Page 37 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Cherry

I’m having the best déjà vu when I wake up, encircled once again by the thick, tattooed arms of the man I’ve dreamt about being with for years. His safe warmth dissipates into me, wrapping me up in what feels like the equivalent of heaven.

This time, I don’t feign being asleep. I don’t feel guilty about pressing my ass back into his morning wood, especially after he got me off twice more throughout the night – he wasn’t joking about putting multiple ticks next to that item on the bucket list. Half of me wants to run to the top of the mountains and just scream – because for God’s sake, we could’ve been doing this years ago.

But the other half appreciates that I’m here now, when I’m strong enough to be honest about what I want, like yesterday, and when he’s ready to be vulnerable with me too.

Even if there’s the lingering thought of how will we tell Wyatt …

But maybe no one has to know about this right now. I’ve spent the last eight years with the whole goddamn town getting involved in my life, let alone just my family, but this – me and Duke – is out of their reach. No one can interfere with what they don’t know.

There’s just us .

And it’s perfect.

Plus, spending time with Duke in secret was already hot, but knowing what we did last night without anyone realising, just makes it ten times sexier.

Duke’s groan rumbles behind me when I rub my ass against him again, his warm breath filtering through my hair. ‘Tease,’ he whispers, then plants a kiss against my neck.

‘Morning.’ I giggle as his hands lazily roam my body, exploring my curves, brushing underneath my breasts, trailing over my stomach and hips, almost as if he’s searching for something. His gentle touch lights up the nerves under every inch of skin he passes.

And then, just as he nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck again, pulling me tighter to him so our bare skin is flush, he sleepily sighs out, ‘You’re really here. You’re not a dream.’

My heart trembles. Even more when his fingers clutch at me tighter, like he’s worried I’ll slip away, unaware of how strongly I’m tethered to him.

A tether that’s been years in the making.

Something like that doesn’t break easily – and I would know, because I’ve laboured over the years to reduce the power it’s had on me.

But no matter how hard I’ve tried since the day he found me after my fall, no matter how far I’ve run away, there’s always been that tug in the back of my mind, pulling me back to Duke Bennett.

‘I’m here,’ I reassure him, melting further into his hold. I slide my hand along his arm until I reach his fingers, slipping mine between them. He immediately curls them tightly into his palm. ‘Can we just stay like this forever?’

‘I wish.’ He lets out a warm chuckle, but I don’t miss the way a rigidness sets into his body behind me. ‘But sadly, you’re going to have to go home at some point so your parents don’t wonder where you are. And we both have to work later today.’

I let out a groan, wondering if maybe I can avoid reality for a little longer. No wonder Duke wasn’t sure if I was real – yesterday feels like a distant dream now. Uninterrupted time together, no prying eyes, all our cares and woes burst along with the paint balloons when they hit the canvas.

‘What a terrible boss I am, making you work.’ Duke peppers my neck with more kisses. The hot press of his lips sends heat licking up my spine.

‘So terrible,’ I jest, and turn in his grasp under the sheets until I’m facing him, catching his heavy-lidded eyes.

Glittering morning light filters through the blinds, a slice of sunshine highlighting the carved angles of his muscles so beautifully that I run my hand along his bicep to appreciate his strong body.

To just relish the fact that I can touch him whenever I want.

A soft smile breaks through his cheeks while his dark lashes flutter at my touch.

Then, I hook a leg up onto his hip, pulling myself towards him so we’re still as close as possible. His eyes flash when the tip of his cock accidentally grazes my centre, and even the faintest of touches makes me whimper.

‘Cherry,’ he warns me, grip tightening against my skin, which only has warmth puddling deeper in my core from his searing touch.

‘What?’ I breathe out, feigning ignorance.

‘Please don’t torture me like that.’

But that only makes me want to more. I think trying to unravel Duke’s resolve is my new favourite hobby.

‘Like this?’ I buck my hips again, sliding along his cock and situating the tip right at my entrance. Despite trying to remain calm in his embrace, my body screams for him to thrust into me.

God, how the hell am I going to survive my shift tonight knowing I can’t touch him for hours, when I’m struggling to do anything but right now?

‘This bucket list has made you too bold,’ Duke jokes, raising a brow at me.

I grin, biting down on my lip, already anticipating the way his wild gaze darts down to catch the movement. ‘This is going to be difficult, isn’t it? Keeping our hands off each other, so no one knows. We’re on shifts together every day for the next week.’

Duke presses a soft kiss to my lips. ‘We’ll take it day by day.

Our shifts will just work like they always have, I guess.

I’ll spend mine stealing glances at you whenever I can, wishing I could touch you, and you’ll spend yours tormenting me with your beautiful laugh and torturously long legs, and everyone will be none the wiser.

’ One of his hands drops between us, my body jolting when his thumb starts working lazy circles over my clit.

‘And maybe I can give you something to keep you satisfied until closing time.’

Turns out, Duke Bennett is a massive liar. Yes, I have spent ninety-nine percent of my shifts longing after him, stealing glances at his quiet beauty whenever he’s not looking, and drooling over the way the muscles in his arms shift when he’s shaking up a cocktail.

But I never knew before what it was like to feel the strength of those thick arms encircling me as he kissed me like there was no tomorrow and now I do.

Which is goddamn torturous when you’ve got to make it through a seven-hour shift on a busy Friday night pretending you’re not constantly thinking about your boss’s wicked tongue.

I’ve finally had a taste of what I’ve been starved of for so many years, and I need more . I’m already addicted to his kisses, his touch, my body weary without it.

Which I must try even harder to conceal since Wyatt, Rory, Fliss, and Wolfman are all here in our usual booth. Looking my brother in the eyes has definitely been more difficult than usual – I can’t imagine how Duke is feeling.

I collect some empty glasses from a table that has just left, leaning over to grab the last one from the corner.

I stand back up and carry the tray to the bar where Duke has just finished pouring some drinks for Montana to take to another table.

She flashes me a smile before heading off, and then Duke’s walking behind me, brushing his fingers against my hips.

He dips his head quickly to ask, ‘Mind helping me grab something in the back?’

‘Mhm.’ I nod, absentmindedly depositing the tray of empties on the bar and follow him round the back, expecting him to head into the stock room.

Except, he doesn’t – he takes one quick look along the empty corridor and hauls me into his office.

I barely have time to register what’s happened before Duke’s hands are suddenly clutching my hips, spinning me around and pressing me back against the door.

I’m left breathless as his broad frame crowds me, his pupils already so blown out I can’t fathom how his eyes still manage to darken further when they catch mine.

My heartbeat drops between my thighs when he reaches to lock the door.

‘Are you trying to torture me?’ he asks, but it’s more of a plea.

When he angles himself closer to me, the impressive bulge straining against his jeans brushing my stomach, I’m immediately enlightened as to just how close to the edge he already is.

My mouth starts to dry out, breath quickening.

I can’t help my teeth from tugging on my bottom lip as I consider what would happen if I pushed him a little further.

But now, with the way he’s staring at me, gaze wild and agonised, his grip pulsing against me, I think he might be about to fall to his knees.

And the idea that I could cause that when our friends – my brother – are on the other side of this door, has my body suddenly more alive under his touch.

I watch him for a moment, letting my eyes dip to where his throat works, his tattoos shifting.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ I respond back, lacing each word with a sweet innocence, despite pressing my body closer to him and arching my back so my breasts lightly graze his chest.

A raspy breath close enough to a growl vibrates in his throat. One hand drops to the hem of my short black strappy dress, toying with the material between his fingers. The touch of his knuckles is featherlight against my bare thigh, yet it causes my core to flare.

‘This dress, Cherry,’ Duke says croakily.

‘What about it?’ I shrug, causing one of the loose straps to tumble off my shoulder.

Duke’s eyes instantly flash to it, then his other hand is following to trace the bones of my shoulder, fingers leaving fire in their wake.

The rest of my skin craves the heat of his touch, my hips screaming to be cradled by him again.

To feel the desperation in his clutch, like holding me was the only thing holding him together.

Duke’s fingers run up my neck to cup my jaw, while his other hand still plays with the hem of my dress. Slowly, his thumb drags across my bottom lip, eliciting a whisper of a gasp from me. Duke’s voice drops thunderously lower. ‘It’s incredibly short, Cherry.’