But that isn’t Arlo. She wants to be courted, and chivalry is important to her—that much I gathered by listening to her speak to my cousins tonight while we watched the stars.
I rub the back of my neck, trying to find a reason to say no, but I got nothing. “I really shouldn’t,” I lie, not wanting the evening to end.
Arlo peers down at her feet and frowns so quick, I almost miss it. “Are you sure?”
Fuck.
I know I shouldn’t go in. We’ve already spent more time together in the last few days than I’ve spent with any other woman in my life besides those I am related to. Arlo is becoming an addiction I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to break.
“You can stay over,” she offers.
“You want me to stay over?” I repeat, making sure my mind didn’t process something other than what she said.
Oh yeah. Someone’s getting some action, and that someone is me. I may not slide into home base, but staying over leads to something, and I’m down with whatever small piece of her she is willing to give.
She looks up, and those green eyes get me every time. “Well, yeah… I mean, you don’t have to, but—”
I lean forward, my gaze dipping to her mouth. “No. I want to. I want to very much, sugar.”
“Then come in,” she says, her tongue peeking out as she speaks. “It’s been a great day, and I’m not sure I’m ready for it to be over.”
My brain should answer, but my dick does instead. “I’ll stay,” I tell her, reaching out and grabbing her hip to guide her inside. “But I’m leaving early because I have to work.”
“I have to work tomorrow too, remember?”
I close the door behind me, kicking off my boots like I’ve done it a hundred times before. “No getting pissy with me tomorrow when I’m out of here before daylight. ’Kay?”
The last thing I need is a repeat of her attitude because I wasn’t there when she woke up.
She blinks, gawking at me as we stand in the foyer. “Why so early?”
I smirk, brushing aside a few strands of hair that have fallen over her eyes. “I have to hit the gym, go home and shower, and then head to Inked. I didn’t get this body by lying in bed all day.”
She swallows, her eyes still trained on mine. “You’re dedicated.”
“I’m very dedicated when something is important to me.”
She places a hand on my chest, a small smile on her lips. “Your dedication is paying off.”
I’ve got her. I knew I had her the moment I took my shirt off at Inked and she didn’t want me to put it back on. She may not be like the other women I’ve been with, but she knows a good thing when she sees it. And my body…is a very good thing.
“Thank you for noticing.” I give her a wink.
She blushes, turning her face away from me. “I may have something that fits you to wear to bed tonight.”
“I don’t normally sleep with clothes on.”
She snaps her face back to me, and her eyebrows are up. “Um,” she mumbles. “Well…”
“I can just wear this,” I reassure her, not trying to be too forward, but wishing I could lie with her naked.
She sniffs and wrinkles her nose. “You smell like a campfire.”
“I hope you like the smell because it’s all I got, babe. It’s this or nothing.”
She runs her fingers down my T-shirt, slowly moving them lower, but stopping over my abdomen. “Shirt off, then,” she orders, sending a tingle down my spine and straight to my dick.
“Yes, ma’am.” I smirk, reaching behind my back and slipping the soft material over my head.
She inhales as her eyes wander down my chest. “I almost forgot how pretty you are.”
She almost forgot? Lies. But I won’t call her out. Whatever makes her feel comfortable, including a small white lie, I am down with because it means more time with Arlo and maybe, hopefully, skin.
“Pretty?” I ask, holding my T-shirt in my hand, enjoying her slow study of my body. “I don’t think anyone’s called me pretty in a long time.”
“You’re like a work of art, Carmello.”
“I’m sure you’ve been around guys a hell of a lot prettier than me. And you’re the beautiful one, babe, not me.”
It’s my turn to lie. I know I’m good-looking. I’d even go as far as to call myself hot. I’ve never had trouble landing pussy, no matter how beautiful the girl is who is attached to it.
But Arlo is more than beautiful. I’m not even sure that’s a good enough word to describe her features. She is simply stunning.
She peers up with hungry eyes, her fingers still lingering on my skin. “They were boys, but you’re a man.”
“Arlo, you’re walking into dangerous territory. You better stop or…” I swallow, trying to keep myself under control.
I’ve seen that look before. Not on her face, but on a hundred other women, all wanting a piece of me. When Arlo gives me the same look, though…it’s the ultimate temptation. I know once I get started, I won’t want to stop.
“Or what?” she says, challenging me with an undeniable, burning desire in her gaze.
I slide my hand up her back to her neck and cradle her head. “The way you’re looking at me, sugar…it’s full of sin.”
“I’m not an angel, Carmello,” she whispers as she moves her gaze from my eyes to my lips and she drops her hands to the button on my jeans. “But if you don’t want to…” she says, her voice trailing off on a whisper.
I pull her forward, taking her mouth with mine, shutting down any doubt she has about what I want or how I feel.
I’ve burned for her all day, wanting nothing more than to put my lips on her skin and taste the softness of her flesh. But I kept it together, behaving, when all I wanted was to do bad things to her.
She slides her hands to my back, her nails biting into the flesh just above my jeans as she kisses me back.
A moan comes from her mouth into mine, sending a jolt through my system. I walk forward, holding her in my arms and bringing her with me toward the couch we’ve spent two nights curled up on already.
“Bed,” she murmurs against my lips and moves toward the hallway, our mouths still connected.
As soon as we get to the bedroom, she falls back onto the bed, pulling me down with her. I settle between her legs, wishing I could bury myself inside her, but I know I’ll never have the chance. But I don’t dwell on that fact, trailing my lips down her cheek to her jaw and then to her neck.
“Wait,” she says, pushing against my chest.
Fuck. I knew she’d come to her senses, but I’d hoped I’d get a little further before she pulled back.
I lift up, giving her my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I want the lights on.”
Hell yes! Thank God she’s comfortable in her skin. If we are going to do anything, I don’t want the lights off. I want to revel in her beauty and watch her come apart because of the way I touch her.
I smile, looking at her beautiful face in the soft glow of the moonlight. “I like the way you think,” I tell her, pushing myself up.
She crawls back, reaching for the nightstand, and switches on the lamp. Her eyes are on me, roaming over my bare chest, drinking me in. “Better,” she rasps.