Page 32 of No Shelf Control
My heart flutters at the earnest way he says it. But I still can't resist teasing him. "Sorry, I don't negotiate with terrorists."
He narrows his eyes at me, growling.
I laugh loudly. God, he's so easy. "I'm your biggest wish, huh? You are not aiming high enough, big guy. You could be asking for fortune, fame, your own cult…"
"Fuck all that," he growls, his eyes dark. "Don't need it. I'm aiming for the stars with you."
"Fine," I say, trying to play off the way his words hit me right in the heart. "I guess I'll date you."
"You guess?"
I shrug, making him grin, but I can tell by the look in his eyes that he knows I'm full of shit. I'm not agreeing because he wore me down. I'm not agreeing because having him speak at DirtyBook Club is my biggest wish, either. I'm saying yes because this man is my greatest wish, and I'm done denying it. So done.
Maybe he will break my heart. Or maybe he'll be the best damn thing that ever happened to me. I don't know, but I want to find out.
"I have something for you," he says when we get to his place after dinner, wrapping his arm around my waist to draw me back against him.
"I know." I lay my head against his chest, groaning quietly. "I can feel it."
He dips his head, nipping my shoulder. "It's not my cock, you smart ass."
"Pity," I tease, making his body shake with laughter before he squeezes my hip.
"You fucking brat," he rasps, nipping my skin again before he grabs a plain black box off the island and hands it to me. "Open this."
"What is it?" I ask, peering over my shoulder at him.
"Guess you'll have to open it to find out."
"Has anyone ever told you that—"
"That I'm fucking awesome? Yeah, I have heard that," he teases. "Open the box, princess."
I grumble wordlessly, then set it on the island before lifting the lid. I blink at the thick sheaf of papers inside, excitement firing through me. "River, is this…?"
"Yes." He steps up behind me again, sliding an arm around my waist. His lips brush the side of my throat. "It isn't finished, but I need you to read what I do have."
"Why?"
"Because I think you might recognize yourself in the pages, and I need your permission to publish it," he says softly.
I turn to face him, confused. "What? Why?"
"I started it before we met, but after meeting you…" He swallows. "I changed it, Jasmine. I didn't even know why the fuck I was changing it until yesterday, and then I realized it was because you're everywhere, creeping into every part of my conscience. And this book needed a hero like you."
"I'm not a hero, River."
"Yeah, you are." He tips my chin back, grinning at me. "You're the biggest fucking hero I've ever met, baby. If anyone could save an entire race, it's a woman just like you."
Jesus.
"I need a favor," I whisper, my voice shaking almost as hard as my hands as I carefully place the lid back on the box.
"Name it."
"I need you to take me upstairs and fuck me. Right now." I need this dress on his floor, his breath in my ear, and his hands on my skin before I float away. I think that's a distinct possibility right now, because that's the sweetest damn thing anyone has ever said to me.
He doesn't make me ask again. He snatches me off my feet like he's trying to steal my soul, his mouth crashing against mine.
