I thought of her spicy sweet flavor and the way she’d wrapped herself around me without a care for who was watching.
She was wild—uninhibited—and I wanted that wildness and lack of inhibition in my bed. One night wouldn’t be enough.
If I was actually up for trying something real with Elle and not just fucking and ducking, I didn’t think Con and Vanessa would be pissed. Yeah, if things went sideways, it might be weird for a while, but we were adults.
I needed to make up my mind and construct my tactical plan. But first, recon.
“You want me. Deny it.”
Elle’s eyes widened, as if she wasn’t expecting me to take the direct route. Good. But she recovered from her shock just as quickly.
“I think I made that pretty clear.”
“And if I told you I was open to exploring shit between us—not just one night, but something real—even though I knew it was a bad idea, you’d shoot me down cold?”
“Why do I feel like this is a fucked up reenactment of a scene from Pride and Prejudice? It’s like Darcy telling Elizabeth he likes her against his better judgment. And guess what? She didn’t go for it, and neither am I.”
“What the hell are you talking about, woman?”
Elle’s expression took on the same stubborn quality I’d seen when I’d told her I wouldn’t hire her. “I’m sure you can figure it out yourself. Watch the damn movie if you don’t want to read the book. If we’re done with this conversation, I think I’ll be going.”
Elle took off toward the door, her heels clicking on my linoleum floor in that sexy way that never failed to get my blood pumping south. Like Pavlov’s fucking dog. But she wasn’t going anywhere.
I took two steps and blocked her. “You forget, you’ve got no wheels, sweet thing.”
“Did you forget I’ve got two working legs, pawn star?”
“And you’re not walking out of this shop on them.”
Elle crossed her arms, and, for a moment, her tits distracted me from what I was about to say.
“Because some scary guy decided he thinks I’m hot? What is he going to do? Kidnap me? I don’t think so. And you know what else?” She dropped her arms and poked her finger into my chest. “I’m really not impressed with the fact that you only decided you wanted me because some random guy showed interest.”
I glanced down to the finger jammed between my pecs and back up at her face. Elle’s golden brown eyes practically shot fire with the annoyance burning there. The feisty redhead temper was alive and well in her.
“You are so far off base with the shit you’re spouting right now, I barely know where to start. So how about this? First, Rix is not just a random guy. He’s the top dog of one of the most ruthless gangs in this city—and he eats women like you for breakfast. You might be classier than his normal piece, but it was pretty fucking clear he was digging the class even more than his normal. If you think you can handle tangling with that, then you’ve lost your mind. I’ll take you back to the Quarter and make sure you never set foot on this side of town again before I’ll let him have a shot at you.”
“And second?” she snapped.
Fuck, I was going to kiss that sassy mouth as soon as I finished getting out what I needed to say.
“And second, I didn’t keep kissing you after he walked out of this shop for any reason other than you’re the sweetest fucking thing I’ve tasted in as long as I can remember. He ain’t getting his hands on you because it would mean I don’t have my hands on you—and that won’t work for me.”
Elle’s chin lifted. “I just told you how you could put your hands on me. One night. None of this dating bullshit.”
A harsh noise came out of my throat, because the woman could be infuriating. I’d never thrown out an offer like this and having it pitched back in my face sucked ass. “Tell me why. What’s your hang up, woman? I get that I’m fucked up in a helluva lot of ways, but I’m not a bad guy. I don’t even deserve a shot?”
The ice in her expression melted a degree. “It’s not you—”
My laugh was gravelly. “Let me guess, it’s you?”
That ice? It was back, in spades. She pivoted for the door, but I moved faster. I trapped her against it, a hand pressed to the wood on either side of her fiery red hair.
“You’re going to tell me why before you leave this room.”
“You’re not a bad guy? Just the kind that traps women against their will in a room they want to leave?”
I smiled. “Not women—just you.”
This time it was Elle who growled. She shoved against my chest, but I was an immovable rock where she was concerned. I didn’t budge. “You’re a caveman too, just like your brother, aren’t you? I’ve heard the stories. Is this a genetic issue?”
I didn’t respond to her taunt. I was waiting her out. “Got all day. Take your time.”
“Fine! Because there’s no way in hell I’d ever answer to a guy. Therefore, relationships are out. And since I don’t want anything serious, why date? Most guys are happy to have no-strings sex. It’s a bonus. You’re the only whack job who won’t take the bait.”
“I don’t like hearing about you and other guys.”
“Get over it, pawn star, since I’ll be getting under one now that you’re out of the question.”
My temper flared. “No fucking way. Shit just changed. You want to get under someone, you’re getting under me.” My words were emphatic, and not just because I wasn’t going to let Rix see her with another guy. She wanted me. That was fucking clear, so there was no way she was going elsewhere to get what she needed. Con and Vanessa would just have to understand.