Page 28 of Lulu

“We don’t have far to go. I don’t wear it half the time anyway.”

“That’s not very smart.” He just smirked at me as I took it from him and pushed it down over my head. “Home, James.” I mounted the bike behind him and wrapped my arms around his torso.

He didn’t have to tell me to hold on tight. It wasn’t my first rodeo. With a tired sigh I lay my cheek against his upper back and closed my eyes for the short ride to my house. I was hyper aware of the power of the bike between my legs as Brody raced down the road. The feel of his hard abs beneath my hands and the muscular legs mine were hugging, all kept me turned on. The wind blew my hair loose, the long strands swirling around our heads. Just as I’d feared, I was about to fall asleep. I was home.

Brody turned his bike off and kicked the stand down. We sat there for a minute until I realized that he was waiting for me to get off first. I laughed softly. “You’re comfortable.” I put my hand on his shoulder for support and brought my leg over.

His eyes met mine as I worked the helmet loose. “You too tired to go out?”

He sounded like he actually cared. “Not at all. I’ll get my second wind once I get a shower.” He got off his bike and took the helmet from me, laying it on the seat. “Besides, I’m starved, and you promised food.”

I turned to head inside when his hand grasped my arm to yank me back. Before I could question him, he fisted the hair at my nape, and then he pulled me in for a kiss. He had to stop doing this, because it made me horny as hell. I moaned beneath his attack, kissing him back with everything I had. He broke contact before I was ready.

“Let’s go.”

I bit back a snarky remark and turned toward my door.

“Cute little place you have here.”

“Thanks. I like it.” Actually, I loved my little house. It was perfect for me.

“You always leave a light on?”

I unlocked my door and opened it. “Yes. I don’t always come home right after work, and I don’t like coming home to a dark house.” Brody followed me inside. “There’s whiskey and tequila in the cabinet over the fridge, or beers in the fridge. Help yourself. I won’t be long.”

“Do you need any help?”

I heard the smile in his voice and turned to catch the one on his face. “I got it covered,” I smiled back.

I went straight to my bathroom, clipped my hair up, stripped down, and took a quick, hot shower. I half-expected Brody to show up, and was surprised and disappointed when he didn’t. I made a half-ass attempt to dry off before wrapping the towel around my body and going to my bedroom closet. A quick look, and I decided on a pair of pleather pants and a red blouse that hung off one shoulder. I snatched them off the hangers and tossed them onto the bed, then turned toward the dresser for underwear.

I whipped the towel from my body and slipped into my lacy thong. I was just reaching for my pants when something alerted me that I wasn’t alone. I glanced toward the doorway to see Brody leaning casually against the jamb, a drink in his hand, his eyes intent on me. I was comfortable with being nude in front of people. I’d grown used to it a long time ago. I knew that I had a nice body, and the look in his dark eyes confirmed that he thought so, too. That, and the movement that I saw behind his zipper.

I stood still for a minute to let him have his fill, finding that I liked Brody’s eyes on me. I knew that he wanted me, but it seemed that he had an agenda tonight. After a few minutes he moved away from the doorway and disappeared back out into the other room. I released the breath I’d been holding and finished dressing.

“All ready,” I said, walking back out to where Brody was. I found him returning the whiskey to the cabinet he’d taken it from.

He turned back to me. His eyes made a lazy sweep up and down my body. “Fuck, you’re hot, woman.”

“Thanks. I could say the same about you.”

He walked around the island. “What do you feel like for dinner?”

“Food. I’m not kidding, I’ll eat anything.” My rumbling belly reminded me how hungry I was. “Whatever’s closest.”

He laughed. “I know just the place.”

Once again, I found myself on the back of Brody’s bike, hugging him tightly as we sped toward the lights of civilization. I hoped he wasn’t taking me to some place on the strip. I wasn’t in the mood for bright lights and crowds tonight. I was not disappointed when we barely reached the outskirts of Vegas and he pulled into the parking lot of Mama Joe’s, a new Italian restaurant that had opened a few months ago. I’d eaten there once before, and the food was divine. So were the drinks.

Brody parked close to the door. The place looked busy, but it was big enough inside that people weren’t sitting on top of each other. He opened the door and ushered me inside with a hand at the small of my back. We were greeted by the hostess, a beautiful African-American woman whose eyes lit up when she saw Brody.

I wondered immediately if they had history.

“Brody!” she nearly gushed. “Welcome back. Your usual table?”

“Yeah.”

She grabbed up the menus and spun around with a, “Follow me.”

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