Molly went all quiet but never flinched from my gaze. We were glaring, both refusing to submit. Groaning in exasperation, I grabbed her hair in my hands, leaned in, and asked harshly, “You get me?”
Golden eyes widened slightly at my aggressive move and, with a gentle shake of her head, followed by an amused smile, she whispered, “I get you.”
Damn right she did.
Fucking Molly Shakespeare, giving in and relinquishing the control, giving me what I needed, what I craved. Fuck. Me. I wanted her so damn much it was painful.
Feeling a weird burst of something in my chest, I kissed her head and led her into the mall.
14
“My God, Rome, it’s amazing,” Molly whispered as she surveyed my hidden spot with the biggest fucking smile on her face. Thanks to her new contact lenses, I could see how brightly her eyes were sparkling, and her happy, beautiful face was taking my damn breath away.
Taking her hand, I led her down to the creek. This place was my haven, the only spot where no one bothered me. My folks owned acres of land but never set foot on most of it. I’d never shared this place with anyone before, never had the urge. I did now though. Molly needed to see this place; something within me just knew she’d love it.
“Okay, now you seriously have to tell me where we are. It’s possibly the prettiest place on Earth,” she said as we sat under the large oak beside the water.
Here goes nothing. With a deep sigh, I said, “It’s the creek at the back of my parents’ place.”
Her brows furrowed. “Your parents’ place?” I watched her throat take a huge swallow and apprehension shaded her features.
Craning her neck, she checked out every direction, every seemingly never-ending field. “They own all of this?” Her voice had weakened, and I could see that the realization of my family’s wealth was hitting home.
Praying she didn’t let this revelation change anything, I lay back, reluctantly admitting, “It’s a plantation, Mol.”
Her huge eyes were almost comical. “Plantation? Your parents own an entire plantation?”
My folks didn’t even friggin’ use it right—as a farm—they just wanted the biggest damn lot in Tuscaloosa. Total showboating.
Glancing back up at Mol, I could see her gaze was nervous as she checked out the surroundings.
Laughing slightly, I assured her. “Relax, they won’t know we’re even here. I come here all the time. It’s where I get away from it all.”
She tilted her head, staring at me with a disbelieving look.
“What?”
“This. You. A plantation. We’re from completely different worlds.” Catching the flicker of doubt in those brown eyes, I grabbed her hand, kissing it, and said, “This isn’t me, believe me. If only you knew… All this belongs to my parents, not me. I’m just the same me and you’re just you—Romeo and Molly Juliet.”
The smile tugging on those damn full lips almost had me tackling her to the floor. “Come here,” I demanded, pulling her to lie on the grass beside me. A giggle escaped her mouth as I did so. I couldn’t take my eyes off her face.
Fuck, she was amazing.
Without thinking it through, I blurted, “I can’t believe how beautiful you look with those lenses in. Your eyes are the strangest golden color… I’m having to try real hard to stop myself from touching you the way I want to.”
That damn thumb of hers went to her mouth and I growled low in my throat, my cock springing to life. We were alone; I wanted her, the need to take her how I wanted—under my terms—beginning to take hold. She’d fucked one guy in her life and, by her own admission, didn’t like it. And my style—when it came to sex—well, it wasn’t exactly all romantic gestures and loving caresses. I was scared shitless that showing her that side of me could ruin it all.
And then eight words from her mouth made me snap. “You can touch me if you want to.”
Sucking in a breath, like I’d just took a slam in my solar plexus, I warned, “Don’t play with fire, Shakespeare. It’s too much for a pretty little English girl to cope with.”
A shy grin spread across her lips. Christ! I was holding on by a damn thin thread, and by the look of things, she knew it. “What can I say…?” she replied playfully. “I’m a risk taker.”
“Mol…” I warned again through painfully clenched teeth. Eyes hooded with lust, my girl lifted onto all fours and began crawling toward me—the geek long gone and a fucking sex kitten taking her place.