Bring On the Heat

by Eden Bradley

  She needed him inside her. Now.

  She tried to pull away so she could take off her boots, but he stood and grabbed her ass then lifted her off the floor. Supporting her on one muscled arm, as if her stocky frame, which sported an extra ten or fifteen pounds, weighed no more than a bag of feed, he yanked off each boot and her jeans. The hard bulge straining at his zipper ground against the damp cotton lining of her panties when he pinned her to the door with his hips.

  Even after more than a year, her pussy spasmed while she remembered the anticipation she’d felt with his hard cock stroking her through the thin barrier of flimsy underwear. He sure knew how to start a fire, and right now, there was a four-alarm blazing between her thighs, despite the anger simmering in her belly. Gazing at Sean as he stood across the counter from her, she wanted to say, “You can lift me onto the counter and fuck me until I can’t walk anymore,” but, of course, she didn’t.

  She sighed. “Just tell me why you’re here.” Her days of one-night stands had ended when he’d walked out without a word, leaving her with a pleasantly achy body but an equally unpleasant feeling of emptiness. Looking back, she should have kicked him out the first time those warm, tingly feelings appeared while he’d stared into her eyes. But no, she had taken a chance, and now...

  And now she ripped off the reports, paper clipped them together then tossed them into the bank deposit bag. The bakery kept her busy and chased away the cold loneliness haunting her. Most days, at least.

  He leaned across the counter and wrapped her forearm within the firm grip of his hand, the rough calluses of his palm against her bare skin at once irritating, soothing, and electrifying. “I came to apologize.”

  She couldn’t hide the way the hairs on her arm stood, but she could ignore the reaction and raised an eyebrow. “Why now?”

  He released her arm and straightened. Scratching the nape of his neck, he blew out a heavy breath. “Look, it’s been a bad few months for me and I’m trying to make right my past mistakes.”

  A hard lump formed at the back of her throat. Nice to know she wasn’t the only one who considered that night an error in judgment.

  She opened the till then yanked the money and credit card receipts from the drawer. Throwing them into the bag with the reports, she swallowed the hard lump in her throat. She couldn’t change the past, could only move forward, and her future didn’t include repeating previous blunders, no matter how hot, hard, and sexy the package. “Glad to know you count me a mistake, cowboy.” She pinned him with a stare. “Because I consider you the biggest misstep of my life.”

  God, how pathetic did that sound? They’d had sex, not promised to love and cherish each other ‘til death did they part. At the fair, she’d known he probably wasn’t anything more than a one-night stand. He rode the rodeo circuit for Pete’s sake. He traveled where the show demanded. The night shouldn’t have been more than a two-step around the dance floor, yet she’d made it into something more, like some lovesick calf mooning after a cattle dog—that’s how different their worlds were, after all. They might occasionally travel the same trail and bed down together, but for the long haul, they needed their own kind.

  He flinched. “Guess I deserved that. I’ll leave you to finish up here. I’m sorry to have held you up.” With a nod, he picked up his hat. After running his fingers along the brim, he settled the Stetson on his head.

  Lucky hat. Her fingers twitched with the need to play with the texture hidden beneath the brim. Was his hair as soft and silky as she remembered? She pinched her lips together to keep from asking the stupid questions tumbling through her head. Yep, she was definitely pathetic, but she didn’t need him to know that.

  He pivoted on his heel then strode toward the door, a slight limp marring his walk.

  She frowned. He hadn’t been limping after he’d walked in. A few months back, she’d heard he’d gotten knocked unconscious by a bucking bronco and then dragged into the wall before the pick-up man had managed to free Sean’s hand from the rigging. She’d assumed he’d fully recovered, but maybe he hadn’t.

  Sympathy gnawed at her gut like a dog with a fresh bone. She bit her lip to keep from calling him back. He hadn’t cared enough about her feelings to even bother with a note when he’d left the first time. She wouldn’t give him any more reasons to think she might still care because she didn’t… did she? He could just keep on walking.

  He paused, hand on the door handle, and said over his shoulder, “I meant walking out on you was a mistake.”

  The bell tinkled as the door shut with a soft swoosh.

  Amanda let out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. He sure knew how to make an exit. Good to know since it was the first time he’d bothered with a good-bye. Frowning, she rubbed her stomach. He hadn’t actually said good-bye, but his last words had been like a punch in the gut. Surely he’d meant them as a parting shot? Lord knew they’d left her feeling as big as a flea on a rat.

  Her hand drifted to the achy spot over her heart. He’d come to apologize, and she’d slammed the door on him before he’d even uttered the words. Unable to bear the burn of shame, she hadn’t wanted to hear him say that their night never should’ve happened. So instead, she’d delivered the recriminating words herself, hoping to turn the tables.

  And what did she now feel? Why, the burn of shame and a hollow sensation in the pit of her stomach. She hated playing the bitch, especially since it only made it obvious she still had feelings for the jerk.

  She snatched trays out of the display case, laid them out on the counters then started stuffing the leftover cookies and pastries into boxes for her daily trip to the homeless shelter. How was it even possible that Sean consumed so much of her thoughts? It had been over a year. Talk about being a glutton for punishment.

  And all for an ass, who hadn’t even left his number just now, so she couldn’t call and apologize.

  Not that she’d given him any reason to think she would. But if walking out on her had been a mistake, then shouldn’t he have at least given her a way to contact him? Hadn’t he essentially just walked out on her again?

  No, stupid. You let him walk out this time.

  After smacking herself, the sharp sting on her cheek galvanizing her into action, she snatched up the pile of crumb-dotted trays then stomped into the kitchen, where she threw the stainless steel into the sink before grabbing a sponge. She scrubbed the top pan until the steel wool heated from her exertions and the pan gleamed. Catching the spray nozzle, she aimed it at the tray then depressed the handle. When the hard stream of water hit the hand holding the tray and rinsed away the suds, images from the shower she and Sean had taken together the autumn before last cascaded through her mind.

  Her hands slapped the tiled shower wall and splattered cold, tiny droplets onto her cheek, but the hot water raining on her side and the hot body at her back dispelled any chill. She laughed, but the sound caught in her throat when Sean bit her shoulder, the sharp edges of his teeth pinching her skin, no doubt marking her for the days to come. Shivers tightened her nipples even as she tilted her head to allow better access to her neck. She wanted the reminders.

  Sean’s thick thigh shoved her legs apart. She shrieked as she fell forward, her cheek, breasts, and hips pressing into the cold tiles. Hot water sloshed down the tiles to warm her chilled skin after he redirected the showerhead. Rubbing her ass against the base of the erection trapped between their bodies, she said, “Such a gentleman.”

  The lips of her pussy throbbed, but whether in anticipation or because of overstimulation, she was uncertain. And cared even less. After taking her hard and fast against the door, he’d carried her to the bedroom and shown her she did indeed have a G-spot. He’d brought her to orgasm—using both doggie style and plain ole missionary style—without even needing to play with her clit, and left her breathless and completely infatuated...with his skills.

  He wedged a hand between her hip and the wall, pulling her ass higher on his cock until the hard
length nestled in the valley formed by the cheeks. “I aim to please.” His fingers delved through her outer folds and settled on her neglected clit.

  “And you’re doing an excellent job.” The last word came out with a gasp when he pinched the engorged nub. She didn’t think she had another orgasm in her, but the sensations zinging along the nerve endings in her pussy told a different story.

  He growled before nipping her earlobe. Two fingers thrust inside her. “You have such a juicy pussy.”

  Pain mingled with pleasure as he stretched her tender flesh. She’d never had non-stop sex before, but aside from the soreness, her body didn’t seem to mind the almost constant penetration, producing a steady stream to ease his repeated passage.

  At first, she’d been embarrassed, but he’d been so turned on by it...

  “It’s all for you, Rodeo.” She thrust downward, shoving his fingers deeper and rubbing her clit on his palm. While the orgasms he’d given her by touching her G-spot had been unlike anything she’d ever experienced, leaving her as limp as a rag doll, they didn’t have the same lightning-bolt strike an orgasm brought on by clitoral stimulation did. Maybe then she’d feel as if she’d had enough.

  “Sean,” he growled before biting her shoulder again.

  She inhaled a sharp breath and waited out the initial sting before letting out a breathless laugh. They’d been playing this game all night long. “It’s all for you, Sean.” She rolled her hips, his fingers massaging deep inside her. “Now make me scream.”

  His tongue laved the tender skin of her shoulder. She felt his lips curl into a smile before he said, “Again.” Then he withdrew his fingers, and she whimpered in protest. Chuckling, he redirected the spray of water off her body.

  Though the tiles beneath her quickly cooled, the steam rising from the tub kept the chill away. She ground her ass against his cock. “Make me scream again, Sean.”

  With a hand on her hip, he steadied her while he leaned away. “With pleasure, ma’am.” The shower almost drowned out the crinkle of a condom package ripping open. Then his hard length bumped her ass again.

  She stood on tiptoe, trying to capture the pulsing cock between her thighs, but he pinned her hips to the slick tiles with his hips. “Sean...”

  “Amanda.” The click of a plastic cap was followed by silky liquid hitting her lower back.

  As the cool soap slid down the crease of her butt, she wiggled her hips and moaned.

  He chuckled. “So impatient.” He worked the liquid along his length, his knuckles nudging the soap further along its path. Then his slippery cock burrowed between her ass cheeks.

  Fingers of fire licked from her pussy, up her chest, and across her face. The chilled tile beneath her couldn’t combat the burning heat of anticipation tightening her belly. She’d never been fucked in the ass, but Sean had been preparing her for the moment all night. When his finger had first teased her puckered rosette as he took her against the front door, a dark thrill chased away any qualms she might have had. The probing digit breached the entrance after their bodies grew slick with sweat. The novel sensation had only spurred her growing orgasm.

  Later in the bedroom, immediately after sliding into her pussy from behind, he’d thrust a finger into her backdoor and worked the tight opening in time with each stroke of his cock. After adjusting to the double penetration, she’d begged for more, her hands tugging at the thick comforter rumpled beneath her. He’d stilled his thrusts into her pussy, his cock throbbing against that secret spot deep inside, and fucked her ass with first one finger and then two, until she’d screamed in orgasm.

  Amanda’s fingers curled into the unforgiving shower wall as Sean said, as if reading her thoughts, “I’ll make you scream,” and thrust two fingers back into her aching pussy.

  She trembled at the husky promise in his voice and the wicked play of his fingers inside her.

  The smooth planes of his chest caressed her back as he bent his knees, the broad tip of his cock slipping lower between her ass cheeks until it kissed her dark hole. Her breath caught when he lifted her, his fingers delving deeper. As she went up on tiptoe, her hands slid along the slick tile.

  “Put your foot on the edge of the tub.” He stilled long enough for her to settle her weight, and then, without further preliminaries, he breached her hole.

  She bit her lip, the resulting sting nothing compared to the burn caused by the thick cock stretching her ass. God, it felt so deliciously naughty. Her knees buckled as her thigh muscles―taxed from hours of sex―turned to jelly. She slid downward, taking more of his length.

  “That’s it, baby. You’re so tight.” He groaned. “Squeeze my cock.” He slid in another inch. “So good.”

  The first spasm hit her as he fully impaled her on his throbbing cock and spread his fingers inside her pussy, stretching her wider and increasing the impossibly full feeling he’d created by the dual invasion.

  Water sprayed out of the sink and soaked Amanda’s shirt front.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. My vibrator’s not going to do the trick. I need to get laid, replace these eighteen-month-old memories.

  Maybe then they wouldn’t distract her so easily. Her stomach turned, whether at going on the prowl or the reality of her chances at finding someone as memorable as Rodeo, she didn’t know.

  ~ * ~

  Amanda studied her reflection. Pink, flavorless gloss adorned her full lips. She’d avoided strawberries after Sean swept out of her life. She couldn’t taste the flavor without recalling how they had met.

  A touch of mascara and a hint of eye shadow brought out the golden flecks in her brown eyes. Her layered, medium-length brown hair made her face appear less round. She’d given up worrying about her baby face, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t minimize its effect.

  She straightened the simple gold chain adorned with a four-leaf-clover charm her grandmother had given her when she’d taken over the bakery. She nestled the piece in the vee of her favorite pink top, which hugged the soft mounds of her breasts before flaring to cover the small love handles she was never able to shed no matter how many sit-ups or Pilates exercises she did. Probably something to do with the handful of oatmeal raisin cookies she couldn’t stop herself from eating every day. She had a long-standing affair dating back to high school with the damn cinnamon-tinged bites of heaven.

  Hmm. Would Sean still taste like cinnamon?

  Snap out of it, woman. It’s not as if you’ll get a chance to find out, since you have no way to get a hold of him.

  She sighed. No, tonight she’d be ending her self-imposed sexual drought with someone else—though she didn’t know who, yet. It was time she moved on, so she’d dressed with the intention of snagging the attention of a hot body.

  She glanced in the mirror again. Would her new hip-hugger jeans do the trick? They showed off her ass and didn’t dig into her waist to produce an unattractive bulge. If the jeans weren’t enough, then maybe the pair of four-inch, fuck-me heels, which also lengthened her legs, would do the trick.

  She smiled. At twenty-five, she was finally comfortable with her body. She would never be a tall, stick-thin supermodel, but she was happy with her cute, sassy self.

  A spritz above her head of her favorite perfume―a light floral scent with a touch of musk that reminded her of summer sex in the backseat of a car―and she was ready for the hunt.

  She needed a man. Preferably a tall, blond-haired, green-eyed one who would erase the image of dark-haired Sean Cassidy from her mind.

  “Are you ready, Mandy?” Brittany said, her hands braced against Amanda’s bedroom doorframe as she peered in.

  Amanda grabbed her driver’s license and credit card. “Yep.” She slid them into her front pocket while they walked down the short hallway and into the living room.

  “If you don’t mind,” Brittany said as she picked up a duffel bag from the overstuffed chair they’d stolen from their parents’ playroom when she moved into Amanda’s two-bedroom Craftsman in the Heights three months
ago. “I’m going to catch a ride with you since I’m staying at Nicole’s tonight. We have a volleyball tournament tomorrow in Galveston and need to get up early.”

  Amanda shoved her cell phone in her back pocket. “That’s fine. If I’m lucky, I won’t be coming home either.” She grabbed her car keys from the hook by the front door and faced her sister with a smile.

  Brittany rolled her eyes. “You know I’m not a fan of one-night stands, but it’s about time you got laid. You’ve been a be-atch since Jared bailed four months ago.”

  Amanda clenched her jaw at the mention of her ex’s name. She’d hooked up with him a few months after Sean and then had been stupid enough to let the guy move in after only six months of dating. They hadn’t even managed to make it two months living together.

  “Jared didn’t bail. I kicked him out on his skinny ass.” The rhythmic clack of her heels against the new pavers leading from the front steps to the drive resonated in her belly. The sweet scent of jasmine, which blanketed the trellis at the base of the front porch, was like an aphrodisiac. By the time she slid behind the wheel of her silver pickup, she was in the mood for hot, sweaty sex.

  Brittany settled into the passenger seat. “I still don’t believe you. He was perfect. Tall. Dark. Handsome. Rich.”

  “Not perfect. Didn’t you hear me just say he had a skinny ass?”

  Amanda looked in her rearview mirror while backing out of the driveway. The roads in the Heights were narrow and people had a tendency to park where they shouldn’t which made the simple act of driving a test of road rally skills.

  “Besides,” she added, “he wanted me to sell the bakery and be arm candy.”

  Even worse, he was horrible in bed. Truly an eight-second ride. She shuddered. At their last sexual encounter, he had thrust twice before coming.

  He’d also been the world’s biggest prude. The one time she mentioned trying something different, he stopped having sex with her for weeks. He probably would have broken up with her completely if she’d actually gotten to the part where she wanted him to fuck her in the ass.