Flames of desire lapped low in her stomach and searing heat torched her from the inside. His tongue snaked out to grab some frosting from his bottom lip. Was it possible to orgasm without being touched? Would she ever be able to eat a cupcake again without thinking about Lincoln Scott’s tongue and his chocolate covered mouth?
“You’re staring.” His voice was husky and laced with amusement.
“You… uh… chocolate.” She gestured to his mouth. Pointing was easier than speaking. Her arm moved without her telling it to and her thumb swept along the curve of his lip, gathering up the chocolate.
He caught her by the wrist, an intense, smoldering stare from under low brows punched the air from her lungs. He raised an eyebrow.
Was he asking permission? For what? Did it matter? She volunteered as tribute. She nodded, biting the inside of her cheek so she didn’t let out the moan ricocheting in her chest like a pinball in a machine.
His tongue darted out and licked the chocolate from her thumb as a small squeak escaped her. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. Time stood still. There was only Lincoln Scott, holding her by the wrist, and his wild blue eyes pinning her with unbridled want. He’d somehow made her mute and paralyzed. Did she want to flee? No. She shamefully wanted to offer him the other half of the dessert so he’d do it all over again.
A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “You gonna eat that?”
She nodded, taking a small bite. Why did some people get to make being a messy eater so sexy and hot while the rest of the world looked like Shrek?
“You want a ride back to campus? I don’t see your car.”
“I… uh. I grabbed the bus.” She glanced around him to the bike standing outside the entrance to the Institute. “I’ve never ridden before.”
He snorted.
“A bike, Lincoln. I’ve never ridden a bike before.” She shoved the rest of the cupcake in her mouth before she said anything else stupid.
“Not to get too Aladdin on you, but you can trust me. I won’t let you fall.” He reached out an open palm and she somehow found her hand in his.
She followed him to the bike. What was she doing? This was not who she was. What if someone saw when she got back on campus? What if Johnny was there? Would the bike even move with her weight on it? So many questions rattled through her brain as he pulled out a helmet and offered it to her.
She opened her mouth to speak but he covered her lips with his finger.
“Don’t overthink it, just go with it.”
She closed her eyes while he reached around behind her and pulled out her hair tie; her hair fell onto her back. He slipped the helmet onto her head and, placing a finger under her chin, tipped her head back enough so he could clip it into place.
Her stomach lurched. There wasn’t much room on the bike, she’d have to sit close to him. She’d have totouchhim. Would he feel how hot and wet she was after That Cupcake Thing?
He swung his leg over the bike and shuffled forward on the seat. He reached behind him and patted the padded space. “I’ve got you.”
Something squeezed in her chest at how genuine he sounded. She climbed on and rested her palms on his hips. His body vibrated with a chuckle as he reached both hands back, cupped her ass and pulled her toward him so his perfect, sculpted hockey ass was pressed tightly against her core. “I’ll only bite if you ask me to, Cleo.” He took her hands from his hips and wrapped them around his waist, tugging her body flush against his back.
Could he feel her heart hammering?
He started the bike and took off slowly. She gasped, squeezing her eyes closed as they picked up speed. Every fiber of her body wanted to splay her hands on his stomach and run them up the length of his torso to feel each chiseled muscle under his shirt. She groaned.
“You okay?”
She nodded, afraid if she opened her mouth a bug would fly in or a request for him to pull over and ravage her against a tree might slip out. Minneapolis blurred past in a haze and they arrived at her apartment before Cleo had fully relaxed into the ride. Once the bike was turned off she held onto Linc for a beat longer.
His palms covered the backs of her hands and he squeezed. “Told you I wouldn’t let you fall.”
She nodded against his back. Reaching up to unclip the strap under her chin, she tugged the helmet off with trembling hands.
“Was that so bad?”
She pulled her leg over the bike, a little wobbly on her feet. Linc leaned on the handlebars, intensity blazing in his eyes. She folded her arms around the helmet, clutching it to her chest. “I think it would take a little getting used to.”
“Happy to give you a ride anytime.” He nodded down at the machine between his thighs. “On the bike.”
She clamped her lips between her teeth to stop from grinning. “Thank you.” She offered the helmet back to him, but he reached beyond it to tuck her hair behind her ear as he’d done in the library, before taking it back. Her pulse raced as sparks of desire… anticipation… need crackled between them.
