Shackled Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 4)

“Remind you of how hard you come or about calling me daddy? Because I’ll take either.”

“You really do have no shame.”

“Nope.” He smiles. “None at all when it comes to you.”

“I’m getting that,” I say. “But did you ever have shame for any of the other women you fucked?”

“Nope. I don’t really care what others have to say.”

“How refreshing,” I bite back at him.

“I care what you have to say,” he replies. “I want to go out on another date,” he throws out on his way to the door.

“Why?”

“So I can ask you to marry me properly, of course.”

Oh, good God, that smile does me in.

Why do I love that smile so much?

“No,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Okay. Well, then… so I can fuck you.”

“No.”

“Okay, so we can date? I liked our date.”

I can’t deny I liked it too.

Actually, I loved it.

“Where are we going?”

“I was thinking Disney World.” He smiles.

“No mile-high club,” I state. “And I want to bring my brother and Merci.”

“Now, tell me… is that classed as a date?”

“Double date.” I smile.

“Deal.” Then he strides over to me, bending down until his lips are hovering near my face. He moves and kisses my cheek, his lips leaving tingles in their wake as he pulls away and walks to the door. “Lock it after I leave.”

“Why? The only sociopath stalker I have is walking out the door.” I grin, proud of my comeback. He steps out, and I have the door halfway shut when I look up to see him winking at me as he leaves. “Don’t go killing any women, Lucas.”

“Those days are over. Only one woman I want to punish over and over again, and that’s in the bedroom,” he calls over his shoulder.

“We can go another time,” Lucas says, his back rippling as he lifts an ax, brings it down, and splits the wood into pieces, then does it again. He’s dressed in a pair of shorts—which I might add I have never seen him in before—and no shirt, with a cap on his head.

“What about our date?” I ask.

“I’ll cook.”

“You always cook,” I argue.

“I enjoy cooking for you.” He brings the ax down again, splitting more wood. I walk back to his porch and sit on the garden swing. Brody was meant to get out yesterday, and it’s been a week since Lucas asked me on our date. I told him we had to wait until Brody was out so the date could be a surprise. Brody doesn’t think he’s ready though and asked to stay a little longer.