Rough Ride: A Small Town Bad Boy Romance

I nod against him, feeling the heat of tears welling up in my eyes. So much emotion was pouring out of me, and the closeness of him after so long of being away from the familiarity of his tender kind of touch is only exacerbating the tsunami erupting within me. “I know.” My voice is hoarse, and it cracks under the weight of the tears that spill onto my cheeks. “I should’ve never—”

“Shh.” Jace’s fingertip comes up to rest against my lips. “No more apologies, and no more regrets, Izzy. There’s just one thing, okay?”

I sniff as he wipes a stray tear from my cheek. “And what’s that?”

The corner of his mouth quirks upward, and he leans forward, kissing me softly. “The most important thing,” he says, as though reminding me. “I love you, Izzy.”

Three years I’ve waited for the sound of those words on this man’s lips. Over one thousand days. Except, I didn’t know I’d been waiting. Too much hurt and pride and anguish shrouded my heart to realize it. Now, the words mean more than they ever have before. Because the path he took to get here, to be with me, to say those words, is winding and confusing.

But it has led Jace here, despite everything. Back to me.

I smile against his mouth as I kiss him again, tucking myself into him as close as I can. “I love you, too,” I whisper. “And I’ll never let you forget it.”

“Oh, I won’t forget,” he promises. “Just like I won’t ever forget our nights out here.” He doesn’t pull away, but turns to look out over the bluff. The town lights twinkled and blinked, as though answering back. As though they remember just as much as he does. “Remember, Izzy?”

Mischief comes alight in my eyes, and I smirk knowingly. “If this old clearing could talk…”

“Let’s be thankful it can’t.”

“How come?” I tease. “Don’t want it to tell everyone about the mix of silky promises and dirty words you spewed?”

“I don’t give a damn what they heard, Izzy,” he whispers. “It’s what they saw. Back seat of my truck, front seat of my truck…Christ, the bed of my truck…”

I stifle a soft laugh, then kiss him softly, nipping at his bottom lip suggestively. “I’m not sure I remember what you’re referring to,” I whisper softly. “Maybe you should remind me.”

“I can’t do better than that,” he assures me, tugging me towards his truck by both hands. “I can show you.”

Chapter Eight

Jace

Four months later...

“Izzy.” My voice was soft and soothing. “Izzy, wake up.” I pulled the sheets down just enough to slip my hand beneath them, letting my fingertips caress over the soft swell of her hip, across her lower abdomen.

“Izzy…” I say again, this time in a more taunting tone. She’s laying on her side, away from me. My fingers find their mark, moving through the soft hair at the apex of her thighs. The heat I can feel emanating from her is enough to make my cock twitch suggestively against her back.

Being naked with Izzy in her bed is something I never thought I’d experience again. Needless to say, every chance I get—hell, every chance we both get—we’re hidden away inside this decrepit old house Izzy rents, sharing more private, sensual touches and whispers than I have any right to deserve.

Pride, on both our parts, almost destroyed us indefinitely. We have a lot of time to make up for.

I roll my hips forward, pressing my erection into her back as I dip one finger between her soft folds. A soft gasp comes from Izzy’s lips, and I watch as her eyes flutter.

“Jace…” It’s the faintest sound, but it’s coupled with her legs opening slightly, giving me more access.

I stifle a gutteral groan of my own as the sight of her sleepy form and the sensation of her damp warmth on my fingers consumes me. I slide my finger over her clit, finding my way inside. Jesus, she’s so wet, yet barely awake.

“Oh, Izzy…” I breathe against her skin. It’s so fucking hard to control myself around her. My mouth is on her shoulder without conscious thought, kissing and sucking and licking a trail up to her throat, where I can feel her pulse speeding up.

She moans again, eyes still closed. Her hips rock slightly against my hand, easing my finger further inside her. I begin to move within her, in and out, slowly at first. I can see Izzy’s hand slide under the cover to the edge of the bed. The realization that she’s gripping it only encourages me.

I withdraw my finger, painstakingly slow, relishing in the soft whimpers Izzy emits. Her clit has my attention now, and she arches her back against my cock. Another groan falls from my lips, sounding more like a growl, a sign of weakness.

“You’re so wet,” I whisper against her ear. “I want you to come for me.” I tease her relentlessly, flicking and rubbing with the pad of my finger until I see Izzy’s eyes clamp shut.

“Not...yet,” she pleads.

I know what she wants, and my mouth quirks up at the sound of her begging me for it. She wants my cock buried deep within her, pounding her until she screams my name in desperation as her body shatters beneath me.