“I call bullshit.”
“Get. In. Thefuckingtruck, Billie, or so help me?—”
“What?” I step forward. “What’re you gonna do?”
He leans in, his face an inch from mine. “Youknow andIknow that you don’t wanna stay here with Zephyr. If you did, you’d be with him right now. So get in the truck, and I’ll drive you home. Otherwise, you’re gonna be spending the night at some shitty bunkhouse with a bunch of assholes leering at you while that dickhead, Z whatever-his-name-is, tries to cop a feel.”
God, why does this man have to always be right about everything? It’s infuriating.
“His name isn’t Zephyr. It’s Xander.” Sighing, I climb into the truck. “I hate you.”
“No you don’t.” Ryder shuts the door.
A beat later he’s climbing into the driver’s seat and starting the engine. I can feel its rumble through the vinyl seat. It stokes the growing throb between my legs in a way that makes me want to squirm.
“Hey!” Xander shouts as we pass him. Guess he’s done hiding now that he’s safe? “Where are y’all goin’?”
Ryder doesn’t answer, and neither do I.
Instead, I roll down my window and gather my hair in my hand at the top of my head. The breeze feels good on my overheated skin.
“But really, how’d you know where I was?” It’s the only thing I can think to say.
Well, other than,Can we please fuck already, for the love of Christ?
Truth is, though, I don’t think I could withstand the humiliation of being turned down a second time. If someone’s gonna make a move, it’s gotta be Ryder. I already put myself out there. It’s his turn to show his cards.
“Took a guess.” Ryder guides the truck onto the smooth blacktop of the recently repaved County Highway Number 5. “Sawyer heard those toolbags talking about a field party, which left me with a few options. Figured the Horton’s was my bestbet—those boys are always havin’ bonfires this time of year.” He glances at me. “Still waitin’ on a thank-you.”
“You’re not gonna get it because I didn’t ask you to come.”
“You’re glad I did, though.”
“C’mon, Ry.” I turn my head to look at him. “You know I like trouble. I’ve learned by now how to get myself out of it.”
He jams on the brakes. I jolt forward with a gasp, the seat belt biting through my shirt as Ryder pulls far enough off the road to offer us plenty of privacy beneath a starry, wide-open sky. The tires pop over the uneven dirt, and then we stop, Ryder shoving the truck into park.
I put a hand over my heart. “What the hell?”
“You want trouble?” His jaw tics.
His voice sounds different. Scraped bare, like he can barely breathe.
I’m aware of just how hard my nipples are now. The throb between my legs is unbearable.
“Always.” I swallow.
Panicked elation rips through me when Ryder reaches over to unbuckle my seat belt. I watch, feeling lightheaded, as he hooks a finger in my belt loop.
“Then get the fuck over here.”
CHAPTER 15
Pushing Buttons Pays Off
BILLIE
I don’t hesitate eventhough my mind races.
