Chapter Thirteen
Duncan
Five minutes after our call ended, I was in the car, speeding through the city.
Tonight had been a bust. Whenever Jeremy was away, I either hung out with my brothers or worked out for an extended period.
But I hadn’t wanted to do either. I could have worked because there was always something to do for the office.
My to-do list was endless—I’d learned years ago that attempting to get it down to zero was a futile exercise and only led to frustration—but I rarely worked from home, and I hadn’t cared to do it tonight.
After grabbing a quick dinner, I’d spent about half an hour on the treadmill, then moved to the weights section. And yet my mind was still on Riley.
I had to get a grip on myself, but not even a cold shower achieved that. I'd wanted her tonight. I'd been looking forward to this evening the whole week. Why the hell didn’t I give her a heads-up?
Excitement coursed through my veins. I needed to see Riley, plain and simple, and I was going to stop fighting that fact.
Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the address she’d texted me.
There was a parking lot across the road.
It was surprisingly empty, but then I noticed cabs and other cars only briefly stopping in front of the entrance and then taking off.
Clearly everyone was Ubering, since they’d planned to drink.
The music was loud but not overpowering, since it was out in the open. I looked around. Riley had told me she was at the high table right next to the bar. I found her instantly. She looked absolutely stunning, wearing a short silver dress with a dipping back. She was barefoot on the sand.
Christine noticed me, and Riley immediately looked over her shoulder before turning around. Sex appeal rolled off her. Her hair was bound up in a high ponytail that came down in waves.
I walked straight toward her. I was so fixated on her that I didn't even realize her friends had left until I reached the table and it was just the two of us.
"Here I am."
"Thank you for coming."
I wanted to tell her so many things, but I didn’t. Instead, I put a hand on her waist and moved to the rhythm of the music. She leaned into my touch, following my lead, exhaling sharply.
Because she was much smaller than me, her hot breath landed on my neck. It turned me on to no end. It was all I could do not to kiss her right now.
"You're a great dancer," she murmured, clearly surprised.
But I was just following my instincts. I needed to be close, and this was the perfect excuse. Then I turned her around, plastering her back against my chest, moving even slower. She was intoxicating.
I dipped my nose in the crook of her neck. "You smell amazing," I whispered in her ear.
She looked up at me sideways. Her lips were so damn inviting.
I closed the distance between us, kissing her the way I'd meant to all fucking week. She tasted like champagne. I didn't hold back at all. I explored her while we still moved to the rhythm of the music.
My entire body felt like a live wire, like she was fueling me. I couldn't get enough of her taste. I wanted to pin her against the table and kiss her until she wrapped her legs around me.
Fuck, why had I started this in public? I needed to touch her so damn badly, but I didn't want to make a spectacle of us.
I moved one hand from her hip up her belly, keeping it there. It rose up and down with her breath, which became more labored. I moved my palm farther up until my thumb rested on her sternum, my fingers on her left breast. Her heartbeat thundered beneath my touch.
I pulled back and cleared my throat. "Ready to go home?"
She nodded.
Fuck, I shouldn't have been kissing her. She'd had too much to drink.
You only came here to make sure she got home in one piece, Duncan. To make sure she was fine, not to take advantage of her.
Fucking hell.
“Yes, although now that you’re here, I could be talked into staying. Actually," she said, clearly having a conversation with herself, "no, let's go home."
"I love the way you change your mind."
"I can't wait to be alone with you."
Christ, she was even more inebriated than I’d thought. Riley wasn't usually this forward.
You're the older one here, Duncan. You have to draw the line and enforce it, and you are the one who's sober.
"I'll take you home" was all I said. I put an arm around her waist as I led her out of the club and to the car.
"You're such a gentleman, coming across town just to pick me up."
"I wanted to make sure you're okay."
"I was, but now I'm doing even better," she said.
As we walked, it became even more obvious that she had some issues keeping her balance.
"Did you drink any more since we talked? Because four tequilas shouldn't?—"
"I know," she cut me off. " I don't know why tequilas always made my knees weak. Or maybe that's you, with all those muscles wrapped around?—"
"Fucking hell, Riley," I groaned.
"Oh goodness! Okay. Let's make a deal. Let's pretend on Monday that none of this happened, okay?"
I laughed. "If that makes you feel better."
"It really does."
"Then sure."
She's working for you. She's younger. What the hell are you even thinking?
I helped her into the car, then went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. With a quick glance her way, I started the car and headed toward the main road.
I was certain that she’d fall asleep on the way, but she didn't. Instead, she simply looked at me and said, "This is so nice."
"What?"
She shrugged. "Feeling that you care enough to come pick me up."
I swallowed hard. "Of course I care, Riley. I want you to be safe." That contradicted my previous actions, since I’d mauled her right there in the club, but… "Whenever you need anything, just let me know."
"Why?" she whispered.
"You know why."
"Well, I don't. That's why I'm asking."
I drew in a deep breath just as we arrived in front of her house. "Let's get you safely inside."
She let out a huff that sounded like frustration and hopped out of the car by herself. I hurried to her side, putting a hand on her waist, but she wasn't swaying as much as before. I moved my hand around to her lower back as I gently guided her toward the front door.
As she opened it, she sighed and said, "I think I'm going to be sick."
"I'll walk with you."
"No, no. I don't want you to see."
We both went inside the house nonetheless, which she didn’t protest.
After a moment, she took in a deep breath and said, "Nope, false alarm." Then she turned to face me. The house was semi-dark, the only light coming from one of the open doors. "You didn't answer me."
I was close to her—far too close. "Was the kiss at the club not answer enough?"
She shook her hand, biting her lower lip. "I need words, Duncan."
"I don't have them," I admitted.
She dropped her shoulders, tilting her chin to the floor. I put my thumb under it, lifting it so I could watch her.
"I’m not a man of many words," I said. "And everything that's gone on since I met you… it's not how I do things. I don't allow myself to…"
"To what?"
I wasn't even sure how to explain this to her, which was insane. My brothers often mocked me that I was very good at explaining everything, even unnecessary things. But right now, words failed me.
"I'm so attracted to you that I can't think straight, Riley."
Her face exploded in a grin. "See, that's what I'm talking about."
She put her hands on my shoulders. "You know, at the club, I thought I was making up in my mind how fantastic these muscles are. Even though I saw you at the pool. But they are quite exquisite."
I groaned. "Riley, if you keep touching me, I’ll lose control."
"So, what's the problem?"
"You've had too much to drink, and I don't want to take advantage of that."
She pouted. "I liked you better when you said that you can't think straight. See, this is you being cerebral again. I don't like it. So much logic standing in the way of sexy times."
I laughed, and that seemed to bring her to her senses.
"Just another thing to strike off the list, okay? By Monday, this never happened," she said.
And that was the crux of the issue. I didn't want her to do anything she would regret.
"Riley, go to sleep, okay?"
"But I don't want to because if this evening ends, then this is all we had. A kiss. And I want more."
This woman, did she even know what she was doing to me? How much I wanted her anyway?
I kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep, beautiful. I’ll be in touch tomorrow."
"You promise?
"I so fucking will."