Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

“Barf.”


Vaughn laughed a genuine laugh. No games or come-ons. I’d actually made the guy giggle like a bitch.

“You’re really abstaining? Even from a chance to enjoy all this?” he asked, waving his hands around to show off his strong chest and hard stomach. “I’m the real deal. Not wearing a girdle to hold in the gut or anything.”

Vaughn lifted his tee to show off his stomach and I nodded my approval.

“Nice, but I’m abstaining.”

“Why from the sex? Do you think you can’t screw a guy without falling in love? Are you that weak?”

“Stop playing your Jedi mind games on me.”

“Jedi?” he asked, giving me a frown. “Wait, are you a nerd?”

“No, but I assumed you were. There’s an arrested development vibe about you. Like you play a lot of video games and get horny for Lt. Uhura.”

“Oh, hell, you are a Star Trek nerd.”

“No,” I said, taking a gulp of beer. “I had a stepdad who was into that crap. He had all these nerd friends who came over and they’d talk about the show as if it was super cool. The only time I found Star Trek even remotely interesting was when they had the episode on Futurama about it.”

“Sure, nerd.”

“I like that nickname. Stick with it.”

“I’m not sure you really fit the nerd stereotype.”

“And you don’t fit the manwhore stereotype. For one thing, your pick up lines are awful.”

When Vaughn laughed again, he seemed different. Less like an animal on the prowl and more like a guy chatting up another member of the crew. I didn’t buy it though. The guy wanted in my panties. I wanted him in them too. Sitting there drinking our beers, I wondered how he would make it happen when I was sticking with my abstinence plan.

The stress of wanting what I couldn’t have made me crave something else I couldn’t enjoy. Reaching into my bag, I found my nicotine gum and popped a piece into my mouth.

“Not going to offer?” he asked, tapping my foot in his weird attempt at foreplay.

“It’s Nicorette.”

“I gave up smoking years ago.”

Rolling my eyes, I kicked his foot away. “How long could you have smoked if you gave it up years ago?”

“I was a pack a day smoker for four months. The best quarter of a year of my life.”

“Idiot,” I said, grinning at him.

“Giving up smoking and fucking at the same time. Do you have a reason to punish yourself like that?”

“I’m a horrible person.”

“I can see that. Look at how you’re breaking my heart over here.”

Bursting into laughter, I begged, “Please, fucking stop. Your shitty lines are making me want to smoke more.”

“Because they make you so horny?” he asked, already laughing before he finished. “I know they’re making me pretty hard.”

“What’s your game plan here, stud? Harass me until I fuck you? I think I’d rather just nail you in the balls and make a run for it.”

“Sex is relaxing, you know?” he said, grinning in his devious manwhore way.

“I know.”

“Why not just fuck someone and stay away from the crappy relationship stuff? It’s what I do.”

“How do I know I won’t blow your mind and you’ll become a clingy bitch?”

“I think I’ll be fine.”

“Can’t trust it.”

Vaughn leaned back in the booth and sized me up. While we enjoyed our beers and he devised a new game plan to get me naked, I admired everything I would have access to if we made it to bed. Those wide shoulders, strong chest, full lips, I wanted them all.

Hanging from a silver chain around his neck, a dagger shined in the light of the bar. I swore the damn thing was winking at me, so I looked away and focused on his hands. Quickly, I imagined his strong fingers exploring my body. Heat rushed over my body and nuzzled the spot between my legs. Even pretending I was unimpressed, I wanted Vaughn to win this battle.

“Look, you and I are in the same boat,” he said softly. “We’re loners in the crew. Unlike Bailey, we don’t want to hook-up for good. We just want to let off some steam. We could be friends with benefits.”

“Fuck buddies, huh?”

“I like your term better,” Vaughn said, giving a flash of anger at the men still eyeing us. “I might need to leave you, so I can kick their asses.”

“I think I can manage without you.”

“Was that a masturbation hint?”

“No, but you bring up a very good point. I could blow off steam on my own.”

Vaughn finished his beer then smiled. “I’ll give you oral. No vibrator in the world can say the same.”

Holding his gaze, I was silent until finishing my beer. Finally, I gave Vaughn a smile and nodded.

“One night of empty awesome sex. Tomorrow, we act like acquaintances, not even friends. I want to be someone you barely remember exists.”

“No problem, gingersnap. Do you like Harleys? Mine really likes snuggling between a hot girl’s thighs?”