Page 41 of Sentinel's Kiss
“I haven’t been in a long-term relationship since high school,” she said. “That’s another trigger. I’m really fucked up inside.”
Sentinel nodded. “Me too.”
“I get restless and bored. I do crazy things. Dangerous things.” She peeked up at him from under her lashes.
“Well,” he drawled, “that might be a deal breaker, because as you have noticed I’m always a model of temperance and decency.”
She gave a watery chuckle.
“I figure if you can handle me being a dick, I can handle whatever you can throw out.”
“Why do you want more than sex with me?” She asked the question like she was genuinely confused, and it really pissed him off.
“You’re special. You’re beautiful. You don’t take any of my shit and I admire the hell out of you. I also don’t like the idea of any other asshole touching you.”
“So you’re the only asshole who can touch me?” she asked, with a returning twinkle in her eye.
“Damn straight.”
“My last relationship ended badly. It really fucked me up.”
“So we can take things slow, and if either one of us is feeling trapped or stagnant, we go our separate ways,” he said.
“If that happens, we can still be friends, right?” Ashley brushed tears off her cheek with the back of her hand.
“With benefits, if you want.” He grinned at her and was relieved when her return smile didn’t look so sickly.
“My father’s going to hate you.” She gave him an apologetic look.
“Most fathers do. You don’t have to introduce me to him if you don’t want to.”
“I have dinner there every Sunday.”
“I can be elsewhere.” He shrugged. He didn’t do the family thing anyway.
“Oh, hell no,” Ashley said. “If you’re my boyfriend, you have to suffer right along with me. That’s part of the deal.”
“Well, if that’s the case, you’re going to have to hang with the SOBs, and they can be pretty brutal to girlfriends. Not physically, but you’ll get razzed. Only the strong survive.”
Ashley drained her coffee. “I’m up for the challenge.” Reaching over, she entwined her fingers with his. “It’s just like me to do everything all backwards. Usually you’re supposed to get to know someone before having sensational sex.”
He brought her hand up to his mouth again and kissed it. It would never work out between them long term. But for a little while, it could be pretty fucking great. He was willing to risk it as long as the SOBs were off her radar for a story. And keeping her in Pennsylvania until the Judge’s orders were clear would go a long way. After that, he could keep her close enough that she wouldn’t think they were involved in anything other than running a bar and going on motorcycle trips.
After a few miles of comfortable silence, she squeezed his hand. “I’ll tell you about the baby phobia,” she said in a small voice.
“You don’t have to,” he said. “Not if it’s too painful. I won’t bring up the subject again.”
She closed her eyes. “Yeah, just not right now. Not today.”
“It’s okay. There are a bunch of other things to talk about.”
Ashley nodded, her eyes still firmly shut.
“Tell me about your family.” He wanted to keep her talking so she didn’t retreat into a dark place. He knew all about that.
“My mom’s a lady who lunches. You know, a righteous old society broad who does a lot of charity work. She lives for committees.”
“You’re lucky to have a family that’s close. I’m not sure where my dad is.” He shrugged. “I suppose I could ask Ryder to track him down.” He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “My dad went down to Vegas shortly before Sarah’s wedding. I never saw him again. Although I wonder if he knows that Sarah is dead, or if he would even care.”