Authors: Angela Verdenius
The heat was still in her eyes, but her voice had turned decidedly cooler. “Ryder, you’re in jeans and leather jacket.”
“Ah, you noticed.”
“I’m in a dress.”
She looked damned good in it, too. It hugged her in all the right places, outlining that magnificent bosom, following the dip of her waist and brushing those generous hips before falling around her knees. It also had a row of tiny buttons running right down the bodice to the waist that had his fingers itching to flick open to reveal the lush treasures beneath.
“You look good enough to eat.” He couldn’t keep the heat from his voice, and damned if he tried. He wanted her to know how much he desired her, damned sure wasn’t ashamed of it.
“I heard your motorbike.”
“Esmeralda is parked outside, yes.”
“So we’re either going in my car, or you intend for me to ride your bike in a dress, revealing everything to everyone.”
“Oh, babe, that’s not happening.” He backed her right up to the staircase, trapping her against the rail as he looked down at her. “You’re only revealing everything you have to me.”
There was an answering flash of heat in her eyes, but also a flash of annoyance. Yep, his Dee was all primed.
Placing one finger against his chest, she prodded. “You better have a damned good reason for not telling me to change into bike clothes. In fact.” She prodded him again. “Is this a bloody date or not? ‘Cause I’m telling you, dumb arse, there’s nothing even vaguely romantic about going to a restaurant, as you put it, for a romantic dinner, as you hinted, when I have helmet hair and my dress flying up all over the place. So, what is your damned good reason?”
Hmmm. He angled his head as he studied her. Damn, she was hot when she got all up in his face like this. “Well, personally, I’d like to just shove you down on the floor and have doggy-style sex. Hot doggy-style sex. However, that isn’t in the equation right now.” He leered a little, just couldn’t help himself. His sister was right, he really was a little sick. Maybe a whole lot. “It will be another time.”
“Is that right?” She remained unperturbed.
“Hell yes. However, right now my only defence is that after you rang me up and served me some mind-twisting jibes, I changed my mind about the date.”
There was a sudden, unexpected flash of hurt in her eyes, a dimming of the brightness, but her voice remained steady. “Is that right?”
Shit, that hurt cut right into him.
With a silent curse, he bent to lay his forehead against hers, looking deeply into her eyes. “It’s still a date, babe. But you’re not just any woman I’m dating, you’re Dee, and I’m going to do something with you that I haven’t done with anyone else. This date is special.”
“Is that so?” The hurt faded, but the wariness remained. “And what would that be?”
“Change into some jeans and get your jacket. I’m going to show you.” When she eyeballed him, he added, “Trust me, babe.”
“Okay.”
He stepped back, allowing her to pass him. He watched as she went up the stairs, his gaze following the sway of her hips, his temperature raising another notch.
Her hips stopped swaying. “Ryder?”
His gaze lifted to find her watching him with narrowed eyes. “Yeah, babe?”
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but just know that I can hurt you. A lot.”
“Hey, I’m game if you are.”
“You are sick.”
He leered. “Not above a little experimentation.”
“I meant hurt in another way.”
He spread his arms out, his helmet clenched in one hand. “Trust me. You’ll love it. I know.”
“Uh huh.”
Grinning, he leaned against the stair rail and waited.
Never one to muck around, Dee came down the stairs within minutes in a pair of stretch jeans and a t-shirt, her jacket in one hand, her helmet in the other hand.
“Nice.” Ryder stopped her at the bottom, cupping her chin as he raised her face so he could drop a kiss on her lips.
Okay, and another kiss, and a third, both a little longer. Shit, the woman was addictive.
Straightening, he recovered himself by sucking in a deep breath, holding the door open and slapping her heartily on the backside. “Out, woman, and wait by Esmeralda while I lock up.”
“Keep smacking my arse and I’ll knee you in the nuts.”
“God, you are so romantic.”
With a toss of her head, the long blonde plait dancing down her back, Dee walked out to stand by the motorbike while he locked the door with the spare key he’d basically stolen from Del and dropped it into his pocket.
Crossing to the bike, he looked down at Dee while they both slid their helmets on. “Put your jacket on, babe. I don’t want to risk skinning you if the bike and us part ways.”
“Yes, Dad.”
He grimaced. “Don’t. That’s just wrong with the way I feel about you.”
She laughed.
The light sound of it, so carefree, so Dee, just filled him with warmth. He managed to simply grin in return and take the jacket from her, moving behind her to slide it up her arms. It was either rein himself in or bend her over the motorbike.
Cripes, Dee and sex just converged together in his mind like bread and butter, cream and strawberries, fish and chips. He bet she’d taste just as good, too. He sure as hell was going to find out one day soon.
Okay, shoot him, but he couldn’t help getting a handful of boob as he pulled the lapels of the jacket together in front of her. He was a man, he could only take so many tantalising thoughts before he copped a feel. Another recent discovery he had when around Dee.
She smacked his hand away. “Pervert.”
“God, yeah. I never denied it.” He winked. “But I’ve got a whole lot more perverted since I ploughed your field.”
Her eyes twinkled though her features remained serious. “That’s disgusting.”
“You love it.”
“I expect it. Big difference.”
“Then I won’t disappoint you.” Still grinning, he swung onto the bike and kicked the stand off, settling into the seat and starting the engine. “Climb on, babe.” When she obeyed, he added, “Wriggle close and hang on.”
“I know what to do, I’ve done it a thousand times.”
“Wriggle
real
close and hang on
real
tight.” When her thighs rested on the outside of his, her warmth nestled against his body, he gave a mock groan. “Oh yeah, babe, just like that.”
Her answering snort was music to his ears.
Ensuring she was hanging on and safe, he drove out of the back lot and onto the road, heading out of town.
Dee was the perfect passenger, following his lead, leaning with him as they turned corners, relaxed yet alert.
Ryder’s thoughts flowed as the road passed beneath the tyres. How many times had she ridden on the back of his motorbike? How many times had she pressed against him? How many times and he’d never realised that the perfect woman was right behind him? Was right there?
Too many times in his lifetime.
He wasn’t letting her go now.
The full moon shone high, stars sparkling in the night, the darkness lit by nature as the headlights of the motorbike lit the road. He loved it, loved riding the big bike, the roar of the powerful engine, the freedom. Having Dee share it with him made it even better.
The side road appeared and he slowed, indicated, turned onto it and continued onwards. Once it had been dirt, but the council had finally come out one day and bituminised it. Not a good job but it held down the dust and made it more drivable.
Through the tress he saw the creek, the water sparkling where the moonlight touched it. Slowing down, he followed the winding road, drove up near one of the three long tables and bench seats flanking them, and stopped the bike.
Without needing to be told, Dee dismounted and stood aside.
Ryder turned off the engine, kicked the stand on and swung off. Even as he removed his helmet, he watched Dee pull hers off and place it on the nearby table, her jacket peeling off and being tossed beside it as she let the warm night and cool breeze flow around her bared arms.
Propping his helmet on the motorbike seat, Ryder shrugged off his leather jacket and dropped it beside the helmet, then he stretched leisurely, moved up beside Dee and slid his arm around her before walking her to the edge of the creek and stopping, moving behind her to link his arms loosely around her waist as he bent to rest his chin on top of her head.
The fragrance of peach drifted up from the silky strands, making him inhale deeply.
Dee was silent, but she leaned back against him, her hands resting lightly atop his larger ones at her waist.
The night wasn’t silent. The whisper of the creek, the rustle of bushes as native animals and mammals moved in the shelter, life all around them unseen, some barely heard but nevertheless evident.
“Ryder?” Her voice was low.
“Yeah?”
“This is beautiful.”
He smiled. “It is.”
“Thank you.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, snuggled her closer back against him. “I come out here alone now and again just to sit and watch the creek. Night time is magical, it’s peaceful, I can let my thoughts wander.”
Some people would have expected Dee to give a caustic comment but he wasn’t surprised when she simply nodded and remained silent. The woman might have a sarcastic sense of humour but she could be sensitive to people’s emotions, she’d never hurt her friends by breaking in on their heartfelt musings.
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever brought out here at night with me.” Bending over her, he lowered his head so his cheek brushed her softer one. “You’re the only woman special enough that I would want to share this with me. The only one I feel comfortable sharing this with me.” He brushed her cheek with his lips. “Only you, Dee.”
She was quiet, gazing out over the creek. Ryder watched her calmly, just waiting.
Finally, she turned her head to gaze up at him, the moonlight catching her eyes, making them appear mysterious. Lifting her hand, she laid her palm against his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered, and then she kissed him.
It was soft, sweet, a gentle touching of lips, yet it shook him to his soul.
It was the first kiss she’d voluntarily given to him, but what made it so heart-achingly potent was the emotion her saw in her eyes just before their lips met.
Love. She loved him.
God, he loved her so much in return.
Reaching up, he cradled the hand she held against his cheek as he kissed her back just as softly, just as sweetly, uncharacteristically gentle.
For the first time in his life, Ryder wanted to show gentleness, tenderness, to give someone pleasure, to watch and feel and not lose himself in his own emotions.
Lifting his head, he gazed down at her, watching as her thick eyelashes fluttered open, lifting to reveal the passion that flickered in the pale depths of her eyes.
Uncurling his arms from around her waist, he caught her hand, stepping back and drawing her with him.
She turned, followed him to the tables, stepping into his arms when he stopped and offering her lips.
He took what she offered, poured his love into her, holding her close, glorying in the feel of her arms going around his neck, one of her hands slipping up into his hair to cup his head.
Sliding his hands beneath her shirt, he spread his fingers on her warm skin, spanning her ribcage, trailing his fingertips down her spine, rewarded by her body arching into him.
His shaft stiffened, pushing against his zipper.
Then Dee’s hand was there, fingers sliding into the top of his jeans, curling in to hang on the tough material.
It was the first time she’d initiated a kiss, the first time she initiated intimacy, and he let her go, craving it, craving her touch, her taste, willing to let her lead this time, following her movements, mimicking every caress, every touch she gave him, doing it to her.
She trailed her fingers around the top of his waistband. He did the same to hers.
She found the snap on his jeans, pulled it open. He did the same to hers.
Leaning back a little, she watched as she pulled his zipper down.
Everything she did, he did, and when her hand slid into the front of his jeans to press against him, he groaned. Hers wasn’t far behind, only she whimpered when his hand found her.
She was so hot, so creamy with desire. Even her sturdy bra and t-shirt couldn’t hide the press of her nipples against the confining material.
Her palm shaped along his phallus, fire sparking along his skin at her touch, heat racing through him to pool low in his loins.
Keeping tight control, Ryder slid his fingers between her thighs, finding her sheltering labia and playing with the edges of the swollen flesh.
“Ryder.” She pressed into him, lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with need.
“It’s all right, babe.” He withdrew his hand, kissing her, swallowing her protest as he placed his hands on her waist.