Page 22 of Retribution
“Then today’s the day you venture out of your comfort zone. I saw thatMoonstruckis on one of the channels. I can pay for it since I just got my first paycheck today. It’s not much but, hey, I’ve only been working for two days.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“I want to—it’s my treat. I bought microwave popcorn at the convenience store. Are you in?”
The light had come back into her eyes, and Cobra wanted to keep it there for as long as he could.
“Let’s do it,” he said and walked in front of her toward the motel room. He opened the door and stepped back as she slid past him, catching the scent of pine and cool, clean air on her clothes. She ambled over to the air conditioning and pushed some buttons.
“That feels good,” she said, lifting her arms up and leaning closer to the blasting air.
“You wanna do this now?”
Dakota looked over her shoulder. “Yes. Is that good with you?”
Cobra grunted and grasped the edge of the dresser while he kicked off his boots.
“You can pick the next movie we watch, okay?” She padded over and sat down on the edge of the bed swinging her feet and looking at the TV.
“You want a soda?”
“Sure.”
He walked over and handed her a can of 7-Up, then popped the top of his beer and took a big gulp.
Her face scrunched as her gaze followed his movements.
“What?” he asked.
“How come you never ask if I want a beer?”
“’Cause you’re not twenty-one yet.” Another gulp.
A laugh ripped from her chest. “I can’t believe you just said that. I mean, you don’t really live by society’s rules, you know.”
Cobra narrowed his eyes. “Do you wanna a beer?”
“No, thanks. I don’t like the taste.”
“Fuck, woman, you’re exasperating.” He drained the can, crushed it in his hand then tossed it into the trash can.
“Nice shot.” Dakota giggled.
Cobra made a small noise and took a few steps closer and their eyes caught—this time she kept his gaze and held it. He grabbed the remote from the nightstand. “Here. Get the fuckin’ thing set up while I go change, then we’ll watch it.”
“Are you sure you don’t have anything better to do?”
Her voice was so soft, he almost didn’t hear her. He blinked a few times, his back already turned to the bed and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Damn, she sounded so vulnerable, sweet, and uncertain. Very different from the Dakota who usually smarted off to him with her sharp-as-a-knife tongue. This new side to her was playing havoc with his usually stable frame of mind … and his dick.
Cobra forced his shoulder muscles to release as he continued into the bathroom, grabbing a new shirt and pair of jeans from his bag outside the door.
“When we get hungry, I’ll order Chinese or pizza. You got a preference, let me know.”
“Okay.”
Her answer was just as small, but more certain. Cobra shut the door, leaned his head against it, and blew out a small breath. She was getting to him and he didn’t like it one fucking bit. Not at all. He fisted his hands through his hair and paced in the small confines of the bathroom.
A cold shower needed to happen, fucking stat: a non-verbal timeout to reset his shit and re-sort his thoughts before he went out there and did something stupid and regrettable. Dakota seemed to have enough shit going on without him adding to it. If he took them a step further, what the hell was next—would he confide in her? Open himself up to her?No fucking way—that wasn’t the way he rolled.
