Page 21 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
“Join the club,” she whispered.
His insides flamed at the secret between them. He brushed his lips over her cheek, and she inhaled a ragged breath. It was so sexy, he did it again, earning another seductive inhalation. He drew back so he could see her face, still holding the back of her neck, and she clutched his forearm. Her breasts rose with each heavy breath, and her tongue slicked over her lips, making his mouth water. There was no denying the calculated, seductive move.Nicely played.Their eyes locked, and hers narrowed ever so slightly, suddenly brimming with confidence, and if he was reading her right, which he was darn sure he was, also ripe with challenge.
“You’re going to make a liar of me if you keep looking at me like that.”
“Sometimes a lie isn’t a lie,” she said breathily.
He couldn’t resist pressing his lips to her cheek in a series of light kisses, telling himself her cheek was safe. If he could just have this little taste, he could get through the night and figure out how to lock his desires away again.
Her skin was warm and temptingly soft. She closed her eyes, barely breathing as he kissed her cheek again and again, so trusting and sweet. Her fingers pressed into his skin with every touch of his lips, fueling the battle raging in his head.Just one more.He kissed the tender dip just below her ear, and she sighed dreamily.Oh man, this is torture.
“Then what is it,” he asked, “if not a lie?”
“It’s a…” she whispered.
She turned her face, and their lips brushed like a breeze passing over too quickly. The tease ignited sparks beneath his skin. He ran his hand along her thigh, aching to make herhis, though knowing he shouldn’t even be tempting himself with the kisses he’d already taken.
“A…?” he said as he began kissing her neck.
She arched toward him, holding his head, keeping his mouth on her neck.Oh yeah. That’s it, baby. Show me you want me.He opened his mouth and sealed his teeth over her tender skin, sucking hard enough for her to gasp. He threaded his fingers into her hair, tugging her head to the side so he could take more of her. Her hand fisted in his hair, pulling hard—but not pullingaway—causing a deliciously erotic sting. He needed to break their connection or he wasn’t going to stop. He’d fought to remain on the right side of the invisible line between them for years, and he was messing that up. Sending her mixed messages only scratched the surface of why he should break their connection.
“It’s a bad idea,” she panted out.
Her words, along with the roar of a motorcycle, crashed through his reverie. He released her like he’d been burned. “Bad idea. Right. Sorry.”I’m such a jerk.
“No—” She grabbed his hand, leaning closer. “This isn’t a bad idea. That’s what thelieis. We’re not making a liar out of you. You just had a bad idea in the first place.”
A series of successive taps on the window made them both jump.
“Oh,great.” He rolled down his window, teeth clenched, and Violet peered in. “Hey,” he ground out.
Violet’s gaze sailed over Serena, and Drake fisted his hands to keep from shifting in his seat and blocking Violet’s view of Serena’s lust-filled eyes and tousled hair.
“You guys coming in?” Violet arched a brow. “Or…?” She waggled her brows.
THERE WERE NO words to describe the feeling of walking into the crowded, dimly lit bar between Violet, who was smirking like she’d caught Serena and Drake having sex, and Drake. Drake radiated sexual energy as he hulked beside her like a bodyguard who’d been told not to touch his charge. He practically growled at the men who dared look at her. They’d been there for a while, and she still hadn’t calmed down. She swallowed hard, shifting in her seat. The man hadn’t even kissed her on the mouth and he’d practically melted her clothes off.
The erratic beat of the music amped up the thrum of heat buzzing inside her as she watched Drake carry their drinks from the bar. His eyes blazed into hers, fiercely sexy and haltingly arresting. She touched the bracelet he’d given her, remembering how he’d held her stare with a wicked look in his eyes as he’d wound it around her wrist. She knew she’d see that look late at night when she was alone in the dark, reliving the feel of his lips on her cheek, his hot breath warming her to her core. But for now she tried to push the memory away, drinking him in as he approached. His confident stride drew the eyes of nearly every woman he passed. He looked scrumptious in the black linen shirt she’d given him last Christmas. It had quickly become one of her favorites because he always left the top buttons open, giving her a peek at the dusting of chest hair beneath. Some guys were too hairy, others shaved or waxed their chests, but Drake had the perfect amount of chest hair, and now, as he closed the distance between them like a lion stalking his prey, she imagined what it would feel like against her skin.
Violet leaned back in her chair. Her black top rose at the hem, exposing an inch of tanned skin above her hip-hugging black leather miniskirt. She took a picture of Drake with her phone. Then she handed the phone to Serena and said, “Don’t drool on it.”
Serena rolled her eyes and shoved the phone back to Violet. “It’s not what you think.”
“Enlighten me,” Violet said with a smirk. “Because that blond skank is trying her best to seduce him, and he can’t take his eyes offyou.”
Serena glanced over, and her insides flamed at the way he was looking at her. And just as quickly, jealousy clawed its way up her spine at the sight of a pretty blonde pawing at his arm. She didn’t know what to make of what had happened in the truck, but she knew what shewantedto make of it. And she knew that might not be smart for all the same reasons Drake had so diligently outlined for her yesterday.
Her gut twisted as he leaned down and said something to the blonde. This time tomorrow she’d have no idea where he was or who he was with. Panic gripped her. She shifted her eyes to the dance floor to try to calm her nerves. They weren’t even a couple. It shouldn’t matter what he did or who he was with, despite those few scorching moments in the truck. As it was, she had no idea who he was with most nights. Sure, they texted often, but she didn’t pry, and he didn’t offer details. She only knew that in the mornings they either met up at Summer House for breakfast with their friends, or he arrived at the resort shortly after her, on his way back from his morning run. She was sure he’d been with women over the years, but she couldn’t remember him having anyone by his side even once when they were out as a group.
She glanced across the table at Mira and Matt, their heads bowed as they whispered to each other. Matt must have said something dirty, because Mira’s cheeks pinked up and she closed her eyes, which made Serena think of Drake’s lips on her cheek. She turned her attention to Emery and Dean dancing too close and slow for the fast beat. A few feet away from them, Desiree and Rick kissed, swaying to the music. They made relationships look easy, like life revolved around them, not the other way around. Why was it so complicated for her and Drake?
“C’mon, woman. You look like a confused little kitten, and I know you’re no kitten.” Violet pushed to her feet. “We’re going to dance this out of you.”
Dean and Rick came back to the table as Violet yanked Serena up beside her.
“Harper’s with the girls,” Rick said, and pointed to the three of them dancing.
Serena couldn’t suppress her smile. Wearing a short, colorful hippie dress, along with several long, dangling necklaces, Harper looked like a flower child. Her long blond hair swung as she danced like she was on the floor by herself, her arms flailing, her chin tipped up, and her eyes closed. Beside her Desiree danced a little self-consciously in a cute maxi dress, while Emery ground her hips and shimmied in a skintight, bright-blue minidress.
