“It’s a little late in the day for coffee. A little early for a drink.”
“I meant that maybe you could tear my clothes off of me and distract me from all this crappy reality.”
Oh, hell, yeah. “I would love to come in and tear your clothes off.”
Mia tucked her hair behind her ears. “This is probably a bad idea. Right?”
“I think you already said that. I disagree. This is the best idea ever.”
She seemed to instantly feel guilty for her straightforward request. “Will this complicate things if we try to date after we have sex today? This seems impulsive. Jumping the gun.”
That amused me. “Uh, Mia? We’ve already had sex. I think that ship has sailed, sweetheart. I’ve already touched every single inch of you.” I leaned over and kissed her. “I’ve tasted these lips.” I shifted a hand over her breast and she gasped softly as I teased my thumb over her nipple. “I’ve tasted this nipple.” I watched her eyes close briefly when I eased my hand between her thighs and under her dress. “And I’ve tasted this sweet, sweet pussy.” I stroked over her panties, dragging my palm up and down slowly. “I know the sound you make when you come.”
“Those are all very valid points you’re making,” she said, as she shifted her knees apart to give me further access.
“Then I think we should go inside before I prove them in this car.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.”
“That will be a refreshing change. Not arguing with me.” I pulled back and gave her a smile. “The dog has to come with me.”
“Of course.” Mia opened her car door.
I got out and opened the back to collect Amelia’s crate. She was peacefully sleeping on her blanket in it. I glanced around at the apartment complex and didn’t love what I saw. There was no overhead lighting that I could see, and zero security cameras. Not the safest place for a couple of young single women and a small child. It also had a general appearance of neglect, but I knew Mia was on a budget. Unattended landscaping didn’t surprise me. But hell, the management company could spring for some security.
I followed her with Amelia to her apartment, which was on the first floor. Also not great for security. A couple of guys were hanging around the entrance to the unit next to hers, doing some kind of money exchange, and when they saw me, they looked alarmed. They nodded, but one quickly retreated into the apartment and the other jogged toward the parking lot. I frowned, having the distinct impression we’d witnessed a drug deal.
But once we were inside, I shoved those thoughts aside. I already knew I was getting Mia a new apartment, so I wasn’t going to worry about her shady neighbors.
“This is the infamous Casa de Broke Bitches,” I said, as she opened the door and stepped aside to let me in.
“Did I tell you that I call it that?” she asked.
I nodded. “In December.”
She tilted her head and studied me. “You have a good memory.”
“I remember everything about that night.” That was the complete truth.
Mia gave me a look I couldn’t decipher, but then she just shook her head. “I’m sorry for the mess. I’m not the cleanest person,” she said as she closed the door behind us. “After cleaning other people’s messes all day, I find it hard to have the energy to be spotless at home.”
The apartment was small and cluttered with shoes and kids’ toys and furniture that was too large for the space. A laundry basket was on the coffee table and the vacuum was sitting in the middle of the room, though it didn’t look like it had been used. I wasn’t surprised by what I was seeing. It was a small space, housing a small child and two adults who worked a lot of hours.
“You don’t need to apologize to me. You have a lot going on. Besides, it just looks lived in.”
Mia dropped her bag on the coffee table next to the laundry basket and grinned. “I’ve seen the way you live in a hotel room and your apartment. You are a neat freak.”
“Freak might be a strong word for it.”
“Not at all. You’re a freak, James, admit it.” It was clear she was teasing me.
I didn’t mind. She could call me whatever she wanted as long as she was smiling at me. I set Amelia’s crate down on the carpet and leaned down to pet her through the holes. She was actually still fast asleep, which was good. I didn’t think I should release her into an apartment with all sorts of things that she could chew on, and either destroy or hurt herself.
I stood back up and moved over to Mia. “Oh, you think I’m a freak?”
Her green eyes widened. “When it comes to tidiness, yes.”
“Are you a freak, Mia?” I flipped the end of her hair with my finger. “Don’t you ever just want to let go of all that responsibility and worry and do something crazy?”
“I already am. I agreed to go on a date with you.”
That made me laugh softly. “Not exactly a wild and crazy thing to do, is it?”
“You’d be surprised from my perspective.” Then she reached up and put her hands on my shoulders. She went up on her tiptoes so she was closer to me. “James.”
The way she murmured my name was like a fist gripping my cock. I wanted her so damn bad. “Mia.”
“Take me to bed. Now.”
I felt the same sort of hyped excitement I did in the locker room. Let me in, Coach.
“I can do that,” I told her. Then I picked her up under her ass and carried her down the hallway, her arms around my neck. “Which room?”
“Second door on the left. Do you know how hot it is that you can just carry me like this?”
It fucking better be. “It’s efficient,” I told her with a smirk.
She laughed softly, shaking her head so that her long red hair trailed behind her. “Let me give you a compliment.”
I kicked open her door with my foot. “Tell me again, then.”
“It’s very hot that you’re so strong.”
Hey, who wouldn’t want his ego stroked by his woman? “Good. I want to turn you on. And I do work hard for this level of fitness. The job demands it.”
I set Mia down on her bed.
“You definitely do turn me on,” she breathed.
There were clothes everywhere on her bed. She just bundled them up and chucked them in the general direction of the floor. My eyes followed the movement. “Ignore them,” she said. “I can practically see you twitching to fold my clothes.”
For once, I hadn’t been. I pushed her back down on the mattress. “I don’t give a shit about your wrinkled clothes.” I eyed what she was wearing. The casual floral dress buttoned up the entirety of the front. Piece of fucking cake. Running a thumb over the top button, I leaned over and stared into her eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”
Then I used both hands and ripped her dress open with a hard tug, exposing her tits and her waist in a swift tearing of fabric and popping buttons.
She gasped. “What are you doing?” she asked, though she sounded more excited than angry.
“Tearing your clothes off of you.” I finished the job with a second tug, spreading open the dress from waist to knee. I let go of the fabric and it puddled on either side of her, the sleeves the only thing holding it on her. She was all creamy pale skin, high breasts, and enticing curves. I climbed on her bed.