Rider's Kiss (8 page)

“I know. That’s the way I wanted it.”

Victoria glared at Reena, who suddenly decided now was a good time to head off to the ladies’ room. “Why didn’t you want me to know?” she asked Rider once they were alone.

Rider stared at her a moment, then reached for her hand. “I was afraid you’d chicken out if you knew I’d be here.” He drifted his thumb back and forth over the back of it. The light touch went clear through to her womb.

Darn it, she was so freaking jumpy tonight. When his words registered, she asked, “Why would I chicken out?”

“Reena told me you were nervous about going to a bar and that it wasn’t your normal scene. I didn’t want my presence making you even more nervous.” He winked. “You do tend to get a little anxious around me. Why is that, Vic?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she lied and quickly glanced away.

Rider leaned in close. His hot breath caressed her ear, and she wanted to pant like a hungry puppy. “Liar.” Her heart sped up. He was so close, she could smell his masculine scent. He licked her earlobe, then bit it gently. “I think I put you on edge because you want me.”

Victoria wanted to protest that arrogant statement, but when he nibbled his way down her neck and sucked at her pulse, she lost all reason. His powerful body surrounded her, and Victoria forgot all about her fears. She forgot that they were in public. As Rider’s tongue made a journey over her skin, Victoria closed her eyes and leaned her head back to give him better access. Someone moaned, and she knew she was a goner.

Rider pulled back and murmured, “I’m crazy about you, Vic.” His eyes darkened with passion and bore straight into hers. “Did you know that?”

She started to tell him he was wrong. That it was the new, improved version he wanted. Victoria knew a man like Rider could never care for a plain, backward nerd. And that was who she truly was, beneath the pretty hairstyle and shiny new clothes.

Just then, his cell phone chimed, and he looked down at it. A frown came over his face. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. Hold that thought.” He excused himself to go take the call.

The female friend from New York again. Victoria had managed to quickly glimpse the number on Rider’s cell and recognized it as the same person who’d called him during their picnic. Why was she calling again? And why did Rider frown whenever the woman’s number appeared? Victoria wondered if the woman was in some sort of trouble. Dang it, if he’d taken the call at the table, Victoria could’ve at least eavesdropped and satisfied her curiosity to some degree.

She closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath. Instead of worrying about that, she should take advantage of his absence to gather her thoughts. She took another drink of the beer she’d ordered and was setting it back down when suddenly she sensed someone staring at her. Victoria looked up and saw a tall man with close-cropped dark hair heading her way. He sported a golden tan and a wicked smile.

“The name’s Grant Thomas,” he said, leaning close to be heard over the music.

“Hi, I’m Victoria Kiss,” she said, extending her hand for him to shake.

“Nice to meet you, Victoria,” he replied as he gave it a gentle squeeze.

“The lady’s with me,” a familiar voice said from behind the stranger. Victoria leaned around Grant and noticed Rider standing there with an icy glare.

“You’re a beautiful lady, Victoria,” Grant said, totally oblivious to the tension in the room. He ignored Rider entirely. “Would you care to dance?”

She looked at Rider and saw the anger that was barely leashed. Although she wasn’t crazy about his attitude, she couldn’t help the little thrill that raced through her at the idea that he’d all but declared her off-limits to other men.

Victoria smiled up at Grant. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m afraid I have to decline.”

He nodded and backed up a step. “Another time, then,” he said before he sauntered off.

Rider stared at the man’s back for a moment before he turned toward her. “You know, the thought of that man’s hands anywhere near you sort of makes me want to mess up his pretty face.” His eyes narrowed as if he was bewildered by his own reaction.

Victoria didn’t know what to say to that, so she stayed silent.

“On the other hand, I’d love to dance with you so I can get you in my arms and have
my
hands on you.”

“Okay, but be warned, I haven’t had a lot of practice dancing.” She smiled as she stood. Rider took her hand in his and led her to the middle of the crowded dance floor. Once there, he put his arms around her and pulled her into his hard body.

With Rider’s strong arms surrounding her, Victoria felt like nothing could ever harm her. She twined her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. The rigid length of his cock pressed into her belly, and Victoria froze. When their gazes connected, Rider winked and rotated his hips once. Heat pooled between her legs, and her face flamed red-hot.

“Don’t be embarrassed, Vic,” he whispered against her ear. “You’re beautiful. From the moment you walked through the doors, I’ve been slowly going nuts wanting you.”

This was the moment she’d waited for half her life. The moment when she either went for broke or chickened out, as Rider had said earlier. “I want you too,” she admitted.

“Thank God. It was killing me wondering if I was the only one suffering.”

They finished their dance in quiet, simply content to hold each other and sway to the beat of the music.

“Come back to the hotel with me,” he murmured. “Let me make love to you tonight.”

Did she dare? Rider began smoothing a palm over her back, and she knew her answer. In the end, any good sense God had gifted her with flew out the window. For once, she went with her heart. Consequences be damned.

“What about Reena?” She wondered why her friend hadn’t returned from the restroom.

“She’s already gone. Her job was to get you here.”

“That little sneak,” she said, feigning anger.

He chuckled. “My sister takes her matchmaking job very seriously.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“So how about it. Care to blow this joint?”

“Yes,” she breathed out. Her legs trembled, and she wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or fear. Rider did scare her a little. The way he affected her, so easily igniting her and turning her mind to mush. No man should hold that sort of power over a woman. Still, Rider may go back to New York any day. He’d be gone, right along with her one big chance. To hell with that.

Victoria stepped out of his arms, putting an abrupt halt to their dance. “I’m ready if you are.”

The slow, sexy grin that spread across his face sent butterflies to flight in her belly. “Music to my ears, sweetheart.”

Without another word, he took her by the hand and led the way out of the nightclub to his car. In the dark, close confines of the interior, Victoria swore she saw him smile. It was feral and wicked, and her stomach went jumpy all over again.

Damn, what had she gotten herself into?

He looked like temptation in the flesh with his sinfully gorgeous black hair and intense blue eyes. Eyes a woman could drown in. Those eyes had been focused on her as if she’d been the only person in the bar. It was a thrilling notion. Yes, she wanted this night with him. She wanted to completely immerse herself in Rider James. He might not know it, but he was going to give her a night to remember.

Chapter Seven

Rider watched her stare out the passenger side window. It was the strangest feeling, because just to watch her was to want her. She was so perfect, and she had no idea. With her nose all but pressed to the glass, he took a moment to gaze at her in the dark interior of the car. She was illuminated only by the dash light, but it would have to be enough for now. He wanted to memorize every curve, every line. Her body would be stamped on his brain forever. Right now, he wished like hell they were already back at his hotel room. When his gaze traveled downward, Rider noticed her clutching her hands in her lap as if nervous. He reached out a hand and covered hers. “You okay?”

Her gaze darted to his, then quickly away. “Just…just a little nervous.”

He squeezed her hand. “Would it surprise you to know that I’m nervous too?”

She snorted. “I seriously doubt that.”

“Believe it, sweetheart,” he growled as he looked out the windshield. He was only a few miles from his hotel, thank God. “I feel like I’ve waited for this moment forever.”

“What are you talking about?”

Rider felt her staring at him, but because he was hyperaware of just how distracting she was to his concentration, he didn’t dare take his sight off the road. And right now he needed to focus on getting them to the hotel in one piece.

“I’ve thought about you,” he replied as he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. About seeing you in the nude. About making love to you. About waking up next to you in the morning and doing it all over again.” He flipped his turn signal on and took a left.

“You’ve thought about me?”

“Yep, but I kept my distance for one reason only. You were always way out of my league.”

“Oh please,” she said with no small amount of disbelief in her voice. “I’ve always been a total nerd and a plain Jane. How do you figure I’m out of your league?”

“You were one of those girls who got straight As, always crossed her Ts and dotted her Is. I managed to get in trouble at least once a week and sure as hell never saw my name on the honor roll. I had no business anywhere near you.”

“I’m having a hard time believing the fearless Rider James felt inadequate,” she whispered as if talking to herself. “That’s going to take some time to digest.”

When he arrived at the hotel, he shut off the engine and turned toward her. “None of that matters now. All that matters is you and me and this night.” As he got out of the car and came around to open her door, she peered up at him with a mixture of excitement and fear in her amazing hazel eyes. He liked the excitement, but fear was the last thing he wanted to see. He held out his hand, and she took it. The measure of trust she granted him in the small gesture made his heart swell with pride.

A few minutes later, they stepped through the hotel room door. As he turned the lock, a shock of need ran through his bloodstream. He grasped her around the middle with both hands, spanning her waistline. God, she was perfect for him. Victoria would fit his body the way no other woman ever had. He watched her eyes heat up. He pulled her close, closer still, fitting her to him, and kissed her long and deep. The sturdy counter of the small kitchenette was a mere three feet away. Rider walked backward, pulling her along with him, their lips locked together. Without breaking contact with Victoria’s soft mouth, Rider carefully turned, then lifted her and sat her down on the cold Formica top.

Victoria’s startled hiss brought him to a halt. She took her lips from his and stared as if scandalized. “Here, Rider?” Her hushed whisper turned him on something fierce. Everything about her made him ache with hunger and need.

He grinned. “Here. Or in the bedroom. Maybe even the shower. I’m not opposed to the floor either.” He winked. “Actually, all of the above, if I have my way.”

Rider began unbuttoning her blouse. When it fell open and he caught sight of her lace-covered breasts, he groaned. “I need to taste you,” he murmured, then dipped his head and sucked one already erect nipple into his mouth, bra cup and all.

“Rider,” she groaned.

The sound of his name from between her lips was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. He flicked his tongue over and around her nipple, gently at first, then rougher, demanding her flesh to beg for him. He cupped the round globe and pulled it up higher, kneading the supple skin. He heard her moan of delight and felt her writhing beneath him. Rider took joy in her animated responses to him. He gave in to his primal cravings and bit down. She arched upward, clearly eager for more of his mouth and hands. He released her and finished undressing her. Once she was totally nude, Rider’s nostrils flared as he picked up her succulent scent. Anxious for a taste, he smoothed a finger over her damp curls and found her budding desire. She was swollen and throbbing and sopping wet. He fondled and toyed with the little nub. Too fast, the teasing seemed to overwhelm her and she came, exploding all around his finger and screaming out his name. It was the sweetest thing to watch Victoria come totally undone at his hands.

Rider moved away and tore at the fly on his jeans and freed his erection. In the red haze of his lust, her pleading barely reached his ears. He looked down and saw her arms outstretched, waiting to embrace him even as her body welcomed him in.

“Please,” she moaned. “I need you.”

Rider gave her what she craved. “I need a taste of your mouth first.” As he slowly drifted his tongue over Victoria’s bottom lip, her body bowed. Rider moved downward, tasting the skin of her neck, and then the ample softness of her breasts. She fit his mouth, his hands. This woman was made for him, and he devoured her.

First licking, then sucking on her nipple, he luxuriated in her gasps and moans. Her hands fisted in his hair, pulling him closer. He toyed with one erect nipple and then bit down on the other, giving equal attention to both beautiful tits. He could easily spend hours suckling and nibbling her.

Rider lifted his head and stared at Victoria’s widespread thighs. She sat with her sex dripping wet and breasts glistening from the heat of his mouth. He wondered if she realized how beautiful she was to him in that moment. “You are incredibly sexy, Victoria. Do you know how beautiful you are?”