The night ended as dawn was peeking at the horizon.
The bar area sparkled. There wasn’t a chance anything was out of place or that a speck of dust or smear of a drink remained.
Looking around she gave each area another thorough look, ensuring there was nothing Jake could possibly find fault with. As her gaze moved to the mirror behind the bar and the subtle lights of the neon BROKEN BAR sign, she gave the camera hidden within it a flirtatious little wink.
Gabby would no doubt find that one amusing.
“Ready?”
Swinging around to face Turk, the smile tugging at her lips flattened.
“Looks ready.” She shrugged, adjusting her purse on a shoulder and moving for the exit. “Good night, Turk.”
The heavy sigh that sounded behind her was filled with male irritation.
“You going to stay mad at me?” he asked softly as he unlocked the door for her.
“I’m not angry with you.” What the hell did he expect her to say?
“Of course you are,” he murmured.
“Because you forced Jake into that asinine compliment?” she snorted. “Really Turk? It was so obvious.”
He simply stared back at her.
“Forget it,” she snapped. “I just want to go home.”
“Let me lock up and I’ll walk you to your car.” He didn’t argue with her—that was a good thing. She was not in the mood for a confrontation.
“It’s nearly daylight. I’ll be fine.” She almost managed to slide past him when she felt his fingers curl firmly around her upper arm, dragging her to a stop.
“Erin, tempting my patience is the wrong route to take.” The warning in his voice seemed designed to just piss her off.
“Give me a break.” Mocking, disbelieving, she laughed at the comment. “You just wish I’d tempt you then you wouldn’t have to take responsibility for giving into what you want yourself.”
He turned the key in the lock with a hard twist of his wrist before turning to face her.
“And just what do you think I want?” he asked, his voice a hard, dark rasp.
The overhead light cast his harsh features in savage lines as his chocolate brown eyes narrowed on her impatiently.
“You’re such a man.” She snorted in disdain. She had yet to meet one of her stepfather’s agents that wasn’t an ass. Turk just hid it better.
“Glad you realize that.” Powerful arms crossed imperiously over his chest.
“It wasn’t a compliment,” she informed him, her gaze raking over him. “Look at you. All defensive and displaying such control. Arms crossed, feet braced firmly beneath you. As though you’re facing an enemy when what you’re facing is your own fear of whatever that sizzle was between us last night. What do you want, Turk? Do you need me to seduce you?” She gave a short, contemptuous laugh. “Sorry but I have things to do tonight. Catch me next lifetime. Maybe then I’ll be desperate enough to let you hide from your own hunger and blame me for it.”
* * *
Catch her next lifetime?
It was all Turk could do to hold back his anger, and his amazement.
Son of a bitch, if only she wasn’t so fucking enchanting.
If only she wasn’t so damned right.
It was all he could do to keep his hands off her. At the same time, he was dying to push her into touching him instead.
“You’ve lost it, sweetheart,” he growled.
“Have I?” she drawled. “Have I lost it, Turk? Or do you really wish you could lose all the wondrous control you have?” A slender, red-gold brow arched slowly, mockingly, before she turned and began striding away from him.
As though this were finished?
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he demanded, following her quickly. “This isn’t finished, Erin.”
Reaching the driver’s side door of her little sedan she pulled the door open with a hard jerk before turning back to him, her expression livid.
Eyes sparkling, her cheeks flushed, the full mounds of her breasts heaving within the neat little frame of the black vest secured beneath them. Damn, she was pretty as hell.
“This is finished, Turk,” she snapped back at him, holding the top of the doorframe with one hand, the other braced on her hip as she faced him. “It’s very much finished, because I’m simply not in the mood to pander to your damned ego tonight.”
He was going to burn in hell and Turk knew it.
Reaching out he hooked his arm around her waist and jerked her to him, one hand tangling in her hair to hold her in place as his lips bore down on hers.
Thunder crashed in his head—that had to be his heartbeat, he thought, almost dazed as her lips parted beneath his.
A muted, broken whimper of feminine longing eased past their kiss as her arms twined around his neck. Slanting his lips over hers Turk was helpless against the hunger burning inside him now. Raging at him.
Damn her.
She made him want.… He wanted more than just the sex but he was damned if he could put a name to the hunger rising inside him. All he knew was the only relief for it was the woman in his arms.
“Damn you!” Pulling back, Turk stared down at the dazed, flushed features, the mass of red-gold hair falling around her face and her kiss-swollen lips. “I’ll follow you to the apartment.”
Pretty gray eyes blinked back at him, at first confused, then with a hint of feminine hesitancy.
“Do you need to be seduced first?” he growled then.
A hint of a smile curved her lips. “Of course I do.” Stepping back she slid quickly into her car. “Shall we see if you’re capable of the seduction?”
Turk couldn’t help but grin. “Oh, baby, have no fear. I’m more than capable.”
He turned and strode back to the front door, ensured security had engaged when he’d locked the door, then moved quickly to the motorcycle parked next to her car.
Meeting her gaze through the window he nodded shortly, after securing his helmet. As she pulled out he followed. Riding behind her the short distance to the building that housed both their apartments, all he could think about was the woman ahead and the sweet passion that erupted whenever he touched her.
And he intended to touch her quite a bit in the coming hours.