Page 93 of Lawton

Because a one-nighter isn't the thing I want.

Because this isn't your style, and we both know it.

Because I don't want to have you tonight, only to lose you tomorrow.

Her lips looked sweet and so damn soft. I wanted to kiss away the question and make her mine.

But instead, I said, "I don't know. But it does."

The pink on her cheeks grew just a shade darker, and she let out a long, unsteady breath. "Oh." She looked down and gave her clothing a worried frown. When she looked up, her eyes were filled uncertainty. And she took a couple steps backward.

Her voice faltered. "So you're saying youdon'twant me?" She lifted her chin and waited for my answer.

What?

I almost laughed. "Chloe, if you knew how much I wanted you." I shook my head. "Well, let's just say you'd be smart to run back the way you came." Slowly, I moved toward her, wondering if she'd back away.

If she did, I'd have to let her go. Iwouldlet her go, even if it killed me to do it.

She didn't back off.

Soon, we were almost touching. If she wanted to run, she'd better do it fast. I spoke again, softer now. "And you'd run right now. Before I show you exactly how much."

I meant it, too. This was Chloe. I was willing to wait as long as it took. I hadn't expected this. But if she was serious, I sure as hell wouldn't be sending her away.

Her shoulders relaxed. "Yeah?" She gave me a wicked smile. "Prove it."

I couldn’t help but smile back. "Is that a dare?"

She nodded.

That was all it took.

Chapter 41

I swept her up in my arms and cradled her close. She laughed, a happy sound that warmed me in the cold, night air. With the girl of my dreams wriggling against me, I strode up the front steps and pushed open the door.

Inside, I turned and carried her to the room that I thought she'd like best. It was smaller than the other places I might've taken her, including my own bedroom. But a girl like Chloe might callthisroom romantic, with its flowers and pictures and all kinds of other stuff that I hadn't picked out personally.

Chloe was special. Whatever we did next, I wanted to make sure everything was just right. I strode through the shadows and stopped at the big leather sofa that faced the fireplace.

"If I let you go," I said, "you're not gonna run off, are you?"

She shook her head. "Not a chance."

"Good." I tossed her onto the couch. "Because trust me, you wouldn't get far."

She smiled up at me, and I caught my breath. Her hair was wild, and her clothes were off-kilter. And yet, lying there, with her lips curving and her eyes filled with laughter, she was the most tempting thing that I'd ever seen.

"Don't move," I said. "I'll be right back." I strode from the room and headed for the nearby staircase, where I took the steps two at a time. In my bedroom, I reached into my nightstand and pulled out a few foiled wrappers and shoved them into my pocket.

A minute later, I returned to where I'd left Chloe. She'd taken off her hoodie and slung it over the back of the sofa. Her shirt was a pale yellow, and so thin, I could see the outline of her lacy white bra, along with her nipples, not quite hard, but hard enough to make an impression.

Later, they'd be harder. I'd make sure of it.

It almost killed me, but I turned away. I strode to the fireplace, where I opened the glass doors, lit a match, and tossed it onto the kindling – all pre-arranged thanks to my house-keeping crew. The flame caught and held, crackling to life a few seconds later.

Behind me, Chloe spoke. "Wow, real wood. I haven't seen that in a while."