Kincaid: Cerberus Mc Book 1 (17 page)

“Come upstairs with me,” she pants against my lips.

I place my thumb over her mouth to keep her from speaking. If she asks me again, I’ll cave, and the last thing either one of us needs is to jump in bed because we can’t handle raging hormones. “Emmalyn,” I say with more strength now that my lips have been off of hers for a few seconds.

I’m going to tell her to stop. I’m going to tell her that there’s no rush. Instead, I watch as her tongue snakes out between her lips and lick the thumb I have placed on her lips. My eyes grow heavy with lust, and I nearly come undone when she draws my thumb into her mouth and twirls her tongue around the tip.

“Fuck,” I groan. “Em, don’t. Please, I can’t handle anymore.”

She winks at me playfully and reaches for the buckle of my pants as she leans in closer. I feel her breath against my cheek and then near my ear.

“What are you doing?” I ask dazed with all of my blood flow heading south, rather than staying in my brain where I need it most.

“You like blowjobs,” she pants seductively in my ear. “Let me suck your dick.”

My eyes snap open, and I grab her wrists, halting her from getting my pants open. I release her arms the second I see a hint of fear in her eyes.

“That’s not what this is.” I scrub my hands over my face. “That’s not what I want from you.”

She swallows roughly, and I know I’ve managed to hurt her feelings.

“I’m not good enough for a blowjob, Diego?” She snaps her head back in my direction, and her pain has turned into anger.

I reach out and touch her cheek gently. “You’re too good, Emmalyn.”

She huffs indignantly and for some reason, it makes me smile. “Look at me, please.”

Stubbornly, she waits a few moments before she turns her eyes back to mine. “Do I want you to eventually wrap your perfect, pretty lips around my cock? Of course I do.” She narrows her eyes telling me that the offer has passed, and I may not get another one.

I roll my lips between my teeth to keep from smiling, because even though she’s totally pissed right now, she’s very adorable.

“When I look at you, I don’t see a club girl, Emmalyn. You’re… more.” I use my finger to turn her face gently so she can see the sincerity in my eyes, as well as hear it in my voice. “I don’t just want to have sex with you or come down your throat. Don’t get me wrong, I mean I will, on both counts, but that’s only part of what I want from you.”

“What else could you possibly want from me?”

I ignore her question because the self-depreciating tone she’s giving me will only piss me off if I have to explain how amazing she is. She has no self-esteem; it’s another thing we’ll have to work on that her piece of shit husband tore down.

“Go out with me Sunday?” She grins at me but doesn’t answer. “I checked your schedule, and I know you’re off. Let me take you on a date.”

She laughs, and I have to admit I love the sound. She doesn’t do it nearly enough.

“Is that a yes?” I gently prod.

“Where would we go?”

“You’ll have to agree in order to find out, won’t you?” I can be stubborn as well.

Actually, I hadn’t thought about asking her out until the words fell out of my mouth, so I don’t have plans. I know I need to do something either super over the top or something incredibly simple. I have several days to plan and decide. I can almost guarantee that her ex-husband hasn’t wasted much time wooing her. I smile at the knowledge that I get the chance now. His fucking loss.

“I guess I can pencil you in for a few hours on Sunday.” She grins at me playfully.

“Come here,” I tell her and tug her hand forcing her to practically sit on my lap. “I’m going to miss you tonight. I know I’d sleep a lot better if you were in my arms.”

“So come up and hold me,” she breathes against my lips, and I almost give in. I almost convince myself that I’d be able to crawl into the bed with her in a dark room and only hold her against my chest.

“I can’t, Emmalyn,” I say my voice showing just how pained I am at the thought of leaving tonight. “I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of you. That’s not how I want things to begin with you. Please don’t ask me again.”

“Okay,” she concedes and kisses my lips softly.

I open the driver’s side door and let her climb out first. Standing, I adjust the erection in my pants, knowing there is another cold shower in my very near future. I walk her to the door and kiss her lips one last time before scooting her along into the house. I wait until I hear the lock turn on the door before heading over to my bike and back to my house for another restless night alone.

All week the only thing I can think of is the date that Diego asked me on. I haven’t been on a date since high school, and I think I’m just as nervous now as I was then. I’ve seen him daily. He’s picked me up, taken me to work, and walked me to the door each night after my shift at the bar. A light kiss on my lips is the most he’s given me since shutting me down in the car Monday night. If he pulls that light kiss on the lips shit with me tonight, I may strangle him.

He told me last night when he dropped me off to be ready by three and to wear jeans. I don’t know many dates that start so early in the day, but I didn’t drill him for information. He seemed genuinely excited for whatever he had planned.

I drum my fingers on my thighs and check the time on my cell phone for the tenth time in two minutes.

Kid’s chuckle from across the room makes me smile. He’s become like a fixture these days, my living shadow. I don’t mind, he’s ridiculously cute in a little brother sort of way, and most of the time when he opens his mouth something funny comes out.

“You planning on staying with him tonight?” I grin at him but shrug my shoulders.

“I don’t know how the evening will go.” It’s the truth even though I hope it ends up with me in his arms. I haven’t slept as well since the nap I took in his arms earlier this week. I’d be lying to myself if even for one second I think all I want to do is sleep in his arms.

“I can tell him to let you off Emmalyn-duty if you want.” I know he’s frustrated, even if he doesn’t show it often. Any twenty-four-year-old man would have lost it by now having to babysit me for the last three weeks. I applaud his resilience thus far.

“No!” He stands from his spot on the couch and makes his way across the room until he’s standing in front of me. “Please don’t say anything to him.” He pleads with his eyes as his hands clasp in symbolic prayer in front of his chest. “Hanging out with you is an honor. If you say something he won’t let me do it anymore.”

I laugh. “An honor? That’s absurd.”

“Protecting the President’s girl is the biggest honor, Emmalyn.” He’s completely serious.

“His girl,” I whisper. I like the sound of that, even though this is coming from Kid and not Diego himself. Looking up, I laugh at Kid who’s still standing in front of me waiting for my answer. “I won’t say a word, Kid. Now sit down. I’m nervous enough. The last thing I need is you standing over me.”

He sits back down with a heavy sigh of relief. I shake my head at his insistence, but I wonder briefly what exactly he’s protecting me from and if I’m somehow being threatened. Add it to the list of a hundred other things I need to get around to talking to Diego about.

My heart pounds in my chest when the rumble of a motorcycle reverberates through the house. I shift nervously in my seat, not knowing if I should meet him on the porch or wait for him to come in.

“You just gonna sit there?” Kid asks with a smirk.

I stand up, flip him off, and walk to the front door. I didn’t know we would be taking his bike, but his insistence on wearing jeans makes sense now. I stand on the porch and wait for him to climb off his bike. Long, muscular, blue jean-clad legs carry him to me. Strong, tattooed arms hold out a leather jacket to me as he approaches.

“What’s this for?” I ask taking the leather from his hands.

“We’ll be on the highway for a bit. It’s a layer of protection,” he explains as he helps me shrug it on. “You look beautiful,” he whispers in my ear as he folds down the collar. “Nice touch,” he says pointing at the cowboy boots I’d splurged on earlier in the week.

I smile because come on; the man just noticed my shoes.

“So,” Kid says from the doorway.

I dip my head so Diego can’t see my smile, and I hear him chuckle behind me as I walk toward the motorcycle. “Do what you gotta do, but don’t go far.”

Kid is giddy at the news, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he turns and goes back into the house. Diego tries to keep a straight face as he walks up to me. He manages, but just barely.

“Where are we going?” I ask as he pulls a helmet from the seat and begins to strap it on my head.

“You’ll see,” he says with a wink before putting his own helmet on. I wait for him to climb on and then I swing my leg over and climb on behind him.

The vibration of the engine between my legs is heaven and torturous hell all rolled into one. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean my cheek against his back as he begins to drive slowly down the driveway.

***

“This is beautiful,” I tell Diego as I climb off of the bike and pull the helmet off of my head. I know my hair is a complete wreck, but the view from the top of the mesa he’s driven us to pulls my focus away. “You can see for miles up here.”

I turn in a panoramic fashion from left to right trying to take in every inch of the landscape, knowing I’m missing more than I’m seeing.

“There are some pretty terrific views like this in Denver as well,” he says stepping in behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Bobby didn’t… I never really got the chance for anything like this while I lived there.” I sigh, inwardly chastising myself for bringing him up. The last thing I want to do is ruin my time with Diego by bringing up that asshole.

“Good,” he whispers near my ear, placing his chin on my shoulder. “I’d rather you experience it all with me anyways.”

I nuzzle my cheek against the stubble on his face, loving how it slightly abrades my skin while his arms hold me protectively. This simple embrace is the epitome of Diego Anderson; protective and safe while still a little rough around the edges. Hard and soft all at the same time. The perfect mix of everything I never thought to imagine I could find in a man.

If I had to take the years of abuse all over again so I could end up right here at this moment with him, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I close my eyes and let my other senses reach out and take in the moment. The light woodsy smell of his skin mingles perfectly with the earthy scent of the red dirt surrounding us. His soft, even breaths harmonize with the sound of the wind blowing through the valley below us.

“How opposed are you to exploring a little bit?” I open my eyes when he pulls an arm from around me. I follow the tip of his pointer finger as he points to a small trail leading through the sparse vegetation.

“I’m not opposed at all,” I say excitedly.

His grin at my response is contagious. “Seriously?”

I knit my brow at him. “Just because you found me in the city doesn’t mean I can’t handle a little hiking.” I reach up and plant a quick kiss on his lips. “I grew up on a farm, handsome. Try and keep up.” I start down the trail without another look back.

I hear him rustling with something on his motorcycle, and I get ahead of him a little, but he quickly catches up, and I see he’s wearing a small backpack. He’s come fully prepared even though he had his doubts about whether or not this would be something I’d be interested in. I wonder absently what he would’ve done if I’d not been agreeable to traipsing around the desert getting ridiculously sweaty.

“This is by far the best first date I’ve ever had,” Emmalyn says slightly out of breath as we stop to rest on a small pile of boulders.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” I watch as she pulls her phone out and swipes through her photos. “You have any memory left on that thing?”

She sticks her tongue out at me and continues to look at her phone. She’s taken at least a thousand pictures it seems. I watch in awe as the simple sight of the photos on the screen of her phone brings the most beautiful smile to her face. I pull a bottle of water from the backpack, take a quick sip, and hand her the bottle.