Road to Desire (6 page)

“How is calling a woman ‘old’ a title of honor?”

He tugged on my hand, lifting it to his mouth and kissing my palm. “It just is.”

“If you say so.”

He released my hand and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Yo,” he said as he answered it.

So much for my “doesn’t talk like a thug” theory.

Austin glanced at me and then frowned. “Yeah I’m here. Shit, are you serious? Tell the little fucker it’s not gonna happen. No, Mack, it’s not a fuckin’ option.” He rose to his feet and stepped outside. I was left sitting on my couch in the same position I’d been in for the last fifteen minutes and wondering what the heck was going on.

I
UNWOUND MYSELF
from my seat and made my way to the kitchen. I was starving, but hadn’t made it to the store due to my lack of a car situation, so I didn’t have much in the way of food. It was just past six, so ordering a pizza was probably my best option. More of a hit to my bottom line, but now that the pressure of was off with the car repairs, I figured I could splurge a little. Don’t get me wrong, I fully intended to pay Austin back; I just had to save a little first.

Grabbing my laptop, I powered it up and pulled up the pizza delivery menu. Two pizzas for under fifteen bucks suited me perfectly and the leftovers would last a while, but before I could hit the order key, Austin walked back in.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

He nodded. “Club business.”

“Which means, it’s none of mine, right?”

“I’m starving,” he said without acknowledging my question. “You hungry?”

“I was just going to order pizza.” I focused back on the screen. “My cupboards are bare, I’m afraid, so I’ve got nothing to cook.” I glanced up at him. “Do you want to stay?”

He chuckled. “Did you think I was leaving?”

I shrugged. “You didn’t say either way, so I’m flying blind here.”

He sat next to me on the sofa again. “Pepperoni would be good.”

“Okey dokey.” I put the order in and then set my computer on the coffee table. “Want another beer?”

“In a minute.” He pulled me onto his lap again and kissed me.

I was so unprepared for his ability to throw me around like I weighed next to nothing; I had to grab his shoulders to keep from falling off of him. He shifted me under him, stretching out beside me never once releasing my mouth as he stroked my neck, moving his hand to cup my bottom.

I felt my nipples tighten and my breasts grow heavy with desire as he deepened his kiss. What he could do with his mouth was surely illegal somewhere in the world and I found myself weaving my fingers into his hair. Crap… even his hair was sexy.

Austin broke the kiss and dropped his forehead to mine. “Fuck me, you can kiss.”

I licked my lips and took a deep breath. “Back atya.”

He rubbed his nose against mine and smiled. “I had planned to take this a lot slower.”

“Well, I hadn’t planned you’d take it anywhere at all, so I guess that makes us kind of even.”

“We’re gonna make this work, babe. You’ll see.”

“You don’t even know me,” I argued. “You seem awfully sure.”

“When I see something I want, I don’t hesitate to make it mine, Dani.” He ran his finger across my collar bone. “It’s good you get that now. It’ll cut down on any confusion later.”

“So you’ve seen me, you want me, and I’m to be another conquest?” I challenged, pushing at his shoulders.

“I don’t do conquests, babe.” Austin smiled, holding me tighter and leaning down to kiss my nose. “But I will do you.”

“Charming,” I ground out.

“Don’t typically do flowers, babe, but tell me your favorites and I’ll buy ’em for you.”

“Don’t bother.” I pushed at his shoulders again, but he didn’t move.

My doorbell rang and it was the perfect opportunity to put distance between us, but apparently, Austin wasn’t done and he kissed me again.

“The pizza’s here,” I said as the doorbell pealed again.

He nodded. “We’re gonna eat, then we’re gonna talk some more.”

“I think you’ve said enough.”

“Babe,” he said with a sigh.

“Let me up so I can pay for the pizza.”

“You’re not payin’ for the pizza, Dani.”

I let out a frustrated groan. “You are
not
the boss of me.”

He climbed off me. “For the sake of our current argument, baby, let’s say I am.”

I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping open as he sauntered away from me toward my front door. I knifed off the sofa and made my way to the kitchen muttering to myself. How could a man who drove me so frickin’ crazy manage to also make me mad with desire? It didn’t make sense to me.

Austin joined me, setting the food on the counter as I opened the fridge, but before I could grab him another beer, he wrapped an arm around me and turned me to face him. His hand went to my neck again, his thumb to my pulse, and he studied me for several seconds. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

I sighed. “Same.”

“Will you be patient with me, Dani?”

I shook my head. “We can’t do this.”

“Yes, we can.”

“We
can’t
.” I pulled away from him. “My family’s all about the law, Austin. Your club’s not. It’s a total conflict of interest.”

He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “My club’s clean, babe.”

“Clean, clean, or just untouchable?”

He frowned.

“Club business?” I snapped.

“What the hell do you want me to say, Dani?”

“I just want you to be realistic. It’s obvious we’re attracted to each other, but you can’t base a relationship on just lust.”

“We’re in a relationship now?” he challenged.

“Absolutely not.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “How about you take your pizza and go? I’ll find a way to pay you back for the car. I really appreciate all your help.” I started for the front door. “I hope you have a nice life.”

I’d made it just past my dining table when he grabbed my arm and tugged me into his arms. His mouth slammed onto mine and he kissed me with an intensity I’d never experienced before. I hated that I loved it. Hated that I couldn’t resist him. Hated that heat pooled between my legs as he slid his hand under my shirt.

Austin broke the kiss with a scowl. “You’re a fuckin’ pain in my ass, baby.”

“Then leave.”

He shook his head. “Not gonna happen.”

“I don’t understand what you want from me,” I snapped.

“I’m gonna show you.”

I shook my head. “Not tonight you’re not.”

“Dani,” he said, his tone pitched low in warning.

“What, Austin?” I bellowed. “I don’t know you. I’m not jumping into bed with you just because I’m attracted to you. For all I know, I could be one in a long line of women you like to “do” on a regular basis. I’ve heard about your types of gangs and how you pass women around and that is
not
me. You may be used to biker whores who like that… hell, they probably live for the chance to provide you with fellatio… or other kinds of sexual favors, but I’m not one of them.”

“Fuck me.” He raised an eyebrow. “Fellatio?”

“Yes. Oral sex.”

“You think I’m standing here expecting you to suck me off?” he asked.

“Don’t be crude,” I said, my face on fire.

“You can’t say it, can you, Dani?”

“I just did,” I countered.

His hand went to my neck again, the familiarity of his thumb sweeping over my pulse, and he smiled. “Baby, one day…
soon
… you and I are gonna take this further. Maybe you’ll suck my cock, maybe you won’t, but I will definitely eat your pussy, and you’ll love it. You will scream for more and I will oblige. I will take my time and make you come… more than once. I’m thorough and I’m very good at what I do, so you’ll beg for more and when you do, I’ll give you more.” He stroked my pulse again. “What I will not do is share. Neither will you. Get me?”

I swallowed, squeezing my legs shut in an effort to stop my body’s traitorous reaction.

“Dani?”

“What?” I rasped.

“Do. You. Get. Me?” he repeated.

I licked my lips and nodded.

“Good.” He smiled again. “Let’s eat.”

I swallowed, but continued to stand where I was.

“Babe?” he said. “Food.”

I nodded and followed him back into the kitchen, wholly unclear on what had just happened. Austin seemed perfectly at ease, while I felt like I needed a cold shower.

We sat at my small dining room table and ate in virtual silence, Austin leaving me to my thoughts which really wasn’t a good idea on his part, because I spiraled. Big time.

I made it through one piece of pizza before I realized if I ate another, I’d throw up. I took my plate back to the kitchen. Rinsed it, put it in the dishwasher, and turned to get his, but he was already right behind me.

His arms came around me and he gave me a squeeze. “You’re gonna be fine, baby. We’re gonna make this work and you’ll learn to trust me.”

I did a face plant into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist and breathing him in. He smelled delicious. Leather and cologne… not too heavy… but just enough to make me want to lick every part of his of body, starting with his mouth. I shook off my thoughts and let him hold me. “You freak me out.”

He chuckled. “I’m pickin’ up on that, babe.”

I leaned back so I could see his face. “I feel like I’ve known you forever and that scares me. I just can’t trust you this fast. It’s unwise.”

“I’m gonna give you time, babe. You’ll see.”

“What do we do about my family?”

He shrugged. “Whatever you want to do. But if this works out the way I want it to work out, I’m gonna have to meet them.”

I pulled away from him and poured a glass of wine. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms while I sipped and contemplated. He let me think for about six minutes before he took the glass from my hand and put it on the counter. “I’m still working on that,” I complained.

He pinned me in, his hands on either side of my hips, leaning against the counter. “You can have your wine in a minute. Right now, you need to listen to me.”

I wrinkled my nose. “
Not
the boss of me.”

He chuckled. “If you want me to be patient and wait, baby, you need to stop being cute.”

“I’m not trying to be cute, I’m being serious.”

Austin leaned closer. “That’s why it’s cute.”

He kissed me, and damn it if I didn’t melt right then and there. I had to figure out a way to get myself together and quit doing this. Of course, I thought of this while I slid my hands into his hair and deepened the kiss. Austin lifted me onto the counter and I wrapped my legs around him as he moved into me. His lips moved to my neck, while a hand went under my shirt and pulled one bra cup down, scraping a nail across my nipple. I gasped as he rolled it between his fingers and I couldn’t help myself from pushing into his touch.