My heart raced, and my knees weakened. I stared into his eyes, the heat and intensity slipping beneath my skin.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” His words left his lips sounding dark and dirty.
More than my next breath, but I was scared. Scared of what it would mean for us. Scared of what it would mean for me. My heart had only beat for Cruz for so long.
But seeing Ryatt ride off, knowing I felt more than friendship struck like a betrayal of my heart. He closed the space between us. Then he reached up and touched my cheek, trailing his fingertips along my jaw. He leaned closer. Warm, sweet breath caressed my lips. I rested a hand on his hip to ground myself to the moment.
I breathed him in. The subtle scent of his cologne, the essence of him, the anticipation sending a riot of flurries through me making my heart flutter.
“Can I kiss you?” he repeated, even quieter, a secret request promising something intangible weaving between us.
I nodded, and his lips touched mine. Soft, but with intent. With one hand, he slid his fingers through my hair and cupped my skull. The other hand cradled my jaw. With gentle pressure, he canted my head. Those lips slid against mine.
As my eyes closed, I forgot to breathe. He gently sucked my lip between his. But this wasn’t open-mouthed. He wasn’t filthy and depraved. He kissed me like he had forever to memorize the taste of me.
Ryatt was gentle, and warm, and he kissed me so fucking good.
A low growl rumbled from his chest, his mouth opened mine, and our tongues connected, both initiating, both slowly sinking into the moment. I could feel the kiss from the tingle in my nipples to the warm pulse between my thighs.
Out here, the moon was the only witness to the magic of his mouth taking mine.
My body softened against the hard contours of his chest. I felt the ridge of his cock low against my belly. But he wasn’t thrusting or grinding. My mouth was enough. He tasted past my teeth, a final deep possession of his mouth over mine before he broke the kiss with sips of my lips. Once. Twice. His thumb brushed my cheek, and my eyes opened.
“Can I kiss you again tomorrow?” he whispered and rested his forehead against mine.
I smiled. “You can definitely kiss me tomorrow.”
He hurried back to his bike and slammed his helmet onto his head.
“Are you going to be late for curfew?”
“Don’t care,” he said and smiled. “See you tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
Cruz
Music filled the chapel. Bikes rumbled in the parking lot, fire popped and crackled in the oil drum, and Torch had the grills going. Another Friday night at the MC.
I had the patch, the brotherhood, but not the girl. And I was miserable without her. I owed one to Tank. A favor that wouldn’t get me into more trouble. He’d provided a distraction to get me through the week. He’d introduced me to his friend Hudson. I’d shadow Tank for a few weeks to prove I could handle an assignment in the protection rotation. Rich fucks, apparently with a lot of enemies.
Luca Bruno made the hair at the nape of my neck tingle. No doubt the guy was into some shady business, but the payoff would get me out of the MC, into my own place. More than that. The shit I’d pulled had hurt McKelle. No more fucking around. And I wasn’t just talking about girls.
It was past time to get my shit together. I needed to be someone she’d be proud to call her boyfriend, before she wanted the crotch rocket rider sitting at the table with Romeo and Dozer.
I stood and walked over to their table. Romeo held his baby girl as she drooled on her tiny fist.
“Are you sweating bullets?” Dozer asked me and laughed. “Dad said the guys you’re working for wear suits like we wear cuts.”
And they were just as deadly. I sat in the chair next to Dozer. “Money is good, and working for a Bruno won’t get me into trouble with McKelle.”
“Have you talked to her?” he asked.
“Just text messages.” She needed space, and it had only been a week. I was trying to give her what she needed.
Romeo’s gaze shifted from me to Ryatt. Ryatt barely shook his head, but the silent communication was there. They were close, the way I was close to Blue and Dozer.
I owed Dozer for bringing me into the MC. I was filling up the ledger with IOUs, but I finally felt like I belonged. The same way I belonged with McKelle. The same way she belonged with me.
