Chapter 3
Chapter Three
It’s a good thing I have fast reflexes. Otherwise the fainting beauty would have hit the dirt. But I’ve got her in one arm and the cold beer she was carrying in the other hand.
Ironic.
I’ve had this same combo in my hands a bunch of times. Never as hot as her and never in the freaking broad daylight.
“I’ve got you,” I lift her with one arm and step into the shade.
The photographer is gawking as she mutters, “I’ve never had anyone faint.”
Well technically I’ve had a woman or two pass out on me.
A shit ton of alcohol and a rough fuck with a big ole orgasm or two was involved.
“Let’s get you horizontal,” I mutter, stretching her out on the picnic table. Those golden ringlets splay out. Her dress rides up, showing off bright pink panties with watermelon slices on them.
God. Damn.
My mouth waters until I clear my throat and force myself to look around. Now the parents of all those kids are really gonna be getting an eyeful.
Apparently the photographer is too. She’s snapping away.
“This is the most romantic thing ever!”
She’s out of her fucking mind and lucky I don’t smash that camera into a tree. But all violent urges pass—which might have happened one time when I was seven years old—as the angel on the table flutters open her lashes and looks up at me.
I’ve never had a pair of eyes kick me in the balls before but that’s how this feels.
Shocking. Painful. Totally unexpected.
“You fainted,” I rasp, trying to force air back in my lungs and definitely not looking at the long tan leg that’s showing.
“Oh my goodness,” she whispers.
Blonde bombshell raises her head enough to peek around. “Where am I?”
I don’t tell her that she’s now on my radar. Or that she’s now living rent free in my head with those hot panties.
“Riverside Park,” I say instead, hooking my thumb over my shoulder. “The river’s that way. But you’ll have to wade through about ten thousand third graders to get there...”
Jesus fucking Christ. I’m rambling.
Fainting beauty blinks her green eyes and… oh no.
That smile.
“Thanks for the warning,” she says sweetly with a blush the color of roses on her cheeks. “I’m so sorry I fainted.”
The camera clicking infiltrates my lusty fog. “Can you lay off with that shit?”
The girl laughs at me snarling at the photographer and the heat that slams into my crotch makes me step back from the table.
Oh shit. I’m getting sprung.
Then I forget the problem when the woman tries to sit up. Leaping toward me, I grumble, “Here, let me help you.”
Who the fuck am I right now?
She accepts my hand and I rest my other palm under the thick mane of hair at the base of her neck.
Her body wobbles a little so I steady her with more pressure.
Oh fuck she’s warm and soft and that hair… I need to fist it.
“Whew, much better.” She exhales shakily, not meeting my gaze. “I’m sorry I ruined everything…”
Her words trail off as her shoulders sag.
I grab her chin with fingers that don’t belong anywhere near this gentle creature. Murdering fingers covered in skull and bone tattoos.
I force her to look up—way up—at me. “You didn’t ruin shit.”
She blinks with surprise.
“You’re not upset I messed up the photos?”
I shake my head. “I’m just glad the beer didn’t explode.”
For a second she puzzles over that then she laughs. “Gee. Aren’t you Mister Glass-Half-Full.”
I chuckle despite my usual foul attitude and realize I’m still holding her face and that damned camera is still firing like a machine gun.
We share a moment anyway.
Fuck. Listen to me.
She looks up at me. I look down at her. My dick does its thing. Getting longer by the second.
“What’s your name?” she asks a little breathless.
“Skull.”
My road name comes out so automatic now I have to dig for my birth certificate name but she’s busy murmuring, Skull.
And I like the sound of it way too damned much in that husky whisper.
“Mind if I down that beer right now?” I ask because I’m about to pass out myself from blood pooling issues.
“Sure. Can I have a sip?” she asks adorably, licking her lips. “My mouth is as dry as sawdust.”
Tell me about it. I got a case of the cotton mouth and the cure I really need is between her legs.
I pop the can and hold it up to her lips. My own throat becomes parched as I watch those glossed-up beauties touch the edge of the can.
After she takes a long drink I finish the can in one go, crushing it in my oversized hand as I do.
We go back to staring at each other. She’s breathing too fast. I’m not breathing at all.
“You two are gonna blow up the internet!” the photographer declares loud enough for the whole park to hear.
“Um, Anna,” the girl says, “Do you mind if we have a few seconds here. I’d like to catch my breath. Fainting rattled me.”
Fuck why didn’t I think of that?
I turn a scowl toward snap-a-holic and she startles.
“Oh. Of course. I’ll just wait over there with the picnic props.”
She scurries away and I stare at her back.
“That woman’s on something. I told her I’d get her into rehab.”
Fainting beauty laughs. And laughs some more. Her hand clutching my bicep to keep from falling off the table.
My entire body turns to a bolt of lightning.
I’m so in trouble here.
“You’re hilarious,” she half-wheezes between giggles. “And that death stare you gave her. Boy I’d hate to see you really mad.”
I chuckle.
WTF. I don’t chuckle.
“Want me to really scare her? My switchblade should do the trick.”
More giggling. “No I don’t want those weirdos that are staring at us to call the cops.”
I scan the park. Lots of stares on us right now.
Given that I’ve never had a shy bone in my life, I say, “Maybe we should give ‘em a show.”
Those green eyes pop wide and turn mischievous. “What are you thinking?”
“Bending you over my bike.”
She dissolves in laughter that slices me to fucking tatters. I catch her face again, unable to stop myself.
My tongue drags across my lip and I imagine the taste of her mouth. Instead, in a gravelly voice, I ask, “What’s your name?”
There’s laughter in her gaze when she says, “Katie.”
I try the word on and it’s like smooth whiskey on my tongue. Dangerous.
“Well, Katie, you want to give this photographer and all those people something to talk about for the next month?”
Her cheeks flame. Her pupils dilate and she nods, yes.
I step into her, pressing her legs wide, and wrap my hands around her soft waist. She obeys like a dream, wrapping her thighs around me, hooking those cute cowgirl boots.
I nearly groan.
I should pick her up. That’s what I intend, but I fist that mane of sunshine curls instead.