Warnings and Wildfires

by Autumn Jones Lake

  “No,” I grumble. Anything more than a handful of lettuce on my plate always ended in a lecture on how much prettier I’d be if I lost weight. And when that didn’t work, a few summers at fat camp hammered home the message.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Saying goodbye to my daughter never gets any easier.

  For seven years now I’ve been taking Madison to the airport at the end of her visit and sending her home.

  Still hurts every time.

  So she doesn’t get upset, I try to bury my feelings and keep our conversation superficial. After our talk on Friday, she didn’t ask me again about the extra visits. I didn’t bring it up because I hadn’t discussed it with her mother yet.

  At the security gate, she jumps up and gives me the biggest hug. I almost lose it.

  “Love you, Daddy.” She sniffles. She calls me that less and less, so I squeeze her tighter.

  These moments I love and hate the most.

  “Love you too,” I whisper. She’s growing up so fast. Next time I see her, she might not let me hug her like this, so I soak it all up now.

  Pulling back, I kiss her cheek. “Be good.”

  Her smile’s strained and half-hearted. “I’m always good.”

  I give her another quick hug and check to make sure she has everything before setting her free.

  Once she’s through security, she jumps and waves before running for her gate.

  The Empire airport isn’t that big and I’m able to watch her almost the entire way.

  A few minutes later, my phone pings.

  Madison: On the plane.

  I walk out to my Jeep and finally call Lauren.

  “Hey, Sully. Is she on her way home?”

  “Yup. Her plane just took off.”

  “How was she?”

  I’ve been going over how to approach this since Friday night. How to gain more visitation without pissing Lauren off or getting dragged back into family court.

  “Great. We had fun.”

  “That’s good. Well—”

  I cut her off before she gives me an excuse to get off the phone. “Lauren, do you have a minute to talk?”

  “Sure.” Her wary tone doesn’t disguise her curiosity.

  “Maddy asked about coming to visit more often—”

  “I’m sorry.”

  What the hell is she sorry for?

  “It’s fine. I want to see her more. Can we work something out?”

  She sighs into the phone. “How’s the gym?”

  “All right,” I answer slowly, not sure why she cares. “Still struggling, but getting better.”

  “Do you have more people to help you run things?”

  “Jake.” I cough to cover my discomfort. “And a new person I hired to help out.”

  “Do you have the time?”

  The insinuation that I somehow neglect Madison when she visits, pisses me off. “I’ll make the time, Lauren.”

  She lets out another sigh. I wish we were doing this face-to-face so I had some clue of what’s going through her head. On the other end, she’s quiet for so long, I pull the phone away to make sure we’re still connected.

  “How about the weekend after next?”

  Shit, my mother has plans to be out of town that weekend, but there’s no way I’m turning down this opportunity.

  “That would be great. It won’t mess her up with school or anything, right?”

  “No, it should be fine. Are you sure about this, Sully?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.” Great, she probably thinks I’m trying to weasel down my child support payments or something.

  As if she heard my thoughts through the phone, she says, “We don’t need to go back to court and make it official yet. Let’s try it out a few times and see how it goes.”

  “That’s fine.” Lauren and I mostly get along. Well, except for the part where she hid my daughter from me for four years and then seemed surprised and annoyed that I wanted to be a part of Maddy’s life when I found out she existed.

  Not that it still burns my ass or anything.

  Even so, I’ve heard enough horror stories from other single parents that I don’t suffer any guilt over my next request. “Can you send me something in writing, though?”

  “Sure. Is e-mail okay?” she asks with only a hint of the irritation I expected.

  “That works. Thank you, Lauren.”

  She sighs again. “I should probably be thanking you. She’s been a handful lately.”

  “Really?” News to me. Except for a random smart-ass comment—which I blame Jake for—Maddy’s easy to spend time with.

  “Figures she behaves when she’s with you. While I get the back talk, door-slamming, and attitude.”

  I’m not really sure what to say about that. Since I only see my daughter two and a half days a month, there’s not a whole lot I can do to remedy the situation or take the pressure off Lauren. “Do you want me to talk to her?”

  Lauren snorts. “Sure. Maybe it’ll mean more coming from you.” I’m so close to saying that it didn’t need to be this way. She could’ve moved back to New York when she said she was going to. Maybe not hidden the existence of my daughter for the first four years of her life. Let me be more involved. Any of those things. But rehashing the past doesn’t help anyone. It’s not worth arguing over again.

  I just want more time with Madison.

  “I’ll give her a call tomorrow.”

  “All right. I’ll let you tell her about the extra visits, okay? Just in case you change your mind. I don’t want her to get her hopes up—”

  “I’m not going to change my mind.”

  “Good night, Sully.”

  She hangs up and I blow out a frustrated breath. At least it went better than I expected.

  An extra weekend with my daughter. I’m grinning from ear-to-ear and I can’t think of anyone I want to share this news with more than Aubrey right now.

  It’s about forty-five minutes to her place from the airport. Did she even make it home yet, or is she still at my mother’s getting grilled?

  She doesn’t answer the text I send, so I decide to go straight to her place and find out.

  When I bound up the stairs and knock on her door, she opens it within a few seconds.

  “Sully!” Her big brown eyes shine with happiness and surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

  “Is it all right that I stopped by?” My gaze drops to the tank top and tiny shorts she’s wearing, and my mind immediately shifts in another direction.

  “Hey, Sully. Can’t stay away, huh?” Celia teases.

  “You manage not to kill my brother, Celia?” I joke back.

  “Barely,” she grumbles, dropping onto the couch.

  I jerk my head toward the stairs and trace my fingers down Aubrey’s bare arm. “Want to go for a walk with me?”

  “Sure.” She ducks behind the door and grabs a hoodie.

  “It’s still hot out,” I warn her.

  She gestures to the tank top. “It’s kind of thin.”

  “That’s why I like it.” I keep my tone low, only meant for her.

  A brief smile flickers over her lips, but she doesn’t respond, other than slipping the sweatshirt over her head and shoving her feet into a pair of woolly boots.

  “Seriously, it’s still like eighty degrees out.”

  “I always wear these around here at night.”

  I hold out my hand and she takes it. “I’ll be back in a little bit,” she calls to Celia before shutting the door.

  We’re quiet as we take the stairs. The wind kicks up when we step into the courtyard, blowing her hair all around. She tips her head back, breathing in the sweet, humid night air.

  “Doesn’t smell like fall yet,” she says.

  Her serene smile and closed eyes sends a sizzle of arousal down my spine. The shorts that stop mid-thigh don’t hurt either.

  “How’d it go?” she asks.

  I don’t answer right away. Usually I’m bummed aft
er sending Maddy back to Florida and head straight to the bar to meet up with Jake and Keegan. Tonight, the second I saw Aubrey the usual pain washed away. “It’s never fun. But I talked to Lauren and she agreed to let Maddy visit more often.”

  “That’s great.” She squeezes my hand and seems genuinely happy about the news.

  “We planned on the weekend after next.”

  “Awesome. Does Maddy know yet?”

  “No. Lauren wants me to tell her. She’s afraid I’ll back out or something.”

  Aubrey rolls her eyes but doesn’t comment. I love that she’s on my side without talking shit about my daughter’s mother.

  We’re a few feet away from my Jeep when I stop and pull her closer. “I missed you.”

  “You just saw me a few hours ago.” She pokes her pinky finger against my chest. “Work, Sunday dinners, late-night walks in dark parking lots. Soon you’re going to get tired of me.”

  “Never.” I tip my head back, staring at the inky sky. The weeks and months ahead rush through my mind and I can’t imagine not wanting Aubrey to be a part of every single moment.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Sully’s so serious tonight. I can’t believe he stopped by to see me after we spent the day and evening together. That I was on his mind after dropping his daughter off, when I know how hard that must be on him.

  I reach up and brush the back of my hand over his cheek. A light layer of scruff tickles my skin as he leans into my touch.

  “Madison’s a lot of fun.”

  A smile twitches at the corners of his mouth. “Fun, yeah. She keeps me on my toes.”

  There’s nothing but affection for his daughter in his words. I love that. Adore how much he cares about his whole family. Spending time with them tonight allowed me to see him in a different light. More than the man who sets my blood on fire every time he looks at me. He’s such a good man.

  Thunder growls above us and the wind whips against our bodies. The leaves from the trees at the edge of the parking lot rustle.

  He inhales deeply. “Guess there’s a storm coming.”

  “The breeze feels good. You were right, it’s hot.” I slip my sweatshirt over my head and when I find my way out of the material, Sully’s holding out his hand.

  “I’ll carry it for you.” Heat blazes over my skin where his gaze lingers.

  Such a simple gentlemanly thing to do. Doesn’t crack any “I told you so” jokes. Just folds up my shirt and carries it in one hand while holding on to me with the other.

  A few seconds later, lightning severs the darkness and more thunder rattles the air. Warm, wet needles of rain prickle over my skin. In an instant, I’m soaked.

  I yelp and Sully holds my sweatshirt over my head, leading me to the Jeep. He throws the door open and I fling myself inside, breathing hard. Heat and humidity cling to the interior and the backs of my thighs stick to the seat. Sully jumps in the driver’s side and twists to grab something off the backseat.

  “Sorry about that. I didn’t expect the sky to open up so violently.” He hands me a towel and I rub it over my face, chest, and arms before shoving it his way.

  When he doesn’t take the towel, I glance over. Drops of rain cling to his hair, curling it at the ends, turning it almost black in the weak light. He inhales sharply and runs his gaze over my breasts. The tank top might as well be a napkin for all the good it’s doing in the coverage department.

  “I’m soaked.”

  “I see that.” His voice comes out raw and strained. The weight of his stare hardens my nipples. No man has ever looked at me with so much desire blazing in his eyes.

  He reaches over and cups my breast, rubbing his thumb over the tip.

  I suck in a sharp inhale. My heart hammers. Without thinking about it, my gaze drops to his lap.

  He lifts and twists his big body into the backseat and pats his thigh. “Join me.”

  Skeptical, I stare at the cramped space. “Is there room?”

  “Let’s find out.”

  Well, at least he hasn’t been back there with anyone else.

  “I don’t think I’ve done this since high school,” I blurt out as I climb into the back. He stares at me with a twist to his mouth and I realize what I said. “Never mind.”

  He tugs at the hem of my shorts and since they’re nothing more than terrycloth held up by cheap elastic, they slide down my hips.

  “Sully.” I squeal and push his hand away. “I don’t want my entire apartment complex to see my bare ass.”

  “The windows are too fogged to see anything.” He pats his thighs again. “Come on.”

  It takes some fancy contortion, but I straddle his lap, looping my arms around his neck. “Now what?”

  “Kiss me.”

  His hand cups the back of my head and he pulls me closer. His lips brush mine. Soft at first. One kiss leads to another. Deep, drugging kisses that make me forget we’re in the back of his Jeep with a wild storm swirling around us, beating at the windows. His other hand strays to my hip, then slides under my shirt, drawing the wet fabric away from my heated skin.

  I brush my tongue against his and he moans into my mouth. Rough hands cup my breast, teasing my nipple. “No bra?”

  “I wasn’t expecting to go out again.”

  “I like it.”

  Reaching between us, I rub my hand over the bulge in his pants. He groans even louder. “Want something?”

  “Yes.”

  “Say it.”

  My cheeks sting with heat and I press my body against his. Slowly, I trail kisses over his neck and jaw, working my way to his ear. Taking the time to gather up my courage. “I want to ride your cock.”

  It’s the first time I’ve ever been brave enough to be so direct.

  “Fuck.” Underneath me, his body jolts. He strips off my shirt, tossing it in the front somewhere, then works my shorts down. I can’t undo his belt and zipper fast enough, so he brushes my hands away. “There’s a condom in the middle console.”

  “Spare for emergencies?” I tease.

  He gives me a sharp look. “I slipped it in there this morning.”

  “Where?” I ask digging through all the stuff he keeps stored in the space.

  “Altoids tin. Didn’t want—”

  “Got it.” Peppermint fills my nose. “Yum. Minty fresh.”

  “Give me that.” He snatches the condom from my hand and presses a rough kiss to my cheek.

  I’m mesmerized as he reaches behind his neck to pull his T-shirt over his head, leaving his hair all tousled and sexy. He rips into the condom, smoothing it on fast before urging me over him.

  “That’s it,” he murmurs.

  He slips his fingers between my legs, finding how wet I am—from him not the rainstorm—and groans.

  His lips capture my nipple and he sucks hard. “Oh!” I sink my hands into his thick hair and he moves to my other breast licking and sucking.

  The second his cock nudges against my entrance, I gasp.

  “Nice and slow,” he says. “I know you can take me.”

  We’re both slick with sweat, heat sizzling between us as he fills me inch by heavenly inch.

  His head falls back, and he groans with pleasure. For a second, I don’t move, enjoying the feeling of fullness. His hands fit into the curve of my waist, gently urging me up. “Fuck, Aubrey. I need you to ride me.”

  I lift my arms gauging where the roof is, so I don’t ram my head into it.

  “Come here.” He urges me closer, sliding his hands down my back to cup my butt. Our lips meet. My sweat-slick skin clings to his as I work my hips, finding a rhythm that works for both of us. We rock together, raw energy sparking between us.

  Intense pleasure barrels down on me and I dig my fingers into his shoulders.

  “Harder,” he urges. “Come for me, Aubrey.” His voice is tight with concentration. “Let go.”

  My screams echo in the tight confines of the car as I splinter apart. Sully doesn’t show me any mercy though. He k
eeps pounding up into me and my orgasm soars. My voice breaks, my cries turning hoarse. In a matter of minutes, he’s turned me into a wild, moaning creature.

  He finally lets loose with a roar. His teeth graze my shoulder. Breathing hard, he rests his sweaty forehead against mine.

  I’m limp, boneless, draped over him.

  Keeping one arm firmly wrapped around me, he reaches over and pops the side window open a crack. I take the opportunity to run my hand down his forearm, savoring the muscles that just worked so hard to please me.

  “You all right?” he asks.

  Am I?

  “That was…” Shoot, what was I even going to say? I collapse against his chest, listening to his heart beating fast and strong beneath me. His strong arms provide a safe, tight shelter.

  After a few moments, he kisses the top of my head. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m okay.” I peek up at him. “That was…something.”

  “Yes, it was.” He shifts under me. “Give me a second.”

  “Sure.” I throw myself to the side, groaning at the tightness in my hips from straddling him for so long.

  Sully glances over, a wicked smile on his lush lips. “Do I need to work you out more often?”

  “I think so.”

  He reaches out and rubs his hand up to my hip and down my leg, soothing. “You’re pretty all naked and sweaty in my backseat.”

  I chuckle and don’t even search for something to cover myself with. Why would I when he’s staring at me with so much approval and desire in his eyes?

  He hesitates, and his intense brown eyes turn serious. “You know that’s not why I came to see you tonight, though, right?”

  “I don’t mind if it is. That was pretty hot.”

  “It was,” he agrees. He leans over and grabs a roll of paper towels off the floor. I hand him his shirt, then reach into the front to retrieve my soggy tank top. He stretches into the front to start up the Jeep and crank up the air-conditioning.

  “Come here,” he says, settling back down next to me and holding out one arm.

  I snag my shorts and wriggle into them before snuggling against his side.