black tank top told me she hadn’t been out on a date, but that didn’t tell me why she was here. That hopeful little voice in my head wanted to believe that she was here because she’d decided that she wanted to see what this thing between us could be.
I reminded myself that making assumptions had gotten me into enough trouble and that I needed to stop reading into things. I needed her to actually say the words.
“Can I come in?”
The uncertain look on her face made my stomach twist. The urge to protect her was almost too strong for me to resist…but I did resist it because common sense told me that holding Nyx right now wouldn’t be the best idea.
“Please.” I stepped out of the way and wished I’d grabbed a shirt. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to seduce her or something, but it was too late now because if I went out of my way to get a shirt, she’d think that I didn’t want her to see me without my shirt…
Dammit!
“So, um, I was just talking to Rose – or texting her, actually – and she was telling me about going to a Halloween dance…” She waved a hand and blew out a very long breath. “That’s not important. What is important is that she said she liked you.”
I blinked, confused. “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll get you something to drink, and we can talk.”
She shook her head. “I’m not thirsty, and I don’t want to sit down.”
“All right,” I said. I still had no idea what she was doing.
She reminded me of a skittish horse or a wild animal, the sort that couldn’t be rushed. I had to stay calm, let her speak at her own speed. Let her take the lead. Have control. This hadn’t been easy for her, and what I was asking her to do wasn’t going to be easy either.
“Look, I don’t do this,” she said with a sigh. “I fuck. I don’t talk or go on dates or get to know people.”
I didn’t point out that she’d gone on more than one date with me and we’d talked…and gotten to know each other.
“But Rose pointed a few things out to me, so I’m here to…try.”
I swallowed hard and tried not to show how eager I was. “I don’t want to make any assumptions here, Nyx. Please spell things out for me.”
She came over to me and took my hand, uncurling the fingers I hadn’t remembered making into a fist. “I don’t know how to do this, and I don’t plan on staying in Savannah. When my job here is done, I’m going home.” She looked up, her eyes meeting mine. “But I want to do what you asked. Spend time together while I’m here.”
It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but I would take whatever I could get. If we really were as connected as I believed we were, then whatever time she and I would have would serve to show her how good we could be together. I’d worry about the rest of it after we made the relationship official.
I didn’t tell her that, though. I didn’t want to scare her away, not when she was finally here and willing.
“I’m really glad to hear that.” I brushed the back of my hand over her cheek. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed you, firebird.”
Color flooded her cheeks, but she didn’t look away as she caught my hand and kissed my palm. “I missed you too.”
I didn’t know which of us moved first, but we were suddenly on each other, mouths fused together, tongues battling for dominance. Her hands were all over me, bare skin burning up my arms and down my back as my muscles tensed and bunched under her touch. My hands did their own exploring, under her shirt to trace the lines of her tattoo, the skin still slightly raised under the ink.
She bit my lip, and I hissed in surprise before pulling her tighter to me and dropping a hand to squeeze her ass. Stinging pain broke out down my spine as she raked her nails across my back. Her hair was in a braid, and I caught it, wrapping it around my hand to give me control. I pulled her head back, and she glared at me, but the only heat in her eyes was lust. She wanted me as much as I wanted her,