Safe With You: Winter's Rose #1 Read online

  He reached out and tilted my chin up to face him. “I’ve never dated anyone before.” He leaned over and softly kissed my lips before pulling back.

  “Then why am I here?” I asked. “If you don’t normally date?”

  “Because you,” he said, blowing out a breath before continuing. “You have me tied up in knots and I find you sexy as hell.” He grinned at me and stood up, grabbing our plates. He placed them down on the table. “And the idea of you with anyone else makes me crazy.” He took a seat next to me and took a bite of his panini.

  “I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before.” I took a small bite, moaning at the taste. “That’s so good.”

  We finished our paninis in silence before I spoke again. “You didn’t tell me you could cook,” I complimented. I wiped my lips with the napkin. “Just one of the many mysteries of Alex Winters, I guess.”

  “You think I’m mysterious?” He grinned. “Does it add to my charm?”

  I frowned at him, looking down at the bangle on my wrist. “I don’t...” I shook my head. “I don’t like mysterious. My last relationship was mysterious. Mysterious usually involves secrets.” I looked back up at him. “I don’t date liars, Alex.”

  He frowned at me before he reached over. He took my face in his hand, resting his palm against my cheek and stroked his thumb over my cheekbone. “He hurt you, didn’t he?” His beautiful brown eyes locked with mine. “Badly. More than you show the world, I mean.”

  “He cheated on me, Alex.” I reached up and placed my hand over his wrist. “That hurt me more than I ever thought was possible.”

  “Did you love him?” he asked.

  “I want to say yes, but I don’t know.” I shook my head. “When he did what he did... I wasn’t broken. I moved on after a few weeks and got my life together. When I saw him cheating on me… You only get one chance with me, Alex. We all make mistakes, but if a guy cheats on me, that’s it.”

  “That sounds like a warning.” He leaned back. He wasn’t smiling at me anymore.

  “It’s not a threat. I’d like to think that you wouldn’t do that to me.” I reached across the table, resting my hand on top of his.

  He turned his hand and took my fingers in his before bringing them to his lips. “Come with me.” He pulled me up by my hand and took me into the lounge and took a seat on the sofa. He gently pulled me down next to him and placed his arm around my shoulders, stroking his fingers over my upper arm.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. “You look kind of tense.”

  “I want to tell you that I will never treat you like that arsehole did.” He turned to me suddenly and took my face in both of his palms. “One chance with you. That’s all I want. One chance to make you my girl.” He looked so open and honest. “To make you mine.”

  I wanted to trust him so badly, but I was afraid—afraid he would hurt me more than David ever did.

  “Kiss me,” I whispered. “Kiss me and show me what it means to be your girl.”

  As soon as the words had left my lips, he dipped his head and pressed his own to mine. I moaned at the contact. I parted my lips, slipping my tongue in between his parted ones. I reached up and took a hold of the collar of his t-shirt and turned my body towards his.

  He wrapped his arm around the bottom of my back, tugging me closer to him until we were facing each other. He reached down and lifted my legs, placing them over his.

  “This okay?” he asked.

  I nodded before tugging him back to me. “I like kissing you.”

  He chuckled against my lips before kissing me back. His kisses were nice: soft and sweet but also rough and passionate. He trailed his hand up my leg, not stopping until he was palming my upper thigh.

  I tore my lips from his, reaching down and stopping his movements. “Too fast,” I gasped.

  “I’m sorry.” He looked down at me and tucked a loose curl back behind my ear. “I, uh...” He cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t expect sex on the first date.”

  I widened my eyes at him in surprise. “Wow. That was blunt.”

  “I didn’t mean that I asked you here to have sex.” He chuckled. “Wow, I am great at putting my foot in my mouth tonight, aren’t I?”

  I giggled at the look of mortification on his face. “I think it’s one of your skills.” I reached over and dug him in the ribs. “I get what you’re trying to say. Sex is usually a part of your dating routine. Or, not dating routine, I guess.”

  “Sex usually happens when I’m with someone, yeah.” He rubbed his palm over my leg. “I know it’s too early for you and...” He sighed. “I can wait. Dating is new for me, so I think getting to know each other better first might be—”

  “Thank you,” I said, interrupting him. I was touched by what he said.

  “You’re welcome.” He leaned down and kissed me again. “Just don’t keep me waiting too long.” He gave me a cheeky wink as he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into his side. “How about we watch a movie?”

  “I’d like that.” I smiled up at him, cuddling closer into his side, feeling comfortable in his arms.

  “So, how did the date go?” Addie asked. She took a bite from her chocolate donut. “Did you guys...?” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

  “No!” I denied. “No. Geez, Adds. It’s a bit soon for sex, don’t you think?”

  “Well, it’s not like you guys are strangers.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, you guys have known each other for a while. It’s not like...”

  “But we are,” I disagreed. “Strangers, I mean. Any time before this, whenever we saw each other, I was either with David or you. It’s not like we ever actually knew each other besides the odd civil conversation to be polite.”

  “I guess I didn’t think of it like that. You like him though, don’t you? I mean, it’s not like you’re afraid, right?”

  “I’m afraid, a little,” I admitted. “David was... a challenge. He was—could be—difficult.”

  “You can say that again.” She pointed her finger at me. “Alex is a good guy, though. I don’t think he’d ever treat you like that moron did.”

  “We had the whole cheating conversation last night,” I admitted. I focused on the pot of sauce I was stirring. “He said that...”

  “No, sweetie.” She got off her stool and came around the worktop. Taking me by the shoulders, she turned me to face her, halting my stirring activity. “David treated you terribly. He never complimented you, always acted like you were his property and he...” She frowned at me and I hated the sympathy that I could see reflected in her eyes. “He never appreciated you, Charlie.” She reached her arms out and pulled me into a hug. “Alex knows I’d kick his arse and pluck his eyebrows out if I ever caught him doing that to you.”

  We both laughed.

  “I had better get going so that I can have a bath before tonight’s shift.” She pulled back, picking her donut back up and walking towards the door.

  “Hold up,” I said. “I want to talk to you about your job.”

  She turned to me, looking confused. “What about my job?”

  “How would you like to work here?” I held my arms out, indicating our surroundings. “Not to cook,” I rushed to explain. “I was thinking, you could be more of a waitress and help out on the counters. I think—well, I’m hoping—that I’ll be kept busy in the kitchen through the day, and I would rather have you here than some random stranger.”

  “Really? You’d want me here with you?” She looked so doubtful.

  “Of course!” I grabbed her hands and entwined our fingers. “You’re my best friend. Us working together would be amazing. Please tell me you’ll think about it.”

  “I’ll do more than think about it. I’ll hand my resignation in this evening.” She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me, squeezing me extra tightly before letting me go. “Thank you, Charlie,” she whispered.

  I let her go, watching her walk out of the door. I hated thinking of where she would be tonight. My best
friend was beautiful—inside and out—and she deserved better than being stuck dancing around some pole.

  I turned around when I heard the door opening behind me and smiled when I saw Alex standing there, holding a bunch of beautiful, long-stemmed daisies.

  “Are they for me?” I was so touched. “No one has ever bought flowers for me before.”

  “Really?” He frowned at me and walked closer to me. “Never? He never once bought you...?” He shook his head at me before he dipped his head and kissed my cheek.

  “They are beautiful.” I took the stems from him and inhaled the scent. “Daisies are my favourite flower.”

  “I know.” He grinned at me. “Here.” He took the flowers from me. “Let me put those in some water for you.” He picked the glass vase up off the sill and filled it with some water, cutting the ends of the stems off and placing them in the water.

  “You’re looking very domesticated over there, Alex.” I couldn’t stop myself from teasing him.

  “I’ll show you domesticated,” he threatened. Before I could try to escape, his arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me into him, with my back to his chest. He moved down and pressed his lips to my neck.

  “I’d love to see you try and domesticate me.” He chuckled against my skin, his warm breath tickling me. “Can I see you this weekend?” He placed his hands on my hips and turned me around slowly to face him.

  “I can’t this weekend.” I slid my hands up over his shoulders. “I need to focus on getting everything ready for the grand opening on Monday. Is that okay?”

  “Of course. It’s going to be amazing.” He dipped his head and pecked my lips before moving back. “I’ll be here to celebrate with you on Monday.” He winked at me before pulling back and leaving me.

  6

  Alex

  The day had finally arrived. ‘Sinfully Sweet’ opened this morning and the place looked really busy.

  “How’s it going?” I asked, stopping at the ice cream counter where Addie had a queue of kids.

  “She’s in the kitchen. Don't I look great in my uniform?” She stuck her chest out to indicate where her name was written on her left breast. The logo was on the middle of her pink top.

  I laughed at the way the teenage boy next to me looked at her. His eyes widened in shock and I knew that Addie would most likely be featuring in his one-handed fantasy tonight.

  I walked away, leaving her to it and made my way back to the kitchen. I gave a small wave to the other member of staff that was at the till. I didn’t recognise her but she seemed friendly enough.

  “There you are!” I grinned at the sight of her. She had flour all over her ‘Sinfully Sweet’ t-shirt and had trays of donuts laid out on the counters in front of her. “They are for me, yes?” I went to reach for one but stopped when she smacked my hand away.

  “Not so fast, mister.” She came around the worktop and hugged me, wrapping her arm up around my neck. “You can get your sugar here.” She giggled at my look of surprise before she leaned up on her toes and kissed me, sucking my lip in between hers.

  “I’m liking this.” I tilted my head, pressing my lips harder against hers.

  “I can’t do that here,” she whispered, pulling back. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” I stepped back. “You’re busy. I shouldn’t have come by, but I wanted to check and see how you were doing.”

  “It’s crazy! I only expected a few customers and it hasn’t stopped.” She went to the fridge and pulled out some tubs of chocolate mouse and yellow custard. “Can I see you later?” she asked.

  “I’d like that.” I leaned back over and kissed her sweet lips again. “I’m off work tonight, so just come on up to my apartment. I’ll leave the door open for you.”

  “Okay. Bye.” She gave me a small wave before she began adding sprinkles and chocolate curls to the donuts.

  I walked back through the café area of the shop, giving a two-fingered salute to Addie and disappearing back next door.

  “How’s our girl doing?” James asked.

  I glared at him, not liking how comfortable he was at calling her ‘our girl’.

  He laughed at me before holding his hand up in defeat. “We can call her your girl. Whatever.”

  “I’ll be upstairs,” I replied. I didn’t like how fucking jealous I was at the idea of someone else laying claim to her, least of all my own brother. “Scott will be by later to help you out with the bar. Any problems, give me a shout.”

  “I’ll send her up, shall I?” he called after me.

  Fucker was a wind-up.

  Sitting at the table in my kitchen, I spent most of the afternoon catching up on paperwork: taxes, stock take, supplier checks... The hours quickly vanished, and before I knew it, evening had descended.

  I was disturbed from the figures in front of me when a pair of hands covered my eyes.

  “Guess who,” a sexy voice sang in my ear.

  I reached behind me and pulled Charlie into my lap, sitting her across me so that her legs were dangling to one side. “How was your first day, beautiful?” I wrapped my arms around her waist, anchoring her to me.

  “Hectic,” she groaned. She laced her arms around my neck. “But so much fun!”

  “I’m proud of you.” I rubbed my thumbs against the skin on her hip. “You did amazing today.”

  “Thank you.” That beautiful pink blush once again stained her cheeks. “I’m pretty proud of me, too.” She dipped her head, kissing me, before straightening back up.

  “Do you want some dinner?” I asked. “We have some...”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I just want to be here with you.”

  With me? Did she mean...?

  “Are you sure?” I tilted my head back, looking up at her. “You don’t have to feel pressured to be with me in that way.”

  “I know.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I haven’t been with a man in over a year, Alex.”

  David was a fucking fool. He had a sexy as sin woman, completely devoted to him, and instead, he was out screwing every other woman that he could get his hands on. The man had to be fucking crazy.

  “Why so long?” I asked. I needed to know why. I needed to know why the fuck she’d put up with his bullshit for so long. “Why did you put up with it?” I asked. “Why didn’t you see that you deserved better?”

  “I trusted him,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to admit that we were wrong. That what we had was wrong.” She slid her hands up, trailing her fingers up the column of my neck. “Being here with you, like this...” She dipped her head and kissed behind my ear. “This feels right.”

  When I felt her chest pressed against mine, I snapped. I fisted my hand in the back of her hair and pulled her lips forcefully down to mine and thrust my tongue in between them. She moaned at my action before she crushed her upper body against mine more. Before she could move again, I stood us up and placed her arse down on my table.

  “If you want me to stop, you had better say something now.” I looked down at her swollen lips and rubbed my thumb across them.

  “And if I don’t?” she asked. It felt like she was taunting me.

  “If you don’t,” I replied. “I’m going to take you into my bedroom and you won’t be leaving it till morning.”

  She tilted her head back and stared into my eyes for a few moments before she lifted her hand and thread it through my hair. “Why did you never tell me?” she asked.

  “Why did I never tell you what?” I asked, the question confusing me.

  “Why did you never tell me that you wanted me?” She nibbled her bottom lip. “I see the way you watch me.” Her words were confident but the blush on her cheeks had turned to a darker pink, giving away how embarrassed she was. “I’d always thought that we were just friends.”

  “We were,” I quickly defended. “I was always your friend, but you were his. You belonged to him.” I chuckled. “I may be an arsehole, but I don’t go hitting on other men’s girls.”
r />   “I’m not his now,” she whispered. She leaned forward and kissed me, sucking on my bottom lip. “Didn’t you mention something about taking me into your bedroom?” She giggled before kissing me again.

  I groaned against her lips before reaching down and grasping her legs. “Wrap them around me,” I whispered against her lips.

  “Don’t drop me.” She placed her arms around my neck, holding her upper body closer to mine. The action brought her chest to my eye level, and she was making it harder for me to control my wicked thoughts. She had no fucking idea how much I wanted her. She had no idea how tightly wound she had me.

  I kicked the bedroom door shut behind me and gently placed her down on the bed. I kneeled back to give her a little space, not wanting her to feel pressured.

  She reached down and grasped the hem of her t-shirt and began pulling it up.

  “Stop.” I halted her, placing my hand on her wrist to stop her actions. “We don’t have to do this.”

  “Don’t you want to?” she asked. “I mean...”

  “I do.” I looked down at her, loving how right she was lying there. “I have wanted you for long enough.” I rubbed the outside of her thigh, trying to be comforting. “I can wait if you are not ready.”

  “I’m ready.” She fisted the front of my t-shirt and pulled me down to her. “I think we have waited long enough, don’t you?” She kissed me, pouring passion into it. She parted her legs more so that I could fit in between them. Her hands slid beneath the bottom of my t-shirt before she scraped her nails against my skin.

  I pulled back, needing her to know something before this escalated further. “I’m not soft or gentle, darling.” I placed my hands on either side of her head, leaning my weight on them. “I’d never hurt you but I...”

  “I don’t want soft or gentle, Alex.” She reached up and placed her hands on my shoulders. “I’ve had soft and gentle.” She grinned up at me, obviously reading in my eyes how much the thought of her having had soft and gentle with someone else made me feel. “I just want you.”