6
SCARLETT
Midnight Drive
An hour later, she’d packed a months’ worth of clothes, shoes and accessories into two suitcases. As expected, her bandmates were stoked to be going on tour with Black Kross. They planned to load up the van and hit the road first thing in the morning.
It was close to midnight and Scarlett had an eleven a.m. flight. She should crawl back into bed and get some sleep. But something else was calling to her.
Or rather, someone else.
Impulsively she grabbed her phone, pulled up her most recent calls and tapped on Viggo’s number.
He answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
Just the sound of his deep, raspy voice made her break out into a million goosebumps. “It’s me,” she whispered. “Sorry for waking you.”
“That’s okay. What’s up, beautiful?”
A delicious shiver ran through her. Summoning her courage, she blurted, “Would you like to fika with me?”
There was a surprised silence. Then Viggo chuckled, all low and sexy. “Fika?”
“Isn’t that the Swedish word for meeting up for a cup of coffee? Taking a coffee break?” She was cringing, her cheeks burning. “I said it wrong, didn’t I? Oh God, I’m such a dork.”
“No, you’re not. You said it just fine. And I’d love to fika with you, Scarlett.”
“Really?” She sounded super breathless and giddy. “I know it’s late—”
“It’s never too late to spend time with you.” She heard rustling in the background and pictured him stretching his long body out of bed. Didn’t he say he slept naked?
She licked her lips. “Since it’s so late and we both have to be up early, we don’t have to drink coffee. Hot chocolate works for fika too, right?”
“Sure,” came his lazy drawl. “I know a place that’s still open. I’ll pick some up on my way over. We can go for a drive or park somewhere quiet and stargaze.”
Scarlett got all swoony. “That sounds good.”
“Awesome.”
At the hiss of a zipper, her pulse jackhammered and her knees almost buckled.
“Do your parents live near Nadia’s?” Viggo asked.
“Right around the corner,” she breathed.
“Cool. I’ve been to their house before with Reid. Text me your address and I’ll be there soon.”
“’Kay.” She hung up and quickly sent off her address. Her heart was racing and her skin was tingling with little bursts of excitement.
Feeling like a hormone-crazed teenager, she hurriedly pulled on a pair of black leggings and a black cotton bra. Biting her lip, she swapped out the cotton bra for a lace demi number from Victoria’s Secret. Then she tugged on a black hoodie featuring Misty Knight, her favorite ass-kicking comic book superhero.
Humming Mary J. Blige’s “Midnight Drive,” she gargled with mouthwash and then laced up a pair of Converse Black Sabbath high-tops bearing the band’s album artwork. Snatching off her bonnet, she plucked her hair into some semblance of a style with the black curls falling over one side of her face. Then she reached for a tube of lip gloss, changed her mind and smoothed on vanilla-scented lip balm for a more natural look.
Satisfied with her appearance, she grabbed her phone, wallet and house key. Then she left her bedroom and tiptoed down the darkened hallway. She’d nearly reached the staircase when she heard soft giggles coming from her parents’ room at the other end of the hall.
Suddenly the door opened and her mother started backing out of the room. She was wearing a long red negligee and purring wickedly to her husband, “Hold that pose, honey. I’ll be right back with the whipped cream.”
Oh God, Scarlett mentally groaned. Seriously?
With a naughty giggle, her mother closed her bedroom door and turned on the hallway light. Her ample breasts were all but spilling out of the low bodice of her negligee. She started strutting down the hallway, stopping short when she saw Scarlett.
“Oh hey, baby.” Making no attempt to cover her semi-nudity, Sherise took in her daughter’s attire and lifted an eyebrow. “Where are you going?”
Scarlett thought fast. “I gotta pick up a few things from Wal-Mart.”
“At this hour?”
“Yeah. Cara just called. We’re going on tour with another band. I’m leaving in the morning.”
“What?” Her mother looked stricken. “Why so soon?”
“The holiday tour starts tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!”
“Tonight, technically.”
“But what about your date with Viggo?”
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “How do you know about that?”
“I overheard you and Nadia talking about it on the plane.” Sherise was so distressed she didn’t bother lying about eavesdropping. “Oh, baby, do you really have to go? You haven’t even been home that long from your last tour.”
“I’ve been home since October.”
Her mother waved her hand as if dismissing the reminder. “Viggo will be so disappointed about you leaving town.”
That makes two of us.
“He leaves town all the time,” Scarlett mumbled, turning and starting down the staircase.
Her mother followed her. “I won’t be able to take you to the airport. I have that breakfast fundraiser after spin class.”
“Lennox is taking me. I already called him.”
“Humph. What band are you touring with?”
“Black Kross. With a k.”
“Black Kross? Sounds satanic.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “They’re not satanic. At least not that I know of.”
“Well,” her mother fretted as they reached the main floor, “how long will you be gone this time?”
Before Scarlett could answer, her phone rang. She dug it out of the front pocket of her hoodie and pressed the answer button. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Viggo’s voice was like liquid sex. “I’m at the front gate. Is there a passcode or…?”
“Sorry! I forgot to tell you the neighborhood’s gated.” She rattled off the code.
“Thanks, gorgeous. Can I come to the front door?”
“No!” She cringed at her vehement outburst and shot a backward glance at her mother, who was beaming with sheer delight. “I’ll, uh, meet you outside.”
He chuckled. “See you soon.”
As she stuffed her phone back into her pocket, her mother excitedly clapped her hands together. “Are you having a midnight rendezvous with Viggo?”
Scarlett blushed. “It’s not a midnight rendezvous.”
“It’s midnight and you’re sneaking out of the house to meet a man. Sounds like a midnight rendezvous to me.” Sherise’s dark eyes twinkled mischievously. “Are you wearing sexy panties?”
Scarlett’s face flamed. “Ma!”
She let out a peal of wicked laughter.
“So inappropriate,” Scarlett grumbled, heading toward the front door. When her mother followed, she turned and gaped at her. “What’re you doing?”
“I want to see Viggo.”
“Seriously, Ma?” Scarlett motioned to her negligee-clad body. “You can’t come to the door like that.”
Totally unfazed about her state of undress, Sherise opened the foyer closet and pulled out a cashmere Burberry trench. She put on the coat, flipped her reddish-brown hair out from under the collar, cinched the belt around her waist and then grinned at Scarlett. “Better?”
Shaking her head, Scarlett turned and unlocked the front door.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
She glanced back at her mother. “What?”
“It’s cold outside. Where’s your coat?”
“I don’t need one. We’re just gonna be sitting in his car. I assume the heater works.”
Her mother gave her a conspiratorial wink. “And the less you wear, the less he has to remove.”
Scarlett groaned. “Can you not?”
Sherise giggled unabashedly as Scarlett opened the front door and stepped out into the chilly winter night.
Nervous, fluttery excitement hit her low in the stomach when she saw Viggo. He was leaning back against a chromed out Chevy Silverado parked in front of the house. Though she knew he owned a couple of sports cars, seeing him with this big rugged truck made him even hotter.
He was wearing a black crewneck sweater, a pair of dark cuffed jeans and heavy black boots. His thick hair was pulled back into one of those man buns that so many athletes seemed to favor. It made him look even more like a badass Viking.
Her mother made an appreciative purring sound behind her. “God bless Sweden.”
“Amen,” Scarlett couldn’t help whispering.
Slowly Viggo straightened from the truck, staring intently at her.
She swallowed hard, her skin erupting in goosebumps that had nothing to do with the cold. She felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.
“Heyyy, Viggo!” her mother cooed across the front lawn.
Viggo lifted his hand in a lazy wave and smiled. “How’re you doing, Mrs. Warner?”
“I’m doing just fine, handsome!” Sherise was all breathless and giggly. The effect Viggo had on women of all ages was downright appalling. “He looks like he’s ready to come get you, Scarlett. Better go on before I push you out of the way and take your place!”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “Get back, woman.”
Her mother laughed and gave her a sly nudge forward. “Have a good time, baby. I won’t wait up.”
As Scarlett stepped off the porch and started down the flagstone walk, a squadron of butterflies took flight in her belly.
Viggo watched her come toward him, looking her over from the top of her head all the way down to her feet—and back up again.
When she reached him, he gave her one of those slow panty-melting smiles. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She smiled shyly, tucking her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie. She’d almost forgotten how tall he was, how physically imposing with his massive shoulders and wide chest. He was oozing enough heat and testosterone to set her girl parts to quivering and her pulse to hammering.
“Sorry for getting you out of your warm bed,” she said.
“Don’t be sorry,” he murmured. “I’m glad you called.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He reached out and touched her cheek, like he just couldn’t help himself. “Was everything okay with your manager?”
His touch distracted her. “My manager?”
“Yeah. She’s the one who called you, right?”
“Right. Yes. That was her.”
“Everything okay?”
Scarlett hesitated. She didn’t want to put a big fat cloud over their time together, so she decided not to tell him that she was leaving town. Not yet.
“Everything’s fine.” She blew her hair out of her eyes and gave him a saucy smile. “Let’s get this fika started.”
That made him grin as he opened the passenger door for her.
Before she could put one foot on the running board, his big hands were on her hips, lifting her up into the cab of the truck. Tingles shimmied down her spine.
When their eyes locked, her breath caught and her heart beat triple time.
They stared at each other for several supercharged seconds before Viggo winked, stepped back and closed her door.
Dazedly she fastened her seatbelt, watching him saunter around to the driver’s side and climb behind the wheel. He looked and smelled so damn good, she wanted to sink her teeth into him and lick the skin off his bones.
Closing the door, he glanced down at her Black Sabbath Chuck Taylors and smiled. “Nice kicks.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“I’ve heard that high-top Chucks are the best shoes for drummers to wear.”
“You heard right,” she asserted. “I love my Chucks. They’re timeless and comfortable as hell.”
Viggo gave her a lazy grin. “They should put you in a commercial.”
She laughed. “I’ve been saying that for years.”
As the powerful diesel engine roared to life, she glanced out the window at her parents’ large stone and stucco house. Her mother stood at the door waving and blowing kisses at them.
Scarlett slumped down in the leather bench seat, waves of embarrassment washing over her. “I really need to get my own place,” she muttered.
Viggo chuckled, pulling away from the curb. “You don’t enjoy living with your parents?”
“It has its challenges.”
“Why do you say that? Did something happen?”
“They were about to have sex,” Scarlett said in disgust.
Viggo looked amused. “Not in your room, I hope?”
“God, no! Their room.” She shuddered and wrinkled her nose. “My mom was getting whipped cream.”
“Yeah?” Viggo grinned. “Light or extra creamy?”
Scarlett choked back a laugh. “It’s not funny! It’s after midnight and we just got back from a trip. Those old people should be fast asleep right now, not slathering each other with whipped cream and doing God knows what else.” She shuddered again.
Viggo threw back his head and laughed.
God. He had such an amazing laugh.
She struggled not to smile. “I’m glad you find my trauma so amusing.”
“Trauma? Listen, sweetheart, I’m one of six children. That means my parents put a serious hurting on their bed—and anywhere else the mood struck them.”
Scarlett burst into giggles. “Ew.”
Viggo laughed and reached over to tweak her nose. The affectionate little gesture made her heart contract.
The scent of hot chocolate wafted up from two cups nestled in the cup holders. She picked up the one closer to her and lifted the flap on the lid. As a cloud of fragrant steam escaped, she inhaled appreciatively.
Viggo smiled, watching her blow into the cup and take a sip, her eyes closing as she swallowed. The hot chocolate tasted decadently rich and delicious, warming her insides.
“Mmm. That’s good.”
“Glad you like it. They make good coffee and pastries, too.” Viggo glanced around at the brick and stone houses framed by manicured lawns, ivy-covered trees and curved driveways. “Beautiful neighborhood. You grew up here?”
“Yeah. We moved here when I was four after my dad got a promotion at work.”
“Where does he work?”
“Boeing. Been there over thirty years. My brother Luke works there, too. He followed in Dad’s footsteps and became an aerospace engineer.”
Viggo nodded. “Luke’s the one getting married, right?”
“Right. To Ana.” Scarlett sipped more hot chocolate.
They had reached the front of the neighborhood. The gatehouse was unmanned after hours. Viggo drove through the automated gate and turned left onto the main road.
Scarlett smiled, sinking deeper into the warm leather upholstery of the crew cab truck. “Are these seats heated?”
“They are. You like?”
“Very much.” She grinned. “Your truck is totally awesome. I was expecting you to pull up in one of your other toys.”
Viggo shot her a blank look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, right.” She gave him a knowing grin. “So you don’t have a Lamborghini and a Bugatti Veyron stashed at home?”
“Again, drawing a blank here.”
She laughed, shaking her head at him.
He gave her a sidelong grin. “Seriously though. I’ve always preferred trucks. I learned to drive on an old farm truck.”
Scarlett smiled. “How old were you?”
“Eleven. My grandfather taught me to drive as soon as my legs were long enough to reach the gas pedal.”
Scarlett’s smile softened at an image of him maneuvering a tractor around his grandparents’ farm. She pictured him as a tall preteen boy with a shock of golden blond hair, silvery gray eyes and full lips set in a dirt-smudged face. He’d probably been just as beautiful then as he was now.
Leaning her head back against the seat, she watched him drive. He drove the way he played hockey. Fast, aggressive, making quick power moves but always maintaining control. Steering one-handed, he looked as natural as if he were one with the big truck. Scarlett could watch him all day long.
They left the gated enclaves behind them and headed down a twisty road that cut through a stretch of woods. Scarlett had no idea where they were going and she didn’t care. Just being with Viggo was all that mattered.
He reached across the cab and skimmed the back of his knuckles down her cheek. When she shivered, he sent her a lazy smile. “You know I’m just driving with no particular destination in mind.”
She grinned. “I suspected you might be trying to kidnap me.”
His smile turned mischievous. “I figured I could head out of town and disappear up into the mountains before you even noticed.”
She laughed. “Okay, um, this is the part in the movie where I should be sneaking my phone out and hitting the panic button.”
He laughed, giving her cheek another tender stroke. “No worries, beautiful. You’re safe with me.”
Given the way her hormones went berserk every time he touched her, she doubted she could ever be truly safe around him. “Since you mentioned stargazing, I know a great lookout point that’s nearby.”
“Nearby, huh?” He sounded a little disappointed. “Guess that means no running off to the mountains to find our own secret hideaway?”
Scarlett thought of her morning flight and felt a pang of misery that made her sigh. “I’d love to run off with you—”
He grinned.
“—but unless you want to pass out from sleep deprivation during practice, we’d better stay close to home.”
His grin turned rueful. “Point taken.”
Scarlett directed him to turn off the main road and drive up a narrow rocky path that ended at a secluded spot high above the city. She knew couples often came here at dusk to watch the sun set or to make out after dark. Thankfully the place was deserted tonight.
Viggo parked the truck where they could enjoy the best views. It was so beautiful with the city lights twinkling below like a starry constellation, the distant Rocky Mountains towering majestically over Denver.
“Nice,” Viggo murmured.
“Very,” Scarlett whispered.
Her breath caught when he turned and leaned toward her. She thought he was going to kiss her, but then he reached past her and popped open the glove compartment to pull out a white paper bag.
“What’s that?” she asked.
He handed her the bag. “Can’t have fika without something sweet.”
She grinned. “Isn’t the hot chocolate sweet enough?”
“It’s not the same.” His eyes gleamed. “Gotta have something to sink your teeth into.”
Her belly quivered. It was all she could do not to sink her teeth into him.
Lowering her eyes, she opened the warm paper bag and peered inside. “Oh my God,” she breathed. “Do I see red velvet truffles and snickerdoodles?”
Viggo grinned. “Is that what she put in there? I told her to surprise me.”
Scarlett was already pulling out a truffle and biting into it. “Ohhh.”
“God, I love watching you eat.” Viggo’s voice was a rough growl. “I’m bringing you some sweets every time I see you.”
She laughed. “You’d better not. You’re gonna give me diab—” The rest of the word dried in her throat at the way he was staring at her lips, like he wanted to suck them right off her face.
She swallowed hard and licked the sugar off her mouth.
His smoldering gray eyes lowered to her hand. “Feel like sharing?”
She followed the direction of his hot gaze, bit her lip and smiled.
He shifted closer on the seat as she lifted the other half of the truffle to his mouth. She watched his lips part to accept the sweet confection. When his tongue slicked over her fingertips, her nipples grew hard and tingly, demanding to be licked.
“Mmm,” he rumbled deep in his chest. “Fucking delicious.”
They stared at each other, the air sizzling between them.
Scarlett had to glance away just to catch her breath.
Grinning, Viggo turned the ignition back on and reversed, then deftly wheeled the truck around and backed up toward the guardrail that separated them from the edge of the cliff.
Scarlett stared at him. “You wanna sit outside?”
“Best way to enjoy the view.” He winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you nice and warm.”
Heat pulsed between her thighs.
“Hold this for me.” He handed her his hot chocolate, then opened the door and climbed out of the truck. Her stomach fluttered as he came around to let her out, smiling into her eyes as he helped her down.
When she shivered from the brief contact with his body, he murmured, “Cold?”
She shook her head. If her blood burned any hotter, she’d combust.
She stood there holding their hot chocolate and goodies while Viggo walked around to the back of the truck and lowered the tailgate. As he started pulling things out of the truck bed, she couldn’t help drooling over the round, muscular perfection of his ass. That ass…wow. No man had a right to look that fucking good in jeans.
She bit her bottom lip, picturing his ass cheeks flexing as he thrust furiously between her legs. The shockingly explicit image sent a hot rush of tingles to her sex, causing her to cross one ankle over the other.
When Viggo turned around, she saw that he was holding two thick wool blankets and some type of lantern.
“Wow,” she said teasingly. “You came prepared.”
He chuckled. “I go camping and hiking with Reid, Hunter and Logan during the offseason. So I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping supplies on hand.”
Scarlett grinned. “I love a man who’s always ready.”
“Oh, I stay ready.” He gave her a sexy wink.
Her knees almost gave out.
“Since we didn’t get to have dinner at a romantic restaurant,” he went on, “we’ll have to improvise.”
“Improvise?”
“Yes, ma’am. Watch how it’s done.” He hopped up into the truck bed and spread out one of the large blankets.
Scarlett watched him, a delighted smile playing over her lips. How could one man be so hot and sexy, so sizzlingly virile, and still pull off adorable?
He turned on the LED lantern and placed it in the middle of the blanket. It cast a warm glow over the whole area.
He gestured grandly. “Ambience.”
“Nice,” Scarlett said approvingly. “As good as candlelight.”
Looking pleased, he pulled his phone out of his back pocket, queued up some smooth jazz and winked at her. “Mood music.”
She let out a dreamy sigh. “Perfect.”
Viggo grinned and jumped back to the ground as nimbly as if he were hopping the boards at a hockey game. She was still swooning when he lifted her into the truck bed and vaulted in beside her.
She stared at him, his closeness quickening her breathing.
He stared back at her. “Let’s get comfortable.”
“Okay.” She set their cups and goodies on the blanket beneath them while Viggo wrapped the other blanket around her shoulders.
“You can get under here, too,” she said almost shyly. “There’s plenty to share.”
His slow smile curled her toes. “Don’t mind if I do.”
He draped the other half of the blanket around his shoulders, bringing their bodies close together. She could feel the heat of his big frame seeping into hers, could smell the spicy warmth of his aftershave and the soap he used.
Her heart was beating so hard she wondered if he could hear it above the soft jazz music.
Together they leaned back against the rear window of the cab and stretched their legs out. Viggo’s were so much longer than hers. His feet also dwarfed hers in size. She loved the way he cuffed his jeans, a single roll over his boots. It was rugged and manly and totally added to his sex appeal.
He reached for the cups of hot chocolate nestled between them and handed her one. She didn’t know if it was the cup she’d been drinking from. It didn’t even matter.
They smiled at each other, their faces lit by the lantern’s glow.
“Isn’t this nice?” Viggo murmured.
“So nice.” She lifted her cup, inviting him to toast. “To our first fika.”
He grinned. “The first of many.”
They tapped cups and drank without looking away from each other. Hot chocolate had never tasted so good.
Lowering his drink from his mouth, Viggo pointed out, “Technically it’s our second fika. We had coffee and croissants back in Detroit.”
“That’s true.” Scarlett gave him an amazed look. “Can you believe that was less than twenty-four hours ago?”
“Hard to believe, right? And we’d only just met a few hours before that.” His gaze softened. “It feels like we’ve known each other a lot longer.”
“It does,” Scarlett whispered. He had no idea how much.
Smiling, he dug inside the paper bag, pulled out two snickerdoodles and passed one to her.
“Tack,” she thanked him.
He grinned. “Look at you speaking Swedish. What am I supposed to teach you?”
She laughed. “I know a few basics. You can teach me all the advanced stuff.”
The unintentional double meaning of her words struck them both at the same time.
She blushed as a purely wicked smile curved Viggo’s lips. His deep voice dropped to an even lower register as he drawled, “Nothing would please me more than to share my advanced knowledge with you.”
Her throat ran dry as her mind went into overdrive. She’d always had a smart mouth and was good at snarky comebacks. But Viggo totally threw her off her game. He reduced her to a puddle of rampaging hormones and made her feel all hot and tingly.
And girly.
God, he made her feel girly. Horny, too. Because right now all she could think about was getting under him and letting him teach her every dirty thing he knew.
As her body grew hotter, she dropped her lashes over her eyes and bit into the cinnamony goodness of the snickerdoodle. “Yum.”
Viggo took a bite of his own cookie. “Double yum.”
She smiled.
He smiled back.
Warmly cocooned under the blanket, they munched their cookies while gazing out over the glittering city lights below them. The air was so crisp and clean, and the stars were shining brightly in the sky.
Scarlett sighed. “God, I love Denver.”
Viggo shrugged a shoulder. “It’s all right.”
“What!” She elbowed him and he laughed.
“Just kidding, gorgeous. I love the Mile High City. I’m glad the Rebels drafted me.”
“We’re glad, too.” Scarlett grinned. “We’ll be even gladder when you boys bring home the Cup. No pressure.”
“Right,” Viggo laughed, pulling another snickerdoodle out of the bag and offering it to her.
She shook her head. “I’ll take another one of those red velvet truffles.”
He stuck half the cookie in his mouth while he dug out a truffle for her.
“Tack.” She smiled as she nibbled on the truffle, watching him polish off the cookie in two bites. A little tingle went through her when he licked a crumb off his lips. “After you retire from the NHL, will you go back to Sweden?”
“I don’t know.” He smiled a little, staring out over the city. “At some point I plan to go back and build a house by the sea. That’s probably where I’d spend most of my time after retiring.”
Scarlett’s throat felt strangely tight. “A house by the sea sounds wonderful.”
His eyes returned to hers. “I think so, too.”
A wave of prickling heat washed over Scarlett as they stared at each other. Long moments passed.
She looked away first, lowering her eyes to sip her hot chocolate. A bluesy jazz melody wafted from Viggo’s phone, wrapping around them like a seductive cloak.
He angled his head back, looking down at her from under his lashes. “So you really like Misty Knight, huh?”
“Um, yeah.” She gave him a surprised look. “How’d you know?”
He hitched his chin toward her sweatshirt.
She glanced down at herself and grinned sheepishly. She’d forgotten what she was wearing.
“Is she your favorite superhero?”
“She is.” Scarlett beamed. “I’ve been obsessed with her since I was a kid.”
Viggo grinned. “How obsessed?”
“I cosplayed her for Halloween several years in a row, and I collected all of her memorabilia and comic books. I was pretty devastated when my copy of the first issue got stolen.”
“Someone stole it? That sucks.”
“I know.” She pouted for a moment before resuming her geek-out. “Wonder Woman rocks, but Misty Knight was everything to me as a little girl. The first time I ever saw her in a Marvel comic book…man. I can’t even describe how empowering it felt to see a black superhero who looked like me. I loved the evolution of her character. She was so brave and smart and tough as hell. She kicked serious ass!”
“She’s pretty badass,” Viggo agreed.
“Fuck yeah!” Scarlett laughed, caught up in her fangirl excitement. “Of course I also loved Storm from The X-Men. But she was a mutant, you know? So as awesome as she was, I couldn’t completely relate to her.”
“Totally understandable.”
Scarlett grinned. “I wanted to be like Misty Knight so bad that I begged my parents to let me take martial arts classes.”
“No shit.” Viggo grinned at her. “Were you any good?”
“I worked my way up to a red belt in taekwondo before I got totally sidetracked with drumming.”
“A red belt? Seriously?”
“Seriously.” She puffed out her chest a little. “I still plan to test for a black belt one of these days.”
Viggo grinned, looking her over. “I’m impressed.”
She cocked her head to one side, pretending to size him up. “On a good day I could probably kick your ass.”
His eyes glimmered. “Okay.”
Scarlett had to laugh at the way he’d dismissed her claim with a single word. As she finished her hot chocolate, she considered showing him her Misty Knight ankle tattoo. But she decided to hold off. She’d done enough geeking out for one night.
Viggo bumped her shoulder with his, giving her a sideways smile as she set her empty cup down. “We should go to Comic Con together.”
She tried not to get too excited. “Really?”
“Yeah. It’d be fun. You could go as Misty Knight and I’d go as Iron Fist.”
“Ooh, yes.” She grinned. “You could also go as Thor. You’d make an excellent Thor.”
His smile was lazy. “Think so?”
“Absolutely. You were practically born for the part.” She winked. “And you’re way hotter than Chris Hemsworth.”
Viggo chuckled softly. He’d been watching her mouth the whole time she talked. When he reached over and brushed the pad of his thumb across her lower lip, everything inside her went hot and needy. She nipped the callused pad with her teeth, watching his gray eyes turn to silver smoke.
Holding his gaze, she swirled her tongue around his thumb, tasting the spicy warmth of cinnamon.
His breath hissed out and his body jerked.
As a thrill of satisfaction rippled through her, she wrapped her lips around the tip of his thumb and slowly sucked it into her mouth.
His rough groan pulsed between her thighs and curled her toes. With his hooded eyes glued to her mouth, she licked and sucked his thumb, then swallowed him down to the knuckle.
“Jesus, Scarlett,” he rasped through clenched teeth.
Her heart bounced out of control.
When she released his thumb, he took her face in his hands, leaned down and kissed her. Softly at first, deliciously slow, as if he were savoring the taste and feel of her lips. It threw her whole body into a spiraling vortex of want.
She leaned closer to him, breathless and aching. His fingers curled through her hair, angling her head so he could take her mouth even deeper. Her blood sizzled in her veins and she moaned his name, her breasts tightening against his hard chest.
He feasted on her mouth, stole her breath and gave her his. She could taste the hot chocolate he’d been drinking and the earthy sweetness of cinnamon on his lips. Her heart was pounding and her skin was on fire. She needed him on top of her like she needed oxygen.
They were on the same page because he whispered against her mouth, “Lie down.”
Shivering with anticipation, she scooted down on the truck bed and lay back on the blanket. He followed her down, levering his big body over hers without ever taking his gaze from her face. His eyes were glittering, hot and fierce in the moonlight.
“I’ve been hard all fucking day imagining you like this,” he said in a low growl. “Do you have any idea how torturous it is to be trapped on a plane for hours with a raging boner?”
She grinned and reminded him, “Female blue balls.”
He exhaled on a rough laugh as she slid her hands into his hair, dismantling the sexy man bun. As the silky strands spilled over his beautiful face, she pulled his head back down to hers. His tongue slicked along her lips, parting them, dipping into her mouth with hot lashes that made wetness leak from her pussy into her panties.
The weight of him pressing her into the truck bed made her feel deliciously dominated. She wrapped her legs around his waist and hooked her heels behind his muscular thighs. Sucking her bottom lip, he slid his hands under her body and cupped her ass. She groaned as he ground his hips against her, his massive erection stroking her slit through her leggings.
She didn’t care that they had just met. She didn’t care that it was the dead of winter and they were out in the open. She didn’t even care that a homicidal maniac could lunge from the shadows and slaughter them like they were in a horror movie.
She didn’t care about anything but the feel of Viggo’s body moving against hers. She’d never needed anyone or anything more than she needed him right now.
“I tried to be good,” he growled, pressing openmouthed kisses along her jaw and down her throat. “You said no kissing on the first date, so I tried my damnedest to be a good boy. But then you had to go and give my poor thumb a fucking blowjob.”
Her breathless laughter broke off on a gasp of pleasure when he bit her neck, soothing the sting with a swipe of his tongue. Her eyes fluttered closed as he slid his big hands under her sweatshirt, callused palms grazing the bare skin of her stomach. She shivered at the sensation, locking her fingers at the back of his head.
“So soft,” he murmured against the beating pulse in her neck. “Your skin feels like pure silk.”
He caressed her curves, working his way up her ribs to cup her breasts through her skimpy lace bra. She whimpered and arched against him, craving his touch, his heat, the wetness of his mouth.
She felt cold air on her flushed skin as he lifted her sweatshirt. Then he lowered his head and sucked her breast through her bra. A shudder racked her body and she cried out as her nipple peaked and hardened.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” he rasped, his breath warm against her flesh. “You have no idea how much you turn me on.”
The mammoth bulge against her stomach gave her a clue, but she didn’t have enough air in her lungs to point that out.
Before she could draw a needed breath, he pushed her bra cup down and closed his teeth around her sensitive nipple. She released a strangled cry and arched her back, her thighs trembling around him. He let out a raspy growl, flicking his tongue over her nipple before sucking her whole areola into his wet mouth.
“Oh God,” she gasped.
His mouth moved to her other breast, suckling deeply, and hot tears stung her eyes. She fisted her hands in his hair, holding him against her. She’d never felt so raw and exposed, so sensitized to a man’s touch. Her nipples burned and her pussy ached. She was so wet for him. So hot and ready.
He lifted his head and slanted his mouth over hers, drinking deep as his hips rocked against hers in a circling motion that had her empty pussy spasming. The need to have him moving inside her was almost more than she could bear. She moaned his name, running her hands down to the firm, rounded curves of his ass and squeezing.
She felt his breath hitch against her mouth before he went for the waistband of her leggings. Staring into her eyes, he slipped his hand inside the stretchy fabric and reached between her legs, groaning when he felt the soaked crotch of her boy shorts.
He uttered something in Swedish, something lustful and dirty. Then he stroked the puffy lips of her sex through her underwear.
Her body swelled with a rush of pleasure so intense her eyes rolled back in her head. He rubbed her hard clit, the friction sending waves of unquenchable heat through her core.
She arched her back, writhing against his hand. “Viggo, baby—”
Her breathless plea was interrupted by a sudden burst of psychedelic rock music. Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter.”
For a few dazed moments, she wondered if some sort of high-frequency glitch had caused the jazz station to switch to rock.
But then Viggo pressed his forehead against hers and rasped, “Don’t fucking answer it.”
“Wha—?” That was when she realized that the music was coming from the front pocket of her hoodie. It was her ringtone for Traeger, her band’s bassist.
“Don’t answer it,” Viggo half commanded, half begged.
Scarlett stared up at him, distracted by the heat of his hand inside her leggings. Traeger had the absolute worst timing in the world.
When the phone stopped ringing, Viggo lowered his head to nibble her neck, feeding on the pounding pulse point. She shivered and moaned, tangling her hands in the silken thickness of his hair.
As he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her boy shorts, the phone started right back up again, the music vibrating persistently between them.
“Fucking hell,” Viggo groaned in frustration.
Scarlett blew out a resigned breath that lifted her hair off her forehead. “I’d better get it.”
Viggo shook his head against her neck, then rolled off her and collapsed onto his back.
She sat up, dug her phone out of her pocket and angled her body away from Viggo to mutter to her bandmate, “What is it?”
“We’re loading up the van and—wait.” A note of amused incredulity crept into Traeger’s voice. “Are you having sex?”
Heat scalded her cheeks. “Of course not.”
“Are you sure? ’Cause you sound kinda out of breath and—”
“What do you want?” she hissed.
Traeger chuckled. “We’re loading up the van. Do you want us to bring your cocktail kit, too?” he asked, referring to the retro drum set that allowed her to play while standing up. She used it sometimes on the road. As a drummer, she liked to keep things interesting.
“Your regular drum kit already takes up a lot of space,” Traeger added, “but we know how much you love the cock—”
“Bring it,” Scarlett said, trying to keep her voice low.
“You got it, boss lady. We’re really stoked about going on tour with Black—”
“Uh-huh. Me, too.” Scarlett glanced over at Viggo. His hooded eyes were fixed on her, and he was still sporting major wood. Lordy.
“What’s the name of the hotel again?” Traeger asked.
Scarlett swallowed. “I’ll text it to you.”
“Cool.” Traeger sounded amused. He knew something was up with her. “Have a safe trip.”
“Thanks. You, too.” She shoved her phone back into her pocket and sent a rueful glance at Viggo. “Sorry about that.”
He sat halfway up, leaning back on his elbows. “Who was that?”
“One of my bandmates.”
Viggo’s eyebrows knitted. “Does he always call you this late?”
“Sometimes later.” If she didn’t know better, she would think Viggo was jealous. “He just had a question about something.”
She still wasn’t ready to tell Viggo that she was leaving town. She wanted to eke out every moment she had left with him, because there was no guarantee that their budding romance would survive a nearly three-week separation.
“I’m proposing a new rule,” he said darkly. “Whenever we’re together, our phones have to be turned off.”
Scarlett grinned. “Like at the movie theater?”
“Yeah.” One side of his mouth curled upward. “Deal?”
“Deal.” Her grin spread. “But I just have to point out that we weren’t interrupted by a phone call in Detroit. We were interrupted by your teammate.”
“And now one of your teammates is the cockblocker,” Viggo grumbled.
Scarlett laughed.
Lips twitching wryly, Viggo raked a hand through his mussed hair. His broad shoulders and chest stretched the expensive fabric of his sweater, and his dark jeans clung to his muscular thighs. He looked so fucking good that she wanted to climb on top of him and go for a hard ride.
“Don’t look at me like that unless you’re ready to pick up where we left off.”
His growled warning skittered over her skin and made her insides clench. She dragged her gaze away from his crotch and released a shaky sigh. “As much as I’d love to let you score in the back of your truck, we should probably get going. It’s late and we both have to be up early.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.” He blew out a resigned breath, then sat all the way up and gave her a crooked half grin. “Just remember. No phones allowed on our date tonight.”
Scarlett smiled weakly, guilt flashing through her.
She planned to tell him on the way home while his attention was divided between her and driving. What happened instead was that they held hands and laughed quietly, stealing kisses at every traffic light and stop sign.
When they pulled up to her house, she let him walk her to the front door and kiss her some more because she couldn’t get enough. Then she stood in the doorway, lips tingling, and watched him saunter back to his truck and drive off with a lazy wave.
Climbing the stairs to her room, she decided to swing by the Rebels’ practice facility on her way to the airport.
Any excuse to see him one more time.