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The low voice in my ear startled me, and I spun around only to have to tilt my chin to meet Ethan’s gaze. My stomach fluttered because I’d never been so close to his handsome face.
He grinned and his smile, just a little wicked, made me feel hot all over. Need swamped me and my cock twitched awake in my jeans. I wanted so badly to touch the curve of his mouth. His blond hair glinted in the morning sunlight. It would be amazing to run my fingers through it. The fabric of his black T-shirt stretched tightly across his muscled chest and the brown leather jacket he wore smelled good. I glanced down his front, not bothering to hide that I was checking him out. I bit the tip of my tongue because his black jeans cupped his groin just right and made me want to run my fingers over the bulge there. When I glanced up, he was doing the same thing—staring at my body—and my face flushed.
“The... uh... bus will be here in a few minutes.” I chuckled awkwardly and stuffed my hands into my pockets. The fabric stretched tighter over my cock, and I regretted the move because all I could think about was touching him now.Why did I say that stupid stuff about the bus?He ran a hand through his hair and gold sparkled on his wrist. “Oh, nice watch!”
He raised his eyebrows and glanced at the timepiece. “Thanks. I’m selling it today, and then we can figure out something fun to do.”
“Really? Where will you sell it?” Confusion had me studying his face, but he only shrugged. I couldn’t read any answers in the glint of his eyes or his sexy smirk.
“This place I know.”
The big silver bus pulled to a stop and took me by surprise. I’d been so wrapped up in him I hadn’t noticed it approaching. The bus that took the route from my house to the city was cleaner, bigger, and overall newer than most of the other ones I’d been on in New Gothenburg. The door opened, and I dragged my wallet out of my back pocket to get my bus pass ready. I got on first and smiled at the driver, who wore the typical uniform of a blue button-down shirt and black pants. The fresh scent of oranges that had to be from some cleaning product blasted my nose. The driver was old, maybe in his thirties, and had frizzy brown curls. I saw him every time I rode the bus, but I didn’t know his name.
“Having a good morning?” he asked with a wide smile, but his expression soured when Ethan stepped up behind me.
“Yes, thank you.” I swiped my card and moved along to my favorite seat at the very back of the bus near the rear door. I sat down and watched as Ethan put cash in the fare box. He smiled when he started walking toward me, and my body heated all over. There was one other person on the bus, which was the norm, and sometimes I thought maybe the only reason it stopped out here was because everyone who lived in my community got mad if they didn’t have service for kids, who went into the city occasionally.
Ethan sat down next to me, close enough that our thighs brushed, and I held my breath while sparks tumbled in my stomach. I loved being this close to him. I nudged his knee with mine, and when he grinned back an electric jolt zipped through my chest.
The other man on the bus came back to the seat in front of us and plopped down. He had on a camo jacket and his dark hair was in his face. As he leaned his chin on the seat, he swiped aside his bangs and blasted me with sad blue eyes. His cheeks and chin were narrow, and his forehead was wide. The stranger was unexpectedly handsome and seemed like he’d seen too many long nights. “Do you have any cash?”
“Get away from us,” Ethan snapped.
His nasty tone shocked me, and I dragged out my wallet. “Don’t be that way. Here, all I have is a five.” I passed the money to the man.
Ethan slapped a hand to his face. “You can’t do that.”
Frowning, I nudged him with my knee as I stuffed my wallet back in my pocket. “You and my mom say the same thing.”
Ethan groaned. “It’s just going to go to booze.”
The stranger moved away from us and shot me a grateful smile over his shoulder. He plopped down in a seat at the middle of the bus with his back to us.
I let out a strangled, irritated noise that had Ethan laughing. “That’s what my dad says about poor people. It’s discrimination!”
Ethan snorted, then chuckled.
I frowned at him and crossed my arms. “I didn’t think you would be this type of person.”
He pointed at the man. “That’s Rye. Well, his real name is Keith Hackney, but I only know that because I end up with his mail about once a month. Everyone calls him Rye because his blood is half whiskey. Hey, Rye! What are you going to spend those five bucks on?”
“A fifth of Wild Turkey,” he called back, but he didn’t turn around.
“See?”
“Oh.” My cheeks heated and I cleared my throat. “Well, maybe he won’t in the end.” I shrugged. “Maybe my five dollars will buy him a sandwich, and everyone needs to eat.”
“You have good intentions all the time?” Ethan asked, raising his eyebrows. My heart jolted.
“I don’t know. I’m lying right now.” I leaned back and got comfortable in the padded seat. “I told my parents I was going to the city to help coach kids’ soccer.”
“Ah—” He waved a hand. “—that’s not too bad.”
“I don’t like it,” I murmured, but I couldn’t help smiling because he studied my face as if he thought I was someone worth looking at.
“We’ll do something you do like. How about that?”
Grinning, I nodded.
