Knock Love Out (A Sensual New Adult Crossover Romance) Read Online Free PDF

you take me, Cash.”

  
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Soft, soft tone with a warm, warm body, “Beautiful, right, Lil?”
    Light-hearted and so, so free and far away, “Perfect.”
    I have no idea where we are, but above us: black sky partnered with small twinkles. A full moon. Cool breeze.
    Cash doesn’t care that we are lying on the hood of his car. He doesn’t waste time talking to me about how my shoes will leave marks in the paint. He just rests at my side, staring to the sky, smoking slowly, enjoying all that is of greater importance than some meaningless materialism.
    Cash rolls to his side, looking down to me.
    “Cold?”
    I shake my head.
    “Don’t lie, Lilla,” he scoffs. “I asked because I want to know.”
    “Alright, maybe a little. But I’m okay. The view is worth it.”
    “Shit, girl.” He places the cigarette between his lips, climbing from the hood to retrieve a sweater from the car. He holds out the sleeves for my arms. Once I’m wrapped in it, he takes the cigarette away from his lips. “You need to speak up for yourself. Your needs matter, you know that, right?”
    “Yeah,” I lie.
    “Good, so when you’re cold say, ‘ Cash, I’m cold, fix it’ . Or, if you’re hungry or need to pee or whatever, tell me. When we’re road companions, we’re in this together. We’re experiencing this together .”
    I nod. “Okay.”
    “You like dancing, right?”
    “I’m not very good at it.”
    He groans. “That’s not what I asked.”
    “I would like it if I was good at it?”
    “Are you asking me or telling me, Lilla?”
    “If I knew how, I would love to dance.”
    “Not like a ballerina, right? Like two people just dancing—you’d like that?”
    “Depends on the other person,” I grin.
    He returns the same expression, pressing the pad of his thumb against my chin.
    “That’s what I’m talking about, Lilla.” Cash walks back to the car, turning over the ignition to allow the radio on, raising the volume and switching stations.
    He surprises me when he walks around the car, climbing on the hood. The metal protests under his weight. He reaches for my hands, lifting me up.
    Looking to my feet, cringing, “I don’t want to ruin your car.”
    “It’s just a car. Not even a special one. One out of every three people owns this model. Did you know that?”
    “I still don’t want to ruin it.”
    “We’re not. We’re making a memory,” he sways me to the music. “Those dents will always make me think of you. Tonight. Dancing here. I like that idea. I like that only we’ll know what those dents mean. Other people will think I’m a shitty driver—car owner. You? You’ll just think I’m a great dancer.”
    A secret.
    Soft sigh escapes as I lean closer to him.
    “Where did you come from, Cash?”
    “I think her name is Poppy,” he teases.
    “That’s a pretty name.”
    “A face to match. I look just like her.” He spins me, slowly, making sure I don’t fall.
    “I bet she’s kind. Your mom.”
    He twirls me, again, and then reclaims my hips in his hands. Swaying side-to-side as the song changes. A semi-truck passes by; blowing the loud horn three times in what I’d like to believe is encouragement. Agreement.
    “She’s the best person I know. The only one who doesn’t give me a hard time. Just lets me be me.”
    “I do too,” I point out. “I let you be you.”
    “That’s because we just met. I haven’t driven you crazy. Yet .”
    Oh contraire. “Is that your intention?” I poke.
    He slides his arms around my waist, holding me securely. His hands palming areas that haven’t been palmed since The Sky Wizard knows when.
    “Only in the very best way.”
    For some reason, I believe him.
     
    ***
     
    The car door shutting wakes me.
    “Sorry,” Cash apologizes, sliding a Styrofoam cup my way. “Coffee?”
    I blink, looking around. The sun has come up. It’s early morning. We’re parked in front of a small café. He has a white paper