Page 22 of One Wild Ride

I cleared my throat, dropping her wrists. “Yes, I own the building.”

She jumped up from the chair and threw her arms open. “That’s wonderful, Alex! Now you can do whatever changes you want.”

Aria stood there, her arms still wide and I knew she wanted to give me a hug. I wanted to do that too, but something stopped me. The same thing that stopped me from going up to her in that gallery when I first noticed her years ago.

I nodded. “Yes, I can pick one of your drawings now. Maybe even tear down the wall and make the room bigger.”

My mind raced with ideas. I felt like a child let loose in an amusement park with no one there. Any ride free to enjoy but which to pick first? My gaze fell to her breasts.

“So, no hug then?” Aria’s lips ticked up.

“We should keep this professional. How we started off meeting wasn’t right. I want to keep things on track,” I said as I focused on gathering the paperwork.

I was such a liar. Of course, I wanted to hug her. I wanted to do lots of things to her, but if she ever found out the truth about me I know I would lose her forever. I’d rather have Aria for a short time in my life than not at all.

“Fair enough. Let’s at least shake on it.”

Aria pushed her hand out. Setting the papers down, I turned in my seat but didn’t stand. Staring at her fingers my imagination went wild. Thoughts of those digits pressing into me, pulling and using me for their pleasure.

Just shaking her hand was a summit to climb but I had to do it. She already thought I was odd being a recluse. I didn’t want to add to it by being too afraid to touch her.

“Of course.” I slid my fingers across her palm. Her skin as smooth and warm as I remembered.

Maybe even softer than before. I wondered if I firmed my grip, would she give?

“There, now was that so hard?” I noticed her eyes dip to where I actually was hard.

She knew. Aria wasn’t stupid, she could tell I wanted her. That would mean one thing. She was going to try. Aria was going to give. Give me what she knew I wanted.

I shook my head, unable to form words.

She released my grip but moved both hands to cup my palm, tickling my wrist with her fingers.

“Wow, you have such smooth skin, Alex.”

It hurt. My cock was in pain.

“Why are you doing this, Aria?” I said, my voice rough.

“Because I want you, Alex. It’s that simple. When two people are attracted to each other, they should be together. They fuck. Get it out of their system or keep fucking, but they do something. To pretend there is no attraction because of some societal pressure is ridiculous. This isn’t the nineteenth century.”

Her words from before popped into my head—how people only wanted me for my money and looks. Was she like that? My mother warned me that’s how women were. How she tried to protect me by making sure I met with the right kind of woman.

Which was never the right kind. They were the bought kind.

I pulled my hand away. “So what if I’m attracted to you. Yes, Aria, I think you’re beautiful. I could fill a thousand canvases with the curves and shades of your eyes. And your lips, the dips and bends. How they plump and swell after you’ve bitten them while deep in thought. I’d use oils and brush with delicate strokes before smearing the color with my fingers.”

Pushing the chair away as I stood, not caring my hard-on was clearly visible. She was pushing me and it was working. The words coming out of my mouth I never spoke to anyone.

“But that’s cheap, isn’t it? Maybe you like cheap.” I inched closer forcing her up against the table. “Do you like it cheap, Aria? Pretty words about a pretty face you can’t help but wear.”

Her eyes fluttered as she grasped the edge of the table to hold herself up. “Maybe I do.”

Aria tried to push back, stand taller, and it was cute and sexy and I wanted to laugh.

“But I have money. You pointed that out many times. It’s the reason we’re here, in this room. Why would I want to throw cheap things at you when I could give you anything you’ve ever dreamed of? Isn’t that what you want from me? The wild ride. The one that takes your breath away and shines like gold.”

Her chest rose and fell with a quickened pace the more I spoke. I shouldn’t have said all that. But as much as I wanted her, as much as she thought she wanted me, I would never be used by a woman again.

“Yes,” Aria whispered.

I leaned forward, ghosting the words across her neck. “As much as I want to give you the ride of your life, it’s your talent that does it for me. It gets me hard and makes me weak. I want to see that gift when I wake in the morning and just as I drift to sleep at night. So, words are cheap and sex is primal, but your art is my life.”

I don’t know how I did it, but I turned and walked to the door. Before I opened it, I turned back to find her still leaning against the table, her cheeks flushed.

“I’ll take you home. I want you rested and ready tomorrow when you bring your gift to life in my bedroom.”

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