Chapter Nine
With desire blinding him, Blake grabbed her hips and thrust up against the flimsy barrier of her panties.
She made a sound of surprise and need as her nails dug into his shoulder.
He lowered his head to her breasts, closing his mouth over her nipple through her dress and bra. Even with the fabric, he could feel it pucker against his lips.
She moved against him in a needy, frantic motion that mimicked sex but was still safe with the clothes between them.
But, oh God, the temptation was there. To unzip his jeans and free his dick. To tug her panties to the side and slide into her.
He was so close. So damn close.
A horn blared, and he froze. Kristen buried her head against his shoulder as the car drove past them, a bunch of loud laughter and shouts emitting from the vehicle.
Teenagers out way too late.
“Well, that was perfect timing.” Blake closed his eyes and seethed out a breath. “But I can confidently say you’ve got this seduction thing nailed.”
She didn’t reply, but the warmth of her breath as she sighed tickled his shoulder.
Finally, she lifted her head and nodded. “Thank you. I guess it helps when the guy I’m seducing is hotter than a Greek god and makes me weak in the knees.”
Hotter than a Greek god? Weak in the knees? His ego swelled, and he hated himself a little for it.
How could he even respond? All the possible ways to reply fled as she climbed off him. His body screamed at the loss of her heat against him.
Damn it, he wanted her so badly it nearly killed him.
“I just hope I’m as good at this with the next guy I’m attracted to,” she muttered.
Just the idea of her with someone else had his gut clenching again. Had the fire in his veins burning because of jealousy, not need. Which was bullshit because she wasn’t his and could never be his.
“Kristen, if you were anyone but James’s sister—”
“No, please. I understand. We’ve been over his.”
She pulled her dress back down over her hips, but not before he saw the flash of black panties. His dick lurched against the restraint of his jeans.
“I know I’m already pushing the limits on this friendship of ours,” she added.
She bit out the word friendship sardonically, and it left him a bit speechless.
What did she want from him? She knew the rules. They both did.
They exited the back seat and returned to the front of the truck. Blake started the vehicle and pulled away from the curb a moment later.
As he headed to Tori’s apartment, he vowed to double down on his efforts to find her someone—anyone not a complete asshole—to sleep with.
But damn it if it didn’t feel like mission impossible. Were all men just total drunk idiots?
“When do you want to go out again?” he asked carefully. “Like I said, I work tomorrow, but I should be good to go by Tuesday night.”
She nodded. “Sure, that works.”
“We can hunt for a guy Tuesday night and hike Wednesday.”
“Okay.” Her words were flat as she stared out the window.