Before I could stop myself, I caught her by the arm, stopping her in her tracks. A jolt of electricity burst up my arm and traveled straight to my dick. By the look on her face, I could see that she had felt it too.
Pulling her into me, I pressed my body flush against hers, my front to her back. Relishing in the closeness, I slowly slid my hand up her arm to the base of her throat. The scent of her shampoo, fragrant flowers and coconut, floated above me and made me dizzy with lust. I felt myself harden and pressed into her more, letting her see for herself the effect she had on me.
We both stood immobile, the rhythm of our rising chests moving in unison as I trailed my thumb along her collarbone and moved my fingers to lightly wrap around her neck. Silence in the woods surrounded us, the only sound coming from the heavy breaths escaping our lungs. I could hold her like this forever; the feeling of my hand around her neck and her ass against me was a temptation that clouded my mind.
She shuddered and leaned against me more as I ran my nose along the edge of her ear.
“Elle…” My hand snaked further up her neck and to her chin. The raw desire to tilt her head and capture her lips was as essential as air. She exhaled as I began turning her head to me, and she finally melted into me. My lips hovered above hers as I waited for her silent permission—for her to close the final gap.
“Ryder, I—” she began, but was interrupted when my phone vibrated in my pocket, the sudden vibration causing me to release my grasp on her. Groaning, I reached into my pocket to silence the phone, but that was all that it took for Elle to run.
I should have chased her, but instead I stood there watching her go as the warmth of her body drifted, leaving me cold.
* * *
When I finally made an appearance inAuto, no one had even noticed that I had been gone. The sounds of tools tinkering with the various parts that had been extracted from old cars echoed through the garage, and the smell of oil assaulted my senses. Tommy sat under a hanging mechanic light, zoned in on his phone. Slipping onto the stool next to him, I forcefully grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and brought him closer to my face.
“Whatever happened to ‘bros before hoes,’” I asked, jolting him back as I released my hold. He knew I wasn’t actually pissed at him, but the snake ratted me out to Lily.
“Ow, man! C’mon.”
“You’re lucky my fist didn’t just connect to your nose. You’re supposed to cover for me, not rat me out.”
“Dude, she saw you leave and was freaking out. You know how she gets. What was I supposed to do? Lie?” A touch of smugness was in his voice.
“YES,” I roared. “That is exactly what you’re supposed to do.”
It suddenly became clear to me that he had now set his sights on Lily. It all made sense. This guy, I swear. If he stopped thinking with his dick for once, he might actually be a worthy friend.
He rubbed the back of his neck, opened and closed his mouth a few times, obviously stalling as he fumbled over his next words.
My body shook with pent up tension and anger as I stood and walked to where I had dropped my backpack. Reaching down to grab it, I tossed it over my shoulder and walked out of the shop before I lost my temper. I’d deal with Tommy later, but right now I was preoccupied with two feelings: anger and lust. Heading left out of Auto Shop, I took the shortcut down to the student parking lot and slid onto the worn-down bench seat in my beat up red Tacoma. With the doors closed and the engine purring, I felt like I could let out the breath that I had been holding. My eyes focused on a thread hanging from the seam of the cracked leather and my mind wandered to back to Elle.
Why had she run like Cinder-fucking-rella at the first opportunity?
I punched my steering wheel and sank further into the seat.
Fuck.
Had I been wrong about her? No, there was no way I had been wrong.
I felt the way her body reacted to my touch; I could see it. Just like I could see her. There was no more of her hiding from me, and the sooner I could break up with Lily and lose the noose around my neck, the sooner I could show Elle that she was mine.
A devious smile spread across my face as I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, letting the music drown out all of my thoughts.