Page 48 of The Front Runner
I want him to hold me again. It’s a bad idea. We both know that it’s a bad idea. That’s why we walk in silence across the soggy grass toward the driveway. He opens the passenger side door of his silver SUV, and I crawl into the seat. He doesn’t even put his hand on the small of my back, nor should he. But my inner cat-in-heat wants him to. I love the way he touches me so casually. The way his hands linger on my body like I’m a piece of art worth savoring.
Before going to the house, he comes to the driver’s side and starts the vehicle. He cranks the heat and shoots me a panty-melting grin before darting back into my parents’ white rectangular house. His hand grips the wrought iron railing on the front steps as he takes every second stair. His pants are wet and tight against his round ass.
I grabbed that ass.
It really is a great ass. And his upper body ain’t bad either. Especially with a wet shirt clinging to every indent and hugging his broad shoulders in the most alluring way. I momentarily wish I was his shirt before scrubbing my hands over my face.
What am I doing?
When I drop my hands, I look down at myself and laugh into the quiet vehicle. I thought Stefan’s clothes were leaving little to the imagination, but my white eyelet dress looks like a translucent slip. It’s suctioned onto my body, and I’m pretty sure I can see my nipples through the fabric. And not because they’re still pebbled from the way he devoured me. I thought this dress didn’t require a bra, but I didn’t account for the wet T-shirt contest we just had.
My head snaps up when the door across from me swings open.
“Got it.”
I instantly grab the denim jacket out of Stefan’s hand and cover my tits with it. He grins at me knowingly and shoots me a wink.
“Dick,” I mutter as I turn to the window.
“What? I’m only human. Am I supposed to complain about my smoke-show fake date wearing a wet white dress? Because I refuse.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Save it for the spank-bank, Stefan.”
His hand reaches across the back of my seat as he checks behind us before pulling out. “Oh, no doubt.” He pushes the stick into drive and smiles. “I imagine you and Mr. Purple will have quite the time tonight.”
Dick.
My cheeks heat, and I wish they didn’t. I’m accustomed to acting one way around my girlfriends, but coming face to face with a man and talking about sex so blatantly is kind of new to me. There are things I want to do, want to try, but I’ve had such sparse and mediocre sex, I’ve never found someone I’m comfortable enough to try them with. Basically, my cool, confident exterior is a farce when it comes to that topic.
If I study anything hard enough, I can master it, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. But I’m worried that Stefan is going to call my bluff.
“Are we going to talk about the kiss?”
“Nope.”
“Dr. Mira Thorne caught kissing Enemy Number One in the middle of a field.” He tuts me jokingly. “What would the girl gang say?”
I shoot him a dirty look, because I don’t need him rubbing my nose in that mess. I’ll beat myself up about it enough later.
“How was it in there?” I ask as we turn onto the road and head back out to Ruby Creek.
“Fine.”
I snort. “Very believable.”
“It was. It was as fine as any of them deserve after that episode.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry I put you through that.”
He shrugs, eyes on the darkening road. “Don’t be. I had a good time.”
“Ha. No, you didn’t.”
“I did. Your parents are very welcoming, and I’m pretty sure I love your Nana. The food was excellent. And the dessert was even better.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. He looks so damn pleased with himself.
“You have to understand, Mira,” he continues. “The house I was raised in wasn’t filled with laughter. I didn’t grow up having family gatherings. There weren’t relatives who cared about where my life was going. Are yours overbearing? Yup. Out of line? Absolutely. But they all care about you. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t say anything. I know because that’s what I got.”
