by Avery Flynn
He slid his thumb, wet with her desire, over her ruby red mouth. "Don't you dare lick that off." Faster than he'd ever moved before, he reached over and grabbed a condom from the drawer of his bedside table and rolled it on. His balls were already tight against his body and his dick was hot and ready to blow and he hadn't even sunk inside her tight walls yet. Tormenting them both wasn't smart, but he couldn't seem to help it. He glided the tip of his cock over her clit, loving the way she moaned and writhed beneath him, and then lined up with her opening. Resisting the primal urge to surge forward, he leaned over her, her slick mouth only inches from his.
"Now I can taste you and fuck you at the same time." He crashed his mouth down onto hers at the same time as he pushed his hips forward and buried himself balls deep in her welcoming heat.
There was nothing slow or gentle about this. It wasn't like making love on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It was a desperate, almost crazy fuck—hard, demanding, and right on the edge of rough.
Leah's hands cupped his ass, her nails biting into his flesh as she pulled him forward and lifted her hips so he sank deeper inside her.
"God, yes," she cried out.
High on the taste and feel of her, he lifted his chest enough that he could look down at where their bodies joined.
"That's it, Sweets." Fuck. The image of his glistening wet cock plunging in and out of her was one he never wanted to forget. "God, I love watching your pussy swallow up my dick."
"Feels so good." She wrapped her legs tight around his waist, tipping her hips to deepen the angle. "So right."
"That's because it is. This is how it should be with us." He didn't mean the sex—although it was phenomenal—and he was pretty damn sure she didn't either. Whatever else happened, this wasn't over when she left Catfish Creek.
In and out, forward and back, he pounded into her as she met every thrust. The friction, the force, the tempo being exactly what was needed take them both to the edge and push them right over. It started at the base of his spine--the tingling that built with each breath, each thrust, each time she undulated against him. He was close, so damn close but he couldn't come yet—not until he felt her squeeze him tight.
"Drew," she moaned, her head thrown back and her hips moving in tandem with his. "Faster. Please. So close."
"That's it, Sweets. Show me how bad that pussy wants this cock." He grabbed her hips and slid them both down the bed. Then, without ever leaving the heaven of her heat, he dropped his feet to the floor and stood up, lifting her hips as he did so their bodies lined up perfectly. "You're so tight. Squeeze that pussy for me. Milk that cock."
She reacted to his words just like he knew she would—grinding against him, pushing them both to go higher. Her jerked her against him, going so deep his balls were wet with her juice. The vibrations in his spine increased and his ass clenched. It was too good. He wasn't going to make it much longer. He tightened his grasp on her hips, lifting her higher and speeding his pace while at the same time moving his thumb so he caressed her swollen clit.
The touch was all it took and she came around him, her entire body bowing as she cried out. In the face of such beauty there was no way he could hold back any longer. He barely recognized the sound of his own strangled groan as he climaxed with one final thrust deep within her.
Coming back to earth took a minute and he was still breathing hard when he got rid of the condom and collapsed on the bed next to her in a haze of post-coital satisfaction.
"You okay?" he asked, drawing her close to him as he yanked the covers over them.
"Better than just okay." She settled her cheek against the pocket of his shoulder. "How about you?"
"My brain is mush."
Her giggle tickled his chest. "That means we did it right."
"True," he said, squeezing her closer.
"So while I have you in this weakened state, I have a question for you."
"What's that?"
She drew lazy circles with her fingertip over his chest and down lower over his abs. His dick started to perk up in hopes of a little extra attention. Greedy fucker. Not that his brain, if it had been functioning at full strength, would have disagreed.
"Will you go to the reunion dance with me tomorrow night?" she asked.
He looked down at her, surprised by the nervousness he saw on her face. "Like a date?"
"Yeah." She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. "Something new."
"I'd love to go." Okay, he had no interest in the reunion, especially when it wasn't even his graduating class, but if it meant getting to spend more time with Leah then he'd do just about anything. "So you never did tell me the real reason why you came back for the reunion."
"I came back," she said, her gaze steady even as her voice trembled a little, "for you."
Every dark fantasy he had about wringing the life out of Warren Law evaporated with those five words. Something in his chest clicked into place. "Coming back to burn me alive or rescue me?"
"Am I allowed to say both?" she asked with a laugh.
God knew he deserved one more than the other. "You know, I've always regretted what an ass I was to you at the end of that summer. It's no excuse but I was young and dumb. I had no idea just how rare it is to find someone like you."
"You mean trouble?"
"A little of that but that's not all." Not by a long shot. How in the world it had taken him this long to figure it out was a testament to his own stupidity. "You're brave and smart and stubborn enough to stick to your guns when just about everyone was against you. I'm sorry for what happened with Jess in school. If it helps at all, she's changed since then. I think she realized that she wasn't turning into the kind of person she wants to be."
She brushed a kiss above his heart. "This town does weird stuff to us."
"It does have a tinge of crazy sticking to it." And that was putting it mildly.
"Ever think of leaving?"
"Only every day." And he'd finally figured out a destination. It wasn't Fort Worth and he wasn't sure how she'd react, so he kept his mouth shut.
"You know, Colorado is nice. It has four seasons and me. You should come visit sometime. You might like it enough to stay."
The hell yes was on the tip of his tongue but he swallowed it. Saying she'd had a rough day was putting it mildly. The last thing he wanted was to put any kind of pressure on her about them and what this could turn into—especially if this was all just post-orgasm-happy talk on her part. "How can I turn down an offer like that from a naked woman in my bed?"
"You don't." More lazy circles traced on his chest, but she couldn't hide the way her eyelids were drooping and the soft yawn that escaped her lips. "So what are you going to do come Monday when you're no longer sheriff?"
He glided his hand up and down her back as her eyes fluttered shut, too entranced to look away even for a second. "I'll figure out something."
"You always do," she said and gave in to the need for sleep.
Drew waited, listening to her deep breaths and promising himself that he would find a way to make it all work out. When he was sure she was deep asleep, he unwound himself from her and made his way to his laptop in the kitchen, determined to find a way to make that pledge come true.
10
Leah
The Catfish Creek High School had never looked so glam. The decorations that had looked like a bunch of mishmash Tuesday had come together into an elegant whole. There were gold chairs around circular tables, black and red decorations hanging from the walls, twinkle lights on the ceiling, and masks hanging down instead of balloons or streamers. The whole elegant effect was the last thing Leah expected—well, second to last. The absolute last thing she'd expected was to be teetering on the edge of forever with the man whose palm rested on the bare skin of her lower back as they stood just inside the gym doors.
"Don't tell me you're thinking of running now," Drew whispered in her ear, sending a shiver of desire down her spine.
"Not a chance."
&nb
sp; "Good because that dance floor may be the only decent excuse I've got to hold you as close as I need to right now. That dress is killing me."
She smoothed her hands down the clingy black dress with its conservative front and deep V cutout in the back that ended at the base of her spine. If he had any clue how small her pink panties had to be to not be seen above the cutout, they never would have made it out of his house. Add a pair of killer heels in her favorite shade of ebony and she was all legs, ass, and back—it was almost as if she'd packed it in her suitcase with Drew in mind.
"This old thing?" She tossed her hair back over one shoulder so it teased the bare skin between her shoulder blades and would have winked at him if it wasn't for the stupid masks they'd both been required to put on for entrance. "I only wear it when I don't care what I look like."
Linking her hand in his, she led Drew out onto the dance floor where couples in fancy outfits and detailed masks were swaying to a slow song. Despite the disguises, she recognized a few people in the gym. Gray and Tessa were there, both dancing with other people though. So was Jessica, with whom Drew shared a knowing look and a smile. He'd sworn last night that his sister wasn't the same person she had been. God knew leaving Catfish Creek behind had changed her, maybe it was time to give another Jackson a second chance. They'd been friends once, there wasn't any law that said because of a shitty high school experience they couldn't be again.
Before that thought could spiral into another though, Drew pulled her close and everyone else in the room disappeared. All she could see was him. It felt so right to be in his arms, but Leah couldn't quite settle the nerves making her stomach do the weird flip-flop thing it always did when she wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen next. This was usually when she ran or, at the very least, put on her bitchy bad girl attitude—but she refused to let herself do that tonight. Drew wasn't the only one breaking bad habits it seemed.
The song ended way before she was ready and they walked hand in hand to one of the tables.
"What can I get you from the bar?" he asked.
"Dr. Pepper, gotta get the good stuff while I'm still in Texas." It never tasted as good anywhere else.
"You got it." He dipped his head lower so his mouth was only inches from hers. "I just need a little something before I go." He closed the distance between them, pulling her body close at the same time that his tongue slid between her lips in a demanding kiss she was more than willing to surrender to.
Hot didn't begin to describe it, but face of the sun times two might come close as her body responded automatically to his touch. Warm, wet desire had her clenching her thighs together as she gave back as good as she got. Nothing else mattered at that moment but Drew. If he'd whispered in her ear for her to get on her knees she would have, her mouth open and wanting before she hit the gym floor. Luckily—or unluckily—he ended the kiss without anything more scandalous than making her nipples so hard she could get a second job etching glass. With a wink for her and a nod for the people sitting at the table, he turned and left for the bar while she tried to remember her name and why in the hell she was back home in Catfish Creek.
One look at the people sitting at her table, though, cleared the fog of lust in her brain in a hurry. Karly sat at her table, soaking up every tidbit, no doubt. Unlike the others, Karly had taken off her mask.
Leah reached up and took off her mask, dropping it to the table and then sat down. "I thought they were required," she said, determined to brazen the whole awkward situation out.
"Oh, they are, but we can't expect bad girl Leah Camacho to pay attention to that," Karly said with an indulgent smile as if they were old friends. "So I was right, you and Drew are more than just fuck buddies! Does this mean you're moving to Fort Worth with him when he takes the new job?"
"Fort Worth?" she asked, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears.
Leah froze in her seat. Fort Worth? In all the hours they'd spent talking last night, he'd never mentioned a new job once. In fact, he'd been open to coming up to Denver to see if he'd like it. Wait. Had he said that? Specifically? Fingernails digging into the palms of her hand, she tried to recall his exact words and realized he'd evaded giving a direct answer. She'd just filled in the blanks with what she wanted to believe. Just like she had that summer when he'd left her without a goodbye.
"Oh yeah. From what I hear, this week was just one last hurrah in Catfish Creek before he starts with the Fort Worth Police Department next week. It was totally good luck that you were here to take advantage of the moment," Karly said. "I guess you two will always have Catfish Creek though."
No. They wouldn't. Not anymore. History had repeated itself one too many times.
Without uttering another word to Karly, Leah shoved her chair back from the table and marched away, her only objective being to get the hell out of Catfish Creek. She never should have come back.
"Leah," Drew grabbed her arm as she passed by the bar, jerking her to a stop, "everything okay?"
"Just fine and dandy," she managed to get out between clenched teeth. "Congrats on the job. Good luck in Fort Worth."
Confusion formed a deep V between his eyes. "What are you talking about—“
"Don't bother." She yanked her arm free, missing the warmth of his touch as much as she hated herself for being weak enough to still want it. "Karly told me everything about your new job and how you're starting on Monday. Wow, it really is like deja vu all over again with us, isn't it."
"That's not how it is." He held up his hands, palms forward, the panicked look in his eyes telling her everything she needed to know.
This is what Catfish Creek did to people. It made them do stupid shit over and over and over again until all that was left of them was a half crazy shell. Drew claimed that he'd been stuck in a cycle when really it was her, falling deeper and deeper in love with the same man who only broke her heart every damn time. It was ridiculous and she'd had more than enough.
"Of course it is. But don't worry. You won't be the one to leave without a word this time," she said, furiously blinking back the tears making her vision swim. "I'm already gone."
And she was. She swerved around him and hustled toward the doors so focused on making her escape that she didn't even see anyone else there until she ran smack dab into her and nearly knocked the other woman off her feet. They bobbled for a second before the woman locked one hand around Leah's arm, steadying herself. It took a second but the woman's name clicked into place. Rae. They'd had chemistry together and had been friendly, if not friends—especially when it came to the assholery of male nerds who thought a couple of chicks had invaded their space.
"Oh, my God, Leah, I'm so sorry," Rea wheezed, her free hand clutched to her chest as she regained her footing.
"Don't be sorry. I'm not mad at you." No, all her anger was aimed at only one person—herself. Once again she'd fallen for Drew Jackson.
Fury beating her insides to a pulp, she yanked open the door and strode out of the school, holding her head high even as she dragged her bloodied, mutilated heart in her wake.
Drew
Brain knocked off-line, he stood like an asshole and watched as she stormed out of the gym. He had no fucking idea what had just happened. How in the hell... Karly sidled up next to him, a fake smile turning her lips and an assessing look in her shit-stirring eyes.
"Oh my gosh," she said with a simper. "I didn't cause any trouble, did I?"
"Trouble?" His brain started to rev back into gear. "You? No. You're annoying, a pest, a gossip with nothing better to do but hiss snide comments about other people's lives. Trouble is that woman who just walked out the door and it's the kind I can't live without."
Leaving an open-mouthed Karly in his rearview, he hustled out of the gym determined not to lose Leah when he'd been lucky enough to get a second chance with her. She was in the parking lot by the time he caught up with her. How she managed to be that fast in heels, he had no damn clue.
"Leah," he called out.
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br /> She kept going, only the slight falter in her step gave him any sense that she'd heard him. Heart hammering against his chest like it was gonna crack right through his ribs, he sprinted to her. The urge to reach out and physically tie her to him so she couldn't run almost brought him to his knees. He couldn't though. He made one move toward her and like a cornered coyote, she'd charge and aim right for his balls.
"Dammit, Leah." He shoved his hands in his pockets as he kept pace with her breakneck pace. “Stop. I'm not going to Fort Worth."
"It doesn't matter," she said with just enough wobble in her voice to turn his stomach inside out. "It's not like any of this mattered outside of the strange bubble of Catfish Creek."
"Bullshit." Desperate to get her to understand he wasn't the boy he was that summer anymore, he was the man who wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, he sped up and pivoted into her path, blocking her getaway. "Do you know what I did when I left you all snug in my bed last night?"
She didn't answer, but she didn't move either. It wasn't much but it was probably the best sign of encouragement he was going to get from her at this moment.
"I emailed the Fort Worth Police Department and withdrew my application. Then, I spent the next few hours applying for a job at every police department I could find within an hour of Denver," he said. "After that, I bought a pair of snow boots and a real life winter jacket because no matter what happens with the job—hell, I'll take a night shift security guard position—I need to be near you."
Ever the hard ass, Leah arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her body. "You lied to me. Maybe not outright, but by omission and I'm done making the same mistake over and over again. What do you want, for me to start a slow clap because of your bravery in deciding to leave Texas?"
"No, I want you to realize what you mean to me, what you've always meant to me, but I was too fucking dumb to figure it out any faster than this. I love you, Leah Camacho." She didn't move, didn't flinch in the slightest at his declaration. He sucked in as much of a steadying breath as he could, determined not to stop until he'd confessed it all. "I love that you make me nuts. I love that you wear your bad girl attitude like armor. I love that underneath all that black you wear nothing but hot pink lace. I love that you always keep me guessing. I love that you are the best kind of trouble there is." The hard expression on her beautiful face made him hurt. Fuck that. Agony was squeezing his chest hard enough to make him want to double over and cry for mercy, but he kept going. "I know you want to run. It's written all over your face. Don't do it. Or better yet, let me run beside you. I know exactly why my life has been on a loop until now, because it was leading me to you. No matter what I did, where I went, or how much I fought it, my life was always leading me back to you. Together we work. I don't know why. We just do and I'm sorr--"
