by Raine Thomas
Smiling, she reached out and placed her palms on his chest. As she ran her hands over his hard muscles, she read his chest tattoo.
Play as if you’ll live forever.
“An oversight I’m happy to remedy,” she murmured, meeting his gaze as her right hand lowered to his abdomen. “How rough have you had it these past couple of days, Evan?”
He grabbed her hand when it reached the waistband of his towel. She hadn’t had any intention of going beneath it…this time. But it pleased her to look down and see the results of her touch on his body.
Figuring he wanted her to stop teasing him, she stepped away. He yanked her back against him and brought his mouth down on hers.
All sense of teasing was gone like a snap. Desire raged between them. The kiss was hot, open-mouthed, carnal. She buried her fingers in the hair at the base of his neck, barely aware when he reached down to lift her so that her legs wrapped around his waist. She just knew how happy she was to have even easier access to his fabulous mouth.
She met the thrust of his tongue with hers, mimicking the mating that they both clearly wanted. Soft moans and growls filled the room, none of them from the dogs. They backed against a wall. His lower body pressed hard against hers, the towel and her clothing suddenly unbearable barriers.
When she reached for the towel, he stopped her, breaking off the kiss. The sound of their ragged breathing blended with her pulse racing in her ears.
“Mother of God,” he panted, bracing himself against the wall. “I could take you right here.”
“I’m not stopping you.”
“It’d be over in two minutes.”
She grinned. “Really?”
“Yeah. You’ve gotten me that worked up, and it’s been that long.” He lowered her to the ground, his gaze on her mouth. “I don’t want it to be like this.”
“But you do want it.”
“I should think that’s rather obvious.”
Patting him on the chest, she said, “All right, Evan. I think we both know where we stand on this. What do you think about a walk in the park with the dogs instead?”
He cast a considering glance at Beck.
“I’ll take care of it,” she said. “You get dressed, I’ll step out to give us both a minute to cool off, and then we’ll walk the dogs.”
In answer, he kissed her again. Despite what he’d said, this one was just as hot as the first. He even managed to lower the top of her dress to expose her bra. She got a couple of fingers beneath the towel before he broke it off again.
“I’m a sadist,” he said choppily as he pulled away from her. “Or a masochist. Or whatever the hell you call the idiots who like to torture themselves.”
She smiled, righted her dress, and walked out without responding, knowing he’d lose his control entirely if she didn’t. Her smile was still in place when she returned ten minutes later with the item she’d gone to find. Evan waited in his apartment with Miller and Leo—it pleased her ridiculously to see that he’d gone to pick up her dog—wearing their leashes, standing beside a pathetic-looking Beck.
Evan gave her a long look as she walked in. The look told her that the time apart hadn’t done much to calm the fire that had been lit between them.
That was just fine with her.
His gaze shifted to behind her as she got all the way in. His brow lifted.
“A wagon?”
“Yep. It belongs to Kenny Goldberg in 2-C. His mom said we were welcome to use it as long as we need it.”
Without a word, he bent down and lifted Beck, carrying him over to the wagon. The dog seemed to understand what they were doing, as he didn’t try to escape. His tail thumped joyfully against the side of the wagon, though.
“Thank you, Sierra.”
“You’re welcome, Evan.”
They made their way down the elevator and through the lobby. She greeted Deborah, the manager on duty that day, and introduced Evan before they headed to the park.
She realized she’d forgotten her sunglasses and camera bag as soon as they stepped out into the brilliant sunshine. Not willing to keep Evan waiting, she shrugged it off and prayed she didn’t see anything she’d regret not capturing.
“Did Dr. Paulk say how long he thought Beck’s sprain would take to recover?” she asked.
“At least three weeks,” Evan said. “And that’s if he cooperates and doesn’t try to jump around on it before then. I guess the drugs can make him feel better than he actually is, so he’ll want to be active even when he shouldn’t.”
She considered this as they entered the park. Evan had Leo and Miller on their leashes, so she pulled the wagon. Glancing back at Beck, whose body was shivering with the desire to play, she knew they’d have a battle on their hands.
“You’ll have to cage him when you’re not there,” she said.
“Yeah. I hate it, though.”
They didn’t speak again for a few minutes. When they reached a shady spot, she lifted Beck and set him down so he could relieve himself. It hurt her heart to see him wanting to play with Leo and Miller and not being able to. After he’d done his business, she found a spot to sit and pulled him into her lap, hoping it helped.
She felt Evan’s gaze on her like a caress. She’d been steadily checking him out since they left the apartment building, so she appreciated the return gesture. The memory of his kiss had seared itself into her memory.
As they continued around the park before returning to their apartments, Evan said, “I’m going to look like a dumbass tugging this bright red wagon when I walk them later.”
She laughed. “Haven’t you looked around? This is one of the least strange things you’ve probably seen around here.”
He seemed to give that some thought. “Maybe. Sure would look less like a dumbass, though, if you were toting the wagon instead.”
“You think so?”
“I could maybe even take you to dinner somewhere for bailing me out.”
“I suppose I could be convinced. But since we’d have to cage poor Beck if we left, why don’t I just make us something to eat?”
“I’m supposed to be repaying you, remember?”
“Takeout, then? Maybe followed by some necking on the sofa?”
“I think we have ourselves a deal.”
Chapter 15
Evan regretted his dinner invitation as soon as he was alone in his apartment. Why the hell had he invited Sierra over? Getting involved with her was not an option, no matter how hot she was. He didn’t want to get involved with anyone.
But she’d taken care of Beck. The least he could do was buy her dinner.
Despite his reservations over the date, he found himself checking the clock every two minutes as six-thirty rolled around. He knew Sierra was just on the other side of his kitchen wall getting ready to come over with Leo. It really wasn’t a big deal, he told himself for the hundredth time.
It couldn’t be a big deal.
Since they were staying in, he hadn’t felt any need to dress up. His T-shirt and board shorts were the same clothes he’d worn on their walk. If Sierra’s scent still clung to his T-shirt from when she’d kissed him after the walk, what of it? He would have changed if he’d wanted to.
Okay, fine. He was man enough to admit it. She smelled damn good and he liked having her scent on him.
Their kissing session earlier had run through his head all afternoon. He’d been walking around partially aroused for most of the day. After going so long without feeling this kind of desire for anything or anyone, he actually didn’t mind the discomfort and inconvenience of it.
Hell, it made him feel alive.
The knock on his door had him once again considering the wisdom of this dinner. He wasn’t too happy about the way his heart picked up in speed thinking about the woman on the other side.
You can control yourself, he thought. No one said this has to go any further than friendship.
Yeah, right, asshole.
Miller and Beck barked like they
thought zombies were attacking. Issuing a shrill whistle, he nipped that in the bud. He opened the door and Leo shot inside.
“Guess he’s a little excited,” Sierra said.
She’d changed, he realized. She now wore an off-the-shoulder ivory top that revealed just the right amount of sun-kissed skin, paired with a knee-length, electric blue skirt. Whatever she’d done to her hair had it curling down to her shoulders, except the part she had pulled back with a blue floral barrette. When he looked down at her sandaled feet, he noticed that her toenails were now blue, too.
Damn, she’d gone through a lot of effort, he realized. She was even wearing makeup, which made him want to attack her lips.
Yeah, this was definitely a terrible idea.
“I’m a little excited, too,” she prompted when he just stood there.
Her dimples teased him, and he realized he wanted to kiss more than her lips. Stepping back, he waved her inside.
“Sorry. You’re already distracting me.”
“Am I? Well, that’s nice.”
He watched as she walked over to the kitchen. She’d brought something, he realized as she set a small basket on the counter.
“What’s that?”
“Just a few pre-dinner snacks.”
Should he have thought to offer something? Damn, he was really off his game.
But he wasn’t playing any games, he reminded himself. Especially with her.
“I thought we could have some cheese and crackers, nothing much,” she continued, walking over to his cabinet and pulling down a platter.
“It’s scary that you know your way around my place so well,” he said.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” she said as she pulled out a container of mixed nuts, a small bunch of red grapes, and a blue bag of something he couldn’t identify. “I had the thought earlier that I’ve been acting much too comfortable when it comes to your personal space. You probably think I’m a creepy stalker chick.”
“Let’s just say I’m glad you haven’t said you’re my biggest fan.”
She laughed and set aside the empty basket. “I’m sorry to say that the honor of that title belongs to my grandma. I’ll warn you now that she’ll want to meet you if given the chance. I’ll try to convince her not to ask you to autograph her cleavage, though.”
The suggestion that he’d be meeting her family made him go still. Seriously…what the hell had he been thinking, inviting her over here?
Reaching into the fridge, she said, “I’m not saying she’ll want us to get married and start a family next week, Dorsey. You can relax.”
She surfaced with two beers, one of which she handed to him. He could tell by the impish look in her eye that she was enjoying his discomfort.
She opened her beer and lifted it. “To your first stellar two weeks playing for Atlanta.”
He also opened his bottle and took a sip. “I didn’t think you followed baseball.”
She put a slice of cheddar on a Ritz and said, “As I mentioned, my grandma is a huge fan. I’ve followed Atlanta just so I can have something to chat with her about. Now, I also watch so I can see you play. Your butt looks amazing in those uniform pants, by the way.”
The look in her eyes made him think she wanted to do things to him that would have him holed up in bed for a week. His entire body responded to that idea. He had to shift to get more comfortable.
Desperate for a subject change, he reached for the blue bag to see what it was. “Ghirardelli Dark Chocolates with Sea Salt Caramel?”
“That’s sex in a bag, I’m warning you,” she said around a grape.
Intrigued, he opened it and pulled one out. The chocolate was contained in a shiny blue and gold wrapper, which he proceeded to remove. Not wanting to make a mess with the gooey caramel, he put the whole thing in his mouth and started chewing.
The flavors blended together like bliss on his tongue. He issued a low groan of approval that had Sierra nodding.
“Told you.”
He didn’t say anything. He just grabbed another one and unwrapped it.
She laughed and closed the bag. “You remember that whole, ‘Your butt looks amazing in those uniform pants’ comment? Well, it will no longer apply if you keep eating these.”
He was too busy savoring the candy to respond.
“So, what did you have in mind for dinner?” she asked, picking up another cracker with some cheese.
An image of the two of them naked in his bed sprang to mind. He took a sip of his beer to try and get rid of the thought, but it didn’t work.
“I don’t really know what’s around here yet, but I found this menu,” he said, holding it up. “It was stuffed in my mailbox.”
She took it from him and read the front. “Thai food, huh? I’ve never heard of this place, but it sounds interesting. I’m always up for new things. Why don’t we get something ordered?”
They agreed on the satay chicken, steamed dumplings, and pineapple shrimp curry. When they were finished snacking and Sierra put the remaining cheese and grapes in the fridge, they moved out onto the balcony. As usual, the air was steeped in humidity. Since he only had one chair, he leaned against the railing and let Sierra sit.
“So, what is this project you said you were working on after the walk?” he asked.
“It’s something for my photography class.”
“Oh. You’re in school?”
“Just for this class. It’s at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. That’s where I met my boss a few years ago.”
He frowned. “I thought your boss was your aunt.”
“She’s one of my bosses. I help her out with property management stuff so that I can afford to live here. But I make my living with my photography.”
“Oh.”
How hadn’t he known that? He guessed his efforts to keep her at a distance had turned him into something of a self-centered ass.
“Um, thanks for the pictures of Miller and Beck, by the way. They’re very good.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome, Evan. I’m glad you like them.”
Silence fell between them. He wondered if she was thinking about their earlier kiss. He sure as hell was.
Think about something else, he ordered himself. Any damn thing.
“Have you taken any college classes?” he asked at last.
“No, just a lot of photography courses. I’m leaving the whole college experience to my older sister, Lane. She’s going to med school to become a pediatrician.”
“Wow. A doctor in the family.”
“Yeah. Our parents are thrilled.”
“How do they feel about you and the photography?”
“They’re happy that I’m happy. It’s all they ever wanted for their kids.”
How many times had he heard that? More than he could count.
Sierra reached out to touch his hand. “Who are you thinking about right now?” she asked in a soft voice.
“My mother.”
It surprised him that he said it so readily. He never talked about her. Not with anyone.
She squeezed his hand in a gesture of comfort. He held her gaze, remembering her words at Cole and Everly’s wedding. She had single-handedly managed to convince him to make the change in his life that brought him to Atlanta, the place he and his mother had always dreamed he’d play.
But he considered this a stepping stone, not a destination. He wasn’t ready to invest so much of himself in a place—never mind a person. He wasn’t willing to form that attachment. Not when he knew what it meant to lose it.
“Do you have any other family?” she asked.
Fortunately, his phone buzzed, signaling the arrival of their dinner. He had no desire to have that conversation with her, and might just have said something rude to avoid it.
Walking to the door, he said, “Let’s go be adventurous and eat some Thai food.”
“Sure,” she said, allowing him to give her a hand as she rose. “I like adventure.”
Her mystical eyes f
elt like they penetrated every barrier inside him. He read from her expression that she’d sensed his reluctance, and he somehow knew that she wouldn’t ask about his family again that evening.
For once, he was glad she saw right through him.
Chapter 16
Sierra took a couple of plates from the cabinet as Evan pulled the containers of food from the paper bag they had arrived in. The blend of spices emanating from the containers made saliva pool in her mouth.
“I think Thai was a great choice,” she said as she set the plates on the counter. “I haven’t had it in years.”
Opening the container of steamed dumplings, he asked, “What’s your takeout place of choice?”
“I’m usually a pizza girl, if I order in.”
“Pizza’s always good.”
“So is living life on the edge,” she said with a wink. “Hit me up with a dumpling, would you?”
They portioned out their food and carried their plates into the family room since Evan didn’t have a dining table. He set his plate down on his cushion and went to get two more beers.
“Why don’t you see if there’s a game on?” she asked when he sat down beside her on the sofa.
“It’s an off day,” he said as he powered on the television. “This is my day to watch shows that kill off brain cells.”
“Ah.”
They ended up watching a rerun of Wipeout. Sierra loved the commentators and found herself trying not to choke on her food while she laughed. The food itself was pretty good, too. Not quite hot enough for her taste, but warm enough to eat.
The truth was, she could have been eating cold cereal and been perfectly happy. Whether or not Evan realized it, she knew just how big a step he’d taken, inviting her there.
Since they weren’t conversing, she kept her eye on him as they ate. His gaze was intent on the television, but he didn’t so much as crack a smile at the corny jokes from the commentators or the spectacular wipeouts from the contestants. In fact, she’d never seen him smile, something that touched her deeply. If there was one thing she wished for him, it was that he could learn to laugh again.
She was intuitive enough to know her question about his family had shut him down. He barely spoke, focused on getting through the meal. Although she hated to see the evening end, she knew it would probably be the best thing for both of them.
