Read Online Torn - Part 1: The Torn Series by Ellen Callahan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellen Callahan
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so I was free for a minute to chat.
"That man is nuts," Mallet said. But he continued to sip the drink anyway, right through a bright orange twisty straw. My lips twitched as I tried not to laugh. "Does he hit on you?"
"What?!" I wasn't expecting that question, that was for sure. "No. Ew."
"Just checking."
Why? Jealousy? Does he think he has a claim on me, now?
I might be okay with that.
"When's your shift up?" he asked.
I grinned. I couldn't help it. "Midnight."
He took a long, slow drink from his straw, slurping the beverage as he did so, keeping his laughing green eyes locked on mine. Then without so much as a glance around, he leaned over the bar, pulled me closer by my arm and planted a cold wet kiss on my lips. I licked the sugary taste away as he pulled back. "Midnight," he grinned, and then he strode back out the door.
CHAPTER 7
Mallet appeared at midnight on the dot. I was passing my customers off to the late shift when I spotted him peeking his head through the front door. He merely nodded at me and disappeared back outside.
I smiled to myself and clocked out quickly. It was starting to rain just a little so I pulled on the light hoodie I kept in the office, tugging the hood over my head to protect my hair. Guitar case on my back, I left out the rear exit and circled around the front. He was leaning against the building, smoking a cigarette and looking like a real bad ass, his muscles clearly outlined by his thin T-shirt.
"Hey," he said as I approached. He offered me the cigarette but I shook my head. "Come home with me."
Just like that, huh ? I couldn't call it a booty call, it was premeditated by a couple of hours. But I couldn't let it be that easy, willing and eager though I was. My body was already responding to his presence, flushing, getting hot as his eyes roved over my little cut-offs and my artfully torn-up band tee.
"Diner first? I'm starving. Everything Mitch makes its too sweet."
"You're too sweet." He pulled me against him and guided my mouth to his. I melted instantly. I didn't care if we ate, didn't care if he thought I was easy. "I mean it," he said, a look of regret briefly crossing his face. "You're too sweet for a guy like me."
My heart sank. Damn. I said or did something to spook him. Way to go, Riley, way to play it cool ."Is that a criticism?"
"Of myself, not you." He touched my cheek and shook his head. "I like you. I just don't want things to get weird between us."
What? What does that mean? "Are you saying I shouldn't come home with you tonight?" I asked, squinting.
He laughed. "No. You should. You absolutely should." He lightly traced my neck and my collarbone as he spoke, making me shudder. "I just mean we should keep it cool, that's all. Just have fun."
"I was having a great time until this conversation," I said, playfully batting his hand away. "I know you don't do relationships. I'm not looking for one, either. I just got out of one." Not to say I wouldn't have foolishly jumped right into one if Mallet asked. But I could see the sense it keeping things casual, my situation being what it was.
"Yeah, and you still live with the guy," he said, putting words to my thoughts.
Time to end this talk . "Which is why you need to take me to your place." I forced a bright grin and let my hands rest at his belt. "And soon." I don't know where my boldness came from. It was probably born thanks to the hungry gaze that came over him. I licked my lips slowly and said, "Like I said. Starving."
He groaned and pulled me in for another hot and hungry kiss.
I was afraid that maybe the intensity of our first night together would be gone - maybe it had been a fluke, or it was just the magic and excitement of something new.
That wasn’t the case at all.
I barely made it inside his apartment with my shirt intact.
“Hold on,” I said, pushing him back with a hand on his chest. His hair and shirt were soaking wet. “You’re dripping all over the floor. Take your shirt
"That man is nuts," Mallet said. But he continued to sip the drink anyway, right through a bright orange twisty straw. My lips twitched as I tried not to laugh. "Does he hit on you?"
"What?!" I wasn't expecting that question, that was for sure. "No. Ew."
"Just checking."
Why? Jealousy? Does he think he has a claim on me, now?
I might be okay with that.
"When's your shift up?" he asked.
I grinned. I couldn't help it. "Midnight."
He took a long, slow drink from his straw, slurping the beverage as he did so, keeping his laughing green eyes locked on mine. Then without so much as a glance around, he leaned over the bar, pulled me closer by my arm and planted a cold wet kiss on my lips. I licked the sugary taste away as he pulled back. "Midnight," he grinned, and then he strode back out the door.
CHAPTER 7
Mallet appeared at midnight on the dot. I was passing my customers off to the late shift when I spotted him peeking his head through the front door. He merely nodded at me and disappeared back outside.
I smiled to myself and clocked out quickly. It was starting to rain just a little so I pulled on the light hoodie I kept in the office, tugging the hood over my head to protect my hair. Guitar case on my back, I left out the rear exit and circled around the front. He was leaning against the building, smoking a cigarette and looking like a real bad ass, his muscles clearly outlined by his thin T-shirt.
"Hey," he said as I approached. He offered me the cigarette but I shook my head. "Come home with me."
Just like that, huh ? I couldn't call it a booty call, it was premeditated by a couple of hours. But I couldn't let it be that easy, willing and eager though I was. My body was already responding to his presence, flushing, getting hot as his eyes roved over my little cut-offs and my artfully torn-up band tee.
"Diner first? I'm starving. Everything Mitch makes its too sweet."
"You're too sweet." He pulled me against him and guided my mouth to his. I melted instantly. I didn't care if we ate, didn't care if he thought I was easy. "I mean it," he said, a look of regret briefly crossing his face. "You're too sweet for a guy like me."
My heart sank. Damn. I said or did something to spook him. Way to go, Riley, way to play it cool ."Is that a criticism?"
"Of myself, not you." He touched my cheek and shook his head. "I like you. I just don't want things to get weird between us."
What? What does that mean? "Are you saying I shouldn't come home with you tonight?" I asked, squinting.
He laughed. "No. You should. You absolutely should." He lightly traced my neck and my collarbone as he spoke, making me shudder. "I just mean we should keep it cool, that's all. Just have fun."
"I was having a great time until this conversation," I said, playfully batting his hand away. "I know you don't do relationships. I'm not looking for one, either. I just got out of one." Not to say I wouldn't have foolishly jumped right into one if Mallet asked. But I could see the sense it keeping things casual, my situation being what it was.
"Yeah, and you still live with the guy," he said, putting words to my thoughts.
Time to end this talk . "Which is why you need to take me to your place." I forced a bright grin and let my hands rest at his belt. "And soon." I don't know where my boldness came from. It was probably born thanks to the hungry gaze that came over him. I licked my lips slowly and said, "Like I said. Starving."
He groaned and pulled me in for another hot and hungry kiss.
I was afraid that maybe the intensity of our first night together would be gone - maybe it had been a fluke, or it was just the magic and excitement of something new.
That wasn’t the case at all.
I barely made it inside his apartment with my shirt intact.
“Hold on,” I said, pushing him back with a hand on his chest. His hair and shirt were soaking wet. “You’re dripping all over the floor. Take your shirt
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