Page 42 of Enticed
“Yeah, sure,” the other woman replied, trying to appear nonchalant but looking mildly uncomfortable. Jasmine peered over her shoulder and offered the woman a little wave as I led her away. I didn’t look back to see if she returned the gesture.I was afraid I’d see the disgust that had begun to curl her lip. Sure, there was enough of an age difference to look like I was Jasmine’s father, but the way she’d pressed her body against mine also made it look like I was a creepy old man dating someone young enough to be my daughter.
I started to lead Jasmine back toward our table, but I glanced up to find Luna watching us curiously, so I diverted us toward a dark hallway in the back of the bar. Once we were out of sight, I backed her against the wall, caging her in with my arms.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growled, trying to ignore the way my pulse hammered and my blood surged in my veins. I’d been fighting my jealousy since the moment Quinn flashed his pearly whites at her. Watching her possessive side flare to life from me talking to another woman made me want to throw caution to the wind and claim her right here and now.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You know what, Little Menace,” I accused, fighting the urge to press her into the wall and crush my lips to hers. I was hanging on by a thread, and she was doing everything she could to unravel it.
“You looked uncomfortable, so I came to your rescue. You’re welcome, by the way,” she added smugly.
Her smart mouth made me want to do wicked things to it. My cock swelled in my jeans, and I had to take a step back so I didn’t ask her to touch it. Pushing off the wall, I scrubbed a hand over my face.
“You intentionally tried to make it look like we’re together.”
“Did I?” she asked with feigned guilelessness. “All I did was call you Daddy and give you a peck on the cheek.”
“Don’t call me that,” I warned her.
“Does it make you uncomfortable because you wish I’d call you that behind closed doors?” she challenged, brow cockedsuggestively. “Are you hoping I have a daddy kink?” she asked with a mock scandalized gasp.
“No,” I ground out. It wasn’t that at all. I had no desire for a sexual partner to call me that. No shade to anyone who did. It simply wasn’t my thing.
“Then why does it bother you so much?” she challenged, taking a step toward me with narrowed eyes.
“Because there’s nothing fatherly in the way I feel about you,” I admitted, stepping into her space. Her breath caught, and her eyes widened in shock, but she recovered quickly.
“Oh, that’s right, we’re just friends. Isn’t that what you told Nash?” I froze as the words I’d said to her brother came back to haunt me.
Shit, she’d overheard our conversation in the barn. Was that why she seemed so interested in Quinn? Was she backing off because she thought I only wanted to be her friend?
“I’m not your friend either. I don’t ever want to be.” My voice lowered at the confession.
“Then what do you want?” she demanded, her voice shaking.
She’d asked me that same question in the barn, but I hadn’t been brave enough to give her a straight answer, worried if I told her the truth, the dam would break, and everything I felt for her would come pouring out. I wasn’t any braver now either.
“Jasmine,” I choked out, her name a plea for mercy. My resolve was waning by the second. If she pushed, I couldn’t guarantee I’d be strong enough to hold back.
“Tell me what you want,” she said, her voice softening. She stared straight into my eyes as she delivered the command, imploring me to give in. My chest squeezed at the openness and vulnerability in her expression.
When she settled her palms on my chest, heat licked up my spine and desire curled in my belly. This was the first time she’d intentionally touched me in a way that went beyondcasual or friendly. My restraint was about to snap with that one simple touch. If I didn’t put some space between us, I would do something reckless, but I couldn’t seem to get my feet to move. Her proximity was scrambling my brain and impeding my judgment.
Then she brought her hand to my face and cupped my cheek. My breath hitched, and my pulse hammered against my ribs. Her touch scorched my skin, but damn if I wasn’t ready to burn.
“Fuck it,” I growled before cupping her face in my hands and slamming my lips down on hers. They parted on a gasp, and I took full advantage of it. I slanted my mouth over hers, dipping my tongue inside to get a taste. A faint hint of berries and mint danced over my senses from the blackberry mojito she’d drank earlier.
Before I even realized I was moving, I had Jasmine pressed against the wall. She moaned when I dropped an arm to her waist and pulled her into my body, digging my rock-hard length into her belly. I speared my other hand into her hair and angled her head perfectly for my invasion. The kiss was rough and feverish, a culmination of months of yearning and denying myself what I truly wanted.
Jasmine snaked her arms around my neck and dug her hands into my hair, knocking my hat off my head. I didn’t care one damn bit when she raked her nails over my scalp. Growling, I reached down and gripped her by the backs of her thighs, lifting her into the air. She snaked her legs around my waist, and I pressed my erection into her core. Goosebumps covered my flesh, and my cock grew impossibly harder. I was about to pull her into a broom closet or bathroom or whatever private space I could find.
“Oh,” a feminine voice squeaked from the direction of the hallway entrance, followed by a nervous giggle. “That’s where you two went.” I froze, and so did Jasmine. My eyes flew openas I pulled back. I held her gaze for a long moment, too scared to look toward the intruder. Swallowing hard, I lowered Jasmine to her feet and took a step back. Bending to pick up my hat, I smoothed my hair back before placing it on my head and finally turned to face Jasmine’s cousin.
“Luna, that wa—” Jasmine began, holding up her hands like she was trying to calm a cornered animal.
“Was hot,” Luna finished for her.
“What?” Jasmine and I said in unison.
