Page 27 of Holding Out

He turned onto the Astoria-Megler Bridge.The water rolled out on either side of him, blue-gray and mottled with brown at the shallower spots.Fucking beautiful.That and the hills on the other side of the water, sprawling and nearly unspoiled.It always put him in a great mood.Screw Marina and her basement and his sad leftover shit, he was on his way to have a good time—and more to the point, give someone else areallygood time—tonight.

He had to grin at that.

TheEntering Washingtonsign reminded him of a childhood ritual, and he hummed, “Roll on, Columbia, roll on,” an old Arlo Guthrie song he and his family had always sung when they crossed the Columbia River.

He turned off the bridge and—

Buzz.

He pulled over at the Dismal Nitch rest area—no joke, that was really a place.And he was glad he’d done so, because she’d sent him an essay.

No pressure or anything, but you should know that when I was a teenager, I read this book called The Valley of Horses.It’s set in prehistoric times, and the hero initiates the heroine into the First Rites of Pleasure.He was a total pro.Plus he had a schlong so big that all the women were afraid they wouldn’t be able to fit it.

He laughed, then frowned.You’re not scared, are you?

No!

He was about to text her back to say,Good, you have nothing to be scared of,when the three dots appeared again.

Okay, maybe a tiny bit.I did try to have sex with this one guy and it didn’t, um, *work*.

He was instantly pissed at whoever that asshole was.Some noob like CJ, probably, more intent on notching a bedpost and claiming a conquest than making it good for his partner.

You should have told me that.

So you could have backed out?

She really had no idea who she was dealing with.No, doofus, so I could plan on spending an extra-long time making you ready.

Long, long silence.He almost started the truck, but just as he reached out his hand to turn the key in the ignition, his phone buzzed again.

I told you, I am ready.

Do me a favor, okay?Go online and find something really sexy.

Like porn?

Doesn’t have to be porn.You have a Kindle?

Yeah.

Get that book.The one you used to read when you were a kid.Read the good parts, so when I get there, you can tell me if I’m forgetting anything.And feel free to warm up.I won’t be angry.Just don’t—

He became suddenly conscious that his dick was right-angled and ferociously hard.Not okay.He straightened himself inside his jeans, looking around first to make sure no one was in his line of sight.Last thing he needed was to get arrested for perving in Dismal Nitch.

—don’t come.

No danger of that.I have to work at it.Hope you’re okay with a challenge.

Griff would not have pegged himself as a man who got off on that particular challenge, but his dick disagreed.He’d be fine if it took hours to get her there, because he was going to love every last freaking minute of it.

Tonight it won’t be work for you.I promise.

I like sexting with you.

I like sexting with you, too, honey.But I’ve got to put the phone down and drive now or I’ll never get to the really good part.

Put the fucking phone down and fucking drive.

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