BelleBehindBars
Page 4
Her breath locked in her throat. If they were the same rank they could date without directly violating a policy. If Ram even wanted to date. Did she dare hope? She mentally crossed her fingers. “And?”
“And you’re looking at Lieutenant Ramsey.” He touched his finger to her lips. The gesture was sweet and gentle and gave her hope that he wanted more than to master her.
She threw her arms around his neck. “Congratulations. That’s so…perfect.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, we can…I mean, if you wanted to we wouldn’t be violating…you know. It would just make it easier if we…” She waited for him to comment, but instead, he threw the covers back and strode to the bathroom.
Infuriating man. Wasn’t he even going to say anything about them being equal in rank now? Unless it didn’t matter to him. Would he give her some excuse like he had two years earlier? Maybe he didn’t want to date her. Maybe he just wanted last night.
* * * * *
Ram finished shaving then pulled open the bathroom door. Belle was still in his bed. And from the way her hands were tightly fisted on the covers, she was apparently still angry. How could he resist teasing her? Her face was red and every muscle in that sexy body was tensed up tight.
He pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. “How does bacon and eggs sound?”
Her adorable chin jutted forward. “I’m not hungry.”
He tried to keep a straight face as he watched hers contort with confusion and irritation. Should he let her know he was messing around with her? He knew what she wanted. It was obvious from every conversation they’d had. Of course he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. It wasn’t his style to sleep with a woman then walk away. But he knew she had the policies at the jail committed to memory and she’d never openly violate one of those rules. “What about a cup of coffee then?”
She hugged her knees to her chest and shook her head.
He sighed loudly. “Well, if you won’t let me make you breakfast, you’re forcing me to take you to dinner later. If you’re free. How do you feel about Chez Normandy?”
The confusion on her face was priceless.
“Unless you have a problem dating another lieutenant.” He sat on the edge of the bed to put on his socks and shoes. “Because I think we have some celebrating to do, don’t you? It’s not every day that we’re promoted.”
Her eyes brightened and her shoulders relaxed. She nodded and finally allowed her smile to come out.
“Good. Because we need to have a real date,” he said.
“Yeah?”
He squeezed her thigh. “Yeah.”
A deep furrow formed on her forehead.
“What is it, Belle?”
She huffed a breath. “I’m curious. Remember when we went out two years ago. I thought things were going great then…” She lowered her gaze.
“Then I dropped off the radar.”
She nodded. Damn, he never wanted to see sadness in those eyes again.
He took her hand. “I’ll be honest with you, Belle. I was going through a divorce, just like I said. And it wasn’t pleasant.” He tried to relax the starch in his shoulders. Talking about his emotions wasn’t something he did easily. “But that wasn’t the only reason I ended things between you and me. You see, I felt something there, something I wasn’t ready for.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her soft skin. “I’m not a man who admits fear, but you scared the hell out of me.”
Her gaze narrowed on his. “Why?”
“Look at you. You’re gorgeous and incredibly sexy. But when I started getting to know you better I realized you were much more than a pretty face and a smoking-hot body. You’re smart and caring and funny. You felt way too much like…home.”
Her expression softened. “I felt it too.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Can I let you in on a secret?”
Wide eyed, she nodded.
“Last night was the most amazing sex ever.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “For me too. I’m not saying I want it that way every time, but I do like it. A lot.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I gathered that.”
She elbowed him but her face grew even redder. “So you want to pursue this, huh?”
He cupped the side of her face. “I’m in, Belle.”
Her smile broadened. “That makes two of us.”
About the Author
Wynter Daniels is the multi-published naughty alter ego of contemporary romance author Dara Edmondson. She lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years and their two nearly grown children. They are all the slaves of two very demanding cats.
Wynter enjoyed careers in marketing and the salon industry before her wicked prose begged to be set free. She hopes you enjoy her steamy stories.
Wynter welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Wynter Daniels
Blackout
Customer Service
Getting Even with Warren
Horsing Around
Rude, Nude and Socially Unacceptable
The After Party
Tropical Exposure
Tropic of Trouble
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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