Page 23

Darko—

It’s been a week, and Ma came and went. She met Lizzie, and I’d worried for nothing. The two of them hit it off, bonding over their love of cooking, and Eli seems to love the attention from both of them.

“You got it?” Rob asks, struggling to hold the muffler into place while I attach it.

I’m on my back on a rolling cart, trying to get the fucking thing to fit. These classic cars can be hard to work with, especially if they’ve fallen into the hands of guys who don’t know what the fuck they’re doing. This one’s been modified so many times, it’s a joke. Finally, I throw my tool across the cement floor, slide out from under the car, and stand.

“Where’re you goin’ boss?” Rob asks.

“For a smoke before I take a sledgehammer to that damn thing.” I stalk to the alley, dig a pack of cigarettes out, and dip my head to light up, then blow a stream of smoke toward the sky.

I lean against the rough brick wall. It takes a few minutes until the blessed nicotine flooding my system calms me down. I love what I do, but days like today, I have to remind myself why. Sucking another drag off my cigarette, I hear the door open and look over.

Lizzie strides out. We stare at each other for what seems like a long moment before she walks right up to me, bold as brass. I flick my cigarette away, my eyes not losing hers.

She grabs my shirt and presses her body against mine, demanding my full attention. “Are you ever going to kiss me again?”

It’s the last thing I expect her to say.

“Is that what you want, babe? I’m not Matt. I’ll never be Matt.”

“I know that.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. I’m not that girl anymore, either. What you see is what you get.”

“You mean that, Lizzie? Cause I see a whole lot. Do I get what I see?” I pull her to me and kiss her with a soft brush of my mouth to test the connection, then deepen the kiss. Her lips are soft and willing. It’s the kind of kiss I feel all the way to my dick.

My teeth playfully drag at her lower lip, and a moan rises from her throat. I cradle her head and drift my mouth across her jaw to her earlobe; she pants in my ear, eager for more as I toy with it.

I pull back to stare into her eyes and see the same shock I feel reflected at me. I guess neither one of us was ready for just how hot this flame could burn, but we both just got a taste of it, and the spark is definitely a fire-starter—one that’s capable of burning out of control.

The metal back door creaks open, and she quickly steps away. My gaze swings over to see Rob.

“We gonna get this muffler on or what?” he asks, his eyes moving between the two of us, but I don’t think he knows exactly what he interrupted.

“You’ve really got to look into it, Darko. That vendor is pissed,” Lizzie blurts, trying to cover for us, then stalks back inside.

Rob’s gaze follows her, then swings to me when she’s gone. “She pissed about something again?”

I rake a hand through my hair, hoping to God he doesn’t notice the bulge in my jeans. “No, everything is fine. Let’s get to work.”

We work the rest of the afternoon, and I can’t keep my gaze from straying over to the open office door. Every time I do, I catch Lizzie’s eyes on me. I fight to hide the grin on my face. I’ve tried hard to get back to business, but now we’re both sneaking looks at each other and smiling all day.

It’s been a bitch trying to keep my face a mask. The last thing I want is Rob catching on to what’s changed, and things have definitely changed.

I’ve had hours to turn it over in my head, and part of me still can’t fucking believe what happened in that alley.

At three o’clock, Eli texts me and tells me he’s going home with a buddy and will get dropped off by six for dinner. I reply, giving my okay.

Rob and I finish with the car that’s been giving us so much trouble. I wipe my hands on a rag and glance up to see it’s almost quarter to five.

Rob grabs a broom and starts sweeping the floor, whistling.

I hold my hand out. “I’ll do that. Go ahead and knock off for the day.”

“You sure?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I can’t wait to get him gone.

“All right. Good night.” He lifts his voice to carry to Lizzie. “See ya, Lizzie.”

I sweep, watching out the front, until he climbs in his car and pulls out, then I drop the broom and stride into Lizzie’s office.

She looks up, surprise and a hint of anticipation on her face when I kick the door shut behind me and move around the desk.

She barely has time to roll her chair out before I’m grabbing her waist, lifting her, and dropping her pretty ass on the desktop.

Then I step between her knees, grab her face, and kiss her like I’ve wanted to do since the moment she left me dumbfounded in the alley.

I need to know if it was real. I need to know she meant it. I need to know she hasn’t changed her mind.

She answers every damn one of my questions when she clutches at my shirt, pulling me closer, then drops her head back, giving whatever I want to take.

The kiss is hot and heavy, but I break it to stare into her eyes, needing to be sure.

“You mean what you said, Lizzie?”

She’s wearing jeans and one of those tops with the skinny little straps. My eyes drop to it. It’s a faded red, soft t-shirt material that clings to her curves and dips low enough to tease at her phenomenal cleavage. Goddamn, how I want to taste the nipples that harden under my gaze, pressing against the fabric, teasing me.

“Yes,” she replies in a breathless voice.

I hook my thumbs in her straps and pull them down her shoulders, revealing a skimpy, strapless bra beneath. I don’t waste time flicking the hook in the back, and those beauties pop free of their constraints, and it’s a sight to behold. If I’ve seen better tits, I can’t remember when. These are full and high and firm. She could put the girls at The Cherry Bomb to shame.

Under my scrutiny, her dusky pink nipples tighten, begging for my mouth.

She arches her back, pressing them to my waiting hands like she’s dying for my touch.

I close my palms around them, squeezing and lifting and brushing my thumbs over those pert, and oh-so-sensitive nipples, and she moans, grabbing the back of my neck and pulling my mouth to hers. She’s hungry for it, and so am I.

But I want to take my time with these beauties and give them all the attention they deserve. I break from her kiss and drag my mouth down her neck across her cleavage to latch onto one nipple. I suck, lick, tease, and torment until she’s whimpering and clutching my head to her.

I move to the other and give it the same attention until Lizzie’s head throws back.

“Yes. Oh God, Darko. Yes .”

I fumble with the zipper of her jeans, and she trembles, the skin of her belly tightening. She tenses, and I hear her breathless plea break through the fog of my desire. I’m like a freight train speeding toward the station.

“Wait. Stop.”

My eyes flick to hers, and I pause.

Her palm goes to my chest, and she pushes me back. “I can’t do this. I thought I could. I’m sorry. It’s too… fast.”

“Too fast?”

She nods and pulls her top up, covering those gorgeous tits. “It’s too soon to go that far. I just need us to slow down.”

“Slow down or forget this all together?”

“Just slow down.”

“Thank God, because I can slow down. But if you wanted us to go back to how we were before, I don’t think I’d survive. I’ve tasted the Garden of Eden and now I’ll never go back. But if slowing down is what you need, then we’ll slow down.” I stroke her bottom lip with my thumb. “It’s gonna be damn hard, though.”

She gives me half a smile. “I see that.”

I quirk a brow. “Oh, you think it’s funny, do you?”

“I think it's glorious.”

“You’re damn right it is, and you haven’t even seen it yet.”

“We’ll save that for another day.”

“If you say so.”

She adjusts her clothing into place, and I lift her to her feet, wondering how I’ll ever keep my hands off her now that I’ve touched her.

She holds my biceps a moment and stares into my eyes. “Thank you.”

“Come on. Let’s lock up and head to the house. Eli will be there soon.”

She slips on her coat, and I hit the lights and lock the doors, then lead her to my truck. Since she’s moved in, we’ve taken to riding in together.

I hold the door for her, and she climbs in, then I walk around and slide behind the wheel, crank the truck, and blast the heat.

When we get to the house, I take a shower, and when I come out, I find Lizzie at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smells delicious.

I put my hands on her waist, leaning in. “What’s for dinner?”

“Spaghetti.”

I nuzzle her ear and trail down her neck to her shoulder and press a kiss to the soft skin, then suck on the spot until I drag a moan from her throat. Knowing it can’t go anywhere, I smack her ass and move to get plates.

“Eli come in yet?” I ask.

“Not yet.”

A sweep of headlights flashes across the dining room window as a car pulls in the drive.

“That must be him now,” I murmur, setting the plates on the table.

I cross my arms and lean against the kitchen counter when he enters the front door and drops his backpack to the floor.

“Hey,” I say. “Dinner is about ready. Go wash up.”

“Okay,” he replies and moves down the hall.

I glance to Lizzie. “What can I do?”

“There’s a salad in the fridge.”

I grab the bowl and bottle of dressing and set them on the table. Soon, we’re all seated, and dished up.

“How’s school going?” I ask Eli around a mouthful of bread.

“Fine. But I’ve got some math I was hoping you could help me with.”

“Math, huh? Yeah. Sure.”

After dinner, I sit at the table with him, working on his homework until Lizzie goes to her room for the night. Staring at her retreating back, I realize just how hard It’s going to be having her living here and trying to follow her wishes and take things slow. It’s going to be a constant torment, day in and day out. It’s going to try my willpower to the breaking point.