That startled her. “Wait. We’re talking about sex?”

“Yes, we’re talking about sex, goddammit. I’ve already had you three times today. And all I can think about is shoving you to the floor and fucking you until you scream my name. As soon as I finish, I want to bury myself inside you again. I’m that obsessed with fucking you.”

“Deacon. Honey—”

“Don’t try to placate me. You saw how crazy I got when I thought Tim wanted what was mine. Turned me into a beast.”

She rolled her eyes.

His big goddamn confession and she rolled her motherfucking eyes at him.

“You’re a fighter. Of course you’re a beast.”

“That’s not what I—”

“Let. Me. Finish. You’re a beast in the ring. Did you really think I expected you to be any different in bed? You are powerful, skilled, and focused in every single aspect of your life. A force unlike anything I’ve experienced. I like that about you, Deacon. Why wouldn’t you think I’d be just as sexually obsessed with you as you are with me? Have I said no when you’ve touched me?”

“Not yet.”

“Oh. So you think I’ll get tired of having the hottest man I’ve ever met touching me and getting to touch him back whenever I want? I’ll get bored with multiple orgasms?”

“Smart-ass.”

“Only because you, Deacon McConnell, are a dumb-ass.” She scraped her fingers over the scruff on his cheek. “If it gets to be too much, I’ll tell you. I don’t want you to keep that beast side of you leashed. I’m not breakable.”

The challenge in her eyes made his dick stir. “Good.” Deacon slid his hand down from her neck. “Remember you said that.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

“YOU sure you don’t wanna drive by the house?”

“No.”

“I don’t need to ask if you wanna say goodbye to your cousins and your uncle. But should we stop and get food?”

Molly shook her head. “Not here. I just want to go. Put this behind me.”

Deacon gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple. “I understand. But, babe, I want you to be sure. Regrets suck.”

She sagged into him. She never would’ve attributed intuitive and sweet to Deacon, but the more time she spent with him, the more she realized he kept so much of his true self hidden from the world. And little by little, he was letting her in to the part of him that no one else got to see.

So how long do you think you can keep this relationship just sexual?

“No regrets. Let’s hit the road.” She handed him the car keys without him having to ask.

Deacon slipped on his sexy, mysterious shades and took the wheel.

She’d managed to nap for the first hour, lulled to sleep by the perfect temperature in the car and Deacon’s gentle stroking on her bare leg.

After a quick stop for fast food and a bathroom break, they were back on the road. Deacon was the perfect road-trip partner. He didn’t listen to the radio. He didn’t blather on endlessly. He didn’t snack on sunflower seeds. He remained still and alert as they cruised across Nebraska.

Molly kicked her shoes off and grabbed her e-reader from the backseat. Within a few minutes, she became engrossed in the story. The next time she glanced at the clock, she realized almost two hours had passed.

Deacon looked at her. “Good book?”

“Yeah. Sorry I’m not great company. I tend to get lost when I read.”

He picked up her hand and rubbed his callused thumb across her knuckles. “I’m not much of a reader.”

“You play video games?”

“Some.”

“What do you like to do in your off-hours? Now that you’re no longer hitting strip clubs.”

“Hilarious, babe. It seems I don’t have many off-hours.”

Molly turned in her seat. “Do you do that on purpose?”

“What?”

“Pack your free time with MMA or martial arts stuff so you don’t have to figure out a hobby?”

“I ain’t exactly the hobby type.”

“Because you turned your hobby into your job?”

It took him a few moments to answer. “Yeah, I guess. Now I’m getting paid to fight.”

Ask me my hobbies, Deacon. This is what people in a relationship do.

“What kind of books do you read?”

“Promise not to laugh?”

“Nope.”

She laughed. “I read romance.”

His lips twitched. “I knew that.”

“How?” Had he noticed the books in her living room?

“Tim told me. Pissed me off that he knew your favorite books. But I saw you finger yourself while reading a dirty one, so I win.” He gave her a full-out bad boy grin.