Rounding back out of the kitchen, she moved further and found two doors. The first one opened into a bathroom, not small but not opulent. A single sink, toilet and bathtub, and linen closet were there. She reached over, pleased to see water rushing as she turned the knob. Quickly using the facilities, she eyed the tub longingly. First thing on my vacation list—a long hot soak.
Moving to the only other door, she found the bedroom. Quaint, with a queen sized bed, night stands, and dresser, she flopped down on the bed for a moment, reveling in the comfort. Mine. All mine. At least for the weekend.
Getting back up, she quickly put her grocery items into the kitchen and dragged her suitcase into the bedroom. One bedroom? I guess the Marks’ children must have slept in the living room. Imagining a cabin in the mountains as a child, she thought that spending the nights on the pull-out sofa or sleeping bags must have been an adventure.
Turning on the water to fill the bathtub, she poured just a little bath oil in before walking back to the living room to look out at her car in the driveway. It was buried in snow but as safe as she knew how to make it. Going back to the bathroom, she stripped and settled into the tub, letting the warmth and aroma of the scented oil soothe her. Slipping in her earplugs, she listened to the melodic sounds of music, taking her to a peaceful place that she had not known in weeks.
As always, images of Tony filled her mind, but she pushed them away. I’ll never be good enough for him. Whatever he needs or whatever he’s looking for…it’s not me.
*
Tony’s GPS had him turning on a non-existent road between two trees. He’d given up seeing the road, relying on instinct and training, moving slowly. Finally it looked as though he were there. Moving between the trees in what could have only been the path, his headlights finally illuminated a cabin in a clearing. Lights were on from the inside and he saw a snow covered car in the front. Parking next to it, he hauled his duffle bag from the back, as well as his supplies. Walking over to the snow covered vehicle, he gave it a quick swipe with his hand and saw that it was Sherrie’s car. Thank fuck. So why hasn’t she been answering her phone? Not knowing if he wanted to spank her or kiss her, he made his way up to the front door.
He knocked, but immediately thought that she might be frightened. “Sherrie,” he called. No answer. He knocked again. No answer.
He tried the doorknob and found that with just a hard jiggle, it came unlocked. Jesus, fuck. She’s out here with virtually no security, not even a front door that locks properly. Stepping inside, he set his things down and glanced around, his gaze seeing and categorizing everything. As he shut the door behind him, he saw that there was a deadbolt that she had not secured. A spanking is definitely first on my list, he thought angrily.
“Sherrie, it’s Tony,” he called out. No answer. Seeing light from a partially open doorway that was just behind the kitchen he stalked over and looked in.
Holy fuck. Sherrie was lying in the bathtub, eyes closed with earplugs from her Ipod in her ears. Her long, blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a messy knot, tendrils escaping along the side of her face. His gaze raked down her body, rosy nipples peeking from the water.
Knowing he should turn and walk away, his feet seemed rooted to the floor. His dick swelled painfully in his jeans, straining the zipper. Even that simple act of tamping down his desire seemed foreign to him. A master at controlling his body as well as his emotions, he was not used to getting a hard-on just from looking at a naked woman. He allowed himself to get off when he needed anonymous sex, but could not remember the last time he had trouble controlling his dick.
Starting to back out of the doorway, he saw her eyes open and before he could say anything she moved faster than anyone he had ever seen.
Screaming, she jumped up, the earbuds popping out as her feet slipped in the tub, sending her backward, her head going under the water.
Tony rushed forward, trying to grasp the slippery women while dodging her flailing arms. One of her hands slammed into his nose as he pulled her out of the tub before slipping on the wet floor, somehow managing to keep her from hitting her head as he landed on his back. Her wet, naked body was plastered against his as she continued to wiggle to get free.
“Stop,” he ordered, knowing there was no way he could keep his erection from pushing into her stomach. Standing, he pulled her up with him, setting her on the bathroom rug while grabbing the towel from the toilet lid.
“Sherrie, it’s me,” he shouted over her screams as she tried to see through her dripping hair and cover herself at the same time.
Realizing who had just plucked her naked form out of the bathtub and was now standing in front of her holding a towel up to give her some sense of modesty, she glared up into his face.
If looks could kill, I’d be incinerated, he realized.
Chapter 5
Sherrie stood in the bathroom, staring into the mirror. She had not planned on washing her hair but after the dunking in the bath-oil water she had no choice, and her wet, combed hair hung down her back. Oh Jesus, he pulled me naked from the tub. How the hell do I face him now? Looking at her reflection, she saw her pajamas. A soft flannel set that covered her head to toe. Not exactly sexy. No, that doesn’t matter. I wasn’t here for entertaining. Gripping the counter with white knuckles, her mind whirled. What the hell is he doing here? How did he find me? And why? Pursing her lips tightly, she thought, Another rescue. That’s what he’s doing. I’m nothing but a rescue mission to him—again! Eyes snapping, she pushed off the counter and prepared to face him.
Tony had put away the provisions he had brought after making a cursory tour of the small cabin when Sherrie appeared out of the bathroom. Covered in flannel with only her tiny toes peeking out completed her comfortable ensemble, but it did little to blank out the image of her curvy, naked body. Wet hair, now combed and pulled away from her face allowed him to see that she was angry. Fucking pissed would be a better description.
Putting his hands up, he said, “Before you get your panties in a wad, you’ve got some explaining to do.”
“Me?” she sputtered. “Me?” she repeated, unable to think of anything else to say.
“Yes, you. You leave Richland without telling your friends of your plans. You haven’t watched the news lately so you completely missed that the snow storm of the winter was coming our way. Your phone has been off for the past several hours, keeping anyone from checking on you. I get here to make sure you’re all right and all it takes is a jiggle of the doorknob to get in since you forgot to turn the fuckin’ deadbolt. What if it had been someone else besides me?”
“You self-righteous prick,” she answered back. “I don’t owe anyone an explanation of where I go or what I do. I may not have known I was heading toward a storm but I made it just fine. I have warm clothes and food, so I hardly think that I am totally unprepared. And what rapist or murderer would possibly know about this place or be able to find it in the middle of a storm? And on top of that, what the hell are you doing here?” she yelled, eyes snapping with her hands on her hips.
Stepping forward, he yelled back, “Don’t turn this on me. You put yourself in danger.”
“How am I in danger? I’m here safe and sound, was enjoying a fabulous bath and then you come barging in, invading my privacy!”
“You’re lucky it was me and only me invading your privacy.” Infuriating woman. Jesus, she’s the only person who makes me lose all control. Standing toe to toe they glared into each other’s eyes, anger morphing into something more primal.
Pulling her to him quickly, he covered her mouth with his own. Deep, wet and hard. An unrestrained kiss that spoke volumes as their arms entwined. Lifting her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist as her arms clutched his shoulders. Moving their heads from one side to the other, their tongues dueled in a frenzy for dominance.
Thrusting his tongue deeply into the warmth of her mouth, he tasted the heady combination of mint and her. Distinctly her. Two more steps forward had h
er back against the wall. Her breasts pressed into his chest, as one arm held her ass and the other was wrapped around her back. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and could not tell if the animalistic moan came from her or him…or both.
He pushed her more firmly against the wall, supporting her so that he had both hands free. She immediately began to grind herself on his torso, desperate for the friction to ease the ache that was deep inside.
He grabbed the bottom of her shirt and whipped it up over her head, their kiss only breaking long enough for the material to pass their lips. After lifting her hands, allowing her top to fly off, she grabbed his head holding it tight as she delved her tongue back into his mouth.
She had not put her bra back on after her bath and his hands quickly found the heavy globes that fit perfectly in them. He moved his thumbs over her nipples, alternating between pinching and gently rubbing.
Throwing her head back against the wall, she allowed his lips to leave a wet trail of kisses from her throat down her neck to the tops of her breasts. She thrust them forward as an unconscious offering and one that he was more than willing to take. Sucking a nipple deep into his mouth, he licked, nipped, bit, and suckled until she was writhing wildly. Moving over to give the other nipple the same attention, his hand slipped down her pajama bottoms and found her panties soaked. Pulling the bottoms and panties over her hips, he jerked them off her legs then picked her back up.
Lips locked once more, he hefted her up in his arms long enough to unbutton and unzip his jeans, freeing his swollen cock. Having lost all control he held her over the tip, finding her slick folds ready for him. His mind, filled with the pounding need that roared through him, was barely conscious of her small hands holding him closely. Needing to be inside of her was more important than his next breath.
“Please,” she begged, her mind equally filled with desire and longing that drowned out all other voices in her head. She only felt. Experienced. Every fiber of her being tingled with the need of him deep inside. I’ve waited forever for someone like you. No, not like you. Just you.
With one swift plunge he seated her firmly and completely on his dick, barely hearing her head bang on the wall behind her. Jesus, fuck, she’s tight. Too tight. Something’s wrong—
Before he could process that thought, she was moving on his cock, trying to ease the ache. With one hand on the wall beside her head to maintain his balance, he thrust up and down, fucking her as he had wanted to for the past year.
Her fingernails scored his back as she felt the tingles that had tempted her as she rubbed herself on his jeans now intensified as her entire pussy clutched at him. Strung tight as a bow, she was aware of every movement of his thick cock stretching her tighter. Tighter and tighter until she was sure she would snap.
He could not remember the last time he had felt like this. Barely aware of anything other than the roaring in his ears, he moved one hand down to her clit, thumbing it in rhythm to his thrusts. Finally, with his name screaming from her lips, she felt her pussy clench and electric jolts moved from her core, spreading outward in all directions.
As her incredibly tight inner walls milked his cock, he found himself pouring his seed deep into her. Continuing to stroke the inside of her until every last drop was emptied, he rested all of his weight on the arm against the wall, holding him up.
Sweating and panting together, her head was resting next to his arm, eyes tightly closed as the sensations flowed over her. I’ve wanted him for so long. Opening her eyes to see his face, she saw that he was looking down as he pulled out of her. Waiting for him to say something profound or romantic, she wanted him to look into her eyes.
“God, that was a mistake,” came the agonized words.
His words slapped her with cold as if she were standing in the storm outside. Pushing against him, she slid out of his arms as she looked to see her virgin blood on his cock. A mistake? If she thought the idea of being alone in the world was the worst pain, she realized she had just slipped even deeper into agony.
Tears welled in her eyes as she ran into the bedroom, slamming and locking the door. Lying on the bed, she felt the sobs overtake her as the realization that the most perfect moment in her life up to now was only a mistake to the one man that she ever cared about.
*
Stunned, Tony stood in the hallway trying to process what had just happened. Fuck, that wasn’t what I meant.
Stepping to the bedroom door, he pounded as he called out, “Sherrie. You took that the wrong way. I didn’t mean that it was a mistake. Not what we did. Well…it was, but not how you think. I just meant that it was wrong. No, not wrong. Just done the wrong way. But that’s my fault.” No sound came from the room, other than the sound of heartbreak.
Resting his head on the door, he said, “Sherrie, nothing’s coming out right. Please don’t cry. Let me explain, but let me do it face to face.”
Nothing.
Moving to the bathroom, he washed the blood and semen off and then pulled his pants back up. Washing his hands in the sink, he looked into the mirror. You’re a royal fuck-up. When the hell did that happen? You just took a virgin up against the wall. Without a condom. Jesus, fuck.
Stepping back into the room, he saw her pajamas and panties on the floor. Bending to pick them up, he was filled with shame. Another emotion he had not felt in a long time. Jesus, I’ve broken the record on the number of new emotions in one day for me. All because of her. One petite, blonde with a curvy body and a personality that pulled him in. Or rather pulled himself out of his constant morose mood.
Deciding she needed time to cry and possibly plan his demise, he walked back to the window looking out over the front yard. The snow was still swirling, his SUV now as covered as hers. His gaze expertly took in the room once again, this time landing on the stone fireplace and the pile of wood stacked nearby. Starting a fire, he felt the warmth in the blaze as he rubbed his chest, wishing the tightness to go away.
*
Lying across the bed, tears spent, Sherrie stared up at the ceiling. Shame filled her belly as she wiped her wet cheeks. How could I have read the signals so wrong? Ruefully, she acknowledged her inexperience. From the time she was fifteen years old, she had witnessed Charisse’s sexual escapades. Her sister used sex as a way to escape. And to score drugs. And as power. Hell, she used sex for everything except love. Sherrie decided early on that her body would only be given to someone special. All those nights spent waiting on drunk customers while trying to keep an eye on her sister when she was stripping, made her an expert at seeing men at their worst. It only made her more determined to find her hero. The first time she had looked into those caramel eyes when he rescued her she knew she had found a good man. A good friend. Someone she could fall in love with.
And now, with her virgin’s blood spilled, her hero had called her a mistake.
Sitting up in the bed so that she could breathe with her stuffed nose, she swung her legs over the side grabbing a tissue. Blowing her nose and wiping her eyes, she glanced out of the window. The night was black, no moonlight coming through the window. Wondering if it was still snowing and if she could manage to drive back to town, she quickly dismissed that idea. The last time she had peered out, the snow was already in drifts around her car.
Sighing deeply, she thought about spending the next couple of days locked in this room so that she would not have to face him. I could only wander out to go to the bathroom or to eat. Eat? The tantalizing smell of food was drifting into her room.
Anger filled her as much as hunger. This is my cabin for the time and he’s the intruder. Determined to stop hiding she moved to the door. Lifting her head, she threw open the door and marched out. It’s not the first time I’ve been hurt…and won’t be the last. I’ve been pretending for most of my twenty-six years…and this is no different. As she walked out of her room, she knew she was lying to herself.
*
Not knowing if she was going to come out that evening, Tony decided to fix some
dinner just in case. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out some chicken breasts, putting them into the oven. After a while he covered them in marinara sauce and put them back in the oven. As he put some noodles in the boiling water, he heard the bedroom door opening.
Turning, his heart pounding, he looked as she walked into the living room toward the fire. Now wearing sweat pants, thick socks, and a sweatshirt, she looked…armored. Against me, no doubt.
She walked over to the fireplace, lifting her hands to the warmth. She could feel when he approached from behind, but feared turning around. Seeing the look of regret, disinterest, or worse, pity on his face terrified her no matter how strong she tried to be.
“Sherrie,” his voice called out softly. “Please look at me.”
Swallowing her pride, she turned to face him and to her surprise saw anguish. He stepped closer, not crowding, but just close enough that she could not take her eyes off of him.
“Tony, it’s okay. Really. It was silly of me to think that it would mean anyth—”
“Stop,” he ordered placing his fingers on her lips. Her lips were swollen from their kissing and as he moved his fingers over them, he felt them quiver. But then he looked into her red, puffy eyes and knew he had to make this right.
He slid his hand from her lips slowly down her arm to her hand. Taking her hand he walked toward the sofa, gently pulling her down next to him, twisting so that he could look into her face.
She went silently along with him, both curious and dreading. This is where he tells me that he doesn’t do commitment. Or I’m not his type. Or he was grossed out. Or—
“Whatever fucked-up shit’s going on in your head, please stop and listen. I need you to listen,” he pleaded.
Startled out of her musings, she just nodded.
He opened his mouth and shut it several times. Finally dropping his head, he stared at their hands, still clasped, for a moment. Man up. Time to man up.
“Sherrie, I’m not good at this.”
Tony: Alvarez Security Series Page 5
