Stripped

by Lauren Dane

  “Jeez, ya big baby. I told you why I wanted my own place.”

  “You just want to have sex. I remember.” Kelly gleefully snickered.

  While the men choked, Rori rolled her eyes, swatting her sister’s arm.

  “Why don’t I take you over after the game? I’m sure the landlord will be around and happy to show you the place.” Jude was so confident and easy, he flirted like he breathed. It made her tingly and sweaty all at once.

  “Um, sure. Why not?”

  Jude sat there, his thigh touching Rori’s. He kept sneaking looks at her from the corner of his eye. When had the girl who barely said three words when she wasn’t busy hiding under bulky clothes and hiding behind her glasses and stack of books turned into the confident beauty sitting by his side? Sweet, shy Rori had had her fucking hotness coming-out party. From her curly, honey-blond hair to the tips of her pretty red toes, the woman was hot. Smoking, smoldering hot.

  He’d always had a soft spot for her. Being the younger sibling of the older brother who everyone worshipped—Jude understood more than a bit about what it was like to live in the shadow of a guy everyone thought was perfect. Kelly was always popular and outgoing while Rori was shy—not disliked really—just sort of unnoticed. He’d admired her for getting out of Oakley to go to college in St. Louis at WU. He’d seen her a few times over the years, briefly here and there, noticing the small transformations, but he hadn’t seen her in about five years and he thrummed with the electricity of his attraction for her.

  His gaze was drawn to the slice of cleavage at the top of her shirt, the creamy skin rising and falling with her every breath. Of course, his eyes nearly fell out of his head when Shane struck a batter out and made that double in the last inning, causing her to jump up and down. Go, Shane. Jude loved his nephews, never missing games if he could help it, but he mentally made a note to help them both practice to improve their skills so more jumping up and down occurred.

  * * *

  “You have a key, so we won’t wait up,” Kelly said quietly into Rori’s ear as she hugged her after the game. They’d stopped a few feet short of the cars to talk out of range of the men.

  “I don’t plan to be out late, Kel.”

  “Well, why not? I’ve seen the way Jude keeps looking at you.”

  “Yes, and I’ve seen the way the other women have been looking at him. He’s still a skirt chaser, isn’t he?”

  Kelly’s eyes lit with understanding as she nodded. “You’re right to be on your guard about that. If you’re expecting more than a casual relationship, he’s probably not what you’re looking for. Don’t get hurt, Rori. I don’t know that he can be caught.”

  Rori briefly put fingertips to her sister’s face, touched by Kelly’s concern. “I just got rid of a man I trusted who didn’t deserve it. I have no plans to go there again. I like to think I have the moves to grab the man if I really wanted him. But I don’t know if I do or if I just want to get him naked a few times and out of my system once and for all. Hell, for that matter, Ryan is pretty cute too.” She wiggled her brows and Kelly laughed.

  “You ready?” Jude called out from the knot of men standing near the cars.

  “Yeah, hold your horses,” she said teasingly as she walked over. While he was looking at her boobs, she took a quick moment to check her reflection in one of the side mirrors. She was glad she’d changed from her traveling clothes into some jeans and a pretty red shirt that she knew showcased her breasts well.

  For years she’d hidden in clothes two sizes too big because she hated her body. She never felt comfortable or even pretty. It had taken her a long time, but she’d finally realized her body was sexy and felt confident enough to love herself and show it off a little. Too bad it had taken her nearly thirty years to figure that out.

  Jude grinned at her as she approached. He waved to Kelly and the boys and turned to Rori again, touching her back to guide her to the car. He unlocked it with his free hand.

  “A Challenger, huh? I would have thought you’d be riding a motorcycle,” Rori joked as he opened the door for her. “Though, this is a very sexy car.”

  Looking pleased, he gave her a sexy wink. “I do. A Harley, as a matter of fact. I just didn’t ride it today.” He slid into the driver’s seat and she settled back, loving the way the interior smelled of his cologne.

  “Really? You’ll have to take me for a ride sometime.” She paused a moment. “On your motorcycle I mean.” Rori was not acquainted with the woman who’d taken over her body and mind, but she liked her.

  “Why, Rori Simon, are you flirting with me?” he asked, pleased surprise in his voice.

  “Why, Jude Callahan, what makes you think so?” she shot back, fluttering her lashes.

  “You’ve really grown up.”

  For some reason, that rankled her. “Mmmm. Well, it happens. Look at you, a cop.”

  “Yeah, strange isn’t it? I find though, that I really love my job. I’m good at it.”

  “You should be an expert. You broke all the laws you’re sworn to uphold.” She laughed and he joined her. “But I’m glad you love your job. It’s really special when you’re able to have passion for what you do.”

  He pulled into a smallish apartment complex and into a covered spot. As they got out of the car, she saw the big motorcycle in the next spot and raised a brow. Sleek and powerful. The chrome gleamed and the black leather seat was smooth. She nearly purred—the damned thing was nearly as sexy as he was.

  “Wow.” She drew her fingertips over the seat.

  “Yeah, I think so.” He took her elbow, guiding her. “Let me drop off my stuff in my apartment and we’ll go to the manager’s office.” He pointed off to their right as they walked up to his place.

  Rori trailed behind him. The man had a world-class ass—rock hard and muscled. She wanted to take a bite. Was it hot? She was flushed just watching his powerful thigh muscles flex and move with that rear end. Man oh man, could she ever make plans for that ass.

  At the top of the stairs she tore her eyes from his posterior and found herself on a front patio lush with plants. Hmm, well, that was a surprise—she hadn’t taken him for the green thumb type.

  Forcing herself out of the filthy fantasy she’d been building with him bending her over the balcony there, the scent of gardenias in the air as he fucked her, his hands all over her body, she followed him inside, doing her best to act nonchalant. Once inside, still acting casual, she stealthily glanced around as he put his uniform in the hall closet and laid down a binder and a messenger-type canvas bag on the table.

  The apartment was neat and masculine. Dark colors, a giant television and stereo system. His CDs and DVDs were carefully arranged on large shelves lining the walls near the entertainment center. A nice, big couch and two club chairs rounded out the room.

  “Nice place you have here. Bet the chicks dig it.”

  He grinned at her. “I’m all about what the chicks dig.” He snorted. “I don’t bring chicks here most of the time.”

  “Ah, don’t want them to be able to track you down, huh?”

  He swatted her ass playfully. “What an opinion you have of me. Come on. Let’s go find the landlord.”

  She followed him out, still feeling the warmth of his touch on her bottom. Lord, she was such a geek for being turned on by a playful swat on the butt. Okay, really turned on. She took a deep breath and tried to get the image of him doing it again, only naked, out of her head.

  She made herself stop looking at Jude and imagining riding him like a pony before she embarrassed herself any further. And instead focused on not tripping or generally looking like an idiot as they walked along.

  The landlord was in and he happily showed her the apartment, a two bedroom located directly across a grassy strip from Jude’s place. The master bedroom faced the small lawn, but the living room faced a copse of trees. It was an upstairs end unit so it would be quiet and she had a cop next door and underneath her. A woman living alone couldn’t ask for mu
ch more safety than that.

  “What do you think, Ms. Simon?” The landlord put his keys back in his pocket. “I haven’t put an ad in the paper yet. I just replaced the carpet and did some painting. If Jude here is willing to vouch for you, I’d love to have you as a tenant.”

  “Well, yeah. I’ll take it,” she said to him impulsively, surprising herself. Normally she was meticulous and precise, making lists. She reasoned out each and every point, pro and con. But today she felt like tossing all that caution and reason to the wind and, with a mental shrug, she did.

  And just like that, she had a home of her own. They went to the manager’s apartment to fill out the necessary paperwork and pay the deposit and the first month’s rent. He gave her the keys and a parking space and she told him she’d start moving in that week.

  As she and Jude walked back toward his apartment, Rori looked up, smiling. “Thanks. I appreciate the tip and the in with the landlord. I hope you don’t mind my being here.”

  “Nah, it’s nice to have you back in town.” He grew silent for a moment, stopping to stare down into her face. “You know, it is Friday night. You wanna hit the town? Get some drinks, dance a bit?”

  Oh. My. God. Jude Callahan just asked her out on a date. In a calm voice that surprised and impressed her she tossed, “Sounds like fun but I need to get changed,” over her shoulder.

  “Why? You look great now.”

  “For a baseball game, sure. I’m wearing jeans and sandals, hardly what you’d wear to dance in.” As if she’d actually go out in public for a date with him without some more sprucing up.

  He opened his door and motioned her inside with a tip of his chin. Pretending to look at his shelves, she watched the sensual movement of his body as he walked across the apartment and toward a closet at the other end.

  “All right, although I still say you look great.” Opening the closet door he turned back around to her and called out, “How about we take the bike? I have an extra helmet.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Ah ha!” He dragged a helmet from the closet, bringing it back her way.

  Grabbing a dark brown leather jacket from where it’d been hanging over the back of a chair, he held it out to her. “Wear my jacket until we get you back to Kelly and Max’s,” he murmured, his lips against her temple as he helped her slip into the sleeves.

  The leather smelled masculine and spicy, like him, and felt good around her body.

  Back in the parking lot, he got on the bike first and turned, helping her up behind him. She clutched his body with her thighs and wrapped her arms around his waist as he started the motor and the power roared through the seat, up into her body. Inside the privacy of the helmet, she wore a goofy grin. What a day.

  On one hand, it was a ride through town. She’d done it a thousand times. It was uneventful and yet…here she was, Rori Simon, on the back of Jude Callahan’s motorcycle. She didn’t have to put her arms around him so tight, but she did anyway. Why not? A girl didn’t get ahead in life by being passive.

  Sadly, the trip was short and they soon pulled up in Kelly’s driveway. Once again, Jude was ever the gentleman and helped her off the bike, even taking the helmet for her.

  She walked into the house, tossing her bag on the table in the entry, stopping to drop kisses on the top of her nephews’ heads. Straightening, she told Kelly she’d rented the apartment. “I really like the complex. It’s small and quiet and I’ll get a lot of work done there. I will have to buy furniture, though. I left most of mine in Paris. My books and CDs and most of my clothes won’t get here until next week. Can I borrow some linens and things until my stuff gets here?”

  “Of course.” Kelly’s tone told her it was a stupid question. “You guys want to eat some popcorn and watch a movie with us?”

  “Not tonight, Kel. Rori and I are going out to celebrate. She says she needs to change so I brought her back here.” Jude gave Max one of those women! looks.

  Kelly jumped up and began to shove Rori toward the stairs. “Oh, let me help you find something to wear.”

  Once in the guest room, Rori closed the door behind her and looked back at her sister with a huge grin on her face.

  “So?” Kelly was practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

  “So I just rode on the back of Jude Callahan’s motorcycle. I had my thighs wrapped around him.” What a memory that had made. “I tell you, Kel, if I got struck by lightning tonight, I’d die a happy girl.”

  Kelly laughed and gestured toward Rori with a wave. “Keep the shirt, it’s really sexy. That red is great for your coloring.”

  Rori rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a halter made from an Indian sari. The material was alive with rich colors—saffron with eggplant and pink. Rori held it up against her body. “I was thinking this would be nice.”

  “Oh my goodness. Let’s see it on.”

  Rori quickly pulled off her shirt and bra and replaced them with the halter. Her natural complexion looked almost luminous next to the shimmery fabric.

  “Rori, you look really sexy in that. Oh! You have a tattoo and a belly ring?” Kelly’s voice was tinged with curiosity as she looked closer, examining the intricate Celtic knot decorating the small of Rori’s back. “Pretty.” She playfully flicked the silver hoop with the lapis bead hanging from Rori’s navel. “Got any more that you’re not showing? Oh, maybe I don’t want to know. Who knew you’d turn out to be such a rebel?”

  Rori flipped her head, scrunching her hair back into shape. “You know, I lived a long time as a shadow. I had friends and all, but men never looked at me twice. When I got away from here and began to come out of my shell, I decided that I liked being sexy. I like pretty, sensual clothes. I like sex, a whole lot. And no, no other tats or piercings. I may add more later though.”

  “I should hope so. I mean, the sex part and you loving yourself part. You deserve that.”

  She pulled on some boots she’d bought at a flea market in London. With a last look into the mirror, she dabbed on a bit of sheer pink gloss.

  Kelly stood next to her and put her arm around her waist. “I’m sorry, you know.”

  She met her sister’s eyes in the mirror. They had different fathers and looked dissimilar in a lot of ways, but they shared their mother’s nose and lips. Rori looked at Kelly’s pretty blue eyes and smiled. “Why? You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the person I am today because I was able to work past what Mom drilled into my head. I was able to come to love myself on my own. That’s really important to me. I’ll never be that Rori again, and a big part of that is because I had a great big sister who always loved me. I’m finally comfortable with the outside and the inside.”

  “Well, honey, you sure do look it now. Jude’s eyes are going to pop out of his head.”

  “I can’t believe I’m going on a date with Jude Callahan.”

  “Believe it. I can’t wait to hear the details. Oh, and Ryan wanted me to tell you he was going to call you and ask you to dinner.”

  Cute as he was, she wasn’t so much the juggling of pretty men type. Maybe she should be. Hmm. Still, how awesome was it that she had, like, a bevy of men who wanted to romance things up with her? “That so? Well, things are looking up and I may not end up a spinster after all.”

  “Yeah, screw Jean.”

  “Well, someone is, I’m sure of that,” she said dryly. She and Jean DuLac, her ex-boyfriend, had lived together in Paris for the last two years. He’d been so clever and witty. So handsome and charming. Rori cringed, remembering thinking he was the one, the man of her dreams. Problem was, he was also a cheating bastard.

  Laughing, they went back downstairs. Rori grabbed her own leather coat and threw Jude’s back to him. “Ready?” she asked, trying not to giggle at the men, whose mouths hung open in shock at the transformation.

  Max gave her a grin. “You sure clean up nice.”

  She knew she blushed, but hello, a compliment like that from a man who looked as good as Max? Wha
t girl could withstand that without a blush?

  “Yeah,” Jude agreed, his voice a bit hoarse. “You ready?”

  “Definitely.” Rori waved goodnight and turned toward Jude. His hand at the small of her back, he guided her out the door and down the walk to where his bike waited.

  She put on the helmet and got on after he did, hoping that she wouldn’t have helmet hair when they got to the bar.

  “Remind me to never question you when you say you want to go home and change,” he murmured before turning the engine over. He didn’t see her satisfied smile with his head turned the other way.

  Don’t miss

  SECOND CHANCES by Lauren Dane,

  Available now wherever Carina Press ebooks are sold.

  www.CarinaPress.com

  Copyright © 2010 by Lauren Dane

  ISBN: 9781459292253

  STRIPPED

  Copyright © 2008 by Lauren Dane

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