Razor's Edge (Underworld Kings)

Not that I wouldn’t propose to El in a heartbeat. There would be no other woman for me. That’s something I’m sure of. Ellison stole my whole heart the moment I walked in through her front door.

She took the box from me, stepped away and turned so she can see my face. The blush was there, the tears, the ruby red lips that have tasted every inch of my cock. Sometimes I couldn’t believe she’s mine. Pride swelled in my chest and made me feel like dragging her back to my bear den to hibernate the winter away, just the two of us—the whole world be damned.

Fox whistled, impressed like I’m proposing. I don’t want El to get emotional and later have a seizure.

“It’s a bracelet,” I said, breaking the spell. “I made it myself.”

When your dad runs the local Harley dealership, he also owned the shop. I found the same tools we’d used in shop class in school, gathering dust on a shelf. I made a mold of a bird in flight and stamped it into the little bar of gold. The chain around her wrist was delicate, the clasp too tiny for masculine fingers so Emily helped her out.

“Oh my God, Calvin, it’s so beautiful,” Ellison said, her voice was laden with emotion. Maybe I was greedy but I want her and her reaction all to myself.

“Dinner reservation is for seven,” I told everyone else.

Ellison just stared into my eyes, hers wide and blinking. Her innocence was precious to me. No matter how much I wanted to fuck her, this look of wonder in her eyes was even more important.

Twenty minutes later I was watching those seductive lips wrap around a fork as she savored squash ravioli in a sage butter sauce. She fed me bites in between her noises of approval. Ellison closed her eyes after the first bite of garlic toast with melted mozzarella.

“Good?” I asked her tongue in cheek.

“The best,” she replied. She took a napkin and daintily blotted the olive oil from her lips. My dick was relentless in my jeans, but I mentally reminded myself that we’ve got a whole lifetime to savor one another.

Every other bite her eyes drifted from mine to the bracelet. She touched the birds with the tips of her fingers until tears appeared in her eyes.

“You okay?”

“I’ve never been happier.”

I would say it’s a stretch, but I felt the same way. I couldn’t even imagine life being any better. Okay, I'll take that back. Ellison, pregnant, our own house, little kids, years of memories together.

She pushed her unfinished dinner away and peered at me through her long lashes.

“Desert? Coffee? Or did you max out on strawberry shortcake?” I teased her. She loved tiramisu, she also loved gelato. Pretty much anything with sugar made Ellison smile.

“I want something sweet and then I want you.” El passed me a white paper bag across the table. I saw the pharmacy label and furrowed my brow. Inside the bag was a pack of Magnum condoms. I crushed the whole of it into the pocket of my jeans.

“Before you say anything,” Ellison pressed her fingers to my lips, “I’m a big girl and I can make my own decisions. This is what I want for my birthday.”

She grabbed my thigh under the table, already on the offensive. I wanted it too. It’s just postponing the inevitable. Maybe it’s better like this, semi-planned, instead of spur of the moment.

“Where? We can’t go to my house. Your parents are home. I’m not taking your virginity in a parking lot, El. I don’t care if you beg me.”

I’d be a lying sack of shit if I said I’d never thought of this before. In my mind it was a swanky hotel, in-room jacuzzi, full-service bar. But we’re eighteen, El was the police chief’s daughter. It would be too much of a risk to get caught. That’s not the kind of ambiance I wanted for our first time together.

“You wouldn’t fuck me in the back of a car?” Ellison was suddenly in full temptress mode, her voice and body language taunted me. She used her elbows to push her cleavage forward and pouted her sexy lower lip.

“Hell no! Your dad’s baby that he leant us for tonight? He’s gonna use a DNA kit on that thing come morning. He’ll dust for fingerprints while he drinks his morning coffee.”

“Not that car, silly.” El’s voice had gone low and throaty with need. Irresistible. Ellison was the woman of my dreams. “Let’s go to the dealership. We can do it on the back of a bike, or in the waiting room.”

“Are you serious?”

“Why would I joke about something like this?”

Her cheeks burned red. I couldn’t tell if she’s pissed or if she’s turned on. The waiter put a plate with tiramisu in front of her. She crossed her legs and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she thanked him. Her eyes looked glassy as she stared at the single flame from the birthday candle. Turned on, I decided that was the answer to my question. Ellison was hot as fuck and she wanted me.