He positioned his tip at her slick entrance, grabbed her hips and pushed slowly inside.
Just as he remembered. So damn good.
“Oh…wow.”Her voice was but a whisper.
He clenched his jaw to fight the urge to plunge all the way in.“You okay?”
“Yes. Don’t stop,”she said on a hitched breath, and then her legs tightened around him as he slid completely inside.“Matthew…I…”
She felt so damn good.
“Still with me?”God, he hoped so. If he had to pull out, he’d probably break down and cry.
“Yes. I need you to move.”
He closed his eyes and swallowed a triumphant cry, but quickly recovered and began to fulfill her wish…and his need. Slow, at first, needing to enjoy the feel of her again.
She was so sweet. So damn sweet.
Even while half of him raged with a fierce hunger and wanted to stake his claim and take her hard, the other half filled with tenderness and wanted to hug her against him and nuzzle her neck.
He settled for somewhere in between.
Leaning closer, he kissed her neck and cupped a bobbing breast with one hand and part of her sweet ass cheek with the other as he pistoned in and out, completely convinced he was in the middle of the best damn erotic dream he’d ever had.
Only it wasn’t a dream.
It was real.
“Oh. My. God. Matthew.”
The woman moaning in front of him, bucking back and forth, and tightening around him while he stroked between her legs was very real. As real as the burning down his spine and into his balls, signaling his imminent release.
He straightened and grasped her hips, pulling nearly all the way out before plunging deep, calling her name as he exploded in an almost painful climax. His ears rang and the world faded while he pumped in and out of her, his whole being centered on their connection and the feel of warm, slick heat hugging him tight as she continued to climax—coaxing the fiercest release of his life.
***
In the middle of the night, Audrey woke to find herself wrapped in the arms of a deliciously warm, ripped, hot-as-hell man.
Matthew.
Her mind could hardly compute the fact she’d screwed up not once, but twice with him.
All these years, she’d thought he’d gotten over her so fast that he’d had sex with that blonde. God, what she wouldn’t give to go back to that day…no, the day she’d thought it was a good idea to leave him. That’s the day she wanted to do-over.
But none of it was possible, and fate had seen fit to give her a third chance, and she was not going to blow it. Sighing, she ran her hand lightly up his wonderland of ridges and smiled when the hand he had cupping her ass squeezed.
“You shouldn’t do that if you plan to get any sleep tonight.”
She laughed and sat on top of him. “Sleeping is overrated.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He ran his hands down her body, brushing her nipples with the palms of his hands before straying south until his fingers trailed over her straddled thighs.
“Matthew.” She sucked in a breath as he found her center.
He knew her so well, remembered where she liked to be touched, and just how to touch her. But she knew him, too, and stroked his erection jutting out in front of her. He cursed and thrust into her hand.
“Condom,” he growled, reaching for a packet on the nightstand. “You’re too damn potent for foreplay…just yet.”
Smiling, she opened the packet, but he took the condom from her hands and quickly rolled it on.
“I don’t need foreplay right now, Matthew. I want the final lap,” she mumbled, lifting up to position him at her center, and their shared cries echoed around them as she took him in all the way to the hilt.
“Damn, Audrey.” He gripped her hips as she began to move. “You feel so good.”
She was too lost, too overcome with feelings to answer, so she just rode him until she took them both straight to victory lane where she cried out under his well-placed stroke and he followed with a hard thrust and her name on his lips.
When Audrey awoke the second time, she shared a memorable bottle of wine with the man who enjoyed his portion—via her body—while she wore nothing but her shoes, as per his request. Then they ate a snack, before finally getting around to signing the contract for the restaurant and falling into bed for another two hours of blissful sleep.
Now, her eyes fluttered open as she heard Matthew talking on the phone in the other room by the pool. But the smell of coffee was what got her out of bed. She slipped into a robe from the resort and padded into the kitchen area for the caffeine that beckoned.
“How much?” His voice rose. “Wow. They want me to stay that bad?”
Audrey’s heart stopped for a full beat then raced with his next words.
“Yeah. It is something to consider, but don’t hold your breath,” he said, before opening the balcony door and stepping outside.
The opportunity she needed. She needed to think. Had to put his needs first. His dream. Lord knew she’d already caused him enough pain. One touch, one look and she’d cave, and she didn’t want to make him give up his dream for her.
With one eye on his back, she grabbed her clothes, quickly dressed, and quietly slipped from the suite.
Chapter Ten
Matt spent the better part of the morning trying to track Audrey down. He didn’t understand what happened. Everything was going great. They talked yesterday, confessed things they hadn’t known and it had made all the difference. Tipped the scales. Lifted the hurt, and made way for the possibility of a future.
Then she baled.
Again.
No note. No text. No phone call.
Not even a returned one.
Dammit.
And he’d left three messages.
Cursing under his breath, he turned his car around and headed back to town. He’d spent the last hour driving the back roads, hoping to clear his head. It hadn’t worked. He was still just as confused as when he left the resort three hours ago.
As he rounded the corner to the main drag, his gaze strayed to the garage he owned. The one he hadn’t stepped foot in for nearly two years. Where Greg had ended his life.
Blame it on his confused state, or everything in his life up in turmoil, but instead of driving past, this time he pulled in and parked in front of the closed bay door. He wasn’t sure what he hoped to find. The answers to life were certainly not in there or Greg would’ve found them and still be alive.
He did know his favorite car was behind the other bay door. His first Cutlass. The one which held so many Audrey memories he could never part with it. The other Oldsmobile had been one he’d wanted for nearly a decade. He could still remember Greg’s excited voice on the phone, telling him he’d found the 442 online, in a barn in Iowa. His cousin had spearheaded the procurement, and had been in the process of bringing the beauty back to her full glory when he’d died.
Matthew had never seen it.
That ended today.
Getting out of his car, he pulled his jacket around him tighter and walked through the November wind toward the office door. He dug in his pocket for his keys, scouring the ring until he found the one he sought.
With a deep breath, he shoved it in the lock and turned the key. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but the clean and tidy office, and even cleaner garage wasn’t it.
He stepped inside the first bay and couldn’t stop his hand from caressing the hood of his first Cutlass, any more than he could stop the smile from spreading across his face. Once upon a time, he’d had fun with Audrey in—and on—the red convertible.
Drawing in a deep breath, he straightened and forced his gaze to take in the other car. Damn, it was gorgeous. Gunmetal blue, hardtop, 1970 Oldsmobile 442 with a W-25 ram-air option. And it was finished. He never knew Greg had finished it.
Emotions clogged his throat as he set both hands on the hood and closed his eyes. Of course it was…his cous
in always finished his work. Took pride in his work.
“Matthew?”
He jerked his head toward the office doorway to find Audrey standing there with a concerned expression on her face.
Torn between the anger rising to the surface and joy at the fact she sought him out, he decided on somewhere in between. “You okay?”
“Me?” She blinked and ventured farther into the double bay. “I’m not sure. How about you?”
He sucked in a breath and straightened. “Same. I haven’t been in here since before…”
“This is the one Greg was working on?”
He nodded. “Gorgeous, isn’t she?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Shame to keep her locked up and useless.”
His heart kicked against his ribs as he turned to see if that had been a dig, but all he found was Audrey admiring the muscle car. And that’s when it hit him. That’s when he realized what kind of life he had offered her all those years ago. One where she was kept in the garage—in her case, an apartment, or sometimes a hotel, and once in a while a tour bus. While he’d been out doing his thing, living his dream, she’d been stuck waiting on the sidelines, wasting her potential.
God, no wonder she’d wanted to leave. Hell, he would’ve left himself, too.
“I’m sorry, Audrey.”
Her head shot up, and a deep frown marred her brow. “For what?”
“For holding you back all those years ago. Thinking it was okay for me to pursue my dream while you sat in a room. I didn’t realize how stupid that was.”
She stepped close to cup his face. “I didn’t mind it at first. I loved being with you, and if I had the chance to do it again, I would.” A tear slid down her face, but she continued to hold his gaze. “I’m sorry, too. Sorry for not talking to you about it and trying to come up with a compromise. And for leaving this morning. I needed some air, but when I came back, you were gone.”
He cursed under his breath. “I was looking for you. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
A small smile tugged her lips. “Because some idiot left it in your suite.”
He pulled her close and closed his eyes. “Jesus, we’re a pair.”
“A good one.” She nodded and snuggled close. “I love you.”
He tightened his hold and held her a moment. “I love you, too, Audrey. Never stopped.”
“Me, either.” She trembled against him.
He drew back to catch her gaze. “So, you didn’t run out on me again?”
Her head shook against his chest. “No, I was just trying to think, and I can’t do that with you close.”
He liked the sound of that. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She chuckled. “I love you, Matthew. You’re stuck with me. But you have to promise me one thing.”
“Anything. Name it.”
“I want you to think long and hard about what you want when you make the decision about retiring. I’ll support you either way.” She held his gaze, determined and steady. “I meant it.”
“Even if I raced another year?”
She smiled, and lifted up on tip-toe to brush his lips with hers. “Especially if you raced another year.”
He reeled back. “You want me to race?”
“I want you to do what you want to do, not what you think I want you to do.”
“That’s the thing, Audrey. You’re a part of me, one I refuse to neglect a minute longer. So, it’s important to me to take what you want into consideration.”
She lifted up again, and this time, kissed him full on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing into him. Tight. He slid his hands up her back and held her close, kissing her back.
When they drew apart, he set his forehead to hers and grinned. “Not that I’m complaining, but what exactly does that mean you want?”
“You,” she replied simply. “I want to be with you. And I know you’re going to think I’m nuts, but if you’d like to continue racing, then I’m behind you one hundred percent.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Never behind. Right alongside.”
She nodded. “I’ll join you for whatever races I can.”
He dipped down to meet her gaze. “And return here to help your mother.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “And oversee the setup of your restaurant—”
“Our restaurant,” he corrected with a grin.
A wicked gleam entered her eyes. “Yes, so…why don’t you call your agent and tell him to accept the deal, then we can celebrate by taking this beautiful car that Greg put so much of himself into for a spin.”
“All right.” A heaviness eased from his heart. “If you’re sure.”
“Very.” She squeezed his hand before releasing him to slowly unbutton her jacket as she leaned against the red car, her hot shoes matching the shade to perfection. “But maybe before we go for that spin, we can celebrate like old times…with a special ride in this one.”
Hell yeah.
“The call can wait,” he said, stalking her. “I can’t.”
And as he helped Audrey shed her clothes, Matt shed a few layers he’d been carrying around without knowing. Gone was his anger, and feelings of abandonment. Hell, he even managed to shed a little guilt. What he gained was Audrey…and a pure, raw, true need only she fulfilled.
Epilogue
Two weeks later, Matt was signing autographs and posing for pictures at the armory Christmas party, trying his best to focus on Tyler and his buddies, but whenever Audrey entered his line of sight his mind blanked.
Dressed in her Army Service Uniform—her Dress Blues, she took his breath. With various medals and ribbons on her left breast, the tapered jacket, along with the skirt accentuated her figure, and sent a surge of deep pride through him. He was proud of her. Damn proud. She’d served two tours, the last one in combat, and he had to admit, he was glad he never knew that at the time. There was no way in hell—even though they weren’t in a relationship at the time—that he would’ve been able to maintain the concentration needed during race season.
“There’s Audrey,” Tyler uttered, excitement lifting his voice. “Can you take a picture of me and my mom and dad with Matt?”
“Sure, Tyler.” She smiled, reaching for the phone in Phoebe’s outstretched hand.
He noted how both women sniffed but didn’t comment on the fact Tyler was already referring to Ethan’s new wife as his mom. Everyone in town was thrilled for the little boy.
“Smile.” She took a good minute and snapped a few photos before handing the phone back to Phoebe.
“Now it’s your turn.” Tyler motioned for Audrey to take his place.
With no more fans waiting for him, Matt happily slid his arm around her waist, and a thrill shot through him when she automatically shifted close and did the same.
“You look amazing,” he whispered, tightening his hold, still in shock to have her back in his life. Waking up to her every morning set his world right again.
She smiled and waited until Ethan finished taking pictures before she turned in his arms to face him. “Thank you. You’re so sweet. But you don’t have to keep telling me. That’s like the tenth time today.”
“Not nearly enough.” He held her hips and fought the urge to lean down and kiss her right there in the middle of holiday decorated armory.
Ethan cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Okay. Got it. You can release her now.”
“Nah.” He shook his head and tugged her closer. “I’m good.”
His buddy’s laugh mixed with Phoebe’s.
“Your dad just arrived with my mom, Ethan.” Phoebe grabbed Tyler’s hand. “Let’s go say hi.”
Audrey shifted to stand at his side while the three of them stood watching the happy boy proudly lead his new mother through the crowd.
“I think Christmas came a little early for him this year,” Audrey remarked, her voice a little thick with emotion.
Ethan nodded. “For me, too.” His buddy turned to him and smiled. “Before I
go join them, I wanted to tell you that Brandi called last night. Keiffer is arriving at her ranch this week.”
“That’s great news.” He thrust out his hand.
His buddy shook it and nodded. “Between my sister and Caitlyn, maybe they’ll get through to him.”
Matt frowned. “Who’s Caitlyn?”
“Her sister is married to Kade’s cousin,” Ethan replied. “She’s also a sweet girl Keiffer hooked up with at Ben’s wedding a few years ago.”
“That could be good,” Audrey said. “She knew him from before his spiral.”
“Exactly.” Ethan sighed. “We’re just going to hope for the best. And speaking of the best. I hear you’re the new owner of a restaurant, Matt. Congratulations.”
Matt smiled. “Thanks. Now, we just need to revamp it. Ryder’s going to oversee the renovations.”
“He’s good. And quick.” Audrey squeezed his hip. “It’ll be ready before the Pocono race next year.”
“Great news.” Ethan cupped his shoulder. “So you just need to win that race and celebrate the victory at your own restaurant.”
“Sure, no problem.” He chuckled. “No pressure there at all.”
Audrey’s hold tightened and she pressed her sweet curves into his side. “I have faith in you.”
“And I think that’s my cue to go find my wife and son.” Ethan winked before he disappeared into the crowd.
Finally, they were alone, or as alone as they were going to get in an armory full of soldiers and their families. “So…” He shifted Audrey in his arms, running his hands down to her waist. “About you and this uniform…”
She played with his collar and laughed. “What about it?”
“You look hot.” Damn hot. It was killing him not to kiss her. “Good thing I met you here or we most certainly would’ve been late.”
“Hot? I thought you said I looked amazing.”
“You do, but also hot.”
She stuck out her leg and wiggled her foot. “Even with the small heel?”
“Yes, hottest pair you own, because this is the hottest you’ve ever looked.” And she always looked hot.
“Really?” Heaven help him her smile turned wicked. “You might change your mind if you knew what I was wearing underneath.”
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