Page 7 of Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven
"You have a tab at a Chinese restaurant?"
She shrugs. "It's my favorite place to eat." She peeks over her shoulder. “Who’s the dude on the bike?”
“Long story,” I mutter.
We begin the drive back to the apartment. It’s quick, but Locke stays just behind my bumper the entire way. Presley looks to me for answers as I pull into the parking lot and park next to her car, but I keep my eyes off of her until I push open my door.
When I step out, Locke slowly idles up to the curb. I can’t see his face because of the helmet, but I feel his eyes on me.
“You can go ahead,” I tell Presley.
She bounces her eyes between us before she reluctantly heads to the entrance. I don’t miss the wink she throws me as she prances up to the door and punches in her code. Once the door is shut, I move towards Locke.
“Thank you. That wasn’t necessary,” I tell him.
“I disagree.” He removes his helmet. “I wanted to see for myself you got home.”
I chuckle. “You make sure all the women who stop you on the curb get home safely?”
His eyes pin mine with a look I can’t decipher. Curiosity mixed with attraction? There’s no doubt we are attracted to each other. It was evident in the kiss. It’s like a visible fragrance lingering in the air. Potent.
Slowly he reaches out to toy with the hem of my hoodie.
“Where did you come from?” His question is a low murmur, almost like he’s asking himself and not me.
“New York.” I tilt my head. “I just got to town.”
When he doesn’t reply, I take a few steps away. This tension is intense. Too fast. “See you around, Locke.”
When I make it to the building, I turn to give one last look, but I gasp when he’s just a step away. He crowds me against the brick, his arms landing on the wall behind me, caging me in.
We stare at each other. Like we can have a complete conversation without speaking.
Do you feel this too?
Am I crazy?
Are you about to lose your mind?
My breaths turn quick. My legs clench, and for the first time in three months I actuallyfeelsomething. It may be lust, or just plain raging hormones, but I know one thing for sure in this moment. I want this beautiful stranger to ease this ache. His glowing eyes swirl again as his palm slides down the curve of my waist, then around my lower back.
“Can I make you an offer you can’t refuse?” I ask as I let my own hands lift, then land on his solid chest.
I run the tip of my finger down his sternum and stop at the button of his jeans. I can feel the flex of his abs and when I glance down, I don’t miss the sudden bulge that is almost resting against my stomach.
“I’m pretty positive I would take anything you had to offer," he rasps just as he leans down, taking my earlobe between his teeth.
“Come inside?” I offer.
“Inside what?” I can feel his smirk against my skin.
“The building.” I push him back lightly, keeping his t-shirt caught between my fingertips. Raising up on my toes, I whisper. “We’ll see about the rest.”
Something bordering a growl sounds in his chest as he laces our fingers together. “Lead the way.”
Chapter five
Raven
