Page 13 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
“I feel so bad and I’m so sorry I’ve done this to you guys.”
And as I broke down crying against Bowser’s body, only one thing crossed my mind. After my lips were done talking and my eyes had dried up and my body stopped trembling, only one thing remained on my mind.
My God, his embrace feels safe.5BowserI held her tightly in my arms as my fingers slid through her knotted hair. There was a soft musk radiating from her body, and it made me wonder how long it had been since she had showered. Not that the smell was bad. On the contrary, it actually smelled kind of nice. But that wasn’t the point.
The point was, she wasn’t taking care of herself.
I listened to her as she kept rambling through her tears. But eventually, the tears, worry, and grief crowded out her words. She pressed herself further into me, as if she were trying to get me to absorb her so she didn’t have to walk this earth any longer. I couldn’t blame her for that, though. She’d been in this place for weeks. She’d been watched over by strange men for weeks.
I knew she was ready to get out.
“Hope, you have to breathe, okay? You’re shaking, and you have to breathe.”
She sniffled hard. “I-I’m tr-tr-tr—”
I kissed the top of her head softly. “Sssshhhhh.”
I felt her pause before my eyes bulged. Holy shit. What the fuck had I just done? My head snapped up as her eyes gravitated up to my face. My arms loosened around her as she took a small step back, and I knew I had blown it. She’d tell someone. Alert her sister, and I’d be a goner with Link. I’d taken great steps to hide my affections for this woman. I’d taken great strides to keep my cock at bay whenever I was around her.
And a fucking head kiss would do me in.
“Bowser?”
I swallowed hard. “Yep?”
My gaze found her stare and I watched her eyes dance between mine.
“Hope, I’m so—”
“Want another drink?” she asked quickly.
I crooked an eyebrow. “What?”
“Do you, Bowser what’s-your-name, want another drink?”
Better than the alternative. “I’ll whip us up something, sure.”
She quickly dropped back down into her chair and I set about using the things she pulled out of the fridge to make us something strong. I was a simple man when it came to alcohol, though. A nice glass-bottled beer or a Jack and Coke was all I required. But as I studied Hope over my shoulder while she slouched in her chair, I tried to get a read on what kind of alcoholic concoction she’d enjoy.
And came up with one of the best tequila drinks I’d thrown down in a while.
“Here you go,” I said.
“What is it?” Hope asked.
I eased myself back into my chair. “It’s called ‘Bowser’s Wish.’”
She furrowed her brow. “You have a drink named after you?”
“No. I came up with that drink on the spot and I named it just then.”
“So, what’s your wish?”
I sipped my Jack and Coke. “That you don’t hate it.”
She giggled. “Well, then I suppose I should try it.”
I sat on pins and needles as her perfect little pout wrapping around the edge of the glass. The sugar granules touched her lips and faded into nothingness. Which was exactly what I would do if I ever got the chance to kiss those lips. I’d fade into nothing. I’d melt directly against her and take her in ways that were gentle and kind, but left her with the impression that no one would ever treat her so good and so amazing.
Not like I could, anyway.
“Mmmm,” she hummed.
I grinned. “Glad you like it.”
She took another long pull. “What in the world is in this?”
I shrugged. “A little bit of this and that.”
“You should sell this. Seriously.”
“You think?”
She took another very long pull. “Oh, yeah. And be prepared to make another.”
I raised my glass. “Just let me know when.”
She set hers down onto the table. “So, tell me something about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“I don’t know. Anything. I mean, I just cried against you and told you my deepest, darkest secret for the moment. Why don’t you ante up and tell me what yours is?”
I paused. “This isn’t a game of poker, Hope.”
She smiled. “That good, huh?”
“No, it’s just—”
“Oh, come on, Bowser. Let me get to know the man beneath the leather. I mean, you did just kiss the top of my head.”
“And for that, I am so—”
“And I could technically tell your boss, if I wanted.”
I blinked. “Hope, please don’t—”
She leaned forward. “Am I going to have to threaten to tell your boss unless you tell me what your secret is?”
My eyes hardened against her. “Why are you so curious all of a sudden?”
She slowly leaned up. “If there’s one thing I’ve figured out about people, it’s this: the secrets they keep will tell you more about them than any action, any spoken word, or any moment ever will.”
