by Karen Kelley
Now I was curious, but I couldn’t very well ask Zoey to tell me about her adventure since I didn’t tell her about mine with Layne. I didn’t have to worry, Darby asked.
Zoey leaned forward and spoke low. “Picture having sex with a hot guy and it’s the best you’ve ever had. Now, multiply that times two. Oh my God, I had orgasms all night long. You’d have thought those two had overdosed on Viagra. They were like energizer fucking bunnies, but with huge cocks. By the time I left the next morning, I was so sore I could barely walk.”
Darby’s forehead furrowed. “I think I remember. We were going down to the pool the next day, and you were moving really slow. When I ask you about it, you’d said you’d been working out.”
“It wasn’t a lie. I definitely had the best workout I’ve ever had.”
I couldn’t help it. I began to laugh. She was right. She had been working out. But the look on Darby’s face was priceless.
“Well, next time I’m going to ask more specific questions. Like, what did you do, fuck all night?” Darby looked so affronted that Zoey and I began to laugh harder as we got into Zoey’s car and drove to a shoe store we wanted to check out.
Darby was still miffed by the time we got there and didn’t lighten up until she started trying on heels. I chose a pair with memory foam for her to try on, thinking it would be easier to get used to walking in heels if they were more comfortable.
“Oh, I like these,” she said. “I didn’t even know they made heels with memory foam. I think I can walk in these all day. They’re not too high either.”
“You need a pair of red ones,” Zoey said. “They’ll go great with the sexy red dress you bought earlier today. You can wear it tonight when we go out.”
Darby nibbled her bottom lip. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into buying that dress. The front goes nearly all the way down to my bellybutton.”
“You have great boobs. You need to show them off.” Zoey picked up a pair of heels, then put them back down with a shake of her head. “Here, try these on,” she said, picking up another pair.
Darby took the shoes from her. “I don’t know. What do you think, Fiera?”
“You do have great boobs,” I told her.
“I was talking about the shoes.”
I chuckled. “The shoes are nice, too.”
“Now we have to get manicures and pedicures,” Zoey pronounced.
Darby raised an eyebrow. “As long as that’s all.” She turned to me. “The last time we went for pedicures and manicures Zoey convinced me that I needed to get waxed. Down there, you know. That’s never going to happen again.”
“You have to keep your bush trimmed if you want to get and keep a man, or else he’ll get lost in the jungle,” Zoey told her, then turned and looked at me. “You should’ve heard her. She screamed so loud you would’ve thought she was Tarzan calling the animals. I thought they were going to shut the place down. I was so fucking embarrassed.”
“You’re exaggerating, I didn’t scream that loud, and you never get embarrassed.” She tried on the shoes. “But I do like these heels. I think I’m going to buy them.”
After we got back, we carted our bags to our respective apartments, agreeing to meet up at seven thirty tonight. I set my bags inside my apartment, then left and knocked on Layne’s door. When I didn’t get an answer, I went back into my apartment and called him. He answered on the second ring.
I was nervous. I’d never actually asked a man out on a date before. I’d never had to. “We’re going to Hijinks tonight. It’s a bar. Do you want to go with me, Zoey, Darby, and their dates?” There was nothing like just blurting it out.
“I’d like that. What time?”
“Around eight?”
“I’m at the coffee shop right now helping out with a few things. Is it okay if I’m a little late?”
“That would be fine. I’ll see you there.”
We said goodbye, but I kept standing in the middle of the room as warm tingles spread over my body. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I grabbed my bags and carried them to the bedroom. I was not going to get hung up on this guy. I just enjoyed being in his company. That, and he was a good fuck.
When I got ready to leave this town, I’d leave. No strings attached. That was how I liked to live my life. I ignored the sharp, stabbing pain that was close to my heart.
Chapter 17
Layne
“What are you doing?” Jaxson asked.
I looked up. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been staring into space for the last ten minutes.”
I frowned. “No, I haven’t.”
“Yes, you have,” Nash said as he came from the back.
I frowned. “How would you know? You were in the back.”
Nash chuckled. “I’ve walked past you three times carrying boxes and you didn’t even notice. You certainly didn’t ask if I needed any help.”
Ryder came up, leaning against the counter. “If I’m not mistaken, I think he’s been bitten by the love bug. The mighty oak is leaning.”
I moved to the sink and rinsed my washcloth. “You’re full of shit. I told you, I’m not ready to settle down.”
Jaxson laughed. “Love doesn’t care whether you’re ready or not. When it hits you, it practically knocks you flat. You won’t have a choice in the matter.”
“Well, I don’t love her. I just like being with her. She’s lots of fun.”
“So, there is a girl involved,” Ryder said.
I knew whatever I told them, they would run with it. Which was why I hadn’t mentioned Fiera before. I knew they wouldn’t let me live it down. They were constantly teasing me about who I was going out with.
I grinned, hoping to throw them off the scent. “Of course there’s a girl. Isn’t there always a girl when it comes to me? Or have y’all forgotten your bachelor days?
Nash narrowed his eyes, studying me. I kept my expression neutral.
“Yeah okay, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I’ll guarantee you that some pretty young thing is coming your way, and you’ll realize you can’t live without her.” Nash picked up a box and started toward the back with it.
“Well, until that day comes, I plan on having a lot of fun.” I glanced at the clock. It was almost eight. “Speaking of which, I have a hot date tonight. Do y’all have the rest of this?”
Jaxson looked as if he’d like to question me further, but he finally nodded. “Yes, go and have fun.”
I was whistling as I left the coffee shop. The manager had closed early today so that we could do inventory and check some of the machines. He’d left about an hour ago, and we were just finishing up. There were a couple of machines that we wanted to replace, and we were just generally making sure everything was working. Normally, I didn’t mind, but I would’ve much rather spent time with Fiera. At least we’d be together tonight.
I hurried back to the apartment, unlocked the door, then headed toward the shower. As much as I loved coffee, I didn’t want to smell like it when I met her at Hijinks. I took a quick shower, then grabbed my jeans, boots, and a white shirt.
I was smiling to myself as I got dressed. My brothers were wrong. Just because they were married didn’t mean I had to get married. I didn’t even want to get married. That was the last thing on my mind.
Not that I didn’t like Fiera, because I did. She was a hell of a lot of fun to be around. I liked her dry sarcasm. She was a damn good paramedic. She was also sexy as hell.
Sure, she had a lot of baggage, but that didn’t really bother me. I paused pulling on my boots and thought about her for a moment. I really wanted Jeremy to find her father so that she could have closure. She always tried to act tough, like it didn’t bother her that much, but I couldn’t even imagine what she’d gone through.
It was bad enough that she walked in and found her mother dead, but then she’d been shuffled around in foster homes. Now she finds out her father isn’t dead. At least, he hadn’t died in prison. So
where the hell had he been all her life? It pissed me off to think that he might’ve created a whole new life since he wasn’t getting along with Fiera’s mother. Dammit, news like that might send her over the edge.
I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t let that happen. She deserved better than that. She deserved to be loved. She deserved…
I sat on the side of the bed with a hard thud. No, I wasn’t in love with her. I only wanted to help her. That’s why I became a paramedic, so I could help people.
Sweat formed on my brow. I stood, going to the bathroom and grabbing a washcloth. I wet the cloth with cold water, then wrung it out before washing my face.
Of course I wasn’t in love with her. I just liked her… a lot.
I suddenly laughed.
This was my brothers doing. They were driving me crazy with their talk of marriage. Just because they’d fallen in love didn’t mean I was going to. I liked Fiera a lot, but that’s as far as it went.
I left the apartment, then drove to Hijinks, wiping my sweating palms on my jeans before I went inside. I was acting like a fucking teenager. Maybe I shouldn’t have had so much coffee today. I was just having a reaction from the caffeine. Yeah, that was all it could be.
My gaze scanned the bar. The lighting was dim, so it took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. Then I spotted her. My heart skipped a beat. She was absolutely stunning. For a moment, I just stared at her before my gaze moved around the table. I didn’t know the two guys, but when Darby and her date started toward the dance floor as a slow song began to play, my eyes almost popped out of my head.
That was Darby, wasn’t it? She was wearing stilettos and not much else. Her red dress was cut so low it almost reached her navel, and so high it was just above mid-thigh. Her usually untamable hair that was always pulled back into a ponytail was hanging straight and sleek. She wore a little more makeup than I’d ever seen her wear, too. In fact, I didn’t think I’d ever seen her wear makeup. Her eyes were smoky and her lips red.
She looked up as they neared. “Oh hi, Layne. We have a table over there,” she pointed toward the others. “This is Mike.”
“You look different,” I said as I absently shook Mike’s hand.
“I hope in a good way.” She laughed.
“I would definitely say it’s in a good way.”
She looked pleased with my comment before I turned and started toward the table. I took another look at Fiera. Thankfully, her dress didn’t expose quite so much skin. In fact, it almost looked demure compared to the other two. I didn’t think I liked the idea of other men staring at her. Not that I had exclusive rights to her, but she was with me tonight.
My gaze moved to Zoey. Her date definitely had his attention on her. Not that I could blame him. She was wearing some kind of silver glittery top that was barely there and a short white skirt. The girl was definitely a wild child, but she’d been that way most of her life. Why I expected her to change now, I had no idea. I really doubted that she would. Deep down, I knew she was a good kid. Not quite a kid anymore, actually. She wasn’t much younger than me.
Fiera looked up, then smiled. I loved the way she smiled. It was as if I was the center of her attention and there was no one else in the room. She had a way of making me feel like I was on top of the world and could never do any wrong. As if I was her hero. God knows, she needed a hero. The last hero in her life had walked out on her and her mother. It was a shame because he didn’t know what he was missing.
“You made it,” Fiera said.
I couldn’t resist, I leaned in and brushed my lips across hers. She tasted salty, and a little like the margarita she was drinking.
She turned to Zoey and her date. “This is Tommy.”
I shook his hand. “I met Mike before he and Darby went out on the dance floor.”
“Doesn’t Darby look hot?” Zoey asked.
I never thought of Darby as looking hot, and it was hard for me to switch gears. “She’s different.” When Zoey looked a little disappointed, I continued. “She looks great, actually.” Zoey brightened at my words.
I pulled out the stool and sat, then waved for the waitress to come over. I ordered a beer and some appetizers for everyone, since I didn’t take time to eat dinner. The dance ended and Darby and Mike joined us. Not long afterward, the waitress brought our appetizers and my beer. By the time we were finished with our food, I knew I liked Mike and Tommy. When they weren’t helping their aunt at her tea room, Mike was an accountant and Tommy was a teacher and football coach. They seemed like nice guys.
The band began to play another slow song. I turned to Fiera. “Would you like to dance?”
She nodded and came to her feet. My gaze swept over her. The black dress clung to her curves and hit mid-thigh. She wore black heels that showed off her long, sexy legs. The dress looked good on her. As she started past, I put my hand on her arm. “You look nice tonight.”
She smiled up at me. “So do you.”
For half a second, her eyes lingered on me. It was all I could do not to take her into my arms and soundly kiss her. I drew in a deep breath as she walked past me, then almost choked. Her dress was cut so low, and showed so much of her back, that at first glance anyone would almost think she was naked.
I hurried up to her. “Did you realize there’s no back in your dress?” I sputtered.
“Zoey picked it out. Don’t you like it?” She stopped in the middle of the dance floor, automatically fitting perfectly into my arms.
My arms slipped around her. “I think every man in here likes your dress. You don’t think it’s showing a little too much skin?”
“You didn’t mind me showing too much skin when I was with you the other night,” she innocently mentioned.
That brought a whirlwind of visions. “I think you’re trying to kill me.”
She looked at me, her eyes widening. “Death by lethal erection?” She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.
“You are trying to kill me.” I groaned. Two could play this game. I lightly began to stroke the naked skin that her dress didn’t cover. I felt the shiver run down her as she drew in a deep breath.
“That’s not fair.”
I kept my expression innocent. “What’s not fair?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Turnabout is fair play.”
She suddenly laughed. “Have I told you how much I enjoy being with you?”
I smiled down at her and shook my head. “I like being with you, too.”
She wrapped her arms tighter around my neck and pulled my lips down to hers in a passion-filled kiss. It didn’t last long enough to start a riot or anything, just a brief kiss that let me know what she was thinking. I wanted to pick her up in my arms and carry her out of the bar right now, but it was a couple of hours later before we got the chance to leave. She had ridden with Darby and Zoey, so there was no problem with me taking her home.
The drive seemed to take forever. I wanted her in my arms and in my bed.
We practically ran to the elevator. I was about to take her in my arms, but before the door closed, a couple of guys got on. Fiera was grinning. I frowned, which only made her smile wider. I was in severe pain, and she didn’t even care. I’d make her pay for that later.
As soon as the door opened, we hurried down the hall. I already had my key in my hand by the time I was standing in front of the door.
Once we were inside, I pulled her into my arms, kicking the door closed with my foot. Damn, she tasted as hot as she looked. All heat and fire. I reached up and caressed her breast, then moaned when I realized she wasn’t wearing a bra.
My cock was hurting so bad it was throbbing. I ended the kiss, then pushed her dress off her shoulders. It slid to the floor. Ah, fuck, she wasn’t wearing anything under the dress. She stood in front of me wearing black stiletto heels and nothing else.
She stepped out of her dress and turned, sauntering toward the bedroom. My mouth was dry as I watched the gentle sway o
f her hips and her sweet, naked ass.
At the doorway, she turned. Her gaze slowly slid over me. “I thought you’d be naked by now.” Then she disappeared into the bedroom.
Something close to a gurgle escaped from between my lips. I toed off my boots, then removed my socks. I was unfastening my jeans as I moved toward the bedroom. The lamp was the only illumination, but I could clearly see Fiera lying in the middle of my bed. As if in slow motion, she opened her legs, leaving nothing to the imagination.
“Take me,” she purred.
I kicked out of my jeans and grabbed a condom out of the top drawer, sliding it on. Just touching my cock made it hurt even more. Oh, yeah, I was going to fuck her, and fuck her hard.
I moved onto the bed, running my fingers through her curls. She arched her back as I began to massage. Damn, she could get hotter faster than any woman I’d ever been with. There was something else different about her. She enjoyed fucking. I mean, really enjoyed fucking.
I moved between her legs and slowly entered. It was like dipping my cock into liquid fire. It was fucking incredible. I slid deeper, then watched as her breathing grew ragged. Her eyes slowly opened and she met my gaze. Her legs came up and wrapped around me, her inner muscles tightening. But her gaze never left mine.
I drew almost all the way out, then thrust inside her.
She moaned. Her fingernails lightly scraped my back, then my ass.
Yeah, this was nice. Real damned nice.
I plunged inside, pulled out, but kept my movements nice and slow. Just easy in, then out.
She whimpered.
Yeah, that was what I was waiting for. I thrust harder, faster.
Her body tightened and she gasped. Her eyes were glazed with passion as she cried my name. I thrust inside her once, twice, then everything seemed to explode around me. Fuck! This was pure fucking bliss!
