Reckless(40)

“So fucking feisty.” He laughs and leans down to whisper in my ear, “My divorce goes through in less than a week. I’ve been separated for a year, but things between my wife and I crashed and burned long before that. And I promise I’m not on a date, sweetheart. I’m here for you.”

“What?” I’m so confused.

But he doesn’t answer my question. He merely takes my arms, winds them around his neck, and tugs me flush against his body. His big, hard body. Mmm. That deep voice rumbles in my ear. “Your sister told me where I could find you.” He kisses my temple. “I came for you. To find you.”

Those sick, drunk butterflies are back and battle around my stomach. I peer up to find myself nose to nose with him. “You came here for me?”

He smiles.

He came here for me.

I smile back like a loser.

The music shifts to something sultry that heightens my lust-filled fog. “You’re not here with Sandra?” Because buzzed Tori needs everything to be crystal-clear.

Ethan’s eyes soften as he nestles me closer until our lips are a breath apart. “I swear that was more a misunderstanding between me and Logan. Why would I be here with another woman when you’re all I’ve thought about since you barged into my life like a damn tornado?”

I laugh, and it feels so good. So warm. Like I’ve stumbled across a sliver of sunlight on a rainy day. “You must be a glutton for punishment.” With Lana del Rey’s “Burning Desire” swelling around us, I’m ready to scale up Ethan’s delicious body.

Sweet delight pulses through me at the thought.

Until a faint voice—one that’s thrashing around in my head, trying not to drown from the alcohol—cautions me against doing anything rash.

Against doing anything naked.

Because naked gets my heart in trouble.

Plus, don’t I deserve a better explanation for what happened at the diner last night? Even buzzed, I know this.

But then his lips brush against my ear and he whispers, “I’m a glutton for anything that involves you.”

Just like that, my resolve to keep some distance snaps.





22





Ethan





Tori’s smile gets me every time.

I’m not sure I even deserve it.

Soft, smooth skin greets my rough palm when I drag my hand over her slender shoulder.

“Let’s get out of here,” I rasp in her ear, hoping she hears me over the music.

The way those gorgeous hazel eyes heat beneath my stare makes the trek to the city worth it.

I hate clubs. Loathe them. But I’d haul my ass to Austin again to have her look at me like this. With fondness and vulnerability and desire. With the kind of intensity that makes my blood heat and my fingers itch to delve beneath the teasing hem of her skirt.

She nods but holds up a finger and motions for me to follow her through the crowd. We stop in front of a group of people, and she leans over to whisper to another girl, whose eyes dart to me. Then Tori grabs my hand and leads me to the exit.

A bouncer opens the door to let us out to the back parking lot. Warm air and the scent of barbecue and cedar hits our faces as we stroll into the dark.

“Guess I should’ve asked where you parked,” Tori says, turning toward me.

She starts to let go of my hand, but I tighten my hold. “This way.”

After having music blare in my ear for the last hour while I scanned the crowd for her, the quiet seems more amplified, making me feel like tonight, this moment, is important.

I keep stealing glances at her. She’s almost too much to take in at one time. Stunning is the word that comes to mind. All that crazy hair. Those long legs. Her big, golden eyes. That playful personality.

She sneaks a peek at me and gives me a shy smile.

Damn it, I like this girl and how she’s all bluster and ball-busting when she’s pissed, but sweet and vulnerable at other times. Like now.

It’s written all over her face. How glad she is that I came for her. And fuck, that does something to me.

Once we’re along the edge of the lot, my truck comes to view.

“Darlin’, how much’ve you had to drink?” I trace her knuckles with my thumb, not willing to let go of her.

We meander a few paces, our steps crunching on the gravel, before she answers me. “A bit.”

When we arrive at my truck, I slide my gaze to her as I fiddle with my keys. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m happily buzzed and not shit-faced.” She laughs and rocks back, tucking her hands behind her. “I stopped drinking half an hour ago. Why?”

I reach around, wrapping her wrists in my palm before I crowd her against my truck. “Too buzzed to do this?”

Lowering my head, I hover near her and wait for her to ward me off, but instead her breath catches and she arches toward me. Lightly, I brush my lips against hers.

When I pull away, she exhales. “More.”

I smile and lean in, except this time I graze her neck and breathe her in. Breathe in the sweet scent of coconuts and something floral.

Goosebumps break out on her skin, and I nibble the curve of her shoulder and suck.

She swallows. “Let go of my wrists.”

The urgency in her voice makes me comply immediately. I’d never want to force her to do something that makes her uncomfortable.