Page 78 of Riding the High

“My father will be so happy with you as another political ally in his pocket,” she rambles on. “Cole, having you in his corner is, for lack of a better saying, my father’s fucking dream come true. If this all blows up in our face and he somehow finds out the truth, I’ll never hear the end of—”

I dip my head down to seal her lips with mine. I’ve heardenough. She’s worrying for nothing. And if she isn’t careful about mentioning babies again,ourbabies, I might just try to put one in her.

“You think I look hot in a towel?” I ask as I release her lips.

She laughs finally.

“There’s my girl,” I praise.

“You would hearthatout of everything I just said.”

“Because you’re worried for nothing. We’ve got this,” I tell her. Hovering over her is starting to get the better of me. I slide my hand down over her flimsy linen shorts.

“Reality check? We’ve always been good at being friends, and we both know whatever is going on with us, this marriage isn’t serious or … real,” she says.

A week ago, maybe two, I would’ve been able to withstand those words, but today they hit me right in the gut. Because the way I’m looking at Ginger right now makes everything between us feelveryreal and not in the least bit platonic. I swallow down the sucker punch she just delivered in typical Ginger fashion and keep my thoughts to myself. Instead, I dip my head down and line her soft shoulders with my kisses while taking her hand and placing it on my chest. My heart beats faster just having her beneath me.

“Feel this?” I ask her. She nods so I kiss her again. “It’s all for you, Vixen.”

I slide my hand down over the flat of her stomach, circling the top of her shorts and dipping my hand below the waistband. The lace of her panties is the only barrier between me and what I want, but I take my time. Just to torment her. I purposely skim over the heat I feel already waiting for me. My cock is hard and pressing into her leg through my jeans. When she feels it, her eyes meet mine.

“Yeah, that’s all for you too,” I mutter.

She moans and her eyes flutter closed. I trace her innerthigh, and when I get to the apex, I start down the other leg. She whines in frustration, and I chuckle against her skin.

“I definitely like you a little frustrated,” I whisper as she tries to angle her hips up to force my fingers against her needy clit. She lets out a long breath as I search for the evidence of her need. I skim my finger over the lace of her thong and find her soaked and desperate, just how I like her.

“Please, Cole,” she begs. “Touch me.”

I lick her bottom lip and suck it into my mouth, pressing the pad of my middle finger onto her clit through her panties and she cries softly into my mouth. “Please …”

“Fuck, I love watching this pretty mouth beg,” I tell her.

“Why is …” she starts as I skim her clit again. “Why does it turn me on so much when you talk to me like that?”

“Like what?” I ask as I pinch her swollen bundle of nerves. The lace is so thin I can almost feel her skin. My mouth waters at the thought of her against my lips.

“The swearing. The dirty words I …fuck, I don’t understand why I like it so much,” she groans as I pull her earlobe into my mouth.

“Hmmm … seems we all want answers to questions, Ginger.” I lick the expanse of her sweet skin at her collarbone. “Like, for instance, why you keep insisting that we’rejustfriends …”

“We are friends, Cole.”

I chuckle at her attempt to convince herself.

“Right … we are … so that must be why I catch you looking at me when you think I don’t notice?”

I’ll play her game.

She doesn’t miss a beat.

“Must be …”

“Mmmhmm …” I mutter into her neck. “Except, you know what you’re doing almost every time I catch you?” I add somepressure to her clit with my middle finger, and she squeezes her thighs.

“What?” she whimpers.

“Licking your lips, Vixen.”

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