots and had set down two cups of coffee instead.
Jenny glared at Dalton and Ellie hid a grin behind her hand. Dalton and Jenny had been friends since they were in diapers and although Jenny harbored a gigantic hankering for the tall cowboy, Dalton had only ever treated her like a sister.
Which pissed Jenny off.
“How about we skip the shots and go for some coffee?” Dalton said, smiling at Jenny.
“I’m not drinking that pig piss you call coffee,” Jenny said belligerently.
“You should have been cut off two shots ago. Drink the coffee, and I’ll get you some water.”
“No. I am an adult, and I can decide when I’ve had too much to drink,” Jenny said.
Dalton looked like he wanted to throttle her, and Ellie grabbed her friend’s hand. “Come on, Jenny. Let’s dance while we wait for Mike.”
Jenny flipped her hair over her shoulder, and Ellie could have sworn she was taunting Dalton. “I’m going to dance. Preferably with someone who can do more than the white guy shuffle.”
Jenny dragged her behind and the world tilted a little. Losing her balance, Ellie stumbled into someone. Crap, one shot should not have hit her like this. “So sorry.” Ellie laughed at her attempt at a cockney accent and hardly registered that she’d bumped into Wayne Coulter, who didn’t look happy to see her.
“If you wanted to show me you’re sorry, you’d already be on your knees.”
Ellie’s mouth dropped open. “You’re a pig.”
“So? Wanna get dirty with me?”
Ellie gave Wayne a once over, from the top of his dusty camo hat over the fat lip full of dip and his scuffed-up boots. “Ummm, no thanks. I have taste.”
Wayne’s tan skin flushed purple and his light blue eyes narrowed. “Then watch where you’re walking, bitch.”