It’s the last thing I want her to do, but as she opens her mouth to answer, I finally let go of her.
“The last thing I want right now is cake.” Her words are slow and to the point. I know what she’s saying and I feel it all the way down to my balls.
I know for a fact that I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Even girls I liked and was attracted to didn’t inspire me to go the extra mile.
“What do you want, Princess?” I dare to ask.
She swallows hard. “Your place?”
My lips twitch. “Think you can sneak away?”
“I don’t care what they think, Saw. I’m a grown woman. My cousins don’t rule my life, no matter what they think.”
I know I have Logan’s blessing, but I also know Brew and Haze are two very different creatures than their older brother. Haze would probably be cool, but Brew would want a motherfucking business plan before I even touch her. He’d also make sure he rearranged my face for going behind the club’s back, because technically Nova is a club sister. If I were to have anything going with her, I’d have to claim her. Claiming hermakes her off limits to anyone else, but I don’t know how Nova would feel about that.
“Are you sure about that? They scare the fuckin’ crap outta me.”
She swats my chest playfully and I do not lower my gaze to her jiggling tits in that halter dress. I can tell she has no bra on. My dick is so painfully hard I try to ignore it, but that’s easier said than done. It takes a lot for me to even get in this state, and yet Nova does it so easily.
Something tightens in my chest. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve learned to mask my feelings and keep my face neutral, or preferably with a smile.
“I’m sure. I’m an adult, and if they don’t like it, they can take a running leap for all I care.”
“Those are fightin’ words,” I say, giving her a chin lift. “I’ll wait outside if you wanna say goodnight.”
It’s best we’re not seen leaving together, just in case.
She pouts, then says, “I’ll get us some cake for later.”
I so badly want to press a kiss to her pretty lips, and it takes all my restraint not to do that. Instead, I thumb behind me. “I’ll warm up the beast.”
She gives me a wink. “I’ll be right out.”
I step outside, leaving the throng of music and cheers behind me as the doors close. It’s not too chilly out so I shrug my cut off, ready to lay it over Nova’s shoulders. Of course she didn’t bring anything to keep her warm, but I also like the idea of her wearing my cut for the second time.
I pause as I step down from the clubhouse porch. There it is again: that feeling in my chest.
Tightness, like someone reached in and grabbed my heart and squeezed it. I’m surely too young to be having a heart attack, and after a few seconds, it passes.
I’ve had anxiety attacks for years, but that’s not it. Maybe it’s anxiety on another level, subconsciously, because I care about someone now other than my mom, brother, and Chris. I, without a doubt, would put myself in the firing line to keep Nova safe, but it’s not even that.
I’m not jealous she looked at other dudes, but then when I thought about another man touching her, my body went rigid.
Nova ismine.
I mount my sled, blowing the air from my cheeks.
Mine.Well, that is a new discovery. I had no idea I was putting a claim like that over my best friend. I wait for the dreaded fear of being tied down, of a woman having a hold over me, but it doesn’t come. Not when I think about how things could be with me and Nova.
Not when I think about claiming her, as my brother suggested earlier. Yeah, we had the chat.
Just like everyone else around here, he’s super fucking nosy.
I know she can do better. I know she’s the type of woman who can get any guy she wants. She might not think it, but it’s true. There isn’t a man on earth who wouldn’t be affected by her beauty and kindness. But I don’t want any man to know that about her.Iwant to be the only one.
My jealousy confuses me. I’ve never been a man to give a fuck about petty shit like that. I haven’t had a girlfriend either, which might explain quite a bit. I guess I just didn’t care. Now I fucking care.
Has it taken me this long to realize I’m onto a good thing? That I’d rather spend the night withthisbeautiful woman than any other woman on the planet?