Melt With You: Into The Fire Series

by J. H. Croix

  Despite crossing paths almost weekly, Nate and I managed to keep every interaction entirely superficial since then. Let me tell you, that was no easy feat in our small social circles. Nate had it all but written on his forehead he wanted nothing more to do with me, so I figured too much alcohol had gotten to him. I needed to get my head out of my ass and stop wishing he wanted more.

  The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I was just drunk enough to be pissed off. “What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded.

  He crossed the room, stopping maybe a foot away from me.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” he countered in return, his eyes narrowing and his words coming out sharp.

  “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m doing this fundraiser for the hospital. Get the hell out of here.” I waved my hand. “Someone just paid five thousand bucks for a date with me, and I’m not gonna screw it up by having you here when they show up,” I muttered, my speech slurring a little.

  Nate stared at me for a beat, his eyes taking on a wicked gleam before his mouth kicked up at the corner. “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. I’m the one who bought a date with you.”

  My body was on fire, heat flashing through it in a rush and my belly spinning in flips at the raw desire in his eyes. Nate drove me crazy. He’d been Alex’s best friend for as long as I could remember. If you’d told me I’d have thought he would be sexy when I was about ten, I’d have laughed until I peed my pants.

  Everything had felt normal until sometime over a year ago. As if tectonic plates shifted in the earth, I looked at Nate one day and suddenly noticed he was obscenely handsome. Making out with him that night was the biggest mistake I’d ever made. Desire had shifted from a loose idea into something concrete, very real, and very intense.

  Nate annoyed me. He always told me what to do, just like my brother. The last thing I needed to do was to be attracted to him. Unfortunately, my body wasn’t getting the memo. Just now, my panties were already giving up the fight.

  “Oh, I don’t think so. I’ll do it all over again if I have to. I’m sure you can get a refund.”

  Meanwhile, my nipples stood at attention and my channel clenched, vividly remembering the feel of his fingers buried inside me.

  Nate

  Holly Blake stood defiantly before me, testing every ounce of my restraint. But then, she’d been testing my restraint for years. With her thick blonde hair loose around her shoulders and her curvy body poured into her outfit, I could hardly think.

  At the moment, I couldn’t even remember how I ended up at this fucking fundraiser. Not that I had anything against fundraisers. My memory shifted into gear, kicking through the haze of raw lust Holly’s mere presence had created. My buddy had roped me into going because he’d been dragged into helping out. I was there for moral support only. The last thing I expected was to bid on a date with someone. But the second I’d seen Holly on the stage, there was no fucking way I was letting someone else win a date with her.

  I’d been speechless—not something that happened often, by the way—when Holly pranced out on the stage in the sexiest excuse for a nursing costume I’d ever seen. Sweet Jesus. If I didn’t screw her right now against the wall, I deserved a fucking medal.

  Her breasts were spilling out of the tight blouse, and I was pretty sure I could see her panties if she bent over even a little. I idly wondered if they were red to match her bright red high heels.

  I took a deep breath, shackling the need galloping through my body. What the hell had she just said? Oh yeah.

  “I got the winning bid, and I don’t want a refund,” I replied.

  Her brown eyes widened and then narrowed. I was pretty sure she was a little drunk. Holly had never been one to hold back, but right now, she was a little freer than usual, let’s just say.

  “Why?” she demanded.

  “Jesus, Holly. You’re fucking parading out there half-naked. Trust me, I saw your options. I’m your best bet. The guy who I outbid was pushing seventy. Not that there’s anything wrong with being old, but I don’t think he’s your type. What the hell are you doing here anyway?”

  I knew I sounded pissed off. I also knew I had no right to feel that way, but it didn’t change anything.

  Holly spun around, flinging a hand up in the air and giving me the finger as she walked to the far side of the room. Not that the room was too large. She turned back to me, crossing her arms and setting her feet apart.

  “What the hell are you doing here? Like I said before, I’m here to raise money for charity. That’s why. And I sure as hell don’t need you fucking everything up. I might actually get to meet somebody here. But now you’re here, so I’m stuck with you.”

  My head was spinning as I tried to catch up to what she was implying. “What the fuck do you mean? You might meet someone?”

  Holly sighed, letting her arms fall and resting a hand on her hip. Holly was all kinds of tempting. Her blonde hair was most often pulled up in a slapdash ponytail, and she was usually wearing scrubs. Even when she made zero effort to look good, she was sexy as sin. Dressed like this?

  I was so screwed.

  “I need another shot,” she muttered, turning around and walking to a table in the corner where, lo and behold, there were a few bottles of alcohol. She proceeded to pour a shot of tequila and knock it back inside of a few seconds.

  “It’s not like my dating prospects are any good in Willow Brook,” she mumbled as she turned back to face me. “I figured I’d raise a little money for this hospital thing and maybe I might actually meet someone. Not you. I didn’t need to meet you.”

  For the second time tonight, I was speechless.

  Fuck it.

  I strode to her, reaching for her hands and tugging her against me.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she murmured as her body bumped against mine.

  “You don’t need to meet anybody,” I said flatly.

  Holly’s breath hissed through her teeth. When she gulped in air, her breasts pressed against my chest. It was then I realized my miscalculation. Because I couldn’t be near Holly and not want her. Fiercely.

  Having her this close meant there was no way for her to miss the fact that I was rock hard and ready. Her eyes narrowed again, and she jabbed her finger in my chest.

  “You don’t get to say whether or not I need to meet anybody. You’re not my keeper, so don’t fucking act like it.”

  “No. But I want you, and I know you want me. So, let’s stop dancing around and do something about it.”

  Her mouth dropped open, her cheeks flushing bright pink and sending another shot of blood straight to my swollen cock.

  “You don’t know that I want you,” she announced, with another jab of her finger against my chest. “You’ve been ignoring me anyway.”

  “You mean to tell me you forgot about that kiss last year,” I murmured, sliding my palm down back of her spine to cup her bottom, palming it as I rocked into her slightly.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to tell you I forgot about it. But you couldn’t run away fast enough. I’m not an idiot. I’m not just gonna be another chick you have a little fun with. I’m almost thirty, and I need something real, not you and your bullshit.”

  “Oh sweetheart, this isn’t bullshit.”

  I finally gave into the need that I’d been holding a bay for too damn long. I fit my mouth over hers, growling at the snap of electricity the moment our lips collided.

  That kiss we had a year ago? It was as if we picked up right where we left off. My body knew exactly what it wanted. I swept my tongue into the warm sweetness of her mouth, savoring the low moan coming from her throat and the way she flexed into me.

  Just when I forgot where we were and what the hell I was doing, there was a sharp knock at the door. Holly broke away from me, stumbling back. The door swung open, and one of the guys who’d been helping with the tickets at the main door when I first got here stepped into the room.

&nb
sp; “How we doing here?” he asked with a smile as his gaze swept over us.

  We’d kissed maybe for a minute, yet Holly’s lips were swollen, her skin was flushed, and my arousal was likely quite evident to anyone who paid attention.

  Holly’s gaze swung to the man. “Ethan, I’m so glad you’re here. We have a problem.”

  What the fuck is she doing?

  Holly approached Ethan, looping her arm through his, and then pointing to me. “He’s not the right date. I grew up with him, so this won’t work,” she said flatly.

  Ethan’s lips tightened as he fought a smile, his gaze flicking to me and then back to her. “Sweetheart, it doesn’t quite work that way. He paid for a date with you. Short of things like violence or safety, either you’re going on a date with him, or we refund him his money. Unless he agrees to forfeit the date,” he said carefully.

  “Can’t his money pay for somebody else?” Holly asked, undeterred.

  I was trying to keep a level head, but now I was pissed. “No,” I said sharply. “You don’t have to go on a date with me. But I’m not paying for someone else. Before you go making up something ridiculous”—I paused, looking at Ethan—“her twin brother is my best friend. We’ve known each other forever. There’s nothing nefarious here.”

  Ethan was quiet, his gaze bouncing between us. “Well, then I’m sure you two can figure this out. Holly,” he said, gently uncurling her hand from his arm, “if you would like us to refund his money, please let me know. Otherwise, I’ll leave you two alone for now.”

  As soon as the door shut behind him, I strode to her. Conveniently, she was standing beside the wall. I placed my hands on the wall beside her and pinned my gaze on hers.

  “You’re a coward,” I said flatly.

  “I’m not a coward!”

  “I say you are. Plus, maybe you’re not giving me enough credit.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “You’re right. After that kiss last year, I kept my distance. Because I didn’t want to be stupid. You’re my best friend’s sister, so there’s that hurdle. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. I didn’t know if I was ready to do anything about it. Now I am. The ball is in your court.”

  I held still for a moment before trailing my fingers down over her shoulder, teasing over her tight little nipple, and then over the soft curve of her hip. Stopping there took all of my restraint, but I managed it.

  I stepped back. “You owe me a date. Tell me now if you’re backing out. I’ll leave you alone if you are, but don’t play games with me.”

  Holly’s breath came in shallow little pants. She shifted her legs, and I heard her rubbing her thighs together, just barely. I hadn’t forgotten how wet she’d been last year when I lost my damn mind and almost fucked her at a party.

  She stared at me, lifting her chin slightly. “I’m not backing out. When and where?”

  “Your call. But not tonight. Let me make one thing clear, though. It will be a real date. You don’t get to say, let’s grab drinks at Wildlands, or coffee at Firehouse Café. Hell no. Dinner and a hotel. I did pay five thousand dollars, after all.”

  “I’m not your whore,” she retorted.

  I closed the distance between us again, leaning forward and catching her lips in another kiss. Kissing her was like playing with dynamite. Clinging to my control, I drew away.

  “No, you are absolutely not. You want this as much as I do.”

  * * *

  Copyright © 2018 J.H. Croix; All rights reserved.

  Coming January 2019!

  Burn For You

  * * *

  If you love steamy, small town romance, take a visit to Diamond Creek, Alaska in my Last Frontier Lodge Series. A sexy, alpha SEAL meets his match with a brainy heroine in Take Me Home. It’s FREE on all retailers! Don’t miss Gage & Marley’s story!

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  Into The Fire Series

  Burn For Me

  Slow Burn

  Burn So Bad

  Hot Mess

  Burn So Good

  Sweet Fire

  Play With Fire

  Melt With You

  Brit Boys Sports Romance

  The Play

  Big Win

  Out Of Bounds

  Play Me

  Naughty Wish

  Diamond Creek Alaska Novels

  When Love Comes

  Follow Love

  Love Unbroken

  Love Untamed

  Tumble Into Love

  Christmas Nights

  Last Frontier Lodge Novels

  Take Me Home

  Love at Last

  Just This Once

  Falling Fast

  Stay With Me

  When We Fall

  Hold Me Close

  Crazy For You

  Catamount Lion Shifters

  Protected Mate

  Chosen Mate

  Fated Mate

  Destined Mate

  A Catamount Christmas

  Ghost Cat Shifters

  The Lion Within

  Lion Lost & Found

  Acknowledgments

  My readers… again and again and again. Your support means the world to me. Thank you for your emails and your messages, and for making this entire journey worthwhile.

  Gracious thanks to Jenn Wood for making sure I gave Harlow & Max’s story everything it needed. A bow of thanks to Terri D. for catching all the details and being so kind.

  To my last line of defense - Janine, Beth P., Terri E., Heather H., & Carolyne B. - thank you for making sure I don’t miss anything! Yoly Cortez continues to create stunning covers for this series.

  My dogs keep it real and make sure I get my story planning time with my morning runs. To my hubs who taught me there are different kinds of love. I’m lucky enough to share this crazy journey with him.

  * * *

  xoxo

  J.H. Croix

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy independent women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!

  Places you can find me:

  jhcroixauthor.com

  jhcroix@jhcroix.com