Chapter 6
TYRE
Ipulled up to the Hayeses’ residence just as the sky painted itself in fiery streaks of gold and red.
My SUV rumbled quietly to a halt at the curb, and my brows drew together when I spotted Cecily already waiting for me on the porch.
I’d assumed I’d meet her parents tonight. But there she stood, completely alone.
I climbed out of the vehicle and moved around the front, intending to ask her about it. But before I could come any closer, she stepped off the porch into the fading sunlight, and every coherent thought scattered. All I could see was her.
She wore a white mini dress, soft and floaty against her slender figure, the material looking almost weightless on her smooth, sun-kissed skin.
The bodice hugged her body perfectly, secured by a halter tie behind her graceful neck, leaving her shoulders bare.
A soft ruffle swept across the top of her chest, leading into sheer sleeves that billowed loosely down her arms, cinched neatly at her wrists.
The dress flared at her waist, and the skirt skimmed outward in airy layers.
The whole thing looked innocent and sweet—until my eyes caught the small, teasing cutout beneath her ribs and the tantalizing sway of fabric around her thighs as she moved. Then sweet went out the window.
My body reacted hard and fast, heat pooling inside me and hardening my cock to steel.
My thoughts instantly turned explicit, my pulse hammering as I imagined just how easy it would be to slide my palms beneath all that delicate white fabric, gripping her bare hips and thighs so I could feel her skin warm under my touch.
The Neanderthal inside me bristled slightly at the short hemline, knowing every man who saw her tonight would have the same dangerous thoughts running through their minds.
But this was practically our first real time together, and I wasn’t about to scare her off by demanding she go back inside and change. No matter how much I wanted to.
I fought back the sudden urge to drag her into my arms and take her home to claim her.
Her shy smile faltered slightly when I didn’t immediately speak, so I quickly stepped forward, touching her gently on the waist. Then I bent to press a lingering kiss to her cheek.
I felt the soft tremor that moved through her, and I grinned slowly against her skin, savoring the knowledge that she wasn’t unaffected by me either.
“You look absolutely gorgeous.” I kept my voice low and intimate as I drew back just enough to watch the pretty flush bloom across her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she whispered softly, her eyes bright with anticipation, betraying that small flicker of nervous excitement as she glanced down at her dress. “I’m glad you like it.”
I pressed one hand protectively at the small of her back and led her toward the passenger side of my SUV.
After opening the door, I helped her step up into the seat, then leaned across her and buckled her seat belt.
My arm brushed softly across her chest, just barely grazing her tits.
Her nipples hardened, and her breath hitched instantly.
The tiny sound that escaped shot heat straight to my groin.
My jaw tightened briefly as I fought back the powerful urge to say fuck dinner and take her straight home so I could lose myself in her instead.
With supreme effort, I straightened and closed her door, taking a slow, calming breath as I circled the SUV and climbed into the driver’s seat.
I forced my hands to grip the steering wheel tightly, reminding myself to keep my head on straight.
I was determined to show her that I could do this right.
We arrived at The Racing Line just as evening fully set in, soft amber lights casting warm pools across the parking lot.
The atmosphere was laid-back, and the staff greeted us with easy warmth and respectful nods.
They were clearly familiar with me, but my attention was locked firmly on Cecily.
She seemed to notice, and a faint blush lingered sweetly across her cheeks as we settled at our table in a quieter corner, away from curious eyes.
She looked up in surprise when I slid onto the booth seat beside her.
Although a pretty blush stole across her cheeks, she didn’t say anything.
Over dinner, I asked her a lot of questions, genuinely interested in learning about her life.
She lit up immediately when she spoke about the sport she loved and her passion for the water.
Her expression was vibrant and animated as she described her training, goals, and the dedication required to compete at her level.
My focus was absolute, my memory carefully locking in every detail she shared. This woman with quiet strength, determination, and so much fire burning beneath that soft exterior fascinated me.
She asked me a few questions as well, and I told her I’d grown up in Miami and had a younger brother and sister, both of whom I was close with.
My father was a first-generation American after his parents came to the States from Spain, and he’d met my mother when he went to visit family for the summer.
“They had a fling, then he left. A week later, he showed up on her doorstep because he couldn’t live without her. They married within a couple of weeks, then moved her to Miami.” I grinned. “She was pregnant like a minute later…and here I am.”
Cecily laughed, the sweet musical sound touching something deep in my soul. “So you speak Spanish?”
“Mostly when I’m cursing,” I admitted with a wink. “Don’t tell my mother that.”
She giggled again, and I changed the subject back to her, still not satisfied that I knew enough about her.
I touched her subtly as we spoke. My thumb brushed gently along her wrist when I took her hand; my palm settled possessively on her thigh. My fingers lightly toyed with the ends of her hair when I leaned in closer, or I draped my arm behind her on the booth.
Each touch drew out soft reactions. Her breathing hitched softly, her skin flushing a delicate shade of pink, and her eyes darkening in a way that had me wanting her more fiercely with every passing minute.
Eventually, she paused, watching me with a gentle curiosity as she tilted her head slightly. “I honestly didn’t expect you’d be interested in the swimming and my goals. Most people don’t really care about this part of me since I didn’t make the Olympics.”
I leaned forward, my gaze locked onto hers, my voice leaving no doubt. “I want to know every part of you, Cecily.”
A slow blush swept over her cheeks at the intensity behind my words. “Oh.”
My voice dropped further, edged with heat as I clarified, “And I mean every single part.”
Her lips parted slightly, and her eyes widened a fraction. I felt my pulse spike at the sight. Leaning back slightly, satisfaction settled low in my chest. She understood exactly what I meant, and she wasn’t running from it.
The server sidled up to our table, a little too eager to take our dessert order. His eyes had lingered appreciatively on Cecily one too many times over the evening, his gaze skimming just a beat too long over the soft curves of her shoulders and the graceful line of her neck.
This time, they dropped lower, and something hot and possessive flared inside me. Irritation rose within me as I shifted closer to her side, my thigh brushing intentionally against hers.
I settled my arm along the back of her chair, leaning subtly into her space, making it abundantly clear exactly who she belonged to.
When I locked eyes on the server, I let every ounce of my lethal intent slip into my expression.
My gaze was cold and unflinching, silently warning him exactly where the line was.
And how severely he’d fucked up by crossing it.
His eyes widened, his confident smile instantly dropping from his face, replaced by something close to terror. He swallowed visibly and hurriedly scribbled down our order, his hand shaking slightly as he backed away without another glance in Cecily’s direction.
Cecily stared at me, her brows arched high in surprised curiosity. A faint pink flushed her cheeks, and her lips parted in a way that made my heart kick beneath my ribs.
“What was that?” she asked, clearly both intrigued and amused.
I shrugged, not bothering to hide the possessive heat that simmered beneath my tone. “He was looking a little too long at something that doesn’t belong to him.”
Her eyes widened even more, heat coloring her cheeks as she stared at me in open surprise, clearly not expecting me to say something so blatant.
“Yours?” she asked, her voice taking on a sassy edge that had my blood heating even further.
I leaned closer, holding her gaze firmly.
“Mine,” I confirmed, the word carrying an unshakable certainty.
Before she could respond, a female server approached our table, carrying our desserts.
The server placed Cecily’s bowl of ice cream carefully in front of her, then slid a slice of pie my way.
But when she set the plate in front of me, her gaze dropped to my lips, and her smile tilted into something flirtatious as her eyes skimmed appreciatively over the rest of me.
Cecily stiffened, then released an audible harrumph, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the server. Her reaction was clearly involuntary, sending a wave of fierce satisfaction through me.
A low chuckle rumbled in my chest, and when Cecily blushed deeply in embarrassment at her own display of jealousy, I leaned in closer, my lips brushing her ear. “I like that you’re jealous, baby. Just means I belong to you, too.”
Cecily’s eyes softened, her expression turning quietly wistful, but she didn’t respond.
Instead, she reached for her dessert, carefully scooping up a spoonful of ice cream and letting the sweetness distract her.
I barely touched mine, my focus entirely on her as I watched her savor the treat, every movement she made captivating me.
Heat twisted in my gut, images flashing through my mind of her sweet mouth sliding over my cock, the taste of ice cream mingling with her warmth as I explored every inch of her skin, and the soft moans that would escape her as I sank deep inside her again and again.
The thought had my body tightening, my cock hardening to a nearly unbearable ache as desire hardened my cock.
When Cecily finished her dessert—thank fuck—she glanced up, her cheeks flushed lightly, clearly aware of the intensity of my stare. I didn’t bother hiding it—my gaze was possessive and heated, promising her exactly what was on my mind.
“Let’s go, baby.”
Since the club owned the restaurant, I didn’t need to wait around for the bill. So I rose slowly and reached for her hand, threading my fingers gently through hers as we walked out of the restaurant.
Her palm fit perfectly in mine, and I tightened my grip slightly, my thumb brushing the soft skin along the back of her hand.
The sexual tension in the SUV was thick enough to choke on. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles whitening as I tried to keep my eyes locked on the road instead of on Cecily. But every nerve ending in my body was painfully aware of her.
The faint scent of her perfume drifted toward me, mingled with something softer that was all Cecily. It drove my pulse into a relentless rhythm beneath my skin.
I shifted uncomfortably, adjusting my grip on the wheel as I fought back the nearly unbearable ache of my cock pressing insistently against my jeans.
I tried to focus on anything besides how incredibly sexy she was and how much I wanted her right now.
But she shifted in the passenger seat, drawing my attention toward her again.
Her movement was subtle—innocent, even—but the impact hit me like a damn freight train.
Cecily crossed one leg slowly over the other, the delicate fabric of her skirt sliding up, baring most of her toned thighs.
The sight of her smooth, golden skin made my jaw tighten.
My blood heated instantly, and my restraint frayed at the edges as my imagination took a heated detour, envisioning my hands sliding beneath that tantalizingly short skirt.
At the next red light, I looked over at her and barely managed to keep my voice steady. “Everything okay, baby?”
She turned her head, her eyes locking on mine.
They were bright and heated, and her cheeks were flushed.
The way she subtly pressed her thighs together told me everything I needed to know—she was feeling exactly what I was.
And seeing that quiet, needy gesture shattered the last threads of my composure.