Page 50 of Ruthless Creatures

“Your blistering machismo. It really messes with my equilibrium. I honestly don’t know how to properly respond to the use of the word ‘dick’ within five seconds of the start of a conversation. Especially when it’s accompanied by ‘rock hard.’ I must’ve missed that day in etiquette class.”

There’s a pause, then he laughs. The sound is deep, rich, and altogether wonderful.

“You’re funny.”

“Is that a yes?”

“It’s a yes. Apologies. You just make me…”

“I know the feeling.”

“You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“Keyed up? Unsettled? Off-balance? Confused?”

Another pause. “You did know what I was going to say.”

“I’m good that way.”

“With mind reading?”

“With naming emotions. It’s from all the therapy I’ve had.”

I stop and close my eyes, shaking my head at my own idiocy. I never had this problem with any of the men I’ve known, but around Kage, I can’t be trusted to open my mouth. Dumb things fly out in every direction.

“Did it help?”

He sounds interested, so I answer honestly. “Not really. I still felt like shit, I just had better adjectives to describe it.”

I hear some rustling on the other end of the line, like he’s moving around. Then he exhales. “I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough time.”

“Oh god. Please don’t feel sorry for me. I hate pity more than anything else in the world.”

“It’s not pity. It’s empathy.”

“I’m not sure they’re so different.”

“They are. One is condescending. The other is understanding what someone’s going through because you’ve been there. And you wouldn’t wish that kind of suffering on anyone else. And you wish you could make it better.”

His voice drops. “I wish I could make it better for you.”

Emotion wells in my chest, rising up to form a lump in my throat. After swallowing a few times, I say quietly, “In that case, thank you.”

After a moment when I don’t say anything else, he murmurs, “If it’s all right, I’d like to kiss you when I see you next.”

“I thought I was supposed to be making the first move.”

“You did. You called me. The ball’s in my court now. What do you say?”

I like it that he’s asking permission. He doesn’t seem like he’s a man who asks permission for anything.

“I say… probably. But I can’t guarantee it. My feelings around you are pretty unpredictable. I could want to kiss you one minute and push you into traffic the next. We’ll have to play it by ear.”

He chuckles. “Fair enough.”

“So…” I take a breath and gather my courage. “The reason I’m calling is to find out if you’re free tonight.”

In his pause, I feel his surprise. “You’re asking me out on a date?”