Caged(33)

"I know."

"Then you also know that I want to fuck you until you can't move."

Need spread in a rush of heat from her core outward, warming her body from the inside out.

His thumb grazed the underside of her jaw in an erotic arc. "But that ain't the only reason I'm with you or that I'm here. So fair warning. I won't take advantage of you when you're in a sad place any more than I would if you were drunk."

"You're chivalrous."

"Ain't no other way for a real man to be, where I come from."

Keeping her eyes on his, she sucked his lower lip between her teeth and lightly bit down.

A low warning rumbled up his throat.

"While I appreciate your consideration and restraint, Deacon, it's not only your decision when we become intimate."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you. We're already intimate, regardless of whether we've fucked. Which is why I was pissed off you didn't come to me first when this family stuff went down."

"I am sorry."

"I know. And it won't happen again."

A statement. Needing space from his intensity, she retreated. "It's been an exhausting day."

"No kidding. I'm beat." Deacon fisted his hand in his T-shirt, yanking it over his head.

When his fingers unhooked the button of his camo shorts, Molly said, "What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for bed."

"Oh. I'll get out of your . . . space. I'll grab the extra blanket from the bedroom for the couch."

Deacon stared at her. "Contorting my body on that tiny couch ain't happening when there's a king-sized bed in the next room."

"But . . ." Her mouth dried when he lowered the zipper and his clothing hit the floor.

Her don't look, don't look mantra was overruled by the greedy sexual bitch inside her that screamed, Fuck yeah I'm gonna look! It was dark the last time and I didn't see much!

Molly's eyes followed the line bisecting his upper torso, down his pecs, over his sternum, past his belly button, her gaze straying to the rigid pillows of flesh that created his six-pack, and then, whoa, there was his cock, growing right before her very eyes.

Then he gritted out, "Molly."

"What?"

"Get ready for bed."

She took longer than usual in the bathroom. It seemed the mirror exposed every one of her flaws in brightly lit detail. Screw it. He's seen me naked before. She slipped on her frilly baby-doll nightgown and marched into the bedroom.

Deacon was propped against the headboard, watching TV. Immediately, his gaze roved over her, from the tiny pink bow between her breasts to the sheer ruffles hitting her midthigh.



       
         
       
        

"What?"

His tone was even, but his eyes were filled with male appreciation. He pointed at her with the remote. "It's a damn good thing I'm bein' chivalrous; otherwise I'd be . . ." He closed his eyes and groaned. "Fuck it. Never mind."

Molly inched forward. "Tell me."

"Otherwise I'd be ripping that sexy nightie off you with my teeth."

Lust and regret landed a one-two punch in her gut and she huffed out, "Oh."

He pulled back the covers to reveal he'd slipped on a pair of boxers. "Get in here and cover yourself up, woman."

"You're acting awful bossy for a man who's a guest in my bed," she retorted.

"Babe. I'm bossy in any bed."

Molly clicked off the lamp on the nightstand before she crawled in. She curled onto her side, her back to Deacon, giving him almost all of the bed.

"You mind if I watch TV?"

"That's fine. I'm so tired I'll sleep through it."

Shadows flickered from the TV images even after she closed her eyes. Exhaustion overtook her.

The last thing she remembered was Deacon kissing her cheek and murmuring, "Sweet dreams, sweetheart. You could use them tonight."





CHAPTER NINE



MOLLY woke up and squinted at the clock.

Dammit. She'd overslept. She had to be at the church in twenty minutes.

She got ready in record time. When she came out of the bathroom, Deacon was up. Still in bed with the covers up to his chest but looking at her curiously.

"Hey." She shoved her feet into her sandals. "I'm meeting my family at the church."

"You want me to tag along?"

"No. Thanks, though. After I'm done I'll head to the store. Anything in particular you want me to pick up?"

Those crystalline eyes narrowed. "We'll go to the store together."

"Fine. I'll see you later."

Molly stopped at the convenience store for a giant coffee before she pulled into the church parking lot.