Taming Blade (Kings Reapers MC Book 5) by Nicola Jane (mini ebook reader TXT) 📕

It’s my turn to scoff. “You let me kiss you twice, you got undressed in front of me last weekend and showed me what you got hidden under there,” I say, plucking at the hem of her short dress. “And then you flashed me your panties . . . in the street!”

She blushes. “I must have still been drunk last weekend when I did that.” She shrugs. “Something about you makes me feel brave.”

“Brave enough to come up to my room?” I ask.

Chapter Four

TILLIE

“I’ll come up to your room but not to sleep with you,” I say.

He thinks about it for a second and then shrugs. “Fine.” He takes my hand and leads me to the stairs. Maybe he thinks once I’m up there I’ll change my mind, but that isn’t happening. I’ve already made a fool of myself with Travis. I’m not doing that again. I pull out my phone and snap a picture, and he frowns. “In case you murder me, your face is the last picture on my phone.”

He rolls his eyes. “And you don’t think I’d scrap your mobile once I’ve killed you?” I shrug and he laughs. “I’m gonna bury it right next to you now you’ve got my picture on it.”

Blade’s room is very basic. There’s a double bed with black sheets, a set of drawers, white walls, and black curtains. “It’s not much, but I don’t spend time here,” he explains. He walks over to another door that leads into a bathroom. “If you need the toilet.”

“I’m good.” I wander over to his window and pull the curtain back. There’s a good view of the London skyline.

He stands behind me. “Nice view,” he mutters, running a finger over my shoulder. He moves my hair and places a gentle kiss against my skin.

“Seriously?” I ask, giggling. He straightens up and I turn to face him. “That shit works on women?”

“What are you talking about?” he asks innocently.

“I mean, I get it. Maybe twenty-four hours ago, I’d have jumped into your bed and orgasmed just at the sound of your voice but thank god Travis happened tonight because I’m seeing things through new eyes, and your chat up lines are shocking.”

Blade narrows his eyes. “I see I have to step up my game with you.”

“That's just the thing,” I wail. “Game!” He takes a deep, impatient breath, then sits on the edge of his bed. “Why does it have to be a game?” I ask.

“It was a figure of speech,” he says.

“I don’t wanna play games.” I sigh. “I’m sick of it. Why can’t dating be simple like Nan says? Why can’t we just say, if we like someone, ask them out on dates and spend time getting to know each other? All these unspoken rules about not asking if we’re dating or telling people we’re just talking so we can leave our options open.” I groan and throw my hands in the air. “I just wanna meet a guy and settle down. Is it too much to ask?”

Blade stares at me with wide eyes. “Why does this feel like therapy?”

“I’m asking for your guy opinion,” I say. “What’s so scary about the word ‘relationship’?”

“It ain’t scary,” he says. “But who wants a relationship when you can spread the love?” He laughs, but when he sees my frown, he presses his lips together. “Personally, I prefer to label it as seeing a woman. You make that shit exclusive, then you’re tied in forever. Women want the engagement and wedding. Kids.” He shudders. “I can’t think of anything worse.”

“Won’t you ever get married or have children?” I ask, and he shakes his head dramatically. “So you just go from one bed to another?”

He nods. “Bed, car, against a wall, in public, in private, wherever really,” he says, smirking.

“So all the flirting with me, in the shop, that’s just to get me into bed?”

He shuffles back on his bed and leans against the headboard. “I guess we’re not having sex now, are we?” he asks, and I shake my head. “Then yes, the flirting and hard work I’ve been putting in, was to get inside your panties.”

“Hard work?” I repeat, raising my eyebrows sceptically.

“It was hard work. I’ve invested weeks into chasing you, not to mention the money I’ve spent on liquorice.”

“Wow. You really think you’ve put the effort in, don’t you?” I ask.

“I’ll have you know, usually, I flirt for a maximum of a week. If I ain’t at least had a kiss by then, I’m out.”

I smile thoughtfully. “So what was it about me that had you coming back day after day?”

He shakes his head, grinning. “We’re not going there. I’m not giving you a big head now that you’ve told me straight you’re not interested.”

I climb onto the bed and sit next to him. “For the record, I totally fancied you.” I nudge my shoulder against his. “Even though your chat up lines could do with some work.”

“How long have you worked in the sweet shop?” he asks.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say, smiling. “Make small talk.”

“I’m genuinely interested. Come on, I don’t often make the effort to chat with women. Humour me.”

“My grandmother has owned the shop for years. I was a kid when she opened, so around twenty years. I would help out at the weekend while Mum was at work as a nurse. I guess it was a natural decision to take over when Nan retired. You wouldn’t know she was retired from the number of times she pops in to check how we’re doing, though,” I say, fondly.

“Your grandmother is your mum’s mum?” he asks and I nod. “What about your dad?”

“He’s amazing. I miss him and Mum loads, but they moved to Scotland when I was eighteen and I chose to stay here with Nan.”

BLADE

I can’t ask her too much without raising suspicion, so I nod and smile. Maybe Cobra was just talking bullshit in the boathouse at