He closed in tighter behind her, using his fingers when he really wanted to press into her with the best he had to offer. He wasn’t being cocky—ah, what a great word. He was cocky. He was packed to the balls with lust for his ex-wife.
The problem was, he decided on the drive back from New Jersey, she had started thinking after that night in the shower. When Cole started thinking, she usually erred on the side of caution. That wasn’t working for either of them. He was taking charge.
She couldn’t make up her mind? He had just made it up for her.
Step one. But no more quickie bathroom trysts. They were going to have a normal couples’ evening if it ruptured him. And when they slid between the sheets in his room it would be because neither of them wanted anything else.
He slid his hand very slowly and reluctantly out of the front of her panties. “Let’s get out of here.”
Her eyes flew open and their gazes met, hot reflections of what had just occurred.
“What? Where are we going?”
He backed up a step. “Out.”
She hesitated. Maybe because he sounded like he had a stranglehold on his own throat. She, in contrast, looked dazed and bereft, and hungry. Just what he wanted.
“You’ve got two options. Okay or no.”
She nodded once. “Okay.”
“Okay. You’ve got five minutes to get dressed, or you don’t get to make any more choices at all.”
Promises. Promises. He was pretty sure she didn’t say that out loud but his eyes caught fire just the same.
Good as her word, Cole was at the front door in four minutes. She had her cop face on, revealing nothing. That was okay. Her outfit revealed enough, for now.
Scott did a quick inventory of her scoop-neck slouchy long-sleeve top and short flowy skirt as he held the door for her. With her new, messy, shorter hair she looked younger, more carefree. He liked it. He even liked her strappy sandals that revealed shell-pink toes. Most of all, he liked the fragrance rising from her skin as she brushed past him. She smelled of flowers warmed by sunshine. In this case, the heat of her own body. Oh yeah. He was going to enjoy every last minute of this night.
“Where did that come from?”
“I manage a dealership, remember?”
Cole stared at the motorcycle. It was big. A cruiser. She thought about the Kawasaki Richards had loaned her. This must be from the same source. “I’m not dressed for riding on that.”
He tipped his head to the side and smiled at the sight of her strong smooth legs revealed by her short skirt. “Looks like you’ll have to sit sidesaddle.” He produced from behind his back the green helmet that matched her bike. Her suspicion was confirmed.
She watched him strap on his helmet and throw a leg over the bike, much newer and nicer than the one he’d ridden while undercover. She’d only seen that bike once and its faintly menacing silhouette reminded her of the biker who had accosted her on the road.
Cole pushed the thought away. One bad memory not worth the effort to recall.
He started the motor and reached out a hand to her.
She strapped on her helmet and hopped up behind him, straddling the seat. Her skirt was worryingly short once she sat, and the breeze caused by a moving bike hadn’t even begun to inch it up her thighs. She tucked the back edge under her butt and the front down between them.
Scott looked back over his shoulder with a smirk. “Nice view from here.”
She was more worried about the view for passersby. “Maybe I should change.”
“Screw that! Hold on tight.”
She grabbed him about the middle, fitting her chest to his back as she laced her fingers together across his abs. They were warm and solid beneath his shirt. “What are we doing?”
“You and I are taking Noel and Sam out for a hot night on the town.” He revved the engine and took off.
Cole released her fingers and grabbed his shirt in both fists, hugging him closer. It felt so good. He felt so good, that she stopped worrying about her skirt hem.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“You really were hungry.” Scott lifted a hand to wipe a smudge of pizza sauce from her chin. “I never knew playing air hockey could rouse such an appetite in you.”
“You mean winning at air hockey.” Cole grinned at him. They had gone into town and found a video arcade that included table games like foosball and air hockey. Right next door was a pizzeria and bar. “It is just me or is this the best pizza ever?”
“Best pizza ever,” he agreed. “And you didn’t win. I threw that last game, just to see you smile.”
“You are such a liar.” She was laughing and trying to scoop stringy cheese into her mouth. “I totally beat you. Just like the first time we played.”
“I lost that night, too. So I could get lucky.”
“Liar!”
“Did I get lucky?”
She paused to chew but her eyes were shimmering with challenge. “So, we’ll have to have a rematch. And, you’ll see. I’ll win.”
He bobbed his head. “And I’ll get lucky, just like that first time.”