AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I felt high as a kite.
It was always fun outsmarting cocky assholes at the pool table, but tonight was a whole different kind of rush that had very little to do with hustling and everything to do with the man staring down at me as though I’d lost my damn mind.
“Are you crazy?” Daire ran an agitated hand through his hair, and I figured I must’ve been, because the more time I spent with him, the more I…wantedhim. “How often do you do this?”
I was about to answer when Daire shook his head.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. You’re not doing it anymore.”
“Excuse me?” I straightened against the brick wall, my high suddenly plummeting to earth like a plane that had lost its engines. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“The hell I don’t.” Daire took a step forward. “What would’ve happened if I hadn’t been there?”
I angled my chin up, ready to defend myself to the bitter end. It’d been hot having Daire step in and defend me, but that didn’t mean I’dneededhim to.
“I would’ve left as soon as I won. Just like I usually do. I’m quite capable of looking after myself.”
“Yeah, that’s super fucking obvious.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and ground my teeth together. “Can you, foronce, maybe stop thinking about me like I’m some pathetic kid who needs you to protect him?”
Daire slapped his hands up against the bricks by my head. “Trust me, that’s the last fucking thing I’m thinking.”
Something in his voice set my heart racing again, and the frustration from his patronizing comments switched to frustration of a different kind. This push and pull between us created a whole lot of friction. The kind that would spark and ignite if we were brave enough to let it.
“Then whatareyou thinking?”
Daire blinked, his eyes zeroing in on my mouth before flicking back up to mine. “Nothing good.”
I searched his harsh features, the stern line of his lips and his granite-like jaw. The stubble that shadowed it and the dark brows that hooded his eyes.
Daire was a walking billboard for heartache. A danger sign if there’d ever been one. But that didn’t stop me from putting my hands on his chest, or gathering all the courage I could.
It also didn’t stop me from saying, “Maybe it would be better than good.”
And before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned forward to brush my lips over his.
It was like something from a movie. The pool hall hustle, the rescue, the fight between lovers, and now the kiss. Except the second my mouth swept over the top of his, Daire yanked his head back and gripped my wrists.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I…” My words stuttered to a stop as he released my hands and stepped away from me.
“I told you I didn’t want that.”
Did he?That wasn’t how I remembered it. He’d said he wouldn’t be stupid enough to kiss me again. Not that he didn’t want to.
“Okay, if that’s what you want.”
“It is.” Daire shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans as though he didn’t trust himself. “We should go.”
I looked out to the busy street he was staring at as though it was his only escape route. “Fine, let’s go.”
Daire’s jaw twitched at my easy acquiescence, but I wasn’t about to argue with him and let him ruin my night. We’d had fun in there. For a few minutes he’d even stopped treating me like something fragile, and instead treated me like he might a…date.He’d winked at me and held my hand, and just now, I could’ve sworn he wanted to kiss me.
Why did he keep denying himself something he wanted as badly as I did? Did he somehow think he was taking advantage of me? Maybe I needed to be more obvious.Maybeif he knew I wanted him then he’d finally admit he felt the same way back.
Hmm, now that was an idea. I couldshowhim how much I wanted him.
