The blond one grinned. “We’ll up the ante if you think you’re so great.”
Alex looked into Grant’s eyes, wishing she could mentally project her thoughts to him. He nodded and agreed to up the pot. Alex swallowed thickly at the amount of money they were now playing for and looked nervously at the second guy. He smiled at her and showed her he was missing a front tooth. “Hey, sweet cheeks.”
Alex was careful to turn away before she rolled her eyes.
She would have preferred not to go first, but since they were insisting she needed the handicap, she figured she’d better play for keeps straight off the bat. She let Grant set up the table and never said a word to anyone while she chose her cue. She busied herself with chalking up the tip while the two men trashed talked every move Grant made. He ignored them, bless him, but she’d had about enough out of them and was more than ready to shut them up.
When she faced the table and took her stance, no one had anything to say. When she broke and sent the first ball sailing into a pocket, all three men stood up straighter. When she continued to hit ball after ball and sink them exactly where she aimed, she noted that toothless was staring open-mouthed. She sank the last available ball and straightened to eye the eight ball.
Alex pointed her cue and murmured about the corner pocket. Grant held his breath, but he should have known by then that she had that shit covered.
The blond guy counted out the money they’d just lost and slapped it on the far edge of the table. “Funny, guys. Real funny.”
“That’s what you get for assuming my girl can’t play pool,” Grant responded.
Alex couldn’t help the huge grin that nearly split her face. “You had no idea I could play. Why did you agree to wager?”
“I didn’t like the way he was talking about you. I wanted you to know I had confidence in you.” He kissed her hard. “And if you’d sucked, I’m a decent shot.”
“I was trying so hard to tell you I know what I’m doing without saying it out loud.” She looked over at the money fluttering in the draft from the air conditioning. “Better grab your winnings, sweet cheeks.”
He laughed at her and went to pick up the crumpled bills. “Here, you deserve it. I didn’t even get to play.”
“How about we keep score the next time and winner takes all,” she suggested. He didn’t seem like his manly ego was bruised, but she could at least offer.
“As long as you don’t hold back on me.”
“Deal.”
They played an entire game, and Alex found that the more time that passed, the more she was turned on by everything he did. He was sure in his movements, and his muscles rippled when he lined up and leaned into his shots. She stared at his ass in his jeans, the way his t-shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, and the glint he got in his eye as he winked at her. She was practically drooling by the time they were done.
“I can’t take the money,” she protested as he held it out to her.
“Yes, you can. You won it fairly, twice.” He shoved the wad of cash in her front pocket and she shivered at the contact that was so close to where she needed him.
“Grant,” she said desperately.
He seemed to understand exactly what she meant. “Come on.”
She didn’t say anything as he led her to the parking lot. They were heading straight to his bike, and Alex felt another thrill at the thought of riding on the powerful machine with her arms wrapped around Grant and the engine rumbling underneath her.
“You ever ridden?”
She blinked up at him and slowly nodded. “College boyfriend.”
He shrugged. “Remember the rules?”
“Keep my feet on the pegs, don’t let go of you, and lean when you lean.”
“Good girl.” He kissed her forehead and plopped a helmet on her head. She hurried to strap it on, already feeling high before they even got on the motorcycle.
He easily swung his leg over the seat and Alex bit back a moan. He was effortlessly sexy and graceful for such a large man. Bracing her hand on his shoulder, she swung her leg over and sat behind him. She was more than happy to slide up behind him and rest the front of her thighs against the backs of his. Once she had her arms securely around him, he started up the bike and she trembled at the power underneath her.
Grant had stopped at two drinks, and she was glad that he had. She was a little tipsy when they played the first round of pool an hour ago, but she felt so clear-headed as soon as they were in motion. The night air was still humid, but the breeze they created as they moved was fresh on her cheeks. Feeling amorous, she rested her head on his back and closed her eyes as she traced her fingers up under the edge of his shirt. His stomach muscles contracted as she stroked them softly, and she felt him groan when she couldn’t hear it for the noise of the machine under them. She found the button of his jeans and worked it free, teasing the flesh she uncovered with that move. His back rose and fell sharply under her cheek.
She wasn’t so much surprised as she was pleased when he pulled over and turned the bike off. She opened her eyes and looked around her at the darkness. They were under an overpass, and no cars came or went down the narrow road. In the sudden silence, Alex could hear her own heartbeat.
“You’re lucky I didn’t wreck the bike,” he growled at her as he dropped the kickstand.
