Forbidden Fruit (Shannon Cheney) - By Ann Aguirre Page 0,27
I only get up because it’s getting late, and I need to shower so he can take me home.
“No regrets?” I ask him, as I’m climbing into his SUV.
“Only that you’re leaving.”
“Good answer.”
“I warned you how this would go, though, Shan. You’re mine now, and I’m very opposed to sharing.”
“You think I’ll run into men who tempt me at Pretzel Pirate?”
He laughs. “When you put it that way…”
“Then I’m not sure what I’m supposed to take from this. I’ve been trying to hook up with you for weeks. Now that I have, you figure I’m done, mission accomplished?” I shake my head. “No thanks. I’d much rather be your girlfriend.”
“Yeah?” Jesse starts the SUV, looking pleased.
And frankly, after the last twenty hours, he should be. I know I am. “Definitely. Or were you trying to talk me out of a relationship?”
He leans over and kisses me. “No. You’re in this now. I tried to be smart and sensible and let you move on to somebody else. Hell if that’s happening now.”
“I don’t want anybody else.” A surge of love rolls through me.
“Keep talking like that, looking at me with those eyes, and I’m carrying you right back up those stairs, Shan.”
“I have to get back. My work uniforms are at home.”
Jesse bitches under his breath, giving me the first glimpse of how possessive he can be. But it’s not like it comes as a surprise. He puts the vehicle in gear and takes me back to my apartment. I think he’d like to come up, but that will just make it harder to say good-bye later, and I haven’t talked to Maria about having overnight guests. If her boyfriend has ever stayed, I didn’t see or hear him. So I feel like it’s polite to check with her first. Plus, my futon isn’t as big or comfortable as his bed.
He parks on the street and shifts to study me. “Work’s likely to keep me tied up this week. There are some things going on in the department. But if you have any problems, text me.”
“I can’t text you anyway?”
“You know what I mean.”
Yeah, I do. I’m teasing him. “If anything weird or scary happens, you’ll be the first to know.”
This is a little awkward because I don’t know where to go from here. I can’t seem to make myself get out of the SUV. Jesse kisses me again; this one is deep and lingering, his hands in my hair.
“I’ll pick you up Friday night at eight, sugar, unless there’s an emergency.”
“How should I dress?”
“Wear something sexy, suitable for dancing.”
“I have the perfect outfit.”
After that, I hop out and head upstairs. There’s no reason to feel so sad, like the minute we separate, he’ll have second thoughts and I’ll never see him again. He’s not changeable like that. In fact, I’ve barely gotten inside my front door when I get a text message from him.
I miss you already. Think about me this week, k? I’ll know if you are.
Okay, that’s kinda hot. I’m smiling when Maria wanders out of her bedroom. She takes one look at me and grins. “Good weekend, huh?”
I don’t know what she means until I peek at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. There are faint bruises on my throat, whisker burns on my cheeks and jaw. I’m not wearing my usual makeup to cover it either. Damn. I can’t believe I left the house without putting my war paint on. I can remember a time when I’d have died before doing that. Like, the house could be on fire, and I’d still apply cosmetics.
“You could say that,” I answer belatedly.
After checking to make sure I have a clean uniform for tomorrow, I crash with Maria and we have our Chris Evans marathon. During intermission, I ask, “So I’m wondering about your policy on overnight guests?”
“Not a rhetorical question, I take it. You finally bagged the hot cop?”
“You make him sound like a deer I shot.” I grin at her. “But yeah.”
“Then as long as he sleeps in your room and you’re not too loud, I’m fine with it. I’d appreciate it if you don’t send him out naked to rummage for food.”
“I suspect we’ll be at his place more often, but I thought I’d ask.”
She nods. “I appreciate the consideration. I’ve had so many roommates who did what the hell ever. And the last one left without any notice.”
“That had to suck.”
“Tell me about it. But I’m glad Chuch introduced us. I like you.”
It’s nice to