A Dash of Desire (Spiced Life #2)

by Charity Parkerson

  “Thank you.” Riley said, matching his serious tone before tossing him another wink and sighing. “I suppose I’ll have to let you off the hook this one time. With Brother Daniels here expecting everyone to be on their best church-like behavior and all.” Tristan snorted, but Matt and Hunter were smiling as if sharing in her joke. Riley released Hunter’s arm and claimed Tristan’s. For shits and giggles, she made sure her breasts were pressed against it. His eyes shone with mirth, but he didn’t call her on her game. “Come on, Brother Daniels. I believe, according to Billy, you’re supposed to be saving my soul today or some such shit.”

  Tristan tilted his chin up, blinking at the ceiling, and making Riley wonder if he prayed for strength. “For the love of—” He broke off without finishing, but the damage was done. Hunter and Matt were eyeing him with open interest while smiling like idiots.

  Ignoring Tristan’s ire, Riley steered him toward the door, calling over her shoulder as she went, “It was nice meeting you both. I’ll come by to pick up my car in the morning after you’ve had time to replace the battery.” Switching her attention to Hunter, Riley pitched her voice low, taking on a seductive tone. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around…neighbor.”

  Tristan made a choking noise, but Riley already had him halfway outside, ensuring that she was the only one who heard it. The instant they were out of sight, Tristan quickly ushered her to the truck and pulled her to a stop.

  “What am I going to do with you?”

  A suggestive smile twisted her lips. She couldn’t stop it from happening. “I don’t know, Brother Daniels. What are you going to do with me?”

  Glancing right then left, Tristan checked out their surroundings before throwing open the passenger side door. He shoved her inside, hiding her from view with his large frame, and capturing her mouth with his. Holy shit. She hadn’t seen it coming. It was absolutely freaking delicious. Tristan didn’t merely kiss her. He claimed her mouth like he owned it. His tongue curled around hers, boldly stroking it before disappearing only to reappear. It was slow. Thorough. Expert. By the time he pulled away, Riley had lost the ability to think. Her body was a ball of need and nothing more. His thumb stroked her bottom lip, wiping away the moisture. He licked his thumb. Her nipples ached with jealousy. They wanted the same attention.

  “Don’t ever call me brother again.” His eyes flashed with warning before he slammed the door closed. Riley stared at the side mirror, watching as he disappeared behind the truck, circling to the other side.

  “Oh God.” Her breathless plea echoed through the empty truck, dissipating before Tristan opened the driver’s side door. Riley couldn’t look at him. She feared too much for his safety.

  ***

  Tristan couldn’t explain his actions. All he knew for sure was that she’d been flirting with someone else. He hated it. Even though he knew she hadn’t meant it, his common sense had fled. When she’d continued referring to him as “Brother”, something snapped. He needed her to see him as a man. Riley had made a huge mistake by treating him like a normal person the night before. Now, he was addicted. He craved it. They were halfway to his house before Tristan found his voice.

  “Just one more stop and we’ll be on our way to having fun. I promise.”

  “I am having fun.”

  He cleared his throat, tempted to apologize for attacking her. The words wouldn’t come. His tongue refused to shape that lie. Not only was he not sorry, he already knew it would happen again.

  “Stop regretting me.” He glanced over in surprise. Riley’s face was turned away from him, staring out the window, and preventing him from getting a good read on her mood. “I can practically feel you trying to decide how to let me down easy,” she added, without a hint of emotion.

  Turning his attention back to the road, he chose to be honest. “I wasn’t thinking anything even remotely close to that.”

  From the corner of his eye, Tristan saw her shoulders relax. Reaching over, he linked his fingers with hers. It took every ounce of his determination, but Tristan kept his eyes glued to the road. He liked Riley. A lot. Her thumb brushed his. That one tiny touch caused every nerve in Tristan’s body to go on high alert. He could simply sit with her forever. The vibration of his cell phone in his shirt pocket ruined the moment. With a growl, he let go of Riley’s hand and dug out the phone.

  “Brother Daniels,” he answered, recognizing the number as belonging to one of his parishioners. Tristan listened with half an ear and full-on regret as he realized his plans with Riley were ruined. He should’ve known better. This was how every day went for him. No sooner had one call ended than two more came in. By the time he managed to free himself, Tristan’s mood had taken a nosedive. He turned his phone off before the list of things he needed to do grew.

  The first red light he came to, Tristan scrubbed his hands over his face before glancing over at Riley. She was turned sideways in her seat, openly watching him.

  “So it seems my one more stop has turned into four. If you’d rather I take you back to Billy’s, I completely understand. Sorry.”

  Riley rested one elbow on the console between them and cupped her chin in her hand. She didn’t as much as bat an eye. “Did you know your eyes look different when you speak to me as opposed to other people?”

  He didn’t know what to make of her. “I can’t see myself, so no, but I’m not surprised.” The light turned green, saving him from any more confessions.

  “To answer your question, no, I don’t want to go home. Billy’s going to have all sorts of questions about my day. As of right now, all I’ve got to say is Ace’s Car Repair is run by a chauvinistic asshat, and her all-time favorite minister kissed me.”

  Tristan groaned. Although he was almost certain Riley was joking, he couldn’t be one hundred percent sure about anything when it came to her. The sound of her musical laughter overwhelmed his dread, wiping it away. Then she spoke, making him incapable of thinking anything at all. “Just do your thing. I like to watch.”

  An image of Riley’s wicked gaze caressing his body as he stroked his cock flashed across his mind. He found his eyes wandering her way before snapping back to the road. Her voice dropped to almost a whisper.

  “There’s that look again. I’m not certain I could stand it if you gave it to anyone else.”

  Almost desperate for a change in topic, Tristan opened his mouth to find something safer only to have his possessiveness pop out. “Considering the way Hunter was looking at you, I’d think you were used to it.” Tristan wanted to punch himself in the face as the words left his lips. To his surprise, Riley threw her head back, roaring with laughter. He loved the sound.

  “Oh, sweetie. That man didn’t even notice me until I purposely snagged his attention. He wasn’t there to see me.”

  Tristan shot her an incredulous look. “Are you joking? He couldn’t take his eyes off you.” Out of the corner of his eye, Tristan saw Riley shake her head.

  “Trust me. I wasn’t even on his radar.”

  Since there wasn’t any point in arguing and they were at his church. Tristan let it go. He pulled into his usual parking space. “I just need to run inside and sign two forms.”

  Riley eyed the building with mistrust. “I’ll wait here.” Pulling out her phone, she settled deeper into her seat as if she intended to do just that. Tristan spent a moment staring at the large white church. Its stained-glass windows and bright red wooden doors were as familiar to him as his own home. Although he understood some people found churches imposing, Tristan was the opposite. He saw comfort and hope. Whether she realized it or not, Riley needed more of that in her life. Staring at her profile, Tristan allowed the silence to stretch on until she gave him her attention. Her eyebrows rose in question.

  “I thought you liked to watch.”

  Riley chuckled before going back to messing with her phone. “Not inside a church. Even I’m not that depraved.”

  Tristan continued quietly staring at her until Riley sighed. “What?”<
br />
  Truly. He was enjoying himself. “I’d really like for you to go inside with me.”

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” Riley said, pushing open her door and jumping from the truck. She slammed it closed behind her. He could hear her loud muttering from inside the truck. As he moved to open his door, Tristan caught a glimpse of his reflection in the rearview mirror. He was smiling brighter than he had in a long time.

  ***

  If Riley was being honest with herself, she was angry with God. It had taken fifteen minutes of staring down the big-boobed blonde who worked as Tristan’s secretary to figure out why she was so irritated. Of course, the woman didn’t help matters. It was beyond obvious that the blonde, Emma May, had a thing for Tristan. Who wouldn’t? He was fucking irresistible. But Riley had been angry before they’d met. The idea of stepping one toe inside the Church of Holy Light caused rage to simmer under her skin. It was unreasonable until Riley looked closer at her feelings. Then it hit her—she was freaking furious at every possible higher power.

  She’d been raised Church of Christ. Her family, including her crazy mother, had driven religion into her head. As a child, she’d been to every church picnic and youth group camp. Her whole life, she’d believed every sermon, finding comfort in faith. She hadn’t turned her back on God. God had willingly abandoned her. It pissed her off.

  “It’s very Christian of your aunt to take you in like this. Family’s important. How is your mother, by the way?”

  There it was, in Emma May’s tone, leaving no doubt the woman was a leading member of the town’s gossip mill. She knew Riley didn’t associate with her mother. Riley didn’t know how the other woman knew, but she did.

  “Where’s the order to get the light fixture in the nursery replaced?” Tristan asked over the woman’s shoulder, distracting Emma from her spiteful questioning. She answered without breaking eye contact with Riley.

  “I put it on your desk.”

  Riley glanced his way, watching as he threw a piece of paper in the trash. “I don’t see it.”

  With a huff, Emma May pushed to her feet and moved to rifle through the papers on his desk. Tristan flashed Riley a mischievous smile. Riley swiped one index finger over the other, shaming him for lying while beaming like an idiot. Tristan wasn’t blind to Emma’s ways, nor did he look at her the way he did Riley. A girl could get hooked on a man like him.

  “I don’t understand,” Emma growled. “It was here a minute ago.”

  Tristan shook his head. “Type up another one, and I’ll sign it tomorrow. Riley and I still have to swing by to see Mrs. Roberts in the hospital and pick up Mr. Bevel’s prescriptions for him since his kids are out of town.”

  Emma glared at Riley. “How nice of you to accompany Brother Daniels in caring for his flock.”

  It took every ounce of Riley’s strength not to roll her eyes. Thankfully, Emma was too busy killing Riley with her death stare to notice that Tristan didn’t possess Riley’s restraint. His eye roll would put a teenage girl to shame. Riley wasn’t as nice as Tristan.

  “You know what they say about doing unto others. In my case, I’m paying my dues up front, since I fully intend to have things done unto me later.”

  Tristan swiped his hand over his mouth, as if physically attempting to stop his lips from turning up in the corners. When it didn’t work, he pushed to his feet. Riley kept her gaze locked on him. She didn’t care to see Emma’s reaction. Unfortunately, Emma May turned out to be one who wasn’t easily ignored.

  “I hope you don’t mean to imply—”

  “Have a nice day, Emma,” Tristan said, cutting off the woman before she had a chance to regret whatever she’d been about to say. Riley scrambled after him. The last thing she wanted was to harm Tristan’s reputation. But that’s what she did, didn’t she? Regret slammed into her, making Riley’s shoulders sag under the weight. The instant they were back inside Tristan’s truck and safely away from prying ears, Riley apologized.

  “I’m so sorry, Tristan. Crap. Hanging out with me is going to end up ruining you. Maybe you should take me back to Billy’s before I do any more harm.”

  A deafening silence hung in the air in the wake of her nervous chatter. Tristan eyed her. No doubt, seeing more than she wanted to reveal, but damn. His eyes were freaking amazing. She didn’t think she’d ever met another man who possessed his exact shade of blue.

  In an unconscious move, her palm flattened against her stomach in an attempt at quelling the butterflies. He made her want. All joking and outrageousness aside, Riley hadn’t desired anyone in years. Her body had responded in all the appropriate ways, sexually, but she hadn’t craved anyone’s touch. In that moment, she desperately wanted to feel Tristan’s body against hers. She wanted his time. His glances. Him.

  “Stay.”

  All it took was that one single word from Tristan, and she was willing to do anything he asked.

  “Okay.”

  ***

  The day passed too quickly and too slowly for Tristan. It seemed to take forever to get through the list of necessary chores to end up where he wanted to be. Especially since Emma May’s hateful words had somehow changed Riley. Her usual naughty demeanor disappeared, replaced by an unnaturally cool version of Riley that felt wrong in some way. Still, Tristan preferred her company over anyone else’s, but he wanted the real Riley. Luckily, he knew exactly how to shake the bad girl loose.

  No doubt he’d have a thousand messages waiting for him at the end of the night, but Tristan left his phone off. With everything else cleared away, he gratefully pulled up to his house. The long gravel driveway curved into the woods until ending at a brick home, completely hidden from the road by the surrounding trees. He loved his slice of privacy from the rest of the world. No one came here. Riley’s shoulders relaxed as soon as she stepped from the truck. He didn’t let her get far.

  “Help me grab a couple of the containers,” he said, crowding her against the truck’s bed and reaching past her. Her breath hitched as he purposely brushed her breast with his forearm in the process. In turn, she got her revenge by grinding her ass against his crotch in her attempt to help him. She was too short to reach the box in the back of his truck, and he was paying the price. Tristan pressed a glass jar into her outstretched hand before quickly backing away and giving Riley some space.

  The damage was done, of course. He’d walk with a limp for the rest of the night. She drove him insane, but—thankfully—the wicked glint had returned to her eyes. She shook the Mason jar at him.

  “What’s this for?”

  The sky darkened and the first raindrop hit the back of Tristan’s neck. He set his jar on the ground. Shedding his button-down shirt for the plain white t-shirt beneath, he tossed it inside the truck before retrieving his jar. Another wet drop landed on his cheek.

  “Fireflies. We’re having fun, remember?”

  Riley blinked at him as she rolled the glass container between her palms. A clicking noise filled the air as it moved across an expensive-looking ring she wore on her right hand.

  “In the rain?” she asked, finally seeming to find her voice.

  “Sure. As long as it doesn’t get too bad, and I don’t think it will, they love the rain. Come on, I’ll show you.” Taking her hand in his, Tristan headed for the woods. There was a clearing not too far behind his house that was the perfect spot for what he wanted Riley to see. The rain picked up, going from a drizzle to sprinkles. The mist already had his shirt clinging to his skin. It was only a matter of time before they were soaked, but some things were worth a bit of discomfort. As the trees parted and the sky darkened, the first series of bright flashes began in quick succession as the illuminated bugs used their lights to communicate with one another. Riley gasped.

  “Oh. That’s gorgeous. I haven’t seen them like this since I was little. Light pollution and all that.”

  Tristan nodded as he pulled out his pocketknife and poked a few holes in the jar’s lid. He traded with Riley, doing the same to h
ers. “I imagine it’s pretty bright at night in California.”

  Riley unscrewed her lid. Tristan did the same. She stalked a nearby firefly. There was an art to capturing more than one. It was obvious, even though Riley hadn’t seen them in years, she hadn’t forgotten how it was done. She moved slow, keeping time with its flight pattern.

  “Have you ever been to California?” she asked, without taking her eyes from her prey.

  “Nah. I haven’t been any farther west than Texas or north than Kentucky.”

  Coaxing the firefly into the glass container, Riley turned a triumphant smile his way. Her beauty took his breath away. She was perfect. “Good job. Put the lid on or he’ll get away.”

  She peered at it closer, watching the series of lights as it called out for a mate. “No. Even with the holes, it’ll die. It’s not right to keep anything against its will.” There was something in her tone. An empathy that couldn’t be denied. As he looked on, a second and then a third firefly willingly joined the first inside Riley’s jar.

  “Seems to me they want to be held captive.”

  “It’s the glass. It magnified this little dude’s light, making him more appealing to all the little girl fireflies.” Her explanation surprised him.

  “You knew that would happen.”

  Even though he hadn’t meant it as a question, Riley still answered, “Of course. I told you, I’m an expert at increasing popularity. See? He has buddies now.”

  The truth hit Tristan. Everything Riley did was calculated. What appeared as nervous responses to new and awkward situations were actually well thought out strategies based on other people’s reactions. Some people believed there were different forms of genius, such as those who are prolific in music or math. Riley was a social genius. She excelled in reading other people. It was an awesome skill.

  “You helped him get laid,” Tristan accused.

  Setting the jar on the ground, Riley shrugged. “That makes me the best kind of friend. For the rest of his two days of life, he’ll never forget me.”