Page 96 of Love Without Demands

He shrugged. “That’s what my parents told me when I came home and he was gone. They said he went to the ocean to be with all the other fish.”

“Ah. I can see where an escaped goldfish would be traumatic. How have you even functioned in adulthood?”

Rider smiled sadly. “It’s not been easy. So do you think you can help me?”

“Oh, I have just the cuddle for you.” Shifting my body to face him, I wrapped one arm around his shoulder and the other around his waist. “Now do the same to me,” I instructed.

I was in his arms before my next breath, his head buried in my neck. “I think you might be right. I’m feeling soothed already.”

“Yes, well, the direction your right hand is moving is against the professional cuddler’s code of ethics,” I said, referring to the hand that was about a half inch from a full-on ass grab.

“But it’s helping my trauma,” he argued. “I have to admit, you’re very good at this.”

“Told you,” I said smartly, lightly brushing the back of his neck with my fingertips.

Rider dragged his nose up and down my neck. “I’ve almost totally forgotten about Fido already.”

“Fido?”

“My goldfish,” he explained. “Maybe I’ll just hire you full-time as my own personal cuddler.”

“You couldn’t afford me.”

He chuckled. “Sweetheart, I assure you I could.” Then he softly bit my earlobe, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yes.” The single word sounded husky.

“I’ve never wanted to kiss a stranger as much as I want to kiss you,” he said, the low timbre of his voice vibrating against my neck.

“Then why don’t you?”

He didn’t waste any time, dragging his nose along my cheek until it brushed mine. Our eyes met and then closed simultaneously as his lips took mine.

I was being seared, burned alive by the complete possession of his mouth and the boldness of his tongue. This was nolet’s work up to the good stuffkiss. No, Rider started with the good stuff. Deep and slow, tasting every inch of my mouth with his greedy tongue.

That hand that had been almost grabbing my ass earlier was now fully committed to the task, kneading the globe like he owned the damn thing. His other hand was cupping the back of my neck, one lazy thumb trailing up and down my jugular vein.

His mouth held the smooth taste of expensive vodka as we kissed until my toes were practically curling in my heels. He pulled back with soft sucks, and my eyelids seemed to weigh a ton when I finally dragged them open. Rider looked me dead in the eye while giving my butt a final squeeze.

“All I can think about is holding this firm ass while you’re on all fours in front of me.”

The images that brought to mind were beautifully vulgar, and a moan escaped before I could stop it. Rider’s warm laugh gusted against my face as his lips dusted soft kisses over my mouth.

“I have a room upstairs,” he whispered, and I restrained myself from dragging him immediately out of the booth and upstairs.

“Really?” I sang. “Does it have a bed?”

“No, I requested they remove it so I could fuck you on the floor,” he shot back.

“Who said you’ll be fucking me?” I asked, going for indignant. And probably failing.

“I did,” he replied with all the confidence in the world.

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t sleep with men I just met.”

“Okay.” His tone was easy and a little too light. “We won’t sleep then. I’ll just fuck you till dawn. Unless you’re a prude,” he goaded.

“I’m not a prude.”

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