Page 29 of Coulda

Rio’s hands cupped her bottom, raising her body slightly to change the angle of his entrance. Gasping at the feeling, Amber wrapped her free hand around his powerful forearm as she moved to meet his strokes. Unable to delay her climax, she shattered around him.

With a shout that scared birds from their perches, Rio allowed himself to come as he plunged into her, drawing every bit of ecstasy from their bodies. When he finished, Rio rolled to his side and pulled her close to him. After adroitly taking care of the condom, he nestled a heartbeat away from Amber.

She closed her eyes and simply listened to his heartbeat. They were finally together.

CHAPTER11

When they’d roused to dress, Amber stayed close to the magnetic man who had tantalized her body and mind. She watched him tie his socks around a low-hanging branch of a nearby tree. The bright red of the cotton stood out vividly.

“There. Now I can find this exact spot again. Come look at the house plans,” he invited, holding out his hand for hers.

“You’ve got them here?” she asked, linking her fingers with his.

“No. They’re at the condo I’ve rented.”

Intrigued, Amber squeezed his hand. “Let’s go.”

“That’s my girl.”

Slowly, they folded up the beautiful quilt and ambled back to the motorcycle, enjoying the intimacy that lingered. She didn’t think she’d ever felt closer to anyone. Squeezing his hand, she bumped into his broad shoulder, unable to tell him exactly how she felt.

“Same.”

Surprised by his answer, she met his gaze and repeated, “Same?”

“I can’t know exactly what’s going around in your mind and heart, but I can guarantee that you have rocked my world and I’ll never let you go now.”

“Okay,” she whispered in awe of his openness and commitment to her.

When they reached the motorcycle, Amber stood still as he helped her don the helmet and fasten it into place. Admiring the powerful machine as she waited for him to get ready to leave, she noticed something in the paint. She leaned closer to make out the script letters. ADL.

“Adult dreams for life,” she recited, remembering what he’d told her before. He’d had these initials on the battered bike he’d ridden twenty years ago.

“That’s not really what it stands for, Amber,” he admitted with a rueful smile.

“So, what is ADL really?”

“Amber De Leon.”

“Amber… De Leon?”

“I’ve had that on every bike I’ve owned, Little girl.”

She stared at him wordlessly. Her heart had remained shattered for a long time after she’d headed out of town for college. In the beginning, thoughts of him filled her every waking moment. That had faded over time to frequent memories and a jarring hope at the sight of a stranger in a crowd who looked a bit like Rio. Amber had never forgotten him, either.

Mechanically, she swung her leg over the bike after he settled into place. Emotionally overwhelmed, she welcomed a moment of privacy to wrangle herself under control as they set off to return to town. Amber pressed her cheek against his back and clung to his hard frame.

When Rio covered her hands with one of his, she knew he understood how she felt. Rio had always sensed her feelings. Regardless of any front she put on to fool the world, he got her.

Reaching town, he returned his hand to the handlebar to maneuver safely through the traffic. He drove into a new section of town that Amber had never visited and stopped at a guard shack that controlled the entrance to an exclusive neighborhood.

“Hi, Rio,” the older man greeted them as he waved from the small building.

“Hi, Charlie. This is Amber Murphy. She’s the other name on my account and will need access.”

“Hi, Amber. When you drive in for the first time, I’ll get your car make and model with your license plate to complete your registration. Then you can just wave at us as you come in and out.”

“Thanks, Charlie,” Amber said smoothly, wiggling her fingers against Rio’s waist to signal she had questions.

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