Page 75 of Love at First Ride
Was I stupid, to think that AJ Callahan, of all people, would pay me a visit?
I’m thinking about blowing out the rest of the tealights when I hear it. The low rumble of a motorcycle.
I take four oversized steps to my window and peer out, only to see AJ getting off his bike. The sight of him removing his helmet has me in a panic.
Fuck. He’s almost three hours late.
I’m now not dressed.
I’m not wearing any makeup.
I’ve got a belly full of melted ice cream.
When the intercom sounds, I’m so angry at him, I almost think about ignoring it.
Debating whether to throw the dress back on, I settle on watching for him through the spy hole, the beating of my heart pulverizing my ribcage.
I open the door before he even has time to knock. A lazy smile creeps across his face when he sees me, standing in the doorway.
‘Please don’t hate me,’ he says before I can open my mouth. ‘I was headed out the door, then Echo springs a Venom Club rally on me. I told him I had plans; he told me he didn’t give a shit and to sit my ass down.’
At the same time, he’s moved inside my apartment, put down his motorcycle helmet. I close the door and he takes both my hands in his.
‘I’m a piece of shit, I know. Hate on me all you want.’
I should scream at him.What time do you call this?Only right now I’m about as useful as a puddle on the floor. My smile is a little broken.
‘And we really need to exchange phone numbers,’ AJ says.
I laugh softly, then wipe my eyes. ‘We absolutely do.’
He leans in, kisses me long and slow. Liquid heat rushes south. How one man can turn me into a quivering, horny mess is beyond me.
‘Are you all right?’ he asks.
‘I’m fine,’ I squeak, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
‘Only you look like you’ve been crying.’
‘No,’ I lie. ‘I thought for a minute you’d stood me up.’
He tilts his head to one side, reaches up and wipes the damp skin under my right eye with the pad of his thumb. ‘Sorry I’m late,’ he says softly.
‘I’m not mad. I just looked a lot nicer an hour ago. I was thinking about going to bed.’
His lips twitch. ‘Can I come?’
My breath hitches. I can’t look at him. I feel his fingers brush against mine.
‘Whatever you’re comfortable with,’ he adds when I say nothing.
I give a little nod of my head, then say ‘yes’ in a voice that’s barely audible.
We kiss for some time. At the same time, he removes his jacket, and it falls to the floor.
A moment later, I let him take me by the hand. When he enters my room, he takes in the sight of the candles. He leads me to the bed and I lower myself down.
AJ reaches up, pulls his T-shirt over his head. From his jeans’ pocket, he pulls four condom packets, dropping them without a word onto the linen. My stomach clenches, and I fist the sheets below my palms.
