CHAPTER EIGHT
W ade had been in Riley’s trailer for the grand total of sixty seconds, which was a brand-new record for the time it had taken for him to be rendered speechless.
He liked to think of himself as prepared for most situations’ life had a habit of throwing at him, but this one, this one he felt utterly unprepared for.
“Run that by me again, darlin’?” He took in a sharp breath.
“Um. Yes. Okay.” Riley nodded, a look of sheer determination sparkling in those big brown eyes. “I said, my ankle is much better. So I think we should have sex.”
Yeah. That’s what I thought she said.
The confirmation didn’t help him wrangle up a response though. Leaving her words dangling in the now even thicker air.
“What?” Riley’s head tilted with the question. “Why does your face look like that?”
God knows what his face was doing but if it was anything like the internal battle going on between his head and his dick, then she was in for a right show.
“You don’t want to have sex?” Riley guessed.
Time to use your words, Wade.
He cleared his throat. Slowly. And attempted to fix his face as he wondered how best to break the news that it was official, his head had won the battle.
“Riley, petal, trust me when I tell you that you have no idea just how much I want to have sex with you.” Dial it back a little maybe? You’re coming off desperate. “But don’t you think it’s a little early?”
He watched closely as Riley’s hand dropped to cradle her wrist. She was thumbing her pulse point again.
Shit. That can’t be good.
Wade gave her a moment. Waiting anxiously for her to gather her thoughts, already regretting not immediately stripping her naked and bending her over the couch.
Finally, she spoke. “How long do you usually wait to have sex?”
He was struck by the lack of emotion behind the question. She didn’t look offended like he worried she might. Or pissed. She wanted facts.
“Uh, well, I’ve never really put a timeline on it before, darlin’. It normally just happens when it feels right.”
If he was really honest, he couldn’t actually remember. It had been so damn long since he last had sex that he wouldn’t be surprised if he’d forgotten what to do.
You’re a real fucking catch.
“On average, how many dates did it take to feel right?”
“I don’t know.” She was really putting him on the spot now. “Three or four maybe.”
Riley nodded. “Isn’t this our third date?” Before he had a chance to reply, she continued. “I guess it depends on if you count the wedding or when we went to Goldacre.”
She really wants to have sex with you, man. Just have sex with her. Drop the gentleman act for one day for God’s sake.
The problem was it wasn’t an act. It was who he was. And as much as he wanted to take the beautiful woman standing before him, he knew that it was too soon.
“The other night, at my house, let’s count that as our first official date.
Which means I need to take you out at least two more times before we.
..” he deliberately trailed off. “I hadn’t planned on doing that today but seeing as your ankle’s better, we should do something.
So, what do you think, are you up for date number two right now? ”
A small smile tipped her lips up. “Okay.”
“Okay.” he agreed. Capturing her hand he led her toward the trailer door.
“Wait.” Riley tugged him to a halt; he was quick to twist and get a look at the concern creasing her brow. “So our next date, after today, we’ll have sex after that?”
Jesus Christ. She was killing him.
Wade swallowed hard and ignored the twinge in his pants. Like a gentleman.
“If that’s what you want, petal.” Was the only thing he managed to come up with.
“It is.” She nodded again. “Okay. Let’s go. Giddy up.” The smile she gave him this time was blinding.
She was too tempting to resist, and he didn’t want to anymore. There was only so much self-control he was capable of. So he dipped his head. And within seconds, had seized her lips. Nipping, sucking and feasting on all the sweet moans he was able to drag out of her.
Sweet Jesus.
He knew he needed to pull back. Before he changed his mind. With every swipe of his tongue, he was remembering exactly what to do. He hadn’t forgotten. It was all coming back to him.
Reluctantly, after capturing one last whimper, he drew back slowly. Admiring his handiwork as he revelled in glazed eyes and an abused, wet red pout.
Perfection.
“We should get out of here, darlin’.” The words were scraped from his throat. He needed out of there. Now. Luckily, he knew just the place. “Come on.” Taking Riley’s hand, he led them out of the trailer, into the crisp fall air.
“Where are we going?” she asked, easily matching his large strides down the pebble path.
Pausing mid-step, he turned to her then. “We’re going trout fishing.” He smiled. “Rumor has it, you make a mean smoked trout.”
“Really?” she beamed.
“Really.”
Goddamnit. The way she was looking at him, did something to him. Something dangerous.
***
T wo hours later, Wade was back to square one. Staring temptation right in the face. Trout in tow, they’d headed back to his house to cook. He hadn’t thought this through. This was a bad idea.
His eyes darted to Riley’s ass once again as she bent down to pick up the spoon she’d just dropped.
Yeah. This is a bad idea.
Wade had spent most of their fishing trip regretting not taking Riley up on her offer.
And now the universe was taunting him. Laughing in his face.
He should have known this was how the day was going to go when they’d reached the river earlier.
Within minutes of arriving, she’d set up her rod and caught her first fish. And damn if that didn’t turn him on.
So now you have an angler fetish?
No. He was sure he didn’t. Pretty sure. That would be weird.
Focus!
Right.
Fuck it.
Wade stalked to the kitchen counter where Riley was unloading their catch and wasted no time spinning her around to face him. Then he swooped. Not even waiting for her to find her balance. He’d waited long enough.
His mouth finally back on hers, he was ready to change his mind. Screw being a gentleman, he wanted her. So fucking bad.
As he pulled her closer, both his hands slipped down.
One going straight to her hip while the other moved slower, his knuckles pausing over the pounding of her heart before lightly brushing the curve of her breast. Matching her whimpers with his own groan, he took the kiss deeper. She tasted like goddamn heaven.
Another swipe of his tongue and he felt her nipple harden beneath his fingers. Jesus. He was groaning again. Or was that a growl?
Who the hell cares?
He certainly didn’t. He was embracing the beast she brought out in him. That was made clear when he released her lips only to sink his teeth into the crook of her neck seconds later. He teased, then licked, and teased again. Delighting as Riley dropped her head back and let out a sexy mew.
“I want you,” he whispered against her skin.
Sacrificing the feel of her soft body for a moment, he lifted her onto the countertop.
“Spread your legs,” he demanded. To which she immediately complied.
He liked that. And not just because she’d done what he’d wanted. But because of the fire he’d seen in her eyes when he’d asked.
Stepping between jean clad thighs, he decided to push further.
“Hands above your head.” His voice sounded just as dirty as his thoughts. And as he watched Riley lift her arms, they only got dirtier.
Pushing his fingers under her top, he kept his eyes locked on hers as he slowly lifted the flimsy material. His blood heating more and more with every heavy breath she took.
It didn’t take long for the top to hit the floor while Wade took in the beautiful sight before him. Silk curves wrapped in pink lace.
Riley’s arms were still up. Goddamn. If he didn’t know this woman was made for him before, he did now.
Going in for another taste, his kiss turned possessive as he reached up to guide Riley’s hands together.
His knuckles then began their descent downward, caressing each smooth dip from her wrist to her elbow, under her arm and over the pink lace.
He didn’t miss her quiver beneath his touch.
Or the growing impatience of her whimpers.
He wanted to see more. Touch it all. Taste everything.
His hands went to the button on her jeans, within seconds they were open, her zip pulled down and his fingers in her panties.
Fuck me.
It was his turn to groan again as he got his first feel of what was waiting for him. She was soaked. Enough for him to want to beat his chest. But as his fingers began to dip further inside, he felt her tense up. That’s when he lost her lips.
“I-I, umm, I-I can’t,” she spluttered between pants. “I think you’re right. We, uh, we should wait...until our third date.”
Wade managed to swallow down his latest groan as his hand slipped from between her thighs. He chose to ignore the panic in her voice and not focus on the “can’t” part of her speech. It was a lady’s prerogative to change her mind. He would always respect that.
But he needed a moment to get himself together. He chose to take it while bending down to grab Riley’s top.
Fuck.
Damnit, he was so turned on it was hard to form a sentence. But he had to. He knew that as soon as he heard the word “sorry” slip from Riley’s perfect pink lips.
After handing her the shirt, he softly ran his thumb across her lower lip. “Petal, don’t ever be sorry for telling me what you want.”
“But...” she breathed. “Aren’t you,” her eyes darted to his crotch. “Don’t you need to...”
What?
“Riley, I’m perfectly capable of controlling myself.” He chanced a smile. “Like I said earlier, we can wait until it feels right—until you feel comfortable. We don’t have to put a date on it.”
“No—” she rushed out, quickly pulling the top over her head. “I want to. Our next date. That’s when I want to.”
Something was going on, but he wasn’t sure what. It was like she was in a hurry, to dare he say it, “get it over with”. Yet, here he was giving in to temptation and she wanted to wait. Talk about a head fuck.
“Is that okay?” The uncertainty cracking her voice snapped him back to reality. “I mean, you still want to?”
“I still want to.” He was quick to confirm, taking a step back, allowing her to jump down from the counter.
Now that they’d come to some sort of understanding, he expected them to continue with their date.
Smoke some trout, drink some juice, and relax.
But Riley had other ideas. She was running again.
She hadn’t even said anything yet, but Wade could see it coming a mile away. She was eyeing the nearest exit.
Seeing as he was well in need of a cold ass shower, he decided to make it easy for her.
“This weekend,” he announced. “I’ll plan something for us to do. How does that sound?”
Riley shyly nodded.
“You want me to take you home?”
“No. I-I...”
“Okay,” he cut her off. He wasn’t going to push her, not unless it was dark out. And she didn’t need to explain. Taking a step toward her, he dipped down and lay a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see you Saturday, petal.”
And then she was gone.