“Yeah. I got that.” Bella swallowed hard. It felt like she’d just ingested a damn brick. “Thanks. I do appreciate that you took the time to stalk me, fly across the country, get yourself marked for life, and come all the way here just to apologize.”
“It probably is completely inappropriate that I’m here.”
“We should let the past be the past. We- er- had a good time. We can forget about it and move on like adults.”
Rhett nodded sensibly. “My mom would be horrified if she found out.”
“My family would disown me and despite everything I do and say, I really like that last remaining thread that our relationship is hanging on by. I don’t want to sever it completely.”
“Okay.” Rhett stuck out a hand. Bella eyed like it might be a snake about to spring on her. Maybe, despite everything she said, she wanted his snake to spring on her. “Friends?”
Bella hesitated.
She waited.
Her hand remained at her side until things got really, really, incredibly awkward. Rhett still kept his hand out like a gentleman. He never broke eye contact and his orbs burned right into her. Her stomach dropped out.
She should have been smart, but her past relationships with family, friends, and definitely men, proved that smart wasn’t exactly the best word to describe her. She couldn’t let him walk away.
“Not a chance.” Yeah. Okay. She really had no brain at all. Either that or the massive rush of blood straight to her crotch area had drained it of all functionality. Her body remembered all too well what Rhett felt like pressed up against her, on top of her, inside of her. There was no way she was letting him leave. “Unless it’s friends with benefits, and by benefits, I mean- doing- uh- what you just described in that really inappropriate scenario involving your rental.”
Rhett paused for a moment, stunned before a leisurely grin bloomed over his far too handsome, irresistible face. “I hope it also involves a few other… choice parts,” he said before he extended his hand again.
This time she shook it.
Hell- here I come. Hopefully what everyone said about the devil playing the best tunes was the truth.
CHAPTER 10
Rhett
Okay, so maybe Bella was right. Maybe what they were doing was crazy. Maybe their families would both be so disappointed. Maybe they both lived in different cities and his coming all the way across the damn country and getting inked just so he could say two words to her again, was crazy. Maybe it was definitely, completely, thoroughly wrong, but damn, as he carefully navigated his rental to the city limits and darkness descended, the energy crackling in the car between them like frantic static felt really, really phenomenal.
He kept his eyes on the road, instead of on all the inappropriate places he could have looked, like the beautiful creamy swell where Bella’s breasts peeked out above her dress, her shapely legs and the expanse of thigh as her dress rode up a little higher than normal because she was sitting down. He kept his eyes on the road, even as his hands strangled the wheel and his cock refused to behave. If Bella snuck little glances his way, which he was sure she did, even though he didn’t actually catch her doing it, she probably noticed the giant bulge he had no hope in hell of hiding.
Not that he should.
They were driving somewhere to- uh- take things past first base.
Unless she changed her mind.
And they just talked.
Which would be okay too.
“If you turn right there, that look like the road will go out into the country.”
“Oh?” Rhett’s hands moistened a little- okay a lot- on the wheel.
“It’s gravel. It has to lead somewhere.”
“Yeah, probably straight into someone’s yard.”
“There are farms and acreages all over the places.”
“That’s exactly my point. Unless you like having an audience.”
Bella let out a little tsking noise between her teeth that was both adorable and adorably pissed off sounding. “No, I don’t want an audience. I mean, generally, when there are a bunch of farms and shit, there are usually roads that interconnect and go into old farmyards with abandoned houses and trees and whatever.”
“So, you’re looking for one of those.”
“I guess.”
“They’re dangerous you know. They could cave in around us. Maybe you like taking risks.”
She turned to him, her gorgeous eyes flashing. “You’re an asshole, you know that? Or no. Maybe not an asshole. Probably an asshat. That definitely describes you better.”
“What’s an asshat?” Rhett asked, unable to keep the amused tone out of his voice.
“It’s- uh- well, someone who acts like an asshole, but like- uh- dumber I guess.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the thought you put into that. It’s a nice sentiment.”
Bella actually giggled as Rhett turned down the gravel road. He might as well do what she wanted. He didn’t care where they were going. In truth, he just wanted to get there. Maybe he was an asshat. Or was there a word for someone who was currently ruled by their giant fucking erection? Oh right. A dickhead. That term was incredibly accurate at the moment.