Page 8 of Ride Me

The words land like a loaded gun on the counter, full of implications I don’t have the energy to unpack. But it’s clear that whatever connection I feel with Bowen can never go any further than our fake relationship. If these ladies are to be believed, the man is a nightmare dressed like a daydream. That isn’t something I need in my life ever again.

I stand abruptly, grabbing my bag and moving toward the register, but Brynn’s voice floats above the murmurs, cutting through the thick air.

“Good luck with him.” A pause, just long enough to make sure I hear it. “They aren’t bad guys, but they sure as hell aren’t always good either.”

The chatter continues until I get out of the front door. Even then the words follow me, sticking like the scent of hairspray. I take a steadying breath and square my shoulders, but the uneasiness doesn’t shake off so easily. Keeping my guard up is second nature, something I’ve learned to do without thinking. But with Bowen, it’s different. He has a way of slipping past my defenses, pushing them down like they were never there to begin with. And the scariest part? I let him.

I can’t afford to forget what a risk that is. Not now. Not with everyone watching. This is my life we’re talking about. But as I head toward my car the lingering warmth in my chest tells me it might already be too late.

CHAPTER 6

BOWEN

The Southern Knightshave arrived for their VIP weekend, but I couldn’t care less. The only thing that holds my attention is Priya and the idea of playing her loved up boyfriend for the next few days. Honestly, she’s on my mind most of the time anyway and I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing than doting on her for a night.

And if, along the way, I happen to make a few of those self-important assholes jealous? Even better. They deserve it after cutting Fallon from their roster and shipping him off to the fucking NFL Europe like he was nothing more than an afterthought.I didn’t even know they had an NFL in Europe.

Last night, Priya and I spent hours texting back and forth crafting a backstory for our relationship. Well, she did. I mostly just agreed with whatever will make her feel better. In my opinion, there’s nothing hard to believe about me seeing a woman like her… brilliant, confident, sexy as hell, and deciding I was all in.

There are no elaborate explanations needed as far as I’m concerned. Any man in America lucky enough to spend this much time with her would understand. The old me would’ve tried to sleep with her by now. It’s not like I haven’t imagined itin the shower every day since we met. But I’m changing my ways and that means ignoring my inclinations and being an actual friend to her, not the kind with extra benefits.

Priya’s car pulls up outside my house, right on cue. She insisted that our story had to start with us arriving together, for authenticity’s sake. I rush out the door to meet her. Word on the ranch is that Choke is out and about again this morning. The last thing I need is that damn bird going after her before we even get started.

The second the car door swings open and she steps out, my heart stutters in my chest.Holy. Shit.She looks like herself, only, not. Her hair is long but bigger somehow and her eyes sparkle. There are cowboy boots on her feet. Best of all, the buttoned up shirt is gone.

Priya’s got on a simple black t-shirt. It’s refreshing and tight enough for me to realize her tits are a whole lot bigger than I’d imagined. She’s wearing some kind of bootcut jeans with stitching on the back pockets. They look like they were painted on her body and I take in every curve.

Not acting like a horny creep while we pretend to be in love just got a whole lot more difficult.

“Wow,” I breathe.

Her brows pinch together, and she smooths a hand over her hair like she’s expecting bad news. “What? I don’t look like I’m here to work. This is too casual. I went for a real Sandra D moment here but I missed the mark?—”

“What? No. Who the hell is Sandra? You didn’t miss a single beat. This is, whew…” I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head as I close the distance between us. “You look hot as hell.”

A flash of something, maybe pleasure, maybe embarrassment, flickers in her eyes. But the ghost of a smile plays on her lips as she waves me away. “Stop it.”

I don’t. Instead, I grab her hand and spin her, my other palm grazing the curve of her hip. “Let me see the back. Damn. Damn. This is the new look, you don’t need the buttons and the loafers. I like this.”Maybe too much.

“Thank you, but let’s just get started. I’m so nervous I think I’m gonna crawl out of my skin. I hope it’s convincing.”

“Listen, all of this is just for fun and I’ve got you.” A slow smirk tugs at my lips as I imagine spending the next two days as the man in her life. It suits me.

Priya bites back a smile as I slip an arm around her waist, guiding her away from her car and toward my truck. There’s an ease to it that catches me off guard. I don’t expect the way she fits against me and it feels good.

We turn just in time for Choke to come flapping around the corner, all posturing and attitude. I step toward him once, and the stupid rooster scurries off with his tail tucked.Bully.

Shaking my head, I keep walking. But when I glance back, Priya hasn’t moved. She’s still rooted to the same spot, her expression unreadable.

“He’s not coming back,” I call over to her. “We’re good.”

She steps forward but doesn’t quite meet my eyes. “It’s not Choke. I mean, he’s annoying, but no, it’s not that.” She hesitates, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just think we should… practice. You know, so it looks natural. Believable. You know they’ve already been talking about me on that local podcast. It’s giving me real flashbacks of the media circus of the last year and it’s freaking me out. I need to make sure people believe this.”

I pause, studying her. “I don’t give a shit about some local trash podcast. But what do you need? I don’t know what you want to practice. I’ve got all the notes you gave me last night ready…”

She exhales, glancing up at me. “We’re supposed to be madly in love, right? So I can’t hesitate if you touch me. Or… if you were to kiss me.”

Her words are careful, almost uncertain, but I don’t need to be told twice. Without thinking, I close the space between us, wrapping her in a massive hug. At first, she’s stiff, but then, Priya’s body melts into mine.

---