by Cathryn Fox
He gestured toward the coffeepot. “Why don’t you make the coffee?”
Megan grabbed the carafe and rinsed it. “Where did you learn to cook anyway?”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “My mom.” Reaching into the cupboard he found the jar of coffee.
She could hear the love in his voice when he mentioned his mom. What was it that her own mother used to say? Any man who is good to his mom is a man worth having. Megan worked to twist the lid off the coffee jar. Damn thing was too tight. She handed it back to him and he opened it with ease.
“What is it with you and lids anyway?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask.” She turned the conversation back to him. “Are you and your mom close?”
“Yeah, it was just the two of us growing up.” He paused and said, “It still is just the two of us.” He nodded toward his window. “She lives down the street. She’s had a few medical problems, so I moved closer in case she needs me.”
Which explained why he lived in suburbia.
“When I was growing up, Mom had to work long hours to pay the bills, so I needed to learn to cook if we wanted to eat.” He rubbed his stomach and made a face. “And I wanted to eat. A lot. It occurred to me years later just how much I enjoyed it.”
Megan met his glance. Something in the way he looked at her and something in his noble expression filled her with the overwhelming urge to learn everything about him. She wanted to ask about his dad but was afraid to pry. “Was it tough, just you and your mom?”
“It wasn’t so bad.”
“So how come you didn’t become a chef instead of a firefighter?”
“When I was four, my father died in a fire. The warehouse where he worked burned to the ground and he got trapped inside. I’ve wanted to be a firefighter ever since.”
Megan reached out and touched Brady’s cheek, offering her comfort. “I’m sorry, Brady.”
He closed his hand over hers, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it. The warmth in his gaze went right through her. “It’s okay. Now I get to save lives and cook for the other guys at the station. Everything worked out the way it was supposed to.” He redirected the conversation. “Now tell me, why did you become a chef?”
“I think I just sort of fell into it. My mom and dad ran a small diner, still do as a matter of fact. I worked there for as long as I can remember. I guess my love of cooking just followed along from there.”
“And now you want to work for Lucien?”
She opened her eyes wide. “Oh yeah. It would be an amazing opportunity. Someday I want to open my own restaurant, and I know I can learn so much from him.”
“Then we need to make sure it happens,” he said with conviction. “Together we’ll prepare a meal and your fine cuisine will blow his mind.”
She looked up from the coffeepot. The tenderness in Brady’s expression touched her heart as the softness in his tone played down her spine.
An unexpected wave of emotion caught her off guard. Megan drew a breath and shifted her stance. This guy was just too good to be true. “Our fine cuisine will blow his mind,” she corrected. Then in a soft voice she added, “Thanks for helping me.”
His voice dropped an octave. “My pleasure.” He gathered her into his arms. “Cassie and Nick aren’t just my friends. They’re my family. I’d do anything for them.”
Warmth and admiration seeped under her skin. It really was hard to believe this guy was for real. He just never seemed to stop giving. It was also hard to believe how much comfort she found from his touch.
“God, you’re so different from—” She stopped herself midsentence, realizing things were getting way more personal than she intended, because this was still just about sex and orgasms, right? Not relationships or marriage.
He dipped his head, the warmth in his eyes bringing them to a deeper level of intimacy. “Different?”
Somehow she knew he wouldn’t let that go. The way he looked at her had words spilling like a leaky firefighter hose. “My ex. I’m divorced.” She studied him, gauging his reaction. She angled her head and noted his solemn expression. It occurred to her that he knew a lot more about her than she realized. “You already knew.”
He shrugged easily. “Nick mentioned it.”
“I see.”
He ran his hands over her bare arms. “Which explains why you warned me this is a sex-only affair.”
She wished he wasn’t being so amazing. Then it would be so much easier to keep this about sex. She crinkled her nose. “I just don’t want to find myself in that messy situation again.”
Brady nodded and dropped a hot passionate kiss on her mouth. “Like I said, Megan, I’m all for that.”
She forced a smile. His erotic kiss and touch were penetrating her defenses. As warmth moved into her stomach, she worked to keep her voice level. “Good. As long as you know where I stand.”
Except right now, at this moment, she didn’t want to stand. She wanted to lie down, in his bed, with him.
His eyes moved over her face. “I know where you stand,” he assured her.
Even though her mouth said one thing, the way he looked at her had her aching for something far more intimate. She needed to feel his hands on her, his mouth on her skin, his cock inside her.
Giving in to desire, she said, “Actually, Brady, how about we forget standing.” She slid her arm down his. “I want to lie down.”
She saw the desire burning in his eyes; then his breath grew shallow, and his voice turned husky. “I always thought standing was overrated,” he whispered. His knuckles brushed hers and their fingers linked together.
“Take me to your bedroom, Brady.”
Breakfast forgotten, he slipped his arm around her waist and guided her down the short hallway. He pushed open the door and ushered her inside. His sheets were unkempt and rumpled. His dark blue comforter lay in a mess at the foot of the bed. Brady shut the door behind them.
She spun around to face him. Her body collided with his. Strong hands snaked around her waist and slid down to her ass. “You’re always bumping into me, sweetheart.” She could hear the heavy desire in his voice.
She tapped his chest. “You’ve bumped into me a couple of times too, mister.”
He grinned. “I think it’s time to take it from a couple to a few.”
“I like the way you think.” Shivers of warm need traveled all the way through her.
Brady backed her up until she hit the bed. He dropped to his knees and slid his hands under her dress, then moved them higher until he connected with her damp panties. She felt herself lubricate. Brady groaned when he dipped into her dampness. The sound was husky with lust to her ears.
Eager and moist for his touch, she widened her legs. Her nipples tightened with arousal. “Looks like I’ve gone and wet my panties again, Brady,” she murmured breathlessly.
“So you did,” he whispered from between her legs. His rich baritone fueled the flames in her stomach, and she knew there was only one way to smother that fire.
In one swift movement, Brady gripped her panties and tugged them down to her feet. His hands returned to the apex between her legs, where magical fingers swirled through her slick heat. She moaned and arched into his touch. He bent forward, his burning mouth pressed hungrily against her sex. She writhed and moaned beneath his invading mouth, needing so much more of him.
As he toyed with her inflamed clit, she reached down and gripped his shoulders so that her hands palmed his muscles. A moment later he stood and positioned his mouth close to hers. His eyes locked on hers, and in that instant, she felt a connection like she’d never felt with another person.
“I want you, sweetheart,” he whispered into her mouth. The soft warmth of his voice combined with the potent look in his eyes touched something deep inside her. She drew a ragged breath. An invisible band tightened around her heart.
As his fingers glided over her skin, easing her straps from her shoulders, he kissed her with such passion it left her shaking. He st
epped back and watched her lightweight dress slip to the floor. She stood before him naked—all the while craving the feel of his cock inside her.
Without taking his eyes off hers, he touched her shoulder, signaling his intent. Megan understood what he wanted and eased herself onto his bed, her body beckoning his touch. When her head hit his pillow, his rich, familiar scent closed around her. She could spend the rest of her life in that bed, with him, with his enticing scent curling through her bloodstream.
Brady rid himself of his clothes and positioned his body on top of hers. Beginning with her mouth, he kissed a path down her body, his mouth lingering on the hollow of her throat before moving to her breasts, where he greedily pulled one taut nipple into his mouth. The warmth of his mouth seared her skin. Desire reverberated through her blood. He continued his downward path and settled between her thighs.
“Open your legs for me, sweetheart.” The pleasure in his voice excited her.
She stretched her legs out wide for him, drew his pillow to her face, and inhaled, pulling his scent into her lungs, savoring the way it warmed her from the inside out.
He spread her sex lips with his tongue and exhaled. The warmth of his mouth caused her cunt to moisten and flutter with need.
“You taste incredible,” he whispered to her.
She gripped his head and whimpered. Every square inch of her skin burned. Her breasts felt heavy and achy. Her internal temperature soared and she feared her body would spontaneously combust if he didn’t soon release the pressure.
“Brady, please lick me. I need to come.”
“Now that would definitely be my pleasure.” He tapped her clit with his finger, causing it to swell.
Her body spasmed with pleasure. “Oh my,” she murmured in surprise, never having felt anything quite so deliciously intense.
As she concentrated on the tiny points of pleasure, Brady brushed his tongue over her clit. Her body shivered in delight. The rough velvet of his tongue played havoc with her nerve endings. She was burning up from the sensations of his erotic touch.
She whimpered and fisted the bedsheets. Her toes curled in delight. The man sure knew how to work her into a sexual frenzy with the tip of his tongue. A shudder raced through her when he pushed two fingers all the way up inside her. He gave her a minute to get used to the fullness before his warm fingers burrowed deeper.
As she absorbed his heat, her lids drifted shut. Moisture collected on her forehead. Blood flowed hot and heavy in her veins as she floated on some level between reality and fairy tale.
He wiggled his fingertips inside her and brushed her sensitive nub with expertise. Without warning, her senses exploded and her body began trembling. His gentle assault pushed her over the edge.
She threw her head to the side and let herself fall over the precipice. “Oooooh, soooo good,” she exclaimed. Her muscles clenched around his fingers as she rode out every delicious pulse and erotic wave. She gripped the sheets tighter when her body splintered into a million pieces.
After lapping her syrup, Brady climbed up her body. She took that opportunity to recapture her breath. He smoothed her hair from her face. “I thought you told me you never came fast,” he whispered, teasing her.
She chuckled, enjoying the easy intimacy between them. “Yes, well, it’s your fault for turning me into a sexual nymphette,” she replied. She moistened her lips and raced her eager hands over the hard contours of his body. A second later she pushed on his shoulders. As he rolled off her, he shot her a perplexed look.
“What is it?”
Her mouth curved into a sultry smile. “What was that you said earlier, something about being underneath me?”
Understanding dawned on Brady; his nostrils flared and his eyes widened in delight.
She flung one leg over his hip and straddled him. Bending forward, she pressed her mouth to his, their tongues joining and tangling in a lover’s dance. Her lips moved to his throat, his chest, his stomach. She glanced up at him. “Now it’s my turn to kiss you all over.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Well, if you insist…”
She grinned at the playfulness in his tone. “Oh, I insist.”
His skin tasted warm and salty and so damn delicious. She eased down lower until she reached his impressive erection. His cock jumped and she gathered it into her hands. With the tip of her finger, she gave him a gentle stroke.
“Damn, that feels good,” he bit out.
She flicked her tongue out for a taste. “Mmmm, it tastes good, too.”
She heard his throat work as he swallowed.
She cupped his balls and drew his cock into her mouth. With his magnificent size, there was no way she could take in his whole length. But the way he groaned beneath her, he didn’t seem to mind. She worked her hands over his cock, while her mouth concentrated on his engorged head.
“Megan—” His words were lost on a moan.
Megan glanced up to see his fingers clutch the sheets and a thin sheen of sweat on his upper lip. She smiled with satisfaction. Warmth raced through her, and she knew she was bringing him so much pleasure.
His hips began rocking, matching the movement of her mouth. He dragged in a huge breath and gripped her head. She worked her tongue over him, smoothly, methodically. His cock pulsed beneath her ministrations.
He began trembling, panting. “Megan, sweetheart, you’ve got me so hot and hard, I’m going to explode.” His voice sounded tortured and rough. His body began shaking, almost violently.
“Explode for me, Brady.” Her words clearly indicated her eagerness to taste his creamy sweetness. She increased the tempo. Her hands were sliding up and down with ease while her tongue followed the path. When she felt his first clench, she changed tactics, drawing him in to her mouth again, until his head hit the back of her throat. Her other hand cupped his heavy sack and gently massaged his balls.
His body tightened, his cock throbbed. A sound of pure carnal delight echoed in the room seconds before his seed splashed in the back of her throat.
Megan curled her fingers through his as she drank his tangy cream. After she milked him of his every last drop, she rested her head in his lap, not wanting to break the moment. His hands moved to her hair. He lazily curled a few strands through his fingers, while they both lay there radiating contentment, enjoying the afterglow.
A short while later Brady broke the comfortable silence. “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hey, yourself.” She glanced up at him. The second their eyes met, she felt a new intimacy between them. It seeped under her skin and curled around her heart.
“Come here.” He pulled her to him and positioned her in the crook of his arms. After Brady dropped a soft kiss on her mouth, his stomach grumbled.
Megan chuckled, put her palms on his chest, and shoved lightly. “Now that we’ve had dessert, I think we should have some breakfast.”
“Well, I guess I did promise you fine dining and even finer company.”
“Yeah, but you left out the part about fabulous sex.”
He chuckled. “At Brady’s Diner, sex is also served twenty-four hours a day.” He eased himself from the circle of her arms. “You wait here, sweetheart. It would be my pleasure to serve you breakfast in bed.”
Megan’s throat tightened. That considerate gesture did the weirdest things to her emotionally.
Looking sexy, warm, and rumpled, Brady climbed from the bed. He tugged on his jeans and disappeared through the door. Here was one hell of a guy, she thought.
After he left, it suddenly occurred to her just how much she liked him. Did she really think she could keep her emotions under wrap with an amazing guy like him?
A guy who could easily be the poster boy for “too good to be true,” she reminded herself, yanking herself back from fairy tale land.
FIVE
Brady’s thoughts were preoccupied and he paced restlessly around the firehouse kitchen. The last time he saw Megan was when they’d made love yesterday afternoon and it was mak
ing him totally fucking crazy. After they’d gone shopping for supplies, he’d dropped her back at Nick’s place. Her hectic schedule left no time for them to get together. And that just wouldn’t do, because, with time being of the essence, he needed to talk to her, to touch her, to love her, and to discover if he’d broken through her defenses.
He glanced at the clock and clenched his fingers. He didn’t expect to hear from her at all tonight. No doubt Cassie’s bachelorette party would run until the wee hours of the morning. His body clenched in frustration. He might be a patient man, but his patience to hold her and kiss her and tell her how he really felt about her was growing thinner by the minute.
“Hey, Brady, want to play a hand?” Dean called from the card table.
“No,” Brady bit out with much more anger than was necessary.
Dean climbed from his chair, crossed the room, and put his hand on Brady’s shoulder. “How about a game of twenty-one? You look like you need to let off a little steam.”
Brady nodded, needing some way to expel his energy. He made his way to his locker to grab his ball. Just as he pulled it open, their special phone rang.
His pulse kicked up a notch. “I got it.” With long strides, Brady made his way to the phone. When he glanced at the caller ID and spotted Megan’s name, his heart leapt, warmth spread over his skin. The second his fingers closed over the receiver, he felt the tension ease from his body.
“Hello.”
“Brady?”
Her sensual voice flowed through his veins and had him aching to lose himself in her again. Need and desire seared his insides. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“Oh.” He detected disappointment in her voice.
He furrowed his brow. “Were you expecting someone else?”
She hesitated for a second and then said, “No, it’s not that.”
Brady sat on the edge of his bunk and rested his elbows on his knees. His hunger for her was consuming him completely. “What is it then?”
“Nothing. How is your evening going? Any emergencies?”
Brady shifted, aware of her strategy to redirect the conversation. “Things are quiet here. Why aren’t you at the Hose?”
