While Connor responded that he did, I gave Riley a 'what do you think' look. He hadn't given me any reason to yet.
"Come with me anyway." He laced his fingers in mine and positioned me between him and Connor.
We walked a block before taking a side street and stopping at a two-storey, stone and timber house.
I thought he meant for me to go inside. Instead, he led us around the back, where two quad bikes were parked side-by-side.
"Ever been on one?" Riley asked.
"As a matter of fact," I said slowly, "no. You expect me to drive one of those?"
Riley laughed. "No, I expect you to sit on the back while I drive." His smile faded slightly. "If you can stay on comfortably." He looked down at my legs and feet.
My face heated. "You told him?" I squinted at Connor.
Connor was unapologetic. Of course he was. "I don't keep any secrets from Ri."
I doubted that. Everyone had secrets. I knew I did. This one wasn't his to tell. I was torn between walking away, and climbing on a quad bike and aiming it at Connor.
Since I wasn't given to violence, I chose the first option, turning away from them both before Riley grabbed my wrist.
"Don't be mad at Connor. He wears an asshole mask well, but it's just a mask. He told me because he gives a shit."
"So he goes around telling everyone your deepest, darkest secrets because he cares about you?" I retorted.
Riley smirked. "I have no deep, dark secrets."
I smirked right back. "Bullshit. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has things they don't want the rest of the world to find out. Why would you be any different, Riley Crane?"
"Fine, I have secrets." He shrugged. "That doesn't change anything. Connor told me and now I know. Can you get up on the back of my quad bike or do I need to pick you up and put you there?"
"Who says I'm getting up there?" I yanked my wrist free from his grip. "Maybe I had plans for the rest of the day."
"Ditch them," Connor said. "We're going quad biking."
"And if I don't want to?" I countered. What were they going to do, kidnap me? Tie me to the back of the quad and force me to enjoy myself? If they tried, I'd scream the town down. No doubt someone would come running.
"You smell that, Ri?" Connor sniffed the air. "Smells like bullshit to me. Come on, honey, you know you want to ride with us almost as much as you want to ride us."
I opened my mouth to retort, but instead stood with my lips slightly apart. Did he have to be right? On both counts?
I should walk away and not look back over my shoulder, but my feet wouldn't obey. My clit wouldn't let them. Traitors.
"She's not denying it," Riley pointed out.
"No, she's not," Connor agreed. "You want to ride with me instead, honey?" He raised his hand slowly like I was some kind of wild animal, and stroked down my cheek with his knuckle.
"I called it first," Riley said. "She's coming with me." He made no effort to hide the fact the wording was deliberate.
"I'll ride with you," I said softly. "On one condition."
"Name it," Riley said, not taking even half a moment to hesitate.
"Take me slowly," I said. "I haven't been on one of these before and I don't want to fall off.”
"Sweetheart," Riley said, "I'll take you as slowly as you want. Just tell me when you want me to go harder." His gaze dropped to my lips as my tongue slid across them.
"I'll let you know." I let him help me up onto the back of his quad before he slid into place in front of me.
