The Lion and the Lamb

Tatum felt everyone’s eyes on her. “It’s okay, I guess.” Being in the same vehicle as Leo did not seem like the best thing for her already overworked libido, but the hopeful look in Kiki’s eyes had her caving. She turned and looked at Leo. “As long as you don’t mind?”

“I can’t think of a better way to end my evening than taking you.” Those words seemed to suggest a lot more.

Tatum gave Kiki and Beau a hug and didn’t miss the frown marring Leo’s face when she turned back toward him.

“Drive safe and text me when you get home,” Kiki said over her shoulder. Tatum watched Beau wrap his arm around her slender shoulders and steer her toward the beast he called a truck.

“Shall we?” Leo held his palm out, and she slipped hers into it. His hand was big and warm and engulfed hers completely. He led them toward the very back of the building. There were two large bay doors in the rear of the club. He reached in his pocket with the hand not holding hers and pulled out a small, black box.

He pushed the red button, and one of the bay doors opened to reveal a sleek-looking car. A light overhead automatically came on and illuminated a gunmetal-grey Corvette. It was shiny, flashy, and looked brand new.

“Wow, nice.”

His hand tightened in hers, and she looked up at him to see him once again watching her intently.

“You like it?”

She nodded, because she couldn’t find her voice. It was as if that’s all he seemed to be doing whenever she was around—staring at her. If there weren’t heat behind his eyes, she would have thought there might be something wrong with her, but even she wasn’t blind when it came to his attraction toward her. That, coupled with the fact that she seemed to be incessantly wet in his presence, was a very bad combination—one that would equal an explosion of monstrous proportions.

“I’m glad.” He squeezed her hand again, and they started walking toward the car.

He opened the door for her, and she sank into butter-soft leather. The door shut with a light click, and she watched as he walked around the front of the car and toward the driver side.

God, he was all smooth moves and stealthy grace. One would think a body as big and muscular as his would be awkward, but no, this man knew how to work it. He also probably knew the effect he had on women. No doubt, he got as much pussy as he wanted, but she was a fool to feel any kind of jealousy over the fact.

What’s wrong with you? This is your employer, and therefore totally off-limits!

The door shut behind him, and he started the car. The engine revved to life. The smooth purr of it went through her whole body. Buckling up, she relaxed into the seat as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the strip. This really was the city that never sleeps. Bright lights, neon signs, and hordes of people walking up and down the sidewalks filled her vision.

“Thanks again for the ride home. I’m sure you had more important things to do.” Her head rested against the seat, and she turned to look at him.

“I meant what I said, Tatum.” He turned and looked at her, his face serious. “There isn’t anything I’d rather be doing tonight.” He looked back at the road and shifted the car into another gear. It shot forward, and she let herself feel free for that short time.

After she told him her address, he navigated his car through the city and finally pulled into her driveway. It was actually her mother’s house, but now that she had passed, all her mom’s assets had been left to her.

When the attorney had read the will, which Tatum hadn’t even known her mother had, shock filled her at the knowledge her mother had left her everything. Of course, that wasn’t saying much. A rundown house out in the sticks, a crappy car, which she now remembered she left at Kiki’s, and a mountain of debt.

He pulled onto the cracked driveway, and they sat there while the car idled for a few moments.

“Thank you again.”

“You don’t have a vehicle?” His voice was hard as he looked at her house then at the few homes scattered around it. She lived outside the city but still close enough that she could get on the highway to commute to work.

“I do, but it’s at Kiki’s. I drove over there so we could carpool.” He watched her again.

“So you’ll be stranded here until someone takes you to get your car or they bring it to you?”

She heard what he said, but she also couldn’t focus very well. The smell of him saturated the interior of the car. His presence surrounded her, and she realized if she just inched toward him, their lips would meet. This vehicle was made for speed and style, not for comfort. The interior was on the small side, giving the passengers the feeling of intimacy. “What?”