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  “That’s the one! Be ready at nine, I’m picking you up.” Jessie hung up, giving me no chance to argue.

  ***

  I’d pulled on four different outfits, and changed my mind each time. I don’t know why I was so worried about my wardrobe choice. After all, it was just some party. I reached into my dresser and retrieved my favorite pair of jeans. They’d been faded by wear, and holes had worn in several spots, but they always made me feel confident. I slid them on and yanked on a plain black tank top before stepping into my black combat boots. I glanced in the mirror and patted the large teased bump of platinum hair behind my thin, black headband. I’d decided, although it wasn’t my normal style, to go with the same hairstyle I’d worn the weekend before.

  I heard Jessie honk outside, and I grabbed my purse from the bed before heading down to meet her.

  I pulled the door handle and hauled myself up into her monster of a truck. “Hey,” I said as I sat down.

  Jess flipped on the overhead light and checked me out with approval. She reached out and lightly pressed down on my hair. It sprang right back into place. Thank you, Aqua Net, I thought.

  She smiled with pride. “Nice job!”

  “Well, I did learn from the best,” I said sarcastically.

  “You sure did. I hope you’re ready to par-tay tonight, girl! Everyone is going to be there. It’s gonna be crazy.”

  I started to get slightly nervous. What the hell was I doing? I didn’t do parties.

  Jessie flicked the light back off, and we peeled out onto the road.

  Chapter 11

  Cory

  The ping pong ball circled the rim of the plastic cup before dropping in. “Redemption’s your last chance, bitch!” I yelled at Chad, who only had one cup remaining. I was always the beer pong champion, this game was mine.

  Chad focused and flicked his elbow slightly as his last shot arced and missed. “Damnit.” he said. I picked up the cup from my end of the table and handed it over to him. He chugged both the remaining beers.

  I lifted my hands in surrender. “Can’t mess with the boss, bro.” I laughed. Beers from the last three games were catching up, and I was starting to feel a slight buzz.

  I heard the iron gate to the backyard slam shut. And one of the girls at the other end of the patio yelled, “Jess!” Her name instantly caught my attention. I sidestepped off the concrete and onto the lawn to see around the crowd and catch a glimpse of who’d just walked in. Sure enough, I spotted Sam’s bright blonde hair next to her friend’s. Sam timidly glanced around the crowd, seemingly surveying it for any familiar faces. Her gaze fell on me and I lifted my chin in greeting and gave her a smile. She returned my smile then quickly looked away. She and Jessie walked into the crowd and greeted everyone.

  “Steele, you’re up!” Josh yelled from the table where he’d racked the cups. I stepped back over to my end.

  “We’re playing teams this time,” the Commander added. He looked back past his shoulder and waved someone over with a quick gesture. Jessie emerged from the group of bodies, and Sam was close behind. Josh pulled Jessie in for a hug and a quick kiss. “Hey, babe, you’re playing with me.”

  “Oooh beer pong!” She took her place and looked up at me. “We’re gonna kick your ass, Cory,” Jessie teased.

  I stared directly at Sam and beckoned her over to my end. She glanced around, unsure if I was actually motioning to her. “You’re with me,” I said. I looked her up and down as she shuffled over to my side. Those legs, even wrapped in torn denim, were just as fucking fantastic as I’d remembered.

  “Uh, I don’t know how to play,” Sam admitted.

  I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, fuck, just touching her increased my buzz. “That’s all right, you’re with me. You’ll be a pro in no time.” I dropped my arm and plucked a ball from the water cup. I handed it to Sam, and then repositioned myself behind her. I lifted her right arm and guided her as she tossed the small, plastic ball directly into a cup. I swung my arm around her stomach and pulled her back against my chest. “You’re a natural, babe.”

  She looked up at me with a huge grin. “What do you know, looks like I am!” I reluctantly dropped my hold on her and took my shot.

  About twenty minutes later, our game came to an end, we’d won, and Jessie pulled Sam away to go mingle.

  Chapter 12

  Sam

  I was definitely a lightweight. After chugging a few cups of beer during our game, my body was feeling floaty and light as a feather. Jessie was chatting with one of her co-workers in the massive, state-of-the-art kitchen, and I decided I need to get some fresh air. I tapped her on the shoulder and gestured toward the set of French doors with my head to let her know I was going out.

  She spun around. “I’ll come with you.”

  “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine,” I said and headed toward the cool, outside air. The music in the patio area was blaring and the ground seemed to be pulsing with the bass. I made my way through the groups of loud, drunken people and headed across the lawn. At the edge of the green grass, a white fence divided the backyard from a dirt track beyond. I stopped at the fence and looked out at the course that someone had clearly taken a long time to design. The fresh air felt nice, and I felt my head starting to clear immediately. I was still slightly lightheaded, but my buzz was at a nice level, a relaxing level.

  “You sure are good at sneaking off. You thinking of making a run for it?” a deep voice behind me asked. I recognized that voice. Just hearing it caused my heartbeat to speed up. I flipped my long hair behind my shoulder as I looked back at Cory while still bracing my forearms on the fence.

  I laughed as I realized that he’d once again found me in the same position. “I swear, I don’t usually just hang out on fences.” How embarrassing, I thought. I turned back toward the dirt jumps.

  Cory chuckled. He hopped up and over the fence. “Come on, I want to show you something.” He extended his hand for me to take.

  I looked at him with wide eyes, and he laughed. “No I’m not going to show you that right now.”

  Thank god it was dark out, because I felt my cheeks heat right up. I pulled myself up on the fence then reached out and took his large, strong hand and hopped down. Cory led me across the track and down a small slope on the opposite side. Beyond the hillside there was a magnificent view of the city lights below. I sucked in a breath at the sight.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

  He came to a stop and dropped my hand before sitting down on the grassy hill. I took a seat next to him, and I attempted to calm my nerves by taking in the scene below. Was this really happening? Maybe I was imagining the whole thing. I forced myself to focus on the sparkling cityscape beyond.

  Cory rested his forearms on his knees as he glanced over at me. “I was hoping I might run into you again.”

  “Oh yeah? Why is that?” I asked suggestively. Clearly, I was still experiencing some alcohol induced confidence.

  “Well, I’d been thinking about you. And then when I saw you on Monday—”

  “Wait!” I suddenly remembered that he’d been on a date at the restaurant. That sobered me right up. I sat up straighter. “Where is your girl at tonight?” I asked accusingly.

  He looked puzzled. “My girl? What are you talking about?”

  I felt myself getting upset, but I held it together. “The beautiful girl you were with at the restaurant? I bet she wouldn’t be too pleased with our little walk over here.”

  Cory relaxed and started laughing. “Kristine? She’s my sister.”

  “Oh, shit. Your sister?” I sighed with relief. I started laughing too. “Well, that was embarrassing then. Forget I mentioned it.”

  Cory reached his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close to his side. “I guess it’s a good thing I
had the right answer. For a moment there you looked like you wanted to kick my ass.”

  “Yep. You lucked out, this time.” I said.

  “So, anyways, before you just about tore my head off, I was going to tell you the reason I’d hoped to see you again . . .”

  Cory reached up with his free hand and turned my chin to face him. He tilted my lips up, and his mouth slammed down over mine. The kiss was instantly intense as his tongue probed in and out of my mouth. I felt the intimacy of his kiss throughout my entire body. My hands wrapped around the back of his neck and I pulled his mouth harder against mine. Without every breaking contact, Cory climbed over in front of me, sitting on his knees. He placed one hand on the grass behind me and lowered me back to the ground with the other. He straddled my thighs, and I felt his massive, hard erection pressing down on my core. Holy shit, I knew he’d be big . . . but damn. His rough, calloused fingertips lifted my shirt and softly traced over my belly and up to my breast. I moved against his hand as it cupped my breast over the top of my lacy bra. As his fingers explored my chest, I lifted my hips to rub along his impressive length.

  All of a sudden, I heard someone yelling, and it snapped me out of my lustful state. “Sam!” I heard Jessie calling. I turned my cheek to Cory, and scooted back a bit.

  Cory let out a long, frustrated breath. “Damn. Your friend really has great timing.” He sat back onto his heels, and pulled me up to sitting.

  “Sam!” Jessie shouted again. “Are you out here?” She approached the hillside and spotted us. My best friend stopped dead in her tracks and raised her eyebrows at me. “Uh . . . I didn’t realize you had company.” I swear I saw her shoot a threatening glare at Cory before she spun back around. “I’m ready to leave whenever you are,” she called back over her shoulder.

  Well, that was awkward. I looked at Cory. “I should get going.” I could still see his chest rising and falling rapidly from our little grassy rendezvous. I was reluctant to leave him but I stood and brushed the back of my jeans off.

  Cory got to his feet as well. “All right. I’ll be seeing you around, Sam.”

  I pushed up on my tippy toes and placed a light kiss on the corner of his mouth. “I hope so.” I twisted around and only took one step before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to face him. He kissed me hard one last time and released me, leaving me breathless for my walk back.

  ***

  As soon as we climbed back into her truck, Jessie spun to face me. “Holy crap. What just happened?”

  I feigned innocence. “What are you talking about?”

  She rolled her eyes at me and then bounced up and down slightly with excitement. “You and Steele, tell me what the hell I just interrupted!”

  “He wanted to show me the view of the city, which was spectacular by the way. There are so many lights down—”

  “Sam!” Jessie interrupted. “I don’t care about the view. Tell me what happened with you two?”

  My cheeks heated as I thought back to our extremely hot, but short, make-out session. “Well, you pretty much saw the gist of it. We kissed.”

  “Yeah,” she said with frustration. “Saw that much. So how was it?!”

  I decided I’d try and play the whole thing off casually. “Oh you know . . . a kiss is a kiss—”

  “Sam.” She cut me off and her brow rose in question.

  “Okay, fine.” I admitted. “Pretty sure that was the hottest kiss I’ve ever had, or well kisses.” I struggled to keep the elation out of my tone.

  “I knew it!” Jessie squealed.

  Chapter 13

  Cory

  I pulled my truck to a stop out front of the small storefront. ‘Beely’s Bookstore’ the sign read. I shut off the ignition. This was definitely not the type of place where I’d usually pick up a girl. Hell, I didn’t usually pick up girls at all. They always came to me, they’d always come to me. I don’t know why, but Sam was different. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. After the party on Friday, when I’d tasted those luscious lips of hers, she’d really invaded my thoughts. I needed more of her. I needed to taste all of her. I’d overheard her saying that she worked at a bookstore on Main Ave, and after cruising the street I figured this must be it.

  I walked up to the entrance and pulled the door open. A bell chimed as the door swung shut behind me. There were rows of shelves through the middle of the space and on all of the surrounding walls. I only noticed one other customer inside, an older woman who was quietly flipping through a book in the corner. I immediately spotted the girl I was looking for. She was standing part way up a ladder, restocking a shelf near the back of the small building. She had her long blonde hair swept up into a messy ponytail. She didn’t turn away from her task as she spoke. “Welcome to Beely’s,” Sam called out. “Let me know if I can help you find anything.”

  I remained standing near the front door, and I shoved my hands in my pant pockets. “Thanks, but I think I already found what I was looking for,” I said as I admired her flawless figure from behind. Those curves were enough to make any guy crazy, and obviously I was no exception.

  As soon as she heard my voice, Sam spun around to face me with a wide-eyed expression. “Cory,” she said softly. “What are you doing here?” She lowered herself down the three wooden steps and landed on the carpeted floor.

  I grabbed up a random book from the nearest shelf. “Looking for a book, of course. Isn’t that what customers usually come here for?”

  Sam looked down at the book in my hand. “I see.” She nodded her head at the title. “So that’s what you’re into, huh?” A laugh spurted from her lips. “Looking to learn some new tricks, or what?”

  I lifted the book in front of my face. Fifty Shades of Grey. Of course I’d picked up that one. I quickly set it down. “Nah, I think I could teach him some stuff though.”

  Sam laughed and rolled her eyes as she walked over to the counter and pulled a stack of paperbacks from a cardboard box.

  “Actually, I was hoping to take you out tonight. What do you say? In fact, I can teach you some stuff.” I winked suggestively. “If you’re interested, that is.”

  Her cheeks blushed pink at my offer. Shy and flushed was definitely a good look on her. Although, I’d imagine most any look would work for her. Sam looked down at the counter and fiddled with a pen nervously for few moments before finally meeting my gaze. “Uh . . . sure. Yeah, I’m off at seven.”

  I walked over to the counter and picked up the pen she’d been spinning around. I grabbed a scrap piece of receipt paper and wrote out my number. I pushed it toward her and gave her an easy smile. “Just text me your address, and I’ll be by to pick you up at eight-thirty.”

  Sam shifted on her feet and nodded, I could tell she was holding back a big grin. “See you tonight.”

  I flashed her one last smile before I turned and walked out, pulling my black sunglasses down over my face.

  Chapter 14

  Sam

  I flipped over the ‘Open’ sign in the front window and walked to the back to grab my purse. I pulled my phone out and immediately dialed Jess.

  After a few rings she picked up. “Hey, Sam, what’s up?”

  “You are never going to guess who came into the store this afternoon.”

  “Who? An author you like?” she asked.

  “Cory.”

  “Cory?” She sounded confused.

  “Yeah, Cory. As in big, tattooed, badass motorcycle rider, Cory.”

  “Oh my gosh! Steele? What did he say?” she practically screeched.

  “He asked me out on a date tonight,” I replied.

  “Whoa, hold up. Cory, Cory Steele, asked you out on a date?” She was careful to enunciate each word to ensure that she’d understood correctly, which made me nervous.

  “Yeah . . . what’s so unbelie
vable about that?” I asked, slightly offended.

  “No, nothing. It’s just that I’ve never heard of him taking a girl on a date before. From what I understand, he’s more of a one-night hook up kinda guy.”

  Her answer deflated my mood a bit. “Maybe I shouldn’t go . . .”

  “No way, girl! You definitely have to go. Perhaps we’re seeing a changed man.” Jessie sounded excited at the prospect. “I think maybe he’s just never found a girl who’s caught his attention enough to go after before. Sounds like you’re the lucky first.”

  I laughed at that ludicrous thought. “I don’t think so, Jess.” I climbed into my car. “I’m heading home. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “All right, I’m expecting a call tonight with all the details! But, Sam, be careful.”

  Chapter 15

  Sam

  At 8:40, I glanced at the clock again and couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Cory must have changed his mind about the whole date thing. After all, Jessie had made it clear that dates were not his thing. I flopped down on my comfy sofa and flipped the television on. Well, at least I’d be able to catch up on some Netflix shows, I tried futilely to put a positive spin on being stood up.

  Just as I was getting settled into the soft cushions of the sofa, I heard the revving of a motorcycle engine outside. The explosively loud sound startled me, and then it came to a stop. I figured one of my neighbors had brought home a new toy.

  The surface of the coffee table rattled under the vibrations of my phone. I picked it up and saw a text.

  < I hope you’re ready to ride. >

  A moment later, there was a knock at my door. I jumped up from my seat and stopped to take a deep breath and relax before answering the door. After all, he’d made me wait.

  When I finally swung the door open, Cory was standing there looking breathtaking as ever. He flashed me what had to be his award-winning smile, and his piercing green eyes shone. “Sorry I’m late.” He lifted both his hands from his sides. One held a helmet, and a small leather jacket was in the other. “Ever been on a motorcycle?”