Page 39 of Hard Ride

Ollie knew her well enough to know the answer before she confirmed it.“That.I didn’t want him to feel weird about what we did.I hoped he’d see it wouldn’t make life on the tour bus awkward, or worse, cost him his career.”

“I know you meant well, but when you don’t encourage him, he feels like he can’t tell you what’s on his mind because he doesn’t realize you’d welcome the way he’s thinking about you.He’s trying to be respectful and feeling guilty when he’s not in the strictest sense of the word.”Ollie smiled when Van agreed.“And the reason I know that, is because for a hot minute I was doing that around you too.You might not realize it, but you have an almost instinctual habit of putting guys firmly in the friend zone.That can really screw with your head when you want someone but you also care about not ruining your relationship outside of bed.”

“Damn.I didn’t know you were so smart.”Van drew Kyra’s attention back to him.“That’s exactly what was happening.”

Ollie didn’t let him gloat for long.“Then believe me when I say that what you’re doing can’t continue.She’s losing faith in you and your connection.Worse, I think it’s damaging her own self-esteem.And I won’t let you do that to her anymore.”

Kyra grimaced.“Thank you.”She put her hand on his thigh and squeezed.

“I’m sorry, Kyra.Honestly.I didn’t realize…” Van reached out and took her free hand, enveloping it in his.“You’re amazing, beautiful, talented, and my best friend.I thought you knew that.And I swear I won’t let another day go by without making sure you understand how much I care for you.”

“Kiss me to seal the deal?”Kyra asked, although Ollie knew it cost her.

“Right now?With Ollie here?”

“Never mind.”She looked out the window again, refusing to insist.

Ollie slapped his hand on the horn even though there were no other vehicles to honk at.“You two!You’re both so damn stubborn.”

Van groaned as if he realized what he’d done.They were going right back to their old ways.

Or would have if Ollie wasn’t there to short-circuit their dysfunctional patterns.

With a curse beneath his breath, Van unbuckled himself, then leaned forward and slanted his mouth over Kyra’s.For a moment, Ollie was in danger of crashing the van—no help from fans without boundaries needed.

He sped up as he recalculated how much time it would take before they could be settled in at their overnight stop.Too long.

Kyra stretched her neck upward, reminding him of how she’d looked when they’d strained together.His cock was instantly hard as he watched Van elicit a similar response.She was so damn sexy it made him ache, and observing Van bring that side of her out turned him on even more.

Did she like to be touched that roughly, or did she prefer his suave style?

Maybe she needed both.

Ollie returned his attention to the road as they broke apart, their uneven breaths evident in the tight quarters of the van.

“In case there was any doubt,” Van said, his voice raspier than usual, “I loved kissing you.Just now and the other day and that one time a year ago.I want to do it again.A lot.As soon as we’re somewhere sheltered for the night.”

“Oh.”Kyra smiled, her cheeks pink in the late afternoon sun.“Me too.”

Then she turned to Ollie and said, “Drive faster.I want to say thank you for making us do that properly.”

It was nearly two hours before they rolled up at the campsite she’d located, booked a spot, and found the place among the long shadows of the rustic facility.The moment Ollie stood and stretched, Kyra was on him, tugging him down for a taste of her lips and the grape lip-gloss she had on.

He wouldn’t even mind a few stray sparkles.

Ollie dipped in for one last peck after she separated them, then prepared himself for the bite of the wind picking up outside.He’d need it to settle his cock, which definitely did not approve of that plan.

“Do you still have my gloves?”Ollie asked Kyra.

She looked around and then said, “Oh, I think I stuck them in here so they wouldn’t fly around while we were on the road.”

Ollie’s heart stuttered when she opened the drawer that was empty except for one other thing besides his gloves.His prized possession.

“What’s this?”Kyra held up his present.

Ollie took it carefully from her fingers, tucked it back into the drawer it lived in, then shut it firmly.“I’ll tell you about it some other time.I’m going to get us hooked up to the electricity main so we can turn on the heat.”

“I can think of better ways to warm up,” Kyra pouted, though whether about his unwillingness to share with them like she and Van had with each other, or because talking had primed her for something more intense with one or both of them, he wasn’t sure.

Van steered Ollie out the door.“Let’s go.I’ll give you a hand.”

He figured that was guy code forI need to talk to you, and he couldn’t agree more.They had to get their shit together before they spent the night crammed in his bed.Without a plan, who knew what might happen.

Ollie cared too much about Kyra—and, fine, Van too—to destroy what they were trying to build.

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