i needed some air so i headed outside. i grabbed a sweatshirt but stopped in one of the downstairs suites on my way outside to throw some water on my face. i heard a knock then the door opening before i could say anything. she walked in, quickly closing the door behind her and locking it. she didn't give me a chance to say a word before she pulled her skirt down and stood before me in her black lace panties.

i watched with reckless abandon as she unbuttoned her shirt and glided her palms down her stomach. my pulse skyrocketed when she slipped her fingers inside the waistband of her underwear.

"they aren't pink, but will they do?" her sultry voice was so provocative there was no denying her intentions.

i couldn't move away from her. instead my eyes locked on hers where we stood in the bathroom of the empty fraternity suite. she took her shirt off while i watched. when she removed her bra and twirled around slowly something inside me snapped. i couldn't hold back. i just wanted to devour her.

and when she said, "this is how i looked on the french riviera," baring her chest to me, i strode across the room and grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her mouth to mine. i kissed her with a need i couldn't control-at that moment i let everything i knew in my life go.

"take them off," i ordered.

i propped myself up against the counter again to watch her.

naked before me, she looked f**king edible. i wanted to have her in every way i could and i was pretty sure she wanted the same. the drunkenness seemed to slip away as passion overtook us.

"come over here," i told her.

when she came closer i scooped her up and set her on the counter. i was going there and there was no going back.

i betrayed someone i loved. that night i became someone else-someone who couldn't get enough. it was a feeling i can't explain. i didn't understand it then and i still don't. but what i've come to realize is she was the most provocative girl i've ever known. giving in to temptation, i allowed weakness to conquer strength, desire to win out over love.

i roll over and force myself to think of anything else until i finally drift off.

my alarm buzzes and startles me awake. bleary with sleep, i try to figure out why i set it on the weekend. oh right. i get the honor of attending a wedding tonight. but first up, some new wheels. money in the bank and a new ride, that's enough to get me going and put a smile on my face today.

when i stop by the coffee shop for my morning joe, ruby's there sitting at a table with her head hung low.

"hey, where's the smile you always wear?" i ask placing my hand on her shoulder.

she looks up and wipes tears from her eyes with her thumbs. "oh, sorry. bad night, that's all."

now, i could be the ass**le i know i am and ignore the fact that she's crying. i could also ignore the comment because like i said, i'm not looking to be her girlfriend. but i woke up in a decent mood and i didn't even have a hangover, so rather than bolt, i decide to sit down. "want to talk about it?"

"not really," she answers, pulling her lips upward and taking a deep breath.

thank f**k because i wasn't looking to be her shoulder to cry on. but i do study her for a moment. i take a sip of my coffee, then look out the window for a few minutes. "hey, see that over there?" i'm pointing to a motorcycle stopped at the light.

she nods and sits up straighter, the corners of her lips turning up even further. "yeah, a dad whose son was screaming all morning because there was no captain crunch left for breakfast." she giggles.

i notice the grocery bag on the back. "you've got this nailed. but today i'm not detailing, i'm buying, and i'm shopping for one of those."

"really?" she sounds surprised.

"really."

"stop by later and show me?"

i nod. "hey, you sure everything is okay?"

she smiles. "go buy yourself a new ride. we'll talk later."

i make a mental note to stop by beck's tomorrow and ask what's going on before i head for the door.

by sunset i'm jamming my boot down on the kickstand of my new black and silver bmw k 1300s. sweetest ride i've ever bought. its dynamic performance sold me within the first few feet of the tires hitting the pavement-she can move. as twilight teases the horizon, i toss my leg over the side and step back to admire the beauty of the incredible machine that's now mine-on credit, but i own it nonetheless. when i glance up, i see someone's red hair blowing in the wind. there's no mistaking her-s'belle. i stay frozen in place and observe her standing on the sidewalk. she pulls her phone away from her ear and kicks the flat tire of her car with her high heel.

next she goes to the passenger door and bends down, peeking into the window of the white cabriolet. she looks like she could use some assistance.

with my helmet in my hand i approach her. "need some help?"

her eyes dart to mine and her mouth forms a frown. "no, i'm good."

"really? because it doesn't look that way."

her phone rings and her eyes cut to the pocket she tucked it into and so do mine. i can't help but notice the way her tight jeans hug her h*ps and thighs. she doesn't even pull it out.

i raise a brow. "not going to answer that? what if that's your automotive assistance?"

"it's my boss. i'm supposed to be at the wedding venue in thirty minutes."

"so did you call triple a?"

"no, i don't have triple a," she hisses. "i've always called my brothers but neither is in town and my mother and stepfather are gone as well."

i tap her trunk. "so pop this baby and i'll change the tire for you."

"i'm not completely helpless. i would have done that already but i locked my keys in the car. i've spent the last thirty minutes trying to figure out where i left them and there they are." she points in the window.

i peer inside. the keys are dangling from the ignition. "can't help you there. left my lock-pick kit at home." she rolls her eyes. "do you have a second set of keys?"

"not on me," she barks, and i try not to laugh. i could be offended that she seems to hate me so much but, honestly, something about her fiery attitude makes me yearn to see more of it. i try to control my grin by swiping my hand across my mouth. "i mean at home."

her brows scrunch together. "of course i do, but that doesn't help me now, does it?"

what i'm feeling is an overwhelming urge to spank her for being such a smart-ass but instead i hand her my helmet. "here put this on."

her hands fly to her h*ps and she bites her bottom lip as if contemplating her fate. when her phone rings again, she glances at her wrist but she's not wearing a watch. "just get on," i order. "i don't bite. i'll just run you to get your keys and bring you back here."

"didn't you hear me? i'm supposed to be at work in thirty minutes. i don't have time for that."

i should have just walked away and left her and her bitchy attitude on the sidewalk. somehow i couldn't bring myself to do it. "i'll run you home to grab a change a clothes and then drop you off at work."

she steps forward and my vision blurs red from her closeness.

"well . . . ," she says.

i blink at her in confusion.

"the helmet. are you going to hand it to me?"

relief rises as i stretch out my hand and grin. "here you go," i say, bowing before her. "where to?" what the hell is wrong with me?

"sunset place. do you know where it is?"

before i answer, she turns on her heels to head over to my bike. i watch her approach it with caution. she surveys it for a minute and then puts on the helmet. it's a little big but she looks cute as f**k. without fastening the strap she tries to clamber on the bike.

"whoa, wait let me help you." i rush to her side.

she plants both feet on the ground. "i can do it."

over her protests, i grasp the edge of the helmet's open face and readjust it directly over her forehead. then i tighten the strap. already my heart is pounding from our close contact. so i walk around to the left side of the bike and a quirk a finger. "come over here."

with a scowl she does. "i can get on myself."

"i'm sure you can but humor me."

again, an eye roll.

i shake my head in her direction. "extend your right leg over the seat and then slide gently up onto it."

she does with a slight huff.

"put your feet on the pegs." i point down.

"i'm not a child. i can figure it out."

i try not to laugh because she is acting like a child. but surprisingly she does as she's told.

"good." i'm trying to encourage her.

she gives me a closed mouth smile; i ignore her obnoxious gesture. "have you ever ridden on one of these?"

"no. but how hard could it be?"

"for you, not very. it's all a question of balance. just stay upright and hold on."

"where's your helmet?" she asks as i hop on.

"i gave it to you," i say over my shoulder.

"you don't have two?"

"i just bought the bike a few hours ago. i didn't think i'd have a passenger so soon." at that she says nothing. i can't see her expression to tell whether she's making a face. i put both my feet on the ground and turn my head. "ready?"

"are you sure you know how to drive this?" she asks nervously.

"i had one in new york. and besides, i've been riding dirt bikes and surfing my whole life. this is a piece of cake."

but she stiffens when i climb onto the seat. "hold on to me," i tell her, as i click the kickstand up. for once she's quiet. she says nothing as her arms wrap loosely around my chest. i grin as i jam my boot down on the throttle. "tighter. you have to hold tighter than that."

she clasps her hands together and i lower them. when i do, i feel her shoulders against my back. it's something i've experienced with her before and this time i'm the quiet one as i ride off the few miles to west hollywood. she moves closer as i zoom out onto the street and with her so close to me, i can't push away the memories.

i had her n*ked before me sitting on the bathroom counter and i had to have her. she pulled my head to hers for a deep kiss. i circled my tongue just to taste more of her. her lips were soft and tasted like mint. as my hands slid down her chest, her full br**sts were too much to resist so i bent down and sucked on them. she still had her heels on and she ran the toe of her shoe up my thigh.

"take those off," i instructed.

she kicked them to the ground, pressed herself back against the counter and spread her legs apart before running her bare foot back up the same path on my leg. this time her painted blue toes curled around my hard c**k and i stifled a groan. when her hands went to the same spot, she etched my erection with her fingernails. i leaned back and toed off my sneakers then shoved my jeans and boxers down in one swift movement before removing my shirt. then i lowered my head. "you sure you want to do this?" i asked her as we both stood n*ked in the bathroom.

she nodded and reached her hand back down to my cock.

"say it." i wanted to make sure she wanted this as much as me.

"i want you to f**k me," she breathed.

"good, because that's just what i'm going to do. i promise."

she hopped off the counter and before i could ask where she thought she was going she dropped to her knees. as her hands explored what i had to offer, i gripped the counter. but when her mouth plunged around me i yelled, "fuck!"