Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(82)

Then, of course, there was the closet and the limo…

I have to shake off the thought. Now is not the time to take a trip down pornographic memory lane.

I watch as Ellie nods at the table of men, her hand landing on the guy’s arm as she laughs again, and something tightens in my gut. Is it jealousy? I know Ellie isn’t the kind to hook up with guys. Hell, she rarely dates. And yeah, I’ve seen her flirt a time or two. It’s good for tips, she says.

When she pats the guy’s arm once more, then turns away, her smile instantly falling, I know it was an act. A sigh of relief escapes me and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Ellie goes back to the bar, then leans in and whispers something in Julie’s ear before slipping down the hall toward the back.

“Excuse me a minute,” I tell Noelle as I get to my feet.

I head in the same direction Ellie disappeared, and I find her in the small back office, rummaging through a filing cabinet.

“Looking for something?”

As though she expected me, Ellie doesn’t even look up. “You here to dance on my bar tonight?”

“You said it had to be a Saturday,” I remind her.

“Yeah, well… Tonight’s good, too.”

“Then it depends.” I don’t finish, wanting her to look at me.

When her gaze strays my way, I can’t deny that I like the slow perusal she gives me, her eyes traveling the length of my body and then back up.

“On what?”

“On whether or not you accepted Noelle’s challenge.”

Ellie shakes her head, then pulls a sheet of paper from the drawer before shutting it. “That girl. She’s got a big mouth.”

I have the sudden urge to kiss Ellie. I’m not sure how I’ve resisted this long. Not because I don’t want her so bad my balls are aching, but I get the sense that Ellie needs to take things slowly, which I’m trying to accommodate. It’s easy when I don’t get to see her. But now … here … not so easy.

Taking a step into the room, I close the door behind me.

Ellie’s gaze shoots my way, her eyes wide. “Kingston Rush, don’t you dare think about it.”

“Think about what?” I stalk her.

Ellie backs up, as though there is anywhere for her to go.

“Tell me about this challenge,” I insist.

She shakes her head. “Noelle already told you.”

“I want to hear it from you.” Noelle didn’t exactly elaborate, and now, based on the blush on Ellie’s cheeks, I’m curious.

I crowd her against the wall, planting my hands on each side of her head.

“She said…” Her gaze falls to my lips, and I’m tempted to crush my mouth to hers, but I manage to refrain.

I want to hear this.

Cocking one eyebrow, I wait.

Ellie sighs. “She said I should let you kinkify me.”

“How so?” Not that I need clarification. It sounds fairly self-explanatory. Still, I want to hear it from Ellie’s mouth.

“I don’t know,” she says with a huff, clearly not intimidated by me in the least.

“Does limo sex count?” I probe.

Heat flares in her gaze. Good. She remembers it the way I do.

“Probably not. Sure, that was a start, but…”

“But what?” I don’t want her to stop now.

Ellie sighs. “Noelle said something about vibrators and dildos. I think she might’ve mentioned anal beads.”

That does it. Those words from Ellie’s sweet mouth are so damn sexy I can’t resist crushing my lips to hers and inhaling her. Her soft moan precedes her arms wrapping around my neck, her leg curling behind mine as she jerks me closer. I have to keep my hands on the wall so I don’t crush her, but I give in to the kiss. It’s explosive, electric. I feel the impact straight to my dick.

I have always suspected there was a fire burning inside this woman, but never did I imagine she’d turn that heat on me. And I can’t deny the relief I feel. My errands… Well, let’s just say that I might’ve acquired a few of those particular items. Maybe it was intuition.

Nah. Probably more like hope.

The thought of using those toys on her makes me kiss her harder, pulling her body against mine. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this woman.

Several minutes later, I manage to pull back from her. “About the challenge?”

Her eyes never leave my mouth as she sucks her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Are you up for it?”

Ellie looks me in the eye, and I see the unwavering heat reflected there. She wants this.

And maybe Noelle is right. Maybe Ellie isn’t looking for long term or permanent. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the time with her that I do have. It also doesn’t mean that I can’t change her mind.

“I’m up for it,” she whispers. Her face sobers. “Just as long as we agree that it’s temporary.”

I’ve already told her how I feel about that, but Ellie’s stubborn; she isn’t going to give me an inch.

I lean in and brush my lips against her ear, pressing my hips to hers. “I’ll trade you.”

“Trade me what?” she whispers, her hands gripping my shirt.

“You don’t make me dance on your bar, and I’ll pleasure you in ways you’ve never imagined.” She inhales sharply when I gently kiss the spot where her pulse is pounding right beneath her ear before pulling back to meet her gaze. “As long as you agree we don’t put a time limit on it.”