by J. H. Croix
* * *
Until Jasmine, I hadn’t even given a second thought to the idea of settling down with anyone. Right about now, the vision of Jasmine, her belly plump and swollen with our baby, drifted through my thoughts, sending a shot of blood straight to my cock.
If that didn’t tell you how bad off I was, I didn’t know what would.
Even worse, I was far past caring what Levi might think about the fact that I wanted his sister so fiercely I didn’t intend to resist. I would go to Wildlands with the crew tonight, if only because I didn’t have family at home and there might be questions if I made excuses. Yet, I didn’t intend to stay late, and I would absolutely be knocking on Jasmine’s door tonight.
Chapter Twenty
Donovan
A few hours later, I leaned back in my chair at the table we’d commandeered at Wildlands and glanced around the bar. The tables were crowded, and there were several pool games going on in the corner while a band was setting up at a stage in the back for a show later tonight.
Beck Steele laughed at something and then nudged me with his elbow. “Know what I mean?” he asked.
I didn’t actually know what he meant because I didn’t even know what he was talking about. My mind had largely been focused on Jasmine ever since we’d landed.
I glanced his way and shrugged. “Not really.”
Beck threw his head back with a laugh. “You don’t even know what the fuck I’m talking about, do you?”
I shook my head with a chuckle. “No, can’t say I was paying much attention. What do you mean?”
“Ha. I was just talking about the option of a fire out in the Interior here, or getting sent down to Arizona. I prefer to work here. Wouldn’t you?”
“Definitely. Fires in Arizona are fucking hot as hell. At least here, when we’re in our heavy gear, it’s not boiling hot outside on top of it.”
Beck glanced over to Remy Martin and nodded. “See. Exactly what I said.”
Remy rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Dude, I wasn’t disagreeing with you. I was just saying, no matter what, it’s hard work.” Remy had only recently joined one of the crews at Willow Brook Fire & Rescue and fit right in. He had no trouble volleying jokes with Beck.
Cade Masters was seated at an angle across from us. He was the superintendent for another crew at the station. He cast a glance at Beck and rolled his eyes.
“What?” Beck asked.
“You just like to find something to debate.”
Beck’s phone was on the table between us, and I felt the vibration of it before he noticed it. After a moment, he glanced down and snatched it up. “Hey babe,” he said into the phone.
I tuned out his conversation, replying to Cade when he asked me if I was taking any leave this summer. “Nah. I’d rather stay here in between fires. Plus, I’m helping Janet to finish up those renovations.”
“How’s your house coming along?” he asked. “Amelia mentioned they’re a little ahead of schedule.”
Amelia, Cade’s wife, and Lucy from Kick A** Construction were doing my renovations. I had hired them because they were good at what they did. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t do myself, but with my schedule in the summer, it didn’t fit in well to do a big project like that. Not when I was coming and going all summer long.
Catching Cade’s eyes, I nodded. “It’s coming along faster than I thought. They do damn good work.”
“Of course they do. Amelia’s better at building than me,” he replied with a chuckle.
“I bet,” I offered. “I know my way around construction, and I’m pretty sure they do a better job than me too.”
Levi called across the table, cutting in. “Right, but Amelia’s not as bossy as Lucy. I guaran-damn-tee it.”
Cade laughed again, running a hand through his shaggy brown curls. “Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the day. Not that I mind. Far as I can tell, you’re so whipped by Lucy, you don’t even give a shit if she runs your life.”
Levi flashed a grin. “Absolutely. I know who’s boss, and I don’t give a damn.”
Beck finished his call, standing from the table. “Gotta go, guys. Maisie’s exhausted and Max just threw up all over the couch. I’m on dad duty, so I’ll catch you guys later.”
With a wave, he turned and left. Our gathering slowly broke apart after his departure.
On my way out, I paused in the back parking lot by Swan Lake. I had parked my truck at the B&B, so I was walking home. The sun was setting in the distance, casting a pink and purple shimmer over the surface of the lake. A pair of Trumpeter swans floated near the dock, their necks arched gracefully. They were almost ghostly, their silhouettes silvery in the smudgy light of dusk.
As I stood there, looking out over the lake, my old friend Bill passed through my thoughts again. Bill would love Willow Brook. We used to fish at lakes like this back in Georgia when we were growing up. Nothing was quite the same there, with summers hot and humid and the mosquitoes thick. Alaska had plenty of mosquitoes, just like Georgia, but the air was drier and crisper here, and the greenery not quite as thick and dense.
I hated how Bill had betrayed our friendship. Somehow, his betrayal had cut even deeper than Katie’s because he’d been my friend. The old anger had faded to nothing more than a twinge, though. I still missed him and our friendship. One thing I’d learned was someone could hurt you deeply, and you could still miss them when they weren’t a part of your life.
As for Katie, she tried calling me after they eventually broke up, apologizing and sobbing, telling me she didn’t know what she’d been thinking. With her, I didn’t need closure. Or rather, I supposed I already had it. The moment I knew she’d been fucking around on me for months, it was over in my mind and in my heart.
I had many faults, but loyalty wasn’t one of them. It never crossed my mind to fuck around on her. I’d had chances and I’d never even been tempted. It didn’t mean I was an idiot. I could appreciate a beautiful woman any time, but not once had I considered more than that.
I didn’t want to keep thinking about the past and what I couldn’t change. I spun away from the lake and headed toward home, walking down Main Street. This time of evening in Alaska was a slow dance of twilight. Twilight in most places was brief, yet it lasted for hours here. That in between time, as day gave way to night, felt suspended, almost magical.
People were still walking along the street and perusing the shops. Voices drifted out from a few restaurants as I passed, and Firehouse Café was hopping. Two nights a week, Janet held open mic night. Tonight happened to be one of them, so the crowd spilled out to the tables on the sidewalk.
I kept on walking, Jasmine on my mind. I wanted to see her. Badly. I wasn’t in the mood to reason with myself about it.
After too much time away after the hottest night of my life, my need for her was fierce. When I reached Janet’s B&B, the tension I’d been holding inside eased when I saw Jasmine’s car there. I had no reason to expect her to be there, and no reason to expect her to want me as much as I wanted her.
And yet, as I walked up the stairs, all I could think was how long I would have to wait to be buried inside of her. I stepped across the landing of the top step, my eyes swinging to the door to her suite.
There were no guardrails on the parameters of whatever it was we had. My feet stopped at her door, which happened to be a little closer to this end of the hallway than mine. My hand lifted on its own, my knuckles rapping sharply against her door.
I heard her footsteps crossing the floor and then the door swung open. Every fiber of me tightened with anticipation at the sight of her.
Her hair was up in a lopsided ponytail, half falling down. Loose tendrils fell around her face, framing it. She wore a fitted T-shirt that hugged her breasts. As I looked down at her, I saw her nipples tighten under the cotton. Fuck me.
She wasn’t wearing a bra. She was clearly dressed for comfort, just wearing that T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that hung low on her hips. I could see a slender
strip of skin peeking out from between her clothes.
I managed to drag my eyes up to her face, taking in the fine arch of her brow, her angled cheekbones, and her plump lips curling into a slow smile. She looked startled to see me.
“Donovan, I didn’t know you were home,” she said, by way of greeting.
“I just got home tonight.”
We simply stood there, staring at each other. I was about to step through her doorway when I realized I should probably ask.
“Mind if I come in?”
“Of course not. Come on in,” she said, gesturing as she stepped back, her cheeks flushing pink.
I stepped through the door, my eyes arcing about the room. Her suite was a mirror of mine—the same open style living room with a skylight above, a view across Main Street, and a small efficiency kitchen to the back.
I caught sight of a bright pink bra dangling off the back of the couch. I was suddenly jealous of it—jealous of a fucking bra. I surmised that silk had been able to hug her breasts all day.
I wasn’t thinking too clearly. Or rather, I wasn’t thinking at all.
When the door clicked shut behind me, she just stood there with her back to the door and her hand curled over the handle. The vision of her held close as I fucked her against the door passed through my mind.
I figured I might as well make that vision a reality.
Stepping to her, I lifted a hand, brushing one of those loose locks of hair away from her forehead. “Mind if I take this down?” I asked, as I caught hold of her ponytail.
Her tongue darted out, pretty and pink, swiping across her bottom lip. I knew right where I wanted it. I wanted everything all at once—my mouth buried between her thighs, her lips wrapped around my cock, while I somehow managed to bury myself in her hot slick heat at the same time.
I’d have to take it one step at a time. Somewhere in this hot mash-up of a fantasy, I had my hand wound around her hair.
“No, I don’t mind,” she finally murmured.
At her reply, I hooked my finger under the elastic and pulled it free, watching as her hair tumbled loose around her shoulders in rich amber waves.
“Mind if I kiss you?” I asked next.
Her skin was blooming pink, and her breath was coming in short little pants. I wanted to know if she was wet already.
She shook her head, whispering, “No.”
So I stepped closer, coming flush against her soft body. She was such a contrast to me. I didn’t think much about my body, unless I had an injury that kept me from using it. My body was a tool, and it was a big part of my work. I needed to be strong and unbreakable. She was soft where I was hard.
I dipped my head, needing to taste her skin first. Dropping a kiss right behind her ear, her skin pebbled under my lips. Then, I was dusting kisses along the column of her throat before I made my way to her mouth. Fuck. She tasted like heaven—sweet and salty, so warm.
She sighed into my mouth when I brought my lips to hers, her tongue slipping out to tease with mine. I felt drugged, languid and slow, with the heat of her body and the scent of her winding around me, ensnaring me in its web.
Our kiss was slow and hot, her hips rocking into the hard ridge of my cock.
I managed to break free because I had to know. “Are you wet?”
Jasmine stared at me, her pupils dilated, the blue of her eyes so dark it was almost navy. She nodded slowly, biting her lip. “Uh huh.”
“For me?”
Her hips flexed into me, and she nodded again. Her hand slid between us when she released the door handle. She dipped it past the waistband of her sweatpants. Her touch brushed against my cock when she reached between her thighs.
I couldn’t see, but I knew she was teasing her pussy. She drew her fingers out, and they were slick with her juices.
“See,” she said, her mouth curling slightly at the corner.
I leaned over and caught her fingers in my mouth, swiping my tongue around them and savoring the salty flavor.
That was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
I stepped back, swiftly yanking her sweatpants to the floor and her panties right along with them. I was down on one knee when I glanced up at her. Her belly was shuddering with her ragged breaths as she looked at me.
“Do that again,” I ordered.
I didn’t need to explain. Her hand slid down over her belly again. Her thighs parted slightly, as she bared her pink, wet, glistening pussy for my eyes.
My cock was so hard, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I came in my pants.
Her fingers dipped into her swollen folds, circling over her clit and sliding inside.
I had to taste her. Leaning forward, I dragged my tongue over her folds, swiping all the way up to her clit.
“Don’t stop,” I murmured.
With her fingers sliding in and out, I teased her with my tongue. She tasted so fucking good.
She was so responsive—her breath coming in little gasps and pants with her hips rocking into my mouth. Looking up from my angle, I could see her head fall back against the door with a loud thump. She murmured my name, her free hand threading into my hair.
“I need to feel you come,” I murmured, sliding my fingers inside of her. She slapped her palm against the door and held on as I sank my fingers into her hot, slick channel. In a matter of seconds, she came in a noisy burst, her hips bucking against my mouth.
Any wish to see her lips wrapped around my cock burned to ashes in the fierce need to be buried deeply inside of her.
Slowly drawing my fingers out, I gave her one last lick because I needed the taste of her on my tongue. As I straightened slowly, she tore at the buttons on my fly, shoving my jeans and briefs down around my hips and sliding her hand around my cock. I groaned at the feel of her grip lightly stroking me.
“Donovan,” she murmured, her voice a husky rasp.
Glancing to her, I found her dark gaze on me. Her cheeks were flushed and her breath came in short heaves. “Yes?”
“I need you. Now.”
Sliding my palm under one of her knees, I lifted her leg as I grabbed my cock in my fist, sliding it back and forth through her slick wet pussy.
I wasn’t even thinking. I was just about to drive into her when I realized I needed a condom. I froze. Because I didn’t have one. I sure as hell didn’t usually bring them with me when I went out to deal with a fire. I also didn’t usually come home and fuck someone before I even walked in my door.
That was how crazy Jasmine made me.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “I gotta …”
My words trailed into a growl when she rocked her hips against me, her slick heat teasing my cock.
“What?” she asked.
“Condom,” I bit out.
“I’m on the shot,” she gasped. “And I’m clean. I promise. If there’s another reason we need one, just tell me now.”
The least sexy conversation in the world was sexy with Jasmine, every word husky with her lips pink and swollen from our kisses.
“No need. I haven’t fucked anyone without a condom in years. I’m totally clean. Are you sure? It’s your call.” I couldn’t quite believe I’d managed more than one full sentence, but I had.
She nodded, tightening her leg around my hip. I lifted her, cupping her ass with one hand, the door giving me an assist as I held her high against me. I didn’t wait. Positioning my cock at her entrance, I sank inside of her, all the way to the hilt. Her head thumped against the door and she cried out.
Her channel was so slick, so wet, so snug around my cock, it was like coming home. Heaven.
I held still for a beat. She was so tight. Adjusting her against me, I held her by the hips. She rocked into me, spurring me on. I finally drew back and sank into her again. In a matter of seconds, we were rocking into each other. A slow dance of raw pleasure. It felt too good to make it last. I tumbled into a cauldron of heat, surrounded by her scent, the smoke of our desire spinning around us together. With every stroke, her pus
sy throbbed and clenched around me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jasmine
Donovan’s strength surrounded me as he held me against him with the wooden door cool against my back. He held me easily as he fucked me in a dizzying, maddening slow circle, driving inside me to the hilt—again and again and again.
He stretched me and filled me, the sensation so delicious, I felt drugged, nearly incoherent with need. Every time he drove in, he hit that sweet spot inside. With each rock of his hips, the pressure against my clit sent hot sparks through me as I chased another sweet release.
His fingers dug into my hips, and I heard myself murmuring his name, begging and pleading—frantic as pressure gathered inside me again, rolling into a wave.
“Look at me,” he murmured, his voice a warm command that I couldn’t deny.
Dragging my eyes open, I found his gaze on me, searing in its intensity. My heart thumped—hard. The intimacy coiling around us was so intense I could hardly catch my breath. All the while, the slick pull and slide of his cock drove me higher and higher.
“So fucking hot,” he murmured. “I want to see you come, sugar.”
His voice alone pushed me over the edge. One more stroke, and I flew apart, the wave cresting and breaking free as pleasure crashed over me.
His grip tightened on my hips and then he cried out my name—a raw shout in the room. I felt the heat of his release fill me as pleasure shuddered through my body.
His forehead fell to mine as we tried to catch our breath together.
Without missing a beat, Donovan lifted me against him, turning as he drew his head away.
“Shower,” he murmured softly.
It wasn’t quite a question, but it wasn’t exactly a statement either. At my nod, he turned and walked to the bedroom. Seeing as my suite was a mirror of his, it wasn’t like he didn’t know where to go. He didn’t let me down until we were in the shower with the hot water steaming over us.
