Ride Hard (Raven Riders 1)

She tipped up her chin, offering her lips. “You sure about that?” she asked, the brazenness of the question nearly stealing her breath.

“Oh, Haven,” he said, “you have no idea what I’d be willing to do for you if you wanted me to.”

Her heart was suddenly flying, his words filled with so much seductive promise that Haven could barely believe she’d heard him right. She grappled for how to respond and wondered if this was her moment to just lay everything out there.

“Do you want my confession now, or do you want to just hang for now and talk later?” he asked.

The question threatened to ground her in reality, and she didn’t want that yet. She didn’t want problems or reasons why wanting Dare was a risk she shouldn’t—couldn’t—take. She still wanted the fantasy, the heady promise she felt when she was with him, the feeling that being with him was so right there was no way it could ever end. “Talk later,” she said.

Dare nodded. “Then let’s ride.”

CHAPTER 18

Dare wasn’t sure what he was doing right now, only that he didn’t want to be doing anything else.

Giving in to this attraction for Haven was probably going to make things even harder when it was time for her to leave—harder for both of them. But she didn’t seem to be resisting, either. In fact, her lack of resistance was fucking with his head—making him think, making him want, making him regret. Toss into the mix the sexual tension that always seemed to be crackling in the air between them, and Dare felt like he was holding on to the end of a rope that was fraying at the middle and sure to give way.

With Haven wrapped tight around his back on his ride—something that felt more goddamned right than it should—Dare pulled out of his driveway and headed toward the lake. Luckily it was a warm afternoon, because the sky had grown overcast while they’d been in the house. It was probably good that she still wanted to swim, though, because watching her make herself comfortable in his space did things to him he didn’t want to think too closely about.

He’d liked seeing her there.

Somehow, her presence had brought the house to life, had made it feel less solitary. Dare didn’t think that was because she was one of the few women he’d ever brought there—and the only one whom he had any personal interest in. It was something about Haven herself, and the way she made him feel.

Fuck, you are so screwed. Dare pulled a right onto the road that headed out by Ike’s place and the lake. As he leaned into the turn, Haven’s arms tightened around him, and he reveled in the touch.

“Faster?” he yelled over his shoulder.

“Yes!” she shouted back, her arms tightening even more.

His girl liked it fast, and he loved the hell out of that. Refusing to analyze the thought too closely, Dare twisted the throttle. They roared up the mountain road, freedom and wind rushing over their skin. He liked it fast, too. It was easier to forget your problems with your knees and fists in the breeze.

By the time they reached the lake, the sky was spitting raindrops at them. Dare pulled into the dirt parking lot nearest the little beach everybody in the club used for swimming. He killed the engine and turned in his seat to face her. “What d’ya think about—”

The question died in his throat.

Because under the helmet’s clear visor, Haven wore the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen in his life.

“God, I love riding,” she said. She lifted the helmet from her head, shaking out her new brown hair. The movement made him hard. “What do I think about what?” She grinned up at the sky as a few fat drops landed on her face.

“The weather,” Dare said distractedly, just struck stupid by her declaration, her beauty, the knowledge that riding with him made her so damn happy.

She shrugged, her expression entirely untroubled. “I’m gonna get wet anyway.”

He swallowed around the desire stalking through his body. “Are you now?” he asked, purposely playing on the innuendo of her words when he knew she hadn’t meant anything by them. Just to see if she’d take the bait.

Lips pressed together in a mischievous smirk, she looked him right in the eyes. “Sure hope so.”

Game. Fucking. On.

He took the helmet from her and hung it on a handlebar. Then he turned back to her and ran his fingers teasingly over her lips. Rain droplets came a little more frequently, not enough to be a shower, but enough to promise that one was on the way. “I do love you wet,” he said, his cock jerking in his jeans as her mouth dropped open and her tongue tentatively licked the tip of his middle finger.