“You’re trouble, Rowyn,” he finally says with a growl.
“Maybe,” I shrug innocently, leaning back just enough to brush my shoulder against his. “Or maybe I’m just…curious. Curious about muffins. And other things.”
He lets out a low laugh, the kind that makes the car feel suddenly too small and my pulse suddenly too loud. After a few more turns, he pulls into my driveway behind my small car.
“Thanks,” I say, reaching for the handle, ready to escape before my brain melts entirely.
He places his hand over mine, stopping me. “I’ll be finished practice around four. I’ll pick you up, and we’ll have dinner.”
“I can cook. I owe you a dinner anyway.”
“Not tonight. I’m cooking for you,” he says, voice firm, and somehow that firmness does things—dangerous, distracting things—to the needy juncture between my legs. And yes…yes, I’m fairly certain he knows exactly what he’s doing.
“But—”
My brains shuts down when he leans closer, his hand sliding around my neck, pulling me in. His lips brush mine, soft, teasing, testing the waters, and then, when a low moan I can’t control escapes from my throat, he deepens the kiss. His tongue slides into my mouth, tangling with mine, and in that moment, I forget everything: the driveway, the car, even the fact that he’s my friend. All I know is this exquisite, dizzying heat.
He pulls back just enough for me to catch my breath, though my chest still pounds, and I sit there, eyes closed, floating in the afterglow.
“See you soon,” he says, his voice low, and there’s a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips that makes my stomach do flips.
I swallow and work to pull myself together. Although my complete lack of composure seems to please him. “Right. See you soon.”
I reach for the door handle, trying to act normal. “Can I bring anything?”
“Just your appetite,” he says, but the words aren’t what make my pulse spike—it’s the wolfish smile that accompanies them. That smile promises tonight isn’t going to be just lessons. The hunter in him isn’t going down without a fight…or rather, a bite.
Going down…
Oh my God.
I hurry up the walkway on wobbly legs and that’s when I realize he’s right behind me. “Forget something?” I ask, as I fish my key out.
“What, no man has ever walked you to your door before?”
Independent woman that I am, I square my shoulders. “I can find my own way to my door.”
“Doesn’t matter. You should always be walked to your door.”
“It’s broad daylight.”
“Not everything is about safety, Row.” He leans close and I damn near sink to my knees. Honestly, he’s right. Not everything is about safety, and I’m so used to doing things on my own, I’m not sure how to take his overprotectiveness. One thing I do know, however, is how much I like it. Moving even closer, his lips near mine, he whispers, “See you tonight.”
I slide the key into my lock and struggle to get it open. Not just because my fingers are shaky but because I’ve been having trouble with the door.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, no. I mean, I think the trim is damaged from rain, both the front and back door, and it gets worse when it’s damp out. It’s been like this since I bought it. Sometimes I have a hard time getting it to open or close. I haven’t had a chance to get it fixed yet.”
“Let me help.”
Before he can, I push against the door, whacking my shoulder and it finally opens with a thud. “Got it. See you tonight,” I say when he opens his mouth, but I’m not going to allow him to fix my door. He’s doing enough for me already, and tonight....
I step inside and lean against my door, my heart racing, brain half-melting, knowing that tonight, the pretend, playful agreement between us is about to get very real.
And I can’t wait.
But first…work. I hurry to my room, shower quickly and dress in my professional clothes. I have some interviews lined up and don’t want to be late. Thirty minutes later, I’m out the door, and in my car. I back out of my driveway, working diligently to keep my mind on the story I’m after and not on all the things Jaxon is going to teach me tonight.