by Morgan Fox
God, don’t let me be dreaming. The message was like a thunderous chant in his head.
“I didn’t know you liked motorcycles,” she said seductively, reaching forward to grip the handle bars.
Oh, sweet Jesus, she’s come to kill me…
Her perky, full breasts caught his eye, and he struggled to speak. “You never asked.”
She rolled her hips on the saddle, and he groaned. She was testing him and he was going to fail. Shit. Was it wrong that he wanted to lick the leather where her pussy touched?
He shook his head, clearing the naughty thoughts from his mind. “I’ve been riding since I was twelve.”
But I’d like to ride something else right now.
Stop that!
His mind and body couldn’t get on the same page.
“Dirt bikes?” she questioned with a quirk of her brow.
Could she tell he was thinking inappropriate things? Then again, wasn’t that what she expected, sitting there naked in his garage? He nodded.
“I had one, too. My older brother liked to ride. He’s the one who introduced me to it.”
Was she really going to sit on his motorcycle all hot and sexy and expect small talk? Apparently so. A part of him was thrilled that she wanted to talk with him at all, while the other wasn’t sure what to think. His cock, on the other hand, had a clear idea.
He folded his arms over his chest and swept his gaze over her body. Damn, she was beautiful. Each shoulder, part of her arms, and back were covered in colorful art. Purples and pinks were the dominant colors. On her hip and upper thigh was a long green vine covered in red and purple roses and colorful butterflies. Beneath that was bare of markings, but her ankle had a bright red rose on it. Her nipples were pierced, and he had a real good idea that so was her clit. Fuck me. His cock stirred.
He cleared his throat, his pulse thundering at his temples. “What are you doing here, Zerina?”
She licked her lips, sliding off his motorcycle. “I came here to see if I was wrong about you.”
He narrowed his gaze, studying every inch of her body. His mouth watered, feasting on her breasts, her berry nipples tight and beckoning. He should’ve been a gentleman, but he couldn’t stop himself from catching a glimpse of the thin patch of hair between her legs. She wasn’t a petite, tiny woman. She was sexy, curvy, and very appetizing.
His throat constricted. “Wrong about what?”
She stood in front of him, her chest almost touching his. “I want to know if you’re like the rest or if you really meant what you said.”
Her comment took him back. “You mean if I’m really attracted to you or just using you?”
She nodded, placing her hands on him. He clasped her wrists, stepping back. His guard up, he didn’t like what was happening. “So you’ve come to use me instead.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it.
“You do realize that only hours ago you couldn’t stand to be in the same room with me and now you’re…” He didn’t have to say the obvious. His downward gaze did the talking for him. “Zerina, I’m a guy, and having a naked woman straddling my bike is a wet dream in the making. And I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I can’t do this.” Releasing her, he stepped back. “Where’s your clothes?”
Covering her breasts with her arms, she nudged her chin toward the washer and dryer. “Over there.”
Before he could change his mind, he gripped the doorknob. “Get dressed and come inside. I think we should talk.”
With a serious case of blue balls, he left her standing there. He wasn’t sure if she would come inside or just leave. As many times as she’d looked at him with disdain, he figured she’d bolt the second her clothing hit her skin. But to his surprise, he heard the door open and close. He felt her standing there before he saw her.
“Go ahead laugh at me,” she said as he met her timid gaze.
He scowled. “Why would I laugh?”
“This was a mistake,” she mumbled, heading toward the front door.
He rushed to block her exit. “Wait. Why are you leaving? Why are you always running away from me? And don’t tell me that bullshit like you did at the bar.”
“That bullshit, as you call it, is exactly the reason. You and I…we don’t mix. You are up here”—she raised her hand high and then dropped it low—“while I’m down here.”
He didn’t understand what she was talking about. That seemed to happen a lot when they spoke to each other. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I made a mistake and I need to go.”
He gripped her arms. “Who was he?”
She grimaced. “Who was who?”
“The asshole who did this to you. Made you think you were less than you are.”
She trembled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Was it a shit childhood? Self-esteem issues?” He pulled her closer. “What makes a gorgeous woman like you—”
“Stop trying to analyze me,” she said through clenched teeth. “You don’t know me.”
He wanted to get to know her. If she’d only give him a chance. “If you’ll remember, I’m trying to change that.”
“Words,” she spat.
“True, but if I wasn’t serious, would I be standing in my kitchen about to offer you a cup of coffee, or would I have you bent over my motorcycle fucking you senseless?”
The corner of her mouth quirked. At least she found him amusing.
“I heard you were like this,” he told her, letting her go.
“Heard what?” she asked, stiffening her chin. “Heard that I was a freak?”
Now it was his turn to smirk. “I heard you had no trouble displaying your sexuality. I heard that you’re fearless and edgy.”
She glanced away. “I used to be.”
“What changed?”
She licked her lips, her eyes locking with his. “You.”
“Me? I don’t follow.”
She looked nervous. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Sure it does.”
She slipped around him and gripped the island bar that separated them. “Why? Because you want to see how far you can take this? You want to find out just how freaky I really am.”
“Actually, you’ve already answered that one by sitting on my motorcycle naked…which I’m never going to wash again, by the way.” He grinned.
She blushed. “I don’t normally do that kind of stuff.”
“Oh, Zerina, how you lie. Rumors fly around a lot at Iron Horse, and from what I’ve heard you enjoy pushing the envelope on shock value. I think that’s one of the things I like most about you.” His fingers itched to touch her, the memory of her beautiful body etched in his mind. “I hate people who put on a show.”
“Sure you do.” She laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “That’s what everyone says to the girl who gets naked in front of them.”
His grin broadened, but he said nothing in response.
She blew out a breath, rolling her eyes. “Fine, I do whatever I like. I date whomever I like, and I’m obviously no prude.”
“Duly noted.”
He opened the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of beer. He popped the tops and slid one across the counter to her. “Care to enlighten me on why you dislike me so much? Please use terms a man of my low intelligence will be able to understand.”
He found her menacing glare adorable. “You’re annoyingly pretty,” she said, sipping her beer.
That was not what he thought she would say. Shit, he thought they’d dance around the topic for at least a few minutes before she answered.
Pretty?
Why the hell did she have to call him pretty? Men weren’t pretty. They were handsome, sexy, or even scrumptious. They were not fucking pretty. “I am not,” he argued.
“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?” She fanned her hand over the length of his body. “Blond hair, blue eyes, buff…face it, you are pretty.”
&nb
sp; “Have you smelled me after a hard day of work? Trust me, there is nothing pretty about that.”
“Eww.” She drew out the word, curling her lip in disgust.
“See my point?” For the first time, she laughed, and the sound was heaven. “Do that again,” he whispered.
She frowned. “Do what?”
“Laugh,” he replied. “You have the cutest bubbling laughter.”
She snorted. “No I don’t. I laugh like Barney Rubble.”
Now it was his turn to chuckle. “Not true. It’s perfect.” Her cheeks grew pink as he closed the distance between them, sliding up beside her. “Go out with me, Zerina. Spend a little time getting to know me. I promise, you’ll see I’m not the pretty, blond-haired, blue-eyed man you think I am.”
Even with a smile on her face, she shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Are you scared?” he asked in challenge.
“No. I’m not scared of anything.”
Liar. “That’s what I thought until now,” he told her, leaning on his elbows. “It seems I was wrong.”
She scoffed. “You don’t know me.”
“Then give me a chance.”
She picked up her beer, finishing the contents. When she placed the bottle on the counter, she eyed him. “When and where?”
His chest tightened with promise. “I figured we could start with dinner. Do you like pizza?”
“Yes.”
“How about Thursday night? I’m on shift at the fire station tomorrow, but after that I’ll be up at the bar. I can swing by your place after I get cleaned up…say seven?”
For a long heated moment, she studied him. Then, to his surprise, she said, “Okay, but pick me up on your motorcycle. I want to see how pretty boys handle themselves.”
* * * *
If proof was what Zerina wanted, then proof was what she might get. She was going to go out with Jeremy and do all she could do to enjoy herself. If he wanted to take her out and spend money on her, who was she to argue? Besides, if he really was the awful person she thought he was, wouldn’t he have already taken advantage of her? She’d given him two chances and both times he showed resolve.
He was charming and he didn’t act like the haters who’d teased her about her upbringing and family. He was different, and as much as she tried to dislike him, she couldn’t. Each time she attempted to put distance between them, he cut it down.
“Why the hell are you smiling?” Sam asked, sliding behind the bar.
She frowned. “I wasn’t smiling.”
Sam’s brow shot up. “Um, yes you were. Like ‘I just had the best wet dream’ kind of smile.”
“Does everything have to be sexual around here? And no I wasn’t.”
Sam laughed. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with that fireman that keeps ogling you, would it?”
“What? No. Who?”
Sam shook her head. “You know exactly who I’m talking about.”
Had Sam not pointed out that warm and fuzzy feeling manifesting in the form of a smile, she never would’ve realized that she was doing it.
“The fireman, right?” Brynn asked, entering the room as if in search of the pole at center stage. Her thigh-high leather boots and skintight clothing would’ve earned her a boatload of tips. “So have you slept with him yet?”
She gaped at her. “No.” Did everyone know about Jeremy?
Sam’s brow knitted tightly at the bridge of her nose. “Seriously? Now that surprises me.”
“I’m not a slut,” she snapped.
She should be pissed that Sam assumed she would jump into bed with him so fast. She wasn’t Brynn and her devilishly sexy appeal. Then again, that was something she’d done in the past. Finding men to have sex with hadn’t been her problem. Wanting to do more than that had.
Finding calm in her thoughts, she admitted, “It’s not like that.” Not with him at least.
“Surprise number two,” Brynn added, raising two fingers in the air.
“Stop saying that. Both of you.”
Sam laughed. “I can’t help it. It’s like aliens have come and snatched the Zerina we all know and love away and replaced her with”—she waggled her index finger at her—“you.”
“You’re not funny.”
“You’re right,” Brynn acknowledged. “She’s fucking hilarious.”
Sam and Brynn laughed. Sam leaned on her elbows, cupping her face as if to stare at Zerina in wonder. “Do you like this guy, Z?”
Now that was the first honest question she’d been asked and the one that had her stumped the most. Did she like him? Her pulse quickened and all she could think about was how she wished it was already tomorrow night. Then she’d get to see him. She swallowed hard and covered her face with her hands. “Oh, God, I do like him.”
“I knew it,” Sam said, snapping her fingers together.
“Wow, who knew you had so many teeth,” she said, spreading her fingers to see Sam and her wide-mouthed grin.
Sam pressed her lips together. “Ha. Ha.”
She plopped down on a barstool skimming her finger over the countertop. “I’m going out with him tomorrow night.”
“You are?” Brynn questioned, sliding up to sit on the barstool beside her. “I so want details. Cock size, tight ass descriptions, I want it all.”
Zerina eyed her. “You’re a mess and you need your head examined in the worst sort of way.”
“And her crotch,” Sam added. “There’s no telling what kind of funky shit she’s caught from fucking everyone under the sun.”
Brynn rolled her eyes. “I don’t fuck everyone. Just those that tempt me the most.” She frowned. “Which sadly have not been near enough to satisfy my liking.”
Zerina could relate. These days sex was sex, and she really wanted something more. Strangely, she wasn’t exactly sure when she’d come to that determination. Maybe Jeremy would give her a taste of what that something more could be. “He asked me to dinner and I accepted.” She paused, watching Sam’s express closely. “But—”
“Damn it, Zerina. Why is there a but?”
“I pulled a Brynn, damn it. I sort of snuck into his garage, stripped naked, and sat on his motorcycle.”
“Nice,” Brynn cheered.
Sam’s mouth hung open. “You’re kidding me, right? You didn’t really do that.”
“I really did that.” Brynn grinned, Sam frowned, and she cringed. “Worst part, he didn’t even touch me. He told me to get dressed so we could talk.”
“He wanted to talk?” Brynn questioned, her brow furrowed.
“Oh, no, he’s gay,” Sam added, cocking her head to the side in a sympathetic manner. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“Damn, that sucks.” Brynn did have a way with words.
“But I don’t think he’s gay. He said he wanted to taste me.”
Sam bit her lower lip. “He did?”
“Nice,” Brynn cheered again.
“And now he wants me to go out with him.”
“And the problem…” Brynn asked with a dramatic pause.
“He’s seen me naked and rejected me. What if he really doesn’t want me like that and I go out with him only to get shot down? I’m already horribly embarrassed.”
“Are you kidding me?” Sam asked with a huff. “I think he might be a gentleman and you might have caught him off guard.”
Zerina had considered that, but she’d also considered that most men would’ve fucked her on the spot and he hadn’t even touched her. “I don’t know, guys. I think it might just be a game.”
“Then play to win, dumbass,” Brynn said with a snicker. “Work your Z charm on him. He won’t be able to resist you.”
She pointed at herself. “Naked on his motorcycle, remember?” How much more Z charm did she need to apply to get a response from him?
Sam moved around to her other side and placed her arm around her. “You showed him the hard-edged side of you. Let him see the softer side you tend to keep hidd
en.”
A sharp flutter of nerves raced through her body as she considered the consequences of lowering her guard. The feeling of vulnerability rattled her. “What good will that do?”
“It might get you laid,” Brynn told her, raising her eyebrows up and down provocatively.
Sam scoffed. “It might get you a second date.”
Zerina bit the inside of her cheek. A second date? That would be a first. “I guess we’ll find out.”
Chapter Four
Sweat rolled down Jeremy’s back, and Zerina prayed he would find a reason to put his shirt back on. Something needed to save her. He was killing her with all that tanned skin and toned muscles. His jeans hung low on his hips, and the line of sinew that dipped down into a V-shape below his belly button, the infamous spot on a man that caused a woman’s brain cells to malfunction, was sending her over the edge. From the corner of her eye, she studied him.
Yummy!
That was the only way to describe him. That, and delicious, succulent, and scrumptious. She giggled like an adolescent girl. Why did all of her descriptions of him sound as if she were about to dive headlong into a banquet of savory foods? Why did her mouth water with the idea of licking him like he was a lollipop? His cock probably tasted like chocolate and caramel. A hurried breath rushed from her chest as a throbbing heat coursed through her veins.
“Eye fucking the help again,” Brynn teased. “He really is a hottie. I wonder if he has a brother.”
“I’ll have to ask him.”
“Oh, do you suppose he has a twin? Could you imagine a night with two of him?” Brynn hooked her thumb over her shoulder at Jeremy.
Her throat tightened. “I’m struggling with the one right now, so no, twins are totally not on my mind.” But now that Brynn had planted the seed, she pictured Jeremy and his imaginary twin doing all sorts of naughty things to her. Great. That was all she needed. She was doing well enough on her own with plenty of lust-filled fantasies.
