Page 47 of Ride the Lightning

“Text me the address,” Avery said, then hung up.

The evening had certainly taken an unexpected twist, but Jonah wasn’t mad about it.

A fat raindrop smacked him in the forehead as he finished texting his location to Avery, so Jonah ducked back inside The Dive Bar to call Triple-A. They said it would be forty minutes before a tow truck arrived, but he didn’t need to wait around for them. Jonah confirmed which Tire Discounters location he wanted to use, then headed back to the bar to chat with Willie while he waited.

Willie glanced up from drying a glass with a white towel. “Back so soon?”

“Waiting on a ride,” he said. “Some asshole slashed my tires.”

Willie set the towel and glass down. “Oh, man, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t suppose you have security cameras set up?” Jonah asked.

Willie shook his head. “I know the neighborhood is a little rough, but I’ve never had trouble here besides the occasional fight.”

Jonah stroked his chin. “No vandalism to parked cars besides mine, huh?”

“Not that I’m aware of, and I’m sure someone would’ve filed a police report or at least mentioned it to me.” Willie furrowed his brow. “What are the odds you would be the first victim?”

“And on the same day I started asking questions about Earl Ison,” Jonah added. It wasn’t a coincidence. Someone was either pissed about him poking the hornet’s nest or they were trying to scare him off. They’d have to work much harder.

“Since you won’t be driving,” Willie said, “let me pour you another drink.”

“Deal,” Jonah said.

He sipped his bourbon and enjoyed a few of Brandy’s songs in her next set while he waited. Jonah knew the moment Avery stepped inside the bar because the storm inside him surged. For eight months, Jonah had clamped down every urge to touch Avery. Not today.

Once Avery reached his side, Jonah cupped his nape and pulled him into a kiss.

“Mmmmm,” Avery said when they pulled apart. He looked pointedly at the almost empty tumbler on the bar before meeting Jonah’s gaze. “How many of those have you had?”

“Just two.”

“Separated by two liters of diet soda,” Willie teased, extending his hand to Avery and introducing himself.

“Good to meet you, Willie,” Avery said before turning to Jonah. “Ready?” They both knew he was talking about more than leaving the bar.

Jonah knocked back the last swallow and stood up from the stool. “So ready.” To Willie, he said, “I’ll be in touch.”

“Have a good night,” Willie said.

The rain was coming down hard when they stepped outside, so they got drenched during the mad dash to Avery’s car.

“I think I’m too big for this tight space,” Jonah said, pushing the seat back as far as it would go.

Avery snorted. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

The tension was thick inside the car, and like Jonah’s dick, getting thicker as Avery drove toward Jonah’s house. Rain pelted them and lightning streaked across the sky. The only thing louder than Jonah’s pounding heart was the rolling thunder, and the only thing spinning faster than his brain was Avery’s tires.

What were they doing? There’d be no going back once they crossed the line. As much as he wanted Avery in his bed, he didn’t want to risk—

Jonah nearly jumped out of his skin when Avery squeezed his thigh. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t seen Avery reach for him.

“I won’t bite…too hard,” Avery said. He stroked his finger over the inseam of Jonah’s jeans, stopping just shy of his crotch. “Stop thinking so much.”

Jonah ached to feel Avery’s hand on his cock, but his brain hadn’t relinquished full control to his libido yet. “Avery,” he said, his voice sounding jagged and raspy, “I want to take you out on a date.”

“We’re going on a date on Friday. Remember?” Avery asked, sliding his finger farther away from where Jonah wanted it instead of closer.