Page 33 of Scars of the Sun
Able to see clearly, I’d checked my phone to find a few texts from Ramona, and I’d returned them so that by the time I drove home, we’d had plans to meet up after I got off work.
Which was right about now.
Me
Come on in. Might convince the manager to give you free breadsticks
The little bell on the door sounded, and my heart actually picked up, maybe even fluttered.
“I’m out,” I called to Vanessa and Rob who were manning the kitchen and returned with noises of acknowledgment.
There was a small bathroom for employees connected to the office, and I stopped in there to change into the spare shirt I’d brought with me and washed my hands and face. There’d be no getting rid of the pizza smell until I was able to shower, but hopefully it wouldn’t bother her too much.
When I emerged into the dining area, bag slung over my shoulder, I took a moment to drink in Ramona while her back was turned. It was just a second before she turned around, but it was just enough for my eyes to sweep over her long, bare legs that were a delicious, glowing brown. Her usual sweatshirt obscured the shape of her torso and arms, but her ass was round and tight beneath the skimpy denim shorts. I wanted to squeeze the strong but giving globes in my hands, but that wasn’t what made my jaw drop.
Her hair wasn’t in its usual braid. It was… down and cast in bounding ringlets that flowed like a lion’s mane. Glints of orange and red flared from the light streaming through the windows and lit up the sea of her black curls. It called back to the night I’d learned her name, to when she’d gotten on her knees for me. But seeing her this way in broad daylight, was… more.
I didn’t turn away from my staring, even when her expression went from nervous to irritated to uncertain. “Uh… is this a bad time?”
Most of our time together was spent rolling around the skatepark, but I’d had another idea for today. “Course not. I’m the one who told you when to get here, anyway.” I stepped closer, keeping our eyes locked, and indeed wrapped my arms around her waist to settle my hands on the upper curve of her ass.
I dropped a kiss onto her lips and felt her surprise before she pressed into it. My nose buried in the crown of her hair, inhaling the concentrated grapefruit scent that had me high in a lighter, more sustainable way than any drug I’d ever had.
“So…” She tightened and relaxed her hands on my shoulders, “What did you want to do? You said to leave my skates at the house.”
The wary confusion in her tone made me give a reassuring chuckle into her scalp. “You down to go see a movie?”
She flinched back completely, now, and her honey gaze was more vulnerable than usual. “That… that sounds like a date.”
I swallowed and grinned, “Whatever you wanna call it. You like scary movies?”
At first, she frowned, “They’re—” but something flitted across her features and made her stand straighter, though the change was lightening fast “—of course.” The smile she gave was the most pleasant she’d ever given me, no venom to brighten it. Before I could parse out what exactly gave me pause about the shift in her expression, she gave a tender pass up and down my shoulders. “Did you want to go now?”
With another kiss to her head, I nodded and grabbed her hand to lead her to my truck. Ramona kept her hand soft in my grip, trailing readily behind me.
“All right, what kind of snacks do you want? Have you eaten today?” We stood in the concession stand line that was quickly moving forward. I kept a possessive hand on Ramona’s ass, squeezing at my leisure, and she didn’t even balk at my display. On the drive to the movie theatre, she’d asked me about my day at work, spoken gently about her morning with her family, and even talked about theweather.
The person behind the register called for the next customer, and I pushed further, snaking my hand into her back pocket and keeping my hand full of her cheek.
Nothing.
We stepped up, with her standing behind me by a half step, and she looked up at me expectantly while I was watching her with eyes narrowed. “Río? What do you want to eat?”
“What doyouwant?”
She didn’t even look at the menu, just kept that sweet and polite smile on her face. “Whatever you want. I’m not picky.” My gut twisted, constricted, even as her shoulders relaxed, just a fraction, when I ordered a large popcorn and two Cokes.
I couldn’t keep hold of her ass while I carried my soda and our popcorn, and I almost dropped both when she held onto my bicep, letting me guide her to our theatre and seats. Naturally, I picked something in the way back and promptly put my arm around her shoulders as we settled.
Another staggering current of her scent hit me, intoxicating me with fantasies of what I wanted to do to her in the dark and nearly empty room.
While the previews rolled, I paid them no mind and let those desires creep in. She’d called this a date, and while I’d been toochicken to confirm that for her, Ihadwanted to make this—more than just skatepark hookups.
I pulled back a mass of her curls to get access to her neck, where I planted a kiss. Her body stilled, her breathing stumbled, and I prepared for her strike. Or a little grumbling before she melted between my fingers.
What I got instead was a little mewl and immediate craning into my touch. My body rejoiced while my mind tried hard to figure out why this didn’t feel right.
In her ear, I whispered between nibbles, “You don’t care about seeing the previews, Princess?”