Provoke_ A Seaside Pictures Novella (Seaside Pictures #3.7) - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,21

him slack-jawed and more confused than ever.

Later, when I took my shower, I could still feel his tongue on my neck. My breasts felt heavy. My thighs decided they wanted to wrap around his lean body again and again. I was in way over my head.

And I would be leaving in two weeks.

Chapter Nine

Braden

Damn, I was losing my mind.

I woke up thinking, hey, we should see where this incredible thing between us goes, only to be totally shut down when I realized that this was temporary. Duh, what did I think? That she’d fall madly in love with me? Possibly stay after the twenty-one days were over? I mean, shit, we were already past the five-day mark!

She was attracted to me, I knew it. I also knew she was nervous about crossing lines. But what if I invited her to do just that? I eyed her again. I wasn’t giving up, not now, not ever. When I wanted something, I went for it one hundred percent. And I wanted her.

I hated that she’d gotten distant. So, in pure jackass form, I did the same. Until I teased her again and realized I’d rather have twenty-one days of teasing, laughter, and kissing than nothing at all.

Hadn’t the incident reminded me of that?

I shuddered.

I could still feel the texture of her skin on my tongue, and damn, she’d tasted sweet. I zeroed in on the coffee table and told myself to cool the hell down. I took a deep breath and walked outside with my coffee. I needed to literally cool my body so I didn’t propose sex instead of life coaching.

“All right.” Piper nearly sent me over the edge of the balcony with her sudden appearance. She had on a black sundress with a leather jacket, paired with short black boots that were tied loosely around her swollen foot.

Adorable, but not proper beachwear at all.

I eyed her up and down. “Are we going to a seance?”

She ignored me and pulled out a terrifyingly large—you guessed it, black—purse, then threw it over her shoulder. “We’re going to go have some fun, converse in large crowds, and then I have a really cool surprise for you.”

My eyes narrowed as I pointed at her. “Yeah, that smile right there is a bit terrifying. It’s almost like you’re plotting to take over the world but do it in an evil way because you’re dressed like you’re headed to a funeral.”

She rolled her eyes. “Put a shirt on. Let’s go!”

I pouted. “But I like my abs.”

“Yes, so does everyone else. If you want to get mobbed, by all means.”

“Solid point.” I grinned. “Hey, does everyone include you, Coach?”

She bit her lip.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I’ll let you touch a bit more. Nobody has to know…”

“Not tempted.” Her cheeks flashed red. “But thanks.”

“Yeah you are. Come on, one hand on the ab, one hand squeezing the pec, a million times better than your scone.”

“Pretty sure even I don’t have the self-control to squeeze a pec and an ab at one time and not change our plans.” She grinned. “Shirt. Now.”

“So you’re saying I tempt you.” I winked. “Good.” I breezed past her back into the living room, then went to my room and pulled down a black graphic T-shirt and added a black beanie to match.

When I got back to the kitchen, she looked like she wanted to say something but didn’t.

“What?” I grinned. “Do I have too much black on?”

She sighed in exasperation. “You’re impossible.”

“Hey! I just wanted to match.” I swung my arm around her shoulders. “Let’s do this, Coach.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re annoyingly chipper in the mornings?”

“No,” I answered honestly. “Because I don’t do random sex, so there’s no one to wake up to and annoy.”

She stopped walking. “What?”

I frowned. “Are you seriously shocked I don’t do random hookups?”

Her lips parted and then closed, and she shot me a considering look. “Maybe?”

“Not all rock stars are manwhores with drug addictions, Piper. When I have sex with a girl it’s because I’m committed, not because I’m using my fame to get laid.”

“That’s…” She shook her head. “Very mature of you.”

“I want love,” I explained and then smirked. “I think I have my next vision board post.”

“Make sure to put it far, far away from the glitter dick.” She patted me on the shoulder.

“Noted.” I laughed. “All right, you wanna take the Jeep or the R8?”

“Jeep.” She didn’t even hesitate. I was half in love already. It was a test, always a test with