Page 14 of Say it Ain’t So

I tossed a twenty on the table to pay for our drinks, then snagged Joss’s hand and led her away. We didn’t make it far. Every time I looked at her, I felt the need to kiss her, and I was never very good at denying myself my needs. I had her up against a wall, my willpower failing me, when Joss tossed her head back and sucked in a breath.

“I think I need a drink.”

Her bared throat was pure temptation, but I wasn’t sure I could stop myself if we continued on this path. I needed a moment where we weren’t attached at the mouth to remember that being thrown in jail for public indecency wasn’t the way I wanted to finish this night.

Glancing up and down the street, I zeroed in on a country bar with music blaring so loud we could hear it from where we stood. I strung my fingers through Joss’s and fought the urge to kiss her swollen lips.

“Come on, gorgeous. Let’s go get your drink.”

We pushed inside the packed bar and made our way past the half-wall built around a mechanical bull. Customers were lining the ring, watching as people tried—and failed—to hold on. Once we each had a beer in hand, Joss turned to me with wide eyes and an even wider smile.

“Let me guess, you want to ride the bull?”

“You don’t?” I had to lean in for her to hear me, and the luscious scent wafting off her skin had my fingers itching to touch her. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her hips into mine.

“Looks like fun.” She pulled her lip between her teeth and gave me another one of those coy smiles, dragging her gaze down my body before she looked up at me again. “Pretty sure I can hold on longer than you.”

“Ohhh.” Laughter rumbled through my chest. “Those sound like betting words.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged, then grinned. “I bet I could beat you.”

“I like my odds.” I leaned in closer, nudging her nose with mine before I captured her lips in a slow, decadent kiss. “Let’s do it. Let’s see who wins.”

“What do I get if I win?”

“I’ll give you whatever you want. And if I win?”

I could feel her smile against my lips before she pressed a kiss there. “Same.”

We both gulped down our beers as we made our way to the ring. I watched hesitation settle itself over her as we got closer to the front of the line. She had her lip between her teeth again, her body pressed close as I draped my arm around her shoulders.

“What is it, gorgeous? You scared you’ll lose?”

She pasted on a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “No. No, not at all. You go first?”

Letting go of her shoulders, I rubbed my hands together. “Gladly.”

The atmosphere was wild—bar patrons yelled and jumped and screamed as the guy in front of me entered the ring. He looked like a Russian mobster, with his shiny blue tracksuit and a thick gold chain hanging around his neck. With a crooked grin showing off his golden grill and a few missing teeth, Tracksuit jumped up onto the bull…

Only to slide right off.

Even though the room was loud, I swore I could hear his head thunk against the bar under the bull as he tried to keep himself from falling. Silence fell over the crowd as they realized what happened, right before most of them started laughing their asses off and a few others rushed the ring to try to get to Tracksuit.

“Oh, my God!” Joss scooted toward the ring, stopping only when I grabbed her arm to pull her out of the way of the rushing crowd. “Did you see that?”

Nodding, I pulled her closer. “Heard it too.”

“He’s hurt, he needs help!”

Help had arrived in the form of Tracksuit’s minions. I wasn’t about to let Joss run into that mess, even though she struggled to do so. “Hey, baby.” I cupped her shoulders and directed her attention at me. “He’s got help. There’s nothing you can do that those guys can’t.”

Joss looked over her shoulder at the crowd gathered around the man. We couldn’t even see him, there were so many people there.

Pulling her back with a finger under her chin, I told her, “I don’t want you getting hurt.” Her face was unreadable before something soft passed over her features. She took my cheeks between her palms and pressed a kiss to my lips.

“You’re right,” she said as she pulled back. “There’s nothing I can do. I might as well stay here with you.”

I matched the grin that pulled at her face. Glancing up, I scanned the room, only to do a double take.