Page 17 of Icy Pour

I try to fight the way my lips curl up—the way my cheeks feel flush—but it’s no use.

“You’re giving me a bottle of vodka?”

“I wanted to say sorry. For last night. I know I was an ass, and I’m…I’m going to work on it. I promise. And that’s what this is for.” He picks up the bottle and hands it to me. “Specifically, this.” He flips his finger under the small metal gift attached. “It’s the key to the bar. I want you to know I trust you and I figured letting you have access to the bar anytime you want might be a good way of showing that.”

He gave me a key to the bar. His bar.

“Wow. Last night I was a thief, and now I got a key to let myself in and take whatever I want? You sure this isn’t ’cause you don’t want to have to run out of the office to open the door when I get here or lock up after me?”

His laugh, deep and full of joy, hits behind my rib cage, settling in like it was always meant to be there. And it hits in a way that makes me wonder what it would take to get a key to more than this building.

“I’m not gonna lie…that’s a nice bonus.” He smirks as he takes the bottle from me, carefully setting it back down on the desk. His grip is firm, but gentle as he takes my hand. “But mostly…I don’t want to run this bar without you.”

“So, this is just about the bar?”

His Adam’s apple bobs. “No.”

“Did you think about what I said last night?”

“I did.”

“And?”

He doesn’t blink. “I…thought about everything. I’ve been so frustrated with my life. Not being able to do or say what I want. Not being able to have what I want. I’ve never wanted to take a risk. But…after you walked out, well”—his face flushes—“after I kicked you out, I realized you weren’t a risk. You’re the reason.”

“The reason?”

“Yeah.” He takes a step closer. “You’re the reason this bar works, Johnny. You’re the reason my heart flies out of my goddamn chest every time I walk downstairs, counting down the minutes until you arrive. And you’re the reason…” He pauses, twisting his fingers. “The reason I want to break every damn rule I’ve ever had.”

He shutters in a breath as I place my hand on his cheek, waiting until our eyes meet. “Can I kiss you?”

“Please.”

I capture his lips in mine, committing the sensation to my memory. Last night was him testing the waters. I could tell he was nervous, fumbling even. I thought he might actually choke me with how far he was shoving his tongue back in my mouth. And fuck me, I almost let him.

But now? I’m in control.

My fingers find the strands of his hair, tugging him closer and angling his face toward mine as I slide my tongue across his. Warmth crawls along my skin as his hands move inside my jacket, his touch heating through the thin fabric of my shirt. A deep groan escapes him, the vibrations pulling low in my abdomen. The slight stubble on his jaw prickles against my hand as I pull back, slowly kissing down his neck.

“Johnny…”

The whisper of my name has me wanting to strip him bare right here. To have him in every way possible. The groan that escapes me is a mix of desire and frustration. As much as I want him, I don’t want to screw this up.

“You like this? This still okay?”

“God, yes,” he pants.

I lean back, finding his gaze again. “I couldn’t stop thinking about this last night. About you.”

“Same.”

“Same, huh? Did you have to fist your cock as many times as I did thinking about me?”

He sucks in a sharp breath. “I…I um…”

He looks everywhere around the room except at me. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. It’s goddamn cute as hell.

“Hey.” I tip his chin back to mine. “I’m teasing. Well…not about how many times I got myself off thinking about you last night. Hell, these past few days. I know you’re still getting used to all this. But…I assume from your response that was a yes?”