Page 7

Chapter Six

Tanner

Kinsley drops to her knees and I grit my teeth. The sight of her in front of me has pre-cum leaking from my tip. Unbuttoning my jeans, her soft hands wrap around my cock as she pulls it from my briefs. She glances up at me, the gold specks in her eyes sparkling. Kinsley holds our eye contact as her tongue circles my tip and she hums in approval.

Her hand works my base and plump lips wrap around my length. My head falls back and a low growl comes from deep in my chest. Two can play this game. Leaning forward I take her ponytail in my hand and wrap her long locks around my fist, once — twice.

“Do you want to keep teasing me like a little brat? Or are you going to swallow my cock like a good girl?” She looks up at me through her dark lashes and smiles a wicked grin, her lips still wrapped around me. My eyes fall shut. “That fucking mouth …” I moan, dragging out the words as I tighten my grip on her hair and thrust myself deeper into her throat.

When my eyes open, Kinsley is no longer on her knees in front of me. Instead, I’m alone in my bed with a raging hard on. Covering my face with my hands, I sigh. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I last saw her. Fuck. Why can’t I escape this girl? Like an addict seeking their next fix I grab my phone and send off a text.

Me - How was work last night?

Bubbles show up on the screen seconds later …

Kinsley - Work was quiet and a girlfriend got stood up at the bar, so I opted for a night of drinks and dancing. You could say that I’m paying for it now.

Me - Jump in the shower. I’ve got the perfect hangover cure.

Kinsley - Enlighten me?

Me - Wear jeans. It involves the back of my bike.

The way I see it, I have two options. I could stroll into her apartment and handcuff her to the bed, teaching her a lesson for getting drunk without someone there to look out for her safety. I could bring her to the cusp of her orgasm over and over, until she promises never to put herself in danger, ever again. Or, I could lock down the whole crazy possessive shit for a little while longer and give her the benefit of the doubt, because she was at the bar she works at — well that she owns, but I’m not supposed to know that yet.

Deciding on the latter, I get in the shower to relieve some of this built up desire and frustration I’m feeling. I take the base of my cock in my hand, imagining her pouty little lips wrapped around my length, and fall back into my dream from earlier this morning. I work myself as the water cascades down my body, my forehead resting against the tiles. It won’t hold me over for long, but hopefully just long enough to take her out this morning.

I’m sitting on my idling bike out the front of her apartment when I send off a text to let her know I’m here. If I go inside, we won’t be leaving for the rest of the day. Moments later Kinsley steps outside and I drag my eyes up her body, taking in every detail.

She’s wearing white converse, black denim jeans, and a button up shirt half tucked in — I need to ask her why girls do this, is it fashion or am I missing something? Her long dark wavy hair like a waterfall flowing down her back. I wonder if she’s aware of the way her hips sway when she walks?

“Hi,” she says with a smile. I lift my chin, encouraging her closer. I would still love to walk her ass back in there and show her that she is mine, but I made my choice before I left home this morning.

I hold out a spare leather riding jacket, it’s too big for her but it will have to do until I get her one of her own. “Put this on.” She slips on the jacket, I zip it up for her and buckle up her helmet. Kinsley wraps her arms around my waist as we take off, and it takes all my strength to focus on the road rather than the girl on the back of my bike.

Twenty minutes later we arrive at ‘Wake Up House’, one of the first businesses my parents purchased together. I unbuckle Kinsley’s helmet and hang it opposite my own on the handle bars. The sight of two helmets on my bike sends a warmth to my chest which I quickly dismiss. She shuffles out of the jacket and I lay that on the seat before taking her hand and leading us inside.

Her eyes light up when we enter the building. Cosy booths line the far wall, with tables scattered throughout the middle. A flower stand spreads from the front window across to the counter, where the baristas are pouring coffee and taking orders. “This place looks incredible,” Kinsley says.

“Hey Tanner,” Lisa — the barista — calls cheerfully from the counter. “Are you here on business or can I get you a table?”

“Breakfast for two please.” I look down at Kinsley. “Coffee or Smoothie to start?”

“Uh …” she stumbles, clearly trying to grasp the comment from Lisa about business . “— coffee please.”

I nod to Lisa. “One dirty chai and one latte, thanks Lisa.” I place my hand on Kinsley’s lower back guiding her in the direction of the staircase. “We are going to sit up on the balcony,” I reply over my shoulder.

I had already glanced up at the balcony when we arrived to make sure it was free, it’s reserved for our family and friends but I’ve never actually sat down and dined here. My parents like to show off what they’ve got, and they’ve got plenty. Personally it gives me the ick. I would choose a home cooked meal over being wined and dined any day of the week. Unfortunately for some of us, we don’t get to choose the lives we live. Lisa rattles off something about bringing up menus and setting the table; I’m too entranced however by the woman in front of me to take note of anything else she has to say.

* * *

Kinsley

My head is aching, but from up here, looking over the busy streets with a coffee in my hand and Tanner across from me, for the first time in a while everything feels okay. After Lisa takes our orders for breakfast, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Sophie - Hey Girl, how did you pull up this morning?

Me - My head feels like I’ve been banging it against the wall. You?

Before she can reply I place my phone down on the table and excuse myself to go find a bathroom. The last thing I want Tanner thinking is that I’ve run off to go take a phone call or something. I’m probably overthinking it but whatever; I’ve got nothing to hide even if he was to go through my phone.

When I return, Tanner is leaning back in his chair, fingers interlocked behind his head with a smirk on his face. “What is it?” I ask curiously. He is definitely up to something.

“I caught a glance of your text, something about a double date?” The smirk remains on his face and he raises a brow in question. I can feel the heat rush up my neck and into my cheeks as the conversations from last night come flooding back. Shit. Now he’s going to think that I’ve put a label on whatever this is between us.

I grab my phone and bring up the text messages.

Sophie - Me too, but I had so much fun!

Sophie - Maybe we can do it all again … As a double date this time?

Sophie - I didn’t dream up the conversation about you having a cute guy best friend right? And Becky said you rocked up with a hottie on a bike!

Lisa places our breakfast down in front of us as I’m reading the messages. Hmm. Soph likes to rapid fire small texts instead of one long message, noted . I smile at Lisa and thank her for our breakfast. It smells amazing, my stomach growls in agreement.

“Eat,” Tanner says tightly.

Honestly, I have never met such a moody man. His ocean blues aren’t giving anything away, and it has only occurred to me over the past few days how little I really know about him. Sure we have known each other for six months or so, and I know him intimately. But, his day to day? I know nothing, and vice versa. Which is exactly the way I wanted it, was it not?

I make a mental list of what I know about Tanner whilst eating my breakfast.

Name - Tanner Hayes

Age - 27

Manages his parents real estate company and personal properties.

Despite his ‘office job’ he is the total opposite, he screams bad boy.

Ocean blue eyes, dark hair, tanned skin, broad shoulders, muscles.

Moody AF

Is that really all I know? His name, age and job description?

Flashbacks from the morning he found me unconscious in my entryway remind me of the way he cared for me. He really cared. I’m backing myself into a corner here, surely this could never work. Not with all the secrets I have. Someone is going to get hurt, and something tells me it’s not going to be my moody landlord. A guy like him could easily move on and find another plaything, right? But deep down, in the pit of my stomach I have a feeling this is more than just sex. The way he held me and stayed by my side — he could have asked me if there was someone he could call, but he chose to stay. I’m so fucked. There is a reason I have always kept him at arm’s length. I need another opinion, next week’s catch up with Jesse can’t come quick enough. I need to debrief this.