CHAPTER 7 #3
I stood there, my heart hammering against my ribs, but the anger was completely gone.
In its place was a sudden, roaring rush of pure, white-hot heat that flooded straight down to my core.
My clit was literally pulsing, the physical reaction so intense I had to grip the handle of the cart just to keep my knees from shaking.
This man—this beautiful, terrifying doctor—had just stepped in like a superhero, handled my ex like he was a child, and called me his woman in front of the whole store.
I was blushing so hard I could feel the heat radiating off my ears. I cleared my throat, trying to pull my Houston attitude back over myself like a blanket, even though my body was completely betraying me.
"Erm," I muttered, looking up into those dreamy blue eyes of his. "Thank you for the good looking out, Doc. But... you know I can take care of myself, right?"
Joshua turned his head, that cold, steel look vanishing from his eyes, replaced by a slow, incredibly charming smile that showed off his pearly white teeth.
"I don't doubt that for a single second, Ciara," he said, his voice dropping back into that smooth, whiskey-cadence that made my stomach do a flip.
"But what kind of man would I be to see a beauty like you in the midst of trouble and leave you to handle the trash alone? "
I looked at him, my mouth opening slightly before a playful, wicked smirk found its way back onto my face. I reached down, grabbed a bunch of fresh celery from the display, and tossed it into my cart with a dramatic flick of my wrist.
"Are you trying to rizz me out of my draws, Doc?" I shot back, my voice low and teasing.
Joshua let out a rich, deep chuckle that rumbled from his chest, his eyes darkening with a sudden, heavy heat as he stepped closer to my side of the cart.
He reached out, his massive hand picking up a bright red apple from the pile.
He took a slow, crisp bite, the juice glistening on his lower lip for a second before he spoke.
"Is it working?" he grinned, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
I felt the heat between my legs flare up like a dry pine forest in July. I leaned in, stepping up on my tippy-toes so my mouth was just inches from his ear, my voice dropping to a hot, heavy whisper that was meant for him and him alone.
"Too bad for you, Doc... I'm not wearing any."
Joshua’s eyes went completely dark, the pupils dilating until the blue was just a thin, vibrant ring around the black. He swallowed, his chiseled jaw tightening as he took in the scent of the vanilla oil on my neck. The flirting was electric, easy, and dangerous in the absolute best way.
"In that case," he murmured, his voice rougher now, "I suggest we hurry up. I'd hate to keep a lady waiting."
We ended up walking the rest of the store together, our carts rolling side by side like we had been doing this for years. He pointed at the spinach and chicken breasts in my cart, raising a blonde eyebrow in amusement.
"I see you’re trying to stay healthy, Ciara," he teased, his voice light. "But what's with all the heavy cream and cocoa?"
"I’m baking a cake," I said, winking at him as we headed toward the checkout lines. "A chocolate one. Rich, moist, and entirely inappropriate for a doctor's diet."
"Is that so?" he asked, his smile spreading wide. "And who is this masterpiece for?"
"It's a surprise," I said, leaning against the cart as we waited in line. "But if you're a good boy, you might get a taste of it later."
His face lit up with an expression of pure, masculine anticipation. "I am always a very good boy, Ciara. Especially when there is chocolate involved."
We paid for our groceries, Joshua stepping in to help me load the heavy bags into the back of my Mark X. When we were finally done, we stood together in the warm, humid air of the parking lot, the late afternoon sun casting long, golden shadows across the asphalt.
Joshua stepped closer, his massive arms wrapping around my waist as he pulled me into a hug.
He was so big, so solid, that I felt completely enveloped, like I was being held by the earth itself.
I let my head rest against his broad chest for a second, inhaling the clean, expensive scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smell of the rain that was starting to build in the distance.
I pulled back just enough to look up at him, my hands resting on his forearms. "You gonna be at your place tonight, Joshua?"
"I will," he said, those blue eyes of his promising things that didn't need to be spoken aloud. "I'll be waiting."
"Good," I smiled, stepping back toward the driver's door of my car. "I'll pull up on you later. Make sure you're ready."
I climbed into the driver's seat, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement and sheer, raw desire. I pulled out of the parking lot, watching in my rearview mirror as his massive figure walked back toward his own vehicle, his eyes tracking my car until I turned onto the main road.
By the time I got back to my apartment, my mind was completely made up.
I unpacked the groceries, setting the dark chocolate, the heavy cream, and the bourbon out on the counter.
Tonight wasn't just about showing him some Long family sweetness.
By the end of the night, I was going to make sure that man tasted the cake—and the sweet, heavy dessert between my legs too.