Chapter 3 #3
The voice in the back of my head is screaming at me. I can’t remember a time when I felt like if I didn’t get Oklahoma alone, I might die. My skin is already tight with how close we are and being unable to touch. I know if he reached across the booth to take my hand, I’d relax.
Having him so close only to be confined to the inside of the booth is torture.
“The property is just an added bonus,” Jazz adds on. “You get semi-great company to have access to an amazing piece of land.”
“Jazz,” Oklahoma scolds.
“What? I said you were semi-great. What more do you want?”
“I would think semi is even a stretch,” Ruka grumbles beside me, and Oklahoma’s eyes narrow at him.
“I think I’d like that,” I finally answer, my voice hoarse from anticipation.
The shirt is still sticking to his impressive form. His muscular chest expands with every breath, and I’m hypnotized.
Oklahoma smiles so wide that it causes his eyes to wrinkle on the sides. “Really?”
The entire table laughs except Ruka. He isn’t happy. He is sitting with his arms crossed, leaning back, clearly not amused.
“Yeah, really?” Ruka sounds unamused and unimpressed with my decision.
I can’t take my eyes off Oklahoma. I don’t care what anyone else says. All that matters is the man standing in front of me with a wet white shirt that teases me with a hint of defined pectoral muscles.
“Really.” I nibble my bottom lip. “I look forward to it.”
His friends go to sit down across the diner, leaving Oklahoma alone at my booth.
“Do you mind me asking for your phone number, then?”
I blink up at him, my heart pounding in a way I’ve never experienced.
There’s something special about him I can’t put my finger on.
Something that has had me hooked since the first time I saw him earlier today.
The way he looks at me slows my mind. My vision tunnels, and the only person I can see is this cowboy.
“I don’t mind if you ask.” I take a sip of my drink, playing a little hard to get.
It’s what he deserves after how he treated my friends and me.
Jess winks at me, giving me a reassuring nod. She likes what I’m doing. Millie’s face is bright red. She’s so shy. Ruka is trying to tell me to stop by kicking my foot, and Reina isn’t paying anyone any mind while she taps away on her phone.
“Right.” He clears his throat and takes his hat off again to press it against his chest.
I like that he does that. It seems to be a habit. I hope he never breaks it.
Oklahoma grips the edge of the table with his free hand. His bicep bulges, showing a vein protruding on his forearms.
I love a man with good arms.
It’s my weakness.
And Oklahoma’s are perfect. They would wrap around me and make me feel so small and safe.
I bet it’s not the only thing he could do.
He could pick me up and manhandle me, toss me around, throw me on the bed, and rip my clothes off with one tug because he can’t fight the sexual tension between us.
I love being manhandled.
“I believe the man asked you a question, Nari.” Jessica nudges my leg from under the table, breaking the spell he’s cast me under.
“What?” I blink. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…I didn’t hear you.” Because I was fantasizing about him pinning my arms above my head while he ravaged me.
The muscles in his face soften. Lightning flashes outside and reflects off his eyes. There’s a red hue. It’s barely there and wraps around his iris. When a loud crack happens again, the crimson is gone, replaced with a beautiful ice ocean blue.
“Nariko, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I’m dying to get to know you. May I please have your phone number so I can take you out and show you I’m not a complete asshole?”
“She doesn’t have to pay when you take her out, right?”
“Jess!” I hiss, taking my turn to kick her under the table.
“It’s alright. I understand.” He sweeps his gaze from Jess to me, his entire face changing when I’m in his sights.
I don’t know how or why the way he looks at me changes me from the inside.
One second under his curiosity, and it’s like there is a part of me waking up for the first time.
“No, she won’t have to pay. You haven’t been dating the right men if they are making you pay. ”
“And is that what you think you are, Mr. Oklahoma? You’re the right man?”
He pulls out his phone, sliding it across the table for me to input my number. “I’m the right man for you.”
“If I weren’t happily married, that totally would have worked on me.” Millie shocks us all by saying that, staring up at Oklahoma with big, puppy dog-like eyes and a swoony sigh.
“Okay, cowboy. Wrap this up. I can’t lose my wife to you,” Jess shoos him away.
“And I’m starving,” Ruka says.
“I am too.” Oklahoma’s voice deepens in a way that has chills roll down my spine, my imagination taking me to his bedroom where he’d use that exact tone on me.
I slide the phone to him, and he catches it, presses the screen, and a second later, my phone vibrates.
“I’ll be seeing you soon, Nariko.” He places his hat back on his head, pinching the brim.
I think I’m halfway in love with him already. “I’ll be looking forward to it, Oklahoma.”