Page 67 of Dirty Mind
“I want you to come home with me tonight,” he whispered in my ear. “I want you to make love to me. Tonight and every night from now on. I want you to move back in. Work for me. Travel with me.”
He stopped just short of telling me he wanted me to love him, and those were the words I really needed to hear before we took this any further. “In other words, you want me to be your fuck buddy? Your girl Friday? Your—”
“Stop.” He silenced me with another deep, lingering kiss. “You know you’re so much more than that.”
“No, I don’t.” I needed him to spell it out for me. No more second-guessing. “I don’t know what I am to you, Dade. Or what you want me to be.”
He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I’ve got a car out front. Can we just go home and talk about this, babe? You know this isn’t the time or place for—”
“I came with Max and I’ll be leaving with him.” I wasn’t letting him put me off again. Either he said the things I needed to hear, and meant them, or I was out. For good, this time.
“Why are you being so stubborn?” he hissed, curling his hands around my face. “Just give me a chance.”
“I’ve given you plenty of chances. Every day we’ve spent together you had the chance to show me, and tell me, how you felt about me. And you didn’t. What makes you think you deserve another chance?”
“Because I love you.”
Heart meet feet. Wow. Wasn’t expecting that. “You do?”
I couldn’t help being skeptical. It’s not like he hadn’t said those words to at least three other girls, along with a big rock and promise of forever. Maybe, when push came to shove, I was having a hard time trusting a man who’d caused so many other women to lose their minds over him.
“I don’t expect you to believe me,” he said, quietly. “Proving it will take time. I get that. I just need you to give me that time.”
“What are asking?” I couldn’t process what was happening. In my mind and heart it was already over between us. I didn’t know if I could let him back in.
“One day,” he said, looking tortured. “One night. That’s all I’ll ask for, baby. One more day. And I’ll ask for that every day until you trust me to be your forever.”
My forever? My mouth went dry when I considered the possibility that this man could be my fiancé. My husband. I wouldn’t be his first, but maybe I could be his last. MaybeIcould be the mother of his children.
“Can I meet you back at your place?” I asked, licking my lips. “I just need a little more time, to think.”
“Don’t think with this,” he said, touching his fingertip against my temple. “Let this guide you, sweetheart.” His finger grazed my breast as he gestured to my heart. “Please.”
He seemed desperate, but so was I. Desperate to figure out whether Dade was the man of my dreams or my worst fucking nightmare.
* * *
I’d taken an Uber to his place, but the security guard waved as soon as I stepped out of the car outside of his iron gates. I didn’t think Dade would appreciate me inviting a stranger inside his fortress, so I prepared for the long walk up the drive.
It gave me a chance to think. To process his claim. He said he was in love with me. But could I believe him? And did love or a committed relationship mean the same thing to him it did to me? I had my doubts.
I wasn’t selfish, but I did want a man who could put me first, just like I intended to put him first. I wanted someone who wouldn’t run or give up on me when things got hard. I wanted a ruthless fighter, a warrior, who’d take a bullet before he’d let someone take me away from him. Dramatic? Yes. Maybe I’d been reading too many romance novels, but damn it, I wanted a love like that. And didn’t want to settle for less. Not this time.
The security lights came on, flooding the stone path with light as I got closer to the house. I screamed when I saw a large silhouette standing next to a tree about twenty feet away. My heart only started beating again when I heard his familiar chuckle.
“Dade! You scared the shit out of me!”
His laughter continued as he pushed off the tree and fell into step beside me, reaching for my hand. “Sorry, babe.” He brushed his lips across my knuckles. “Bob called up to the house to tell me you were here. Didn’t want you walking up all alone.”
His estate was secure, but I still appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Thanks.”
“Your buddy drop you off?”
I shook my head. “No, I took an Uber.”
“Good.” He slipped his arm around my waist. “Can’t tell you how glad I am you’re here.”
“To be honest, I’m still not sure why I am.” I didn’t want to hurt him, but I had to be honest.
