Page 58 of Riding the Line
I’m biting down on my own hand to stop the moans from escaping, my eyes rolling back. Pleasure swirls in my core, my muscles tightening as it gets heavier, but Duke doesn’t pick up his pace at all, continuing at a leisurely rhythm that feels at odds to the urgency of this situation.
And then he stops.
He pulls his fingers from me, and I turn my head to see him suck my arousal clean off them, my lips popping open. I press up onto my arms, still bent over the desk as I watch Duke round the desk to come before me. He brushes a hand tenderly over my hair, tucking the loose locks on one side behind my ear.
‘Why did you stop?’ I ask, wide eyes blinking at him.
A faint smirk dances on Duke’s lips. His thumb strokes my cheek, reminding me too much of the feel of his fingers against my clit mere seconds ago. ‘That was just a taste of what I’ll give you later if you’re good for the rest of your shift.’
‘So, you’re not going to fuck me?’ I ask, realising that by trying to push Duke over the edge, I only sent myself over with him.
He puts a hand either side of me on the desk, dipping his head until we’re eye level, the wildness of his dark eyes just begging me to get lost in him again. ‘Not yet. When I finally fuck you, I’m going to have you coming allover my cock until the only thing you remember is how to scream my name. And I can’t do that with the whole town in the next room.’ His lips capture mine just as a whimper leaves them, and he swallows the sound. The urgency of his kiss – the hot, hard press of his lips against mine – only seals his promise. ‘Now, let’s go grab some bottles from the stock room before people wonder what we’re up to.’
26
Duke
The golden rays of the late evening sunset filter between the city buildings cutting into the darkening skyline made up of strokes of deep fuchsia and amber. The sunlight catches the strands of Cherry’s black hair next to me, glittering. I wish I could run my fingers through her hair like I can in the confines of my apartment. Part of me wants to tuck her into my side, stow her away in my Silverado, and speed back to Willow Ridge, where I can savour her touch. Where I can make up for all the lost time.
But I owe Cherry this meeting about the bar – she did get back on a horse after all.
‘This is a bad idea,’ I admit, rubbing the back of my neck as I wait outside the empty building to meet Kip. There’s not even an emerging star in the sky to be seen yet, but the bars around us are already beginning to fill, lines forming outside the doors, chatter filling the streets with people ready to dance and drink away the working day.
‘The bar or bringing me with you?’ Cherry smiles blissfully beside me.
Even though I know it was a risk her being here, having Cherry beside me soothes my frayed nerves. Like she’s my lucky charm. I’d almost forgotten what it’s like to have someone by your side, what it’s like to let someone in. And it’s even better when it’s the most beautiful girl in the world. Besides, I struggled with saying no to her before, but I must have left all my self-control behind when I crossed the line kissing her, because trying to fight her coming with me was futile. As was stopping myself from whisking her into my office to touch her like last week, while her brother was the other side of the door.
Fuck, what have I gotten myself into?
Can’t say there isn’t a small, protective part of me that relishes the fact that we can make a better memory of her time in the city. This time, I’m here to keep her safe, to watch over her.
‘Firstly, you won’t know if this is a bad idea until you try it, and based on your track record recently of indulging in potential bad ideas—’ Cherry stops to point at herself and grin ‘—I’d say the odds are in your favour of it working out pretty well.’ I level her a look, making her giggle. ‘And secondly, the chances of anyone from Willow Ridge being in the city right now is so tiny, it’s pointless worrying about it.’
If all bad ideas ended with Cherry Hensley’s thighs shaking around my head, I’ddefinitelyengage in a lot more of them.
‘Duke!’ Kip’s voice rings out as he heads up thesidewalk towards us, weaving through groups of people walking by. ‘So glad you could make it.’
He thrusts his hand towards me, and we shake, only for him to pull me into a hug and pat my back. Once we’ve gotten through our exchange, he turns to Cherry, eyes flashing. ‘Wait, aren’t you Hensley’s little sister?’
‘Yep – and Duke’s interior designer.’ Cherry beams and shakes Kip’s hand too.
‘Is that so?’ I ask, perking a brow.
‘Mhm.’ She bites down on her bottom lip, and I force my eyes closed to regain the composure that instantly slipped at the sight of such. All the memories of her doing that as she moaned for me flashing in my mind. Cherry chuckles, likely too aware of the effect she has on me.
‘That’s great,’ Kip says, none the wiser. He fishes some keys out his pocket to unlock the bar doors. He tugs open one and gestures for us to go inside. ‘Can’t wait to hear what you think we could do with the place. Bring some of that Willow Ridge charm to the city.’
‘Exactly my thoughts,’ Cherry agrees and follows Kip inside.
Heading in behind them, I’m greeted by the empty bar that is only one signature away from being partially mine, my mind already pinging with hundreds of thoughts and questions. Cherry’s explaining to Kip how she helped redecorate the bar back home, giving a good backstory as to why she’s here – not just because I’m falling for her. I should probably join them, but my legs and eyes want to wander.
It’s bigger than the bar back home, as I knew from the specs I already had, but I’m happily surprised to learnthat the extra space isn’t too imposing. This is still a bar, as opposed to the more nightclub-esque haunts Kip owns around the city. But Duke’s is supposed to be cosy, the place where you know you’ll bump into friends, and can share a drink along with memories and laughter. A kind of sanctuary, I suppose – maybe sometimes more for me than the customers.
I know the vibe will be different here in the city, but I don’t want to lose that completely, and I can already see how we can bring that warmer energy to this place – plenty of corners for booths, beams along the ceiling, a small dancefloor that ensures an abundance of embraces and arms cheerily slung around shoulders. I run my hands along the smooth wooden surface of the bar, my gaze flicking to each corner, noting how I can keep an eye on everyone from here, and that’s what matters most – being there for my customers.
It’s that knowledge that has my muscles loosening, and I lean my elbows on the bar to admire my new venture. A gentle buzz hovers under my skin as possibilities fill my mind.
Cherry joins me, leaning down against the bar too. A lock of her silky hair tumbles over her cheek as she angles her head at me. God, she’s beautiful. ‘You look happy.’
