Kansas (Ruthless Kings MC Atlantic City #2) - K.L. Savage Page 0,31

mine. For all I know, he’ll be having sex tonight.

“Mmm, see there it is. This is why I like looking at you. You speak with your eyes. They are always so expressive, and right now, whatever you are thinking, you didn’t like it.”

I can’t tell him the truth. That’s too personal. “Um—” I push my hair behind my ear and turn toward him so I’m directly facing him more than I was. My knees bump his. He has one leg tucked under his butt and the other is down, foot flat on the floor. “—I was just thinking about what will happen if our name is associated with drugs. Boomer said it might mean trouble. So does that mean I can’t take my sisters home? I don’t know what to do next.” It’s still the truth. I am scared of what happens next.

His fingers slide under my chin, and he lifts my head. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to go home. If you’re wanting to go get your things, that much I can understand, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to live there again. If someone is looking for their product, the first place they are going to look is your home. Drug dealers, mob bosses, whoever the clientele is, they aren’t the kind of people someone fucks over. They will come looking. It’s best if you stay here. Besides—” he pushes his knee against mine again, so we are touching, “—I don’t want you to go. I hope that’s okay to say. I know you’ve been through a lot, but I want to get to know you better. And I know how that sounds, it sounds like I’m wanting you to stay for selfish reasons, but I’m not new to this way of life. I know you need to be safe. And you and your sisters are safe here. I promise.”

“You want to get to know me?”

His fingers slide across my jaw, and his fingers turn into his entire palm as he cups my cheek. “I really do.”

“You don’t…” I lick my lips as my nerves get the best of me. “You don’t have a girlfriend?” I whisper. Then I realize I am making assumptions. “Boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?” he chuckles, his brows lifting in surprise.

“Oh, I don’t mean to say you look gay, I just didn’t want to assume—”

“—No girlfriend. No boyfriend. I was hoping you and I could go out sometime? Just me and you. I know your life has been turned upside down, but I’m hoping I can be the person to turn it right side up again. If not, I’m more than happy to be your friend.”

“Do you want to be? My friend?”

He pinches his lips together as his eyes dart all over my face. He gives me a tight smile. “Honestly, I have plenty of friends, Springs. I want more than that with you.”

“Why?” He can have anyone he wants, yet he wants to get to know me.

“That’s what I want to figure out. I’ve never wanted more than what I’ve had. I’ve never needed more, but now I do.”

“I’d like that,” I admit, pressing my cheek harder against his palm.

“Tomorrow?”

I nod, not wanting him to go just yet, but I know this is about to come to an end with how he is withdrawing his hand from my face. I turn into the wide palm, smelling the musk of his skin, and I can taste the salt on his flesh.

“I don’t want you to go.” I don’t mean to say it, but he feels so good. I don’t expect such a gentle touch from him, especially with his tattooed hands against my plain skin.

He’s trouble.

And my heart is all about it.

“I have to. If I don’t, we will get into that bed and we will do things that I’ve thought about since the moment I saw you. If I don’t leave—” his voice deepens, and I imagine it’s what he sounds like after staying up too late at night, full of rasp but not the need to rest. “—I’ll kiss you.”

I snap my eyes up to his, shifting my weight under his sights.

“And I won’t just kiss you. I’ll deepen it. I’ll slip my tongue inside so I can taste you. And then when that isn’t enough, because I know it won’t be, I’ll take off your shirt to touch your skin.” He inches closer to my face, his lips hovering right above mine. My eyes flutter when he drifts to the