Rory (Coded for Love 1)

Squeezing herself into a black velvet bodycon dress—a cheap copy of a designer number—she raced the clock to be ready. Her hasty efforts made her trip. She cursed Rory for getting her into a state. It was little wonder. Heat built inside her when she recalled how it’d felt being held, his hand around the back of her neck while he quizzed her. It made her dizzy with lust.

Chuckling, she admitted it to herself. Lust. He’d filled her thoughts for nearly three years. Even when he’d left Cadogan, it was Rory she’d think about in her bed at night. It was his name on her lips when she heard the roar of a motorbike approaching. There were so many times when they come close to being lovers. Moments that lingered in her memory. On a hot summer’s day she’d pushed up the sash window in her bedroom and sat on the window sill looking down at him working on his motorbike in the back yard. He was stripped to the waist, his muscles gleaming in the sunlight as he worked. Loud rock music blared from his phone, the perfect raunchy soundtrack for the view.

For a few minutes Rory didn’t realize he had an audience, then he turned around and looked directly at her. She’d made no pretence about what she was up to. She even waved. It was a mid summer heat wave and she was wearing a bikini top and frayed shorts. He stared at her cleavage and gave a sloping smile. She put her hand up against the window frame. “I’ve got a fan on in here. Why don’t you come up and chill out for a while?”

He put down the tool he held and put his hands on his hips. His jeans were low-slung and she could see his muscled abdomen. A moment later he strode off and disappeared from view. She stayed where she was, unsure whether he would come to her room at all, but moments later he did arrive there, still shirtless.

He looked at the fan on her bedside table and then flung himself on her single bed, arms behind his head, long muscled torso bared to the fan—and her eyes.

Sky could only stare. Breathless with arousal she savored the fact his head was on her pillow, his gorgeous male body on her bed covers.

“That’s good,” he commented and looked at her. “Thanks for the invitation.”

They stared at each other, the tension between them ratcheting in the humid atmosphere.

“Why don’t you join me?” He patted the bed next to him, moving over a bit as if making room for her to lie down next to him.

Sky still remembered how it’d felt, how the longing to be with him hit overdrive. She’d risen to her feet and was just about to go over and join him when the bedroom door was slammed wide open and Rory’s dad was standing there, one hand flat on the door, glaring at them, one to the other and back again. She heard Rory groan just before his dad let rip and ordered him out of the room. Rory slouched off regretfully. The shouting reached her from downstairs. It made her put her hands over her ears. She’d climbed onto the bed, lying in the space he’d occupied, wishing he was still there.

A knock at the door brought her back to the moment sharply. Rory was early. Hastening over she opened up, holding her breath.

It was her neighbor, Jamie. She breathed out.

He was dressed for work, smart bartenders outfit; his hair closely graded at the sides and long on top. He was a good-looking man.

Jamie looked her up and down speculatively. “Oh, well, look at you. I’m guessing…hot date?”

“Yes, kind of.” She glanced at the time on her Smartphone, an idea ticking over. “Can you hang around for five minutes?”

“Sure. If it means I get to meet the guy you’re all dressed up for.” Jamie smiled. “Who is he?”

She thought about what to say. “Rory Rattigan. My stepbrother.”

His eyebrows lifted.

Sky couldn’t resist. “Wait till you see him.”

Jamie smoothed the sides of his hair with the palms of his hands. “I look forward to it.”

* * * *

Rory strode along the street and drew to a halt on the intersection. His breath misted on the cold evening air. Turning up the collar on his leather biker jacket, he glanced back and scoped the people on the pavements behind him. He had to be sure no one was following him to Sky’s address.

Passers by moved quickly.

He walked on and found his destination. Checking out the place, he noticed the building was tall and narrow, poorly maintained, and there were twelve separate buzzers. He pressed Sky’s and waited, expecting the buzzer to sound to let him in. Instead the door opened and Sky emerged, dressed in a black PVC coat and over-the-knee black biker boots.

Rory did a double take. She looked hot, even hotter than earlier in the day. He was about to say something when a guy followed her out.

“See you later,” the guy said and kissed Sky on the corner of her mouth. She draped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear. They both laughed.

“This is Rory,” Sky said.

“Nice to meet you.” The guy flicked back an over long fringe. He put out his hand, giving Rory a swift once-over as he did so. “I’m Jamie.”

Rory shook the guy’s hand. He waved and shot off.

It felt like a show. Rory stifled a smile.