Strange Love 7 Long Ride Home

"Yeah, no." She said as she ducked under his arm. Irritation built in her as he then grabbed her arm. She turned toward him with the intent of telling him why she was there, but before she could say a word his mouth came cras.h.i.+ng down on hers. She could smell the alcohol on his breath as his tongue pushed harshly against her sealed lips. Using her free hand she pushed his head away. She tried again to speak, "I'm actually…" She was interrupted by yet another attempted kiss by him. [What an a.s.shole!] Finally at the end of her patients she let him pull her closer once again, loading all her weight onto one leg as she brought the knee of her other leg powerfully into his groin. As he fell to his knees, she popped up the other knee. Her knee hit him hard under the chin. {Men like him p.i.s.sed me off to no end!} She bent down to whisper in his ear, "I eat douche-bags like you for breakfast, remember that before you try to f.u.c.k with another girl." She straightened upright and dusted her hands off.

She heard a light laugh from behind her as she watched Dante crash to the ground. "I see you've met Dante, my partner." Xavier said coming up behind her. He bent down and patted Dante on the cheek, then glanced up at her from a squat beside Dante's still twitching body. "Nice job." Xavier's attention went back to Dante as he struggled to move. "Dante, this is Joslyn. We're cutting out early, close up and I'll come back later to break everything down." He when to stand but laughed before bending back down over Dante, "Ah, little brother it's nice to see you get your a.s.s handed to you by a girl." He let out another laugh as he stood up and took Joslyn's hand. Xavier then led her away, leaving Dante as he struggled to stand. It deserved him right for being such a womanizer all the time.

Xavier stopped in front of a large red Wrangler with Rubicon written down one side and Bite Waves Surf shop logo across the front gla.s.s, and another phrase written upside down over the running boards of either side. Joslyn stepped a little closer and tilted her head to try and make out the writing. She leaned closer to make sure she was reading it right, and then read it out loud. 'If you can read this flip me over.' "What does that mean?"

Xavier laughed, "Ideally you wouldn't be able to read it unless the Jeep was upside down." He laughed again when she wrinkled her nose. "Some guys who work for me did it all when I opened my last shop." He waved his hand to indicate the whole jeep. "It started out only being the company logo across the winds.h.i.+eld." He opened the pa.s.senger door and offered her a hand for her to get inside.

Joslyn studied Xavier's features as he walked slowly around the jeep. His hair was messy and still slightly damp from their swim earlier; he had dark brows that twisted into natural mischievous arches, and his soft lips seemed to always curve into a pout that made you want to bite and nibble at the slightly protruding lower lip. The masculine curves of his jaws were blanketed by a light dusting of stubble leftover from a long day. If anyone could give Russ a run for his money in the looks department, it would be this man. The two men were complete opposites in may features except for the fact that they were both unrealistically beautiful. Her gaze moved to his eyes, but she frowned when she noticed he still wore the sungla.s.ses. No wait they had a lighter tent that the ones he had worn earlier, he must have changed them out, but why would he be wearing them at all? "Are your gla.s.ses prescription?" she asked curiously as he climbed into the other side of the vehicle.

"You could say that." He answered vaguely then elaborated, "I have light sensitivity, and headlights at night kill me."

"Too bad." She answered, recalling the glimpse she had gotten of them earlier. She gave him directions as they traveled away from the beach and back toward the university.

"So the jerk back there was your partner AND brother?" Joslyn asked as they pulled up to a red light.

"Yeah, I'd love to tell you he's only a d.i.c.k when he drinks but…" Xavier laughed and shrugged his shoulders as he looked over at her. "But he's pretty much always a d.i.c.k. What can I say…"

Joslyn laughed, it was hard to be in anything but a good mood around this guy.

"So, is your friend always so good at handling his booze?" Xavier asked with his eyebrow raised trying his best to imitate a serious face.

"Oh man! You don't even want to ask. This is just the latest of his shenanigans! You wouldn't believe me if I told you half the gross c.r.a.p he's done." Joslyn laughed as she held her hands up, through the open jeep top, letting the air blow over her hands.

Xavier let out a small laugh as he glanced over at her, "Try me."

She laughed again and sat up in her seat to turn toward him so she could watch the different expressions work across his face. "Well let's see…." She ran through Russ's more recent mishaps. "Well, let me tell ya, it's never uncommon for him to come home from a full moon night covered in disgusting things. Last month we had to flea bomb the whole apartment after Russ when out 'frolicking' in a dog park." She rolled her eyes before continuing, "A few months ago he apparently thought it would be a good idea to roll in road kill while in wolf form, and if that isn't bad enough he brought the d.a.m.n thing home!" A s.h.i.+ver ran through her body as the memories of the smell came back to her. "I'm also pretty sure he knocked up a few of the neighborhood dogs…. If that's even possible…" She shook her head as she watched the corners of his eyes crinkle behind his gla.s.ses as his smile widened.

"Sounds interesting. I bet you have your hands full with two of them." The slight tone change in his voice hinted at the question he hadn't asked.

Joslyn gave out an uncomfortable laugh, "Yea, Sh.e.l.ly's a mess too, but not nearly as bad as her brother. She mostly just ransacks mine and our other roommate's closets."

He looked back over at her as they pulled to a stop in front of another red light. She could see his eyebrow arch up over the top of his gla.s.ses frames. "So, you all live together? That explains a lot, I guess." He smiled down at her before reaching over and taking hold of her chin. He pulled her face over toward him and placed a light kiss on her lips. As she started to respond to him a car behind them blew their car horn loudly. He snickered as the car sped off past them in the other lane. He put the jeep into first gear and back into motion. "Do you want to stop and grab a bite to eat? There's a pretty good diner near here."

Shocked, Joslyn glanced back toward him, "Ah, it's ok. I don't want to put you out. I feel bad enough you're driving this far out of your way to take me home."

He laughed and reach out to take her hand. He glanced over at her as he brought her hand to his lips, "Then reward me for going out of my way to take you home, by eating with me." He propped his elbow up on the armrest between the seats, her hand still held firm in his. He gently rubbed the tops of her fingers back and forth along the stubble of his jaw.

She followed the trail of their hands, mesmerized by the sensation of the soft stubble. She couldn't help but think about how nice it would feel on her sensitive body.

He glanced back at her and chuckled lightly, "So yes to food?" As he said the word food he moved her fingers to his lips and placed light kisses against her knuckles as he moved them across his lips.

"Um…" She continued to watch as he placed kisses on her hand. {It has been too long. I'm losing my mind over the smallest of sensations.}

He released one finger as he focused on the road in front of them. He brought the finger to his mouth and nipped the tip, before sucking the whole finger into his mouth. "If you turn down the diner, I may just have to eat you instead…" He turned a wickedly mischievous grin in her direction as they stopped in front of yet another red light.

"Keep looking at me like that and I may just let you eat me." She continued to watch him kiss and lick her fingers. {s.h.i.+t, what am I saying…}

"Promises, promises." He teased nipping at her pinky finger. This time he didn't delay as the light turned back to green. "We're almost there, I promise they have a great late-night menu."

"You're not going to give up on this are you?" Joslyn gave him a questioning look knowing he'd pick it up with one of his many glances in her direction.

"No, probably not." He let out a husky laugh before continuing, "After all, I did work up quite an appet.i.te after our swim earlier." He gave her a sly glance, "I just don't know what I'll do if I'm unable to satisfy my hunger…"

A soft moan escaped her before she could stop it. She quickly tried to mask it as a grunted agreement. "Ah… Um, huh." {Jeez, between his words and constant kissing and nipping my fingers my brain is in a complete state of pheromone-induced fog…}

His smile widened as he placed one last kiss against her hand and set it down into her lap. "Good, cause we're here."

He pulled into the turning lane and quickly pulled into the parking lot outside of a small diner. He quickly parked and shut off the vehicle. He leaned over and kissed her cheek before jumping out and making his way over to her door. She had barely gotten her door open when he made it to her side of the vehicle to help her out. "How gentlemanly of you." She laughed jokingly.

He c.o.c.ked his head and grinned at the awkward compliment, "What can I say I'm kind of old fas.h.i.+oned like that." He took her hand to help her out. Instead of letting go of it when her feet were firmly on the ground, he just readjusted his grip on her hand in his.

Joslyn was still staring at where their hands were connected when the waitress approached them and asked how many. She glanced up, but before she could answer Xavier already had, "Two please, Booth if possible."

The waitress overlooked their interlaced hands as she scanned his body openly. "This way…"As the waitress began walking toward a table, Xavier laughed lightly and shook his head. He brought their hands back up to his mouth and placed yet another kiss on her hand before letting go of it, so she could sit on the opposite side of the booth.

The waitress didn't seem too pleased to see the open display of affection but sat the menus down and took their drink orders. "So, an ice tea and a water with lemon? Will that be all?"

"Yes, please." Xavier answered never taking his eyes off Joslyn. After the waitress walked away from the table Xavier reached out to take hold of the hand Joslyn was fumbling with the edge of the menu with. "You know, typically I try starting dates off with dinner and then a seduction, but I can't say I'm disappointed with this outcome."

Joslyn's eyes trailed up from the menu to meet his playful gaze. "I…." She gave herself a mental shake, somewhat throw off balance by the brilliant smile he was giving her. "Typically, I don't try to seduce strangers, but…"

He chuckled, "I'm just irresistible? Is that it." He gave a deeper chuckle. "No worries, I'm not judging." He dipped his head and waved her serious expression away with a flick of his wrist. "I get it, I've never felt quite an attraction like this. You're beautiful… even before you took your clothes off." As he looked back up at her tilted the sungla.s.ses down his nose to wink at her.

Joslyn busted out into laughter, "Oh, you're so full of yourself!" She set back into the booth as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Just goes to show I have horrible taste in men."

"Well you did pick me up at a party, what do you expect." He countered playfully.

Before she could respond the waitress was back with their drinks and ready to take their food order. Xavier went first, "I'll have the pancake stack and sausage links."

Joslyn arched her brows at him as he handed the waitress his menu and looked over at her. "I'll just have the fruit bowl, thank you." Joslyn replied with her arms still crossed and her gaze locked on Xavier.

"Oh no you don't. She'll have…" he studied her for a few minutes. "She'll have the chocolate molten cake." He reached over and retrieved her menu to hand to the waitress. He sat back in the booth and crossed his arms over his chest mocking her gaze.

Joslyn only shook her head as the waitress walked away. "You're a bit pushy aren't you?"

"Ah only when it involves something I know will bring you pleasure." With that, he stood up and moved over to her side of the booth. He took her face in his large hand as he sat down beside her. He placed a soft but insistent kiss on her lips. Joslyn didn't resist, but before she knew it his hand had already trailed down to the top of her chest. Granted they had been much closer not too long ago, it seemed awkward in a place like this. Before she could push his hand away, he had already landed on his target. He withdrew the cell phone that had been tucked into her bikini top. {What in the world…} She watched as he began dialing a number into her phone. As soon as his phone began ringing, he ended the call sent from her phone and handed it back to her. A sly smile overtook his face as he explained, "I didn't want to risk missing the chance to get your number." He shrugged, the sly smile still playing across his face.

"Smooth!" Joslyn teased as she playfully shoved him.

He stroked her cheek, "Well ya know the saying 'It's better to ask for forgiveness than as for permission'. Couldn't risk you saying no if I asked." He bent and kissed the tip of her nose lightly, then kissed her lips softly. When she didn't pull away he deepened the kiss.

The waitress cleared her throat to get their attention as she set their orders down in front of them. "Enjoy." It was all she said before walking back toward the front of the diner.

Xavier gave her another wicked grin, then took a strawberry from the bowl of fruit and dipped it into the chocolate dripping off the cake. He brought the berry up to her mouth, teasing her lips with the fruit and leaving a trail of chocolate behind. As soon as she took the bite he leaned in and licked the chocolate from her lips before giving her a quick kiss then popping the rest of the strawberry into his own mouth. "Umm…. Delicious!"

Joslyn couldn't keep her mouth from dropping open as she watched him finish the strawberry and slowly lick his lips. He chuckled, "Sorry, I couldn't resist…" he pulled down the gla.s.ses once again to wink at her, before sliding out from her side of the booth and went across to his own side. She caught her breath as the overhead light caught his eyes reflecting back a magnificent green glow.

"So, you never did answer earlier when I asked if you surfed…" he asked as he shoved a large bite of pancake into his mouth. A smile curved his lips as he shot a wicked smile her way, "Or whether you wanted private lessons..."