Possession(Sons of Odin MC)(19)
“Hello?” she called out, sounding sleepy and adorably pathetic.
He laughed to himself and opened the door. Heavy drapes kept any sunlight out and the extra-cold air conditioning made it feel like she slept in a cave.
Light from the hallway flooded the space. “Time to wake up.”
“It’s only seven. I sleep in on Sundays.” She covered her face with a pillow.
Reaching the bedside, he yanked it from her hands. “Early bird gets the worm.”
“Leave it to you to make bird references.”
He sat on the edge of the mattress. “Ever have breakfast in bed?” Maybe food would get her up.
She rested the back of her hand on her forehead and stared up at him. “Mom used to serve me pancakes in bed every Sunday.”
“What about coffee and omelets?”
“You raided my fridge?”
“Absolutely. I’m a three-square-meals-a-day type of man. By the way, I took the liberty of throwing out your expired yogurt and half-and-half—total science projects.”
She smirked. “I don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen.”
“Obviously.”
Her stomach growled. “Coffee sounds good.”
He arched a brow, doubting she could resist the maple-flavored sausage. “That’s it?”
“All right.” She yanked the covers halfway down and sat up. “Maybe some eggs.”
Vincent eyed the tight, pink T-shirt she wore, which showcased her pert breasts too well. He swallowed, forcing his gaze elsewhere. “Meet me in the dining room.” He stood suddenly, remembering her comment about staying away from horizontal surfaces together. Yeah, he wanted to fuck her.
“Running away again?” Tina rolled out of bed, her bottom half covered by only a pair of pink bikini shorts.
He sighed, unable to resist another lingering look. Long legs, shapely thighs that could probably squeeze the air out of his lungs. And those perfect tiny feet, a part of her body he hadn’t missed the other night when he removed her shoes in the clubhouse. “Walking and running are different, Tina.”
“Yeah?” She put a hand on her hip. “I appreciate everything you told me before, but it still doesn’t fully explain why we can’t just follow our instincts. Don’t you ever have sex?”
“Just going to keep challenging me until I give in? Is that the plan, pretty girl?” He stepped closer, able to hear her inhale her next breath. “Do you know how many girls have stripped in front of me?”
Her lips thinned with disapproval. “Am I supposed to be impressed?”
“Not exactly. Just wanted to make it clear I have thick skin. You’re beautiful, Tina—incredibly so. But the last time I let my little head do the thinking, it ended badly.”
“That’s just it,” she said, caressing his arm. “I’m not trying to force you into a relationship. Friends with benefits.”
He shook his head. “How about friends?” He extended his hand.
Silence followed, but he didn’t back down. Having Tina in his life on a more permanent basis appealed to him. Why wouldn’t it? She made him smile almost as much as his kids did. And that incorrigible personality, it kept him on his toes. Most girls went along with everything he said. This one challenged him at every turn, actually had a zest for life he hadn’t seen in a long time. But it was more than that. Underneath her confidence, he sensed a tenderness and vulnerability that attracted him more than her perfect face and body. She had heart.
“Okay, Vincent, friends.” She shook his hand. “Lead the way to the table.”
Seated together for breakfast for the second time in two days, he buttered a piece of toast for her, then spooned some eggs and two sausage patties onto her plate. “Eat,” he commanded.
She took several bites before she sipped her coffee. “Guess I’m hungry.”
“Wouldn’t hurt for you to gain a couple pounds.”
Tina blinked before she answered. “Not the ‘friends with benefits’ thing I envisioned.”
“What?”
“Criticizing my weight already.”
“Didn’t mean it like that,” he tried to clarify. “More like you can afford to stuff yourself without feeling guilty. Indulge a little.”
“Funny,” she said. “That’s the same advice I’ve been begging you to take.”
Oh, that mouth. Vincent gulped the last of his java. “On a more serious note, let’s discuss some safety options.”
“Again?”
“Ten times, if that’s what it takes.”
“I’m sure once I confront Kline in my office he’ll back off. I thought about it after I went to bed last night. He’s a rich, lonely prick. That’s all.”