Page 43 of Forbidden Kisses

My heart was beating out of my chest. I was going to have some alone time with Duncan after all. Suddenly, I didn't want to fight him on this anymore. If he wanted to pick me up, who was I to say no?

"I'll text you the address of the club, if I can manage it."

"Just tell me roughly where it is."

I gave him instructions, and he said, "I'll find it. I'll be there as quickly as possible."

"Thank you, Duncan."

There was something between us—and it wasn’t just chemistry. I didn’t know what it was… but I wanted to find out.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Duncan

Five minutes after our call ended, I was in the car, speeding through the city.

Tonight had been a bust. Whenever Jeremy was away, I either hung out with my brothers or worked out for an extended period. But I hadn’t wanted to do either. I could have worked because there was always something to do for the office. My to-do list was endless—I’d learned years ago that attempting to get it down to zero was a futile exercise and only led to frustration—but I rarely worked from home, and I hadn’t cared to do it tonight.

After grabbing a quick dinner, I’d spent about half an hour on the treadmill, then moved to the weights section. And yet my mind was still on Riley.

I had to get a grip on myself, but not even a cold shower achieved that. I'd wanted her tonight. I'd been looking forward to this evening the whole week. Why the hell didn’t I give her a heads-up?

Excitement coursed through my veins. I needed to see Riley, plain and simple, and I was going to stop fighting that fact.

Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the address she’d texted me. There was a parking lot across the road. It was surprisingly empty, but then I noticed cabs and other cars only briefly stopping in front of the entrance and then taking off. Clearly everyone was Ubering, since they’d planned to drink.

The music was loud but not overpowering, since it was out in the open. I looked around. Riley had told me she was at the high table right next to the bar. I found her instantly. She looked absolutely stunning, wearing a short silver dress with a dipping back. She was barefoot on the sand.

Christine noticed me, and Riley immediately looked over her shoulder before turning around. Sex appeal rolled off her. Her hair was bound up in a high ponytail that came down in waves.

I walked straight toward her. I was so fixated on her that I didn't even realize her friends had left until I reached the table and it was just the two of us.

"Here I am."

"Thank you for coming."

I wanted to tell her so many things, but I didn’t. Instead, I put a hand on her waist and moved to the rhythm of the music. She leaned into my touch, following my lead, exhaling sharply.

Because she was much smaller than me, her hot breath landed on my neck. It turned me on to no end. It was all I could do not to kiss her right now.

"You're a great dancer," she murmured, clearly surprised.

But I was just following my instincts. Ineededto be close, and this was the perfect excuse. Then I turned her around, plastering her back against my chest, moving even slower. She was intoxicating.

I dipped my nose in the crook of her neck. "You smell amazing," I whispered in her ear.

She looked up at me sideways. Her lips were so damn inviting.

I closed the distance between us, kissing her the way I'd meant to all fucking week. She tasted like champagne. I didn't hold back at all. I explored her while we still moved to the rhythm of the music.

My entire body felt like a live wire, like she was fueling me. I couldn't get enough of her taste. I wanted to pin her against the table and kiss her until she wrapped her legs around me.

Fuck, why had I started this in public? I needed to touch her so damn badly, but I didn't want to make a spectacle of us.

I moved one hand from her hip up her belly, keeping it there. It rose up and down with her breath, which became more labored. I moved my palm farther up until my thumb rested on her sternum, my fingers on her left breast. Her heartbeat thundered beneath my touch.

I pulled back and cleared my throat. "Ready to go home?"