by Kim Loraine
Tears sprang to her eyes as she worked through her own laughter and tried to get the words out. “I . . . I was just . . . helping him with the zipper.” Wiping her eyes, she fought to control her giggles. “You should have seen the look on the best man’s face. There’s nothing like being busted mid-orgasm.”
After the kitchen was finally clean, the two friends sprawled out on the couches in the living room, coming down from a sugar high.
“Want to go out tonight?” Lena asked.
Valerie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve only been back a month. I’ve still got a lot of extra work to take care of. Ingram needs me in the office by seven most mornings.”
Frowning, Lena tossed a pillow at her friend’s head. “Boo.”
“Call Hallie. She follows your ridiculous schedule, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah, for the most part. Oh, maybe she’ll go karaoke with me. I feel like singing bad love songs and getting a little shit-faced.”
Chuckling, Valerie tossed the pillow back at her. “Just not so shit-faced that I have to come pick you up.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Two hours later, Lena sat in Hallie’s car debating their destination choices.
“How about Mike’s?” Hallie asked.
Mike’s. The name made her clench her teeth, hard. Shaking her head, she pulled her phone from her bag and began searching for karaoke bars farther away from their small town. Small town bars meant a greater chance of running into a certain sexy firefighter. “Here, let’s try this place,” she said, pointing to the location on her phone.
“That’s all the way in Norfolk. It’s forty minutes away.”
Rolling her eyes, Lena shrugged. “It’s not that bad. I just want to go somewhere new.”
“Okay, there’s a place I’ve been to before. It’s only like twenty minutes away. There’s no karaoke, but we can dance.”
That lightened her mood. She loved dancing. “Sure. Fine, sounds good. Let’s try it.”
As they pulled into the parking lot, Lena grimaced at the length of the line at the door. “We’re never going to get in.”
Hallie laughed. “Yeah, we are. Have you seen yourself? What’s going on with you? You’re usually so self-assured.”
“I don’t know. I’m just . . . in a weird place.”
“Well, shake it off, girl. Go get your confidence back.”
Lena couldn’t fight the grin that spread across her face. She added a little extra swish to her hips as she stalked to the front of the line. The bouncer looked her up and down with a smirk on his beefy face.
“How many?” he asked.
“Just the two of us.” She offered him a sensual smile as she leaned closer and lowered her voice. “What’s the cover charge?”
His gaze landed on her breasts. “No cover tonight, ladies.” He moved to let them in, taking her arm as she passed. “You don’t find what you’re looking for in there tonight, you let me know. I’ll take good care of you.”
Hallie gasped and burst into a fit of giggles, pushing them both into the club. “That was gross,” she said. “Let’s get a drink.”
She came back with a shot of tequila for each of them and a wicked gleam in her eye. “Bottom’s up.”
Lena closed her eyes as she did the shot, enjoying the burn of the alcohol as it filled her belly. “One more?” she asked.
Hallie winked and turned back to the bar, where two more shots were already waiting.
“You’re always so prepared.”
“I thought you might need it.” Hallie’s gaze was trained behind Lena.
The hair on the back of her neck tingled as she fought the urge to whirl around and follow Hallie’s focus. Taking a deep breath, she turned and locked eyes with Michael. What the hell was he doing here? He leaned against the wall, casually taking a pull from his beer while he watched her.
“Shit,” she breathed.
Before she could tear her eyes away from him, a tall blonde wrapped her body around his and whispered something in his ear. Lena’s chest burned with jealousy as she watched the woman take his earlobe into her mouth and he grinned.
Downing her second shot, she grabbed Hallie’s hand and pulled her into the pulsing crowd, needing to get lost in the music. Her head felt light, pleasantly humming from the alcohol in her system. As the song changed she grabbed the first guy she saw and flashed him a sultry smile. He took the invitation and pulled her close, grinding against her and running his hands over her curves. Catching a glimpse of Michael and his trashy date out of the corner of her eye, a thrill ran through her at the fierce look on his face. He was watching. And he was pissed.
“I need another drink,” she told her partner as she extricated herself from his arms.
“I’ll be here, baby.”
As she walked through the crowd, she felt empowered. She wasn’t planning on taking this nameless man home, but she knew she could turn heads without much effort. Michael wasn’t the only man in the world who was interested in her. She’d just proven that, and he’d witnessed the whole thing. After ordering a whiskey sour, she leaned against the bar, watching the bartender put her drink together. A warm palm slipped around her waist and she let out a gasp of surprise.
“You think that guy is what you want?” Michael’s voice rumbled in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
“I’m just dancing.”
He grazed her neck with his lips and whispered against her skin, “Dance with me.”
She wanted to say no, to tell him to get lost, but the truth of it lay in her body’s reaction. Goosebumps rose on her skin, her breath caught in her throat, and a rush of need flowed through every cell in her body. Draining half of her drink in one gulp, she turned to him, his beautiful face adding fuel to the fire raging inside her.
Pulling her against his body, he pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, “Please?”
The alcohol guiding her judgment, she nodded, and let him lead her to the throng of dancers. The sensual, driving beat of the song had them pressed against each other, staring into one another’s eyes. The heat she found there sent undeniable need careening through her.
God, she wanted him, even if it was just once more.
Michael bit back a groan as Lena’s warm body slid over his. Her full breasts swayed under the silk of her top as she moved, making him want to take her right then and there. How could he forget a night with this woman? And to have to watch her dance with that other jackass. Rage boiled his blood even now, at the mere thought of another man’s hands on her.
Pressing her back through the crowd, he moved them toward a dark corner. He needed more contact, more privacy, more—Lena.
“I didn’t know firefighters could dance,” she murmured, her breath tickling his ear.
He shrugged, fighting off a grin. “I’m a stripper in my free time.”
Pulling away, she looked at him, eyes sparkling with laughter. “Must be why your calendar page is the most popular.”
Before he could answer, her lips were on him. A rush of lust flowed over him, making him harden almost instantly. God, she smelled better than he remembered. They’d stopped the pretense of dancing and seconds passed into minutes as the rest of the world around them fell away. Their kiss deepened, morphing into something so much more needful than he’d been prepared for.
Hitching her leg around his, she groaned into his mouth as he pressed her against the wall behind them.
“Still mad at me?” he asked, lips a breath away from hers.
“Shut up. Don’t ruin this, firefighter.”
In the back of his mind, he knew they should talk. That they needed to clear the air and start fresh. But when her hand snaked under his shirt and she grazed his waist with her nails, he was lost.
“Michae
l? What the fuck? Who is this skank?” A shrill, nasal voice cut through the veil of arousal around them.
Lena stiffened in his arms as he took her hands, pulling them away from his belt buckle. He watched her face color, changing from pink to red. At first he thought she was embarrassed. Until she pushed away from him, squaring her shoulders and tossing her dark hair back.
“Well, now. That’s not very nice.” Lena’s voice was smooth, but deadly. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know your slutty ass is all over my boyfriend.”
His stomach clenched. He was far from her boyfriend. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he remembered her name. Kelsey, or Kristy, or something like that. They’d only met a few hours ago.
“Boyfriend? Huh. It seems like maybe you need to take your attitude and point it in his direction.” Lena turned her steely gaze on him and smirked. “I should have known better. You’re going to need some privacy with your girlfriend.”
As she stalked past him and Kristy/Kelsey, he ran a hand over his jaw, trying to figure out the best way to handle this. He wanted to run after her, kiss her until she forgot all about anything but them together. But, that nasal voice was right in his ear, making him shudder, and not in a good way.
“So, is this what it’s like being with a firefighter? I’ll have to defend my territory all the time. Cause, I’ve got to tell you, it’s pretty fucking sexy.” The woman next to him mimicked Lena’s position, attempting to wrap a leg around him.
“Too bad you’ll never find out.” He moved her leg and left her there.
As he searched the crowded club, he saw no sign of the long, black hair he loved to feel slipping through his fingers. “Son-of-a-bitch,” he muttered under his breath. She was always running from him.
“Looking for Lena?”
He turned to find Hallie grinning up at him from a seat at the bar. “Yeah. You know where she went?”
“Outside. She’s stewing.”
Tipping his head at her, he started toward the exit.
“Have her text me if she’s going home with you!” Hallie called over the crowd.
He hoped to God that would be the case.
Chapter 6
Lena sat on the hood of Michael’s car, shivering in the cold. She knew he would be pissed if he saw her, potentially leaving scratches on his precious baby. She didn’t give a damn. At the sound of heavy footfalls, she looked up and into the hazel eyes she’d been dreaming of.
“What are you doing?” Michael asked, a curious expression on his face. She was surprised by his reaction, and a little disappointed. She’d enjoyed the idea of making him angry. He’d certainly done the same to her. It seemed fair.
“Sitting.”
“Hallie said you’d be stewing.”
“She’s not wrong.”
Instead of asking her to get off of his car, he surprised her by leaning against the hood next to her. “That girl is not my girlfriend. I just met her tonight. I don’t even know her name.”
Wanting to hear truth in his words, she stared into his eyes, seeing an intensity in their depths that made her feel like she was falling. With a raised eyebrow, she teased, “No way. It seemed like you knew her so well.”
He slipped his hand over hers and entwined their fingers. An intimate gesture that knocked her off guard. When she tried to move her hand away, he squeezed slightly. “Give me a chance.”
“Michael, I’m leaving in a few days. I’ll be gone more than I’m here for the next three months.”
“Then spend those days with me. There’s something between us. I know it.”
She chewed on her lip, torn between wanting to protect herself and wanting to be with him. “I’m not sure. How do you know it would be worth it?”
In answer, he let go of her hand and pulled her to him, crushing his lips against hers. The softness of his mouth and the scratch of his stubble sent waves of desire through her. Her head swam with memories of him. Of everything they could be. Of everything she could lose. When his tongue entered her mouth, she let out a soft gasp and melted into him.
He pulled away, breathing just as heavily as she was, and grinned. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
He took her hand again and helped her to her feet. “Yours or mine?” At her words, the tension between them changed from smoldering to blazing.
“Mine.” His gaze was heated with passion.
Mouth suddenly dry, she nodded, hoping he wouldn’t see the slight ribbon of fear running through her. She took a breath, reminding herself that not every relationship was doomed to fail. Not every man was as faithless as her own father had been.
The car started with a deep rumble, breaking the silence and pulling her out of her own head. She watched him as he drove, hands clenched tightly on the steering wheel, eyes focused on the road, shoulders tense. She affected him just as much as he did her. Damn, she wanted so much more than tonight with him. Maybe they could make it work. They were both busy people, but carving out time for something special was always worthwhile. Wasn’t it?
As he turned down a dirt road, she stiffened. This wasn’t familiar at all. Where was he taking her?
“Uh, where are we going?” she asked.
“My place.”
“Did you move?” Her heart caught in her throat when they pulled up to a beautiful farmhouse. Even bathed in the moonlight she could see the gorgeous plantation shutters, the wrap-around porch, and charming wicker chairs.
Grinning, he turned off the engine and looked at her. “Yeah. I moved.”
“Wow.”
As she sat in the car, staring at the house, he got out and pulled her door open. Taking his offered hand, she tore her gaze away from his home and found herself staring up into his hazel eyes once again. His lips were so close. All she needed to do was let herself fall forward, just a bit, and they’d be connected.
“So . . . um . . . when did you buy it?” She found herself needing a minute to steady her raging hormones.
A low chuckle escaped him as they separated. “I built it. Been working on it a few years now. John and I bought the land about six years back.”
“Built it?”
He dropped his gaze to the ground and rubbed at the back of his neck as they walked up the steps to the front door. “Yeah. I like to work with my hands. Always have.”
“You said you and John bought the land. How much land?”
“It’s almost four acres. We were going to split it, each build our homes, start our families. Things . . . didn’t work out.”
Her heart broke for the expression of grief that passed over his face. Everyone in town knew that the Oliver brothers were closely knit, but she didn’t realize how devastating John’s death had been to Michael.
Placing one hand on his cheek, she stood on tiptoe and brushed a tender kiss on his lips. “I’m sorry.”
He took a deep breath before sliding the key into the lock and letting them inside. “It’s not totally done yet. But I’ve got the main rooms finished, and the bedroom. Just small stuff left.”
As he flicked on the lights, she stared in awe at the workmanship. Crown moldings, wainscoting, breathtaking hardwood floors. He led her into the kitchen, where the open space and enormous center island practically made her drool. She squealed at the sight of the double oven and proofing drawer.
“This stuff is commercial grade.”
Shrugging, he helped her out of her coat and tossed it on the back of a barstool. “I like to cook.”
“I guess you must.” Running her fingers over the gorgeous granite counter top of the island, she sighed. “If I had a kitchen like this, I’d never stop baking.”
He closed the distance between them, pressing his hips into hers before lifting her and sitting her on the island. “You can use it
anytime you want.”
She shivered as his hands traced the neckline of her top, drifting over the fabric and down to her waist. Without a word, he pulled the shirt over her head. Her nipples stiffened at the cool air and she momentarily wished she’d worn a bra, until he dipped his head and pulled her breast into his mouth.
She cried out. The sensation was too much. He was too much. As his tongue swirled over her skin, she threw her head back to give him better access. When he moved his attention to her other breast, she sighed as desire pooled low in her body. His lips moved further down, blazing a trail of heated kisses across her skin while he slowly laid her against the granite. The shock of cool stone against her back and his warm skin at her front only served to increase her desire.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured against her as his mouth ran down her belly.
Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest as he ran his fingers up her legs and under the skirt she wore. When he brushed her inner thighs, she shuddered and bit back a moan. Yes. This is what she wanted.
“Lift your hips,” he demanded. As soon as she complied, he slipped her underwear down her legs and backed away, leaving her exposed, with only a rucked up skirt around her waist.
She watched him move, his muscles bunched as he lifted his shirt and slipped it over his head, revealing beautifully bronzed skin and surprisingly, a tattoo over his heart. “I didn’t know you had a tattoo.” She was unwilling to raise her voice any louder than a whisper for fear of diminishing the tension of the moment.
He glanced at the floor, a lost expression flashing over his face, then back at her. “It’s new. And there’s a lot you don’t know.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
His answering grin took her breath away. It took years off his face, making him seem carefree. She loved being the reason for his smile. Wanting to keep this version of him going, she sat up, pulling him forward by the waistband of his jeans. The button popped free easily and she slid the zipper down, watching his expression change from teasing to burning. Unable to resist, she pushed his pants to the floor and cupped the hard length straining against his boxer briefs.
