Her dark hair was down in a full mass of soft curls that fell around her face in sexy disorder. She wore little makeup that he could tell, just an outline around her eyes and some color on her plump lips.
He wanted to kiss those lips. The urge to taste them came upon him so strong and sudden he even leaned toward her a little before he remembered himself and snapped up straight. But he couldn’t stop his eyes from traveling down her body. Tonight, she wore flat-heeled black shoes, a pair of dark jeans that hugged her hips and thighs, and a silky looking red top—the exact color of blood when it first left the body—open at the throat just enough to expose a “V” of smooth skin. She had a small beauty mark that was slightly off center at the bottom of her throat. A solitary diamond pendant sparkled just above the swell of her breasts, slightly larger than the one in her nose.
Her eyes widened as she took in his appearance. “I think I’m underdressed. Let me go change. I’ll just be a minute.” She set the basket down on a side table that sat near the door and started walking away before he could answer, leaving him on the other side of the threshold.
“Uh, Devon?—”
She stopped and turned. “Oh! I’m sorry. Please, Kohl. Come in.”
He did, shutting the door behind him. “You don’t need to change. You look…stunning.”
“But you’re all dressed up and I just threw on some jeans.”
“I like your jeans,” he told her honestly. “I really like your jeans.”
She stared at him wide-eyed a moment, then burst out laughing, and he felt himself relax as he grinned back at her without shame.
When she could speak again, she put her hands on her hips. The movement widened the “V” at her throat, exposing more of her sun-kissed brown skin. “Well, where are we going? And I’ll decide if I need to put on something nicer.”
Kohl tore his eyes away from her neckline, his tongue touching the tips of his fangs before he spoke, attempting to ease the ache there before they fully descended and made him look like some kind of prepubescent vampire who had no self control. “Actually, I thought we could have a picnic. Somewhere away from the crowds, if that’s okay? It’s a warm night for January, but I don’t think it’s going to rain. I have a blanket, and I can start a fire. I also picked up some food for you on the way over. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just got a little of everything. And wine. White and red. I don’t know what you prefer…”
He trailed off as she stared at him with a smile touching her lips, her head tilted to the side. “I’m talking too much again.” Shoving his hands in his pockets to hide his nervousness, he looked down at his shoes, wondering what the hell was the matter with him.
Something about this woman just…undid him.
“A picnic would be nice. Honestly, I really don’t like going out in public much, for obvious reasons. Let me grab my coat.”
He exhaled the breath he’d been holding as she walked into another room. Without her taking up his focus, he noticed his surroundings for the first time. The apartment was roughly the size of a shoebox. He could reach the opposite wall in three strides. And he knew that because he counted as he walked over to the window.
But the view of downtown Austin was beautiful. The city lights sparkled against the night sky like something out of a movie. He glanced up, hoping the weather would hold. It was cloudy, which was good because it wasn’t too cold for her. But it also meant things could change at any moment. Texas weather was unpredictable as fuck.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Her black jacket fell just below her hips and looked warm.
After making sure she locked her door behind them, he escorted her out of the building to his ride.
When she saw it, parked in the guest spot directly in front of the building, she pulled up short. “Wow. I’m glad I didn’t change into a dress.”
Kohl studied her reaction, wishing he had Hawke’s gift of reading people. “We can take your car if you’d be more comfortable.”
A huge grin broke out across her face, lighting up the night, and he lost his breath once more.
“Oh, hell no. This is perfect.” She grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward. “Come on, Kohl!” Without waiting for him, she threw a leg over the seat of his Harley and put her hands on the grips as she admired the matte black paint job.
He had to admit, she looked damn fine straddling all that power.
“How do you start this monster?”
“It’s a 2014 Harley Fatboy.” Kohl unbuckled the helmet from the strap of the saddlebag and handed it to her. “And we’re not going anywhere until you put this on.”
Rolling her eyes, she took the helmet from him and stuck it on her head. “What about you?”
“I’ll be all right.”
All of the light left her face and she was suddenly serious. “Oh. That’s right. I almost forgot for a minute.”
He watched her intently. “Does it bother you that much? That I’m not like you?”
Devon met his eyes as she buckled the strap under her chin. “No. Not tonight.”
