Duke by Tressie Lockwood Page B

You’ll love this big dog.”
    She rolled her eyes at him and pursed her lips. “Boy, please. Don’t try to embarrass me with your sexual innuendos. Besides, I’ve had your ‘dog,’ and it’s all right.”
    He laughed and handed her a hot dog. “Now you’re throwing down a challenge. If I think you weren’t satisfied, I’ll have to do something about it.”
    “Whatever.”
    He saw a flash of amusement in her eyes, and something told him she wasn’t as against them getting physical again as she pretended. For now, he would bide his time. This morning wasn’t about seducing her. Rather he planned to win her. When he opened his eyes earlier, he didn’t know what came over him. All he knew for sure was he wanted to impress Takiyah. The knowledge almost made him call off the date, but he had never run from a challenge.
    With a quick phone call to his realtor and then one to Stefan, he had managed to sign paperwork for his house. From that night, he could move in to his place. The swift arrangements had taken almost every cent to his name, which of course was why this trip with Takiyah included hot dogs.
    She took a bite of her food, and he waited to gauge her reaction before he ate his. Her beautiful face brightened, and he thumbed away a bit of mustard in the corner of her luscious lips. “Well?” he insisted.
    “Mm, it’s so good. I can’t believe you have me eating hot dogs with chicken out here on your bike. I thought you would try to impress me by taking me to a fancy restaurant.”
    “Is that what you want?”
    She licked a finger. “No, I’m not like that, but to be honest, when you suggested we come here, I thought you weren’t even going to try. I once went out with this guy who wore whatever shirt his hands landed on in his clothesbasket. It was our first date. I wasn’t looking for a suit and tie, but damn.”
    He shook his head. “I get you. What I like to do is read my woman and get a feel for what she would and wouldn’t like.”
    “And what am I like?”
    “You would fall for me whether I dropped a thousand dollars on you or a dollar.”
    “Hold up. That sounds like it’s all about you.”
    “No, beautiful.” He leaned toward her, and this time instead of cleaning her mouth with his finger, he licked the dab of ketchup. She tasted delicious, far better than the food. He went in again and enjoyed himself for a few moments, tasting her sweet mouth. When he raised his head, he saw that she still waited for an explanation. “Sincerity, attentiveness, maybe a little aggression like taking charge. That’s what you need.”
    She made a noise of disbelief, but when she looked away, he knew he’d hit her personality on the head. He had already figured out a lot about her from day one, but meeting her ex confirmed it. Ed could never have been enough for Takiyah. Duke believed he was, and he would prove it to her. One problem he had run in to so far was that Takiyah thought she needed and wanted something else. She didn’t recognize yet how she responded to him. He would have to patiently show her.
    They finished their food, and Duke balled up the paper and tossed it in the trash. He picked up her helmet and set it atop her head. Pausing to look into her big brown eyes, he grinned. Desire washed over him. Truthfully, it was never far when he was around her. She did something to him. The sensations freaked him out, but Duke was a thrill-seeker. He liked the stirrings of panic in his gut, just like plunging straight down on a steep roller coaster or diving off a cliff. After the initial fear then came the mind-blowing fun.
    Fun is when I spread her legs and she shouts for me.
    He grinned bigger, and she smacked his arm. “I know what you’re thinking. Get that smut out of your head.”
    He widened his eyes. “I’m innocent. How could you accuse me of dirty thoughts?”
    She pursed her lips. “When I first heard your name, I knew the kind of man you are.”
    “You’re saying my parents