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Nicolette could not stop stealing peeks at the hunk and a half walking beside her. How could she have read him so wrong to start with back in the square? She had to admit he looked even better with his hair down and out of the braid. She could have sworn he had a scar above his right eye, but she realized that she’d not been that close to him. It could have been a shadow she saw on his face.

The man was tall, exceedingly handsome, had an accent to die for (even if it was at times hard to understand), and had taken the fact he was covered in cupcakes in stride. Not a lot of men would have been cool with that. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself, but she really hoped he was agreeing to go home with her for more than just cleaning up. From the moment they’d collided, she’d wanted the man.

First, she’d heard a loud buzzing noise, and when that had cleared, she’d been able to really focus on him. The man was amazing. He was the type of guy who looked to have fallen out of a magazine full of hunky men. A guy who seemed like he’d fit better in the days of old. In fact, the first thing she’d imagined after they’d kissed was him dressed in historic warrior wear—just like a Viking. While he’d not had a horned helmet in her fleeting mental image, he did have a sword.

Her gaze inched down him as they walked hand in hand, like they were a couple and had been for some time. As her focus settled on his groin, she gulped.

Yeah, his sword was huge.

A soft whisper of curses in French came from her. She was fluent in the language, and in Greek, thanks to her uncle. While Clara had no issues spitting out whatever word was on her mind, Nicolette much rather preferred to curse in another language. Somehow, that made it better in her mind.

Garth snorted. “Interesting choice of words.”

“You speak French?”

she asked.

“I do. Among other languages.”

Of course he did. Could the man get any more perfect?

Garth sent her hormones into overdrive. She wanted to throw caution to the wind, be wild, and take him home with her to do every naughty thing that was crossing her mind. Nicolette still couldn’t believe she’d actually blurted out the invitation not only to her home, but she was pretty sure to her pants as well.

That wasn’t like her. She didn’t drag home strangers. She didn’t sleep with just any guy, either. She’d been with two men in her life. They’d been nice guys whom she’d felt something for; not love, but a lot of like. They’d been gentle lovers, taking their time with her, never demanding more than she was ready to give.

Neither of the men had come equipped with what it looked like the tall blond stud was packing. Was that thing heavy to have hanging off him all day? It had to be. Did he walk with a limp because of it?

Garth gave her hand the tiniest of squeezes and Nicolette’s attention snapped back to his face, only to find him grinning as if he’d totally figured out what had been on her mind.

His groin.

She’d have felt guilty, but she’d seen the way his gaze had lingered over her chest only moments prior. She wasn’t the only one who had been having dirty thoughts since they’d run into one another. Of that, she was sure.

What she wasn’t sure of was whether he was coming home with her to only clean up or if he had read between the lines. If he got that she wanted to do far more than get cupcake off him.

A whole lot more than that.

This is stupid, she thought to herself, her pulse racing. I don’t know him. Sex drive, you need to stand down before you make me do something else boneheaded, like ask the guy to marry me or something.

Her sex drive basically gave her the middle finger as her body heated at the thought of having the tall, delicious glass of water all to herself for the night. Where was a paper fan when she needed one? She’d seen more than one woman in the south with them at various times and had never understood the lure. She got it now.

Hot.

Super hot.

And the source of the heat was standing beside her, still wearing that sexy, bad-boy grin. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he’d be amazing in bed.

There was a certain level of reluctance born from the fact society frowned on this. Frowned on women giving in to their carnal needs and taking what they wanted when the situation presented itself. And she wanted him, with her, all night long.

Society can suck it.

She was going to take life by the balls and squeeze until it screamed for mercy. But she’d first make sure the hottie really wanted to come home with her for more than cleansing.

Feeling bold, Nicolette stopped and faced him fully. She cleared her throat, hoping the words would come out properly and not in a jumbled mess of hormones. “Are you coming home with me for more than getting cupcake off you? I think we both know you have another shirt and must have changed somewhere close before.”

“You’re very odd.”

“You said that before,”

she returned, loving the sound of his deep voice. The accent had sealed the deal. It was sexy as could be. So was he.

The enticing look on his face didn’t answer her question.

“Well, are you coming home with me for more than getting cleaned up or not?”

she repeated, needing to hear his answer.

“I should say no,”

he said, his voice even.

Her state of horny liberation deflated instantly. Who was she kidding? Mild-mannered preschool teachers did not walk into godlike studs and find themselves naked and in the throes of passion all in the span of an hour. That kind of thing only happened in the romantic films she enjoyed so much. Not in real life. And not to her.

Garth’s free hand found her chin and he eased her gaze up, leaving them looking into one another’s eyes. “But saying no would be a lie. I very much want to go home with you for more than cleaning up. Much more. Have you changed your mind about taking me with you now?”

Wowzer, it’s totally happening to me.

She smiled—and froze.

Ohmygod, it’s happening.

What should she do now? How did one react in a situation like this? Should she play it cool and act aloof? Jump up and down like she wanted to? Say thanks? She deliberated another second before grinning and deciding that she only lived once, might as well make the most of it. It was time to own her sexuality and her desires.

She was an adult woman. There was no shame in wanting the man.

“I was hoping we were on the same page because I really want to see you naked,”

she said with a grin. “You remind me of a guy I saw in a movie recently, and let me just say, I promised myself I’d order a dozen if I ever spotted a guy who looked that good. You should know, after seeing you, I’d like to order two dozen.”

He looked thrilled by the direction the talk was going.

Good.

Clara would have a field day when she heard about this. Of course, she’d also lecture Nicolette about the dangers of bringing home a man she didn’t know. After she was done citing all the reasons why it was bad, she’d then demand to know how the sex was. Clara was full of interesting quirks like that.

Nicolette hadn’t even gotten to the sex part yet but suspected it would be amazing. Not that it would take much to beat the short list of bed partners she had.

“Your cheeks are flushed,”

said Garth as he grinned down at her. The suggestive look on his face only served to make her redden more. “You should know, I very much want to see you naked, too.”

“Oh good,”

she said, and then wanted it back. Normally, she didn’t have any issues interacting with others. She also didn’t picture others naked, so there was that. “I mean, well, let’s go home and do it.”

“It?”

he questioned, still grinning.

She cringed at her nerves and her hormones. Any second her ovaries were going to completely take over her thought processes and she’d either dive into a giant tub of chocolate or toss Garth to the ground and not let him up until she’d had her way with him.

Either option was a win.

Stupid sex drive.

She took another deep breath. “Do you want to come home with me and have sex or not?”

Garth tipped his head back, looked up at the night sky and smiled. “Odin, I really fucking love modern women.”

A giggle came from her, and she found herself stepping closer to him, liking being in contact with him. As she touched him fully, the back of her neck began to tingle. It was a warning.

Danger.

For the briefest of moments, she worried that her gut had changed its mind from her read of Garth—again. That suddenly he wasn’t safe. That her first reaction to him in the square was the accurate read. The idea of running back to the bakery came, in hopes Wheeler was still there, but it was fleeting.

The urge to look behind her was great. She gave in to the pull and glanced over her shoulder at the darkened area between two large homes. It felt as if a massive predator was there, wanting to strike.

Something was there for sure. What? She didn’t know.

“Nicolette?”

asked Garth, before he sniffed the air and jerked slightly. He yanked on her, leaving her sandwiched against him in much the same fashion she’d been when they’d first collided.

Air swooshed from her lungs. “Ouch.”

He eased his grip, but kept her close all the same, his attention going to the very spot she’d felt danger emanating from. “Nicolette, how far is your home from here?”

“It’s one block down, why?”

she questioned, trying to look at the darkened area again.

Garth took hold of her upper arms gently, yet firm enough to gather her full attention. “Go straight there. Do not stop. Do you understand me?”

He was the second man in the same night to show extreme concern for her getting home safe and sound. She was beginning to wonder if an alert had gone out to all the hot guys in the surrounding area, letting them know she was unsupervised with Clara out of town and in danger of forgetting where she lived.

She nearly joked about as much but stopped. A sinking feeling came over her. Deep down, she knew if she and Garth separated, something bad was going to happen to him. She didn’t know what or when, but she did know for certain it would end poorly for the man.

She barely knew the guy, but that didn’t matter. She didn’t want him hurt. Not if she could prevent it.

Her uncle’s words about always heeding her inner warnings played loudly in her head. Even Clara thought there was something to Nicolette’s gut feelings. She, too, always encouraged Nicolette to listen to them. The reminders repeated again and again, until she had no choice but to acknowledge and accept them, regardless of how odd it made her seem. Heck. Garth already thought she was missing a few screws. What was one more?

She felt connected to this man on a base level. A level she couldn’t comprehend entirely, but it was there all the same. Letting him go off and be harmed in any way wasn’t all right with her.

She shook her head. “No. I’m not going without you.”

He shot her a disbelieving stare. “Go.”

“What is it with big guys barking orders at me tonight?”

First Wheeler had tried in the bakery and now Garth. Both of the men she’d happened upon in the span of one night seemed hell-bent on her getting home quickly.

Confusion shone on his face. “What?”

She grumbled. “Nothing. I’m not Ernie. I’m not going to obey.”

“I really do not know what you’re talking about, woman,”

he said before glancing around wildly. “Head to your house, quickly. I’ll follow once I make sure—”

She stamped her foot, finding the response very fitting for him as she’d already done it more than once. “I said no. Don’t make me repeat myself again, blondie.”

“Blondie?”

He looked stunned.

She nodded.

He grunted. “Odd and stubborn.”

“Yep. And not going home without you. Or are you forgetting my elaborate scheme to get you naked and in a horned helmet while I play with your sword?”

The slight grin he offered was suggestive enough to heat her body instantly. Good gods, the man radiated sexual energy and prowess. She had to wonder if he had women throwing themselves at him wherever he went. A jealous flash hit her at the idea he might. He didn’t belong to her, but that didn’t stop Nicolette from wanting to mount him and then plant her flag on him, announcing the man as conquered and hers.

All hers.

“Nicolette, please,”

he said, a note of desperation to his deep voice. “I need for you to head to your house.”

She nearly gave in, but suddenly the feeling of danger lessened rapidly, leaving nothing but desire hanging in the air. She wanted the man like Clara wanted sugar fixes.

A lot.

Nicolette stayed pressed to Garth and put her hands against the cake-smeared part of his shirt. It had taken her months to invite Cody over after she’d first met him. And even then, she hadn’t tackled him and had her way with him—which was exactly what she wanted to do to the tall blond before her.

When Garth looked down at her, she went to her tiptoes, doing what felt right. She kissed him—again.

With a growl, he cupped her face and walked her backwards. When her back came into contact with an iron fence, she stiffened. The kiss intensified, and the fence and the feeling of danger quickly became afterthoughts. There was simply something about the man that left her acting out of character.

Way out of character.

In addition, he left her horny.

Very, very horny.

Garth lifted her as if she weighed nothing. The kiss increased, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Everything on her ignited with desire. Panting was a real option. The man’s sheer presence should have come with warning signs.

Danger. Hormones will overload.

Garth kissed his way down her neck, lifting her higher, her back still pressed to the iron fence. It wasn’t comfortable, but she didn’t care. He dipped his head lower and then paused. He looked up at her, and she spotted frosting on the edge of his mouth. It was then she remembered they were covered in cupcake mess.

Garth licked the frosting away and stiffened, scrunching his face in the process. “Those kids owe me a thank you. I saved them from certain death by way of cupcakes. Those are horrible.”

She laughed, and then wiggled to get down. All that did was alert her to just how much Garth wanted to be in her. His long, hard erection pressed against her mound and her breath caught. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. “Oh my.”

He groaned. “We should stop now before I do something unwise, like fuck you out in the open.”

Fuck me.

The words only served to excite her more. There was something feral about the man. Everything about him screamed alpha male, and she found that very alluring. In many ways, Garth reminded her of Cody. Except she’d never fought the urge to tear off Cody’s clothes and lick every inch of him. That was exactly what she wanted to do to Garth.

As he began to look in the direction she’d first sensed danger coming from, Nicolette touched his cheek, bringing his attention back to her. “My roommate is gone for the next few days.”

His brows met.

“That means if we’re going to do this, we can be as loud and as wild as we want to be,”

she said, surprising herself with just how wanton she was being. “I do have to work in the morning, so at some point, I’ll need to sleep. But not right now. Right now, I just need you.”

He flashed a sexy smile. “Have I mentioned how much I love modern women?”

“Once or twice,”

she joked, and then winked. “Are we doing this?”

“Oh, we are most certainly doing this,”

he said, taking her hand in his once more. “Lead the way, woman. I’m so hard I’m about to burst. At this point, I don’t even care that I’m covered in toxic cupcakes.”

She laughed. “Remind me to make you a gray drink. It’s a special blend of awesome and my uncle and I came up with. Huge energy booster. Somehow, I think you’re really going to love it.”

“The very fact it’s called a gray drink tells me I won’t,”

he said as his gaze swept over her.

She couldn’t stop smiling around him.

For some reason, Clara’s mother’s talks about finding that perfect someone they were each made for came to mind.

Before, she’d always laughed off the notion of any one person completing her.

As she found herself getting lost in Garth’s gaze, the idea had merit.