All I can do is nod.
The audiobook continues in the background. My breaths turn progressively shallower until I’m nearly panting. A needy throb settles between my thighs, growing more intense with every beat of my heart. Tyler’s grin fades and he watches me intently, studying my reaction.
Suddenly, I remember the stereo dials on the steering wheel. Using my free hand, I turn the volume all the way down, silencing the naughty narrative before the hero reaches a climax that’s rapidly approaching. Not a moment too soon, either. I was dangerously close to having my first hands-free orgasm right along with him.
“That was highly circumstantial.” I sound every bit as breathless as I feel. “There are only a handful of sex scenes in the entire book. One could say I’m a victim of bad timing.”
“I was just teasing you, Tink.” His calloused thumb runs along the outer edge of my palm, gently caressing. The unexpected intimacy behind the gesture makes my stomach do a cartwheel. “Though I have to admit I’m curious.”
“Curious about what? Romance novels?”
“What makes you tick.”
“Who said this makes me tick?”
He cocks a brow. “Why else would you be listening to it?”
“For the plot,” I say, working to keep a straight face. “Obviously.”
“Which happens to include the heroine getting destroyed in the bedroom. Repeatedly, if I had to guess.”
Technically, the hero’s railing her on the ninth hole of a golf course after hours, but I’m not about to correct him on that minor detail. Because he’s right—this is what gets me going, which is why letting him know about it makes me feel extra vulnerable.
“Ergh.” I face-palm with my free hand, hiding my face to conceal the telltale warmth spreading across my cheeks. When I peek between my fingers, he’s regarding me with so much tenderness that my embarrassment abates slightly.
“It’s all good, Ser. No judgment here, I promise. Knowing you listen to that stuff is fucking hot.” He squeezes my hand reassuringly, then releases it. My skin turns cold without his touch, and I clamp down on the urge to reach for him again. “If it makes you feel weird, I’ll drop it. I won’t turn it back on again. You have my word.”
I’m not sure if it’s intentional on his part but being let off the hook so easily feels like a challenge. One that I can’t back down from.
Besides, I listen to steamy stories all the time while driving. I’m a certified spicy romance connoisseur. There’s no reason this scene should affect me one iota more than normal simply because Tyler happens to be sitting next to me.
More than six feet of tall, heavily inked hotness.
Within arm’s reach.
Close enough that I keep catching hints of his intoxicating scent.
Who am I kidding? I’m absolutely affected—both by his presence and the book itself. But it’s not like I can admit that to him.
“No.” I sit up, squaring my shoulders. “It’s fine. We can listen to it if you want.”
He hesitates for a second like he’s going to say something. Instead, he turns the audiobook back on and adjusts the volume.
“Take it,” the narrator growls. “That’s right, just like that.”
“Hmm,” Tyler murmurs, stroking his jaw.
I steal a glance at him as I shift into reverse. “Hmm?’
He waves me off. “Just taking notes, don’t mind me.”
“Good girl.”
A thunderbolt of desire jolts between my legs. I squeak, slamming on the brakes halfway down the driveway. The car screeches to a halt, sending us both lurching forward, our seatbelts locking up to keep us in place.
He casually places his forearm along the door and turns to face me, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. “You okay over there, Tink?” He juts his chin. “We can switch places so I can drive, if you need.”
Nice of him to offer, but not having both of my hands occupied could make this even hazardous. Then I might touch him—or myself.
“No, I’m fine.” I clear my throat. Chill, Sera. “Thought I saw someone on the sidewalk behind us.”
He makes no attempt to hide his smile. “Uh-huh.”
Easing off the brake pedal, I slowly idle the SUV in reverse until I clear the sidewalk. Shoulder checking, I make a ninety degree turn and start down the street while the filthy narrative continues in the background.
As I pull up to the first red light, the scene switches into the heroine’s perspective.
“His fingers wrap around my throat and his grip tightens…”
Next to me, Tyler shifts in his seat. His large hands flex, the blue veins in his forearms prominent, and I suppress another squeak. If only it were possible to cross my legs while I’m operating the vehicle.
Fortunately for both of us, I manage to compose myself before the traffic signal turns green. Sort of. Except somewhere along the way, it’s grown downright sweltering inside my vehicle. The climate control is still set to the same moderately warm temperature, and yet…
“Is it hot in here?” My shaky fingers land on the dial, turning down the heat until the air conditioning is on full blast—even though it’s subzero outside.
A muscle in his cheek tugs. “Think that’s just you, Ser.”
“Could be,” I rasp.
True to fiction, the hero has superhuman stamina and we’re treated to a full-blown sex marathon for the entire duration of the ten-minute drive. Missionary, cowgirl, oral, you name it. By the time I pull into the dealership parking lot Tyler has directed me to, my panties are soaked and I’m so close to the edge a gentle breeze could get me off.
I shift my car into park, waiting for him to unfasten his seatbelt, but he doesn’t. He leans back in his seat, looking up at the roof. His chest rises and falls with a heavy sigh. A telltale bulge in his jeans tells me I’m not the only one who’s hot and bothered.
“Is this the right place?” I bat my eyelashes at him, feigning innocence.
“Yeah,” he mutters. “Just give me a sec.”
CHAPTER 11
FALSE ALARM
TYLER
Edging via audiobook. That’s a new one.
After I got my raging hard-on under control—no small feat after seeing Seraphina so turned on she was literally squirming in her seat—it was a quick stop to pick up my Audi because I’d already paid for the service online. By then, it was well past five and we were both starving, so I offered to order takeout when we got back.
Half an hour later, we haven’t settled on any food yet. We’ve been too busy talking… and flirting. It’s risky to be hanging out alone with her like this, but at least Chase is crashing at Bailey’s for the night, so he won’t randomly walk in. I’m not sure where the hell Dallas is. He’s going to have some serious questions if he comes home.
From the couch beside me, Seraphina nudges my foot with hers. Since we’ve gotten home, we’ve crept progressively closer and closer. Between playing twenty-one questions over the weekend and getting horned up listening to her spicy book earlier, I have no idea what the fuck we’re doing. I don’t even care. There’s no one else I’d rather have sitting next to me right now.