Page 45 of Hard to Get

“They were so sweet,” I say as we walk down the steps.

“Cute kids. Even Mom likes me.” He smirks.

“Do you have a hard time finding a helmet that fits?”

“What… oh. My big head. Got it. Nothing wrong with a big head.”

We’re at the bike rack where we locked our bicycles. I shake my head at him. “Do you always have a dirty mind?”

“Well… probably. But I think you do tend to bring out my dirty thoughts.” He says this with lowered eyelids as he looks at my mouth.

And my belly flutters.

12

JAYDEN

Jesus. She’s so goddamn beautiful. And fun. Bright, like a diamond, or the sun. A star. I feel like I’m so fired up, it’s a wonder my clothes aren’t smoking.

The bike ride home wasn’t comfortable. But I didn’t have to think about dog vomit to distract myself. Thinking about the conversation we had earlier on the beach was enough to do it.

I wasn’t sure how to respond to her. I just know I don’t want things to end.

Now we’re back at the park where we started out, standing with our bikes at the seawall. The trees surrounding the park blaze in shades of crimson and gold and green, the high-rise buildings behind them all white and silver against the blue sky.

I don’t want this date to end.

I look at Stella. I need to touch her. I need to be inside her, even if it’s just my tongue.

I study her face and she’s watching me, too, her eyes warm. When I look at her mouth, her lips part and her breath hitches. Fuck yeah. I lean down and slant my mouth over hers, a slow press at first, a gentle, inquisitive kiss. I draw back to look at her to make sure she’s okay with this.

She curls her fingers into my shirt and pulls me back to her and I’d smile except I’m kissing her again, this time deeper, seeking entrance to her mouth with my tongue. Her response is immediate, a soft sound of pleasure and her mouth opening to me. My tongue slides against hers and holy hell, she’s so sweet. Silky soft. Lush.

One of her hands comes up to my chest, pressing there. Heat coils in my belly and no amount of thinking of dog vomit is going to help the situation in my pants.

I open wider, taking more, and her fingers slide up to the side of my neck, brushing over my skin. How can I ever stop kissing her?

But she pulls back. Disoriented, I blink.

“We can’t do this here.” She glances around us.

I watch her lips move. Did she say something? Oh yeah… “Right.” I clear my throat. It’s a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. People are walking by, jogging, cycling. There are boats on the water. Nobody’s staring at us right now, but someone could recognize me, even with the helmet and sunglasses. “Right. Should we go to a… better place?”

If she says no, I’ll cry. I swear I’ll blubber like a baby.

“Okay.”

My blood surges hot in my veins. “My place? It’s closer.”

“Yeah.”

Thank you, thank you, I recite over and over in my head as we separate and get back on our bikes. My place is so close, it’s ridiculous, we’re there in minutes, and I lead the way through the lobby and into the big elevator. I push the button for the twenty-second floor.

The air is thick and hot around us as the elevator rises and we say nothing, just keep looking at each other.

As soon as I open the door, we’re greeted by a distraught pug throwing himself at our legs, spinning, crying as if he’d been abandoned for a month. Talk about a cock blocker. I love the little dude, but come on, there’s a woman here for Chrissakes.

Stella of course is happy to see him, crouching down to rub him and accept swipes of his tongue on her cheek. “Now I miss my own baby.” Biting her lip, she looks up at me.