Chapter 23
Amelia
He was cute when he wanted something. And the way he was looking at me, he wanted something else that I was afraid wasn't the right place for it.
“What’s going to get you out of my hair?” I asked, tossing things in the trash before I was going to end up on the counter or somewhere with his hands all over me, which wouldn’t have been the worst idea.
“Let me take you out,” Shooter challenged.
I stopped dead in my tracks. “I’m sorry, are you asking me out on a date?”
He stood up, stalking around the table. “And what if I am? You gonna say no to me?”
I thought about it, thinking about making him work for it. A playful grin appeared on my face. “Maybe.”
He approached me, his heat coming off his body, and he slowly dropped down to his knees, “But what if I ask very nicely? You can’t say no to a man that’s on his knees for you.”
A vision of him staring up at me, on his knees, made me dripping wet. The thought of him inches away from my throbbing pussy made him look irresistible, especially knowing the man had many talents of lapping up every inch of me.
I threaded my fingers through his hair, inching him closer to where I knew he was craving. Even on his knees his head hit my mid stomach. “You don’t play fair.”
“I play to keep.”
“The phrase is to play to win.”
He shook his head. “I already won, so I play to keep.”
Damn, he was good. He knew all the right things to say.
“Why would you want to date me, Shooter?” I tried to act all cutesy, but he was about to shock me a little more.
His chin rested on my belly. “To show you that you can let go and be you. Maybe I wanted to make you smile. Maybe I’m a little selfish and want more moments of your time with me.”
“You want all that?”
“And more, but only when you’re ready. But you’re the only woman that can bring me to my knees.”
I pulled on him to get him up off the floor.
He knew what he wanted, that was for sure.
His rough hands cupped my cheeks, his intoxicating eyes staring back at me.
I licked my lips, trying to entertain the idea of being around me more, to be myself.
“I thought I could let go, but sometimes, the darkness only follows.”
He brought his forehead to mine. “Sometimes darkness shows you the light. You can show me all those dark parts, the parts that are hidden. I can take it.”
I laughed. “I think I prefer you to be a bit more psycho than this mushy man.”
“Peaches, I can be both.” He pulled me into another breathtaking kiss, one that silenced all the doubts that swarmed my head.
There was so much that he didn’t know that wasn’t how fucked up my life was, but the ideas that lulled me into fantasies that would stay fantasies.
His chaotic soul called to mine as my lips tingled from the heat of the kiss.
I was the one that wanted more. The one with butterflies in her stomach. It wasn’t going to hurt and live a little, right? Especially when a man like Shooter bats his little eyelashes and smiles so pretty.
“Fine. I get off at seven, it was six but I’m having to do passdown this time.
Then you can take me out.” He started to light up like the fourth of July, leaning in for a kiss, I stopped him, pressing my hand against his mouth.
“But you can’t keep kissing me. Not unless you don’t want me to get off on time. ”
“It’s cute that you think you could stop me. I have plans for you,” he said, suspiciously. He circled his arms around me, pulling me flush against him. “Is it seven yet?”
Could he be my person? He started to make me feel things that have been locked up.
Was I scared? Absolutely. I was scared of making the same mistake over again, that I’d be back in a cycle.
I was scared to open the door again, unlock everything that kept tight.
Though he would scare off anyone that would come into my path.
I couldn’t deny, I felt safer with him, beside him.
“Want to tell me what you have planned?” I asked, rising on my toes, throwing my arms around him.
“Now why would I do a silly thing like that?” He grinned before pressing a kiss on my lips, one that melted into like it was my saving grace.
I moaned into his mouth, his hands gripped me tighter, pulling me up, only to wrap my legs around him.
I felt his mind turn with wild ideas and while I would be all for them, the time and place was going to be hard.
My body kept humming with pleasure and a hint of happiness.
His kisses were rough, demanding, but just the way that I loved them.
He pulled away, with a boyish grin on his face.
“I have a date to prepare for,” he said.
My legs didn’t want to listen to him, I wanted more.
I could be addicted to him, if I wasn’t already.
He was slowly creeping his way into my heart.
Even if he knew a lot more than I imagined.
It should have scared me away, but I saw his mind spin, his protectiveness, he would do anything for those he cared about.
Shooter left me with a body aching for more but filled with anticipation. I returned to the nurse’s station with Jennie and Sarah fanning themselves. “Someone took a longer break,” Sarah announced.
“No, I took a lunch. There’s a difference,” I said.
Jennie walked around the counter and bumped my shoulders, with that devilish smile, the one that she had when she had the juiciest gossip about the floor. “He’s sexy. Like how do you not climb that like a tree?”
I wanted to say I have, and I would do it again. But I stopped myself and simply said, “He’s a nice guy.”
The two of them looked at each other, then Sarah leaned from the computer, “You’re hiding something.”
I shrugged, trying to locate a freestanding computer to open my charts. While I almost tripped just trying to get away from them, I tried to hide the smile that was plastered on my face.
“Jennie, she’s hiding something and it’s rude not to share with the class.” Sarah mockingly whined.
“Don’t make me get Mama Andres, she’ll pull that information out like an interrogation."
“Would you just settle for that right now, I am happy and that man may or may not have something to do with it.” It wasn't very far off from the truth. How it became that way, well I wasn’t going to kiss and tell. At least for now.
“If he can make you smile like that, he’s got my vote,” Jennie said.
“I bet he finally cracked that back of hers. Oh, did he make her shut up for once?” Sarah kept asking. But I had to walk away because the smile on my face just grew and grew.
As the day ended, my mind vibrated with worried thoughts and battling anxiety.
I hated that when I felt an ounce of happiness, my mind told me that I shouldn’t and made my heart race with the impossible thoughts of being hurt again.
I couldn’t do it again. I never thought that I could find someone that would make me feel alive again and want to take the pain away.
It felt right. It felt like I could breathe and Shooter was the one who wanted to do it.
I slept better, I smiled more. I felt like a different person.
When the negative thoughts were silenced, the excitement of a new life possibility, ones with a new house, a new partner, a possible family, more laughter, more kisses, more dreams that I wouldn’t fear turned into nightmares.
Butterflies floated in my stomach, I semi-panicked at the end of shift and looked at the emergency bag I had, which had slim pickings for date worthy clothes. I did the best I could, washed my face, threw on some deodorant and prayed for the best.
Rays of red and orange had colored the sky, the light chill in the air was enough for me. There was something soothing about it, but when my eyes found a jaw-dropping man leaning on a motorcycle with a boyish smile hiding behind a beard. My mouth salivated from just looking at him.
Keep it in your pants tonight, Flynn.
It had been a long time since I went out on a date. Surely we would just grab dinner or something right?
Shooter straightened up as I walked toward him with a beating heart that wouldn’t slow down. With no time to waste, he pulled me in capturing my lips with his like he had been waiting for years to breathe.
He pulled away slightly and exhaled with a deep growl. Tingles shot through my veins; the fluttering transitioned from my stomach to my vagina.
“I’ve been waiting to have you in my arms again.” He said, circling his arms around me.
“You literally saw me a few hours ago.”
“A few hours too long.” he placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Now you’re mine.”
Wet. I was fucking wet at the sound of those words.
And yet I was the one to break away, wiggling out of his hold. I cleared my throat, feeling the weight of his hungry stare. “So, am I going to follow you or are you going to tell me the address?”
He snickered. “You’re riding with me.” He turned and unlocked a helmet from the side.
I stammered, “But, um, I’ve never been on… I mean, is it safe? Plus, what about the wind, my nipples might cut some glass.”
His smile curled. “Then I can’t wait to feel them across my back.
Don’t worry. Here, try this on for size.
” Shooter turned again, revealing from his saddle bag a jacket of some sort.
The leather in his hand was cool to the touch, the long sleeve style to cover my arms. On the back was the Saint’s patch and a barren spot that looked like something was missing.
“This your jacket?” I asked, dropping my bag and pulling the jacket on. Shooter’s eyes widened as I adjusted the jacket. It fit perfectly, almost comfortable.
“Too small for me,” he simply said, staring at me like he was capturing the moment. “Put your bag in your truck and hop on, peaches.”
With legs swung over the bike, revving the engine, my body began to shake with anticipation. It was a season of new beginnings.