“Hush, Reese,” she says and Reese laughs.
“You’ll see me soon, with Claire. I’m trying to convince her to date me.”
They both look at me and then Reese says, “Oh Claire, I like him. He reminds me ever so much of someone I love very much.”
Claire is still glaring as she says, “No, he doesn’t, plus, don’t let him fool ya, he only wants to sleep with me.”
“That’s how it started with me and my man,” she teases.
“Ew, don’t talk about my uncle like that.”
She laughs but then sets me with a look. “Don’t hurt her, or I will send my fiancé after you. He is scary.”
“Not sure who we’re talking about, but I have no plans of hurting her,” I say quickly and Reese’s grin is back.
“Good. Later, kids.”
And then she’s gone.
When I look back over at Claire, she’s pulling up a pair of sweats. When she meets my gaze, color fills her cheeks again before she looks away. “She’s sorta crazy. I love her, though.”
“I think she’s awesome. Reminds me of my mom.”
She smiles, her top teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Taking a step toward her, I want to do the same, but before I can, she says, “You know that you don’t want to date me.”
I shrug. “That’s up for debate. I thought I only wanted to have sex with you, but for some reason I just can’t get you out of my head. I still taste you, Claire, and I know that has to mean something.”
Her eyes darken with color as her breath hitches, and I know this is the time to go in for the kill. Closing the distance between us, I wrap my arms around her, taking her mouth with mine in a hot assault. Any protest is lost as my lips move against hers. Her body is so soft and feels so damn good against mine. The taste of her is intoxicating, and as our lips move in a way that makes it hard to breathe, I run my fingers up her arms, cupping her sweet face in my hands. As she bites into my bottom lip, I moan against her lips before deepening the kiss. Our tongues move in such a sweet, sexy dance, and everything inside me is on fire.
When I pull away, it’s only to catch my breath, and I refuse to give her any space to breathe or decide this is a bad idea. “Let me take you to dinner.”
Her eyes dance with lust and everything naughty. I’ve never been so turned on in my life. When her lips part to speak, I can’t take it and crash my lips to her again. Pushing her against the wall, I press my body into hers, and I know that I should take it easy, but I can’t. I need her. I can feel her heart beating in her chest, and I know it matches the fast beat of mine. Pulling back once more, I open my eyes, meeting her sweet, blue gaze.
“Say yes,” I demand, moving my thumb along her jaw.
She shakes her head. “Why don’t I just let you take me to bed?”
Oh sweet God, say yes, say yes, you dumb lug. Don’t get lost in those eyes; say yes, and fuck her brains out.
But for some crazy, fucked-up reason, I can’t listen to my dick. I shake my head slowly. “My momma brought me up to wine and dine a lady first.”
Her mouth pulls up at the side as she slowly nods. “Maybe I’m no lady.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong, Claire. You are a lady. The only lady who has my full attention. I’m not sure what I’m doing, or even who I am right now, but I want to do right by you. And if after dinner, you still want to take me to bed, believe me, I will not stop you.”
Her brows crowd in but then she’s fully smiling at me, and soon my mouth curves into a matching grin. “Why is it every time I see you, you surprise me?”
Leaning my forehead against hers, I move my nose slowly along hers, my lips teasing hers before I whisper, “Because I’m trouble.”
Chapter 9
Claire
Trouble indeed, but it didn’t matter. He’s pushing and pulling me straight to him, and I’m sure he isn’t going to let me go. Not that I want him to. There is something about him that has me completely and utterly drawn to him, no pulling needed. While I want to sleep with him, I also want to get to know him. Really, I have no clue what I want. I just want Jude. All
of him and I’m glad he turned down my offer to go to bed. While I want it, I don’t think I would have gone through with it, but then with the way he’s looking at me, his hooded green eyes flaring with lust, I’m thinking that previous statement was a total lie.
I damn well want him more than my next breath.