“Yeah, I’m great,” she insisted. “I’ve had an amazing day. This has been so much fun.”
“It really has.” I couldn’t remember the last time I had a date where I’d had this much fun. I pulled the car to a stop about a block from her house and turned toward her.
“I should probably get going,” I remarked. “I have a long drive back, and…”
I let the words hang in the air between us. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to go back to her place, spend the night there, and wake up next to her and do this whole day over again. But I knew I couldn’t say those words to her. I needed to hold back something for next time, not let her know I was under her thumb already. Her eyes softened, and her gaze went to my lips. Something stirred deep inside me, and I knew what she wanted. I knew because I wanted it, too.
I leaned across and kissed her, but it wasn’t the chaste, sweet kiss she’d given me earlier. No, it was more than that. I parted her lips with my tongue and pulled her from her seat so she was on top of me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, letting out a long moan against my mouth as though this was what she’d been waiting for all day. She felt so good on top of me, her small body squirming against mine as she got comfortable.
I ran my hands down her waist, letting them come to rest on her hips, sinking my fingers into her as she deepened the kiss. There wasn’t a lot of room in the car, but it didn’t matter. It only made this whole thing seem more urgent and desperate. My body hungered for hers. I couldn’t get her close enough.
She was wearing a short dress, and I traced my fingers over her bare skin, listening to the slight gasp escaping her lips as we kissed. My cock was hard, and I rocked my hips up to grind against her. She parted her legs and lowered herself down so she could rub herself on me, the motion of her hips getting me harder. I could imagine her riding me like this, her thighs clamped around me and her hands planted on my chest for leverage. Just thinking about it was enough to fuck me up.
I leaned up to wrap my arms around her and kissed her. Running my hand through her hair and gripping a handful, I pulled her head forward and pushed my tongue far into her mouth. She let out a squeak of surprise that soon transitioned into a moan of pleasure, and my head began to cloud with desire for her. It was the only thing I could think about, the only thing that mattered.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps, and we sprang apart. The logical part of my brain flashed on a picture of Aria splashed all over the papers making out in the front seat of the car on some residential road.
She pulled back, panting slightly, her lips swollen and her hair messy. We both understood the trouble a rando photographer could cause each of us if he or she caught our moment of wild abandon.
We exchanged slightly sheepish smiles, as though we were trying to pretend we both hadn’t gotten completely caught up in the thrill of it all. She slipped off my lap and into her seat, silent for a few seconds before she spoke.
“I really should get going,” she remarked, glancing over at me. “But this has been perfect. Thank you.”
“When will I see you again?” I asked, realizing with surprise the answer to my question was more important to me than our brief encounter.
“I’ll go up to the beach house again at Sand Dollar,” she promised. “We can meet there.”
“Soon?”
She nodded and leaned over to kiss me. “Soon,” she promised, lingering there with her lips against mine before she pulled back. “Okay, I really need to go now. Claude is probably losing his mind.”
“Okay,” I said, I’m sure with a dopey grin on my face as she opened the door. “See you soon.”
I watched as she slipped out of the car, glanced around, and then hurried off down the street in the direction of her place. To my surprise, I found a twinge of worry come to life in my chest. It was an unfamiliar feeling. I was concerned about her getting back to her place all right. I didn’t usually give a shit whether the girls I was with made it home okay or about their status after they left. But with Aria, it was different.
I shook my head, put my foot to the pedal, and pulled out, driving fast and putting the city, and her, out of my mind for the time being, even though shaking Aria from my head would be nearly impossible.
Chapter Ten
Aria
“And what the hell are you doing here?” Claude asked.
He was furious. I couldn’t remember seeing him as pissed off as he was now, but it was clear he was angry with me.
It had been a week since Elliott had come to see me in LA. I had to see him again, soon. With a man like him, the heir to an enormous fortune, it wouldn’t be long before he found someone who lived closer. Someone who was more convenient and accessible, and more willing to put out, someone who’d take my place at his side. I didn’t give a damn about his money, of course. I had my own. I cared about him and had to nail him down while I still had a remote chance of making things work out with him.
So, as soon as I got my chance, I packed up my stuff and headed back to the beach house in Sand Dollar Beach.
I called up Floundy, knowing he’d kill me if I didn’t take him along, and we packed up the car first thing in the morning. I spent the whole ride trying to evade his questions about Elliott and the time we’d spent together. But like a well-trained bloodhound, he could sniff out when I was lying to him. I couldn’t hide the truth from him.
“You really like this guy, don’t you?” he asked, almost casually, but I could hear the excitement in his voice. He wanted my happiness as much as I wanted love in his life.
“I do,” I admitted, trying to keep my tone cool. “I wouldn’t be driving all the way up here to see him if I didn’t.”
“Are you sure I’m not going to get third-wheeled?” Floundy cocked an eyebrow at me. “I don’t particularly want to spend the whole weekend following the two of you around while you make out like bunnies.”
“No, he’s throwing this big party,” I said. “I need you there as my date.”
“I thought he was your date?”
“I still don’t know…” I trailed off, stopping myself before I could say too much. I sighed. I still had my doubts this thing could work, and I didn’t want to be left high and dry and feeling like an idiot.
“He came all the way down to see you,” Floundy reminded me gently, sensing my discomfort. “It has to mean something.”
“I know.” I managed to flash him a smile. “Thanks.”
When we arrived at the beach house, I spotted a car sitting outside. I let out a long, internal groan.
“Fuck,” I muttered as I climbed out of our car and headed into the house. As soon as I got through the door, I found Claude standing in front of me. He met me with a look of recrimination, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at how much like my father he sounded.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
“What are you doing here? Are you seeing the Marshall kid again?” he snapped back.
I took a deep breath, bringing myself back to Earth. I shook my head.
“We just came up to check out this club that opened a few months ago.” I shrugged. “Right, Flounds?”
Floundy nodded. “The Marlin,” he said as he unloaded our luggage by the door, replying so smoothly it was as though he’d planned this out in his head already. I wondered if it was a real club or not. “It’s supposed to be amazing.”