Royce
“What’s the rush, baby?” I say, and see the fire in her eyes.
“Don’t you dare call me that,” she hisses, and jerks her arm out of my hold.
She may be pissed I caught her, but I know she likes what she sees. I’ve only got on a pair of loose shorts that hang low on my hips, and right now she’s eye-fucking my happy trail.
“You like what you see?” She snaps her eyes back up to mine, and I see her blush. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to see if she blushes all the way down to her tits.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you afraid someone is going to smack that smile off your face?”
I smile even bigger, feeling my dimples crease. “No way, baby. I don’t ever let them touch me.”
“Must be a new experience then. Seems you’ve got people ready to climb all over you,” she says, crossing her arms and looking around at the women watching us.
Goddamn, I love when she sasses me. “The only one I want on my jungle gym keeps avoiding me.”
She lets out a huff and shakes her head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You know damn well what I mean,” I say, taking a step forward. She takes a step back, trying to keep her distance. “But we’re not in the office right now, baby. This is open territory. In fact,” I say, taking another step toward her as she takes another one back, “I’d say it’s pretty damn clear you’re in my world now.”
Her back hits the wall, and I move in front of her, putting my arms on either side of her shoulders. I lean down a little so we’re eye to eye. I can see the pulse beating in her neck, and I want to lean forward and lick her there.
“This is my bar. Not my fault you were down in the basement. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”
“And?” I say, giving up the fight and leaning into her. I put my lips next to her ear and whisper, “Did you like what you saw?” I run my tongue along the edge of her ear and feel her shiver. “Because I damn well liked having your eyes on me.”
“Royce,” she says, and there’s a catch in her voice.
“Fuck. Keep saying my name like that and it will get you fucked in the middle of that ring.” I move my lips down her neck and feel her hands go to my chest. “Or is that what you want?”
Her fingers trail down my hard abs and to the edge of my shorts.
“I’ve gotta say I don’t really like the thought of everyone in here seeing you take my cock, but it makes me hard as a rock picturing you under me and getting off.”
“Oh God.”
I move my mouth up to her lips and look her in the eyes. “I know you want to be in charge, but trust me, baby, it’s better when you let me.”
With that, I press my lips to hers, and it’s like gasoline on a match. Whatever it is we’ve been dancing around finally comes to a stop, and we attack each other.
Her tongue pushes into my mouth, and I moan at the taste of her. In the next second I’ve got her picked up and pinned against the wall as I grind my cock against her.
“Put those fucking legs around me,” I growl, and she does as I command.
Her thighs tighten as my hand goes to her shirt and slides underneath. I’ve got one hand gripping her ass as the other finds the cup of her bra and yanks it down. Her hard nipple is between my fingers, and I pinch the little bud as she moans. Her lower half rocks against me, and I’ve never felt anything like her. She’s petite in my arms, but God, is she fierce. She’s giving it back just as good as I’m giving it to her, and I feel the need roll off of her.
“I wonder if I can get a turn when she’s done with him,” I hear someone say from behind us.
Pandora breaks the kiss and glares over my shoulder. “Move along. Sloppy seconds aren’t on the menu tonight.”
I smile at her, and as if she’s realized she just made a claim to me, a wall falls down in front of her and lands right between us. The woman behind me must leave, but I don’t turn around to check. The only woman I’m interested in is in my arms, but even now I can see her pulling away.
“I need to go,” she says, and drops her legs from around me, pushing my hand out from under her shirt. She takes a step away from me, but it might as well be a mile.
“Hey,” I say, and she snaps her eyes back up to mine. I take her chin in my hand and lean down again so we are eye level. “Don’t do that. Don’t you push me away when you feel this, too.”
“The only thing I feel is stupid for letting you embarrass me like this.” She jerks her chin out of my hold and looks around the room.
“I’ve had enough of your bullshit, Pandora. Stop lying to me, and stop lying to yourself. You don’t give a shit about anyone in here, so don’t tell me I embarrassed you.” I pull her into my arms, and she gasps. “You liked it, and I fucking loved it. You were meant to be in my arms. And the sooner you let yourself be okay with that, the better.”
I kiss her hard, and she bites my lip. For half a second I think she’s going to fight me, but instead she melts just like she did before. I could let this keep going, and we could end up just how we were a moment ago. But she needs to get her head together first.
I break our kiss and let her go, taking a step back from her. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I can’t stand her pushing me away again.
“I want you, plain and simple. And not just for a fast fuck in the ring. You feel this.” I point between the two of us. “When you finally decide to take a chance, I’ll be waiting.”
Turning, I spot Donovan nearby, and he tosses me my shirt. I pull it on and give Pandora one last glance before I grab my bag from Ezra and make my way up the stairs.
I’m pissed off and could use another fight to take the edge off. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to walk away from her. But chasing her isn’t the way to win her heart. She’s hardheaded, and if that’s the way it has to be, that’s fine, I’ll wait. She’s worth anything I’d have to do to get her.
I can only hope that she picks up the gauntlet I just laid down.