I never considered – stupidly, I now see – how any woman would react when I told her she was my woman.
My thoughts trail off when she finally appears.
She doesn’t walk in a self-consciously sexy way like the contestants do, but my gaze is drawn magnetically to her nonetheless. Her ass is too damn enthralling, making me think of how she’d look bent over, naked, her pussy glistening from between those round ass cheeks.
As she climbs into the car, I grip the steering wheel hard, my knuckles turning white with the tension building up inside of me.
She sits behind her car and starts the engine, and I know I’ve missed my chance… or saved myself from the humiliation of saying something that will scare her away.
No matter what, I can’t frighten her. I need to play this smart, work up to it slowly.
Her car sputters and the engine dies. She cries out and slams her hand down on the steering wheel, triggering a protective feeling inside of me.
My woman should never have to worry about her car breaking down.
My woman, my future wife, the future mother to my children…
She can have a chauffeur if she wants, or a new car every week if she’d prefer that. Whatever she wants to make her life easier, to make her existence sweeter.
She rests her forehead against the steering wheel, her hair spilling down around her shoulders. It gives her a wild look, as if begging me to stroke my fingers through her long locks.
And there’s something tragic about her too, anger flaring when I think about how upset she clearly is. I need to protect her… from the world, from sadness, from hardship, from everything.
Throwing my door open, I climb from the car and walk toward her.
Chapter Six
Kyra
I close my eyes, the steering wheel pushing against my forehead, as I tell myself to stop being so melodramatic. I’ve known my car was on the verge of breaking down for ages. I knew it was going to happen any day now, so I can’t exactly be surprised.
But that doesn’t mean I’m thrilled at the idea of having to call a towing service, using my credit card to pay for it since I don’t have insurance, and then figuring out how I’m going to get to work tomorrow.
I must be tenser than I realized. When somebody taps on my window, I startle and almost let out a scream.
When I turn, a quiver runs through my body. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and my heart starts to drum in my chest, a series of lightning strikes that leave me shaky.
I need to calm the heck down, but it’s difficult when Kayden Kater is leaning against my window, his green eyes glinting as he stares at me, his captivating lips shaped into a smirk.
But he was laughing and joking with Hallie just a little while ago. I heard a few of the crew members talking about their chemistry, and the word on the grapevine is that the director is very happy with the way their relationship is seemingly developing.
Winding down my window, I say, “Yes? Sorry. Am I in your way?”
He brings his face closer to mine, lowering it to the open window. His scent washing over me. I wonder if it’s cologne, or if the muskiness is unique to him. It makes me want to lean forward and press my face against the taut muscles of his shoulder, inhale deeply, greedily taking his scent inside of me.
“No, you’re not in my way.” His smirk never wavers, but I’m sure his eyes glimmer with intensity. “I just thought I should ask if I needed to buy tickets.”
“Tickets?”
“For the fireworks show, you’re about to put on?” He tilts his head, his smirk becoming playful. “Wait, are you telling me you haven’t got a bunch of fireworks stowed in your hood?”
I giggle, shaking my head. This couldn’t be more surreal. I’m sharing banter with Kayden Kater. I have to remember he’s just being nice, nothing more. I can’t read too much into it.
“I can help, if you want,” Kayden says before I can speak.
“Help with the car?”
He nods. “I’ll arrange to have it towed. In the meantime, I can drive you home.”
“Are you sure?” I murmur. “You don’t have to. And won’t your driver mind taking me all the way to the other side of the city?”
“I’m sure,” he says firmly. “And I don’t have a driver. I know most men in my position do, but I’ve never liked the idea of sitting in the back like some kid while another man drives me around. No, Kyra, I’ll drive you home.”
A shiver runs through me when he uses my name. I’m surprised he even remembered it. He must hear countless names all the time.