“Come home with me.” He slid his hand back to run his fingers through her hair. “I need you in my bed.”

“Just to sleep?”

Fuck no. “For tonight? Yeah. If that’s what you want.”

“And then tomorrow?”

Deacon pulled her hair hard enough to get her attention and see heat flare in her eyes. “Tomorrow morning you wake up with my face between your thighs. After I make you come twice, then I’ll fuck you as many times and in as many ways as it takes for you to believe I am the only man you’ll ever need.”

“You are that man. I just hope I’m enough for you.”

“You already are.” This time Deacon let his kiss linger. “Leave your car here and ride with me. I don’t want to be away from you for even the length of the drive.”

“I’ll leave my car at my apartment. We’ll need to stop at my place anyway so I can get my stuff.” Molly poked him in the chest when he started to argue. “And before you give me the typical Deacon you don’t need to wear clothes when you’re around me, babe, I assure you, I do need my bathroom stuff.”

She was so freakin’ cute when she got bossy. “I have bathroom stuff for you.”

Her gaze moved over his bare head. “Says the man with no hair, so he has no need for shampoo or conditioner. And I doubt you’ll let me use your razor.”

“Hilarious. But I bought you all the same shit you have in your bathroom and stocked it in mine.”

“When?”

“After you went to work I took a picture of all the makeup crap you left out on the counter and the bottles in your shower. Then I went to CVS. The chick who helped me even offered a few suggestions for other things you’d probably want.” When Molly continued to stare at him, he bristled. “What? It wasn’t like I used any of it. All that junk is still in the bags, so if you wanna return it—”

She placed her fingers over his lips. “Shut up, you sweet, babbling man—which is not something I ever thought I’d say to Deacon McConnell.”

He lifted his eyebrows.

“I love that you did that for me. You pay attention to me. I’ve never had that either.” She bit her lip when it started to wobble. “Thank you.”

Molly hadn’t moved her hand, allowing him to talk, so he puckered his lips to kiss her fingers.

Her eyes softened. “So you cleaned out a drawer for me. That’s a pretty big step.”

Not as big a step as saying I love you. “I’d hire a moving company and move all your stuff into my house tonight if I could. But you’d accuse me of bein’ high-handed.”

“I’m not ready for that step.” She brushed her lips across his. “Yet. And you’re not ready for the explosion of ‘floral vomit’ that composes my stuff either.”

He smiled. “True dat.” He touched her cheek. “But I will push for you moving in with me, sooner rather than later.”

“To prove that you’re serious about me.”

“I already told you I love you. Doesn’t get a whole lot more serious for me, babe.”

Molly retreated, and Deacon forced himself to let her.

“We can go out the back.”

She locked up, immediately noticing his motorcycle in the alley, and shook her head. “No way.”

“Molly—”

“No. I’ll follow you.” She paused. “Although I bet you drive this thing so fast my poor Subaru couldn’t keep up.”

He shrugged and snagged his helmet. “It’s why I bought it. This model leaves Ronin’s bike in the dirt.”

“Of course you guys race.”

“I can’t beat the hell out of him in the ring, so I gotta beat him at something.” Letting the helmet dangle in his left hand, he set his right hand in the small of her back and said, “Where’d you park?”

“Around the corner. I’ll be . . .” She looked up at him. “Oh, stop growling. I’ll be happy to have you escort me to my car so the boogeyman doesn’t get me.”

“Good answer.” When they reached the sidewalk, he said, “I’m proud as hell that you can protect yourself, Molly, but I hope you never have to prove it.”

“I know.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Really kissed him like he’d been dying for all fucking week. Although Molly hadn’t repeated the words back to him, Deacon had to have faith and patience that she would.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DEACON beat Molly to his place by ten minutes, giving him enough time to clean up the shithole he’d been wallowing in since Tuesday night.