The Devil of Downtown (Uptown Girls, #3)

by Joanna Shupe

“What do you want tonight?” There was quite a long list, actually. “Must I say it out loud?” “Yes, you must. I cannot read your mind and I’d rather not guess. I may intimidate others into doing what I wish, but I’d never intimidate you.” “What do you want tonight?” She sank her teeth into his earlobe and felt a tremor go through him. Nice to know she could affect him, as well. He kissed her shoulder. “I wouldn’t like to scare you. It’s better if you tell me instead.” “You cannot scare me. Haven’t you learned that by now?” “Chérie, I touched my tongue to your skin and you ran from the club like it was on fire.” “I was merely caught off guard, not scared. Not to mention, you’ve done a lot more with your tongue tonight and I haven’t run screaming.” “Yet.” “Jack, come on.” She nudged his shoulder. “I am braver than I appear.” “Really?” His voice was laced with sarcasm and she couldn’t tell if he was teasing her. “Indeed.” “I know you are brave—I knew it within seconds of meeting you—but there is brave and then there is daring. The latter requires fearlessness with a sense of adventure.” “You think I lack a sense of adventure?” “I think you are a woman who gives much of herself to others without considering what she wants most.” He was annoyingly correct. However, considering her wants and desires almost seemed selfish. No one, other than Jack, had ever encouraged her to try. “What I want right now is for you to tell me what you’d like to do, regardless of whether it scares me ...