All Autumn

by Sandra Owens

I was still raw after spending the evening with my mother two nights ago, and maybe I wasn’t in the best of moods to deal with their silliness. I felt a little badly about that but not too much.

  Ignoring the hurt expressions on their faces, the ones that said I didn’t appreciate what they were doing for me or for Sam—damn it, Beau—I said, “See you Saturday.”

  My guess, they’d figure out how to get all of us in the first car, because who wanted to slight a senator? As for him doing anything for our little town, I had my doubts that would ever happen.

  “Seriously I’m beginning to think Beau understands English, all of it,” I said after relating the details of his so-called interview with The Valley News. Connor and I, along with Jenn, Dylan, and Adam, were having late drinks at Fusions.

  “He really barked the right answers?” Jenn said through her laughter.

  “Accidently. You get that, right?” I smirked at Dylan. “No more wine for your wife.”

  “You hear that, Red? She just cut you off.”

  He smiled at her with so much love in his eyes that my heart gave a little trip. That was what I’d once thought I had, but in hindsight I could honestly say that love really was blind.

  “Why is Blanton getting involved in this?” Connor said.

  Adam glanced at me and then at his brother. “Maybe he likes the scenery around here.”

  “Yeah, well, he can find some other scenery to look at,” Connor said, scowling.

  “Why don’t you want him looking at our scenery?” Was there a sub-conversation going on that I wasn’t following?

  Connor and Adam exchanged a glance, some kind of message passing between them. They did that a lot, talked without words. Even more confusing, Dylan was smirk-smiling as if he understood their twin talk.

  “What?” I said, getting exasperated.

  Jenn’s gaze darted from Dylan to the twins, then back to Dylan. She shrugged. “I have no clue either. Want me to get it out of Dylan later?”

  “My lips are sealed,” Dylan said, winking at her.

  “Uh-huh.” She trailed a finger down his arm. “Bet I can get you to unseal them.”

  It was fascinating to watch the way Dylan’s eyes heated as he followed the progress of her finger. Sometimes, watching them together, I thought that I’d be willing to fall in love again if I could find a man like Dylan. One I could trust.

  “Why don’t we go test your claim,” Dylan said. He tossed some bills on the table. “That should cover our drinks.”

  Almost before I could blink, he had Jenn up and both of them gone. “Okay. One of you tell me what you were talking about.”

  “The scenery,” Adam said, standing. He picked up the bills Dylan had left. “I’ll take care of the tab on my way out.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Good night, Autumn.”

  “Night.” Adam had changed since Savannah had left. He didn’t smile as much anymore. Didn’t laugh much, either. We’d all been a tight group growing up, but I’d always been closer to Connor and Savannah closer to Adam. Savannah and Adam had taken their relationship to the next level during our senior year, though. At the time I’d thought they were the perfect couple, but she’d left a damaged man behind when she’d moved to New York. I hoped someday he’d find a way to be happy again.

  Although Adam now had a reputation as a serial dater—as had Connor a while back—I believed Adam still carried a torch for Savannah. And speaking of men with a long list of booty call numbers in their contact list, I needed to have a talk with Connor.

  26

  ~ Connor ~

  It took a little persuasion, but I convinced Autumn to come back to my place and leave from here for the parade tomorrow. We’d stopped by her house so she could pack an overnight bag and pick up Beau. I’d spent a lot of time at her place, but she was rarely at mine.

  I wanted her at my home, and that was worrisome—like I had this bizarre urge to nest. Autumn was seriously messing with my mind if I was having crazy thoughts like that. I shook my head to clear it. The only reason I wanted her here was so there wouldn’t be any interruptions.

  As soon as we entered, Beau took off, exploring and sniffing everything. I set the tote with Beau’s supplies and Autumn’s overnight bag on the counter. She stood in the middle of the living room, her interior designer’s eye assessing my decor. I bit back excuses for the lack of any kind of style, instead letting my gaze roam over her.

  The blue and white silk blouse—the top two buttons undone, showing a hint of cleavage—was tucked neatly into black pants, black heels peeking out from under the hem. She was one classy woman who didn’t try to be sexy on top of the classy, but she was both those things.

  “I’ve told you before that I love your log home,” Autumn said, twirling in a circle, taking in the wood beams, ceiling-tall stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that in the daytime framed a beautiful view of the river and the mountains surrounding us.

  “Thanks. I hear a ‘but,’ though.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “You need a decorator.”

  “Mmm, I might know of one.” She was right. Other than a brown leather couch and matching chair, a coffee table, and a large-screen TV, the living room was pretty bare. “Decorating isn’t one of my talents. Would you be interested?”

  “Are you kidding me? I’d love it. If you’re serious, I’ll start putting together some ideas to show you.”

  “Great. Do it. Want something to drink?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “You certainly are.” I held her eyes captive as I prowled toward her. Every time things started to heat up between us, something had happened. But not tonight. There weren’t going to be any disturbances tonight, no parents interfering or hikers needing saving. I didn’t care if the world crumbled around us; we weren’t going to pay attention to anything but us.

  When I reached her, I cradled her face with my hands, then brushed my lips over hers, once, twice, before claiming her mouth. She leaned into me, and I slid my arm around her back and pulled her flush against me.

  She gripped my upper arms, digging her fingers into my skin. Before I deepened the kiss, before we passed the point of no return, I had to ask one more time. “Still not weird?” I said after pulling away and staring down at her. Something flashed in her eyes that I couldn’t decipher, but it didn’t seem good. “Autumn?”

  “Definitely not weird, but . . .” She glanced at my couch. “Can we sit? Talk about something a minute?”

  This was where a caveman at the beginning of time would toss the object of his desire over his shoulder, carry her to his lair, and have his way with her, because talking was overrated. Since I liked to think I’d evolved, even if only a little, from my long-ago ancestors’ days, I refrained from using Neanderthal tactics, although my lower half thought that was an idea worth considering.

  “Yeah, sure,” I said a little belatedly. It really was true that men’s attention spans alternated between when they were going to have sex and when they were going to get to eat. Somewhere in between those two things, we slept.

  I followed her to the sofa. “What’s on your mind?”

  She toed off her heels, sat, and faced me, curling her feet under her. “I’m not sure how to put this.”

  “Saying it straight out usually works best.”

  “Um, okay. We’re going to have sex, right?”

  God, I hoped so. “I’m voting a resounding yes, but it’s up to you.”

  She glanced at me, and then her eyes shifted away. “Are you going to see other women while we’re together? I mean, I’m not saying we’re a couple or anything like that. It’s just that I wouldn’t be comfortable if you did.”

  It rubbed me wrong that she didn’t see the possibility of us being a couple. And when had I gone from wanting a little fun with Autumn to wanting to date her? It wasn’t so much that I was changing my mind about falling in love, but I didn’t want to hide the fact that I was seeing her as if she were some kind of dirty secr
et. She deserved better than that.

  Before I could answer, she said, “Admit it, Connor. You’re a player. Maybe not lately, but...” She shrugged.

  I hated that word. So what if I went out—had sex with, if we’re going to get technical—with my fair share of women? I was young, single, financially secure, and liked having a good time. What was wrong with that?

  Yet I hadn’t played in too long a time, and the blame for that went straight to the woman staring at me with her gorgeous blue eyes. If I admitted that, she wouldn’t believe me. The couple thing was bugging me, so maybe we could make a trade.

  “How about this? I promise on my word as your friend that while we’re together, you’ll be the only woman in my life, if you’ll agree to openly date me. Everyone’s already talking about us after that kiss, so we might as well give them something to gossip about.”

  “Why? I mean, I thought this was just sex. You know, friends with benefits.”

  I picked up a lock of her hair, curling it around my fingers. “Is that all you want from me, Autumn?” I didn’t understand why I was pushing for more when she was offering me a no-strings-attached bed partner, but something inside me was rebelling at being nothing more than her itch scratcher.

  “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  I dropped the curl and put my hand on her neck, swallowing a smile when she leaned into my touch. “I like hanging out with you, and I want to go out, just the two of us.”

  She didn’t say anything at first, and then she smiled. “Would you like to know my answer?”

  “I’m on pins and needles here, Autumn.”

  The woman attacked me. I fell back against the sofa when she landed on my lap, straddling my thighs.

  “I take it that’s a yes?”

  She nodded. “It’s a yes. Just promise you won’t let it mess up our friendship when this is over.”

  “I promise. I think you should kiss me to seal the deal.”

  “Do you now?”

  I nodded, maybe a little too eagerly. “You do all the work this time.”

  That made her grin. “You think I’ve been slacking with my kisses?”

  “Yep, so you have some catching up to do, beautiful.” Even though I was itching to touch her, I kept my hands on the sofa. I was definitely curious to see what she’d do.

  Copying my earlier move, she put her hands on my cheeks, stared at my mouth for a few seconds, then touched my lips with hers. She played at flicking her tongue from one corner of my mouth to the other. Then with a little sigh and a puff of air, she pushed her tongue past the seam of my closed lips. It was damned difficult not to flip her onto her back and take over, but I wanted to see where she’d go with this.

  She tasted and explored every part of my mouth, scraping her tongue over my teeth, along the insides of my cheeks, and then as she tangled her tongue around mine, she began to unbutton my shirt. Her fingers fumbled with the first button, but when I attempted to help her, she slapped my hands away. That was downright sexy.

  Never letting go of my mouth, she finally managed to get all the buttons undone. When she tried to tug my shirt over my shoulders, I lifted up so she could slide it off. We were still joined at the mouth like wet on rain. There had never been a make-out session in my life that had sent me to this hot and bothered this fast. What was this girl doing to me?

  Once my shirt was off, her hands roamed all over my chest. My nipples seemed to fascinate her the most, and when she pinched one, I let out a low moan. At hearing it, she unfused our mouths, then kissed her way down to my other nipple and sucked on it. The pleasure that ripped through me was so intense I almost shot off the couch.

  I put my hands on her hips, and she slapped them away again, making me chuckle. “I never knew you were such a demanding little thing.”

  She lifted her head and smiled at me. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m thinking you like it.”

  “You’re not wrong.” Her lips were swollen and damp from kissing me, and her eyes were a few shades darker, shimmering with desire. Total turn-on. I waved my fingers at her. “Carry on.”

  The next thing on her agenda turned out to be getting off my pants. “I want your blouse off,” I said as she unbuckled my belt.

  “Not yet.” She slid my zipper down. “Lift your butt up.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” While she was sliding my pants down, I kicked off my shoes. “How come I’m going to be naked and you’re not?”

  “Because that’s how I want it.” She twisted around on my lap, giving me her back. “Hold your feet up.”

  She tugged off my socks, then resumed her position, facing me. All my clothing was gone except for my boxer briefs. She eyed those, gave them a considering look, then said, “We’ll leave those on for a minute.”

  “You’re the boss.” There was no hiding how hard I was for her, not that I had a problem with her knowing what she did to me.

  “Put your hands on the back of the sofa and leave them there.” She nodded in approval when I clutched the back of my couch.

  This was a side of Autumn that I’d never known existed. I liked it. Who was I kidding? I loved it. Her gaze roamed over me, pausing on my tented briefs. And damn, if she didn’t lick her lips.

  “You’re killing me, Autumn, looking at me like that.”

  27

  ~ Autumn ~

  “Good. By the time I’m done with you, you’re going to need CPR.” I lifted my eyes to Connor’s. He was looking back at me, his eyelids hooded, his lips parted, and his hands were gripping the top of the sofa. I don’t know what had gotten into me tonight with this bossy thing. Maybe it was because it had been a long time since I’d been with a man, but I was feeling naughty. I also think that my friendship with Connor had a lot to do with it. I could be myself with him.

  A wicked smile curved his lips. “Do your best.”

  “Challenge accepted.” I tapped my fingers over his erection. “What little prize are you hiding from me?”

  He snorted, a strangled-sounding snort. “Little? You wound me.”

  “Mmm, maybe I should see for myself.” I was having fun teasing him, and he was obviously enjoying it. But like a man who couldn’t take any more, he glared at me with both fire and impatience. I wrapped my fingers around him over the cotton of his briefs, and he hissed a long breath.

  “In sixty—or not even that long—seconds you’re going to be as naked as me,” he said, standing with me wrapped around him as if I weighed no more than his favorite blanket.

  I yelped, slinging my arms around his neck at suddenly being lifted into the air.

  “I’m taking over.” He stared hard at me, daring me to argue. “I’ve wanted you too long, waited too long for this to happen. You can play with me all you want later. Right now, though, my rules.” He slipped his hands under my bottom. “I’m going to touch you and taste you until you’re begging me to make you come. And Autumn?”

  “Yes?” That came out in a whisper, and something like satisfaction flashed in his eyes. With my legs wrapped around his waist, he headed up the stairs. Because I was facing him, my gaze roamed over his face, taking in the dark stubble on his jaw, the way he looked at me out of those blue eyes, and then to his mouth, waiting for his next words.

  “I might let you.”

  “Might let me what?” Somewhere along the line, I’d lost the thread of our conversation.

  “Let you come.”

  “Oh,” I whispered. “That.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, that, but it depends.” At my raised brow, he said, “On whether you’re a good girl and do everything I say.”

  A fever started low in my stomach, spreading its warmth through my bloodstream, heating my body like never before. He didn’t talk as he carried me into his bedroom, but his eyes never left mine. I was aching for him, for whatever he was going to make me do.

  He stopped at the edge of his bed, and with his gaze still intent on me, he let go and I slid down his body. “Should I—”


  He put a finger on my lips, hushing me. So I waited.

  “Take off your pants.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze intent on me. “Take them off, Autumn,” he said when I just stood there.

  This was a different Connor, one I’d never met. Excitement, the thrill of the unknown, raced up my spine. I unbuckled my belt, then lowered my zipper. His eyes tracked my every move as I let my pants slide down my legs. I stepped out of them and then waited for my next instructions.

  “Blouse.”

  That was all he said, just that one word, but it was the roughness in his voice that skittered through me, sending a shiver rippling under my skin. Holding his gaze, I started on the first button, taking my time. At the last button I paused, completing my task as slowly as possible, doing my best to torture him. When I let go, my blouse would fall open. Would he like what he saw?

  Nerves hit. Connor, my friend, would be the first man to see my body in over a year. The boy whose tree house I’d invaded. The boy who liked to throw spitballs at me because it made me giggle.

  “Let go of your blouse.”

  My fingers refused to obey.

  He studied me for a moment, then reached up and put his hand over mine.

  “Let go. Let me see you.”

  “What if…”

  “What if?” he said.

  “If you’re disappointed.”

  The corners of his mouth curved up. “How will I know if you don’t show me?”

  Connor was slaying me. One minute he was a demanding lover, commanding me to his wishes. Then in the next he morphed into a man whose gentle smile and soft eyes assured me that I wasn’t going to disappoint him. I dropped my hand to my side.

  “Good girl,” he whispered, drinking me in.

  He slipped his hands under the top of my blouse and slid it down my arms. I closed my eyes at the feathery touch of his fingers over my skin. I hadn’t known until this moment how much I missed being touched by a man who wanted me.

  “Don’t close your eyes, Autumn. Watch me. See how much I want you. How beautiful I think you are.”