Chapter 12 #2
She meets my eyes, her expression softening immediately. There’s a flicker of relief in her gaze, like she’s been waiting for an out and wasn’t sure how to ask for it.
“Yeah,” she murmurs with a slight nod.
She doesn’t hesitate, just spins around and heads straight for the back exit. I follow close behind, tossing one last glance at Kline, who’s now seated with his back toward me and Khloe in his lap. I pray he doesn’t do something he’ll regret.
The door creaks as it swings open, and we step into the cool embrace of the desert night.
Out here, everything feels quieter. The door shuts behind us with a solid thunk, sealing off the noise and the heat.
The air is dry and crisp, tinged with the faint scent of cigarette smoke and asphalt.
Somewhere nearby, a car engine hums in the distance, blending with the soft chirping of crickets hidden in the brush.
The contrast to the suffocating bar is instant and welcome.
Raelynn drifts over to a worn bench just off to the side of the building and sits, exhaling like she’s been holding her breath all night. I lean against the wall near the door, folding my arms across my chest as I watch her toe at the dirt with her wedge, grinding a cigarette butt into the gravel.
“Is she always like that?” I ask after a beat.
Raelynn sighs, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips. “Not always. Just when she’s drunk and finds someone she thinks is hot.”
She lets out a soft laugh and tilts her head slightly to the side, eyes glinting beneath the dim light above the door. “Honestly, she probably would’ve made a move on you if she didn’t think something was going on between us.”
I glance at her as she continues to grind more butts into the ground. “Why would she think that?” I ask, a hint of amusement lacing my voice.
Raelynn lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine with an unreadable look. There’s a beat of silence. Tension crackles in the air between us, subtle but unmistakable. She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth like she’s holding something back.
I don’t stop myself. I have only known this girl for two fucking weeks, and already she was invading every single thought of mine.
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m crossing the space between us and dragging her to her feet, caging her body against the door with my hands pressed on either side of her head. Her breath catches. A combination of fear and lust radiates off her.
“Emilio,” she breathes. “What are you—”
I don’t let her finish.
My lips crash into hers. Hard, desperate, and reckless.
She makes a noise of surprise, her hands bracing against my chest. I half expected her to shove me off, but she doesn’t. Instead, her fingers tighten in the fabric of my shirt, and she pulls me in, closing the space between us like she’s been waiting for this just as long as I have.
My hands move off the door, my left hand slides up to cup the side of her face, thumb brushing the softness of her cheek.
My right arm wraps firmly around her waist, drawing her body flush against mine.
She melts into me as my tongue teases the seam of her lips, begging her to let me in, and she does.
Her lips part with a low, breathy moan that goes straight to my fucking head.
Her tongue darts out to tease my lips, then flicks my tongue, playful and taunting, before retreating back inside her mouth. I chase after her, deepening the kiss, and she moans again—this time louder.
Raw.
Needy.
The sound vibrates between us and sets every nerve ending of mine on fire.
It takes everything in me right then and there not to rip this damn dress off her.
The taste of her, her moans, the way her body molded into mine, she is exquisite.
I’d thought about kissing her more times than I could count.
Hell, I’d thought about more than kissing her, especially with the way she looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention.
And judging by the way she’s grinding her hips ever so slightly against mine, she’s been thinking the same damn thing.
I was a dick to her during our first meeting, and that didn’t deter her. She craves me just as much as I crave her. I can tell from the way our tongues dance together, and the sounds she is making while her nails dig into my chest, that she wants this as much as I do.
I pull back, just for a second to breathe, and she lets out a soft whimper in protest. I can’t help but chuckle as I bring my lips back to hers, brushing mine over hers before slowly moving down to press a trail of kisses along her jaw.
She gasps softly and tilts her head back instinctively, giving me more access as her fingers slip beneath my shirt, tracing over my abs like she’s trying to memorize every line.
Her touch is slow, deliberate, and it makes my dick throb painfully against the inside of my jeans.
I continue to trail soft kisses under her chin and down to that sweet spot on her throat, sucking lightly, pulling another moan out of her that has my dick twitching again.
I groan into her neck as her hand drifts down, fingers trailing along my V-line.
When she brushes against my waistband, I snap.
I slam her back against the door with just enough force to make her gasp, spreading her legs with my knee so she can feel exactly what she’s doing to me.
“Fuck,” she whimpers, and the sound alone almost undoes me.
One of her hands drags up my chest, nails scraping in a way that makes me hiss.
The other lingers at my waistband, daring, almost teasing.
I move my hand from her face into her hair and the other, which was wrapped around her waist, down the smooth skin of her left thigh, fingers slipping under the hem of her dress.
I pause and lift my head to look at her.
Her cheeks are flushed, her chest rising and falling fast. Her eyes meet mine, flicking briefly down to where my hand rests on her thigh, then back up, full of heat.
I slide my hand up higher, just enough that my fingers could tease with the edge of her lace panties, and she bites her lip.
I smirk as I brush my thumb along her core.
I can feel how soaked she is. She is just as aroused as I am.
“Shit, Raelynn,” I whisper.
She whimpers when I press my thumb against her through the fabric, teasing her folds. Her hips buck into my hand, and her lips part like she’s about to beg me not to stop.
But I do.
I pull back, slowly withdrawing my hand, and she lets out a needy sound of protest that makes me smirk.
I lean in, pressing my forehead to hers. “You’re still drunk, Raelynn.”
She blinks, confused. “What?”
“I’m not going to take advantage of you. Not like this,” I breathe against her lips. “If we’re going to do anything, it’s not going to be behind a dingy ass dive bar. It’s going to be when you’re sober. When you know what you want. And when I can take my time with you.”
Her breath catches again, not from shock this time, but something deeper. Her hands are still on me, her body trembling just slightly beneath mine.
I press a final kiss to the corner of her mouth, then step back, leaving a space between us that feels too wide.
She looks up at me, dazed and breathless, and I know this isn’t over. Not even close.
Just… not tonight.