37. Reese
37
REESE
“I’ll have to enroll next semester for photography. Or maybe I’ll take a class at the community college this summer for fun?” I muse. “Oh, I could always look at tutorials online.”
While I’m broadcasting my thoughts, I mess with the camera’s settings and adjust the lens. Peering through the viewfinder, I carefully aim it in Dane’s direction, only for him to extend his arm out and block his face before I can take a photo.
“Don’t you have a million pictures of me by now?”
“None from this camera,” I say sweetly, and he sighs something deep and long-suffering.
“In another life, you’d make a great lawyer.” With a shake of his head, he returns his attention to the fastback. “Want me to pose for you like one of those ridiculous calendars?”
“What do you mean?” I snap a picture, then frown when he picks up a wrench, leans over the engine, and lifts his shirt up halfway to expose the hard planes of his abs. He gives me a smoldering gaze, and my teeth sink into my bottom lip to smother my laughter. “You’re ridiculous.”
Tossing a wink, he yanks his shirt down. “Your loss.”
With a snort, I capture another shot of him while he nods along to aggressive rock music and tinkers with his latest project car. I can’t think of a better way to spend a day off than hanging out and doing nothing together.
The stereo abruptly stops, snaring my focus. Dane groans and drags his fingers through his tousled hair.
“Want me to get that for you?” I offer, and he waves me off.
“Fuck no.” He retrieves his phone from his pocket, and seconds later, the music resumes. “Only two people call me, and I don’t wanna talk to either of them.”
“What if it’s an emergency?” I ask. My sister rarely calls me unless there’s an urgent matter. Not that we’re on speaking terms right now. She’s still pissed about the whole breather thing, and she’s leaving me on read.
I won’t lie, it’s actually very frustrating. I’m genuinely upset that this is all happening because of Travis Walker. I left her a message about him being a creepy liar, but her phone’s been set on do not disturb since.
We’ve never gone this long without talking. Our longest fight lasted half a day, and the more I reflect on it, the harder it becomes to ignore the glaringly obvious truth. That argument—like all the others—ended because I caved just to keep the boat from rocking. There’s never been one disagreement where Lilian ever admitted she was wrong.
“I’m the last person you’d want in an emergency,” Dane says dryly, jolting me back to reality. “It’s nothing serious. Just my old man checking in to see if Junior screwed up some more or something, and it’ll be a cold day in hell before I subject myself to that again.”
My brows draw together. It never occurred to me that he’s named after his dad. Before I can respond, he clears his throat.
“You ready to pass your driving test?”
I heave out an inaudible sigh. It’s such a blatant change of subject, but I decide to humor him and go along with it for his sake. “What if I forget to keep clear of a keep-clear zone?”
“Baby.” His arms fold over his chest. “I’m insulted you don’t think my teaching’s good enough?—”
“Oh my God,” I gasp, covering my mouth. “What if I drive like a maniac on the road and give the evaluator a heart attack?”
Something unamused flits across his features, and I bite back my laughter and offer him a cheeky grin.
“You’re gonna ace it,” he says firmly. “Then you’ll drive us out for dinner, where we’ll celebrate your accomplishment.”
“It’s just a license,” I begin, and he huffs out a snort.
“Just a license,” he echoes, shaking his head in exasperation. “One month ago, you were too scared to drive. Now look where you are.”
My cheeks blaze. “Still afraid to drive?”
“That’s fair,” he says. “A car’s still a car. It will cause a lot of damage if you’re not careful.” He glances sideways. “If you’re that worried, we could do what Sal told me to do.”
“Obey traffic laws at all times?”
“Go for a spin around the DMV,” he says with a casual shrug. “Familiarize yourself with the area. That way, you’ll know what to expect when it’s time for the test.”
“That’s… actually not a bad idea.”
“Not a bad idea.” He does the sign of the cross and points skyward. “Hear that, Sal? You would have loved having my girl around, inflating your ego.” A half-smile forms on his lips. “Give me ten minutes to replace this starter, and then we’ll see what you’re dealing with.”
Contrary to what my boyfriend believes, parallel parking is a pain in the ass. I’m wholeheartedly convinced it’s the tenth circle of hell.
“You know what I think?” I grit out, breathing through my nose. I spin the steering wheel rapidly to one side, trying my best not to become overwhelmed when a massive truck appears in the rearview mirror. “The city should invest in public transportation.”
Dane keeps his knuckles pressed firmly against his lips. He thinks he’s being slick, but I’m not oblivious. I know he’s struggling to maintain his composure. His eyes always give him away. Always .
“You got this, speed demon,” he says, then coughs loudly to mask his laugh, and grinds his fist to his mouth.
“I’m just saying.” With a hoarse exhalation, I ease my foot onto the gas pedal. “Having additional modes of transportation available would make this city more bearable to live in. And it’s better for the”—I hold my breath while I pull into the spot, and the muscle in my jaw clenches as I quickly straighten the tires—“ environment !” I shriek. “I did it!”
“Holy fuck,” he grunts, bringing his hand to his ear. “I mean, fuck yeah, you did .”
I twist toward him, and my heart hammers against my rib cage, as a too-bright grin breaks across my face.
“Think you could take us back to the garage in one piece?” he teases, and I shoot him a playful scowl. He gestures to the fuel gauge. “Might need a refuel first, though.”
“Of course, Daniel .” Within seconds, I peel away from the curb and head west. Then I pull into the first gas station I see, barely killing the engine when Dane climbs out of the vehicle.
“I’ll be right back, Iris ,” he responds. “With lots and lots of gas station sushi for you.”
“Don’t forget the mozzarella sticks, Daniel.”
“Who could forget the appetizers?” he deadpans, and I snort as he rounds the convertible, drops a kiss on my hairline, and grabs a pump. Then I watch him fill the tank. Honestly, I’m ogling him. Shamelessly so.
He looks like a heartthrob straight out of a sixties car flick, so effortlessly timeless in his threadbare shirt, ripped black jeans, scuffed black boots, and dark sunglasses. A fluttering hits my chest as I keep my eyes on him. That’s my boyfriend .
He catches my gaze, and his knowing smirk only heightens my awareness. “Jesus. You find me hot parallel parking and pumping gas for you. What’s next? Oil changes?”
I roll my eyes good-naturedly as heat rises in my cheeks. “I’ve seen you do that before. Many times.”
“Damn. How do you control yourself around me?” he teases, and I stick my tongue out at him.
“With ease,” I retort, and he cuts me a smug grin and thumps the side of my car twice.
“We’ll see if you can still control yourself with ease around me while I fix a flat tire.” His smile broadens. “Or install a kill switch.”
I sigh, then startle when he sneaks another kiss to my hairline. Wrinkling my nose at him, I wait until he returns to the passenger side, then poke his bicep. His laughter stokes a flurry of warmth low in my belly, and I’m unable to resist my beam for another second.
With an uncharacteristically small amount of traffic for a city in Southern California, it’s a short drive to his garage. I’m more than grateful when Dane stashes the Nova in its cramped spot for me. I’ve already tested my luck with parallel parking today. I don’t need to push it any further and see how much damage I could actually cause.
He hops out of the convertible and lifts his sunglasses. “Ever want to see the golden hour from my room?” His lack of subtlety is punctuated with a quirked brow.
Folding my arms, I pretend to mull it over. “Has that line ever worked on anybody?”
“I’ll let you know in a second,” he says, and I giggle before I can help myself.
“I’ll need two seconds before I give you my answer,” I say, schooling my expression into something bland and serious. “Well, Daniel? Has that line ever worked on?—”
A loud shriek expels from my lungs when he grips my hips and hoists me into the air. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist, and I level him with a playful scowl.
Amusement crinkles his eyes. “It works.”
“Does it now?” I breathe, dipping my head forward. Peering at his chest, I trace a small heart over his heart.
“It works,” he repeats, then crushes his lips to mine.
Our bodies stagger. In the next instant, my spine presses against the cold steel frame of a nearby car. My fingers cling to the soft material of his shirt for purchase, and I draw closer when he abruptly breaks away and brings his mouth to my ear.
“Now, let’s go see the golden hour from my room.”
I blink, then burst into laughter when he unveils a mischievous grin and tips his head toward his motorcycle.
Before long, we’re flying down the side streets toward Las Marinas. Anticipation catapults through me as we near his apartment, and my impatience nearly takes rein the moment we’re all but rushing to his floor.
“Marco’s out,” he confirms, kicking the door shut behind him. His eyes lock on mine as he twists the deadbolt, gestures to it with a tap, and flashes me a thumbs-up. My heart squeezes tight. “We have the whole place to ourselves.”
“It’s so cute how you let your best friend come and go like a cat,” I observe, and his expression gives way to confusion. It’s not like I’m wrong.
“A cat?”
“The chunky stray in my neighborhood keeps sneaking into my apartment if I open the patio door for more than a second,” I explain with a smile. “He refuses to leave when I try to shoo him out. He comes and goes as he pleases.”
With a shake of his head, he chuckles lowly. “I can’t believe you compared him to a cat.”
“Am I wrong, though?” A soft giggle tears loose from me when he hoists me into his strong arms. My legs reflexively lock around him. My hands frame his jawline as I peer deeply into his eyes.
“Guess not,” he says, and then his mouth covers mine, the pressure of his lips all incessant and demanding, as he carries me toward the bedroom.
We tumble onto his mattress, and heat simmers between my thighs when his kiss slides to the pulse point of my neck. His grip on my waist grows rough. His hips fit against mine as he bears the full weight of his body down in a slow grind. A quiet moan dispels from me, giving way to a whimper of protest when he pushes up.
“Baby, as much as I’d love to continue this, I’m dirty from the garage.” He sneaks a kiss on the hollow of my throat, eliciting a sharp peal of laughter straight from my heart. With a boyish grin, he pulls away and sweeps his gaze across my body in an unhurried perusal.
“So you… decided you’re just gonna stand there?” I tease.
“Give me a sec. Just trying to appreciate a work of art. I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept.”
I cackle into my palms. “ Go shower .”
“Bossy.” Kicking his jeans off, he tosses his keys, wallet, and phone onto the nightstand. “Better be fucking naked when I’m back.”
“Mmkay.” I shrug my knit sweater off and let out an undignified snort when he wolf-whistles. Quickly peeling the rest of my clothes off, I riffle through his drawer for condoms when his cell buzzes.
Peeking up, I spot Daniel Kingsley flashing on the screen. Curiosity flickers through me as the call goes to voicemail. Dane doesn’t tell me anything about his dad. Then again, he never says much about his family, to begin with, and my brows furrow at the thought. Well, at least I’ve got visual confirmation that neither one of them is named Danish, so that’s something.
Soon enough, the bathroom door swings open, and Dane comes into view. Shaking his wet hair, his cocky grin surfaces as he takes another long look at my body. My neck blazes hot at his expression while he makes his way over.
Within a heartbeat, his hands hook around my calves and tug me toward him. Silky sheets bunch up beneath me as he guides one leg over his shoulder. His blunt fingernails gently dig into my skin, and every thought leaves my head.
“Not gonna lie.” A featherlight kiss is pressed to my knee. “Seeing you naked in my bed has given me a great idea.”
“Hmm?” My eyes sink closed. “What’s that?”
“You should be naked in my bed at all times.” His voice turns gravelly and teasing. “Sounds like a great idea. We should commit to it right away in my completely honest, unbiased opinion.”
I huff out a groan, then sigh a little dreamily as he nips at a sensitive spot on my inner thigh. He takes his time, trailing a path of kisses to my hip bone with painstaking slowness. Impatience takes hold, and I shift beneath him, wordlessly urging him to go where I need him most.
Instead, he continues with his torture. His mouth goes to my navel, then up to my breasts. His hands slide to my pelvis and pin me in place as he flits his tongue around my nipple, then licks an obscene line across my skin toward the other. My chest heaves. My breath stutters.
Slowly—so, so slowly —he nips his way down my stomach, inching closer and closer to my clit when he presses a kiss to my other hip bone.
I almost snarl in frustration. “ Dane ,” I whine, desperately pushing my hips against him, and he chuckles roughly against my skin.
“Just messing with you.” Before I can grab his hair and guide him to me, his shoulders wedge my thighs apart, and his tongue sweeps across my swollen clit. A moan leaves my lips, and my fingers curl into his shoulder blades.
The familiar feel of his calloused hands sliding up my inner thighs ejects all thoughts from my head. He spreads me wider. I feel exposed and boneless as he anchors me down with a firm grip and buries his face into my pussy. It’s exquisite—the slow drag of his tongue. The teasing, broad strokes. It’s as if he’s taking his time. As if he plans on doing this for hours. For days .
If he keeps licking me like that, he can do this for the rest of eternity for all I care.
Glittering heat coils deep within. Pleasure rockets through me. My skin feels ablaze; every nerve ending is set abuzz. My eyes screw shut, and my heels dig into his lower back while my fingernails drag incessant lines across his shoulders as I come.
His head lifts, and he finds my gaze, a wild smirk playing at the corner of his lips. His focus never wavers as he climbs on top of me, stretches his body over mine, and splits my legs wider around his hips.
Ducking his head, he presses a startlingly gentle kiss to the edge of my scar. Then another. And another. It’s as if he’s trying to worship every inch of it. Soon, his hand slots between my thighs. His thumb flirts with my clit, and I whimper when two fingers slide in deep. Just then, he captures my lips and sends a pulse of need through me. The urgency of his kiss is all-consuming and overwhelming and too much.
I need him close. I need him so impossibly close that I can feel his heartbeat in my chest. Feel every inch of his soul entwining with mine.
My arms loop around him, and I draw him in until we’re skin-to-skin. Still, it’s not enough. It’s simply not enough.
“I want you,” I moan into his mouth.
“You have me,” he growls, tugging my bottom lip between his teeth. Before I can deepen the kiss, he breaks away and pushes up onto his elbows.
A protesting whine breaks free. I nudge him with my knees, and he lets loose a throaty chuckle.
“Aw, baby.” Grabbing the condom I left out, he’s quick to roll it on, then rewards me with the press of his erection between my legs. “Is this what you want?”
With a tilt of his hips, he fucks into me in one smooth thrust, and my lips part at the sudden stretch. My head tips back as his breath hits my neck, and my heart gives an easy rhythm. Clutching onto his shoulders, my dull nails bite into his flesh as he fully buries himself inside me.
A low groan comes from the back of his throat. I hum a sound of agreement. It’s all I can manage. I’m too dizzy with the feel of him to form a coherent thought.
For a moment, neither of us moves. It’s as if we’re trying to draw this out for as long as possible. Like we’re trying to let time suspend. I peek up at him and catch the softness embedded deep in his gaze, and my smile is imminent. His eyes crinkle in response, but he doesn’t move another muscle. Not even when I rock my hips against him in a futile attempt to seek my release.
“ Please ,” I grumble, and his grin grows crooked.
“Aw, baby. Always so polite,” he teases, skating his nose along my collarbone. He all but ignores my next suggestive grind as he plants a kiss on the curve of my throat. “So damn greedy, too. Just give me a minute.”
I shake my head and hook my leg around his waist, pulling him closer. He lets loose a rough-edged chuckle against the crook of my neck.
“Baby, I don’t wanna come until I fuck you thoroughly,” he groans. “Give me a minute or I’m not gonna last.”
“I don’t mind.”
He snorts, and his face comes back into view. Warmth spreads through me as his adoring gaze holds my breath captive. My pulse kicks up a few notches when he brushes a stray lock out of my face.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, and my laughter bubbles up in my chest. His mouth curves, and with that, he slides out and rocks back into me so slowly, so devastatingly tender. My heart is aflutter.
The headboard thumps as his rhythm builds. My breasts bounce and snare his focus, and he husks out a full-bodied groan.
“Fuck.” Pitching forward, he wets his thumb with a slow lick and brings it to my clit, and I squirm. “Squeeze your tits for me.”
Heat ripples through me instantaneously. My hands fall from his back to my breasts, and he grates a harsh breath against my temple when I pinch my nipples.
“So fucking hot,” he grunts, then nips at the pounding pulse point of my neck. “I didn’t tell you to stop.”
Oh God. It’s becoming hard to concentrate on anything but the weight of his body pressed against mine. The feel of his tongue when he claims my mouth. The relentless pace of his movements as he drives into me and teases my clit.
It’s overwhelming. Magnificently so.
Without warning, he pulls out of me completely and grits his teeth. Shoving his fingers through his hair, he breathes hard through his nose and ignores my noise of protest. “I don’t wanna come just yet.”
“I want you to.” My heart beats impossibly fast with anticipation as I find his gaze, and my expression gives way to something shy. “Fucking me from behind?”
He blinks out of his stupor and groans. “Baby, I don’t want you to freak out?—”
My heart takes flight at his words. “Please?”
With my back to him, I shift onto all fours. My pulse thrums with need. My breathing picks up as glittering heat rushes over every part of me. My skin buzzes with awareness under the slow perusal of his gaze.
“I trust you,” I add softly. It’s the truth. While it’s very sweet of him to worry, I trust him completely—with every inch of my soul.
“Okay,” he says finally. “But if it’s too much for you, let me know. Say museum and I’ll stop.”
I snort before I can help myself. The mattress shakes with our laughter in the beat that follows.
“Really, Dane?” I almost drop my face into my hands. “ The museum ?”
“It’s the perfect safe word,” he insists, and his chuckle relieves the small knot of tension in my stomach. Soon, he settles behind me. He wastes no time kissing the line of my shoulders. His hand falls to my hip, and he gently wrenches me against him. My cheek softly lands on his pillow, and my breath stalls in my throat as his erection teases the sensitive heat between my thighs.
Finally, he eases into me, and my eyes squeeze shut.
“You good, baby?” he utters, his voice a gritty whisper.
I nod, speechless, as I push against his grip, desperately seeking every slide of his cock he’s yet to give me.
“Fuck. Yes .” His thumb teases my clit. His other arm tucks around my waist and anchors me flush against his chest. “Come on, baby. Squeeze your tits for me while you come on my cock.”
Oh God. His words ignite a fire inside me. My mouth parts on a sudden gasp as my hands clumsily palm my breasts. He leans forward, the movement causing my knees to spread further apart, and everything builds as he fucks me into his mattress. As he takes me and claims me and every last piece of my heart. I would irrevocably give myself over to him. I’m his .
His name barely escapes my lips when his teeth graze the curve of my neck, and the tautness in my belly grows even tighter.
“Don’t get shy on me now, baby. Louder.” He sucks a mark at the tender skin, and I’m unable to hold back any longer.
I moan and tremble beneath him as I ride out my release. He doesn’t ease up. If anything, his pace quickens into something feverish and relentless. He rocks into me over and over until he pulses hard inside me as he comes.
His breathing slowly evens out against my neck. His fingers trace aimless zigzags across my ribs as the warmth of his sweat-sheened body bleeds into me. Without a word, he rolls us over so that we’re lying on our sides. His arms are still around me, but I wriggle even closer into the shelter of his embrace.
“We should probably go wash up,” I mumble absentmindedly.
“In a minute,” is his response, which doesn’t sound so bad. Not when he presses a kiss to the crown of my head, and a sense of awareness strikes me all at once. I didn’t have to use the safe word. I didn’t panic . At the realization, my heart kicks up a few beats.
I stare ahead at the window, my lips sneaking up at the corner when he reaches for my hand and laces his fingers through mine. “I think we missed the golden hour.”
He laughs into my hair. “Yeah, we did. We can always try again tomorrow, the day after—however long it takes until we finally see it.”
I barely suppress my snort. “Has that line ever worked on anybody?” I ask monotonously, and a peal of laughter tumbles out of me when he nips at a sensitive spot behind my ear.
“I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
“Oh, Dane.” My voice takes on a solemn tone. “I forgot to mention I’m suddenly busy from here on out to ever come over to your place again.”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow,” he repeats, then kisses my neck. I try to contain my smile and automatically lose the battle.
Damn my soft heart. It folds so easily for him .
“Yeah,” I finally agree. “You’ll let me know tomorrow.”