Page 27 of Illicit Illustration

Reid: Color me intrigued. And yes, I can use Jayden’s warehouse at the distillery.What time?

Hazel: He won’t be there, will he?

Reid: He skis with Colette most mornings. He’s usually gone until noon. But I can make sure.

My cousin was best friends with her cousin, who was a ski instructor at a resort in the next town over. Those two had been joined at the hip since middle school. But their relationship was completely platonic, because he’d been fucking Annie, the bartender at Hudson’s, on and off since high school. We really did live in a small town where everyone was connected to each other.

Hazel: Is eight too early?

Reid: Not for you. Are you sure that’s enough time for you to get a decent night’s sleep? You looked tired this morning.

Hazel: Thanks for reminding me how unattractive I was when I answered the door.

Reid: That’s not what I meant, and you were adorable.

Hazel: Just what every woman wants to hear.

Reid: Eight is good. You riding with me?

Hazel: Can I? I don’t have a helmet or anything.

Reid: I’ve got an extra one from when I first started riding. Should fit you. You gonna be my backpack in the morning?

Hazel: I don’t know what that means.

Reid: A backpack is a passenger on a motorcycle.

Hazel: Gotcha. Then yes, I’ll be your backpack.

I liked how that statement lookedentirely too much.

Reid: Dress warm and wear boots.

Hazel: Can’t wait. Thank you again.

Reid: My pleasure, trust me.

She didn’t respond, but that didn’t matter. I needed to get some fucking sleep so I could survive whatever setup she needed my bike for. I had a feeling that it was going to be one I dreamed about for a long fucking time.

Hazel

Reid was right, Iwas exhausted last night, but with one more Seven—and Reid if I was being completely honest with myself—round with my vibrator and I’d been out for a solid six hours before my alarm woke me at seven.

Rifling through the top drawer of my dresser, I shifted the pieces of lace and satin to the side as I tried to find the bright pink lace bustier I’d stashed in here last year. I’d never worn it, but I couldn’t resist it on the lingerie website when I’d found it on sale.

I wasn’t sure how comfortable it’d be to wear pressed against Reid on the back of his motorcycle, but I knew I needed it after listening to the chapter of the audiobook my latest commission was based on. The heroine had been stretched out across the handlebars of the hero’s motorcycle in only a thong and a lace bustier while he sat shirtless in his helmet and leather pants with her perched on his lap, his thumb strumming her into an explosive orgasm before he bent her over the side of the bike and fucked her.

My author had wanted that moment captured, the one right before the frantic fucking when the hero was worshipping her lace clad body. And while I’d been listening, I imagined the same scene, but with me in the heroine’s place and Reid running his hands over every inch of my body while he whispered dirty praises and coaxed an orgasm out of me.

Quickly donning it and the matching thong, I ran to my closet next to pull out jeans and a loose sweater. My black leather combat boots were next, and once I had them on, I paused in front of themirror, studying my chaotic hair, deciding a sleek ponytail at the base of my neck was the safest way to wear it.

By the time I had my backpack ready to go, a knock sounding from my front door caught my attention, and I yanked it open, expecting my handsome model, but it was my best friend instead.

“Hey.” She smiled, stepping around me and plopping herself down on my couch as I followed her back into the apartment. “You look cute this morning. Got plans you didn’t tell me about?”

“Um…not that I’m not happy to see you, but why are you here so early? I didn’t think you and Hudson came up for air before noon most days.”

“It’s Sunday,” she said, like the answer should have been obvious. “Hudson is downstairs unloading the produce shipment with Reid and then he needs to do inventory and place next week’s order.”

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