Page 65 of The Thug And His Doll

He gives me a rueful grin. “Sometimes being a man is a fucking curse.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, a little helplessly. No one has ever said anything like this to me, and I honestly don't know how to act. I’m sure other, more confident women would come up with a suitable response, but I’m not one of those women. Besides, I’m saved from saying anything at all when Baxter raps his knuckles on the window.

“You guys coming in or what? The band is about to start playing.”

“I guess we should go inside,” I say.

Drix looks out the window at Baxter. “I’ll be coming in two minutes,” he says, holding up his fingers.

Baxter ducks down, grinning through the window at me. He lets out a low whistle, then looks back at Drix. “Yeah mate, I reckon you will.”

A smile pulls up my lips as Baxter barks out a laugh and jogs back over to Riley. Pretty sure Drix mutters fucking arsehole under his breath.

“I’m going to apologise in advance on behalf of my friends. They can get a bit… raucous.”

“I like your friends.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” he says, rubbing at his short beard.

“Worried?” I ask, wholly confused now.

“You know, that you might be interested in one of them…”

“Interested?” I say, frowning.

“Sorry, ignore me.”

It finally dawns on me what he’s getting at. “Drix,” I say gently, reaching for his arm and squeezing gently. “I’m not interested in your friends like that.”

“You aren’t?”

“No. I’m not.” My voice trails off as he covers my hand with his.

“Lia, there’s something you should know about me.” He pauses, gathering his thoughts as he takes my hand, brushing his thumb over the spot where my wedding ring once sat. “I can be a little possessive.”

“Possessive?”

“I know you’re not mine, and I have no right to behave like you are, but I can’t help feeling that way about you. When Baxter flirted with you at the gym I got jealous.”

“You did?”

“I did,” he admits. “I know it’s a red flag, but I can control myself. If one of my friends asks you to dance, you’re free to do whatever makes you happy. I won’t act like a dick, but I might need a stiff drink to get me through it. Please, just bear with me.”

“I see.”

“You probably wish you hadn’t come,” he says, sounding defeated.

I think about what he’s just said, but it doesn’t make me fear him. His honesty about his feelings is strangely comforting, and I do trust his word. I know he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. He’s already proven that over and over again.

“Firstly, thank you for being honest with me. It means a great deal,” I say, shifting closer. “Secondly, if I was interested in any man, it would be you.”

Suddenly our faces are only inches apart, and my attraction to Drix that I’ve tried hard to ignore seems to ignite as he closes the gap between us, his mouth mere centimetres away from mine.

“You really shouldn’t say something like that to me, Lia,” he warns, reaching up and cupping my face. “It might give me the wrong impression.”

“And what impression is that?” I ask, the sultry sound of my voice surprising me as his thumb hovers over my parted lips.

His eyes flash with more heat. “That you could like me back.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com