The Hot Line

by Cathryn Fox

  Once they were on the highway, Megan turned to Cassie, curiosity getting the better of her. “So what’s Brady’s story, anyway?”

  Cassie took a sip of cola and put it back into the dash tray. “He’s one of the nice guys, Megan.” She angled her head and met Megan’s glance. “And, as you and I both know, those nice guys are few and far between.”

  Megan chewed on that bit of information for a minute. So Brady was nice and hot. What a lethal combination—a combination that would attract a lot of women, no doubt. For a minute she wondered if he had his own harem—or if he was a regular participant in the Hot Line. Not that it mattered to her. It didn’t. Because what he did in his free time was none of her business. But still…

  “What does he do for fun?” Megan asked.

  “Well, he loves to cook, loves animals, and loves the outdoors. The four guys often take off on the weekends. They either go fishing—you’ve already heard Mitch’s fish tales,” she chuckled and continued, “or they go mountain biking. Sometimes in the winter they go snowmobiling. Brady has a cottage just north of us.”

  Megan pursed her lips. Sounded like fun. Her kind of fun. “Hmmph, he sounds too good to be true, Cassie.”

  “Maybe. I guess you’ll have to find that out for yourself.”

  Maybe Megan would.

  Or not.

  Megan mumbled under her breath. “He probably has his mother down in the deep freeze.”

  Cassie laughed out loud. “Such a pessimistic attitude.”

  Megan flashed a smile and folded her arms across her chest. “That is not a pessimistic attitude, by any means. That is an ‘I don’t want to have my ass frozen in anyone’s deep freeze’ attitude.”

  Cassie chuckled. After a quiet moment she said, “Look Megan. I’m not going to tell you what to do—you’re a grown woman. I do know what you’ve been through with your ex though, and trust me, not all men turn out to be assholes like him. Maybe you should give Brady a chance.” She gave Megan a wink and lightened the mood. “He sure seems to want it.”

  With that advice, Megan turned her attention to the radio and flicked through the stations. A short while later, Cassie pulled her compact Honda into the parking lot at the station. When Cassie spotted Nick playing ball outside the big garage doors, a warm loving smile crossed her face. “He’s one of the good guys, too, Megan.”

  Megan’s heart turned over in her chest when she saw the love shining in Cassie’s eyes.

  “So are Mitch and Dean,” Cassie added. “They’re a family. A brotherhood. Where they all look out for each other.”

  A wide smile crossed Nick’s face as he waved to Cassie and made his way to the car. They were so obviously perfect for each other. Megan felt a pang of envy. She once thought she had fairy tale love like that. But look how that “happily-ever-after” had turned out.

  But still, just because she had no intention of walking down the aisle again, it didn’t mean she wasn’t up for a hot roll in the hay with a sexy firefighter.

  Her gaze drifted to the basketball net in time to see Brady—a bare-chested Brady, that is—go in for a layup.

  Her thoughts careened off track.

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  Her libido jumped as if it had just struck gold.

  As she took in his broad shoulders, sculpted muscles, and rock-hard abs, she had to roll her tongue back into her mouth.

  O-kay…this was way better than seeing him in his firefighter gear. Waaayyyy better. Now how could she go about getting him to remove those low-slung jeans?

  By calling the Hot Line, she knew.

  All righty, then…

  Brady tucked the ball under his arm and started toward her. The floodlights overhead bathed the parking lot in a fluorescent glow, providing sufficient light for her to see the moisture glistening on his bronzed skin. His long legs ate up the cement walkway in record time. Talk about eye candy, she mused. The kind she’d like to pop in her mouth and savor until sunup. A week from Thursday.

  Gaze riveted, Megan watched his hair billow in the summer breeze. With long, even strides, he moved across the parking lot, his body exuding the confidence of a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it.

  He scrubbed a palm over the bristles on his chin. “Mmmm…” Megan moaned and shifted her stance. Moisture pooled in her panties. Brady was pure carnal delight. He did the most interesting things to her libido. She flushed from the top of her head right down to the tips of her toes just from looking at him. For a moment she wondered if her blond hair had turned fiery red from heat and desire.

  “Why don’t you take Nick’s place and go shoot a few baskets with Brady?” Cassie said. “I have to steal him away for a few minutes.”

  Instead of answering her friend, Megan stood there taking pleasure in Brady’s athletic gait while her hormones played an aggressive game of leap frog. As she once again thought about exploring a brief affair with him, heat ambushed her pussy, scorching her in a way it never had before. For a moment she had difficulty remembering how to breathe. The idea of having a hot affair with him was simply scandalous.

  Megan could feel flames licking at her thighs, a flash fire threatening to overtake her. Lord knew if she didn’t do something soon to extinguish the heat she was feeling, the fire station was going to go up like an inferno.

  His eyes full of desire, Brady stepped into her personal space. His earthy scent assailed her senses. He held the ball out to her. “You want to play a little one on one?”

  Oh God, those innocent words held so many innuendoes. Her mind raced with the possibilities. Her eyes locking on his triggered a craving deep inside her. She licked her lips as they itched to get reacquainted with his.

  Her voice hitched. “Sure, but I must warn you that I played varsity in high school.”

  His reckless grin turned her insides to Jell-O. He widened his stance, forcing her to work overtime to keep her eyes from drifting downward. His hand touched hers and lingered an extra moment as he passed the ball. “Then I consider myself duly warned.” He waved toward the net. His perfect teeth flashed in a smile. “Ladies first.”

  Her shoulders rolled as she relaxed into conversation. “And here I thought chivalry was dead,” she said.

  He fell into step beside her. His sweet-scented skin curled around her like a powerful aphrodisiac. He chuckled easily. “Hang with me for a while, Megan, and I’ll show you chivalry isn’t dead.” He winked at her. “I believe in ladies first, second, and third.”

  Oh. My. God. Yes.

  It was official. Her libido had struck gold.

  Dribbling the ball, Megan made her way to the net with a shirtless Brady keeping pace beside her and his words ringing loud and clear in her brain. How the hell did he expect her to concentrate on the game with his promise of triple orgasms dancing in her head?

  He jogged ahead, positioning himself in front of her, providing her with an unobstructed view of his magnificent body.

  He gave her a lopsided grin. “Just don’t think I’m going to go easy on you because you’re a girl,” he said, a gleam in his eyes.

  Heck, she didn’t want him to go easy on her. She wanted him to go hard on her. Perhaps she should let him know that. “I’d never want you to hold back, Brady. I’m sure I can take all you can give.” She bounced the ball through her legs, showing off her ball-handling skills.

  Her words brought passion to his eyes. “You think so?”

  She puckered her lips in defiance. “I know so.”

  “So if I play my hardest, you think you can keep up?”

  She bit back a grin. “Not only can I keep up, but I can probably keep going long after you’re finished.” Megan was pretty sure they were no longer talking about basketball. She was also pretty sure surfer boy here had the stamina of a stallion and could long outlast her any day. Especially since she’d been out of practice for the last couple of years.

  His soft chuckle made her wet. “Perhaps we should make a wager.”

 
Her glance went from Brady to the net, back to Brady again.

  Damn, he was hot.

  Never one to back down, she gave a casual shrug. “Perhaps we should.”

  His eyes darkened with lust. “If I win, and you lose, then you’re mine for one hour.”

  She gulped for air. Uh…how exactly was that losing? “And if I win?” Did she get him for a whole hour, too? Damn, talk about giving a whole new meaning to a little one on one.

  “Well, what do you want?” Brady asked.

  Megan kept the grin from her face. “I do have some laundry to do.”

  Brady laughed out loud. “You want me to do your laundry?”

  “No, I was just thinking out loud.” She crinkled her nose in thought. With a casual nonchalance that she didn’t feel, she said, “I supposed if you get me for an hour, then it’s only fair that I get you for an hour.”

  Dear God. Brady Wade. Hers. To do with as she pleased. For one whole hour.

  Hell, yeah! She really had to win this. Then again, losing had its appeal too….

  “Deal.” Brady held his hand out to her.

  She switched the ball over to her left hand and shook his hand with her right. The warmth of his flesh ignited a fire inside her and bombarded her with desire. A deep ache between her legs drew her focus. She took a moment to rein in her lust and strategize her next move. Okay, all she had to do was dribble the ball around him and do a layup. Easy-peasy. She’d done it a million times before. Then again, she’d never had a sexy, half-naked firefighter blocking her path before, derailing her concentration.

  Truthfully, not only would it be impossible to get around that huge, rock-solid body of his, but his near nakedness was throwing her off her game. And from the way she stood there ogling him, she suspected he knew it.

  Well, two could play his game, she mused. She wasn’t without her own feminine wiles. In her most sultry voice she said, “My goodness, it sure is a warm night.” She undid the top two buttons on her blouse and dragged a finger over her throat, trailing lower until she felt the swell of her breasts. As if on cue, Brady’s gaze dropped to her cleavage. With his attention diverted, she dribbled around him and went in for the layup.

  She shoots. She scores.

  Brady grinned and cocked his head. He gave a low, throaty chuckle. “So that’s the way we’re going to play it, is it?”

  She threw him the ball and rolled her eyes. “It’s the big ones who are always the slowest,” she teased. “This is going to be a cake walk.”

  Brady grabbed the ball and gave her a sly grin. God, she loved that sexy grin of his.

  Megan positioned herself in front of him. Guarding the net, she reached out and palmed his stomach. Okay, maybe that wasn’t her brightest move. The second her hand came in contact with a row of densely packed muscles, a shiver stole over her. Brady took advantage of the situation, rolled around her, and took a jump shot.

  “That’s a three-pointer, Megan.” He caught his rebound and tossed her the ball.

  “Hmmph,” she groaned, ignoring the look of victory on his face. “Lucky shot.”

  Switching tactics, Megan turned and put her back into him. Her plan was to bump him backward, but unfortunately, hitting that rock-solid body was like hitting a brick wall. One bump into him sent her flying forward. She lost her balance and hit the ground with a thud. Arms and legs spread wide, she groaned. Shit, that hadn’t gone quite as planned.

  Within a second Brady was at her side. “Megan, are you okay?”

  She rolled to face him and touched his stomach. “Damn, Brady, what are you packing?”

  He glanced at her apologetically. His knuckles brushed her cheek and pushed back a strand of hair. “God, Megan, I’m so sorry.” The emotion in his voice took her by surprise.

  His gaze panned her body. “You ripped your jeans, and your knee is bleeding.”

  She went up on her arms for a better look. Bits of gravel were embedded in her leg. Ugh…

  Crouched on his knees, Brady cradled her leg in his hand. He bent forward for a closer inspection. “Let me take care of this for you.” When he lifted his head and met her gaze, her heart nearly stopped. The compassion and warmth she met there did the weirdest things to her.

  He adjusted his body and scooped her into his arms. His nurturing side sent myriad emotions rushing through her bloodstream. It had been a long time since someone had taken care of her and she had to admit that she rather liked it.

  As Brady packaged her in his strong arms, his long legs made quick work of the parking lot. “Let’s get you inside.” He pulled open the firehouse door and carried her through the threshold. Her libido roared to life as he pulled her in tighter. She sank into the warmth of his magnificent body as he hustled her down the long corridor. Her skin flushed hotly and she wondered if he felt the desire rising in her.

  With his expression both tender and sensual, he pitched his voice low and said, “I need to remove the gravel and cleanse your cut.”

  Remove the gravel.

  Cleanse her cut.

  Give her an orgasm.

  Or three.

  Really, the possibilities were endless.

  A wheezing sound crawled out of her lungs.

  His voice softened again. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she lied.

  Bypassing the others, Brady carried her through the locker room and into a private-shower area. He locked the door behind them while she studied her surroundings, taking note of the decor. Gray-and-white marble tile covered the entire shower area, floor to ceiling, wall to wall. She noticed a small cabinet tucked away in the corner, out of spray range.

  Gesturing with a nod toward the built-in perch beside the shower hose, Brady said to her, “Have a seat.”

  “Uh, my clothes will get soaked.”

  His gaze darkened. He moistened his lips. He jammed his hands in his pockets, pulling his low-slung jeans down farther, gifting her with a nipple-hardening view of his sexy oblique muscles, which just happened to be one of her favorite male body parts. He narrowed his gaze. “Yeah, I guess we should do something about that.”

  Hormones on overdrive, and needing desperately to quell the restlessness inside her, Megan reached for her button, eager to shed her pants and see where that led them. Even though she’d never engaged in a one-night stand, she wasn’t inhibited sexually. She was merely deprived sexually. And by God, it was about damn well time she did something about it.

  Brady stopped her. “Here, let me. It might be easier if I pull them over your cut.”

  “Okay.” Her voice came out a little rough.

  Brady dropped to the floor before her and worked the button free. With the utmost care, he eased her jeans down her legs. As she took in the length and thickness of his fingers, her heart hammered. She could only imagine how good they’d feel inside her. Shaky hands gripped his shoulders for support. Her nipples began to tingle and the incessant ache between her legs demanded attention.

  Brady stepped back and turned the shower on. Megan eased herself onto the perch and stuck her leg out.

  “Are you comfortable?” The sincerity in his eyes tugged on her emotions.

  Brady was so sweet, so caring, and so damn sensitive…so different from her ex. Megan drew a long breath and gave herself a quick lecture. This wasn’t about relationships or marriage. It was about a cut knee and orgasms. Yes, “orgasms” with an “s,” as in plural. He’d promised her three.

  She shifted, her body aching for his touch. “Yes. I’m comfortable.”

  Pulling a professional face, he removed the nozzle from the hook, tested the water and then let the warm stream spray over her knee. After a minute or two, he grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and cleansed the area. She watched in speechless fascination as he took care of her, the same way he would anyone under his professional care.

  She found that damn sexy.

  When he glanced up at her, his eyes were dark and hungry. His jaw clenched and unclenched. “There you go. I thin
k you’ll be fine.”

  Oh no, she was far from fine. She cleared her throat. “Are you sure?”

  She met his glance, her eyes conveying without words what she wanted—no…what she needed. As though he understood her desires, Brady dragged the nozzle higher on her thighs, his fingers following the path. Without taking his gaze off hers, he spread her legs and tipped the showerhead toward her. The soft spray sluiced over her flesh as it drenched her silky underwear. It felt erotic, stimulating. Her soaked panties pressed against her sex. Her clit puckered and throbbed in response. Blistering heat exploded in her veins and she ached to feel his cock inside her.

  “Oops. I accidentally wet your panties.” His voice caressed her all over, and the bulge in his pants told her he was equally aroused.

  “Brady.”

  “Yeah?”

  “They were already wet.”

  The way Megan lifted her hips provocatively off the marble perch had his body reacting with primal need. Heat, desire, and passion whipped through his blood, so it was all he could do not to tear off her panties, pull her onto his lap, and drive his cock deep inside her. Moisture broke out on his skin; his hands shook with need.

  She gave him a smoldering look, then leaned forward, her mouth hot against his ear. “See for yourself,” she said in a breathless voice.

  Lust hit him so hard he nearly toppled backward. Brady roughly tugged her panties aside and pressed a finger into her heat. Megan threw her head back and sobbed with pleasure.

  Holy fuck. She was so tight and so fucking hot. Her sweet cream soaked his skin and nearly shut down his brain. Sex muscles clenched around his finger and he knew she was desperate for release. He was just as desperate for it. He slipped another finger in deep and pumped in and out until her muscles tightened and spasmed. She clutched his hand and held it inside her, while her other hand went to her clit. As she stroked her puckered nub, he rolled the tip of his finger around her G-spot. Her face flushed. Her body vibrated. Her eyes clouded.

  “Oh, my God,” she cried out. She bucked forward, once, twice, and then came all over him.