5. Kane #2
“A little.” I lift my shoulder just a fraction, hoping he won’t push for details.
Thanks to Brian, I started to doubt not only my looks but my skill on a bike, and my knowledge of the industry in general.
Even though he never ridiculed me about my job, my entire being took a hit, and I’m just now regaining my confidence.
Still, I’m not at the point where I’m comfortable boasting about myself, especially to a guy who rides as well as Blake does.
Fortunately, Jason heads that off any further conversation about biking by setting food in front of us.
“Two Reubens, and a side of Ranch for your fries.” He winks at me. “Get you another round?”
Blake and I both nod and Jason goes to refill the drinks.
“I guess I made a good choice?” Blake darts his gaze toward our plates.
“The best, but you really should swap the Ketchup for Ranch.”
His nose crinkles as he watches me pop a Ranch-dipped fry in my mouth, though when I raise my brows in challenge, he grabs a fry and helps himself to my dressing.
Tilting his head to the side he blinks his hazel eyes as he chews, almost like he’s letting the flavor coat every inch of his tongue.
Then he swallows and slowly meets my gaze. “Not bad.”
“You thought I’d steer you wrong?” My jaw falls open in mock offense.
“Well, you do have pink hair.” The corner of his lip pulls upward like he’s fighting a smile.
“That’s because blonde, like Ketchup, is boring.
And I’m not boring.” I have no idea where that retort came from, but it’s actually true.
I’ll claim insecure, awkward, and— ugh —slightly feminine in appearance, but not boring.
Although, considering I order the same thing every time I eat here, maybe I just don’t want to admit the truth.
“We’re basing personality on hair color? Okay, what does mine say about me?” He takes a bite of his sandwich and chews with a sly grin, like he’s daring me to answer. Alright, I like puzzles.
“Well, the light brown says you blend in, but the shaggy length and hint of curl at the tip says you’re not a rule follower, so I’m going to go with paradox. What you see might not be all you get.”
Blake’s hand freezes halfway to his mouth, jaw hanging open. Then he clears his throat and looks at his plate. “That’s deep. ”
“Am I right?” I nudge his arm with my elbow.
“I’d say the length means I’m lazy.” He reaches for his beer, washing down his sandwich. “But yeah, I guess I blend in.”
I cock my head and study him. “No. You don’t blend. Not the way you ride a bike.”
“Now you’re just trying to make me feel like I’m not average.” He nudges me back.
“I did tell you I’m not good at small talk.” I bite my lip to stop myself from saying anything else awkward.
“This isn’t small talk, it’s conversation. I like it.” There’s a raw honesty to his voice that makes me believe him, even though I think my personality assessment rattled him.
“What makes this a conversation?” My voice is oddly soft, almost like I’m afraid of the answer. Maybe I am.
“Conversation makes you think.”
“Small talk doesn’t?” I know I sound skeptical, but how do you start talking to someone if you don’t first think about what to say?
He swallows even though there’s nothing in his mouth. “If I asked what’s your favorite sandwich, do you have to think about that or can you answer right away?”
“Rueben,” I say on autopilot.
“And if I asked why pink is any less boring than say, red? Or purple?”
I hold my breath in my lungs, replaying his words. “I’d say pink is unpredictable. It can be quiet and soft, or loud and bold.”
Blake’s eyes meet mine, something like pride and desire in his gaze. “See what I mean?”
Wow . A flood of thoughts and emotions race through my brain faster than I can register what they are.
He’s got my head and my heart working in overdrive, both of which seem to be screaming at me not to let this moment end.
I mean, it will eventually since he’s just visiting, but until then?
I don’t think I could walk away from him right now if I tried.
“Do you want to get out of here?” I whisper.
“My hotel is around the corner.”
***
“You win. Pink is not boring.” Blake stumbles toward the bathroom to discard the condom, coming back to bed with an almost dazed look on his face.
“Are you saying hair color dictates how good a person is in bed?” I pinch his hip, a tiny warning to think about his answer.
He squirms out of my reach. “I’m saying I’ve never had anyone reach underneath while I’m pounding them into the mattress to rub my balls.
A, the flexibility was impressive, and B, it felt incredible.
You’re the one correlating hair color with good sex.
Although, based on recent experience, I agree with you. Pink hair equals good in bed.”
“That’s so not what I was saying.” I roll my eyes dramatically. “But I’ll let it pass since you’re giving me a compliment. I think.”
“Of course it’s a compliment.” He rolls to his side to face me. “You don’t take those very well, do you?”
I didn’t realize I’d given off that impression, but since he’s not wrong, I won’t argue. That doesn’t mean I’ll spill all my baggage, but I can at least be somewhat honest about why I distrust approval.
Rolling my head to face him I offer a weak smile.
“Most of the time compliments come with a qualifier, at least in my experience. You’re pretty for a guy .
You’re strong for a small guy . You’re more mature than you look.
Stuff like that. All that shit is arbitrary, more of a genetic outcome than something I actually did, you know? ”
“I hear you; it’s nice to get approval for things you do as opposed to what you look like, but you do realize you hit the genetic jackpot, right?”
“Um, what?” My gaze dips to the mattress before it’s forced upward when Blake lifts my chin.
“You’re pretty, period. Actually, the word I’d pick is stunning. I’ve never seen such blue eyes before, and your lips… It’s almost impossible for me not to stare at them.”
“I… Thank you for not adding a qualifier, but those are still arbitrary things I have no control over.”
“Did you forget how I said you were good at conversation over dinner?”
“I…” I did actually forget about that.
“And clearly you have good taste since you picked me up.” The corner of his lip pulls up as he tries not to laugh.
I wrap my hand around his cock– how is it still sorta hard –and tighten my grip with a wicked smirk. “Don’t think I didn’t catch how that was more a compliment for you than me.”
“Is this supposed to be a threat?” He arches a brow in that sexy way only ruggedly handsome men can pull off as he looks at where my hand is resting.
“You think I won’t squeeze?”
“I hope you do. Maybe this time I can be on top. I’d love to ride you so I can watch you come next.”
That’s so unexpected I let go. “You want to…watch?”
“You say that like it’s weird.” A tiny line forms between his brows.
“Not weird just…not something I’m used to.” I trap my lips between my teeth, wishing I could take the words back .
Blake rubs a finger over the bridge of his nose. “I’m gonna need more information than that. Has no one ever watched you come before?”
“I…well…once or twice maybe.” I think back to the rebound guy, who wouldn’t let us cover our encounter in darkness.
Then Brian, who always insisted on it. I’m not intending to mention either of those things until I realize Blake is still staring at me intently.
“It’s not something you see very well in the dark. ”
“I’m guessing since the lights are on now it wasn’t you who insisted on the dark?”
I shake my head no.
“Why did he ?” Blake doesn’t clarify who he is, though I get the sense he can guess it’s someone who used to be important to me.
“If I had to guess, he could pretend I was someone else in the dark.” Shit . I didn’t mean to say that, either. Why do my words just spill out in front of him?
Blake brushes a lock of hair away from my face. “I can’t pretend to know what that would be like—I’ve never really dated anyone so I don’t have that kind of scar—but I do know you shouldn’t let this one become permanent.”
I try to swallow the lump in my throat before it turns into a full-on sob—pretty sure waterworks are frowned upon during a one-night stand—although that’s no easy feat considering it’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me. Ever.
“I’ll try not to,” I whisper.
“Good.” He plants a soft kiss on my lips. “Now lay back and let me between those legs. I’d love nothing more than to see those pretty blue eyes staring at mine when I take you over the edge.”
Slowly, cautiously, I roll to my back and splay my legs wide so Blake can fit between them.
My cock is hard now, standing at attention, and for a moment Blake seems content to just look at it.
He’s probably wondering how it can be so thick when I’m so slim, but to his credit he doesn’t say those words.
Instead, he licks a stripe from root to tip, sealing his lips around the crown and suckling gently.
Whether he’s trying to take it easy on my sensitive dick or savor the moment I can’t tell—either would be a thoughtful gesture, and he seems like a thoughtful guy.
Regardless, his soft, warm mouth feels like heaven, and it’s a struggle to keep my head up and my eyes open.
I’d give myself over to the sensation and collapse into a puddle if I didn’t want to commit this image to memory so I can draw on it when future me is all alone again.
Blake watches me from under hooded eyes as he takes me to the back of his throat, and despite the deliciously filthy image of his mouth swallowing my cock, it’s his heated gaze that has me transfixed.
“Shit that’s good.” My fingers sift through his soft curls.
“Mmm.” His eyelids flutter shut as he bobs his head, giving me the distinct impression he likes having a cock in his mouth.
It’s something I enjoy too, whether I’m giving or receiving, but receiving has never felt as good as it does right now.
I suspect that’s partly because everything about Blake puts me at ease, although the way his tongue moves on my shaft is nothing short of divine.
“Better stop and let me prep you or you won’t get your turn on top.” My chest heaves as I try to keep my arousal in check.
Blake’s face starts to turn crimson. “I sort of took care of the prep part.” He holds up two shiny fingers.
“Someone’s impatient.” I chuckle as Blake sheathes my cock for me, an act that I find impossibly sexy.
I’m not even gonna try to deny that.” He holds my dick at his entrance and, holding my gaze, sinks his broad frame down until the space between us is erased. With my hand leisurely pumping his shaft he starts to move, and when I come several minutes later, his eyes are still locked on mine.