Page 88 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part One

I’m here for it.

“I’m terrified that when you discover the real me, you’re going to leave,” he whispers, his eyes closed as his thumb kneads my cheek.

“Then don’t prolong it. Tell me the real you.”

He cups my cheeks, bringing our foreheads together. His breath is minty—sweet—as it fans my lips. Frustration fills me up.

What the hell does he mean by that? Why does his self loathing run so deep? I wish he could see his worth, wish I could be the one to make him see that. I’m not the poster child for loving one’s self, it’s always a work in progress, always, but it helps to try. Seeing him happy is my primary goal. He deserves it, regardless of how bad he thinks he is. There is nothing he could tell me that could turn me away from him at this point. It’s not like he is a cold-blooded killer. I can’t see that in him. Drug dealer, sure, killer? No.

Am I moving too fast? Yeah, probably, but I can’t help it. My heart wants what it wants, and it wants Riggs.

“Tomorrow. I’ll tell you tomorrow, Outlaw. Tonight, can I please take you to your room and explore you?” By this point, our noses are touching, our breath mixing.

I let out a long sigh and clench my thighs shut. He doesn’t want to fuck me, doesn’t want to bend me over and make me submit. He wants to explore me.

No one’s ever explored me before and I like the sound of it.

I push all my worries aside and lean into him, giving him the length of my body to hold. He pulls a clip from my hair and it cascades over my shoulders, landing in ringlets along my back. Threading his fingers through my hair, he teases me with light, tickling scratches on my scalp. Goosebumps fan out over my body, covering every inch of my skin.

“One problem, sir. Parents. They would never go for you in my room.” I say breathlessly, our mouths only inches apart. He touches his lips to mine, tentative and light. So much emotion comes out of that one tiny kiss. I can feel it radiating from him, everything he wants to say.

He will with time.

“Right,” he says after pulling his lips from mine. “Can I take you back to my place?”

“Let me text Foxy to get her to cover for me and I’ll follow you there.”

He frowns. “I want you on the back of my bike.”

“I know and I want to be, but it won’t make sense for my Jeep to still be here.” He nods and watches his fingers trace over the lines of my face as if he is seeing me for the first time. Or he’s probably just trying to accept that he wants to be with me and I him. There isn’t a damn thing either of us can do about it.

“Okay,” he concedes, releasing a deep breath. I nuzzle my nose to his, not ready to be without him for even a second. “You pack a bag for the night and I’ll meet you at the outer gates.”

Reluctantly, I back away. We trail our fingers down each other’s arms with a promise. A promise to never let go. This action resonates with me and with the way he’s looking at me, like I placed each of the stars in the sky, I know he means it this time.

“I’ll see you soon,” I say back to him as we separate, taking our last glances at the other for the next little while.

“And Outlaw?”

“Yeah?”

“Ditch the bracelet. I don’t want to think of another man when I take what’s mine tonight.” I smile down at my charm bracelet that Brett bought and placed on me. It’s so pretty I don’t want to take it off. But tonight, I’ll give him this one caveman act because he’s so sexy, being all possessive. After that, he’ll have to get over it. It’s too gorgeous to sit in a box and not be seen.

“You got it, Jester. At least for tonight.” His chuckle is distant, but I can hear it in the clear night air.

Riggs drives away on his bike, the exhaust screams loud down the quiet streets of my neighborhood. I’d say it’s out of place, but he’s often visiting Jensen, who has a few similar to it, so it’s not uncommon. I send a quick text out to Foxy asking her to cover for me, then jump in my SUV with my bag in tow and meet Riggs at the gates. My phone chimes and before we pull out of the neighborhood, I check it with a laugh that tumbles straight from my belly.

Foxy: Charley’s getting DICKED TONIGHT!

CHAPTER41

RIGGS

I stalkacross the parking lot like a fucking predator ready to devour my prey. I’ve had a hard-on since I sat on my bike, knowing damn well what was going to happen when we got to my complex.

Charley zips her top into place, then bends over the front seat to grab her bag from the passenger.

Fuck, I need her now, in my arms, her body trembling for me. I need to be buried in her while she comes alive. I want to see that smile, those dreamy hazel eyes—hazel gemstones.

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