Page 59 of Bronco

We leave the arena and take a detour because part of the main highway is closed off due to an accident.

Wrapping my arms around him doesn’t help, in fact, it only makes my libido that much worse, and with the rumbling of the straight pipes underneath me?Kill me now!This is gonna be torture.

I try not to take in his big, strong body, and the subtle scent of his faded cologne; it’s not like I could forget that woodsy aroma; I think it’ll be ingrained into my brain for the rest of time.

When he kissed me back… goddamn, that was magic. My heart rate quickened like I couldn’t breathe. With my eyes squeezed shut, I let my hair down and enjoyed every single second of Bronco’s sexy mouth. It took me places I thought had been long abandoned. I’ve kissed other guys, albeit not many because the emotional scars from Vince mean that I can’t form any kind of lasting relationship, nor would I probably want to. But with Bronco? He’s safe. He’s like home. That’s what it is. I feel safe in his arms; I know he won’t let me down, or expect anything, or hurt me. He lets me be myself.

I contemplate all these crazy thoughts as we speed through the city and back to my apartment. When Bronco pulls up outside my building, he doesn’t kill the engine. A flood of disappointment runs through me that he doesn’t want to stay, or even talk about it, or the kiss.

Maybe it’s just me. He’s kissed way more people than I have. What if I’m just not that good at it? Then again, he did show me his giant wood… My skin prickles at the very idea and I groan out loud, biting on my lip, needing to squeeze my legs together, but I can’t. Instead, I unfasten my helmet, anything to spend another minute with him.

“It’s late, I should get goin’,” he says as I climb off.

“Bronco, I think we need to talk about the kiss,” I say bravely.

He piques an eyebrow. “Here I was thinkin’ I was the only over-thinker around here.”

I note the challenge in his tone and smile. “If you wanted to come in, that would be okay.”

He scratches his chin, his bandana pulled down to his neck. He looks good enough to eat, seriously. But I fear I sound needy, and I hate myself for it.

“I probably should take off. I’ve gotta take the long route home with the highway backed up.”

“You could stay here,” I blurt. Oh, God, I didn’t even mean it likethat,but now I sound desperate! “I meant, on the couch, if you want?” It isn’t like he hasn’t slept on my couch before. Usually it’s when he’s a little drunk, and doesn’t want to drive. Still, we hadn’t just kissed when that happened, and all the feelings I’m now having weren’t swirling around in my head like a runaway freight train.

“I don’t wanna impose.”

I roll my eyes. “So now you’re a big shot because I kissed you?”

Relief engulfs me when he kills the engine. “My head is pretty big; I just hope everyone at the clubhouse saw it on TV.”

“You mean Cupcake? I think Cherry was also checking you out not so long ago.”

“I don’t care about them.” His words are soft as I swallow hard and hand him back the helmet.

Don’t come up. Don’t come up.But it’s too late, I already asked him, and by the way he’s now swinging his leg over the motorcycle, it didn’t take too much convincing.

“I just don’t want things to be weird.”

“Zero weirdness,” he says, taking the foam fingers I wanted to bring home off me, brushing a lock of my hair off my shoulder. His fingers still.“Ah, shit.”

I chuckle. “So I think we failed our fake date, don’t you?”

His eyes meet mine. “I think we could do better at fakin’ it, but you puttin’ your mouth on me wasn’t part of the plan.”

“Come inside, I can make us hot chocolate.”

“You know how to seduce me,” he laughs, swiping one hand through his hair as I feel his other hand on the small of my back, escorting me off the sidewalk.

Awkward silence ensues as we walk toward my building, and I let us in. Of course, the apartment is quiet; just as I left it. I switch on the main light as we head through to the kitchen. I place the foam fingers down on the bench and discard my bag as Bronco follows silently behind me.

“Cat got your tongue?” I can’t hide my smirk. I wickedly like the idea that he’s become a little unglued since I planted one on him. I wonder if he’s feeling the same thing as me, but won’t admit it.

“I didn’t wanna make you feel uncomfortable tellin’ you what Nevada said,” he says out of nowhere, surprising me.

My back to him, grabbing the milk out of the fridge, I take a breath. “I mean, he’s got it all wrong. I agree with you; sex complicates things, and let’s face it, has anyone you know successfully been fuck buddies and made it work without someone getting hurt in the process?”

He shakes his head. “No such thing.”

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