Page 74 of Riding the High

I lie still and look up to the ceiling for a beat, catching my breath because it’s been a long goddamn time since I’ve had that kind of activity first thing in the morning.

“Actually, I took today off.”

She leans up on her side so that all her chocolate masses fall over one eye. “Since when?”

“Since this morning, when I emailed Bev and told her I’m taking a personal day. We’re going on a date. A real one, before I have to pick Mabes up from my mom’s.” I stroke her arm. “Oh, and we’re having dinner at the big house. Now, go make us somecoffee in your crazy-ass coffee maker while I shower. It’s the last finger you’ll lift today.”

I plant a peck on her forehead and get up. But I can’t stay away for long and instantly pounce back onto the bed as she yelps, hovering over her. I bend down to kiss her and the overwhelming urge I feel for her surges back as my tongue moves with hers. As though I’ve been kissing her my whole life.

Our mouths connect once more before I stand. Satisfied for at least the next twenty minutes.

“Are you trying really hard to make me fall for you or something, Mr. Ashby?” she asks as I pull a fresh pair of boxers from my drawer. I move in the direction of my bathroom, still naked.

“Nah, I would never do something like that, Vixen,” I call as I head down the hall, grinning the whole way. Because, right now, I’m just riding this high. And fuck, maybe getting her to fall for me is exactly what I’m trying to do.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Ginger

Well, in the spirit of keeping things platonic so we don’t ruin our friendship, on a scale of one to ten—with one being a responsible adult and ten being a total fucking slut for Cole Ashby—I’m sitting at about a one hundred and one.

On the other hand, I’ve had four (or maybe five?) of the best orgasms I’ve ever had in my life in the last twelve hours. Which means I’m giving myself a little leeway as I head to the kitchen to make some coffee in one of Cole’s black t-shirts and my bare feet.

“Alexa, play I Got Railed into Next Week by a Hot Sheriff Last Night,” I call out, happier than I’ve been in a long time. Of course, Alexa doesn’t know that playlist so I settle for the local country station.

Ten minutes later, the coffee is brewing and I’m singing along to the radio while slicing fruit. I look up when I hear Cole pad down the hall, still wet from the shower. He has a towel wrapped around his waist and it hangs low on his narrow hips. His wide shoulders flex as he moves, and those arms … those arms are enough to make me wet all on their own. He’s freshly shaven and there are still tiny droplets of water clinging to hissmooth chest. He’s easily the most attractive man I’ll ever sleep with. Hell, he might just have ruined me for all other men going forward.

“You’re staring,” Cole says, his bicep flexing as he runs a hand through his thick hair. He moves past me, smelling like the very things sin and dreams are made of, and grabs a mug from the cupboard. “What are you thinking about?”

He pours himself a steaming mug of coffee.

I smile up at him. “I’m wishing this was our date. You, me and a towel. Or, no towel would be even better.”

He takes a sip, then sets the mug down, moving toward me. When he reaches me, he wraps his big hands around my waist and hikes me up onto the counter. I yelp when my pantie-clad bottom hits the marble.

“You’re all clean and I’m not,” I say in a mock-whine as he tips my head back, licking a trail up the side of my neck.

“Best friends don’t care about that shit, Ginger,” he murmurs into the space below my ear. I laugh as he continues, “And now I can’t stop thinking about just how dirty you are, and I’m trying to figure out why the fuck that makes me want you more.” He pulls my earlobe into his mouth and bites down. “Just thinking about filling you up with my cum again and again …”

I suck in a breath and grind against his body. A loud knock at the front door makes us both jump. My heart drops. On the other side of the glass, staring right at us, arms folded over her chest and wearing a smile that says I’m totally busted, is none other than my mother.

“Fuck fuck fuck,” I say, sliding off the counter and holding a finger up, hoping by some miracle she didn’t actually see what we were doing just now.

“The sun reflects off the glass. That’s a thing, right?” I ask Cole as I make a beeline across the living room.

“Uh … yeah.” Cole says, a smile playing on his lips.

My mother doesn’t wait for me to open the door, and instead just makes her way in like she owns the place.

“Hello,bella,” she singsongs. “At least I know now why you don’t answer your phone. Pffft, working myass.”

She moves across the kitchen to pour herself a coffee.

“Goddammit, Mother. Can you give us one second?” I huff, heading up to my room to find some pants.

“Help yourself,” I hear Cole say in an easy tone.

Once I reach my room, I yank my pants on and smooth my hair before running breathlessly back to the kitchen. Cole stands in the middle of the room, still in his towel, and sips his coffee as my mother sips hers.

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