Page 31 of Three Minutes
“Do you want the usual?” She lightly taps her chin with her fingernail, pretending to think.
“Hmm, no. Let’s do a shot. Callie loves tequila—” She gestures toward Callie and pauses for a moment. We share a quiet moment, watching Callie and Blake leaning over the bar. Blake is whispering something in her ear, and she giggles, covering her mouth.Well, that didn’t take long at all.Not that I’m surprised. Blake has that charm that draws women in. He knows how to work his magic with words and easily approaches girls he likes. I’m more reserved and tend to keep to myself, and I’m pretty sure others sense a dark cloud hanging over me when they come near.
I turn my attention back to Raina, observing the way she smiles at her friend and Blake. I remember the first time I saw her walk into this bar, how I felt immediately drawn to her, as if we were linked in some inexplicable way. Despite my efforts to push it away, whatever she stirs inside of me, I somehow find myself wanting to be near her all the time. I glance at Blake, noticing how Callie’s face brightens just by talking to him. ThenI think of Raina and how she looks at me. Her green eyes seem to search mine, and when she smiles at me, there’s never a hint of judgment. She’s bursting with life, even as she grapples with her own challenges. And then there’s me—a mere shadow of a man, weighed down by anger and loss. I can’t help but wonder how we’ve come this far. What draws her to me? Why does she even acknowledge my existence?
“What are you thinking about?” Raina asks, pulling me from my thoughts. I quickly grab a bottle of 1800 tequila and two shot glasses from the shelf.
Turning back to her, I say, “Nothing.” She sighs through her nose, clearly skeptical but choosing to let it go for now. I know she’ll have questions later. I slide the shot glasses in front of them, catching Callie’s attention. She and Raina clink their glasses together before downing their shots. As Raina swallows, her little nose scrunches up.
“Can we have another?” Callie utters. Glancing back at Raina, I see her nodding, raising a finger to signal for one more round. I refill their glasses with more tequila.
“That was awful,” Raina groans. Callie chuckles, grabs her second shot, and downs it with a straight face. She turns to Raina, teasingly motioning for her to do the same. Raina takes a deep breath, slowly picking up her shot glass. Pinching her nose this time, she brings it to her lips. I can’t help but grin. She’s adorable, even in the smallest of moments.
“So, how did two hot-ass guys end up as best friends running a bar together?” Callie bursts out, glancing back and forth between Blake and me. Raina nudges Callie’s shoulder, rolling her eyes. “What? I’m just curious!” Blake, being the storyteller he is, jumps in to explain how we first met, adding his own colorful touch to make the story more entertaining. Just then, I hear the double doors swing open as Beck steps back out, positioning herself between Blake and me. Callie, unable to contain herself,interrupts Blake, her eyes darting between the twins. “No way…you two are twins?” In perfect sync, they glance at one another, mimicking each other’s movements without even realizing it. Raina giggles beside Callie, resting her head in her hands and shaking it slowly. While the twins have Callie’s attention, I find it impossible to look away from Raina. There’s an undeniable pull towards her, and the more I’m around her, the harder it becomes to maintain my distance. She’s just mere feet away now, and I feel a strong urge to reach across the counter, pull her close, and breathe her in.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her soothing voice cuts through the bar’s loud noises. I blink hard to clear my vision. She leans in, resting her chin on her palm, and blinks slowly at me. My eyes wander down to her chest, where the low-cut dress she’s wearing tonight offers a glimpse of what typically remains hidden. She’s usually quite modest, so these little teases burn a whirlwind of thoughts in my mind. I can easily tell she’s not wearing a bra. “Are you going to answer my question, or just continue eye-fucking me?” Her sudden remark jolts me. I meet her striking green gaze, her blinks deliberate and slow. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s slightly buzzed. The way those words slipped off her tongue is too smooth to be accidental.
I lean against the bar counter, bringing my mouth close to her ear. Her index finger lightly brushes against her bottom lip, and I’m caught up in the sweet scent of her perfume, a reminder of how intimately close our space is right now. I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath of her fragrance before breathing it out slowly. When I open them back, I notice small goosebumps skimming along the side of her neck. I bite down hard on my lip, fighting the urge to lean in even closer. “Isn’t it obvious, Raina?” I whisper into her ear. She stays silent, absorbing my words. My gaze is drawn to the rapid pulse throbbing at her neck, and the urge to kiss and bite that spot intensifies. I raise my left hand,gently twirling my finger around the small curl resting by her ear. “You drive me absolutely insane.”
I look up, catching her mouth parting slightly before she bites down on her bottom lip to hold back a response. Our eyes lock, breaths mingling as our mouths hover just inches apart. She licks her lips, her gaze drifting to my mouth. “Show me,” she breathes, peering up at me through her thick lashes.Dangerous words, Raina.
“Get a room, for fuck’s sake,” Blake jokes beside me, and I can feel my shoulders tense as I instinctively step back. I shoot him a look that clearly says his joke is annoying me. Turning my attention back to Raina, I see her wearing a lazy smile while Callie leans in to whisper something in her ear. As I scan the room, I notice that Beck has left the bar; I soon find her sitting on the couch with Jenson, both of them laughing about something. I can’t help but observe how Jenson gazes at her with such admiration. It’s a look I know all too well—he’s falling for her. For a brief moment, I feel a pang of jealousy. Not because of what they’re becoming, but because of my own past with Beck and where it ultimately led us. I once thought we were destined to be together, but I’ve realized that we weren’t. It was a lesson for both of us about what love is and can be. The love we have will always be there between us, we were just never meant to be anything more than best friends. And I’m okay with that. I think she is, too, at this point. Beck glances up at me, and our eyes meet for a short moment. She smiles, and I can’t help but smile back and nod in acknowledgement.
I take a deep breath, bringing my focus back to Raina. I’m watching her, Blake, and Callie engage in easy conversation. It’s clear they’re getting along well, which I find reassuring. Eventually, Raina meets my gaze, and I gesture toward the double doors, signaling that it’s time for us to head out. We exchange our goodbyes, and Callie decides to stick around foranother night so she and Blake can spend some time together after the bar closes. Blake’s excitement is hard to miss as they make plans. Raina and I step outside, both shaking our heads in amusement.
Chapter Twenty-Four
We pull down my long gravel driveway leading to the cabin. It’s a chilly night, and I feel terrible that Raina had to ride on the bike in a dress with no jacket to offer her. She didn’t seem to mind it, though. She was in awe the entire ride up the mountain. The night sky is clear with bright stars, and there are many clear spots where you can see the sky over the mountains. I was once a kid mesmerized by the scenic drive when I’d come spend the day with Jesse here. Over time, you grow accustomed to it just like anything else, but I still admire the view. I park the bike in its usual spot. Raina climbs off from the back, pulling off my helmet that’s too large for her small frame. I hang it on the bike handle, cross my arms, and look up at the sky.
Raina moves to stand beside me. “It’s so beautiful out here,” she says, rubbing her arms and looking up at the sky. I lean back on my bike and glance up at the moon; it’s almost full tonight. Everything’s so out in the open here, it looks like the whole sky is right above us. My gaze falls back on her as she smiles, looking up. The moon’s luminous light gleams down on her. She almost looks like she’s glowing. She’s so beautiful underneath the stars. My eyes stay glued to her.
“Yeah…it really is,” I mumble, agreeing to her comment…but really referring to her. She looks down at me, tilting her head. She chews on the inside of her lip, kicking her boot into thegravel. “What’s wrong?” I ask. She smiles only for a moment before walking toward me. She quickly slings her leg over the bike in front of me, facing me. “Raina, what are you doing?” I press, feeling a little confused by her actions.
She leans in closer to me, sliding her hands around my shoulders. I tense a little at her sudden touch. She sucks in her lips, meeting my eyes. “Kiss me.” Her words are soaked in lust. My heart rate picks up as heat travels through my veins. She’s never said anything like this to me. And doing this here, right now, I can only sense it will escalate into something more. Her fingers trail around the back of my neck, and I watch her eyes move down to the right side of my neck. She gently takes her fingers and traces along the scars and tattoos, stopping at the collar of my shirt. My breathing becomes labored from her touch. I’ve never allowed anyone to touch me like this, or my scars. She continues to caress my battered skin, and I feel my control slipping away with each sensual touch she gives.
I bite down hard on my tongue. “Sometimes I lose control when I’m near you,” I breathe out.
She bites her bottom lip, studying me closely. “Maybe I want you to,” she replies smoothly. A groan vibrates through my throat. I reach up, lacing my fingers through her hair, gripping it tightly. I gently tug at her soft strands, tilting her head more to meet my eyes. Leaning down, I bring my lips to her ear, my breath warm against her skin.
“That’s a very dangerous thing to want, Raina.” I hear a gasp fall from her needy lips, my mouth inches from her neck. I grip her hair harder as I kiss and run my tongue along her silky skin. The taste of vanilla fills my mouth as I lavish her neck. She grips around my neck, her fingers tugging on the back of my hair. She moans my name into my ear, causing me to stop. I release her, quickly climbing off the bike.
“What are you doing?” she asks breathlessly. I step backward,running my hand through my hair. My mind is racing with so many thoughts. I can’t think straight. I want her so badly. I want this. But it can only lead to disaster. With the way things have been going, I know what comes next, and I know I won’t be able to stop myself. And then what? I know what sex means to women. And I know what it means to me when Icareabout someone.
“W-we can’t do this, Raina. Let’s go in and see Mango…so I can get you back home.”
Her expression falters as she looks back and forth between my eyes. She straightens up, climbing off the bike to stand in front of me. “Why do this then, Ezra? Why make me believe this is something when it’s clearly not? Do you want to hurt me…is that what you want?” A sharp gasp leaves her lips as she looks up, searching my eyes for answers I want to keep locked away. Her eyes well up, and she bites down on her bottom lip, fighting back determined tears. Fuck, I can’t see her cry. I’ve put us both in this mess.
Frustration swells inside me as I run my fingers through my hair and turn away. For a moment, silence envelops us. Even the night air seems to hold its breath, mirroring my anxious heartbeat. I exhale deeply, knowing I’m about to say something I’ll regret. “Because you make me do stupid things, Raina.” I shut my eyes tightly before turning back to face her. “I’ve tried to keep you at a distance, because clearly this is something…isn’t it?” I step closer, watching as a single tear glides down her cheek. I reach for her chin, catching it with my thumb before it falls. Our eyes remain locked.
“I never wanted to hurt you, can’t you see that? But the closer you get to me, the greater the chance I’ll break your heart.” My voice comes out shaky. “And yes, I wanted to push you away so badly. But every time I thought I had it under control, there I was, losing my grip, wanting to pull you closer and protect you.”Her jaw quivers under my touch. “Let me be clear, Raina. What I want and what’s right are worlds apart. I crave to be selfish. I want to take every part of you and claim it as my own.” I take a moment to breathe, noticing how her tear-filled gaze locks onto mine. It’s not sadness in her eyes, but desire. She wants this just as much as I do. How can I deny her? She’s fucking intoxicating. “Right now, seeing you like this...It’s hard for me not to want to pick you up, bring you inside, and fuck you into submission.”
I draw her closer, leaning down until our foreheads nearly touch. Our heavy breaths tangle in the cool night air. The words I avoid linger on my tongue, caught in the reality of our situation. I close my eyes, biting my lip before looking down at her again. “But what I want can never be. I don’t deserve you.”
She quickly raises her hands, placing them atop mine. Her throat tightens as she responds, “You don’t get to decide that for me, Ezra.” Her green eyes blaze with something fierce. “Maybe you’re right. This is who we are, and it’s inevitable.” She pauses, wrapping her delicate fingers around my palms. “But I don’t care.” Our lips linger, aching to meet. She guides my hands from her face, tracing them down her neck and chest. I watch, hungry, as she glides them along the fabric clinging to her breast and places them at her waist. An explosion of heat ignites within me as her words brand into my scarred skin. “Because right now, all I want is for you to pick me up…take me inside…and fuck me into submission.”
Just as the words leave her lips, something wet hits my face. We both look up; the stars are gone, and the sky is a dark gray. In just seconds, large, scattered raindrops begin to fall. Raina and I look back at one another, mouths parted. Before we can process, an ice-cold downpour hits out of nowhere. The heat building inside me mixes with cold rain, causing a dangerous storm inside my veins. Fuck morals. I need her right now in this fucking rainstorm. Without hesitation, I lean down so ourmouths can clash together. We both moan in unison when our tongues reunite. Seven fucking days I’ve yearned to be this close to her again. Years I’ve waited and gone without, only satisfying my sexual urges at a bare minimum with meaningless connections. Not once have I experienced this with anyone buther. And I can’t fight it any longer.
Our soaked bodies mold together as my hands slide down her curves. I go below her dress, grabbing her bare ass in my hands. I squeeze, pulling her into me. Lightning strikes behind us, just as thunder rattles the mountains. I grip her tighter, lifting her up. She wraps her legs securely around my waist, clamping her hands around my neck. Our mouths stay connected as I carry her to the front door. I reach into my soaked pocket, searching for my keys. After a few minor struggles, I’m able to get the door unlocked and step inside, kicking the door shut with the back of my boot.
