Until Arsen (Daniels Family 1)

I watch Arsen as he watches me, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. He’s wondering why I’m so quiet. Why I probably look like I’ve been sucking on a lemon. How do I tell a man who could be everything the right woman could want or need that I’m defective? Broken?

He’s got a virile masculinity about him. His sexuality oozes from him like mating heat from a wolf. Which is exactly how he’s looking at me. Predatorily. Possessively.

It isn’t until our food is brought to the table that I break free of my inner thoughts. The smell of perfectly cooked smoked bacon and fresh bread catching me off guard, and I let loose a small moan of pleasure.

“Christ, woman,” Arsen groans, and I blush again. Burying myself in what I can now see is a huge turkey, bacon club sandwich with the crispiest sweet potato fries I’ve ever seen on the side.

Chapter Four

Arsen

Heaven have mercy, this woman is going to be the death of me. Watching Marina eat and enjoy her food is enough of a seductive move that I barely get through my own dinner. We don’t talk much, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. I want her something fierce. I want to bury myself so deeply between her luscious thighs I nearly choke on my food.

Marina is completely different from the ordinary women I meet. She isn’t pomp and primp; she’s earthy and real. Her eyes are so expressive that I can tell nearly everything she’s thinking. When she had spaced out before our dinner came, I could surmise her thoughts weren’t good. Something was making her sad, and I wanted to take her pain away. Before I could ask her what she was thinking, our food came, and I haven’t had an opportunity to ask her again.

Now, we’re on our way back to her house, and the cab of my truck is filled with silence. Not that awkward we’re never going to go out again silence. More of a comfortable quietness that neither of us feels the need to fill.

As I park in front of her apartment building, I shut my truck off and turn to her in the middle seat where I’ve pulled her again. “Do you have anything going on this weekend?” I can’t let her leave without making plans. I need to see her again.

“Oh, well, I’ve got some packing– “

“Packing?” Panic seizes my chest at the mention of her leaving. “Where are you going?”

“To my parents for a couple weeks. I haven’t spent much time with them since the accident.” She looks away.

Accident.

In the one word, there’s so much meaning inflected that I haven’t a clue about.

“What accident?” I can’t help the anxiety squeezing my heart. Fuck, she’s got me twisted.

Waving her hand like it’s not a big deal, she brushes it off. “From last year. They’re busy, and I haven’t seen much of them, so I thought I’d stay with them for a couple weeks this summer.”

“Can I see you tomorrow?” I need something set in stone with Marina, or I might turn into the creep that sits outside of her apartment waiting for the slightest glimpse of her.

“Tomorrow?” She frowns. “Well, I suppose.” She seems confused about my wanting to spend more time with her.

“Good.” I grin, opening my door and helping her down. I love her small size compared to my huge frame. I walk her to the door of her building with a hand possessively placed on her waist so that anyone watching knows she’s mine.

“Well, thank you for dinner.” Her gaze doesn’t meet mine.

“Marina.” My voice is barely recognizable to me. Cupping her face, I pull her chin up. I’m not leaving until I have another taste of her.

Her eyes shine brightly with unnamed emotion as my head lowers. Her breath exhales with warm puffs of air as our lips meet softly. I try to keep it easy. Not devour her.

If only she didn’t grip my shirt and let out a small moan.

I could have controlled myself better.

Stepping in to her, I crowd her against the door as I deepen the kiss. Licking at her lips, I take her where I want. I give her everything I’m feeling in that instant. And I want every-fucking-thing.

It takes her a second to join in on the fun, but when she does, her tongue comes out to meet mine, and I follow her retreat. Loving the taste of vanilla, mint, and cacao on her. She’s sweet and bitter. She’s fire and ice.

Marina is mine, all mine.

The way she gives herself to me as I keep on devouring her mouth. Grinding her hips into my body, gripping her tiny fists into my shirt. I know when we finally come together, things will be explosive.

“Arsen,” she gasps as I pull away and lay small kisses along her jaw up to her ear, nibbling on her flesh.