The Burn List

by Julia Devlin

  Trevor pointed his beer bottle in Abby’s direction. “Sweet little thing.”

  “Yeah, she is.”

  “Where’d you find her? She doesn’t seem like your normal type.”

  Lukas took in her lean legs, his mouth practically salivating as he thought of what must be going on under her short skirt. “She’s my neighbor.”

  Trevor chuckled and watched her with interest. “My neighbor is an eighty-year-old man with no teeth.” He gave Abby a long, slow appreciative once-over. “You’re more fortunate.”

  Lukas’ muscles tensed fractionally and he frowned.

  Trevor had a healthy appreciation for all women and attracted plenty of attention with his Nordic good looks. The way he watched Abby—as if the Big Bad Wolf had come to eat Little Red Riding Hood—made Lukas want to punch him. An unreasonable and unfamiliar response he didn’t want to think too much about. Lukas took a long draw off his beer bottle, shrugging one shoulder.

  “I met these incredibly hot twins last night. Redheads—natural redheads,” Trevor said, causally. “What do you say? I guarantee a good time.”

  Lukas’ gaze slid to Abby. “Maybe some other time.”

  Trevor groaned. “Please don’t tell me you’ve caught monogamy.”

  No, that couldn’t be it. He just didn’t want anyone else. He shrugged. “Just not interested.”

  Abby looked over at him again and narrowed her eyes into thin slits. He laughed and crooked his finger at her. Why go out with redheaded twins when he could have her?

  She shook her head.

  He gave her a sharp nod.

  She glanced around, appearing to gauge the distance between them. Chin titling up in that stubborn determination he’d come to recognize meant good things for him, she began walking slowly toward him.

  He couldn’t contain a grin when she came to a dead stop and closed her eyes for a second. The balls must have clanged together against her G-spot.

  Damn, this had been a good idea.

  She opened her lids, took a deep intake of air and began again.

  Finally she stood next to him and he peered down at her flushed, perturbed face. He snaked an arm around her waist. “How you doin’ there, Abby?”

  Brown eyes glared up at him, but she couldn’t quite hide the flash of heat. “I hate you.”

  Amused at her response, he couldn’t contain a chuckle. “Don’t say that. Aren’t you having a good time?”

  Trevor raised one blond brow and laughed. “A woman who doesn’t fall at Lukas Marlow’s feet? I like you already.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted up at Lukas before shifting her attention to Trevor. “Hi, I’m Abby, Lukas’…neighbor.”

  Trevor nodded and extended his hand, his blue eyes running leisurely over Abby. “Trevor.”

  She shook his outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Do you and Lukas work together?”

  Trevor nodded, holding on to her fingers a fraction longer than Lukas thought appropriate. He frowned. Jesus, he sounded like his mother.

  “And what do you do, sweet Abby? Besides being neighborly?”

  A slight flush stained her cheeks. “I’m an accountant.”

  Trevor raised a brow then tossed a surprised glance at Lukas. “Not the first profession I would have guessed.”

  Something akin to confusion passed over her face, and Lukas once again wondered about her self-perception. He couldn’t figure out how a woman with this much unrestrained passion could be so convinced she was dull.

  “Not the most exciting career, but it pays the mortgage.” She shrugged. Unlike other women, she didn’t probe further in hopes of eliciting compliments.

  “So how long have you two been neighbors?”

  Lukas interjected, “Since I moved in.”

  “And you’re just neighbors?” Trevor asked, taking a sip of his beer.

  “Of course,” Abby said quickly, a flush staining her cheeks.

  Lukas’ gaze narrowed.

  “In that case,” Trevor said with a grin, “I’m sure you won’t mind if I take Abby onto the dance floor.”

  “I mind,” Lukas snarled. The statement much more intense than he’d intended. He tightened his grasp around her waist. A fierce stab of possessiveness knifed him in the gut. He frowned at the unfamiliar feeling. How many women had he tag-teamed with Trevor over the years? Enough to know it shouldn’t matter if Trevor danced with her.

  But the thing was, it did matter. And Trevor wouldn’t lay one finger on her.

  Trevor chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  Abby blinked up at Lukas and he leaned down to whispered in her ear, “I’m not sharing this hot little body with anyone.” She swayed a bit in his arms and he gripped her, pressing his aching cock against her stomach. “I don’t think I can wait much longer for you.”

  Her breathing kicked up and she went up onto tiptoes to get closer, resting her hands on his shoulders. “Please…”

  The soft, pleading tone in her voice made his chest tighten. He buried his nose in the curve of her neck, inhaling her sweet and spicy scent he still couldn’t identify but was addicted to. “Please what?”

  “Fuck me,” she whispered into his ear, the request tentative.

  His whole body vibrated with the need to mark her as his. His fingers skimmed along the base of her spine. “Are you still wet for me?”

  She nodded, her soft brown hair tickling his cheek.

  “Then come with me.” He pulled away and shifted his attention to Trevor’s knowing grin. “We’ll see you later.”

  Trevor laughed. “You always did have the devil’s luck.” He nodded at Abby. “Nice to meet you.”

  Not giving her a chance to respond, he pulled Abby through the crowd, walking slow enough so she wouldn’t drop the balls but with enough purpose that no one approached him.

  Blood pounded through his veins as he led her outside, in between two buildings and down a dark, private walkway. When they were far enough away from the people loitering in front of the bar, he pushed her up against the wall and slanted his mouth over hers. In an instant, she groaned and flung her arms around him. Throwing everything she had into the kiss in that uniquely Abby way.

  Their tongues tangled. He fisted her hair to hold her in place while he wreaked havoc. The need to possess her, to mark her, stormed through him. He crushed his body to hers, gripping her hips tight and rocking her along the length of his hard cock. “I need you now.”

  She cried out, her back bowing. “Yes, now.”

  He slipped a hand under her skirt and grunted in approval when he found her soaking wet. “Did you like being naked for me under your skirt?”

  “Yes,” she said urgently.

  He hooked his fingers, fished the balls out and let them fall forgotten to the ground. With his thumb, he circled her clit and she arched, driving his fingers deeper.

  Frustrated, he growled. It wasn’t enough. He needed primal—so she’d understand who she belonged to. He jerked away. She looked up at him, her pretty brown eyes filled with lust and confusion.

  “Hands against the wall.” He flipped her around so she faced the brick.

  Without hesitation she complied.

  He yanked her skirt up and smacked her hard on the ass. With a whimper, she pushed back into his palm. His cock throbbed in response. He’d never met anyone who liked to be spanked as much as she did. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if she could come from that alone, but he’d always lost patience with his insatiable desire to fuck her senseless before he found out.

  He whipped a condom from his pocket, unzipped his jeans, freeing his straining erection before sheathing himself. The creamy, pale skin of her ass beckoned to him. He delivered several sharp blows. Her head dropped down between her outstretched arms.

  Smack. He rained a series of slaps in alternating patterns and force until her ass glowed red and her skin burned under his palm. Both breathing fast, he was so hard it bordered on pain. In one
thrust, he drove hard into her tight, wet heat.

  She let out a little scream and came, her muscles squeezing him so tight he gritted his teeth to fight his own release.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breathless.

  He gave a grunt of a laugh. Only Abby would apologize for coming. Unable to delay any longer, he began long, deep strokes, pulling out to the barest tip before plunging back. Her cunt tightened around him.

  She moaned. “More.”

  Any thread of restraint he had broke and he gripped her hips with both hands. He thrust into her with a brutal force that left him shaking. Over and over he pounded into her with a brutal strength, sweat breaking out along his back as he relentlessly took her.

  She began to tremble, her muscles tightening on his shaft. She screamed and threw her head back. Once again her orgasm squeezed his cock. The base of his spine tingled. He clamped a hand over her mouth so people wouldn’t come running to rescue her.

  “My pussy. Mine.” He thrust high and deep, claiming her the way he wanted to. Needed to. “You’re mine. I own you. You belong to me.”

  Another wave of climaxes milked his cock. She bit his palm. The base of his spine tingled, and on a rush, he exploded inside her.

  “Jesus, Abby!” Vision blurring, he clamped his jaw tight to keep from roaring while every ounce of come he had spurted hot and fast inside her.

  A satisfaction he’d never known quickly followed, whipping out the trickle of fear that he was in deep.

  “You belong to me.”Abby tried to catch her breath and quell the shaking.

  What Lukas had meant?

  Already past the breaking point when he’d staked his claim, her heart had answered back with a resounding yes. An answer she thankfully hadn’t been able to voice because of his hand over her mouth. A flutter of nerves kicked up in her stomach.

  After twenty-four hours, she already had the sinking feeling she was in too deep.

  She needed to remember they were having fun. Lukas didn’t do commitment, and he wasn’t hers to keep. It must have been the heat of the moment that had made things so hot and intense.

  He couldn’t have realized what he said.

  She listened to his labored breathing while his big hands rested on her back. What about in the bar? When his friend Trevor had wanted to dance with her?

  No. She couldn’t delude herself. They were having fun.

  Their bodies started to cool, and he pulled out of her, sliding her skirt back down. When she heard his zipper, she turned to face him, a ready smile upon her lips.

  Fun, Abby, this is fun.

  The dark expression on his face startled her, and the smile faded. The flutter came back and her hand went to her throat. “Is everything okay?”

  He curled a hand around her neck, tracing his thumb along her lower lip. “What are you doing to me?”

  “What do you mean?” Her pulse raced, her heart pounding in her chest. Oh, no, was it already the end?

  He pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re killing me here. I already want you again.”

  She blinked hard. Wait. Was it possible she was actually giving Lukas Marlow a run for his money? A traitorous kernel of hope made her brave. “Aren’t you just trying to knock stuff off my list?”

  He shook his head, his fingers tightening around the nape of her neck. “I didn’t give one thought to your list when I was hell-bent on getting inside you.”

  She wanted to know more. Hold nothing back.

  She’d made a promise to herself. On a deep breath, she asked the question she was most afraid to hear the answer to. “So it’s not just my inexperience that makes me think the sex is pretty good?”

  He reared back, a scowl marring his gorgeous face. “Pretty good? You call that pretty good?”

  A hot flush spread over her chest and up her cheeks and her hope faded. “Well, I don’t have much to compare it to. I mean, I understand you’re used to much more experienced women—”

  “Abby, the sex is fucking unbelievable.”

  “Oh!” A thrill of pleasure made her tingle all over. “I thought maybe it was just me. You know,” she waved a hand, “that this was par for the course for you.”

  He shook his head and claimed her mouth in a hard, possessive kiss that made her toes curl. Abruptly, he released her, and she swayed. “Look at me, Abby.”

  She raised her gaze to meet his.

  “This is not par for the course.” Tone deadly serious. “I don’t know what thisis, but par for the course doesn’t even come close to describing it.”

  Relief flooded through her, making her muscles go soft as butter. “I’m glad. I’d hate to be the only one hanging out there.”

  “You’re not. There’s only one thing I’m disappointed about…”

  She’d be worried but his expression had turned sly. Mischievous. “What’s that?”

  He kissed her again and pressed an awakened erection to her belly. “I wish I knew about your wild streak a long time ago. Think about how much fun we’ve missed.”

  Like the temptress she’d always wanted to be, she snaked her hands under his shirt, up the smooth muscles of his stomach before she pinched his nipples. When he jerked and groaned, she rubbed her hips along his cock. “I guess we’ll have to make up for lost time.”

  Under hooded lids, he gazed down at her. “When we get home, I’m going to tie you to my bed and make you beg me to fuck you.”

  Another item from her list. Heart slamming in her chest, her stomach jumped in anticipation, and she could already feel the heat grow between her legs. “Okay, but I need to tell you one thing.”

  He nipped at her bottom lip. “What’s that?”

  “I’m never wearing the damn balls ever again. Those things are pure torture.”

  Chapter Eight

  One week later, Abby pulled into her driveway, shutting off her car, already excited to see Lukas.

  The man drove to her to distraction. In today’s staff meeting, she couldn’t stop dreaming of all the dirty, fantastic things they did together, so when it came time to give her report, she’d been so lost in fantasy one of her coworkers had to prompt her. At lunch with Jane the other day, she’d drifted off so many times, mooning, she’d been forced to confess to explain her odd behavior.

  Of course, Jane had seen Lukas, so everything made perfect sense.

  She pressed her forehead to the steering wheel and closed her eyes.

  If only it was just the sex, then maybe she’d have half a chance. Why couldn’t he be a buff, good-looking, sex god whose only hobby was his next party?

  That Lukas Marlow she could have handled.

  But he was nothing like her preconceptions. There was a hell of a lot more to him than his pretty face. He was everything she wanted in a man. Smart, well-read and funny, they talked about anything and everything.

  He told her all about his big, close-knit family. How he was the baby and teased mercilessly by his brother and three sisters. How disappointed his mom had been when he’d followed in his father’s footsteps. How guilty Lukas felt that when his dad retired and his mom had finally breathed a sigh of relief, Lukas went off and joined the department.

  Abby couldn’t blame her. When Lukas had been just her neighbor, she hadn’t thought much about his job other than to fulfill her men-in-uniform fantasies. After listening to the reality of his profession, the first time he’d headed off to work, she hadn’t been able to relax until his car pulled into the driveway the following day.

  Not to mention she’d missed sleeping next to him. Which was crazy.

  Of course, like a big jerk, he had to be a great listener. He managed to get her to talk about things she’d rather keep private. He’d physically exhaust her then ask her all sorts of questions until she found herself telling him about her parents and her troubled but beautiful big sister. She confessed she’d spent her formative years never wanting to cause waves, working her butt off to excel at school, because it was the only way she’d be spec
ial.

  He made her feel alive in a way she never had before. He pushed and prodded, and forced her past her boundaries. Yet was so encouraging, so supportive and understanding he made it safe for her to shrug off all her old fears.

  She couldn’t deny it. She was falling for him.

  Abby sighed, removed her key from the ignition and climbed out of her car.

  The second she slammed the car door, Lukas’ head popped out from behind the bushes—reminding her of the day their fling began. He gave her his best bad-boy smile, that damned, irresistible dimple flashing.

  Her heart gave a hard thump. No question about it. She was falling hard.

  Maybe if they didn’t spend every second of free time together it would be easier, but he was like a magnet, drawing her in by some irresistible force, impossible to resist.

  “Hey, Abby girl, I was just getting in a little yard work before you got—” He stopped abruptly, gaze narrowing.

  Taken aback, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

  He pointed the shovel at her. “What are you wearing?”

  Confused, she peered down at her outfit. “A dress, what does it look like?”

  His jaw took on the stubborn line she’d begun to know so well. “I don’t like it.”

  She scowled. Jerk. To think she’d been having gooey thoughts about him.

  “Well, too bad for you.” She walked up her driveway, irritation in every step. She’d bought this dress because she’d fallen in love with it. As a birthday gift, she’d taken two thousand dollars out of her hard-earned savings to fund a new wardrobe.

  She had only one criterion for her purchases—she had to feel fabulous in it. And the formfitting black shirtwaist dress fit the bill.

  The figure-hugging retro dress with its million tiny buttons, pencil skirt and a three-inch-wide belt flattered all the right curves. It looked fantastic on her. A fact verified by numerous accountants during the course of her day.

  If Lukas didn’t like it, too bad.

  In one bounding leap, he hopped over the shrubs and stood in her path, blocking her from the front door. “I see someone’s feisty today.”