River's Return (River's End Series, #3)

by Davis, Leanne

  Shane had been using condoms on his Prince Albert ever since he got the piercing one drunken road trip down to New Mexico. Luckily, he was sober when he decided to get it and managed to pick out the salon to do it. But he was good and drunk when he actually had it done. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt much more than the few holes he had pierced in his ears. But the nipple rings? Those were the sensitive fucks.

  “Do you carry condoms?” she asked after a few more minutes. They were both lost in each other’s mouths and hands.

  “In my wallet,” he replied. He was a self-respecting, single man, so, of course, he carried them at all times. Bending down, he finally located his wallet from the mess of his clothes. He dug out the three he had tucked in there. All new. All recently purchased. He tossed them on the bed.

  She stared at them and then up at him, saying, “Good.”

  He started kissing her once more before sliding his hands over her arms and around her waist to cup her butt. It was soft and filled his hands. He groaned at the sensation of her skin as she shifted forward. His fingers played along the crease where her legs met her ass. He was so close to her center, he could feel the damp heat nearly radiating off her. He lay his hand flat on her back and she groaned as she squirmed around. Begging him, her body was clearly pleading for him to simply touch her. He did. Reaching between her legs, she was damp and hot, and he groaned at the wet pool of pleasure his fingers so easily slid into.

  “Oh, God. Oh, Shane. More. Please,” she begged, barely lifting her mouth from his. Her eyes were glazed over in pleasure. She was lost already, and he was lost inside her. He watched her eyes turning the same shade as blue heat from a blowtorch. He sunk two fingers deep inside her when her nails dug into his shoulders as she struggled to hold herself up. With one hand, he encircled her waist so she could lean into him; and the other? Well, it was busily exploring her soft, swollen, pulsating insides. He went deep and far inside her, then slowly and gently, teased her clit. Rubbing and stroking it, he lowered his head and caught her breast in his mouth before gently nipping her with his teeth. Her swollen, distended flesh ached for more as her hands plundered his hair. He stepped forward forcing her to step back until he managed to awkwardly, yet gently, recline her on the bed while his hand never lost contact with her wet, slick warmth. Pulling her bottom to the edge of the mattress, he dropped to his knees and placed her thighs on his shoulders before his mouth delved right where his hand had just been. He could smell her wet arousal. His hot tongue pushed inside her as he gently pulled her clit into his mouth and kept caressing her. Sliding his hands up to her stomach, he felt her breasts, two huge, round, white globes with large, pink nipples just begging for his mouth. He sucked and sucked and licked and played until her moans made her whole body shudder around him. He kissed her bright red pubic hair, moving up to her belly button and even further, towards her breasts. He played with one and then the other as her sighs started to lessen before building up again all at once.

  Setting her hands on his shoulders, then on his face, she tenderly pulled him towards her where she kissed his mouth in a soft, closed mouth kiss. Her eyes were still closed and he paused to sink into the innocent, tender kiss of her closed, warm lips on his. It was the sweetest kiss he ever received. It seemed like she was saying simply, thank you. Why? For being there for her? Or for making her feel good? He wasn’t sure.

  Then her hands were on him again. He was leaning above her, using his arms to keep most of his weight off her. His dick was hanging down towards her belly. She took him in both her hands and his arms started to shake. He fell to the side of her as she moved down before her mouth began to lick him while she used both of her hands to supplement her ministrations. He closed his eyes at the fantastic sensations. The piercing prevented her from being comfortable with full-on head, but she quickly figured out a combination that was even better. He opened his eyes to find her ass facing him, and he reached over and touched her. She jumped and then sunk back towards his hand as she played even harder with him. Watching her mouth on him, with her red hair pulled back, still neatly tied up in a braid, was so hot. Hotter than any woman he’d ever been with.

  He felt her hands fitting a condom on him. He sat up and let her go to make sure it was on right. She rolled over and glanced back at him. He was shocked; well beyond surprised at the position she chose. He came up behind her and gently laid a hand on her round, white butt. The line of her back was so pretty before him and the way she was just lying there, exposed, ready and willing. He was surprised, shocked, thrilled and turned on. He held her waist steady before lining up behind her and sinking slowly inside her. She was just as wet as before her first orgasm. She wanted this so much. There was no doubt in Shane’s mind as her body greedily drew him in, and in, and in. He sighed and closed his eyes at the feeling of being lost and suddenly found. Warm and soothed. Hot and wet. It was the closest thing to heaven.

  He pulled out gently, but her body followed him, barely allowing him to withdraw. He pushed in again and held her there; then kept just pushing and pushing. She seemed to say, harder and harder with her body until they were both moaning, straining, and groaning in total abandon. Shane didn’t realize what he was doing. He had no control and no thoughts. Just feelings. There were so many feelings and sensations that Shane soon got lost in them. The bed shook and she shook. He nearly collapsed after one last body slam into her before she finally contracted and exploded around him.

  It was not the tender, missionary sex he might have predicted or expected. But it didn’t change what filled his chest as he collapsed over her, putting his arms around her waist and pulling her back against him before falling next to her. He was still inside her.

  Compelled beyond any reason he could find, he kissed the side of her face: her cheek, her nose, her damp temple. Shane and Allison were both sweaty and tasted salty. She shifted her face towards his mouth, keeping her eyes closed. He brought a hand up and brushed back her bangs, now stiff with sweat and hair product. His arms were completely crossed over her stomach and he held her as tightly against his chest as he could. He could not remember ever holding a woman so tightly or for as long as he did Allison then. Minutes drifted by, maybe ten or fifteen, then twenty. They stayed like that, clutching each other until their bodies grew cooler and normal. The sunset left shadows and random glints of sun on the walls and ceiling.

  Shane used many women in his life, mostly for his own satisfaction. And this? This felt so different from any other experience he ever had. He just didn’t know what that meant. Why? Why would this feel so different? The basic body parts and functions were all the same. But this felt so much better. His heart was engaged. Perhaps that was the difference; he might have never engaged his heart before.

  Now, lying there in the afterglow, holding Allison felt like the most connected moment of Shane’s life.

  “What’s today?” he finally asked before leaning down and kissing the side of mouth. Her eyes stayed closed and he could feel her body tightening. Her former ease was instantly replaced by taut, stressed muscles.

  “Allison? Come on. Breaking all those plates? Having sex with me? None of that is like the usual you. What is today?”

  He waited, believing she wouldn’t say. He suspected she’d first get mad and throw him out. Her ex was a touchy subject for her. Shane’s muscles tightened around her. He resented the idea that her ex had that much power over her still. He plain didn’t like knowing she had any strong feelings for another man. He refused to sit down and contemplate his reason, however.

  Still, he waited. “Allison?”

  He could feel her exhale. “You really don’t want to know.”

  “I really do. Maybe I can help.”

  “You can’t help. No one can.”

  “Try me. What’s today?”

  He could feel her head shaking back and forth on the arm beneath where it was nestled. He felt hot tears that must have been falling down her face, and planted his hand flat on her stomach for s
upport. “Please, Allison. Let me help you. Tell me what today is.”

  “The day my marriage ended.”

  Sinking deeply, his heart felt like it misfired. Isn’t that what he deduced? She was a hurt, betrayed wife, unable to let go of her ex. That was something he clearly had to understand; that and his role here today. He was good at it, of course, because they were good friends. Nothing more. And who better to help her through the anniversary of her failed marriage than he?

  But why did the knowledge of what caused so much anguish in her have to be another man? And why did that make his stomach churn like he was seasick?

  “That’s why I’m here? To help you forget a bad marriage?”

  “No, it’s more than that,” she answered softly. He held her tighter. Her butt was cradled in his crotch and the back of his knees spooned behind hers. What more? What caused all the broken plates and hysterical crying? Coming from a woman who was as solid as granite in every other aspect of her life.

  He sighed and released her slightly. He needed some space to let this new information fester. Not sure he relished being her rebound screw. But then again, she came after him, and her body was pressed against his side as he lay flat on his back.

  Her fingers gently crossed his chest and glided over his piercings. He sighed as she barely tugged on them, driving his nerve endings crazy.

  “Maybe we should have something to eat.” He was already reacting to her. And sounding grumpy at her for using him to get over her supposed long lost husband. He didn’t want to respond to her. She curled up and her breasts felt soft on his arm. Damn breasts.

  “I don’t want to eat. I can’t. Not tonight. Just stay here. With me.”

  He groaned as she leaned forward before she licked the barbell through his nipple. Watching her do that, Allison’s red head sucking on his pierced nipple, was enough to make him groan and lose the battle with his virtue. She was downright playing dirty. Not expected.

  “Fine,” he grumbled as she straddled him. Leaning forward, he buried his face in the deep V of her cleavage and tried to find some compensation in knowing he had her here and now. He was sure he managed to retain her complete and undivided attention, right now. And that was something.

  Chapter Nine

  SHANE WOKE UP AND STRETCHED out, taking a moment to realize he wasn’t in his bed at the ranch. He often wasn’t in his own bed. But he jerked up as he realized it was Allison’s pretty, girl room. A soothing blue color. That had to be her favorite since it was everywhere. Lace drapes fluttered over the long, narrow windows and the morning sun made bright pools on the floor. Allison was not in bed. He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. Half of it was still in a ponytail, and the other half hung on his bare chest and face. No, Allison. He hoped, no… it felt more like he needed her to be there this morning. Then he shook his head. When did he need anyone? For anything? Especially a woman. To what? Walk him through the morning after?

  He slid the covers over his naked body before pulling on his articles of clothing that were close by. Pants. Shirt. Socks. That would do. He heard movement below. At least, she was still there. Thank God. They had to talk. He stopped short. Had to talk? How often did he chase after a woman just to talk about why they had sex? Or why she was crying? Still, he had to know.

  He hurried downstairs to find her bringing a coffee pot to the table and filling her cup. She glanced up, and with a soft, serene smile said, “Morning, Shane. Would you like some coffee?”

  Coffee? Was she for real? He stared at her as if she were a circling wolf, about to attack him. But no, she just stood there, smiling pleasantly and holding up her coffee cup while waiting for his response. She wore a typical teaching outfit. Today’s slacks were a soft gray with a matching jacket. It wasn’t business-like, but rather, professional. It followed her curves, all those deep, seductive curves that she did a fair job of masking on her body. Her hair was tucked into a ponytail and her bangs fell neat and straight over her forehead. She was still looking at him through her clear, summer sky-blue eyes framed by the golden hue of her lashes and eyebrows. She was really beautiful, in a soft, subtle, pleasing kind of way. A guy could never get sick of looking at her. There was no sharp angles on her, not anywhere, not even on her face. Her eyes were huge and her smile suggested so many different things. Her smiles were amused, happy, annoyed and sarcastic. And he was constantly on his toes, trying to make sure he didn’t piss that mouth of hers off, or make it turn downward into a mean scowl.

  Right then, she sounded exactly the same way as when he dropped by with his own beer. The Hello, Shane was just as friendly and every bit as casual. As if he often came down from her bedroom after licking and kissing every part of her body, and her doing the same in return. Yet, not a blush, or flinch of embarrassment, or any acknowledgement of their changed relationship status did she portray. She acted fine. She seemed completely and utterly happy and relaxed to see him. How the hell could she be like that? His stomach was knotted up with nerves. The crazy crying, the broken plates, the out-of-nowhere sex between them. None of it mattered to her in the least? None of it changed everything for her? Because to Shane, it sure as shit felt like everything about them had changed, including his views about sex and women… It all felt mangled up and he couldn’t articulate any reason why. Standing only a few feet away from this woman soon had him freaking blushing and tongue-tied. He was so overwhelmed by her presence.

  Plus, he didn’t know this Allison. The cold-blooded about sex Allison. This casual Allison, like, so what if we screwed? person. Shane was supposed to be that person, not she. He wasn’t sure if he liked the change of dynamics. Or more specifically, the change in how he felt about her.

  “Shane?” she asked when he just stood there and didn’t answer.

  Reacting to her voice as if it were a cattle prod, he shuffled forward. “Sure.”

  She walked to the cabinet and brought a cup out, which she filled. He glanced around and saw the mess was gone. Half her plates and dishes from the china hutch near the dining room table were also gone.

  “I don’t eat much usually. You want some cereal? Or I think I might have a few leftover muffins from the weekend. I made them, so they’re decently healthy,” she said while poking her head inside a cabinet as she shuffled around.

  She baked too?

  “Anything.” Shane was starving. Ravenous. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday mid-afternoon, thanks to her. They went to bed at five and never reemerged.

  She brought over a plate with three muffins on it, which she quickly zapped in the microwave. He sat down, feeling unsure as to what significance all this had. But he knew it had to be significant. He stared at his coffee before taking a sip. She did the same. Quiet hung between them now, so thick and uncomfortable, it was like a third person entered the room. Meanwhile, he almost devoured the muffins by simply inhaling. He glanced up at her while she just stood and sipped her coffee and watched him. “These are amazing. You’re a really good cook.”

  “Thank you, Shane.” She threw her shoulders back and tapped her fingers against her coffee cup. Then she continued in a calm, normal tone of voice. “I know I seemed a little crazy yesterday… but I hope you won’t tell anyone.” There wasn’t any confusion or embarrassment, not like he predicted from her.

  “Tell someone?” he repeated, his mouth dropping open in surprise. Tell someone? That’s what she’s worried about?

  She finally showed her nerve. “Well, I do teach around here. It’s not the Stone Age… but I prefer to keep my reputation pretty clean. Considering…”

  He was completely offended. “First, I’d never bad talk you. I never bad talk anyone. But I’d never do anything that might make anyone think less of you.”

  She dropped her face and a small smile crossed her lips. “Somehow, I knew that. Thank you. It’s not like I would normally need to keep things secret. But considering what I do, and how small this town is…”

  “I get it.” And he did too. On an intellectual
level, he totally understood her need for privacy. But it also felt like she was hiding him, or ashamed of him. He wondered if she would feel the same way if he looked like Jack or Ian. Or was it because of other things? Like maybe, his affairs that were pretty widely spread throughout the area. He shifted around in his chair, instantly regretting the last decade of his life. “You can’t risk the damage someone like me could do to your reputation.”

  She stepped forward and shocked him even further when she appeared right next to him and pulled his face in her hands. She was gazing down at him, right into his eyes. Standing between his legs, he shifted to accommodate her and set his hands on her waist. “It’s not you, in particular, Shane. It’s any man I’m not married to. I wouldn’t even consider mentioning it where I used to teach. That city was huge with thousands of people living in it; and no one really paid attention to what I did. But this valley? Living right here? This place gives new meaning to the word fishbowl. And me having an affair? I don’t see it going over well with most of the parents or the school faculty.”

  “Affair?” he frowned. What? This… no. Just no. It wasn’t just an affair. It was so much more. It was something. But what something exactly, he didn’t yet know… Much more than an affair. She wasn’t Celia, for Christ’s sake.

  “One-night stand? I don’t know. What do you call it?”

  “Neither,” he said as he tossed her hands off his face and shifted forward. He pretended like finishing up the crumbs on his plate was all he cared about. Silence again. He finally asked, “Should we do something tonight?”

  “Oh. I can’t. I have plans. My ex is in town. That’s part of what set me off yesterday. But I’m fine now, and ready to deal with him. What about later this week?”