Loner by Harloe Rae Page 0,26
feeling this torture?
“Why are you staring at me?”
Because I want to be buried eight inches deep inside of her. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to have her molten center clenching around me. And now I’m harder than steel. My dick twitches, more than willing to show off for Keegan. Dammit. She brings out the worst in me, or maybe it’s the best. I blink, clearing the fog from my mind. “Uh, what?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Are you drunk?”
“Completely sober. You?” I want to cup her cheek, tipping up until our lips meet. Would she let me?
She rocks a hand back and forth. “Eh, I’ve had a few. But I’m perfectly coherent. Don’t go thinking you can take advantage.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I swallow, trying to soothe the ache. “Can we go somewhere quiet? Between the yelling and sorry excuse for music, my brain is ringing.”
“Why would we do that?” Her smile is coy.
“To talk.”
“About?”
I suck air through my teeth. “Whatever we want.”
She toys with a lock of golden hair. I imagine weaving those blonde strands through my fingers, pinning her against me while I sink to the hilt. “I have a few ideas.”
Her suggestion drips with seduction, and I’m far enough under to drown. “There’s a trash room out back.”
Keegan sputters. “That’s the first place you think of to take me?”
I hook my thumb in a belt loop. “I’m sure it’ll be private.”
She’s still gaping at me. “Only because no one wants to be in there longer than necessary. I’m sure it smells worse than rotting ass. Gross, Ford.”
I grind my teeth. I’m so bad at this. “And where would you prefer to go?”
She scoffs. “Oh, I don’t know. How about the alley in general?”
“People might see us.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “Are you ashamed to be seen with me?”
I swipe at the brim of my hat. “Nah, quite the opposite. I’m sure you don’t want rumors spread around town that we’re alone in a dark alcove.”
She swats at the air. “Let them gossip.”
I swing an arm toward the rear exit. “After you, lady.”
Keegan pokes a finger at my chest. “You better mean that in a genuine way.”
“Can that be considered an insult?”
“You’d be surprised,” she says and starts walking.
I follow behind, a loyal hound snarling at any guy who risks a glance at Keegan’s ass. Not that I can blame them. My gaze has barely strayed from those twin globes since she set off toward the door. But what claim do I really have? Or want, for that matter. This conversation could swirl the drain faster than I can suggest anything pleasurable. I have no idea what I’m doing here. She begins accentuating the swing of her hips, the colorful array of rhinestones winking at me, and I push my questions aside. I’ll worry about fucking up when the time comes.
We enter the alley with a clang of metal against brick. The cool air is an instant relief, whispering along my balmy skin like a siren song. My reprieve from the heat has a very short shelf life. Keegan spins on me, that same finger jabbing at me again.
“I almost forgot,” she quips. “I’m mad at you.”
“Why? What the hell did I do?”
She crosses her arms, giving me a generous visual of ample cleavage. “What didn’t you do?”
That’s fair. My list of crimes is quite long from the few instances we’ve previously clashed. But there’s no sense giving her all of that ammunition. “Tell me why you’re pissed.”
Another stab to my chest. “You’re turning my daughter against me. All she wants to do is visit your garage. I can’t get a moment’s peace.”
“Really? Huh. That’s cute.” The ice around my heart chips ever so slightly. I rub at the sting.
“Sure is, except we”—she motions between us—“don’t get along.”
“Maybe we can change that.”
She huffs out an indignant exhale. “I was willing to be nice. You weren’t.”
There’s no way I can argue that. I lift my cap, adjusting it to rest higher. Keegan should see how fucking serious I am. “I don’t want to fight.”
“Oh? Since when?”
I move forward, towering into her personal space. “Now.”
Her breath hitches. Yeah, she’s with me. “You’re very chatty all of a sudden.”
I scowl. “Talking isn’t my issue. It’s the people I don’t like.”
“Yet you stomped into a packed bar without issue.”
“Fuck that. There are plenty of problems with this situation. You don’t happen to be one of them.”
An easy grin softens her features. “Wow, that’s almost nice.”
I glare at the brick wall behind her. “Don’t