Even when he was dead wrong.
For three and half long years he played with that team and counted down the days until graduation. Even with Derrick’s absence from the team, the tension remained until he played his last game.
They would have killed him that night and because of who he was, a virtual nobody, the team would have placed the blame squarely on his shoulders. More than likely they would have either threatened Sara until she was too terrified to speak up or drop out and leave altogether.
But Ryan, the standup guy that he was, had stepped up and waded into a shit-storm for two strangers simply because that was the type of man he was. It hadn’t hurt that Ryan was from the same side of the tracks as Derrick and was well known around the university. Even then when he spoke, people listened.
The man thought he was a mastermind and could force him and Lacey together? Well, he might not have a PhD behind his name, but he did have a brain and plans of his own. Despite craving a second beer, he’d have to pass. He was headed home tonight, but he’d be back soon with his own bag of tricks.
* * * *
Men. Who needed them? Not her. Yes, a scarce few were great to look at and good in bed. Okay, she’d be honest, a limited few were incredibly talented and giving in the sex department. She had yet to figure out how she’d lucked upon two such specimens. But, it didn’t matter because apparently they were both emotionally stunted infants.
No, she didn’t need any hand holding or sweet pillow talk after a good round of sex. She wasn’t in a true relationship with him, well either one of the hims, actually. Go figure. But the point was she was a mature adult and knew the score. This was a temporary situation and she was taking advantage of the circumstances just as much as they were.
But was she hiding and pouting? No. She was going on about her business like the grown woman that she was. After a killer orgasm, shower, and finding a clean T-shirt of Ryan’s, she’d only been missing one thing, food. She would make her own dinner and go to bed with a good book.
The plan sounded a little bit like heaven as she gathered the fixings for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She grabbed a handful of cookies from a little white bag in the cabinet while she was at it. Surely she’d burned enough calories earlier to warrant the indulgence. And if not? Oh well, if she wanted the cookies, she would have the cookies.
She was putting the lid back on the jelly jar when her cell rang from the end table where she’d placed it earlier in the day.
“Hello?”
“Hey there, lady. How are you?” It was Carrie from work. While they were friendly at the hospital, they rarely spoke much elsewhere. She crossed her fingers that it wasn’t a work-related call because there was nothing she could do from here.
“I’m good. What’s up?”
“Honestly? I’ve been wondering if you’ve lost your mind.”
“Excuse me?” Maybe the overtime was getting to Carrie.
“I debated on saying anything at all, it’s not really my business, but I figured it was best to ask you straight up instead of wondering and speculating. Are you getting back together with Dr. Wilton?” Carrie’s doubt was clear even through the phone.
“What? No. Absolutely not. What’s going on?” She’d thought before their ugly split, he’d wanted to keep their relationship secret and she hadn’t told anyone. How many people had he told while expecting her to stay quiet?
“Apparently Dr. Wilton’s wife caught wind of his drama and left him. She hadn’t even unpacked their things or got the kids settled before she heard. She loaded them up and left.”
“Good for her. I’m sorry she’s married to a douche, but at least she seems to have some sense.”
“I’ve heard through the hospital grapevine that she’s actually a very nice woman. She’s friends with one of the O.R. nurses. I hope she takes him for everything he has in the divorce.”
“It’s less than he deserves.”
“No doubt. So do you want me to play dumb or tell everyone he’s crazy?”
“Please tell everyone you know. It’s not happening. Ever.”
“Will do. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll let you go. Rest up while you can.”
“I will. And Carrie? Thanks for asking. I appreciate the honesty. Truly.” She disconnected her phone with a sigh and picked up her plate.
“Problems?” She turned to find Ryan standing on the opposite side of the kitchen.
“No. It was a friend from work. Nothing important.”
“They should leave you be. There’s no reason for you to worry about anything until this mess is over. Why don’t you turn your phone off and forget the outside world for a bit?”
“I can’t. I always keep it close. My brother is overseas and I worry. He doesn’t call often but I’ll keep it close until he’s home.”
“Will he be away much longer?”
“I don’t know. He’s pretty quiet about what he does and I get very few details out of him. I’ve stopped asking. I just do my best to be there if he needs me.”
“You do your best to take care of everyone, don’t you?”
“He’s my brother and all I have. I have to be there for him.”
He didn’t reply but she could almost see the thoughts swirling in his head but wasn’t sure if she wanted to know them or not.
“I know it’s a little late, but I’ll fix dinner if you like. You must be starving.” Ryan stayed at the far side of the kitchen looking as if he might catch cooties if he came into contact with her. His awkward stance only proved her point.
No matter how sexy, men could be such emotional slugs.
“No, this will be fine. PB&J is my go-to comfort meal. The cookies are icing on the cake. You don’t have to baby me, Ryan. I’m a big girl.” Was he trying to be a good host or did he think she needed to be taken care of? She’d been taking care of herself since long before college.
“I can’t help it. I’m responsible for you and the mess that I’ve put you in. It’s my duty to care for you.” The last thing she wanted was to be someone’s duty. She added another cookie to her plate.
“You’re not to blame, Ryan. Chance and the sick psycho who’s fixated on you are to blame. I don’t expect anything from you.”
He ran a hand through his hair and looked out the window. He turned his head to face her, eye to eye.
“I should be taking better care of you.” The somber tone of his voice almost matched the gravity in his eyes.
“I repeat. No one is responsible for me or my emotions, except me.” She added more than enough emphasis on the word “emotions” to ensure he got the point. “I don’t need to be taken care of. I’m a big girl and I know my own mind.” Taking her plate and her e-reader with her, she went to her room and closed the door.
Chapter 16
“Hey, man. Any news?” He closed the lid of his laptop and rubbed his neck. Parker’s daily phone call was the perfect chance to take a break. He’d been sitting in front of the computer for hours and had nothing but a stiff neck to show for it. His focus was shot.
“Nothing concrete yet. Dean and I are heading out to conduct more interviews tomorrow and we have a profiler looking over a few of your creepier fan emails. And wow, there are a few doozies. I wish we had more.”
“Are you coming up here tonight? The weather may get shitty tonight and tomorrow.”
“Probably not tonight. I’m going to put in a few more hours this evening and then run by Crave.”
“Crave?” Odd. Parker hadn’t ever cared for toys in the bedroom before. He had always, always been a hands-on kind of guy. Though he was open to ménage and even a little kink here and there, in some ways he continued to be a little shy. Of course if called on it, he’d deny it until he was blue in the face. The thought of Parker shopping in the boutique painted an almost comical image. The repeat visit must be work related. “Another interview?” The man was single-minded in his focus.
“Not today. I think poor Tara may use her whip on me i
f I come at her with more questions. She’s been nothing but helpful, but I know this has been hard on her. I thought about getting Lacey a surprise. What do you think? Should I get her something pretty or go all out and get her a set of training plugs? She has one of the most delicious asses I’ve ever seen. And she’s so damn responsive. Can you imagine what full penetration in both her pussy and her ass would do to her?”
“Don’t worry about the training plugs. There was a new set in the bag you already brought up.” Only they hadn’t gotten around to using them yet.
And yeah, he could imagine it. He had been repeatedly, and visions of Lacey in full sexual abandon continued to keep him awake at night. Parker’s suggestions were the last thing he needed. A cold shower wouldn’t do tonight.
Parker went on without seeming to notice the strain in his voice.
“They have a section filled with jeweled plugs. Can you see her bent over my lap with that curvy ass in the air? Imagine it with a dainty little emerald-topped plug. Or how about filling that sweet little asshole with a warmed glass plug? If she’s as open to experimentation as you say, the possibilities are endless.”
The possibilities were endless. And his cock felt ready to burst just thinking about all the things he, or better yet, Parker could do to Lacey. He reminded himself once again that Lacey would be better off with Parker. If he could only get his cock and his heart to listen.
He ended the phone call with a grunt and dropped his head to the table.
“Is something wrong?” Lacey’s voice only made the ache in his balls worse. After participating in the kitchen love fest yesterday without relief and visions of Lacey’s ass plugged, with a primed, slick pussy, he couldn’t breathe for the painful desire riding him.
“No. Nothing’s wrong. I’m getting impatient waiting on progress. As much as I enjoy your company, I can’t keep you hostage forever.” The silly grin he gave her was a halfhearted attempt at hiding his mood, but no doubt it fell flat. He didn’t need the constant reminder of what he couldn’t have. What he shouldn’t take advantage of.
“Liar. You’re tense, upset, and I don’t think it’s the lack of progress that’s done this to you. Come here. Look at me.” Helpless against her softness, he shifted in his chair to face her. And damn it all to hell, there was no hiding the erection straining against the front of his pants.
“My, that is a big problem you have there.” Her mood seemed to shift from concerned to playful as she took in his present state. “Shouldn’t you do something about your condition?” She had no idea how desperately he needed to “do something” about the state of his raging cock.
“I’m open to suggestions.” He’d planned on jacking off in the shower, but if he didn’t act on this, she’d think something had changed in their agreement, and it had. The timing couldn’t be worse.
Something that looked a bit like confusion flickered through her lovely features before she straightened her spine and looked him in the eye. “You tell me. Aren’t you the one in charge?” Oh hell. Calling him out on his bullshit. She would be the death of him yet.
“Take off your shirt and bra. I want to see your breasts.” Heat smoldered in the depths of her eyes as she moved to obey. Damn, but she was beautiful. It wasn’t a perfect swimsuit model beauty but a touchable, girl next door loveliness, beckoning a man to hold and protect. And fuck. In no time he’d come to need the sight of her arousal-flushed skin like his next breath.
“Come here. Let me have a taste.” Would he ever be able to see the perfection of her body and not crave it? Taking a nipple in his mouth, he drew hard. He grazed a light as air caress over the other nipple and felt it bead beneath his fingers. The ache in his cock spread, increasing his body’s tension tenfold. What would it be like to have Lacey’s presence in his everyday life?
“Undo my pants and take my cock in your mouth. Suck me like your life depends on it.” A dark, desperate need grabbed him by the balls and forced his dominant nature to the surface. And when she knelt before him and looked up with those big doe eyes, all remnants of civility fled.
She licked her lips and went down on him like a pro, taking him deep into her throat. Slick, wet, and hot, she sucked him down like a dream. With her hair twisted up on top of her head, he had a clear view of the tops of her breast and hard nipples. Bobbing each time she went down on him, they taunted him. The light rasp of her teeth on the hardened flesh of his cock caused his balls to draw even tighter in her hand.
The satin suction pulled the shadiest of his desires to the surface, exposing the beast beneath the man. He tangled his hands in the fine strands of her hair, praying for some sort of anchor to sanity. The impulse to take without care, to ravage threatened to consume him in a bottomless appetite for her submission.
Impatient, near insane with an urgent demand for release, he pulled his cock from her mouth, sliding the swollen member out in one swift pop. He spread her out on the floor, stripped her, and took in the sight of her fevered eyes and ripe pussy. Pausing for the briefest of moments, he stripped himself, pulled a condom from his pocket, and rolled it on.
With the last remnants of his sanity, he slipped a single finger into the honeyed heat of her pussy to ensure her readiness. This would be no easy fuck.
“Ryan, I want you. Believe me, I’m ready.” And, yeah, no doubt she was ready. Scorching hot and satin smooth, her pussy defined perfection. He stretched out beside her and hooked one of her legs over his arm, opening her fully. Holding her in place, he moved between her open legs and slid in with one hard thrust. Balls deep in the pure bliss of her sex, he became nothing more than a mindless beast racing for the finish line.
The scratch of fingernails in his back and the nip of teeth into his neck spurred him on. A wild storm in his blood, he wouldn’t survive the night unless he rode her into oblivion.
She touched a palm to his cheek and took his mouth in a slow, sensual kiss, cooling the fever in his blood. Gentling him with a tender kiss, she stole his heart and soul.
As he watched her pleasure heighten, his did the same. Each sigh and whimper she gave him firmed his resolve to see her through, no matter the cost to himself. When the sting of her nails bit hard into his back he swore. Arching and gasping his name, she became the most beautiful creature in the world. Her flesh tightened on his cock, gripping him until he could hold back no longer. With a fierce rush of pleasure, he came in great spurts. An electric bolt of ecstasy slammed through him, stopping the heart that no longer belonged to him.
Light fingers combed through his damp hair and brushed over his mouth. A quiet, satisfied sigh whispered in his ear. How the hell was he ever going to give her up?
Chapter 17
A perfect match for the weather, his mood was shit. The words wouldn’t come and his focus was blown to bits. Behind deadline and stalled, projects were stacking up fast.
Parker was killing himself trying to find this stalker. Of course the idiot would deny it, but he couldn’t hide the signs. Parker wouldn’t get a full meal or single night’s rest until the asshole was behind bars. Yes, he wanted to be free of this headache and above all ensure Lacey’s safety, but he didn’t want to see his best friend run himself into the ground in the process.
Frustrated and at a loss, he plopped down on the couch and put his feet on the little coffee table. His mother would have kittens over his behavior, but he couldn’t make himself care. He grabbed the remote and flipped through the sports channels. Disappointed in the lack of options, he turned the TV off. Restless, he cracked open a bottle of water and absorbed the heavy silence.
He closed his eyes and cursed the bastard who virtually held them hostage. Yes, they were safe, but he could only keep Lacey here for so long. She had a job to get back to and heaven knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off of her for long. He was already doing a piss-poor job in steering her toward Parker.
Startled when a perky ringtone sounded, he almost spilled the water.
Lacey’s phone lay on the
end table. He couldn’t blame her, no doubt he’d worn her out last night, and she needed the rest. There was no way he was waking her up for a phone call. He glanced at the screen. It simply said “Rob.” Hell. What was her brother’s name? She hadn’t said.
She’d be heartbroken if she missed an opportunity to talk to him. Damn it.
“Hello.” He couldn’t bear the thought of any sadness touching her eyes. He’d take his chances with the mystery guy, “Rob.”
“I beg your pardon? Who is this? I need to speak to Lacey right this moment.” Rob sounded like a pompous asshole. Not exactly how he imagined her brother might sound. He expected someone more human.
“I’m sorry, but Lacey is asleep. Is this important? I’d prefer not to wake her unless necessary.” There. He could be civil and take the high road.
“Of course it’s important. I wouldn’t waste my time on anything less. I don’t know who this is, but I need to talk to Lacey right now. It’s nearly nine a.m., well past time for any decent person to be awake.” In addition to being terribly rude, something triggered alarm bells in his head. Though something made him doubt the caller could be Lacey’s brother, he’d decided he didn’t care if he was. There was no way he was waking her from a sound sleep for what would most likely be a tongue lashing from this prick.
“Look, unless you can tell me who you are and have a valid reason for calling Lacey, I’m not waking her. She’s exhausted.”
“Well, she’s not at home. I drove by there three times yesterday evening and again on my way in to work this morning. I certainly hope she’s not in your bed. I won’t have it.” Okay, the brother theory went out the window. The brother was supposed to be overseas. Thank God, because he was done playing nice and he really didn’t give two shits if he offended this asshole. He would make sure she never spoke to the bastard again. Who drove by a woman’s house three times in one evening?
Lacey Temptations [Crave 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 12
