Riding the Line by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online

name.’
    Great, now at least her sass was back. He stepped away and raised both hands. ‘Whatever you say. Go put on your blouse and be ready to go.’

Chapter Five
     
    Despite the searing heat, Robyn found she was shivering. God, she hated him, hated him. He’d turned her latest attempt to get the better of him into another opportunity to show off his holier-than-thou side. He’d apologized for giving her the hottest kiss she’d ever had and then he’d made her cry.
    As she rounded the corner, she rubbed furiously at her eyes. She hated to cry. She unlocked the door and slammed it behind her, making the window glass rattle. The only good thing to come out of the whole episode was that he’d lied when he said he didn’t want her.
    A reluctant smile curved her lips. Damn, he was hot, especially with all that water dripping down him, molding the fabric to his chest and tight abs. She dropped her coat on to the bed and headed for the bathroom. Despite his size and the shock of being doused in dirty water, he hadn’t hurt her either.
    She studied her flushed face in the mirror, touched her slightly swollen lips. He kissed like a man who knew his way around a woman’s body – like a man who would give her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. That’s why she’d pulled away from him. She’d been too afraid to continue the kiss in case she begged him for more and lost her fleeting advantage. Between her legs a pulse throbbed and flowered into life.
    She slid her hand inside her panties and found them wet, her sex open and willing. He’d been hard, she’d felt him rocking into her. With a sigh she withdrew her hand and washed up. No time for that now if she wanted to go shopping.
    The faint sound of a high-revving engine filtered through the thin walls. Her black blouse was almost dry. She slipped it on and splashed water on her face to hide her tears. By the time she scooped up her purse and opened the door, Dakota was outside. The engine of the bike purred like a tiger at rest.
    He’d exchanged his Stetson for a helmet and handed her one as she sidled up to the bike.
    ‘Put this on,’ he shouted over the rumble of the engine.
    After seeing how grubby she looked, Robyn could hardly complain it would mess up her hair. She complied, tucked her braid neatly down the back of her collar and put on her sunglasses.
    ‘Get on.’
    She climbed up behind him and wrapped her arms around his narrow waist. Beneath her the bike throbbed as if echoing the pulse of awareness between her thighs. Was that why men liked bikes so much? Did they get a cheap thrill every time they revved up?
    She squeaked as he pulled away and held on tight, her eyes half closed against the sudden rush of warm dusty air. She still didn’t know exactly where they were going or how long it would take. What if he was a serial killer after all? She consoled herself that a splashy and vicious death would at least get her back on the front pages of the entertainment mags.
    Dakota turned his head slightly and mouthed the words: ‘OK back there?’
    She nodded and relaxed her grip, taking in the rugged desert scenery for the first time. She rested her cheek on the thick denim of his jacket, enjoyed the roughness and the distinct scent of horse and leather. They were back on the highway and headed toward what appeared to be a sizeable town. Perhaps she could get him to drop her here instead . . . but she wasn’t ready to leave him yet. The thought made her stomach flip over and she held on to him even tighter.
    Dakota slowed down and pulled off the next ramp, bringing them down into a small shopping complex. By the time he killed the engine, Robyn had registered the name of the biggest store. She pulled off her helmet and faced him.
    ‘That’s Wal-Mart.’
    ‘Yeah, I know.’
    ‘I don’t shop at Wal-Mart.’
    ‘You do now, especially when it’s on my dollar.’ He grabbed her hand and started walking toward the entrance.
    She tried to put