Page 55 of Detour

Head dropped, his answer’s immediate. “Extremely.”

“Nobody gave Beckett permission to do that. And he just talked about you the whole time anyway, so you have nothing to be jealous of. Trust me.”

He doesn’t look up so I grab the mouthpiece of his helmet and lift until our eyes meet.

“Hey.”

Lost in his thoughts, he remains quiet.

I grip the hoodie and his eyes follow the movement. “This means a lot.” Finally, Coty’s gaze reaches mine. “Any asshole lacking manners can interrupt a good sleep. But this, this means so much more than any unwelcome wake-up call ever will.”

I lean in, forgetting I have a helmet covering my face, and bump awkwardly against his. We both laugh at my mistake, breaking the tension from a moment ago. He bends until our helmets are pressed together, face-to-face, and pauses. Our eyes flit between each other’s as we hold the unconventional embrace.

“Don’t be mad,” I whisper.

“I’m not mad. I’m jealous as hell. I want mine to be the first face you see in the morning. Not Beckett’s. Not anyone else’s. Just mine.”

Whoa. Coty didn’t even bother checking the temp of the water before diving straight in, did he?

Unable to respond in an effective, or generally mature manner, I deflect. “You do not want to see me first thing when I wake up. You should be grateful, really. Your friend took one look at me and ran the other way. Seriously, he’ll never make that mistake again.”

His eyes narrow but he smirks anyway. “I doubt that.”

Coty steps back and holds out his hand. I stare at his long, outstretched fingers, debating.

When I meet those chocolate eyes again, he repeats, “I’ll wait.”

Coty is so much more than I could’ve anticipated. He pushes but also pulls. He gives while taking. He knows what I need and offers me what I didn’t realize I wanted. He’s the wild I thought was unattainable. He’s the stability I’ve craved for so long but gave up on. He’s the wrench thrown into my simple plan, but, oh, what a delicious diversion he’s been.

Placing my hand in his, I decide to swim with the current instead of against it for once. Maybe that really is the best way to get back on shore safely.

There’s only one way to find out though.

CHAPTER 21

Angela

Coty’s body feels different. This entire situation feels different. More familiar. More comfortable. Our bodies being better acquainted, feel more at ease against each other. We bend and shift with one another in a private slow dance while driving at dangerous speeds.

Coty’s skills prove impressive again, especially as he maneuvers around every dip and curve with full confidence. It’s erotic. Every now and then he reaches back to rest his hand on my thigh. Almost like he’s checking on me as much as he’s ensuring I’m really there. I relish the times he does.

My body molded to his isn’t enough. I want more—of everything.

Stretched around him has reignited the flame that he lit the other night. The patience I’ve been practicing has run out and in its place is want. Pure, unadulterated want.

I keep my hands planted on the tank while Coty takes us further away from town. Miles off the lit highway, we weave through dark country roads. Just when I start to worry about where he might be taking me, Coty, of course, reaches back to hold my thigh reassuringly even as we fly down a straight path. His touch soothes me. While I haven’t known Coty all that long, I’ve picked up on more than he’s shared, too. I may not be able to trust him with my heart because of my own issues, but I know I can trust him with my body. His father’s unfaithful ways caused Coty to respect women in a way most guys his age can’t even grasp. Or care to. Anytime I’ve asked him to stop, he has. Without question. Without even a moment’s hesitation. I know he wouldn’t make me do anything I don’t want to do which I’ve used as my safety net thus far. Now though, I’m having a hard time caring about the consequences at all.

Speeding through the night while wrapped in an intoxicating mixture of Coty and his motorcycle has me almost bursting out of my own skin. The combination is overstimulating in the best and worst of ways. The next time Coty squeezes my taut thigh, I groan and rest my forehead against his back, pulling in deep breaths. Coty’s warm hoodie does nothing to counteract the goose bumps that’ve broken out across my body. There’s a goddamn current buzzing beneath my skin and Coty’s the one with the switch in his adept hands.

I feel like a caged animal.

“Wrong” by ZAYN filters through the Bluetooth speakers so I try to lose myself in the lyrics instead of my dirty thoughts. Coty’s body tenses but he continues driving with the same precision, clearly not as affected as I am. Thankfully, one of us still has a level head. I’m itching to run my hands all over him and his steadfast restraint. If we were in any other vehicle, I’d have tested his resolve ten times over by now. Maybe. Probably.

We pass a half-open gate, slowing to a crawl, then turn onto a dirt path on an incline. My sole focus on Coty turns to our surroundings. No street signs, no lights, no indication as to where we are, my heart keeps a pace more comparable to our previous speed. We haven’t passed another vehicle for miles and I couldn’t pick this place out on a map in broad daylight. Vast hills line the road on each side, effectively blocking out everything but me and Coty and the brap of his street bike as it effortlessly coasts along the less than desirable terrain.

Minutes pass and suddenly thousands of tiny lights appear in the distance. Drawing closer to the ledge, my breath catches in my throat upon discovering it’s our entire town spread out beneath us like a tiny replica made for our personal enjoyment.

Coty slows to a stop near the edge and kills both the engine and the only noise filling the sultry night air. Neither of us moves for a moment. Hypnotized, I dismount carefully, then spin in a complete circle while taking in the stars above, the looming mountains behind us, and the flat stretch of city below. Making it back to Coty, I find him looking at me with similar awe. He holds out his hands so he can help. I step forward and let him, keeping my eyes on his. Helmets taken care of, Coty looks back to me with an intensity that heats me from the inside out. I don’t step back even as he pulls my body flush with his. I don’t drop my eyes even as he brings his hands up to cup my face. I don’t pull away even as I feel him seducing me with everything he’s got.