Chapter 20 SIERRA
TWENTY
SIERRA
Crane smiles faintly, tugging his pants up as I adjust my dress. This is the awkward bit right now—and right on cue, Crane’s gone strangely silent.
“Can I have my underwear?”
Crane nods, tossing them over to me.
“Are you hungry?”
Wriggling the underwear up my legs, I wince when I catch my fresh ink.
“Yeah, do your services extend to burgers after sex or not?”
Crane rolls his eyes, digging his car keys from a deep pocket.
“Burgers are on me.”
“Flash with the cash, too,” I quip, sliding into the passenger seat of his car.
I’m soaked, and his car is freezing.
It’s got take-out leaflets crammed down the side of the doors, boxes of food cartons and drink cans littering the floor. Checking out the back seat, I find his hoodie crumpled up beside a pile of books, and then my attention is back on the driver.
He’s exquisite to look at, and I’ve just had sex with him. I know what he looks like when he cums, and he said things to me I'll never forget.
“Burgers.”
Crane winks at me, and nods for me to get my seatbelt on.
“I’m serious though, I need about three burgers after that,” I announce, and Crane smiles, heading towards Truckers, our favourite burger joint. It’s a cute, traditional place where you park outside, grab a booth, and order your burger exactly as you want it.
“You won’t need three burgers at Truckers. Get a Fully Loaded.”
“That’s a good call, actually. What are you getting?”
“Whatever grabs my attention.”
Is he flirting with me?
He’s focusing on parking, and when he turns to reverse into a spot, I’m lost in his jawline and cheekbones again. Crane glances at me, putting me on the spot.
“What?”
“I’m just checking you out,” I admit, sinking my teeth into my lip. “I’m allowed, right? That’s not against the rules?”
Crane chuckles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Who said there were rules?”
“You.”
Crane stares at me, shaking his head. His eyes are clouding over again, and I reach out to touch his cheek.
“No, I said this was a one-night thing.”
Hearing him say that after the amazing sex we just had makes me pissed.
I go to get out of the car when he stops me, his hand on my arm.
“It’s not because of you, okay? I meant what I said—you’re a goddess. You deserve the world. I’m just not the guy to give it to you.”
I slump back into the chair, fighting the urge to grab him and kiss him again, when he ruffles my hair.
“Come on, let’s eat. I'm starving.”
I want to ask him why he’s not the guy to give it to me, but it could be just-fucked bliss that’s making me all wife-like.
I don’t want a relationship anyway—and certainly not with someone who has the ability to fuck me and walk away.
But he’s always been transparent, and I don’t have the right to complain. Just because I want to slide my hand into his as we walk into the burger joint, pull him close to me, and own his presence, doesn’t mean I can.
But something has changed.
There’s an electric current between us that’s threatening to explode if we move too far away from one another, and it’s unnerving.
He leads the way to a booth, nodding at some guys he knows on the way.
My dress is still damp, and I know I’m rocking that “just fucked” look well because I’m still getting checked out by his friends.
“Sierra,” Crane sighs. “You’re still wet.”
My hair clings to my face, and I know I probably look like shit.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Are you cold?” Crane looks concerned, glancing back to the car. “I can grab you my hoodie?”
I’m not too cold, but I want the hoodie. I don’t care how ridiculously juvenile it is of me to want to wear his clothes, but I do.
“Is that okay?” I ask, reaching for a menu. “I can grab it if you want?”
“Nah, I’ll go. Order me whatever you’re having.”
Crane heads out to the car, and I follow him with my eyes, unable to believe we’ve finally had sex.
Not just a kiss; full-blown sex.
Wait till I tell Kiki.
“Hey.”
Tearing my eyes away from Crane, I see one of the guys from the table studying me.
“You were at that party!”
Bemused, I shrug.
“Probably.”
The guy laughs, sliding into the seat before me.
“You were dancing on a table. It was hot.”
Alright, Captain Obvious. The guy is pretty good looking, in that all-American kind of way. Blond hair, blue eyes, tanned.
Meh.
He’s not Crane.
“Layton? You’re at the wrong table.”
A hoodie is thrust into my lap, and I yank it over my head, shivering as the scent of Crane washes over me.
Mother of God, it’s beautiful.
“Mmm,” I sigh and look up to see Crane and Layton staring at me like I’ve grown another head.
“I was just looking out for her, Michaels. You don’t leave a girl like that alone anywhere.”
Okay, I like this guy.
“Aww, thanks,” I tell him, giving him a warm smile.
Crane, however, isn’t smiling.
“Well, now I’m back.”
There’s an awkward silence as Layton makes a face at me, sliding out of the booth.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to it. Nice to meet you…?” Layton looks at me, his eyebrows raised playfully.
“Sierra,” I say, avoiding Crane's intense gaze.
“Sierra, of course. I’m Layton Chambers. I hope we meet again.” Layton studies me before nodding back at Crane. “Michaels.”
Crane says nothing, but his irritation is seeping from every pore.
“Thanks for the hoodie.”
“No problem.”
I’m about to say more when the server comes over, taking our order. I opt for a strawberry and raspberry milkshake for the sugar hit, and my stomach growls when she walks away.
“Favourite film?” I ask, crossing my arms.
Crane laughs, and I relax instantly. He leans back in his seat, studying me.
“Fuck knows. There are so many.”
“But you must have one favourite,” I press, thanking the server when she delivers our drinks.
Crane gulps at his soda before wiping his lips.
“Probably The Godfather.”
“Such a boy,” I tease, secretly admiring him more and more as time goes on. “That’s Kai’s favourite too.”
“I know.”
Just like that, the atmosphere changes.
“My best friend’s little sister,” he whispers, leaning forward to play with the toggles on the hoodie I’m wearing. “Wearing my hoodie, in a burger joint. Anyone would think we’re in a teen movie.”
“If we were in a movie, you’d be telling me how perfect we would be together.” I smirk, sucking on my milkshake.
Crane watches me, giving nothing away.
“We would be.”
I look up at him, sure I’ve heard him wrong.
“Huh?”
“We would. We’d be great together, for a while at least.”
I’m stunned.
“But then the usual shit would kick in. Jealousy. Arguing. The shit the movies don’t show.”
I nod my head, knowing he’s right.
“But the sex…”
Crane laughs, grinning at me.
“Would be worth it.”
“Modest much?” I snark, finishing off my milkshake with a slurp.
“You know it.”
“Marry me then,” I remark with a shrug, my heart slamming against my chest. This is flirting on a whole new level for me, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“Only if you go commando under the wedding dress.”
Crane’s heated gaze sweeps over me, and my neck heats up, making me gulp.
“You’d want me naked on my wedding day?”
“Sierra,” Crane murmurs, leaning forward. “Girl, I want you naked all of the time.”
What the fuck?
“Okay, two fully loaded burgers with fries.” the server announces, sliding two plates onto the table with a smile. “Enjoy!”
“You’re so confusing.”
Crane shoves fries in his mouth, groaning with delight.
“Why?”
“You want me naked all of the time, you know we’d be good together, but this is a one-night thing?”
Crane grins, wiping his mouth with his fingers.
“What do you want, Sierra?”
My cheeks flame, and I know I’m backed into a corner.
I don’t know what I want, but I know the man in front of me is mostly everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
But I don’t want to commit to anyone. I'm too young.
“More of what we had tonight?”
Crane laughs, shaking his head at me.
“You want me to be your fuck buddy?”
He looks amused, and I take a huge bite of my burger so I don’t have to respond.
Is it such a bad idea?
Crane continues.
“Your brother would kill me. Like I said, you deserve more than that.”
“I don’t want more than that,” I remind him, sucking my fingers. “Plus you live with me…easy access.”
Crane chokes on his food, grabbing for his soda.
“Did you just say…easy access?” He’s coughing and laughing at the same time, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Well, it is.” I shrug, turning my attention back to my burger. “I think it makes complete sense.”
Crane sits back, watching me with a strange expression.
“I suppose it’s better me than some random guy.”
Wait, what?
“Did I say you’d be my only fuck buddy?” I arch my brow at him. “Pfft.”
“No,” Crane says, leaning closer. “I did.”