joke... Dodge shook himself as the elevator door opened, glancing into the lobby for threats, then led the way out of the building. He was still figuring out what to say, since most of his attention went into “bodyguard mode,” when she sighed.
“I was joking. It was a joke. So you wouldn’t be so damn awkward.”
“Awkward?” He frowned as he glanced over at her. “What do you mean?”
Persephone snorted and ducked into the car before he could open the door for her. “Since last night when you lost your nerve. Figured your feelings could use a little shoring up.”
Dodge scanned the street for threats while trying to be subtle, tracking the four bruisers from before as well as three of their new friends lurking in an alley a block down. He only half-heard what Persephone said. “Lost my nerve?”
She didn’t respond as he started the car and pulled out, headed for the restaurant. When Dodge looked over at her, Persephone stared out the window and faced away. He frowned more, trying to sense her mood and still navigate the city without crashing into other cars. “What are you talking about?”
Persephone shook her head but looked at him, her expression carefully blank. “Last night when things got... weird. It seemed like you were uncomfortable.”
“I’m not uncomfortable.” It was a damn lie, but she didn’t need to know that. Of course, that assumed he knew why he was uncomfortable. It was like an itch under his skin that he couldn’t scratch, driving him crazy. He didn’t know why he’d rolled out of bed, other than he was a damn coward, so there wasn’t anything to explain.
“You ran out of there like your ass was on fire.”
Dodge concentrated on the road as the bruisers followed closely in their SUVs. They couldn’t afford to get boxed in by the larger, heavier cars; he couldn’t drive through a fucking SUV with a shitty sedan. “It was better to stop. Adrenaline makes people crazy. Didn’t want you to do anything you’d regret.”
“You didn’t give me a chance to do something I’d regret.”
He forced a laugh. “Believe me, you’d’ve regretted it.”
“So you’re that bad in bed?”
Dodge choked on air and nearly crashed the car. “What the f– no, that’s not what I meant.”
“Handsome guy like you, I’m sure you haven’t had to try very hard to get the ladies between the sheets,” she said, tapping her chin as she mused over it. “Clearly haven’t had the chance to develop real skills. I’m guessing you just jump on and pound away? No finesse?”
Dodge wanted to strangle her, laugh madly, and show her the damn truth, all at the same time. She deliberately provoked him, pushed him. Like she wanted to punish him for rejecting her, or maybe convince him to re-initiate contact so she could reject him. Dodge’s head spun. He didn’t understand. He didn’t know what she wanted. He’d kept all previous relationships very simple, very transactional, so he didn’t have to think about shit like feelings and innuendo and unintended consequences. He wasn’t ready for her. Not by a long shot.
“We are not having this conversation,” he said under his breath. He drove through a yellow light and the SUVs got caught up in other traffic. “Not here. Not – right now.”
Persephone arched her eyebrows in challenge. “Not even going to dispute it, hmm? Guess I dodged a bullet.”
Dodge parked the car in a side lot next to the restaurant. He figured he had just a few seconds before the bruisers caught up and got a good look inside the car. He turned and seized Persephone’s face in his hands and dragged her mouth to his. She tensed, gripping his shoulders like she meant to push him away, but stilled as he deepened the kiss.
The wolf meant to devour her, to mark her so the rest of the world would know who protected her, who looked after her. Persephone’s lips were soft and pliant under his, parting with an inhale as his fingers worked into her hair. He took advantage and teased her tongue with his. He wanted to know every inch of her. She made a soft sound, maybe surprise, but he was so far gone in his need that he hardly knew the rest of the world existed.
There wasn’t enough room in the car. He wanted her back in her bed or in his, somewhere with enough room to lay her out and worship her. She’d made a joke about him just jumping on