The sweet paralegal was keeping secrets from him. He wanted to coax her into a more stable relationship, finally willing to give it a try, but every instinct he owned bellowed that she was courting danger. Even if the problems with her car were just from age, the way she was breaking legal rules for her friend promised a bucket of hurt if she got caught. “Why do I get the feelin’ you’re not leveling with me, baby?” he rumbled.
A slight tremor shook her torso. Oh, she might like her independence, but the woman liked it even more when he called her baby. She glanced toward the rain-covered windshield. The splatters were turning to a light snow. “I don’t have a clue about your feelings, but you really should get out of the rain.”
He hated secrets. Yeah, he recognized the irony there, considering he was one long line of secrets, but even so. The woman should trust him, and perhaps it was time he set some boundaries with her. “I’m gonna give you three seconds to tell me what’s on your mind.”
She stilled and then focused. Her breath came in a couple of cute pants. “What happens after three seconds?”
Ah, there she was. The curious smart-ass who loved to challenge him in bed until he pushed her right into orgasmic submission. Taking their relationship into the light of day would spur her curiosity, now, wouldn’t it? He smiled slowly and pressed hard against the apex of her legs, holding her right where he wanted her. A woman like Zara only submitted with true trust, and suddenly, he wanted that trust more than his next breath. “Stop pushing me, Zara. Right now you have three seconds.”
Her mouth opened and then closed. Her head tilted just enough to show intrigue.
“One.”
She licked her lips.
“Two.”
She lifted an eyebrow, and her gaze clearly challenged him.
“Three,” he whispered.
She waited a beat.
He pulled her even closer to him, capturing her lips.
Chapter
14
Zara exhaled into his mouth. With his hands on her ass and his big body pressing her back into the seat, she couldn’t move.
He kissed her hard, his tongue taking control, his lips firm. One of his hands tangled in her hair, tilting her head and forcing her core harder against his.
Hunger careened through her with the warm, wet, strong lash of his tongue. He plunged in, Ryker in full dominant bedroom mode, taking possession of her from head to toe and everywhere in between. A tide of white-hot desire flowed through her as his scent and heat consumed her.
His hold tightened, and he slid his hand beneath the back of her shirt to sear her waist. He stepped even closer, forcing her thighs farther apart and rubbing her center to the hard line of the erection trying to punch through his jeans.
Desire blasted through her, ringing through her ears. Her breasts grew heavy, and a pulsing echoed between her legs. He rubbed her against him, and shards of electricity rippled up her abdomen.
A horn honked.
She wrenched her face free, looking at the dash, her breath panting out. “Ryker. For God’s sake. We’re on the street.” She could barely get out the words, she was breathing so hard.
His hold tightened, and he pressed his cock unerringly against her clit. Pleasure vibrated out to the point of needy pain.
She arched and moaned, her mind spinning. “What in the hell?” she gritted out, turning to stare up at his face. Her breath completely deserted her this time. Forget panting. His rugged face was set in hard lines of uncompromising determination and desire. His eyes, those clear eyes, glittering and molten. So much masculine strength, and all of it was focused on her. “Ryker?”
“Spill it, Zara, or I swear to God, I’m making you come right here on the street.” Tightly leashed violence rode his voice, and instead of frightening her, it ratcheted up the sexual tension in her body.
This was new. Or rather, this side of Ryker, outside the bedroom, was new. Oh, she’d suspected something not quite tame lived in him, and she’d caught glimpses of it before. But here, on a public street, in plain view of everybody? The man truly did make his own rules. “Let me go,” she whispered, more than a little wary and way too turned on to think straight.
“My way, baby. Right here and right now? My way only. Talk.” His fingers curled into her buttocks.
Her temper stirred to compete with the lust. “We are about to have a huge-assed fight.”
“Maybe, but you’re gonna come first.” His smile held more intent than humor as he freed one of his hands to flatten on her belly. “You sure you want to push?”
Oh, hell yeah. Not only did her pride demand it; so did her thirst for intrigue. Just how far would he go? Not that far, she’d bet. Yet something in her, deep down, wanted him to stay true to his word. To back it up like the badass he seemed to be. Yeah, she was crazy. “Let me up, or you’re going to get kicked and hard.”
He slid his hand down beneath her waistband and panties.
Heat spiraled up her torso, and she struggled to get up. “Wait—”
“No.” A quick twist of his wrist and his thumb grazed her clit.
Her thighs trembled. Her body opened. “Wait a minute. I—”
He did it again and slipped one finger inside her.
Warmth roared through her ears. A car drove by, splashing water. It felt too damn good. “Ryker.”