“Which is?”
Grayden scooted his chair out from the table and pulled mine closer to him. His legs opened, bracketing me between his spread thighs. He took both my hands in his.
“Let me take you out today. On a real date.”
I started shaking my head, but more out of habit than meaningno. Because I wanted to say yes. And wasn’t that terrifying?
“What am I supposed to wear?” I asked.
Grayden’s smile was one of the biggest I’d seen on him. “How about jeans and a warm layer. Hiking boots too.”
“We’re going hiking? There’s snow on most of the trails.”
“Not hiking. Something else, if I can get it set up. Heavy boots will be a good idea.” He sat forward and kissed along my jaw. I tilted my head to give him access.
Because I was just putty in this man’s hands, apparently.
“Feel free to skip a shower,” he murmured, all growly and sultry. “I’d love it if you still smell like me when we’re out later.”
The strange, unsettled feelings inside me turned to desire. A far more comfortable place for me.
With sex, I always knew what to do. And I knew my limits.
“Or you could shower with me right now,” I said. “We can have fun getting clean and then dirty again.”
“Later.” His lips met mine, far too slowly. A tease of what else was to come. “Maybe after our date. I’m hoping to get lucky. Think I’ve got a shot?”
“We’ll have to see how good this date is.”
THIRTY-TWO
Grayden
The bike’sengine rumbled beneath me as I rode down Main Street. Milo had described the Kawasaki Ninja as a sweet ride, and so far, it didn’t disappoint.
Since the distance between Milo’s shop and Piper’s house wasn’t far, on mostly quiet roads, I hadn’t bothered putting on the helmet yet. The cold wind ruffled my hair and settled me, bringing me into the moment.
It had been fifteen years since I’d last ridden, but the muscle memory was still there. My hands remembering before my conscious brain caught up.
Kind of like my first time having sex again after getting out of prison.
Though even that experience paled compared to being with Piper. And I hadn’t even gotten her naked yet. Maybe tonight. If things went well.
She’d actually agreed to a date with me, and I didn’t intend to fuck this up.
I pulled the bike into her driveway, pulled it around so I was facing the street, and switched off the engine. By the time I made it to her front door, she had it open, peering out curiously.
“Did I just see you ride up on a motorcycle?”
My boots thudded against the porch steps as I climbed them, hands in the pockets of my black canvas jacket. I could feel the stupid, irrepressible grin stretching my lips.
“Yep. Here to pick you up. You ready?”
She gestured at herself. “Now I see why you told me to dress warm. Where are we going?”
As I’d requested, she was wearing jeans and a soft-looking sweater with hiking boots. Her hair was styled into a simple braid, and a little makeup accented her gorgeous features.
Damn, she was so pretty. I forgot to breathe for a beat or two.
