Chapter Six
Riley should be embarrassedabout what happened inside with the drunken asshole, or upset about being asked to leave or something. Instead, all she could focus on was whether or not she’d made a mistake suggesting no-strings sex with Zane.
Her thoughts were still stuck on his cock digging into her, moments earlier. The dampness that pooled between her legs when he grabbed her wrists. Her desperate desire to find out how he kissed.
Zane opened the passenger door of his truck and reached behind the seat. He grabbed a spare T-shirt and handed it to her. “I should take you home.”
The dismissal nagged her. She had to resurrect this somehow. He was as interested as she was. If she could change out of her ruined top here, she didn’t need to go home. She dropped into the passenger seat. “Don’t move.”
She reached behind her back to unclasp her bra, and his eyes grew wide.
“Do you want me to turn around?” he asked.
The flush was sexy, and the propriety was endearing. If he hadn’t already turned away, maybe he was still considering what she’d said. She let out a tiny laugh, trying for seductive but—she was pretty sure—coming off as nervous instead. “I said, don’t move. You’re my human curtain.”
In a single fluid gesture, she managed to pull off her soaked shirt and bra and slip the new one on without completely exposing herself. As she poked her head through the top of the shirt, she caught a glimpse of him forcing his gaze from her chest back to her face.
“That takes talent.” His voice was an octave lower. She knew that sound. She’d heard it a few times on the phone, when he told her how he wanted to tie her to the bed and fuck her till she screamed.
And now that image was in her head. She ducked her head, feigning shyness. “Thank you for what you did in there.”
He leaned against the frame of the truck, studying her. She couldn’t read the thoughts behind his eyes, but she could almost convince herself the worst thing she saw was uncertainty.
“Does this mean you don’t need to go home and change after all?”
So she hadn’t completely ruined things. Relief flooded her. “Not yet. Did you have something in mind?”
“Let’s drive and talk.”
He closed her door, and seconds later, he was seated and pulling onto the road. But he wasn’t talking. His gaze stayed fixed on the road, his hands on the steering wheel.
Riley shifted in her seat. What should she say? She hadn’t planned to proposition him, but as the night wore on, the idea had climbed into her head and refused to budge. And when he all but laid out that ultimatum, she had to grab her chance.
Sure she was done with falling in love, and the best way to break the habit was to stay single. But Zane was right that she really missed the sex that typically came with being half a couple. More than six months without a guy to cuddle up against, clothed or otherwise, left her with a longing that her toys didn’t sate.
And more than two years of no contact with Zane, after everything, made her body plead for him to be the solution.
Besides, he wasn’t looking for commitment either. They already knew so much about each other. She adored him, but not romantically. There was no one else, except may be her sister, she trusted more.
She watched the road fade into the darkness as his truck climbed farther away from the houses dotting the side of the mountain. They were on the east side of the valley, high above even the multi-million-dollar homes. The valley floor with its endless lights made the sky and its stars look like a reflection.
They pulled onto the shoulder of a familiar dirt road. Riley didn’t know how many nights they’d spent on the side of the mountain, either wanting a view of the fireworks shows below or just talking.
He shut off the engine and stared ahead, gripping the steering wheel. He finally turned to her. Something heavy and sad lingered behind his pale eyes. His smile was weak. “I hope this is okay.”
“Of course.” Her fast reply sounded too loud—too chipper—to her ears.
He climbed out. “You coming?”
God I hope so.Maybe best to keep that thought to herself for now.