Her brow curled, and her voice turned to an accusation. “You want to paint me?”
“Think you’re the beauty I’m always trying to capture.”
That stormy gaze flashed through a million things. Adding up. Like she was back to standing soaking wet in my living room, and she was asking about those paintings.
I’d shut it down then, unable to answer the questions she’d wanted to ask.
But tonight, I didn’t know how to stop from inviting her in.
“Jud…”
“Come home with me, Salem.”
Reservations sent her skating a step back.
“As friends,” I clarified.
Salem all but rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”
“Just…wanna be with you. Don’t want to take you home yet.” I eased forward, and my voice lowered the closer I got. “Hated the last three days, Salem. Fuckin’ hated the way you looked at me. Hated that I hurt you. Hated that things were tense between us. Just fuckin’ hated it.”
My fingertips brushed her chin.
“Jud…”
“Please.”
Thunderbolt eyes struck me hard. “My heart can’t take falling in love with you, Jud.”
“Who said anything about love, darlin’？” A hint of a smile twitched the corner of my mouth, soft and real and wishing all of it could be different, and Salem smiled, too.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Tell me somethin’ I don’t know.”
She blinked up at me, and those tender fingertips found the thrumming at my chest. “That I like you…too much.”
My hand covered hers, pressing it close to my chest. “Think I like you too much, too.”
Her smile turned somber. “We’re a mess, Jud.”
“Yeah, a beautiful fucking mess, and I wanna show you what that looks like to me.”
Her attention turned to the empty street where her adorable daughter had gone. This little girl who’d stolen a chunk from my soul. Her eyes the color of her mom’s and her spirit the drumming of faith.
“She’ll be fine with Trent and Eden,” I promised. “My brother might look like an asshole, but he’s got the best heart there is. Dude would take a bullet to protect the innocent, and I promise you, your daughter is included in that.”
Meant that literally.
She set that gaze back on me. “I don’t trust easily.”
I squeezed her hand in mine, brought her knuckles to my lips.
Tried to ignore the flames and the fire.
Tried to calm the roaring of possession that went sailing through.
The protectiveness that surged at the memory of her fear.
This girl was in trouble.
I knew it. Knew it to my soul.
And I was the fool who wanted to wrap her up and guard her from whatever that was.
“You might not be able to trust me, baby, but you can trust them.”
Her voice was wry when she said, “Charmer. And you want me to go home with you?”
“Just sayin’ it straight.”
She hesitated. “I think what I’m afraid of is I might not be able to trust myself. There’s something special about you, Jud.”
My chest fisted. “Nah, baby, think it’s the other way around.”
For a second, we stood there gazing at each other while the world spun on around us. People filtered in and out of the restaurant, cars zipped by on the street, and the heavens twinkled with the lush expanse of stars.
Finally, I stretched out my hand. “Come with me.”
She wavered for only a second before she accepted my hand.
Heat streaked up my arm.
Salem made a needy noise, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt the force.
Gravity.
We should fight it.
Turn our backs.
But I led her down the sidewalk to where I’d parked my bike.
Salem came to stand beside it.
All black hair and tempting curves and unrelenting eyes.
My dick wasn’t the only thing that stirred.
Had to fist my hands to keep from reaching out and taking what wasn’t mine.
Still, I edged that way and freed the helmet I’d left dangling from the handlebars, my regard unflinching as I placed it on her head and fastened the strap. I had left my Harley facing out, and I climbed on, guiding the girl on behind me, loving the feel of that tight body pressed to my back.
Way her form fit against me like she was molded for my shape.
A tremor rocked through her, and her arms were shaking as she wrapped them around my waist.
My hands squeezed hers, then I started the engine. The roar filled my ears and sent a crash of adrenaline pounding through my veins.
I pulled out onto the main street that ran through downtown Redemption Hills.
The air was warm, but crisp enough up high in these mountains that shivers raced our flesh.
Or maybe it was just this feeling that wrapped us tight.
The sense that the heavens hugged us in an embrace.
That there was a reason for this insistent attraction.
This feeling that I couldn’t let go.
Emotion grew with every mile that passed beneath us. As the road blurred and the night deepened and her spirit caught me in a trap.
The truth that I didn’t want to be anywhere else than here with her when I eased into the Iron Ride lot.
Blasphemy.
Still, I slowed and tapped the button to open my garage bay.
Easing inside, I spread my feet out to keep us steady then killed the engine. Silence bound the dense, dense atmosphere. The only sound was the panting of her breaths and the thunder of her heart.
Shit.
What was I doing?
Bringing her here like this?
But I couldn’t stand the thought of dropping her in front of her house without at least making her understand the way she made me feel.
What I saw.
The beauty she sparked in my heart and mind.
I helped her off, and I climbed to standing, grinning at the way she quickly unwound the strap and handed it to me, girl all nerves while she stood there like a vixen in the middle of my shop.
This enchantress that held me in her sweet, sweet spell.
“Fuckin’ fantasy, you standing there.”
Her throat tremored when she swallowed, and she fidgeted with her hands. “I have no idea what I’m doing here, Jud.”
“Going to show you.”
I reached for her hand again, and we crossed the space, her heels clacking along behind me as I led her to the stairs. Shifting, I ushered her ahead of me. “Up you go, darlin’。”
Warily, she took the first step, and I couldn’t do anything but lean in and breathe near her ear as she passed. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll catch you if you fall.”
Thunderbolt eyes struck me from over her shoulder. “And what if you’re the one who sends me tumbling?”
I quirked a teasing brow. “Now why would a friend go and do something like that?”
Deep laughter rolled up her throat. “Friends, huh?”
I gave her an exaggerated nod.
Pure innocence.
Girl saw right through it.
Fact I needed her here. A hunger had lit, and I wasn’t sure I would ever get my fill. How I’d ever be sated. How I’d ever stop wanting more.
That kiss had only evoked a feeding frenzy.
We climbed the stairs to my loft, and I punched in the code on the keypad and opened the door.