by Opal Carew
“What did Carter say?”
Rikki smiled. “He said he loves me, too.” Then her smile faded. “But you know it’ll be a huge problem if I’m with just Carter. It would probably ruin their relationship and…” She dragged her finger along the tabletop, her heart pounding. “I want to be with both of them. I love both of them.”
Cassie nodded, then placed her hand on Rikki’s.
“It might not be what you think,” Cassie said. “The guy was injured. Are you sure it’s not just that he’s recovering?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” She lifted her gaze to Cassie’s, her chest aching. “It’s just that it took so much to get to the point where I could allow myself to love them. And I really thought they both felt the same about me.” She bit her lip. “I don’t want to lose them.”
“Losing them has been your fear all along.”
Rikki nodded. “I know. I just didn’t expect it to be because Simon doesn’t want me.”
* * *
The next two days between their shifts, Simon spent most of the time out running errands and keeping busy. Rikki assumed that was on purpose to keep away from her.
To keep her mind off it, she decided to ask Carter if he’d pose for her for the new book covers. The author wanted another man with a tattoo, so Carter fit the bill perfectly. She thought the rose vine coiling down his arm would look amazingly sexy and romantic on a cover.
She started by snapping pictures of him shirtless in the backyard, taking advantage of the natural light. Then they moved into the house and he stripped down to his boxers. They quickly wound up in the bedroom and he teased her by easing his boxers down, but unlike Dodge’s teasing during his photo shoot, Carter stripped them off entirely and tossed them aside.
She gazed hungrily at his swelling cock.
“You know I can’t take pictures of you like that.”
He chuckled. “Who says we need to keep taking pictures?”
She licked her lips, loving the idea of flinging off her own clothes and surging into his arms. Especially without the current tension of Simon making her feel cautious and uncomfortable.
She bit her lip. “As inviting as that is, I’d really love to get just a few more pictures.”
“Okay.” He pulled the bedspread off the bed and tossed it aside, then slipped under the sheets. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll keep posing for you if you take the pictures naked.”
“What?” Her cheeks flushed. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not? It’s just the two of us here.”
“I … uh…” Then she laughed. “Okay.”
She put the camera down and stripped off her clothes, dropping them piece by piece onto the floor. When she grabbed her camera again and turned to him, the heat in his eyes was enough to curl her toes. A shiver ran down her spine.
“Actually,” she said, her voice an octave lower, “this is perfect. You have that smoldering, sexy look in your eyes.”
“Come over here and I’ll show you just how smoldering hot things can get.”
She laughed. “You promised me pictures first.”
She snapped a couple as she moved slowly toward the bed. Man, these would sizzle right off the screen.
She walked to the side of the bed and rearranged the sheets in just the right way to hint at the growing erection he had under the covers and still be tasteful. She snapped a few more shots, intensely aware of his gaze on her naked breasts. Then she pulled the sheets a little lower. The sight of the trail of hair down his stomach, disappearing under the covers was intensely erotic.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
When she reached down to make another adjustment, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the bed, his body beneath her. The feel of his hard, muscular planes sent her pulse rocketing. His lips found hers and his tongue swept inside. When she murmured her approval, he rolled her under him and held her arms above her head as he stared down at her, his amber eyes simmering.
“I love the feel of you beneath me.”
She laughed softly. “And I love being here.” She pushed her wrists against his hands, testing his strength. There’s no way she’d break free of his hold unless he chose to let her go.
She arched upward, pressing her breasts against him. Her nipples were hard and aching. He dipped his head down and licked one, then sucked it into his mouth. The warmth … the soft suction … sent heat flooding through her.
“Ohhh, yes.”
He suckled her other nipple and she moaned.
“I want you,” she murmured.
He grasped both her wrists in one hand, then slid his other hand down her arm, over her breast, then lower.
When she felt his fingers glide over her intimate folds, she gasped. He pressed into her slickness, dipping his finger inside her.
“Fuck, you really do.” He pressed his hot cockhead to her slick flesh and glided over it, teasing her. Then he centered it and pushed inside. Just a little.
“Oh, yes.” She arched forward, inviting him in.
He pulsed forward in short, rhythmic strokes, barely pushing in past his cockhead.
“More. Please.” She needed all of him.
He chuckled, then glided deep inside her, to her gasp of delight.
She clung to him, holding him close as they both revelled in the feel of him inside her.
Then he began to move. His cock sliding along her passage. In and out.
Her body ached, and she delighted in this carefree lovemaking. Just enjoying being with the man she loved.
At least, one of them.
Heat sizzled through her, electrical sparks crackling along her nerve endings.
“Yes.”
He pulsed deep. A sudden wave of pleasure swelled inside her. Intense. Gripping.
“God. Faster. Please.” She was nearly panting. She couldn’t believe this was happening so fast.
He sped up, driving into her harder now.
“Oh … I’m … so … close.” Her words came out in little gasps.
“Me, too, sweetheart.” He ground his hips against her, then thrust faster. Deeper.
Her voice rose to a higher-pitched moan of delight as her whole body quivered. Nearing the edge.
Just as the first ripples of euphoria shimmered through her, the door opened. Simon stood in the doorway, his eyes dark and intense. Her gaze locked with his as the pleasure overtook her, then she gave herself over to it, the orgasm blossoming through her.
He watched her, his sapphire blue eyes turning dark as midnight.
“Ohhh, Carter. I’m … coming.” The last word lingered on a long, languid moan as she surrendered to the bliss. Floating on a wave of absolute joy.
“Oh, fuck, sweetheart. I love hearing you say that.” His tone was gruff and he rode her, keeping her orgasm going on and on.
Then he groaned and his cock pulsed, filling her with heat.
Finally, they both collapsed on the bed. He kissed her tenderly, then rolled away, his gaze turning to Simon, who still watched, his stance rigid. As Simon’s gaze glided down her body, she realized that wasn’t the only thing that was rigid.
God, she wanted him, too. She opened her arms in invitation.
He hesitated only a second, then he surged toward the bed, shedding his clothes on the way. He swooped over her, now naked, and pulled her into his arms, his body tight against her as he kissed her. His tongue pulsed deep and he consumed her like a starving man.
She wrapped her hand around his swollen cock. It was hot and hard. And impossibly thick.
“I want you inside me.” Her voice was hoarse and full of need.
He growled, then pressed his cock to her wet folds and thrust inside her. She gasped at his deep penetration.
“Oh, yes!” She nipped his earlobe. “Fuck me.”
His blazing midnight eyes seared her senses. Her whole body began to quiver as he drew back. Then he thrust forward again. Filling her deep and hard.
She moaned, clinging to his broad shoulders.
>
“I’m going to make you come so hard, you’ll never forget the feel of me inside you.”
Then he thrust deep again. And before she could catch her breath, he thrust again.
He kept pounding into her, as if his life depended on it. Filling her over and over. The intimate stroking of his cock driving her wild with need.
“Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes,” she kept chanting.
She trembled beneath his moving body, accepting every stroke of his cock with wild abandon. Loving the feel of him claiming her so completely.
“Are you close, baby?”
She nodded, unable to utter a word.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
She tried and just croaked out a sound as pleasure vibrated through her.
“Tell me!” The command rippled through her, impossible to ignore.
“I’m going to come,” she whispered against his ear, already feeling the first wave claiming her.
He thrust harder and she moaned.
“I’m … yes … Oh, God, I’m…” She moaned again. “Coming…”
Her voice seemed to vibrate with the pleasure and intensity of the release he was giving her. The orgasm swept over her and tumbled her into bliss. She felt lost in a euphoric swirl of delight.
She could feel her moans pulsing through her body and from her mouth, but the pleasure overrode her sense of time and space. There was only the feel of Simon’s cock stroking her deeply. The pleasure rippling through her. And the swell of emotion at being possessed by him.
When he groaned his release, her body jolted into a new level of hyper pleasure and she lost her hold on reality altogether. Fading into darkness.
* * *
“Rikki! Are you all right?”
She opened her eyes to see Simon staring down at her. His cock was still embedded inside her and she squeezed around him.
“More than all right,” she murmured, her voice husky. “I think I passed out. Is that even possible?”
His blue eyes, so filled with concern, darkened.
“Do you feel okay?” he grated. “I’m worried about you.”
As he started to roll away, she curled her arms around him, but he still escaped.
“I’m fine, Simon. There’s no need to worry. That was just so … intense.”
She grabbed his biceps with both hands as he sat up.
“Please don’t walk away,” she said. “I want to know why you’ve been pulling away from me.”
He frowned at her, then sighed. “All right.”
“Simon, don’t,” Carter said in a sharp voice.
Simon locked gazes with Carter. “She deserves to know.” He turned back to her. “Rikki, I think it’s time we ended this between us.”
Chapter Twenty
Rikki’s heart lurched. “But why?”
“It’s getting too serious and”—his gaze locked with hers and for a moment she saw a heartbreaking sadness—“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“But I…” Tears swelled in her eyes and she blinked them back. She couldn’t tell him she loved him now.
“For God’s sake, Simon. Be honest with her.”
She turned her gaze to Carter, then back to Simon.
“What’s going on?”
“Fuck.” Simon scowled. “Fine. I’m trying to protect you. After getting a taste of the intense worry of losing you, I realized why you decided not to fall for a firefighter again. You’ve already suffered so much pain that I can’t put you in that position again.”
“But it’s not up to you to decide that for me.”
“Except that we put you in this position. You told us you didn’t want to get involved and we didn’t listen. Therefore it is my responsibility.”
She pushed herself onto her knees and rested her hand on his cheek, but he plucked it away and stood up.
“Please don’t make this any harder than it already is,” he said. “I want what’s best for you. And I’m not it.”
* * *
“You don’t have to leave,” Carter said as Rikki threw the few clothes she’d bought after the fire into a backpack.
“I can’t stay here.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Carter said. “We’ll work this out.”
She tossed the last thing in the bag, her heart pounding.
“Don’t you see? I don’t want anyone to have to talk Simon into wanting to be with me.”
“But the man really does love you.”
“Just not enough.” She picked up the backpack and headed for the bedroom door.
Carter stepped in front of her. “What about you and me? You know I’m in love with you.”
She paused, staring into his amber eyes, her heart compressing, then she raised her hand to his raspy cheek and stroked.
“And I love you. But how do we continue this without it totally destroying your relationship with Simon?”
“If he’s going to be an idiot, then so be it, but I don’t intend to give you up. And you love me.” He tipped up her chin and captured her gaze. “The question is, do you love me enough?”
A riot of emotions swirled through her.
“Carter, right now I’m confused and hurt.” She curled her fingers around his and squeezed. “Give me a few days to let this all sink in. I’m not saying good-bye. I just need a little time.”
“I’ll give you time. But not too much.”
He took the backpack from her and put it on the floor, then pulled her into his arms. His kiss was passionate and heartrending. It was almost enough to make her dump her clothes back into the drawer and stay.
Almost.
Finally, he released her and picked up the backpack.
“At least let me drive you,” he insisted.
“No, I’ve already called a cab.”
She followed him down the stairs to the front door. Through the window, she could see the cab pulling into the driveway.
She took the bag from Carter’s grip. Before she could turn away, he pulled her into a hug again.
“We’ll talk soon,” he said as he released her.
“Of course.”
She grabbed her purse from the shelf by the front door and walked outside. When she got into the taxi, tears prickled at her eyes.
No matter what happened between her and Carter, she knew that losing Simon would leave a huge hole in her life.
* * *
Rikki knocked on Cassie’s door. The moment Cassie opened the door and saw the tears shimmering in Rikki’s eyes, she wrapped her arms around her and squeezed, then drew her inside.
“I didn’t know where to go,” Rikki said in a tremulous voice.
“You can always come here, honey. You know that.”
Rikki just nodded as Cassie drew her into the living room. She dropped her purse and her hastily packed backpack onto the floor and they sat on the couch, Cassie’s arm still around her.
“Now tell me what happened,” Cassie said.
Rikki sucked in a shaky breath. “Simon ended it between us.”
“Really?” She shook her head. “And what about Carter? What does he have to say about this?”
Rikki felt a tear trickle down her cheek. “He says he still wants to be with me…” She gazed at Cassie, her heart aching. “But if I stay with Carter, it’ll tear the two of them apart. They’ve been friends a long time. I can’t be the one responsible for destroying what they have.”
“You know, you take a lot on yourself, honey. If you want to be with Carter and he wants to be with you, then it’s not up to you to figure out what he needs, or what Simon needs, beyond that. They’re big boys and can make their own decisions and figure out the consequences on their own.”
Rikki stared down at her hands. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right. I just can’t think about it right now.”
The pain of being rejected by Simon was too much. She loved him with all her heart and couldn’t imagine going on without him.
Even if she had Carter.
“I don�
�t have anywhere to go … now that the townhouse burned down…”
Cassie squeezed her tight.
“You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying right here. Like I told you when you moved here. I have a spare room and it’s all yours.”
Cassie had offered the room when Rikki had first moved here, but Rikki had wanted the adventure of finding a place and making it on her own, rather than just playing it safe and moving in with a friend. It had all been part of the excitement of making new friends and exploring a new town.
But now, she accepted it gladly.
“Thank you.”
Cassie grabbed Rikki’s backpack and led her up the stairs to the guest room.
“Make yourself at home. Right now, I think you could use some sleep.”
Rikki nodded, feeling the exhaustion overwhelming her.
* * *
A knock on the door jarred Rikki from a deep sleep. She opened her eyes and gazed around blearily, a bit disoriented, then realized she was in the guest bedroom at Cassie’s.
In her haze, she knew she had been in here for some time. Cassie had come in a couple of times insisting she eat something, and Rikki had nibbled a little, but then the pain reared up and she’d climbed under the covers and lost herself in sleep again.
A knock sounded again.
“Rikki,” Cassie said from the other side of the door, “can I come in?”
“Yeah, of course.” Rikki pushed herself up in the bed and rubbed her eyes.
The door opened and Cassie stepped inside, concern etched in her face.
“Honey, you’ve been holed up in here for days.” Cassie walked to the window and opened the drapes.
Rikki blinked at the light streaming in the window, but it wasn’t bright morning sunlight. It seemed to be the soft rays of early evening.
Cassie sat down beside her on the bed. She pushed Rikki’s hair behind her ear.
“I know you need time to mourn, and that’s okay. I’ll give you whatever time you need. But right now, I want you to get in the shower and revive yourself, then come down and have something to eat. After that, if you feel like coming back up here again, that’s okay.” Cassie squeezed her hand. “Will you do that for me?”
“Yeah, sure.” The last thing Rikki wanted to do was leave this room, but she wouldn’t turn Cassie down. She knew Cassie was concerned about her.
