Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Serena

All the angst slides right off his face “You got it, princess. We’ll have coffee, flirt a bit, maybe have some deep and meaningful conversation, and then alchemical kisses for dessert.”

“Technically it was just coffee, flirting, and kisses. You added the conversation part.”

“Of course, I did. Spending time with you is getting to be my new favorite thing. I’ve always thought you were beautiful, intelligent, and had a wonderful sense of humor. Any time I can bask in your beauty and shining personality, I’m going to jump at the chance.”

“Stop now. You’re making me blush.” He wasn’t, because I was used to his over the top flattery by now.

“No seriously, if you don’t stop me, I’ll scoop you up, carry you off to my tower and guard you more jealously than any dragon ever guarded his hoard.”

“Jesus, you sound like someone who played too much Dungeons and Dragons as a child.”

“Is that your way of calling me a geek?” The incredulous look on his face was all kinds of cute.

Smoke was adorable when I teased him. “You’re older than me.”

“That should be an advantage. Older men know things,” he says wryly.

“Now you have me thinking about what a real date with you would be like,” I say as we walk into the coffee shop, place our order, and then grab a seat.

“I’m interested to know what your idea of date between you and I would look like.”

“You’re putting me on the spot right now, aren’t you?”

“We’ve been working together for a few weeks and things have been good between us. Can you blame me for being curious about your interests and boundaries.”

Ahh, he wants to know my hobbies and if he can expect sex if we end up on a date. I think it over for a minute before answering. “I’ve always wanted to take a road trip by motorcycle up to Niagara Falls. I love waterfalls and I’ve never been to that one before. All the pictures make it seem so romantic.”

Smoke and I take our coffee from the server who stops by our table and continue the conversation. He takes a sip of his hot brew before speaking. “I’ve always thought of Niagara Falls as a honeymoon venue.”

I lean on one upturned palm and think about how lovely a wedding by a waterfall would be. “Any waterfall then. It doesn’t even have to be an international romantic hot spot.”

He smiles at me, “Waterfalls in general have an air of romance, I suppose.”

I make a gesture for him to talk. “Your turn. What’s your idea of a great date for you and me?”

“You probably don’t want to know,” he says as he steals another sip from his cup.

“I do. You have to tell because I went first as an act of trust.”

“My idea of the perfect first date is us doing dinner and maybe a show. It ends with you riding my cock at the scenic outlook.”

I choke on my coffee and have to cough my way through it. “Say what now?” I stammer. “What if someone were to see us.”

“That’s what makes it a fantasy. It’s not like we can do it in real life.” The sweet, sexy tease in his voice it like a gut punch but in the best way.

“You never know, sometimes fantasies come true,” I tell him.

“You, my friend, are a gigantic tease.”

The warmth in his voice really pulls me in. If this man knew how hard my clit was throbbing at the thought of riding his cock at a scenic locale, he would not think I was joking around about this.

“Well, if you’re not into riding my cock at public places, we could always take a hike. I happen to know of a beautiful waterfall, not far from here. I swear, the first time I laid eyes on it, my soul left my body for a moment. That’s how stunning it was.”

I look into his beautiful green eyes and think it over for about half a second before agreeing. “That sounds absolutely amazing.” It’s strange how when Smoke and I are together, it feels like we’ve been dating for years, even though we’ve never actually been on a date together.

“I’d love to get all hot and sweaty with you in a non-sexual way.”

He chuckles. “A lot of guys wouldn’t be receptive to a proposal like that. But I accept your offer in the spirit it was intended.”

I take a sip of my coffee and daydream about us sitting side by side in front of a waterfall in the wilderness. It would be just the two of us. Maybe we’d decide to take off our clothing and go skinny dipping. We might even steal a kiss behind the waterfall where no one could see. Then again, if no one can see, why limit ourselves to just kissing? A short silence spins out between us as I piece together a romantic fantasy revolving around our visit to the waterfall he mentioned.

When I glance up, I can see his little wheels are turning too. “Are you thinking of me riding your cock in front of the waterfall.”

His eyes got big. “What kind of witchery is this? Do you read minds or something?”

Taking another quick sip of my coffee, I answer shyly, “No. It’s what I was thinking. So, I wondered if you were thinking the same.”

“These last few weeks of working with you have had me thinking all kinds of inappropriate shit. I don’t think I’m going to make it to the ninety-day mark without waving my cock in your face at some point and that scares the hell outta me.”

I laughed, “Normally, I’d say only pervs wave their cocks in women’s faces, but I’m curious to see if yours is as handsome as the rest of you.” Flirting with Smoke made me feel warm and gooey inside.

“You’ve got an amazing sense of humor, Serena.”

I replied happily, “I feel lucky to be getting to know you better.”

“I don’t know about you but I’m failing miserably at keeping my mind on fucking business when we’re together.”

I tried not to look as thrilled as I was by his statement. “I’m not sure why we can’t enjoy the ninety days we’ve set aside to work together. We could consider it a free zone where we can meet up and enjoy each other’s company in whatever capacity feels right, with no strings attached. When the ninety days are up, we go our separate ways.”

Smoke’s disbelieving expression turns dark in an instant. “So, you think you’ll be able to ride my cock recreationally for the remainder of the time we’re working together, and then just walk off and pretend it never happened?”

“Since I’ve never ridden your cock, it’s not like I know how magnificent it is.” Taking another drink of my coffee, I peer at him over the cup and add. “For all I know you’re crap when it comes to sex, and forgetting about it turns out to be the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

Smoke’s expression turned to one of disbelief. “Are you trying to piss me off? If so, you’re off to a running start, princess.”

I smother back a smile. “This is the part of the conversation where you offer to take to me to the scenic overlook and prove you’re the sexiest man alive, that your cock is too magnificent for any woman to forget.”

Smoke’s mouth falls open when he realizes that I’ve led him straight into my carefully baited trap. “Well played, Miss Sommers. You win. How about we head out there late tonight when the moon is high in the sky? I doubt anyone will be at the outlook, particularly on a weekday.”

“Why Mr. Drake,” I say in my best southern accent. “I’d love to ride your glorious cock at the scenic outlook tonight. I’ll be sure to wear something sexy just for you.”

He lowers his voice. “Oh girl, you are going to get so much more than you bargained for when I open my pants.”

“Oh, I have a pretty good idea what you’re packing from the last time we were there, so there’s no need to get all braggy.”

I could feel something unique, potent, and real growing between us. I’d felt it off and on over the last few weeks but right now it is much stronger. I don’t know quite how to describe it, but it feels like some primitive emotional part of us is clawing to get out and twine around each other. Whatever this is flying back and forth between us feels thrilling, scary and the draw is so strong that I worry I might drown in all the emotions it’s pulling out of me.

I feel guilty for luring him in by offering a temporary liaison, when deep down inside I know that will never be enough to satisfy me. This is me avoiding commitment even though it’s what I secretly want. Sometimes I wish Smoke had been my first, my only. Then I wouldn’t be so broken when it comes to trusting men.

I don’t fully understand his reluctance to be intimate with me. It seems strange that his body is so eager, but his mind isn’t. Maybe it’s because he still sees me as Siege’s kid sister and that makes him pull away. If he only knew that no matter who I was with, it was always him in the back of my mind. Smoke was always my secret wish if I could have my choice.

Rubbing his chest with one hand, Smoke complains. “My chest aches when I think of getting close to you and then letting you go when our time is up.”

“You’ll have to take your chances like everyone else in the world or pass or the whole thing. There are no guarantees in life, Smoke. I thought you were strong, self-confident, and ready for a little romance in your life. Maybe you’re too afraid to risk your heart after all.”

We both know I’m calling him out for being a coward, a man too afraid to follow his dreams. His chin comes up and I know that I’ve won by the defiant look on his face. “You’re on, princess. Don’t come crying to me when you don’t want to give me up at the end of our working partnership.”

“I’ll try to blunder through it somehow.”

“Just one thing. This stays between you and me. I don’t want Siege losing his fucking mind because we’re having a fling.”

“Why would he care?” I ask, genuinely confused.

“Seriously?” Smoke asks. “Your brother would be furious to find out you’ve climbed into one of our beds without any kind of long-term commitment. He would consider that using you.”

I huffed out a laugh, “My brother clearly has no idea who will be using whom in this arrangement of my making.”

“It’s better that he stays out of our business full stop,” he insists.

I shrug, “That’s fine by me. We’ll keep this between you and me.”

The smug, satisfied look on Smoke’s face was kind of cute. Then again, everything about him was all kinds of cute and sexy.”