Page 72 of The Tomorrows After You
Jen cackled.“Now that’s a girl I can get on with. Riot, hang on to this one.”She stood up and my gaze met his, our eyes tangling and my breath quickened.“Alright, I gotta close up. Don’t be a stranger, boy. Nicolette, it was a pleasure to meet you. So long as I have a restaurant to run, I hope to see you around here again real soon.”She gave Riot a wink before patting his head and disappearing into the kitchen.
“What’d she mean by that?”I asked.
Riot smiled distantly.“Some company has been trying to buy this place from her for years. With all the developments that have happened around Lycon, her taxes are doubling every year. She’s trying to hold out until the real estate is worth what she needs to retire.”He shrugged. I considered that. Itwasa large space and I could see it being valuable to the developers. It was a cozy restaurant but it didn’t have the mark of newness the rest of the downtown area did.
My focus turned back to Riot and my chest hitched at the reverent expression on his face.
“What?”I touched my hair to see if it was out of place before running a hand over my mouth to make sure there was nothing on my face.
“You’re incredible, you know that?”
A blush prickled up my neck and I rolled my eyes trying to dissuade the embarrassment from spreading.
“Of course, I know that,”I said but softened further at his amusement.“But it’s still nice to hear,”I added.“So… Wanna come to my place for a nightcap?”
Riot grinned, and I became a puddle of mush.
27
Riot
Ijumped in my car with nervous, giddy energy and it was hard to mask my anxiety the closer to home we drove. I was nervous as all get out and I tried making small talk but it was hard to focus. It had been almost twelve years since I’d been with a woman and Nicolette wasn’t just any woman.
She was beautiful. And talented. And sexy as hell and I was terrified I would disappoint her.
Naturally, I didn’t want to make any assumptions but the way shethrewscaldinggazes down my body at dinnerhadme all butconvincedIwasthe only thing on her mind. And now in the confines of my truck, Ifelther eyes running up and down my thighs. As wepulleddown the road thatledto my property, wesettledinto a fiery silence, the air thick with tenuous anticipation.
When I finally threw the truck in park, she sat still, amused, while I jogged around to open her door. She slid down, and we were impossibly close. Her tongue darted between her lips, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth.
“I have to send a quick video to my mom,” she murmured. Her eyes lingered on my mouth. “Come by in ten?”
I swallowed and nodded but neither of us moved. I inched my face toward hers, holding my breath. If I inhaled her scent, it’d be all over and I’d never let her walk in that house. The image of us writhing naked in the backyard made my clothes feel tighter.
Her soft lips pressed against mine and every bit of tension, fear, or anxiety melted from my body.
I had always gotten nervous before football games too. The anticipation was the worst. Once the whistle blew, I was in it and I could rely on my practice and body to carry us to victory. It felt similar to Nicolette. Kissing her was like a magnetic pull. Like it was something I was supposed to be doing all my life.
Her lipsparted, and Itracedher mouth with my tongue. A soft exhaleescapedher lips and if I didn’t pull back, I never would.
Nicolette’s eyes were heavy and those red lips remained parted.
“I’llbe over in a few,”Iwhispered, walking her to the outside door thatledto her screen room.
Iwalkedaround the house andenteredthrough the main door under the carport,smilingstupidly to myself the whole time.
“Hi Mom, I’m here, alive and in the flesh…” I heard her singsong voice muted through the closed door. The illumination from her computer cast a soft glow behind the curtains.
I walked to the bar and grabbed two wine glasses off the rack. They were old with weird etched designs on them and were way too dusty. I hurried to the sink to wash them before pulling out a bottle of champagne that I’d gotten earlier that day.
Iraninto my bathroom to brush my teeth. I could still taste her on my lips and Ibeganto harden.
“Fuck,”Icurseddown at my belt buckle. Irememberedone of the guys in prison saying hejerkedoff before every date so he wouldn’t finish too fast and Iwonderedif Ihadtime to try to do the same.
Iwasjust about to unbuckle my belt when sharp shoutscutthrough the night.
“No good, it’s no good! I don’t like it! Don’t like it!”
My heart picked up an unnatural rhythm. I bolted from my room. It sounded like Brennan’s angry growls were coming from the screen room. I didn’t want to invade her privacy but when I heard Nicolette shushing him, I let all reservations go and pulled the sliding door open.
