Ride: The Bet (Puca Mates Book 2)
Page 9
“Really?” He took a step toward me and I felt a little dizzy. “Impressive, but let me...do it anyway.”
I wasn’t sure whether we were still talking about the tire or something else entirely. It felt like fog was wrapping around my muddled brain when he looked at me. I found it difficult to concentrate, but the sensation seemed like more than just the desire I felt for him influencing my ability to think straight. “Er... Sure. I mean, thanks.”
Internally cursing myself for the lack of confidence I heard in my voice, I popped open the hood and he removed the spare, with its wheel kit in the center. His pale fingers deftly jacked up the car while I stood shivering. I wonder what else those fingers would be good at. He quickly loosened the lug nuts and took off the flat, his eyes narrowing as he inspected it. His head popped up like a jack-in-the-box and he looked around as if he’d heard something, but only the bitter gust of cold air howled through the street.
He placed the flat tire aside. I hauled it to the compartment where the spare was kept, heaving it inside. When I slammed the hood, he already had the new tire in place and made quick work of tightening all the lug nuts. With the grace of a panther he rose from his crouched position on the concrete.
“That should about do it.”
“You’re fast.”
His grin flashed ultra-white teeth in the fading light. “Yeah, I’ve done it more than once.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
“Arie. Arie Cush.”
Suddenly, I felt like a silly school girl with a crush and looked away. Better stop before my gums start flapping and I sound like a blabbing idiot. Taking deep breaths to regain my composure, I looked up.
“Thank you...”
But my words fell on empty air. As I stood alone, a chill ran the length of my spine.
HIS DARK CURLS BRUSHED across my skin as he trailed kisses down my stomach and over my hip. I could feel his stubble scrape across my skin along with his tongue. Cupping my ass with one hand, his tongue traced my inner thigh. Panting softly, I licked my dry lips. My hands were in his hair as I guided his head toward my pussy. He groaned.
“I want you, Holly. I want to taste you. Trouble or not, I can’t stop.”
I arched my hips off the bed, my clit throbbing for attention, pounding along with my raging heartbeat. I hooked one of my legs over his shoulder as he covered my cleft with his mouth. Searing pleasure pulsed through me. Relinquishing his hair, my white-knuckled grip clenched the sheet beneath me instead. He rimmed my trembling slit, teasing me, taunting me with the promise of orgasm. And I wanted to feel his cock inside me, stroking me until mind-numbing waves of pleasure surged through my pussy.
Meow.
I awoke to warm beams of sunlight shining on my face and Mystic sitting on my chest. He purred loudly, awaiting his morning treat. I groaned. Rolling over, I glanced at my alarm clock; its red digital numbers displayed the time as ten o’clock. Perfect... I still have time for a nice long soak. I scratched Mystic behind his ears and stretched lazily, making him jump off the bed.
“I guess it’s time to get up.”
It was good that no one could see me talking to my cat as he sat on the floor waiting expectantly. Mystic meowed before turning and leading the way to the kitchen. I stumbled sleepily behind his gray tail, which twitched from side to side as he sauntered to his dish.
“Here you go, boy.”
Placing the food in the bowl, I gave his head a quick pat. Yawning my way across the cracked linoleum, I set about getting the coffee brewing and toasting a poppy-seed bagel. As I ate my bagel, I promised myself that this weekend I would do something about the drifts of laundry on my bedroom floor and organize my closet. I kept my small apartment relatively clean, but knickknacks cluttered the living room and books overflowed the bookcase to occupy almost every surface. But it was mine and there was nothing better than having my own space.
My mind wandered to the weird clouds and the threat from the night before. I’d seen lots of strange things with the Sight, but nothing quite like that. I took a sip of coffee, reassured by its warmth as I pushed the nagging feeling in my gut aside. Instead I thought of Arie’s reassuring presence and him changing my tire. I hoped to see him during my shift. Arie... Now there’s someone who could hold my interest. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I fantasized about running my fingers through his dark curls, kissing his mouth, running my hands over his shoulders and more—there was much more I wanted to do to him. I only hoped he would stop by the Coffee Grind later. Mystic jumped on the table, meowing at me. “Oh here,” I said distractedly.
Swiping a finger through my cream cheese, I offered him one of his favorites. He adored and loved anyone willing to give him dairy. Mystic lapped up the cream cheese before begging for more, but his pet human had to be at work in a little over an hour, so I headed to the bathroom with a sigh. I wished there was enough time for me to hop on my laptop and do a little research about the odd atmospheric changes yesterday, but I’d be late if I did that. Besides, I had a feeling that an internet search wouldn’t be able to tell me anything useful to rationalize what I thought was pretty much impossible. Well, at least today I had something other than Marshall’s constant stream of demands to look forward to.
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Other Titles By A.C. James
FOR A FULL LIST OF Books by A.C. James click HERE.
Paranormal Romance
Ride (BBW Paranormal Romance Shape Shifter Serial)
Reading Order:
Felicity & Niall – Episodes 1-4
Ride: Awakening – Episode 1
Ride: The Bet – Episode 2
Ride: Out Cold – Episode 3
Ride: The Veil – Episode 4
Ride: Felicity & Niall Box Set
Cyn & Fallon – Episodes 5-8
Ride: Bad Hangover – Episode 5
Ride: Choices – Episode 6
Ride: Mistake – Episode 7
Ride: Wild Ride – Episode 8
Maeliosa & Sage – Episodes 9-12
Ride: The Stables – Episode 9
Ride: Only Human – Episode 10
Ride: Taken – Episode 11
Ride: Finale – Episode 12
Ever After Vampire Romance Series (Erotic w/BDSM)
Cursed Ever After Prequel
Eternal Ever After
Winter Promises – Book 1.5 Short Story
Fallen Ever After
Beyond Ever After
Ever After Series Box Set
Stand Alone Paranormal Romance
Finding Her Bearing
Contemporary Romance
Make A Wish
A Scandalous Dare
Naughty N’ Nice
Non-Fiction
Write to Success: A Guide to Indie Publishing by Eight New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Authors
About A.C. James
NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, including Eternal Ever After which was featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. She pounds out sexy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves. Her stories feature strong heroines and alpha heroes, with plenty of action, twists, and turns that will keep you turning pages. A.C. resides in northeast Pennsylvania where she entertains her husband with her imaginative yarns and quirky sense of humor. She spends her time drinking large vats of coffee while taming kids by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There's probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Ma
rionette J. Just don't tell anyone.
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Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN: 978-1-948684-07-1
Copyright © A.C. James
Swoon Worthy Imprint
WIP Publishing & RAS LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic or mechanical including photography, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.