Now, however, as he tossed her into thepassenger seat of his truck, he hoped she didn’t puke all over him.Ronan revved the old engine that coughed and sputtered, complainingin the freezing temperatures. He blasted the heat. They sure didn’tmake heaters like this anymore. Within a few minutes, the truck wastoasty warm.
Before pulling out of the parking spot, hechecked Payson’s seatbelt. She looked over at him and reachedacross to tickle his beard. “I like this. Felt nice rubbing againstme.” She giggled again.
And, she talked the whole way back home. Thewoman could jump from topic to topic dang quickly and had yet toexpect a response from him; not that he was complaining. “Andthat’s why I dumped Clive.”
This time, she appeared to expect a response.“Who is Clive and why did you dump him?” he played along, findinghimself curious as she described her many failed relationships.
“Clive, my ex-fiancé, haven’t you beenlistening? Gosh. He just didn’t do it for me. Nothing there. Yeah,the sex was decent, but nothing special. And he looked awful in atux; nothing like James Bond.”
He smirked, keeping his eyes on the dark,snow-covered road. “You have a thing for James Bond, huh?” Althoughhe quickly learned the life of a spy was so very, very differentfrom the tales of James Bond, he wouldn’t deny the secret agent hadbeen part of the inspiration that had motivated his eleven-year oldself’s silently declared life plan.
Grinning from ear to ear, Payson responded,“Who doesn’t? Sean Connery of course. Maybe Pierce Brosnan. Allsexy… sexy,” she slurred, gazing out the window with soft eyes.“That international man of mystery sexy spy business is hard toresist. Hard,” she giggled.
Ronan bit his tongue. Well, that littletidbit certainly didn’t help the little crush he’d developed. Shewas still not his type. Did he even have a type? Whatever it maybe, it certainly wasn’t his sister’s friend, nor someone so eagerto fall in love.
“Alright, we’re here,” Ronan said as theypulled in back of Flotsam Antiques.
With yet another giggle, Payson startled,“Oh, I guess this is my stop.”
She swayed a bit as she hopped out, so Ronandecided he’d better walk her all the way in, else she may pass outon the steps and freeze to death. Ronan followed her up the steps,hands at the ready in case she slipped, but she did ok. At thedoor, she dug around in her purse, “I know I had keys when Ileft…”
She sure was a cute drunk. How could shepossibly need to carry around that many things all the time tonecessitate such a huge bag? While she stood fruitlessly searchingher enormous purse for the keys, Ronan pulled out his own keys fromhis pocket. He discretely brought out his lock pick kit - which,honestly, he didn’t need anymore, but it came in so handy heroutinely kept it on his keyring. You never knew when someone mightlock themselves out of their house.
With a few quick flicks of his wrist, he hadthe door unlocked. Not waiting for her permission, he opened thedoor and motioned her inside. Honestly, he tried to not come in,but she dragged him in and slammed the door shut, shoving it closedbehind him. Payson was a lot stronger than she looked. Her softgaze drilled into him, her lush, pouty lips parted expectantly.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed.” He motionedher into the apartment, trying to get her to pass out before theydid anything stupid.
She wasn’t budging. Rubbing her hands acrosshis chest, a sloppy smile growing, she purred, “Hmm, you know, yousure filled out a tux nicely.”
If she only knew; life as a spy was a hell ofa lot more waiting around for something to happen, and his missionsmuch less glamorous and without the nifty toys. He certainly nevergot to drive a fancy car or carry an explosive pen. He’d worn a lotmore rags than tuxes; which is the official reason he’d grown thehair and beard in the first place, for a deep cover mission inRussia.
“Dance with me again. I like the way youmove.” Music playing in her head, she started to sway to the beat,still pressed up against him. Her hands wandered, exploring.
Imagining himself anywhere but here todistract himself, he turned her around to march her to bed. “Bed,let’s go.”
“Good idea.” Managing to wiggle her way outof his grip rather than just cooperating, she turned and started tounzip the leather skirt. Eyes quickly looking up, at anything buther… Ronan had more willpower than most, but really didn’t thinkeven he could resist her wearing nothing but those boots, drunk ornot.
He tried to leave, reaching for the door tomake his escape… when she jumped him. Her sweet, warm lips lockedonto his, her tongue not far behind. Holy shit, she wasn’t messingaround.
Digging her hands into his long hair, pullingit from its binding, she held him close with an iron grip. Nippingat his lip, she ran her tongue along the tender imprint she’d madewith her teeth.
Losing the uphill battle, his control slippedaway, and he pulled her up tightly against him, kissing her deeply.She didn’t hold back, her tongue parried with his own, recklesslypassionate.
Breathless, his brain finally kicked in, andhe managed to pull himself away. Dammit, they didn’t even like eachother. At first, she looked disappointed at the rejection.
A quick second later, she laughed out loudwith an indelicate snort. “Your beard tickles. What do you looklike under all that hair?”
Ronan reached behind himself and put his handon the doorknob, trying to sneak out before she jumped him again.Her kiss had pulled him under her spell so quickly, he fearedletting her get too close. Neither of them would forgive him in themorning if he took advantage.
“I’m… sleepy,” she yawned and closed hereyes. She collapsed towards him, fully trusting him to catch her.Of course, he didn’t let her fall.
Still sore, but recovered enough from hisinjuries, he scooped her up for the second time tonight and carriedher to the bedroom. Nice apartment, way bigger than he would haveexpected. The place went on and on, but he finally found whatlooked to be her bedroom. He gently set her on the bed, fearingshe’d wake up and drag him down with her, but her soft snore toldhim she was totally out.
Standing and watching her for a moment, hedidn’t know what to do. What had that kiss been all about? Heremembered her boyfriend. Shit; hope she doesn’t remember thistomorrow. She wasn’t the sort to fool around and would feelguilty.
He pulled his hair back into its binding. Theleast he could do was get her settled, then never mention tonightto her. Then, he’d go home and take an ice-cold shower.
10
