away, like they were loaded with freaking magnets, and I muttered, “Same. Except I’ll take a Coke.”
I needed the caffeine.
Blondie got the message and scuttled away, so I tried to reclaim my hand. But Coleman wouldn’t let it go.
He lowered his voice to a serious, extremely heartfelt timber and murmured, “One day, baby, you’re gonna call me honey, and it’s not gonna be for show.”
My throat bobbed as I forced it to swallow, and I looked down at the table, embarrassed by what I had just done. I had actually let myself react to another woman giving him attention, for the second time, and it made me look crazy. I was pushing him away at the same time that I wouldn’t let anyone else have him.
Shaking my head, I let my shoulders sag as I muttered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Roni, I don’t want you to be sorry for claiming me, I just want you to be sincere while you’re doin’ it,” he said, his voice dripping with hope filled sincerity.
For such a strong, physically intimidating guy, he was so freaking soft. So playful, so generous with affection. So everything I wanted. And everything I didn’t think I could handle.
Being completely honest, I whispered, “I don’t know that I can do that.”
His words were steely when he answered, “I’ve got time.”
I couldn’t comprehend it. I didn’t have low self-esteem, but this man could have anyone. And I meant that in the literal sense. Men, women, anyone would be happy to have him. Anyone who’s heart hadn’t already been shattered.
“Why would you wait for me?” As much as I had tried to keep my tone light and even, it unmistakably came out downright incredulous.
His eyes flickered, and when I saw it, I knew I was going to get a real answer. One that would probably scare the shit out of me.
Mesmerized by him, I watched as he settled in and gave my hand a gentle rub of his thumb before he started his speech. “Because, my little Banty rooster, you challenge me when no one else will. You’re fuckin’ beautiful and have a hot little body, but you put absolutely zero effort into it. You’ve got a sweet side that you just barely let out, but when you do, I can tell it’s one hundred percent genuine. We’ve shared one kiss, and it turned me on more than all of the women I’ve been with in the last six months combined. And I’m talkin’ tits swingin’ in my face, dick buried deep inside these women. Your kiss did more.”
Jesus.
Flabbergasted by his outright, maybe even gruesomely vivid, description, I had to work to catch my breath, but he kept right on talking. “You do somethin’ awesome with your time, chasin’ storms and the adrenaline that comes with that. That speaks to my interests and tells me how smart you are.”
Barely pausing to take a breath, he continued, “You made an impression on my kid the first time you met him, so much so that he called me and told me about you, and he’s never mentioned a woman other than my mother since his own left. Translation...never. Not to fuckin’ mention, the first time I saw you, I just knew. Call it whatever you want, but I had a feeling so strong and distinct that there was no mistaking it.”
I could barely feel my body, let alone form a coherent response, so he kept talking, taking the pressure off of me. “Look, I know there’s a lot I don’t know about you, but I want to know it, good, bad, or ugly. That’s how I know it’s worth it.”
My heart thrummed painfully in my chest at the idea that this magnificent man thought all of those wonderful things about me. I felt a little bit like I’d just won the lottery; undeniably excited, but worried about all the people that would hound me now that I had the money.
One thing was clear; I wasn’t getting rid of him anytime soon. I might as well enjoy the ride as much as I could for now and deal with my issues when I got to them.
Relaxing into my seat, I let him keep my hand. I figured that was the
I needed the caffeine.
Blondie got the message and scuttled away, so I tried to reclaim my hand. But Coleman wouldn’t let it go.
He lowered his voice to a serious, extremely heartfelt timber and murmured, “One day, baby, you’re gonna call me honey, and it’s not gonna be for show.”
My throat bobbed as I forced it to swallow, and I looked down at the table, embarrassed by what I had just done. I had actually let myself react to another woman giving him attention, for the second time, and it made me look crazy. I was pushing him away at the same time that I wouldn’t let anyone else have him.
Shaking my head, I let my shoulders sag as I muttered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Roni, I don’t want you to be sorry for claiming me, I just want you to be sincere while you’re doin’ it,” he said, his voice dripping with hope filled sincerity.
For such a strong, physically intimidating guy, he was so freaking soft. So playful, so generous with affection. So everything I wanted. And everything I didn’t think I could handle.
Being completely honest, I whispered, “I don’t know that I can do that.”
His words were steely when he answered, “I’ve got time.”
I couldn’t comprehend it. I didn’t have low self-esteem, but this man could have anyone. And I meant that in the literal sense. Men, women, anyone would be happy to have him. Anyone who’s heart hadn’t already been shattered.
“Why would you wait for me?” As much as I had tried to keep my tone light and even, it unmistakably came out downright incredulous.
His eyes flickered, and when I saw it, I knew I was going to get a real answer. One that would probably scare the shit out of me.
Mesmerized by him, I watched as he settled in and gave my hand a gentle rub of his thumb before he started his speech. “Because, my little Banty rooster, you challenge me when no one else will. You’re fuckin’ beautiful and have a hot little body, but you put absolutely zero effort into it. You’ve got a sweet side that you just barely let out, but when you do, I can tell it’s one hundred percent genuine. We’ve shared one kiss, and it turned me on more than all of the women I’ve been with in the last six months combined. And I’m talkin’ tits swingin’ in my face, dick buried deep inside these women. Your kiss did more.”
Jesus.
Flabbergasted by his outright, maybe even gruesomely vivid, description, I had to work to catch my breath, but he kept right on talking. “You do somethin’ awesome with your time, chasin’ storms and the adrenaline that comes with that. That speaks to my interests and tells me how smart you are.”
Barely pausing to take a breath, he continued, “You made an impression on my kid the first time you met him, so much so that he called me and told me about you, and he’s never mentioned a woman other than my mother since his own left. Translation...never. Not to fuckin’ mention, the first time I saw you, I just knew. Call it whatever you want, but I had a feeling so strong and distinct that there was no mistaking it.”
I could barely feel my body, let alone form a coherent response, so he kept talking, taking the pressure off of me. “Look, I know there’s a lot I don’t know about you, but I want to know it, good, bad, or ugly. That’s how I know it’s worth it.”
My heart thrummed painfully in my chest at the idea that this magnificent man thought all of those wonderful things about me. I felt a little bit like I’d just won the lottery; undeniably excited, but worried about all the people that would hound me now that I had the money.
One thing was clear; I wasn’t getting rid of him anytime soon. I might as well enjoy the ride as much as I could for now and deal with my issues when I got to them.
Relaxing into my seat, I let him keep my hand. I figured that was the
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