Your Alluring Love (The Bennett Family 6)

“Why not?”

Putting my lips to her ear, I whisper, “Because it turns me on.”

She gasps lightly, which doesn’t help the situation in my jeans in the slightest.

“I’m trying to be on my best behavior right now.”

She tilts her head. “I like you more when you’re on your worst behavior.”

Damn, this woman keeps me on my toes. Her eyes hold a challenge, as they always do, but I have a lot of aces up my sleeve.

“You’ve just earned yourself a night full of teasing,” I inform her.

“A bit optimistic, aren’t you? About spending the night with me?”

“I’m always optimistic, and you didn’t protest that I picked you up—”

“Because my car is at the mechanic’s. Again.”

Well, well, and here I took her lack of protest as a sign that she wanted to spend the night with me and I’d drive her back in the morning. I don’t let that deter me.

“I’m not just optimistic but also relentless. I don’t give up until I get what I want. And lately, I want you all the time.” Bringing my lips to her ear again, I tug gently at her earlobe with my teeth. “Here’s a secret. I like persuading you.”

“I have a secret too. I want to be romanced and seduced over and over again. You’re just so good at it, I can’t help wanting more.”

I pull back triumphantly. “It’s a done deal, then. You’ll be romanced properly and repeatedly.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because you deserve it, and look at you. Just by saying it, I’ve made you smile. Anything that makes you smile goes.”

She hunches her shoulders, a thinly veiled surprise crossing her face. It’s there only for a fraction of a second, but I don’t miss it, and it causes all my protective instincts to spring to life.

“What just went through your head?” I ask, because I haven’t yet mastered the art of reading her so well.

“No one’s ever said that to me. Well, no one who doesn’t share my last name.”

Instinctively I want to wipe from her memory every asshole she dated who didn’t put forth the effort to find out what makes her smile.

“Well, I’ll make sure to repeat it often, and make good on my words.”

“It’s a dangerous thing to say around me. I might take advantage.”

“I’m counting on it.”

She eats the last bit of her cone, and I wait until she swallows before finally pulling her into a kiss, losing myself in her sweet taste. She parts her lips, welcoming me. Our tongues clash in an unexpected desperation to taste and explore.

When we pull apart for air, I rest my forehead against hers.

“I want to learn you, Alice. I used to think I knew all there is about you, but you keep surprising me. I’m beginning to see there are sides to you I’ve never seen before. I want to discover them all.”

“That’s a lot of work.” She breathes heavily, and I become aware that she’s fisting my shirt.

“I’m up to the challenge.”