Page 9 of Ironside
I rubbed at my chest, trying to ease the aching tightness of hope there. At last, she was alone, and it was now or never.
Crossing the parking lot, I kept my eyes locked on her until I reached the door and stepped inside.
“Hi, welcome to The Bellfl—” Lena started, automatically.
Then she glanced up and broke off when she saw me standing by the door. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“It’s you,” she said softly, with a hint of surprise in her voice.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t show?”
She gave a thoughtful hum, shifting in place. The tip of her tongue flicked out, wetting her lips.
“I…I’m not sure what I expected. You might have walked out that door and forgotten all about me.”
I scoffed and shook my head.
“Not a chance, petal.”
Her cheeks went pink. I moved closer, eliminating the distance between us, until I caught the faint, delicate scent of her rose perfume.
“Petal?” she squeaked.
“It suits you, doesn’t it?” I replied. “You’re soft and pink, just like those flowers you love. And you smell like heaven.”
A flustered smile flickered across Lena’s lips and she turned her head away. I reached out and slid my palm over the plush curve of her hip, smoothing down to the small of her back. Her gaze darted to me with a gasp as I pulled her flush against me. Her pupils dilated, beautiful and dark with arousal.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
I guided her hand around the back of my neck, encouraging her to touch me, claim me.
“The one thing I wanted to do before we were interrupted last time.”
Burying my fingers in her silky hair, I tilted Lena’s head up to kiss her. She gasped against my mouth, parting her lips. Her breasts swelled against my chest on a sharp intake of breath. Her grip on the back of my neck tightened.
God, I would give anything to get my hand under her skirt. To taste the way she moaned for me when she was dripping down my fingers as I kissed her deeper. Or feel the way her pussy clenched when my tongue was in her mouth.
But she was a fragile little thing. I couldn’t spook her.
Instead, I took her free hand and encouraged her to explore. Pushing inside my cut, I pressed her palm to my chest. She eagerly trailed her fingers everywhere.
Despite her shyness, she wasted no time unbuttoning my shirt and getting to my skin. She teased lightly along my ribs until she found a ticklish spot that made me flinch. Her feathery light touch spanned across the tattoos on my chest and down my torso, dipping dangerously low toward my belt before she skittered away.
I pulled her even tighter against me, molding her perfect body to mine. Lena melted as my mouth moved against hers. She tasted like strawberries and honey and the sweetest vanilla cream. And I couldn’t get enough, hungry for more. Hungry for everything she was willing to give me.
She broke away too soon, touching her tender lips as she rested her forehead against mine.
“Wow. No one…I’ve never been kissed like that before.”
Pride swelled in my chest.
“Does that mean you’ll have dinner with me? Tonight, seven o’clock. At the Old Spruce Pub.”
Lena pulled back just far enough to look at me. Her green eyes roamed over my face, slightly bewildered and a little guarded, like I was an alien and she was trying to figure out what planet I came from.
“Well, it’s…it’s been a while since I’ve dated. I might not be great company. I’ve just been so busy with the shop and—”
I let her ramble without interruption for a moment. Then I dipped my head and silenced her with another kiss. Not quite so deep this time. Just a chaste, lingering peck on the lips.
