Page 74 of Burning Ember

His fingers start caressing small circles into my skin. His eyes, normally a gray-blue color, are darker tonight. They’re dilated and he smells like weed. He didn’t smoke any while I was at the table, but he could’ve taken a hit or two while I was in the bathroom.

A question is residing in his gaze. One I think I know the answer to. He wants to kiss me. And he wants to know if he should. If I want him to.

How can I say no to him when he’s done so much for me? He’s the reason I’m not on the street right now giving out sexual favors for money. Or part of the reason. I swallow the lump in my throat and rest my hand on his chest.

“You’ve been really good to me Dozer. I won’t ever forget that,” I tell him.

He eyes me curiously. “You goin’ somewhere, babe?”

I shake my head. Although it is a possibility, I haven’t made up my mind yet.

Am I leaving now that I can? Or will I stick it out until the party? Until I fulfill my end of the deal and Mav fulfills his? I need more time to think it through. I’ll be staying tonight, but I’m not too sure what tomorrow will look like.

“I really want to kiss you.”

“What about Mav?”

“Mav doesn’t need to know.”

As my brain scrambles for an excuse, he says, “Don’t know that I’ve ever waited this long to kiss a girl. It seems like I’ve been waitin’ forever to get this close to you without someone watchin’ us.”

Then he leans forward and his lips land on mine. His arm circles my back, while the other comes up to cup my neck and bring my face closer to his. His tongue sweeps out and probes my lips. He tastes like beer and his mouth is so much larger than mine, it’s overwhelming.

His grip tightens around me.

My instinct tells me to run. Escape.

Instead, I count the seconds until I can politely pull away.

What do I say when he tries to do more than this? He’s been drinking . . . more than usual. What if he doesn’t handle my rejection well? What if he doesn’t want to stop after the one kiss? Dread pools at the bottom of my stomach.

“Babe,” he speaks against my lips. “Relax, it’s just a kiss.”

“I know. I just don’t have anywhere else to go if he finds out. Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

“You didn’t. And I’m not gonna let him kick you out. Actually, I was thinkin’ tomorrow I’d tell Mav to start lookin’ for someone else for Edge.” His eyes meet mine. “I don’t want you with anyone else, like that.”

My jaw drops.

He chuckles softly and lifts me from his lap. He really is very handsome. I wish I could feel something, anything for him.

Standing over me now, he bends down, kisses the top of my head and says, “Think about it. We could be good together.”

Then as he locks the door, he says, “Night, babe. Sleep good.”

There is good that comes from every trial we face. If you look hard enough at the wreckage, you can see how the debris shaped you.

MAVERICK

I’m sitting at the same table drinking with Taz and Griz, lost in my own thoughts. Staring at the amber liquid, seeking answers it simply won’t give.

Since last night, Doll’s been awkward around me. At first, I thought it was because of our near kiss. Or maybe she’s waiting to be reprimanded for calling me an asshole. Then I came closer to watch her kick everyone’s ass at poker and her entire body tensed. She suddenly lost all sense of concentration. Stopped paying attention to the game, how the others were playing, and started losing.

Before I came over, she’d been winning like the card shark she is. Focused. Cunning. Smart. More facets of her that caught me completely off guard, and if I was being truthful, turned me the fuck on.

Dolled up and sexy, she sat there drinking her girly-fucking-drink and stealing money from some of the toughest men I know. A vet and ex-mercenary. Navy seal. The club’s enforcer and an ex-con. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her, even if I wanted to.

The guys taunted her, but she didn’t bat an eyelash, not even when their quips turned sexual. She stayed levelheaded, which also shocked the shit out of me. For some reason, I was the only one she lost her temper with.