Ride (Alpha Male Romance): In Between the Covers (Carolina Bad Boys #3)

by Rie Warren

  “Oh, God. You’re not a drug dealer are you?”

  His loud bark of a laugh rattled my bones. His eyebrows hooked up, as did one side of his mouth. “Really, Ave? You think I’ve got a meth lab set up somewhere?”

  “Well, you are always out most of the night . . .”

  “Ave, Ave, Ave.” He slowly shook his head. “And here I thought you had a better opinion of me,” he said with mock disappointment.

  “I do! I’m just—”

  “You’re just like a dog with a bone, is what you are. Drop it, precious.” It was an order spoken in the most coaxing tone.

  I sighed. “Fine.”

  “Good.” He grabbed my hand and looked me over. “You’ll do.”

  “Um. For what?”

  “Let’s go for a ride. I need to get out, and as you said, you work too hard. Time for you to have some fun.”

  “A ride?”

  “On my bike.” He smirked, and with that quirk of his cherry-red lips something clenched inside me.

  A ride on his bike, not his . . . uh . . . cock.

  A blush splashed across my cheeks in record time, which amused him all the more. He chuckled.

  “I’ve . . . I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.” I fumbled for words.

  “Awesome. I do love a virgin.”

  I tugged my hand free and punched him on the shoulder. “Not funny, wise guy.”

  “Bullshit. It was pretty funny. And I’m serious. I love first-timers.” Leaning real close, he whispered, “Whaddya say, Ave? Lemme pop your bike cherry?”

  Heat skimmed the surface of my skin when his warm breath brushed the side of my neck.

  “Okay.”

  “Hey, no skirts on the bike, kinky girl.” His eyes twinkled. “Put on those jeans I like so much, unless you plan on giving me a peepshow.”

  I gave him a show all right. It was my middle finger as I marched upstairs to change. His dirty chuckle made me smile. It was far better than him shutting down or shutting me out.

  I thought about spiting him just because by wearing a pair of ugly jeans, but I relented. I even added a tight light blue thermal top to go with the tight jeans I’d worn to the frat party. I stuffed my feet into the hiking boots I wore in the winter.

  When I joined Jase downstairs his appreciative whistle filled my belly with butterflies. He placed a leather jacket on my shoulders.

  “This will swamp me!”

  “Just think of it as one of your sweaters, only better. It smells like me.”

  The coiling heat was back inside my tummy. I sniffed the collar and felt the heavy weight of well-used leather over my shoulders. It did smell of him—sunshine and open roads. Freedom and a hint of spiciness. The scent of tobacco lurked, but I didn’t mind. The heady smell was perfectly Jase, and being wrapped inside it made me feel like I belonged. That maybe I belonged with him.

  He towed me out the door and placed a helmet on my head.

  Lifting one leg over the motorcycle, he held out his hand. “Just hold onto me, precious. I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt.”

  With the first rumble of the Harley between my legs and Jase’s hard thighs pressed to the insides of mine, I felt something amazing. I felt free. Wrapping my arms around his stomach, I laid my cheek against his shoulder. He roared onto the road and moved between traffic like the motorcycle—black and big and loud—was an extension of his body. The way he handled the full throttle beast was sexual and primal and so manly I could almost imagine the way he made love.

  Heat billowed inside of me, warming me as the wind lashed my unbound hair and bit bright spots into my cheeks.

  Jase patted my hands and nodded back at me before we hit the open road of the Brazos Trail. I peered over his shoulder and laughed in his ear. I saw him grin just before he throttled down hard. A louder laugh burst from me. I couldn’t stop the lighthearted, light-headed feeling caused by the racing speed, the strong man in my arms, the rumbling metal between our legs.

  I buried my nose against the skin of his neck where I could smell him best. He shuddered against me. Tears stung my eyes and fell. They weren’t solely because of the whipping wind. The tears came fast, just a few, because Jase was giving me an experience that surpassed all the others of my life. He was sharing one of his loves with me.

  Hours must have passed, but it felt like minutes. I never wanted to stop. The Brazos Trail went on for miles and miles of hillsides and canyons and the burnished glow of autumn hues. It swept by as a mirage of colors, colors—like the feeling burbling inside—I wanted to grab onto.

  Eventually he slowed, pulling off the road. We stopped at an overlook and shared a bottle of water. I hadn’t stopped grinning. Jase watched me with a careful look in his eyes, as if he’d never seen me before.

  With my hand tucked inside his warmer, rougher palm, he helped me down the trail. At the end of a winding woodsy path, we halted. The breath flew from my chest and I pressed my hand to my mouth. Below us, the whole landscape opened up. Acres of untouched craggy hills and valleys. Sparkling dots of lakes. Trees and shrubs in glowing red and ochre. The color blue, tinged with sunset pink, saturated the sky, and that sky was endless.

  This was where wilderness abounded, and it was the exact spot a new unknown wildness began to soar inside my heart.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it,” I whispered.

  “Me either.”

  “It’s so beautiful, Jase.”

  “It is.” His gruff tone held a serious note.

  I glanced at him. He watched me, not bothering to take in the breathtaking scenery. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes intent, eyes that surveyed all of me.

  My breath stuttered.

  “You know, you looked amazing the other night, precious. So pretty. You’re unique. Beautiful. Not that I’m a fan of all those pudwhackers ogling you but . . .”

  “Why, Jase Everly, was that a compliment?”

  He reached for my waist. With his hand firmly around me, he pulled me closer. “I’m not joking around with you, Ave. Yeah, that was a compliment.”

  I felt like I could slip off the ends of the earth any moment with him. My hands spread across his chest. “I . . . I don’t get many compliments.”

  “It’s customary to smile. Or say thank you.”

  “I . . . thank you.”

  “Was that so hard?” His husky tone collided with the thrill of the ride still thrumming inside me.

  “No, but there’s something I need to say, and I haven’t been able to.”

  His fingers moved to the middle of my back. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to.”

  “I do. It’s eating me up inside. Look, Jase, I’m sorry about what I said after the party. I was awful to you that night. It was spiteful and mean, and I didn’t mean it.”

  “Hey, it was pretty much true so don’t sweat it.” He pulled away.

  I grabbed his arm. “It’s not true and you know it. You’re sweet and funny and—” God, sexy as sin. I lowered my hand to take his in mine. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me. And I’m sorry.”

  “I’ve been kind to you?”

  “Well, kind of a jerk-off, too. But I think it’s just because you like it when I get mad.”

  Jase chuckled, but the next moment his amused expression changed like the shadows of clouds racing across the sky. Sweeping the hair off my face, he clasped the back of my neck in his large palm. His fingertips teased the backs of my ears. He licked his lips as he watched me. His eyes darkened, deepened, and the planes of his face shifted into something that looked so much like the want building inside me.

  Today he had soft dark brown stubble on his jaw and lower cheeks and above those very-red lips. I wondered what it would taste like to touch him with the tip of my tongue at the perfect bow created by his lips where the whiskers curled. I wanted so much to feel the scratch on my tongue.

  My mouth parted when he leaned closer. When my breasts brushed against his chest—solid muscle—I almost moaned. It felt
so good.

  At the last moment Jase swerved to my ear. “I think that’s enough soul-searching for one day. I’ve gotta get you home and go to work.”

  He broke the spell.

  Chapter Seven

  Avery

  AFTER OUR RIDE THROUGH the Brazos Trail, Jase withdrew again. Maybe it was our almost kiss. He took care of most things around the house, as usual. He was true to his word, again. But whereas he’d said I could count on him for anything, I didn’t think I could count on him not to break my heart.

  Then he decided to change tactics. It became all about the push and pull. The tension between us built until one of us was bound to crack, or I would crash to the ground and end up all alone again.

  Jase watched me through slits for eyes. His look burned straight through me. Try as I might, I couldn’t get him off my mind.

  Our silent standoff ended one night when I heard him inside his room. His door was cracked as I passed by.

  He moaned loudly, “Yeah, Ave. Like that, suck my balls.”

  I inhaled a shaky breath before pressing the door open just an inch more. Six weeks. Six weeks I’d lived with him, trying not to fall hard only to hit the brick wall of his emotional blackout. And now he was getting off to me?

  My knees felt weak.

  Apparently he’d been saving up any careful consideration of me for something that sounded hypnotically raunchy, entailing things I certainly didn’t do. But I wanted to.

  I wouldn’t put it past him to do a little role-playing, actually. And just like that I gave in to my voyeuristic urges. If he was going to groan my name, I should at least get a front row view.

  When I peeked inside, my eyes burned and my face turned hot.

  Jase’s head tilted back. The cords of his neck were rigid. He sat completely naked in the leather armchair across from me. One fist slowly pumped his cock as the fingers of his other hand slid below to cup his balls.

  The door creaked. His muscles flexed. His head flew up. He caught me breathless and staring. Through the shaggy hair falling across his brow, I made out his brown eyes hooded by heavy eyelids.

  “Precious. Was just thinkin’ about you.” His drawl was as thick and heavy as the cock he squeezed in his hand.

  “Really? Which head were you using?” I asked in a barely steady voice.

  My gaze strayed low before boring a hole into the wall above his . . . head. The one on top of his shoulders, not the one glistening as it jutted against his belly.

  “Now, don’t bust my balls, gorgeous. You know we’ve been building to this, don’t you?”

  Denial came swift, but it never left my tongue, the tongue that wanted to lap the stiff column of his cock.

  He hooked a finger at me. “Why don’t you come over here and suck these balls instead?” He lifted the twin pink orbs in his palm.

  They looked so luscious. Mouthwatering. I shook to my senses before it was too late. He wanted to turn this—us—into a lewd act. What we’d shared that day on his Harley hadn’t been dirty or indecent. He knew it. I did, too. I wasn’t going to lay a hand on him until he looked me in the eye and wanted me the same way I did him.

  Dirty and raunchy was fine. Using one another was something else entirely.

  I shook my head, intending to back away, determined not to become another of Jase Everly’s needy little tarts. His flavor of the day. The boy was like Baskin Robbins . . . 31 flavors, one for every day of the month.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Too prissy to suck cock?”

  “Too discerning to blow yours, Jase,” I hissed.

  “I’m not gonna ask again. Come inside and close the damn door, Ave,” he said in a stern voice.

  “Go fuck yourself,” I shot back, turning to leave.

  He was there before I could escape, slamming the door shut and spinning me against it. I smelled him—spicy, a little sweaty—and it made me dizzier than I let on, glaring up at him.

  Leaning to the side, he swept one hand up and down the skirt and blouse I wore. “I’m all for a little cat and mouse—Mouse—but you’re not as mousy as you make yourself out to be. And what you’re hiding underneath all this? Really turns me on, Ave.” He skimmed his nose along my jaw then nipped the sensitive skin beneath my ear. Jase whispered in a velvety voice, “Maybe you just need a little spankin’ to loosen you up.”

  “Maybe you want me to hogtie your hand to your cock!”

  With his warm, rough fingers sliding across my belly to my hip, he jerked me against him so I felt his hot length pressing against my thigh. “I don’t think you wanna do that. Nnh nnnh.”

  When he retreated a couple steps, my body jolted with anger . . . with desire.

  “No, you like this, don’t you?” He gripped himself again and made a slow show of thrusting his cock in and out of his fist, already so erect he was dark red, shiny, and swollen at the tip.

  I couldn’t deny it, so I kept my mouth shut.

  Jase gave me a wicked grin as he tilted his head. A throaty growl escaped him. “I’m gonna come soon. If you don’t want it in your mouth or on your body, you better go.”

  Willing my eyes away and my legs to move, I scrambled for the doorknob, listening as Jase strained to say, “See you at breakfast, Ave.”

  I would not let him have the last word. “I’m not going to become another one of your slutty conquests, Jase.”

  “I don’t have conquests. I have fucks.”

  I stumbled into the hall, his words ringing in my ears. Jase was black and white and so many shades in between I’d lost count. I wasn’t stupid. He wanted me, but he didn’t want to get attached.

  Arousal hummed between my thighs.

  I would not be taken for a ride by him.

  I was sure he had dozens of chicks lined up and down the block for him. I’d never seen him bring anyone home, but he certainly stank of skank nearly every night.

  In my room, I shut off the light, crawled under the covers, and cradled my iPhone. I texted Benny:

  Oh My God. You better be awake & alone.

  Awake. Single bed tonight. Sigh. My charms r so

  wasted on these college studs, I mean duds.

  J was jerking off to me!

  Da fuck u say.

  4 real.

  Did u see it?

  Drool yes.

  Deets!

  Duh. No.

  Beyotch.

  Trufax.

  When do you see McYum next?

  We live in the same house? Breakfast & he’ll be

  wearing his freakin’ towel & nuthin’ else.

  Here’s what you do, Mouse. Rip that towel off n

  ride that bad boy for all he’s worth!!! Dewd.

  You Are A H00r

  Try it. U might like it. xoxo

  I turned off my phone with a giggle, pressing my face to the pillow.

  ****

  Breakfast. With Jase wearing his regulation low-slung towel and nothing else. That was a new habit since I’d walked in on him in the bathroom. He knew it got to me. I knew he knew it.

  He sat in front of me, watching my every move as I scooped up the delicious omelet he’d made.

  Nervous from his unwavering attention, I licked my lips. Jase’s mouth dropped open. His dark brown eyes trained on the tip of my tongue. I repeated the same lick on my bottom lip, more slowly.

  Aroused awareness buzzed through me. I rolled my neck and arched my back. Then I blushed, as timid as a schoolgirl, which was exactly what I was. A shy college co-ed with a cruel, cruel secret I couldn’t confess to anyone because I’d already tried that only to be told I was a pathetic little liar.

  Pushing away the past I couldn’t change, I focused on Jase, a man I shouldn’t want. I had no interest in my free lay roommate. Absolutely none. Baskin Robbins 31 flavors? More like Frito Lay.

  I giggled as I sipped from my cup of coffee, rich and dark from the beans Jase ground first thing every morning.

  Setting his fork down, he elbowed his empty
plate aside to put his joined hands on the table. That simple smooth move brought him several inches closer to me.

  “Is something funny, precious?”

  I gulped a little too quickly on the hot java. “No,” I choked out, my eyes falling to the fluffy remains of my breakfast and the last bite of toast on my plate.

  “I don’t think so either. You know . . .” He crossed his arms behind his head, leaning back in his chair. His biceps bulged, his pecs tensed, and he pulled his lower lip between his teeth before letting it pop back out. “I came all over my chest and belly last night after you left.” One hand drifted down to rub the swath of tan skin and brown hair on his bare chest . . . all the way to the loose knot of the towel where the hair thickened.

  Heat prickled my skin and I opened my mouth for a shaky breath.

  My breasts pushed against the thin cloth of my top, and Jase hummed, “Nice tits.”

  My nipples pearled to attention. “Jase—”

  “Something has to give here, precious. Someone.”

  “Not me.” I shook my head even as my voice broke from the delirious temptation he presented.

  “Really?” His voice smoldered from across the table. “I was thinking. I help you out every morning.” He waved a hand around the kitchen then stood with fingers slowly loosening the towel around his waist. “Maybe you could help me out, every night.”

  “I won’t,” I said, but remained seated and still, waiting to see what he’d do next.

  His fingers unclenched. The towel barely stayed in place. He walked over to me and then hunkered down. The towel parted between his strong thighs, revealing a muscular landscape I wanted to explore with my hands and my tongue.

  “A little arrangement, Ave, that’s all I’m talkin’ about. Is that sweet pussy wet for me?”

  “No.” Urgency and arousal dripped into my voice no matter how desperate I was to deny it.

  “I bet it is.” A dimple dove into his cheek with his gorgeous smile. “I bet it is,” he repeated, rising to his feet. He moved to the sink and turned on the water. “But that’s okay, the lease is for another eight months, and I do like a challenge.”

  “You can take your challenge and shove it up your ass, Jase Goddamn Everly. But unless you treat me the way you said you would, the way you used to, you’re getting nowhere near my bed. And you can shove that up your fine ass, too.”