Page 3 of Desert Rose

He nods. “How about you?”

“Me?” He laughs. “I belong to no one. I haven’t pledged yet. I don’t have to.”

“Your full of shit. Everyone here tonight is connected.”

“Ah, so the little viper lies.”

He brushes a stand of hair that the wind carried across my cheek. His finger feels like lightning on my skin. I gasp at the unexpected heat, feeling my nipples harden in my bra. “Self-preservation.”

“Why aren’t you down below?”

“I’m a bit of a loner. I don’t do well in packs.”

“I could say the same.” I study his ink looking for a clue about who he runs with. But it’s dark and so are his tats.

We sit in silence for a while. He alternates between looking low and high. On alert, looking for danger as well as surveilling the party below. The heat from his body warms my skin.

I fling my hair back and lick my lips. This is it. What I came here for. I want to be kissed under the stars.

“You have a job?”

“I’m a mechanic.”

“No shit?” He laughs. “You? Your puny muscles couldn’t lift a tire.”

“I work on bikes. My father taught me. I’m the best. There’s not one engine I can’t rebuild from scratch.”

“Is that so? I’ll have to remember that next time my ride shits the bed.”

“You’re cute.” The corners of his full lips curve. He’s not handsome like a movie star or celebrity. He’s grit, iron, stone. But warm, sculpted muscles and as I lift a hand to boldly press my palm across his pecs, I learn he’s fire. I shift positions to my knees, bringing my face close to his.

“How old are you?” He growls low.

“Old enough.” I trace circles with my index finger over his pec, feeling the muscle tighten.

“Doubt that, little viper. Stop looking at me with wide, eyes begging for heat you can’t handle.”

“You’ve got it all wrong. I’m the heat—you can’t handle.”

His mouth lowers, lips take mine. I gasp at the tingling warmth of my first kiss. He growls low, cursing before his tongue moves forward. His hands tangle in my hair, holding me still as he advances. He tastes of whiskey and fire. Smells like pine trees after a summer rain. I kiss him back with all I have. Heaving for breath he lifts his head. His eyes know glimmering like shards of uncut diamonds. Rough but still bright.

I gasp as his fingers find the back of my tank, peeling it up and off in a flash. The cool air caresses my skin, my bare breasts are pert, nipples peaked and ready to feel a man’s touch. My head falls back as he lowers his mouth to a nipple, rolling it with his tongue. My shocked cry is torn from my lips. I’ve never been touched before… ever and this… is …. Sweet torture.

I shift my hips, feeling the wet slickness in my panties. “You creaming for me, little viper?”

I can only moan as he chuckles against my skin, tugging my nipples with his tongue while a thick hand snakes down into my jeans. He pops the button, unzips and is there. Fingers seeking, rubbing through my virgin folds, finding the nub between, and playing with it.

“Ah,” I gasp as a finger penetrates me. Then two.

“You like that girl?”

I can’t speak, as my hands cling to the back of his silky head. My eyes find the stars as his hands take me to them. I cry out, reaching the pinnacle. My body shakes at the orgasm he gave me rips through me.

Through the haze, another cry mingles with my own. His head lifts from my breast as he looks at someone behind me.

“Mandy? Shit! Babe come back. She’s nothing… it was nothing…”

What?Still in space it takes a few seconds to register what he said as the warmth from his body leaves mine and his fingers slip from my heat. I roll, seeing his back as he chases a girl running away from us.

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