Page 20 of Avoiding Temptation
My chest heaves as I try to drag in some much-needed oxygen and pull myself together. If they’ve come for me, I need to prepare for what happens next.
I’m busy mentally building the walls back up that had started to crumble last night when the passenger window opens.
“You fucking getting in or not?”
It takes me a couple of seconds to figure out who it is. The voice is so familiar, and the deep timbre to it has tingles erupting within me, but the sight is anything but what I’m used to.
He’s dirty—disgusting actually—but he’s never looked better.
My muscles still refuse to move as I stare at his messy hair flopping down onto his forehead, the dark smears covering his face from a long, hard day at work, and the dirty, ripped white t-shirt stretched across this wide chest.
I’m in trouble.
“Do I need to come and put you inside myself?” Although the prospect of that happening has fire racing through my veins, I manage to force my legs to work and take a step towards him.
“No, it’s okay,” I whisper, but with the sound of the rain hitting the pavement and the hustle and bustle of London in the background, there’s no way he hears me.
“Hey,” he says when I drop down onto his passenger seat and wipe the rain from my face.
“Hey.” I risk a look up at him, and my breath catches in my throat. “Whoa,” I breathe. If I thought he looked good from a distance, it’s nothing compared to him close-up with his scent filling my nose.
“What?” he asks with a chuckle. “Dirty workmen your thing?”
“Apparently so.” The words aren’t meant to be said aloud, but it’s too late now. His eyes darken and drop down to my lips for a beat. My cheeks heat and my thighs clench.
“And here I was thinking women wanted knights in shining armour.”
“Nah, a dirty guy in a work van is good for me.” I slam my lips shut, praying that I can put an end to the things that seem to be falling from my mouth.
Glancing at him out of the corner of my eye as I buckle up, I find a sexy smirk playing on his lips. Damn him for knowing how sexy he is.
My eyes slowly travel up his exposed arm, taking in all his ink and wondering what the story behind each one is as he pulls away and back into the Friday night rush hour traffic.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, focusing on where he’s going and ignoring my attention.
Hot. “I’m okay. I had a little cat nap in the office this afternoon. You?”
“Much better now I’ve seen you.”
I chuckle. “You always this smooth?”
“Always,” he confirms. “So no nightmare students to deal with today?”
“Nope. I’ve only got one. He’s in my Thursday night class. Sits at the back with a smirk on his face and feet up on the desk like he owns the place.”
“Sounds like a nightmare.”
“You’ve no idea. He drives me crazy.”
I don’t need to look over to know that he’s smiling. I can feel the amusement coming off him in waves. It’s almost as strong as the desire coursing through my veins.
Silence fills the small cab of his van until the tension and crackling chemistry between us almost hits breaking point.
I really need to stay away from this man.
“So...was last night everything you hoped it would be?”
I want to tell him that it was that and so much more, but I also don’t want him to know just how much it meant to me. I’ve already shown too much of myself to him. “Yeah, it was good.”
