Page 46 of Bronx

“You’re so soft,” he mumbles into my skin and I feel a warmth grow between my legs.

“Bronx–”

He tilts his head and rests his forehead right where the curve of my stomach pooch starts to extend.

“Just give me a minute,” he whispers.

I don’t mean to, but I find myself suddenly gliding my fingers between his dark strands. It’s my attempt at being comforting, but I think it’s crystal clear that there’s something other than simple human compassion swirling around in this room.

“Why are you so angry? What happened to Ray?”

Bronx pulls back his face from my skin and slowly stands, gliding his hands along the backs of my legs, my ass, and then finally letting them rest at my waist. He stares into my eyes with a look that I can only describe as wonder.

My breathing is erratic as I stand stark naked, almost shivering from the intimate way Bronx just caressed me and memories of the hottest kiss I’ve ever had that was interrupted.

“I realize I don’t know you well at all, but I know enough to say that if you were mine, I would never harm a single hair on your head. You deserve better than the loser I just dumped at Ruby’s house.”

My heart just melted.

And my clit just swelled.

I’m not sure whether he meant those words as a compliment or a testimony to my poor judgment, but no man has ever said something so beautiful to me like that before.

“What did Ray say to you?” I ask with a breathy tone, not really knowing how to respond to the sentiment he just expressed.

“Why the fuck do you care about what he said or what he didn’t say?”

“I just… I guess I just want to know what happened tonight? You’re acting so different.”

He looks down at me with a facial expression I can’t quite decipher.

“He disrespected you and I corrected his behavior with appropriate force. My original plan was to drop him somewhere, away from Ruby’s house, but then I had to correct him a second time and decided it would be best to take him back there.”

“Why?”

“Do you understand who I am, Karma? What I am?” He puffs.

“No, why don’t you explain it to me?”

“I’m not the man you think I am.”

“I’ve barely known you for two minutes. I don’t know what to think about you.”

I inadvertently touch my lips with my fingertips. All I can think about is his lips on mine.

“After I beat the disrespect out of him, I thought it best to leave your ex in front of witnesses who can attest to the fact that I left him alive and breathing. That’s who I am.”

“Why did you do that?”

“To cover my ass and make sure I didn’t get a murder charge in case he dropped dead.”

“No, I’m asking why you did all of this for me tonight?” I question, staring up into his turbulent expression.

His haunting gaze practically pierces my soul as he edges closer to me. I feel almost dizzy as the scents of whiskey, sandalwood and smoke float off of him and up my nostrils.

It’s official.

Bronx is intoxicating.