“Should I stop drinking?” she asked honestly, looking at him.
“No, of course not, if you don’t want to,” he said, pushing pieces of her hair off her face.
“But you’re drinking water.”
“I have precious cargo to get home. I wanna make sure we’re safe,” he said and leaned down to kiss her lips. “I like kissing you, Kenzie.”
“You’re a good guy, Ty,” she said casually, lifting the glass, letting the ice fall in her mouth until another drink was placed on the bar.
“You know, those are stronger than they taste. Don’t get me wrong, I like drunk girls, but you might regret that in the morning,” he said, when she took a giant drink of her third Rum Runner.
“Point noted,” she said, this time taking a sip as he reached for the glass of ice water. “It never occurred to me to ask this before. But what’s your real name?”
Ty reached down and used his finger to push her hair behind her ear before he leaned in and whispered in a real breathy voice, sending tingles skating across her body, “Ty Bateman.”
It took a second for functioning brain cells to return. By then, he’d stepped back and taken a long drink from the glass of water in his hand.
“Then how do you hide?” she finally asked. Ty lowered the glass, swirling the ice around inside the water before extending the glass to her lips, giving her a drink. He’d managed to relax her so much that she kept her eyes on him, opened her mouth, and took the drink. He seemed to approve because he leaned in, removed the glass and kissed her lips.
“You’re sexy as hell, and I’m Todd Weatherford—per my identification. I should have told you that already. See? You make my head crazy. I forget the important things,” he said quietly in her ear. She reached her hand around his shoulders, holding him right there. She liked him there against her face. Those soft whiskers rubbing along her jaw as he spoke. When he moved slightly, coming back into her line of vision, still all in her personal space, she noticed a trickle of sweat sliding down the side of his face, disappearing into his beard. For some reason, that was sexy to her, and she remembered watching that happen right before her orgasm. She could feel the warm flush washing over her and lifted her cold drink to her cheek.
“What just happened?” he asked, anchoring a hand against the bar, the other around her waist, caging her in.
“I was thinking about us,” she whispered, and his face visibly tightened as he reached out to place the glass of water on the bar. His cold hand went to her knee, sliding up under her skirt. The cold contrasting with her skin’s warmth sent a shiver across her body as her hand went down to his, stopping him from moving any farther up her thigh. He’d have her skirt hiked up any minute if she didn’t put on those brakes.
“I’ve done nothing but think of you naked, me buried inside you, for two days. How naughty are you, Kenzie? Ever been loved on in a bathroom?” he asked against her ear. Her glass tumbled from her hand. Luckily, Ty caught it before she made a huge mess. He laughed a little, giving her the drink back, and she gulped downed the contents. He’d managed to make her so hot and bothered with just his words.
This time Ty spoke with a little more humor in his voice. “Had I known you liked a little dirty talk, I’d have been whispering in your ear all night.”
She knew her face was red and the drink did little to relieve the heat. Kenzie lifted the hair off the back of her neck and fanned herself.
“You’re too smooth,” she said. The hand on her thigh moved farther up, his fingers caressing the sensitive skin on her inner thigh.
“I’m reserved. I keep telling you that.” Those words made her laugh, and the loud music in the bar came to an abrupt halt. Seconds later, a voice came on the overhead, and the crowd inside the bar went nuts, giving her a much needed break when the ruckus drew Ty’s attention to the stage. He was such a force, and when he directed all that toward her, God, she didn’t stand a chance. The guy next to her, who sat on Ty’s old seat, moved closer to the stage as the live band began their first set.
“The bartender might be my new best friend!”
“Why’s that?” she yelled back as he took the vacant seat, shifting closer to her stool until he could wrap his thighs around her butt. When she looked over her shoulder, he pointed to the bar where a new drink sat. She wasn’t quite finished with the last one yet.
“I’m not sure I should drink that,” she said skeptically.
“Have as much as you want. I promise to make sure you’re safe,” he yelled and pointed to the stage for her to look that way. “I saw this band perform in a small bar in New Mexico. They’re pretty good. Turn around and watch ’em.”
She did, and he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her completely back against his chest. His strong thighs tightened around hers. Getting comfortable, she leaned back her head against his shoulder and yelled over the loud music. “You’re good to me.”
“You make it easy,” he yelled back. They were sweet words that shouldn’t have caused sorrow. Instead of dwelling on that, Kenzie reached for her glass, and rested fully against his chest. It had been far too long since she’d done anything like this, and she took another long drink.
Chapter 18
“You fit my body,” Ty murmured against Kenzie’s hair. At least for tonight, they were past the point of worrying about decency or sweat. They’d danced together for the last few hours, only stopping once or twice for a bathroom break or drink run. He always managed to draw her right back to the circle of his arms and out on the dance floor. Regardless of what Kenzie said about her dancing ability, she had a natural grace. She moved instinctively and no one had ever fit so seamlessly against his body.
With Kenzie pressed alongside him, they were barely shifting in a very slow two-step, and he carefully weaved in and out of the few couples left on the dance floor. Her head lay snugly in the crook of his neck with both his arms wrapped tightly around her. No question, he wanted this same scenario to happen over and over again, many times throughout his life.
“I wanna make love to you,” he whispered, ducking his face closer to her so he could be heard. Actually that was a bit of an understatement. He wanted much more with her than that, but he was in baby-step mode, moving at a snail’s pace in order to keep her comfortable. He tried to gauge her reaction. Her eyes were closed with wisps of blonde hair covering her face. His words caused her lips to part, letting a swift exhale of breath escape. Ty used his fingers to move the stray strands aside until she lifted her head, those alcohol-hazed, happy blue eyes looked up at him and her smile grew.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I want to.” He discreetly arched his hips into hers and her smile broadened. “You have to feel it.”
“I had a good time tonight,” she said dreamily.
“Me too. We need to do this again. We dance well together.”
“No one figured out who you are,” she said loudly.
“Shh, beautiful. Quiet.” He lifted his fingers to her lips, silencing her before looking around to see who may have heard. “Ready to get out of here?”
“If you are.” They came to a complete stop in the middle of the floor, and she rose on her tiptoes, clasped her hands around his neck, and tugged him down to place a sloppy kiss on his lips.
They were breaking new ground with that PDA.
He couldn’t help his smile as his lips pressed against hers. For Ty, kisses always meant something personal. She’d never believe how little he kissed anyone in his life. That was reserved for someone truly special. Now she had voluntarily initiated a kiss, and he couldn’t have been given a nicer gift. The moment was short-lived.
“I’ve had a lot to drink.” When Kenzie pulled away, he had to reach out and steady her. She wobbled, forcing him to hold on tight.
“You’re in good hands. I won’t take too much advantage of the situation,” he teased, hauling her against his chest.
Back on her tiptoes, she reached for his ear like she w
as going to whisper, but spoke loudly. “You can’t take advantage of the willing.”
His dick punched against his jeans, trying in vain to get to her.
Grudgingly, Ty let her go, and she ducked underneath his arm, plastering herself against his side while wrapping both her arms around his waist. He hugged her tight, laughing at her move, and taking a few steps forward. “You’re making it hard to walk.”
“You’re doing fine.” Kenzie was a sweet drunk, but her balance was off and she ended up stumbling. She pitched forward while never letting go of her hold. Ty had to move agilely to keep them both on their feet.
“I’m sorry I’m drunk.”
“You keep saying that,” he teased, using her same words back on her.
She abruptly reached up again, this time hitting her target, kissing him close to the lips. Kenzie was clearly in a mood. He stared down at her pretty upturned face and decided right then that he wanted to live in a world where this woman did these kinds of things to him all the time. This time, he leaned down to kiss her.
“I need to cash out.”
It was early morning, probably later than he realized as he headed toward the bar. The bartender ran his card, put the charge receipt in front of him, and Ty began to scribble his alias on the slip beside him.
“You know, you look familiar to me. One of the regulars said she thought you were that actor in the Superman movie.” Ty never looked up, quickly added a tip and totaled the charge before pushing the pen and receipt across the counter.
“Henry Cavill? I get that a lot,” Ty answered, finally looking up while tucking his copy inside his front pocket.
“So are you?” he asked, eyeing Ty a little closer.
“No, not at all.” Ty didn’t hold the gaze. He reached over for his jacket then grabbed Kenzie’s. He draped hers across her shoulders as she seemed in the midst of a silly giggling fit, but luckily never said a word clarifying his identity. “Thanks for taking care of us tonight.”
“What was the name of that drink?” Kenzie called out as Ty took her arm and started for the front door.
“Rum Runner,” the bartender shouted, giving her a wink. Ty lifted a hand in acknowledgement as Kenzie seemed to get her feet back solidly underneath her, moving away from his hold.
“Not too far away,” he said, reaching for her arm when she walked past the front doors toward the other side of the bar. Ty stopped and grinned as she looked back and then around, confused. When he pushed open the door, he laughed out loud when she looked as if he’d just executed the perfect magic trick right in front of her watchful eyes.
“I had fun tonight,” she said, walking past him then immediately wrapping both her arms over her chest and under her jacket to rub both palms up and down her arms.
“Me too,” he said, coming to stand right beside her while she pushed her arms inside the sleeves of her jacket. “I can go get the car and you can stay inside.”
“I’m good to walk. The air seems to help my fuzzy brain,” she said and started off toward the Jeep, going the wrong direction.
“Babe, this way,” he called out, trying to hold back his grin because there was nothing but wide open fields in front of her. Kenzie stopped, looked around, did a half circle until her body was aimed toward the Jeep.
Instead of going that way, she walked back to stand right in front of him. “Kiss me, first? One of your good kisses.”
“You’re full of really good ideas tonight.” Ty placed his hands on the sides of her face, crowding her until they shifted backward several steps out of the direct light of the front door. Before she stopped moving, he descended. She opened, and her tongue slid across his, turning the kiss magical. She was so responsive tonight, clutching his biceps as she angled her head to deepen the kiss. She even fought for dominance this time, kissing him like she had a right to be there.
Kenzie stepped into him, lessening any distance, plastering herself against the length of his body. The move was bold as she ate at his mouth. No question; his own body was in overdrive for this woman. Forty-eight hours since he’d tasted her was too long to wait for another chance. He needed so much more.
Half yanking, half cradling her in his arms, he pushed her several steps backward until her back hit the side of the building. He pressed the length of his body into her, rolling his hips, grinding his rigid hard-on against her hips, and she responded with an encouraging sensual moan and a slight grind of her own. She broke from the kiss, her head falling back against the brick, exposing the long line of her slender neck.
“I want you.” Her voice was breathy and filled with need.
“God, I want you,” he replied, mouthing the skin along her neck, moving up to her ear as his palm cupped a breast, his hand closing around her swell.
“Get to your ride. Move it out of the doorway. The cops can see you from the road.”
In a haze, Ty registered the words spoken behind him. He got the meaning, but it was extremely difficult to halt his trail to her ear.
“We need to go.” Nothing but straight up common sense had him whispering into instead of laving the ear like he intended. Clearly she hadn’t gotten the memo. She clutched him tighter, her eyes closed, her lips parted, and her face flushed.
Damn if she wasn’t the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
“Stay like this,” he said, holding her cheeks between his palms. When she opened her eyes, he said it again. “Stay just like this.”
“What?” she asked. By the look on her face, she obviously hadn’t understood his words, but he took her hand, tugging her from the darkened corner and toward the Jeep. “You kiss really well,” she mumbled, having to almost jog to keep with his pace. A caress of her hand down the center of his back reinforced the sweetly said words. Of course, she didn’t stop there. Her palm grazed lower, stroking one cheek of his ass. Those few small touches took his turned-on cock to the next rigid level. Her voice just did it for him. With a few more words and some well-placed hands, he was certain she’d have the ability to make him lose his load right there in his jeans.
“We fit together well,” he eventually murmured when he thought his voice would hold, taking quicker steps now.
“I don’t think you understand how much I wanna have sex with you right now.”
Oh hell… Ty’s steps faltered as he looked back over his shoulder, and Kenzie’s eyes were downcast, focused on his ass. Shit, how in the hell would he ever get past that sweet declaration and get her to a hotel room?
Ty managed to get them to the passenger side of the Jeep before letting her go long enough to dig his hand inside his jeans pocket for the keys. Coming to a stop seemed to be all the encouragement Kenzie needed. She made her advance, shimmying between him and the door, draping both her arms around his waist, pushing up on her unsteady tiptoes. She was plastered against his chest with that sexy-ass look back on her gorgeous face. Her eyes closed, her lips parted, and when she reached to kiss him, he couldn’t resist the invitation. Ty opened, and all he could do was hang on as she shoved her tongue forward, taking everything she offered.
When she moved enticingly along his body, shivers raced down his spine weakening his resolve. Ty rammed her back against the Jeep. Kenzie was bold and daring, ripping at his clothing until she freed his shirt from his jeans, shoving one of those graceful hands up his back and around his side until those glorious fingertips fondled the sensitive bead of his nipple.
His dick pitched forward against her belly. His own hands didn’t waste a single second. They wrenched her blouse up, shoving underneath her bra cups to cover each mound with his rough palms. Man, he had a thing for her nipples, and they were already firm and protruding, ready for his exploration.
Encouragement came by way of her body forcibly arching against his. She melded into him, shrugging off her jacket before reaching an arm around his neck. Her hold tightened as her tongue took over, dominating in a sensual dance of tongue and teeth as she explored the farthest reaches of his mouth. She was so f
ucking sexy. His head kind of exploded as he lost himself in the moment.
Unexpectedly, Kenzie yanked her mouth free of his, her breaths hitting his face in short, quick warm pants. Her voice very much begged. “Touch me, Ty.”
His gaze connected with hers for one heartbeat, then two. Oh, man, he needed to stop this… Yeah right. Was there ever any real choice? His own need drove him to yank at her shirt, lifting the fabric as he bent his head low. He molded his free hand to the delicate skin of her breast, raising the soft mound as he fastened his mouth over one taut nipple, laving the bud. His angel combusted in his arms. Erotic desire coiled, making Ty hold tight to keep her on her feet.
Pulsing with passion, Kenzie went wild as she took matters into her own hands. She shoved at one of his hands, tugging his palm between her legs, pressing until he began to massage her through her skirt. She was unstoppable as she kept her hand on his and rolled her hips with the rhythm she created.
“Fuck, Kenzie,” he breathed, popping the nipple out of his mouth to watch her eyes roll to the top of her head as the back of her head hit the passenger side window. Her mouth parted, letting out short shallow bursts of breath, all the while she ground her core into his hand. Ty shook off her insistent hand and slid his fingers under her skirt, past the soaked cotton covering her, and started stroking a finger across her drenched heat.
“God damn,” he muttered, his voice gravelly and laced with intense need. The breast was all but forgotten as he absorbed the first real evidence of how deep her desires ran. If he knew what was good for him, he would hurry. Get her off and then to someplace safe before he fully explored this hot little wildcat in his arms. The problem was, he rarely did what was safe, and he’d waited for what felt like forever to see this side of this woman.
Ty slid a finger across her clit, before easily slipping two digits deep inside her tight channel in search of that spot that would send her over the edge. The deep throaty moan she gave, along with the pump of her hips told him it wouldn’t take much.
Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2) Page 18
