Page 6 of Built for Dreams

“How’d you get this so fast?” I asked as I took a seat and pulled the bag and mug toward me. The food smelled heavenly. “And this early?” It was only a little after ten in the morning, and I was pulling a burger and fries out of the bag.

“Harlan was in town buying groceries. He dropped that by here for me on his way through. And I called in a favor to one of the managers to get that made.”

I arched a brow at him, feeling just a teensy bit jealous, even though I had no right to be. “A favor?”

Looking away from his laptop, he smirked at me. “The manager is a guy, sweetheart, and I can assure you, I’m not gay. Tried it just to make sure when I was eighteen.”

I gaped at him. He chuckled and hooked his index finger under my jaw, closing my mouth. “Eat your food, sweetheart. I need to get through this accounting shit.”

“You know numbers?” I asked as I dug into my fries.

He nodded. “Numbers make sense to me, so Adler has me handle the books.” He tapped the table. “Focus on eating. I want to take you for a ride on my bike after this.”

I bit back a smile. He was getting under my skin so effortlessly. Against him, all of my defenses went weak. Nonexistent. “I’ve never ridden a motorcycle.”

He smiled at me then, and fuck, his smile took my breath away. The way it reached his blue eyes and made them light up… Nothing in this world could ever compare.

“Then let me have the honor of breaking your motorcycle virginity.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. He chuckled and focused back on his computer. Sitting there with him… It felt right.

Hefelt right.

My heart was in so much danger.

five

Selma

Ridingon the back of Remi’s bike was the most freeing thing I’d ever done in my life. I thought separating from my abusive, drug-riddled parents and getting out on my own was. I’d thought that for so long. But feeling the wind in my hair, watching everything pass me by without the barrier of a windshield or car window, was the best thing I’d experienced in my life thus far.

“Holy shit, that wasamazing,” I breathed as I slid off the back of Remi’s bike. I fumbled with the strap on my helmet until he gently brushed my hands aside and undid the strap for me. I tugged the helmet off my head and handed it over to him, a wide smile pulling at my lips. “Thank you.”

He shrugged, but his own eyes were bright, revealing his own happiness. “I like having you on the back of my bike.” The way he said it—his eyes all warm, his smile a little crooked, his voice low—Christ, it did something to my insides.

My words lodged in my throat. I didn’t know what to say. There was so much Iwantedto say, but I couldn’t get my lips to move. Not when he looked at me like that.

Remi backed me against my car, his hands finding purchase on my waist. My breath hitched in my throat, and my fingers twisted into his cut, bunching the leather in my fists. He leaned in, his lips hovering just above mine. My tongue flicked out, licking over my trembling bottom lip. I so desperately wanted to know what he tasted like, what his lips would feel like against mine.

Somewhere between yesterday and when I woke up this morning, we’d done a complete one-eighty, and I didn’t even care how it happened. All I knew was that I craved him. Craved the sweet, gentle guy that had revealed himself to me.

“There’s something about you,” Remi rasped, his breath fanning my lips, minty from the gum he’d been chewing while driving.

“Yeah?” I asked softly, tugging him a little closer. He grunted when his hard, clothed cock pressed against my belly. I shivered. “Show me then,” I dared him, feeling a hell of a lot braver than I normally would. Than I ever had in my life.

Remi was younger than me; last night, the club wives had revealed he was the baby of the club at just twenty-seven. That made him six years younger than me. This man also had a hell of lot more going for himself than I did. He was part-owner of a successful construction business, and it had been made clear earlier while he’d been working on the books that he was smart as hell and had his shit together.

I had nothing to offer him. Not realistically. But that didn’t stop me from wishing and hoping.

His lips met mine softly. Just a brush of lips at first. But then he groaned, and he kissed me again, this time a bit harder. Our lips moved fluidly, like we’d been doing this together all our lives. A soft moan crawled up my throat, and I parted my lips beneath his, letting his tongue delve into my waiting mouth.

“Remi…” I panted when he pulled back for a moment.

“I know,” he growled.

He dove back in, pressing my back further against the car. Every inch of the front of his body was pressed against me. I could feel how badly he needed me. My nipples were threatening to rip through my shirt, and I was pretty sure if he slid his hand into the sweats I was wearing, he would find me drenched and desperate for him to fill me.

I’d never reacted so strongly to anyone in my life, but Remi had me ready to throw caution to the wind. I was seconds away from pleading for him to fuck me against my car where everyone could see.

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