by Naomi Porter
“You said you didn’t use protection.”
“No, we didn’t. He wanted to, but the thought of a condom during my first time grossed me out. He wanted me to take the morning-after pill.”
She gasped. “Did you?”
“No. I couldn’t. Leo wasn’t thrilled about it. He doesn’t want kids and isn’t what I’d call marriage material. He’s more of a lifelong bachelor. He likes his freedom and has a reputation with the ladies.” Dammit, why was I word-vomiting? I didn’t want her to think badly about Leo.
“Maybe he’ll change his mind. Finding the right person can do that, you know?”
“What? Do you really believe it can?”
“Yes. I do.” She stood and opened her arms to me. “Give your mom a hug.”
I did as she requested. We weren’t usually a huggy family, but I’d needed more affection in my childhood than I’d gotten, so I jumped at the chance for it now.
“I love you, Scarlett. I always will, no matter what. Please be safe. And if you ever need anything, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, Mom. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“Just one more thing.” She pulled back to look into my eyes. Hers were the same green as mine. “You might want to get tested for STDs. Just in case, since Leo was a stranger and given his lifestyle. I just want to be sure he was honest with you.”
“I believe he was, Mom. But it wouldn’t hurt to be sure. I’ll get tested when I get back. I’m due for a Pap anyway.”
“Okay. I need to get started on dinner. Wanna help me?”
“Sure.” I exhaled a breath, feeling lighter than I had since I arrived. My mom didn’t give me her approval or disapproval regarding Leo but was neutral. It was good enough for me.
I still didn’t know what to do about Leo. I had a feeling he might stop by my house, but why, I wasn’t sure. Laney hadn’t texted, saying he’d been by, so maybe he forgot about me already. It was strange to imagine someone like him being interested in someone like me. But why should I care? He was free to be with whomever he wanted, including me.
I had five more days in Montana. I wanted to leave now. Not that I didn’t enjoy being with my family, I did. But there was a man in California I was becoming more desperate to see. I needed to find out if what I felt for him, he felt for me. If he didn’t, if it was one-sided, I could move on.
It would hurt.
But I wouldn’t regret the night we spent together.
I followed after my mom. “Would you be too upset if I cut this visit short…”
10
Leo
I’D BEEN A miserable fuck the last six days. Nothing that normally made me happy did a thing to lift my spirits. I literally had been counting down the days until Red returned from out of town. I never did shit like this. Never.
I milled around my large, empty house, walking the floors and staring out the wall of windows. My stomach was tight, and my muscles were coiled in my neck. I felt like an addict going through withdrawals. Perspiring, jittery, mind whirling with thoughts of the unknown. I was totally fucked up over Red. And she wouldn’t be home for three more fucking days. THREE.
I grabbed my keys, set the alarm, and left. I hadn’t been to Dave’s Tiki Bar all week. I’d purposely avoided it because I didn’t want to deal with women sniffing around me. But I was bored and needed a distraction.
When I entered the building, I didn’t feel the usual surge of energy. Nothing seemed different. Most of the regulars were happily drinking and laughing. The vibe was the same as it had always been.
But it was me. Since meeting Red, I’d changed. Christ, seemingly overnight, this woman had me thinking about the future… with her. It was crazy. I should be partying, living it up. Instead, I felt depressed and withdrawn from my friends. I went to work and straight home—until today.
At the bar, I sat on a stool and smiled at Dave’s wife, April.
“Hey, Leo. What can I get you?”
“House IPA. Dave’s got you working today, huh?”
She laughed, placing the bottle in front of me. “I missed him. Thought I’d drop in tonight. How’ve you been?”
“I’m all right.”
“Yeah? You don’t look all right.”
April was a sweetheart. I could see why Dave fell in love with her. She treated people kindly and didn’t bullshit anyone. So I wouldn’t lie to her.
“I could be better. Life’s been a bit of a drag lately.” I shrugged a shoulder and took a long pull of my beer.
“Dave mentioned the conversation you two had last week.” She leaned against the bar, her eyes filled with understanding. “Your shit week is because of a woman, isn’t it?”
I sighed and dropped my head, bobbing it. “She has me questioning everything I thought I wanted and didn’t want, and I only just met her. I haven’t seen her in six days either, and I’m climbing the walls. Shit like this doesn’t happen to me.”
April smiled softly, knowingly. “It does when you meet someone special. I knew the day I met Dave, he was the one. He fought it at first, thinking the bachelor's life was all he wanted. But I knew better.”
“Red is fighting too. She kicked me out of her place and has been out of town all week.”
April hiked a brow. “Her name is Red? Interesting.”
“No. She won’t tell me her real name.” I guzzled my beer, feeling a bit angry and frustrated now. I knew nothing about this woman I seemed to be enamored with, and it irritated me that she wouldn’t tell me her name.
April’s eyes widened. “So you call her Red because her hair is red?” She peered around me, looking at the crowd, I assumed.
“Yeah. And the most stunning green eyes I’d ever seen. Why wouldn’t she give me her name? Or a phone number? I’m not a bad guy. Well, not that bad. Hell, I guess it serves me right for being a player for so goddamn long.” I looked up at April, who seemed to be watching something behind me. “I just want to see her.”
“Turn around.” She pointed.
A weird flutter in my gut appeared, and I froze.
“You are not easy to track down.” Red hopped up on the stool beside me. “Some guy named Chris gave me a list of all the places where you hang out. This place was last on the list. I’m exhausted.” She pulled her long mane over one shoulder, biting on her lip with uncertainty in her green depths.
“Can I get you something to drink?” April asked Red while I stared stunned at the woman I couldn’t get out of my head.
“Rum and Coke would be great, thanks.” Red turned toward me and grimaced. “You don’t look happy to see me. I knew it was a risk finding you. But I needed to so I could move on. I’ll drink this and be gone.”
“Shut up, Red. You’re rambling.”
She furrowed her brow and gaped. Those freaking pink lips. “Rude.”
I ignored her and went in for the kill, crushing my lips to hers. I groaned, devouring her in front of everyone. “Jesus Christ, I missed you.” I curled my tongue with hers. When she hooked her arm around my neck, I dragged her onto my lap, and our kiss exploded.
“Whoa, what do we have here?” Dave’s voice cut through the most enthralling kiss I’d ever had. I didn’t want to stop, not after finally having Red in my arms again and her kissing me back. But we shouldn’t be making out like this at the bar.
“This is Leo’s friend, Red,” April said with amusement in her voice.
“Red? Interesting name.”
Red and I both laughed into each other’s mouths. She pulled back and looked me in the eyes. Hers sparkled like emeralds and were dilated. “My name is Scarlett, Scarlett Smith.” She fluttered her long lashes and smiled, cheeks pink.
“Scarlett.” I breathed out her name and captured her lips again. Just knowing her name and having her kiss me back filled me with hope. “It’s a perfect fit for a redheaded beauty.”
“You gonna introduce us to Scarlett, Leo?”
I stopped my rediscovery of her intoxicating mouth. “S
orry, man. I’m a little busy here.”
Scarlett giggled and twisted partially around on my lap, keeping one arm looped around my neck. “Hi. I’m Scarlett. Leo’s friend.”
“Wow, I never had a friend kiss me the way Leo kissed you.” April winked and curled into Dave’s side.
Dave snorted. “Yeah. I never kiss my friends with so much… passion.”
“She’s more than a friend.”
“He’s right. We had a one-night stand, so I was a hookup.”
I knew she was teasing, but I didn’t like it. I grabbed her ass, squeezed it firmly, and whispered, “When I get you home, you’re getting punished for that comment.”
She trembled against me. “You’re taking me home?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to punish me?”
“Yes.”
“Let me finish my drink so we can go.”
“Good girl.” I sucked on her bottom lip and bit it. “Down your drink. I need to be alone with you.”
She reached for her glass and smiled sheepishly at Dave and April. “I guess we’re heading out. My friend and me, I mean.” She gulped her drink, eyes smiling at me.
“Well, don’t let us keep you,” Dave said. “Drinks are on the house.” He gave me a look like, Good catch, don’t let her go.
No chance. Red… Scarlett showing up like this had my heart thudding in my chest. I couldn’t believe she was here on my lap. That she was looking for me. Jesus, I was freaking overwhelmed and needed to get her alone so we could talk… after I punished her with an out-of-this-world fucking. I hoped she’d let me.
“Finished. Let’s go.”
I couldn’t resist and put my lips on hers again. Her sweet taste made me internally quake with need. I released her and helped her off my lap. Several guys were staring at her. It was then I took in the sexy sundress she was wearing. It was green, the color of her eyes, with skinny straps and went all the way to the ground. It covered most of her body, yet she looked like a goddess, sexy and seductive.
I glared at the men eye-fucking her and tugged her into my arms.
“Thanks for the drinks, Dave. See you around, April.” I waved at them, guiding my woman out with my hand on her lower back. I couldn’t not touch her. “Where’d you park?”
“Along the street a half a block up. I’ll follow you to your place.”
“No. Your car will be fine if we leave it here.”
“I’d rather we didn’t.”
“I don’t want to let you go.”
She faced me with a small smile on her pretty face. “Then don’t. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going to run away. I’m following you home.”
“But, I want you in my Jeep.” Just hearing myself made me cringe at how pathetic I sounded. I pushed her up against the concrete wall and devoured her neck. My hands glided over her hips, up to her breasts, and into her hair.
“Leo… I, oh God…” Her body pressed into mine. She wanted me, like wanted me—wanted me. There was nothing else I needed to know.
My whole body ached for her. The thought of letting her go put me on edge. “Fine. Follow me.”
“I’ll be right behind you. Promise.” Her cheeks were flushed as she smiled. I believed her. But dammit, I didn’t want to be apart from her again.
I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her supple lips and inhaled her into my lungs. Reluctantly, I pulled away and took her hand, walking her to her car. I made sure she could see my Jeep from where she parked, then left her.
On the short drive to my beach house, I gripped the shit out of my steering wheel, keeping an eye on Red’s little Honda. I’d never had anxiety like this before. Never felt completely undone over a woman before. It scared the crap out of me, but the fear of the unknown wasn’t enough to make me run in the opposite direction as Red—Scarlett.
Relief washed over me as I parked my Jeep and her car pulled in beside mine. Something suddenly occurred to me. Red was the first woman I’d brought to my home in over three years. I’d only owned it for five and had a girlfriend back when my parents bought it for me as a college graduation gift. I’d never wanted any of my casual hookups to know I was loaded. They didn’t get to know personal stuff about me.
But with Red, I wanted her to know everything about me. That, more than anything, should make me question my sanity.
“See? I’m a woman of my word.” She had a radiant smile on her beautiful face, approaching me. “This is your house?”
I took her hand and tugged her along with me. “Yes.” I unlocked the door, opened it, and punched in the code for the security system.
My heart hammered in my chest as I was about to enter into unchartered waters with Red.
11
Scarlett
I HADN’T EXPECTED Leo to live at home with his parents. Had he brought me home to meet them? Crap, this wasn’t at all what I was expecting. My stomach twisted into knots as I walked into the modern, all-white beach home.
I squeezed his hand and grabbed onto his T-shirt, fisting the hem of it. “I thought we’d be alone,” I whispered. “I’m not ready to meet your parents. Let’s go to the beach or something.” My eyes darted around the magnificent living room. It could have been straight out of a magazine or TV show. And the view directly across from me was stunning.
Leo’s hand cupped my face and he kissed me. My heart raced faster, fearing getting caught. His tongue pushed into my mouth. I shouldn’t have given him entry, but Jesus, I missed him. His reaction seeing me in the bar had calmed my wild nerves. A glimmer of hope sprouted in my heart when he said he was taking me home. But jeez, I thought he lived alone.
I patted his chest. “We should stop. Someone might see us.”
A lopsided grin appeared on Leo’s face. The next thing I knew, I was in his arms. He carried me down a long hallway. I counted six doors. At the very end were double doors.
“What are you doing?”
Leo only smiled as he cleared the threshold of the room. My breathing caught in my throat. Two sides of the room were all windows, looking out to the ocean. The most enormous bed I’d ever seen was along one wall with what looked like bamboo covering it. It faced the windows and was dressed in blue linens, the color of the water.
Why were we in his parents’ room?
He laid me on the bed and took off his T-shirt.
I lifted up on my elbows. “You can’t be serious. We can’t. Not in here.”
“I am. We can. And we are.” He removed my sandals and skimmed his hands up my legs. They went under my dress and my head fell back, a sigh escaping my lips. Maybe his parents were away for the weekend. But still, I couldn’t have sex in their room. I was sure doing so would be some kind of sin or blasphemy.
“Please, just take me to your room.” My words came out in a whimper as he hooked his fingers into my panties and pulled them down my hips.
“You sure like to talk a lot, Scarlett.” The way he said my name made my pussy tingle. “Relax, Red. No one will bother us.” He lifted the skirt of my dress and licked over my center.
“Leo… I can’t do this in your parents’ room.” I tried to squeeze my legs closed, but his head was in the way. He flattened his tongue over my slit and swiped it slowly, maddening slow.
I knew he was a bad boy. The kind of guy who did as he pleased and took what he wanted anytime and anywhere. But someone had to show some good sense.
I grabbed his head, attempting to pull him up. My attempt only seemed to spur him on, and he went to town devouring me. I clenched and writhed as my orgasm formed.
There was no stopping this man. Had he no decorum or respect for anyone? This was why he wasn’t marriage material. But he was undoubtedly remarkable and talented in the bedroom as he sucked on my clit, numbing my brain and strengthening the build inside me.
But I wasn’t that wild of a girl. I might be different from my parents and siblings in many ways, but I was a rules follower. There was no chance in hell I could come on his mot
her’s bed.
“Leo, stop!”
He froze and finally lifted his head. “What’s wrong?” Concern marred his stupidly handsome face as he licked his lips.
I sat up and pushed my dress down. “For a man your age, you should know better than to bring a woman into your parents’ bedroom. I may not be like the other women you’ve been with, they may not care if you fuck them”—I pointed to the bed—“here, but I do. Now move out of the way so I can get up.”
He smirked. He actually smirked. “First off, Red, I’m not going to fuck you. Let’s be clear on that detail right off the bat. I’m going to kiss every inch of you, possess you with my tongue, and own you with my cock. All while making love to you.”
I started to pant as he slowly lifted my dress back up, but he didn’t stop there. He forced me to raise my arms, and there I was, naked. He kissed my chest, his hands skating up my back, and I melted into him.
“Secondly, this isn’t my parents’ room; it’s mine. I’d never disrespect them by having sex on their bed. That’s just disgusting.” He drew in my nipple. I buried my fingers in his messy blond hair, holding him in place and arching as a silent plea for more.
It’s not his parents’ room. I relaxed a little bit as I eyed the open doors.
“Fine, just shut the door. What if they catch us?”
“Baby, I’d never let that happen.” He pressed me to the bed, covering my body with his, and stared into my eyes. How this man made me bend to his will was beyond my comprehension. I wasn’t usually so weak. “Lastly, you’re the only woman I’ve brought to my home in the last three years. Do you hear me, Red? My home. Not my parents but mine.” He watched for a reaction with a slight curl to his lips.
“But how can you afford this place on a lifeguard’s salary?”
