Erin wasn’t anything special.
And that was the biggest lie I had ever told myself. Hell.
She ran her hands down the front of her shirt, and it tugged the top of it down just enough that more of her tits showed. I groaned and then closed my eyes. “You really have to stop playing with your shirt like that. It’s getting really difficult to think and function with all of my blood going down to my cock.”
She flushed and threw back her head as she laughed. “I can’t with you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You know what you’re doing. You’re getting me all hot and bothered, and now we’re going into a bar. How am I supposed to get thoughts of going down on you out of my mind?” Her eyes widened, and she slammed her hand over her mouth.
I stood there, stunned for a minute, and then I was the one who threw back my head and laughed. “Jesus Christ, woman.”
“I cannot believe I just said that. I don’t think I’ve ever said anything like that in my life.”
“Well, I liked it. So, if me thinking that you look hot as fuck is going to make you talk like that? I’ll keep going.”
“I mind.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I don’t mind talking like that in private. Even though I don’t really do that. Ever. But what if someone had heard?”
I looked around at the empty parking lot. “I wouldn’t have kissed you like that, wouldn’t have looked at you the way I was in public if we weren’t alone. Well, I might, but it wouldn’t be on purpose. I’m not going to embarrass you, Erin. I’m not going to make you feel like people are watching you to the point of you being uncomfortable. Ever. Got me?”
She studied my face for so long, I was afraid I had said something wrong. Hell, she thought she was having issues with relationships? I had no idea what I was doing.
“I believe you.”
I sighed out in relief and then grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s get a drink. And not think about blowjobs.”
She snorted, and I almost tripped over my feet. “Devin!”
“What? I can’t help it.”
“So you say.”
“Yeah, I think we’re pretty poor influences on each other.”
“I don’t mind.”
I gave her hand a squeeze, and then we made our way through the front door and into the bar. It wasn’t a dive bar, but it wasn’t in a popular, touristy area either. It was just a nice place where I knew some of the guys, and all of us took care of each other. I waved to a few people, but it was pretty quiet. We took a seat in the corner, but still at the bar. And I ordered two beers.
“You don’t want anything else?” I asked.
“No. I’m good with just a beer. I wasn’t really planning on going out tonight.”
“Well, I’m glad you said yes,” I said. “I had a long day, and I’m going to have an even longer day tomorrow. And I just wanted to see what you were up to.”
“That’s very sweet.”
The bartender set down our beers, and we clinked glasses before taking a sip. The amber ale slid down my throat, cooling my parched tongue, but it didn’t quench my thirst.
I was afraid nothing but Erin could do that for me.
Well, fuck.
“So, what is up with you? You want to talk about what put that tone in your voice when I called?”
She looked down at her glass, playing with the condensation with the tips of her fingers. “Nicholas came by.”
“Are you okay?” I asked, leaning forward.
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head and then nodded quickly. “Oh, I’m fine. I didn’t mean it like that. He came by to get his stuff.”
“He had stuff at your place?”
“Yeah. Stuff he couldn’t fit in his new condo. But because he’s moving in with Becca, you know the woman that he cheated on me with? Apparently, they’re getting married and moving into a house. So he needed his stuff. Anyway, I don’t even know why I said I would take care of it all this time, but I did. Stupid me. Either way, it’s gone now. But he said a few things I don’t even want to get into. I just hate the fact that he makes me so angry. And bitter. I don’t want to be that woman. I don’t want to be someone who thinks about him like that. That puts him in every single conversation. Exactly what I’m doing right now. And he’s not worth it.”
“You’re not that woman. He was a big part of your life. And he happened to be a part of your day. Of course, you’re going to think about him.” That didn’t mean I didn’t want to break the asshole’s nose. What a fucking prick.
“I guess that makes sense. I just hate the way he makes me feel. And then I hate the fact that I let myself feel that way. I go on and on about finding this new me and trying to figure out my own path, and then I get angry thinking about him. About what he did to me. And what part I played in that.”
“Don’t tell me you blame yourself.”
“Maybe a little. Maybe I should’ve walked away sooner. I don’t know. But it’s over, and I don’t want to think about it anymore. Because I’m happy. I love my job. I have friends now that aren’t connected to him.”
“Like me?” I asked, not knowing why I’d said the words.
She smiled then, her eyes darkening. “Like you. I like you, Devin Carr. I just want you to know that.” I leaned forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I like you, too.” I watched her throat work as she swallowed hard until I leaned back and took a sip of my beer. I needed to think, focus. Because going down on her on the bar top would probably get me sent to jail. But damn it, it would probably be worth it.
“Anyway, I don’t want to be the center of the universe, so tell me what’s up with you,” she said quickly after taking a sip of her beer.
I shrugged. “Nothing really. You know my job. You know my family.”
“Not really. You dated Jennifer a long time ago. And I know you have three siblings. But what do they do?”
I smiled. “Well, Dimitri’s a teacher. He works down in Colorado Springs. And then there’s my sister-in-law Thea, who I mentioned earlier. They’re happy and probably thinking about babies if they’re not already pregnant.”
“Oh, really? You don’t have any nieces and nephews yet?”
I shook my head. “Not that I know of.”
She snorted at that. “It’s a possibility?”
“Well, Caleb did have a wild streak at one point.”
“Oh my God. I really hope that’s not the case.”
“I don’t think so. My dad might’ve been many things, but he was really good at making sure we wrapped it up.”
She opened her mouth as if to venture into the touchy subject of my father. I had left the door wide open, after all, but she just shook her head ever so slightly. I knew she wasn’t going to move closer to that. Not yet. Was it because she didn’t want to get to know me like that? Or was it because she knew it was a touchy subject? Knowing Erin, I had a feeling it was the latter. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was just what I wanted to tell myself.
“Anyway, I have a nephew, but he’s a dog. Captain. A very amazing Golden Retriever that’s getting a bit older.”
“Oh, I love Golden Retrievers. I wish they could live to be like fifty, though.”
“I know, right? They’re like the best dogs. I’ve always wanted one, but I’m not home enough.” I shuddered. “Okay, I’ve always wanted a pet. Not a dog.”
That made her laugh. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m a mailman. We don’t like dogs.”
She looked at me, her eyes wide, and then she broke out laughing. I did, too.
“You’re not serious.”
“Not really. I am more of a cat or like a fish person, though. But I love Captain, just saying.”
“You had me going there for a minute.”
“Well, I try. As for other kids in the family, seriously, none that I know of. Caleb’s not in a relationship, and I don’t think he’s ever been in
a serious one. He’s usually on location in Alaska or other remote places.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“He’s a boilermaker.”
“A what?”
“He assembles, installs, and prepares boilers and vats and huge containers. All that stuff. So, he used to be constantly off on location, working on things that I have no idea what they do. But now he’s back in Denver and staying for a bit. He’s actually moving to construction. Don’t really know why, maybe because he’s getting a bit older. Not that he’s old, considering he’s my baby brother.”
“True,” she said, nodding. “And Amelia’s not dating anyone that I know of, right? Or is she dating Tobey.”
“I have no idea. Are they dating? Maybe. It’s not like I can ask, because if I try to ask her about her love life, she rips me a new one, and I’m really tired of getting my ass beat by my little sister.”
“Well, little sisters do need their privacy.”
“Yeah, maybe I should go talk with Jenn about the perils of having a little sister.”
“Maybe I don’t want the two of you in the same room. I don’t really want any reminiscing.”
I knew she was teasing, but with the whole cheating thing with her ex? I was going to nip that in the bud right here. “Jenn and I were over a long time ago. I don’t even feel like it’s the same lifetime.”
“Oh, I know. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m totally with you there. Don’t worry, I’m not going to confuse you with Nicholas. I promise.”
“Good.”
“Oh, did I tell you I called him Nicky to his face today?”
I grinned hard. “You didn’t.”
“I did. He got so mad. I have no idea why I did it. I think he just got into my head.”
“Well, if he’s an asshole to you, you call him Nicky.”
“You know, I just might. I told myself that I didn’t want to stoop to his level, but maybe just that one thing could make it better.”
I clinked my glass to hers. “That’s my girl.”
She smiled, and I swallowed hard. Because she wasn’t my girl. Sure, maybe for the night. But outside of that? We drank another drink, sharing a second beer so I could drive, and we just had eyes for each other. No one else. Yeah, some of my friends came in, but they didn’t come to me. I didn’t bring girls to this bar. It was my comfortable bar. Not that I was a big drinker, but I didn’t like to always sit at home alone to have my beer. I liked to be around people.
I liked being around Erin.
We paid our tab, and I drove her home, both of us holding hands, a little quiet, a bit tense. But my dick was hard, and her breaths were coming in little pants.
Because it was a little touch here, a brush there, a small breath, a quiet moan. We weren’t even kissing. We were barely touching.
On the way back to her place, there was a little rock quarry that didn’t have security, and I knew some of the workers out there. I knew it would be empty at this time of night, and I just wanted to see what she would do. We didn’t have to do anything, but if she said yes? I just wanted to know.
So, I pulled over, turned off the engine, and looked at her.
She looked out the window and slowly turned back to me. “This doesn’t look like where you live, Devin.”
“I just wanted to kiss you. Is that okay with you?”
“Do you have to ask?” she asked.
“Yeah, with you? I always will.”
“Then kiss me.”
I moved forward, slowly tracing my finger along her jaw, and then I lowered my lips to hers.
It was a soft kiss, just a brush of mouths, but then she parted her lips, and there was no stopping either of us. I groaned into her, tugging the back of her hair so I could wrench her neck to the side. I deepened the kiss, undoing her seatbelt at the same time. She moved one of her hands between us, gripping my erection through my jeans, and I groaned.
Somehow, my hands moved in between us, working on her pants, tugging them down ever so slightly so I could get behind the waistband.
“Devin, I need you.”
“I just need to touch you. I don’t think my truck is conducive to sex, but I just need to touch you.”
“Okay. Anything.”
“That’s the magic word.” I slid my hand inside her panties and over her mound, cupping her.
She went still, shivering in my hold. I slowly ran my middle finger over her tight nub, the wetness of her already so potent I almost came in my jeans. I rolled her clit between my fingers and then slid my hand deeper, her jeans pressing tightly against the back of my hand so it was hard to work, but I could get at least one finger along her slit. I moved up and down slowly with each kiss, with each thrust of my tongue. She panted, her hands trying to reach my belt buckle, but I knew this wasn’t about me.
I slid one finger into her and curled it, slowly running my forefinger along her clit, and my middle finger along that sweet bundle of nerves.
She stiffened in my hold, and then she came, her cunt squeezing my finger hard.
She panted, her whole body shaking, and then I looked at her. Her eyes were so dilated, I knew she had come hard.
I slid my finger out of her, slowly rubbing over her clit again until she shivered, and then I put my digits in my mouth to lick them clean.
“That was…I never go off that quick.”
“Good to know.”
And then she grinned and went back to my belt buckle. I leaned back and let her work. She slowly undid my zipper, and I rotated my hips so she could get better access.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want,” I whispered.
“No, I want this. And you’re not going to die on me.”
“That’s my girl.”
Again, she wasn’t my girl, but I couldn’t think about that. Not with her hand on my dick and her mouth on the tip.
She had pulled me out when I wasn’t looking, and now slowly bobbed her head over me. I slid my hands into her hair, slowly guiding her as she squeezed the base of my dick, sliding up and down, her mouth enveloping me in a warm caress.
She moved quicker, hollowing her mouth as her tongue played with the tip, and I knew I wouldn’t last long. I slid my hand through her hair, the other down her back to her butt. I squeezed one cheek and then slid my hand in between her legs and over the seam of her pants so I could rub on her clit. I rubbed hard, just enough to get her going, but I was the one who came. I tried to pull back, attempted to warn her, but she clamped down on me, taking every ounce of me. Licking me up as if I were an ice cream cone.
Jesus Christ. It was like I was a fucking teenager, thinking of her like that.
But a blowjob in my truck?
Yeah, that was a fantasy from my teens. And, apparently, a fantasy for now, too.
Jesus.
She pulled away, licking her lips and wiping off her chin. I grimaced, leaned forward, then kissed her hard. And grinned.
“You are one hell of a woman.”
She smiled, her eyes dancing.
“And you are one hell of a man.”
“I’ve got tissues to clean this up,” I said quickly.
“Okay. And then can we go to your house? Or should we go to mine? Because I don’t think we’re finished yet.”
I cupped her face, running my thumb over her cheek.
“No, Erin. We’re not done by a long shot.”
As soon as I said the words, I hoped I wasn’t wrong. I hoped I wouldn’t hurt us both. But I had a feeling there wouldn’t be any easy answers no matter what happened. For either of us.
Chapter 9
Erin
Horror.
Absolute horror.
That’s what I faced as soon as I took my first step into my kitchen.
Dear. God.
Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.
My hands shook as I tried to take in what was in front of me, my mouth going completely dry. I swore I had to be seeing things. I had to be seeing things.
It had been raining all evening, to the point where there had been flash flooding in the area. I was very lucky that my house was on a slight hill so I didn’t have to worry as much as some other people. At least, at my home.
But at my place of business? Oh my God.
The back of my kitchen was flooded. It looked as if a lake had poured in, and I could barely breathe.
No, I didn’t think I was actually breathing.
I rubbed my hand over my chest, trying to calm whatever was going on inside me, but I swore I could hear my heart beating so rapidly in my ears, it was like an echo that would never end.
I looked up at the ceiling and tried to formulate a plan. The recessed ceiling had been torn away in chunks where the water dripped in, and it looked as if it had been pouring in at one point.
This wasn’t a pipe. No, it was from the roof itself. My building was only one story with nothing on top of it. So, whatever had come in through the roof had happened from the storm itself. Or that, combined with wear from over the years.
And the deluge happened right on all of my materials.
And the worst part? It wasn’t just in the kitchen area.
As soon as I saw the two inches of water on the floor and all over my pristine counters and everything else, I screamed, turned off the power, and ran back to check the fridge. The cake that I had spent hours of my life on, the one that was more important than anything to me at that moment because of the clients and the wedding that was happening the next day, was in there.
But what I was looking at just then…
It didn’t resemble a cake.
It didn’t resemble anything.
“Oh my God,” I repeated, my hands shaking.
Somehow, part of the fridge itself had caved in, even though it was stainless steel and metal and had layers of insulation. But the flood itself had dented it, so a stream of water had dripped in, right on my cake.
The project had been beautiful, white fondant with hand-strung lace all around it. I had spilled edible, blue flowers all over it. Meaning, I had painstakingly handcrafted each petal, the blue the perfect shade to match the groom’s eyes.
Breathless With Her: A Less Than Novel Page 10
