Page 23 of Brazen

I grinned.

She had said too much. If I had to compete with income and stability, it might have been difficult. But satisfying her needs? I wasn’t going to lose any competition that way.

I wanted her to take me seriously enough to be her mate. Or the human equivalent–her boyfriend–no, husband, so we’d be an official family. And I’d adopt JT. But if the pathway there was making her scream my name, I was down for it.

Her shoulders rolled back, and she tipped her chin up. “It’s a first date. I’m not sure if–”

“Tell you what, Sparks.” I cut her off, not wanting to hear her lies. I knew. My wolf knew. She even knew that she was aroused and wanted me as much as I wanted her. But this woman was stubborn.

I didn’t like it. My wolf hated it, but she was going to have to go out with Dave the Dumbass. She had to learn for herself that the guy wasn’t going to give her what she needed. It was impossible because what she needed was me and my dick.

“Let’s make another deal,” I tossed out. “If your date doesn’t do it for you, I will. I guarantee satisfaction. All the orgasms you crave. Any way you want them.”

“Uh huh. Ernie said you were a player. I guess you have got plenty of experience with that when you were in the rodeo circuit.”

My wolf was ridiculously pleased that she’d been talking to Ernie about me, even if the old man had done me dirty.

I shrugged. “I’ve had some fun. But I’m ready to settle down now.”

“Sure you are. Sorry, but no deal.”

She turned and grabbed her toolbox and the broken shaft. That, she shoved right into my chest and headed back across the field.

“Why not? You said I’m only a player.” I hugged the dirty part to my chest. “That means I have moves. I’m the best person to get those orgasms with. No strings, unlike Dave the Dork has with his mother if him being dropped off by her was any indication.”

She groaned in frustration as she started to walk faster. “She had to drop him off to pick up the car. Why are you so insistent?”

“Because I want you as much as you want me,” I admitted. That wasn’t the truth because I wanted her so fucking bad I couldn’t see straight. “You want to get laid? I’m the guy.”

She turned around again and kept right on walking. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I remained where I was in the middle of the field.

Then she called back, not slowing, “Will you, for the love of all things holy and the safety of women’s panties everywhere, put on a damn shirt?”

A laugh stormed out of my throat. Uh huh. Confirmation. She wanted me. “If it’s your panties we’re talking about, I’m good,” I called back.

She shook her head without turning back for another look.

“Pretty sure they’re already soaked.”

“Oh my God!” Now she turned back. There were spots of color on her cheeks I’d been trying to earn since she got here. “You are pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe you’d better test the goods to find out.”

She shook her head once more as if in exasperation and started walking again. A normal human wouldn’t have heard her mutter under her breath, “Maybe I should.”

9

CLIO

* * *

“–and she took off with this guy to Bozeman, and that’s how I ended up in the middle of a huge custody battle.” David absently swiveled the stem of his glass of Chardonnay, clearly oblivious to the rule that you didn’t talk about your divorce on a first date.

I realized over the past ten minutes of him reliving his marriage why I hadn’t bothered dating since JT came along.

It wasn’t worth it.