Fighting the Fall

by J. B. Salsbury

  I scroll through recorded shows but quickly tire of the same ole crap. I should go to bed, but I can’t get my brain to slow down enough to sleep.

  How could he not have more to say? Even a “hey, how are ya” would’ve been better than his silence. Not that I deserve more. He probably thinks I’m a whore. I mean I basically acted like one. He tried to say something before he left that night in my room, and I wouldn’t even let him do that. I wonder what he would’ve said if I hadn’t cut him off with my ridiculous rules-of-a-one-night-stand speech? From the look on his face today, I’m guessing it would not have been “Let’s do this again sometime.”

  I pushed him away after we had sex, and today at the restaurant, he treated me no better than I deserved, even left without saying goodbye. Shocker.

  My doorbell rings. I jump. Who the hell would be here—I check my clock—after midnight?

  I dip deeper into my bed, pulling my comforter up to my eyes. This neighborhood has seen its fair share of yellow tape, and it would be just my luck. My heart races and my body heats. A knock at the door. Crap, it’s a psycho murderer.

  Do I even have a weapon? There’s a baseball bat in my closet, if I could—the doorbell rings again.

  “I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die.” My palms sweat. I can’t just lie here and do nothing. I drop out of my bed to the floor and crawl to my closet.

  A loud knock sounds on the door.

  “Shit! Okay, think.” I take a few deep breaths. The door is locked, so that should buy me some—oh crap. I left my front windows open. If I call 911, I’ll be dead before the cops get here. I’m going to have to fight. Blood pounds in my ears as I grab my bat and tighten my hands around the grip. I hold it at the ready as I creep through the dark toward the front door.

  Another knock. I squeak and cover my mouth, hoping the psycho didn’t hear me. Tiptoeing, I move through the living room to the front door.

  “I can do this.” I reach out and slowly twist the lock. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Here goes nothing. With one quick move, I hurl open the door. “Die, motherfucker!” I swing hard, but in a flash, the psycho whips out a hand and catches the bat before it makes contact with his head.

  “Fuckin’ shit, Eve!”

  I freeze, my chest heaving as adrenaline fuels my nervous system. “Cameron?”

  He yanks the bat and manages to pull me closer to him before I release my grip. He opens his mouth to say something, but his eyes lock on my chest and no sound comes out. I do a quick mental assessment, grateful that I’m wearing my favorite pair of lacy boy shorts and a newer white tank that isn’t covered in stains. His eyes drag down my body, narrowing as they go until they’re nothing more than tight slits. My thighs warm and my tummy tumbles at the predatory way he takes me in. Inviting me to play while pushing me to run.

  “I thought you were a murderer!” I hiss through my teeth.

  “Murderers knock on doors?”

  My mouth gapes at his duh-dumb-shit tone even though he makes an excellent point. I slide my gaze down his broad chest, trying to figure out how to answer. I’ve never seen him dressed so casually before, but the man can rock a pair of jeans and a cotton tee just as well as he can the dress shirt and slacks. I remind myself that he blew me off today, in front of Jonah and Owen. In my damn restaurant. I meet his glare with a scowl that I don’t mean.

  “What are you doing here?” I chastise myself for sounding so breathy.

  “Needed to see you.” His words are clipped and guttural.

  “You saw me earlier and you had nothing to say.” Anger builds within my chest, but so does the urge to strip him naked and pounce. “You expect me to believe you’ve suddenly found your voice.”

  “You’re mad.”

  “Ha! I’d have to care to be mad.” I’m such a hypocrite. I’ve been over here crying into my bedding, feeling like a pathetic loser, and now I’m acting as if I couldn’t give a flying fuck.

  He advances, taking two long strides toward me as I take double that to step back. “Had my share of crazy women today, babe. Not in the mood for back talk.”

  Did he just . . .? Crazy women?

  “I don’t give a shit. You show up at my house after completely ignoring me, and you think I’m going to fall back with my legs open?” If that’s what he thought, he’d be right. Nausea coils in my stomach.

  “Be lyin’ if I said I wasn’t hoping for that.”

  Heat flushes through my body, anger mixing with arousal. “You’re a fucking asshole!”

  He kicks the door shut behind him, and it’s only then I realize he’s backed me into my house. My breath hits in bursts. He’s treating me like a booty call, but I like it. I’m sicker than I thought.

  “You tried to take my head off with a baseball bat, and I’m the asshole?”

  He keeps advancing, herding me like livestock toward my bedroom.

  “I want you to leave.” Fuck that was painful to say when my entire body screams the opposite.

  Another step, his eyes drop to my chest. “Not what it looks like to me.”

  I chance a quick look at my boobs. Shit! I could win a wet T-shirt contest without the water. “It’s cold.” I shrug, but he sees right through my lie, and a wicked grin tugs at his perfect lips.

  “Had a fucked-up day.” Another step. “Want it to go away.” And another. “Only way I know how to do that is between your thighs.”

  A tremor of arousal races through my body and collects deep in my belly. Even if he turns away after tonight and all I ever did was offer him relief through my body when he needed me, isn’t that worth it? I have something to offer him that might keep him coming back. That’s not love, but it’s like love’s second cousin. Close enough to the real thing.

  I’m taking my last few steps backward when my legs hit the side of my bed. He steps in close, and the spicy scent of his aftershave teases my body to life. Blood pounds through my veins, in my heart, and between my legs. I want this.

  He dips his chin and places a lingering kiss to my forehead. “My doll.”

  My chest swells with warmth. Needed and his.

  One finger traces down the side of my face to my jaw and down my neck to my nipple. He swirls it around and chuckles when the flesh grows impossibly tighter. “Cold my ass.”

  I can’t help but giggle. There’s a voice deep down that says I’m screwing everything up, that sleeping with him again is ruining any chance I had with a man like Cameron Kyle. Teach others the way you deserve to be treated? I’m teaching him that I’m a slut. Men never date the slut.

  And yet . . .

  He hooks the hem of my tank and pulls it up. I lift my arms and nearly groan as he removes my top in a slow drag against my body.

  “That’s my good girl.” He tosses the shirt to the side and makes quick work of his own tee.

  The light from the TV casts shadows that seem to intensify his muscles. I don’t remember him being so big the first time we hooked up, but that may’ve been due to the fact that we attacked each other, not giving any time for visual appreciation.

  I flatten my palm against his chest and push up to his shoulder mesmerized by the feeling of his soft, inked skin before raking my nails down his bicep. My fingers fumble with his belt, but he doesn’t intervene. He stands there, hands to his side, allowing me to undress him. His pants open but need a shove to drop from his thighs to pool at his feet. He toes off his shoes and steps out of his pants, standing in nothing but a black pair of boxer briefs.

  Dizzy with all that stands before me almost gloriously naked, I sit on the bed. My eyes take the time they need to memorize every inch of his body, knowing that this is most likely the last time I’ll get to see him like this.

  “Enough.” His deep, gravelly voice calls my eyes to his. “Open your legs.”

  I don’t consider anything but total cooperation, and I walk my feet apart against the carpet floor.

  He shakes his head. “Wider.”

  I brace my weight with my hands a
gainst the bed behind me and push my legs wider.

  A low rumble vibrates from his throat. Approval? “Put your feet flat on the bed.”

  I scoot back and do just that.

  He sucks in a short breath through his teeth. “Fuck yeah. There it is.” Now it’s his eyes that eat me up from top to bottom. He steps in close and slips his hand into the front of his briefs.

  In unison we both moan as he touches himself.

  My body melts into the bed. I have the urge to rub my thighs together, but I know closing my legs will displease him. And all I want to do is make him happy.

  I lick my lips, my hands clenching against the bed sheets. I’m so anxious to get at him, to touch him and feel the heat of his body as it covers and impales mine. My lungs fight for more oxygen, lightheaded by the visual he’s providing.

  “Eyes up here.”

  I force my gaze to his.

  “Good girl.” He bites his lip as he continues to stroke himself. “Tell me what you want, Eve.”

  “You.” His body, time, attention, affection—everything. God, I sound so desperate.

  “Say please.”

  “You first.”

  He pulls his hand from between his legs and glares. “I don’t beg.”

  Fear toys with my head, tells me that I’m pushing him away, even though the hunger in his eyes says the opposite.

  “Neither do I.” I tilt my head, hoping he sees confidence rather than insecurity.

  “Fair enough.”

  A slow smile pulls at my lips.

  He steps between my legs and dips two fingers inside my panties. I catch my breath as the euphoria of finally being touched rocks through my body. I arch my back to force him deeper.

  His fingers retreat. “Uh-uh.”

  “You are so frustrating!” I drop back to lie flat on the bed.

  “But you like me here, tempting, frustrating. You know it’ll end well.”

  No. It won’t. Because ending means he’ll be walking out, and I’ll be left alone to sort through my regret and second-guess everything.

  Nine

  Cameron

  I don’t remember consciously deciding to come to Eve’s. After Ryder and I spent most of the night stocking D’lilah’s kitchen and sobering her up, he went out to stay at a friends and I went home to crash.

  Sleep never came. Instead, I stared at the ceiling and thought about all the shit D’lilah and I had been through. I tried to pinpoint the day I fell out of love with her and couldn’t. Fact is I’m not sure I ever really loved her as much as I loved the idea of her.

  That’s when the visions of another blonde tore through my mind: Eve with her sharp tongue and innocent good looks, her soft body that soothes without even trying. Antsy, sleep was out of the question, so I took a drive that brought me here, in her bedroom and so fucking ready to lose myself inside her.

  I thrust my fingers into her over and over, bringing her close until she’s writhing and desperate. The first time we were together was an explosion, a crash between two people racing to the finish line. Tonight I plan to take my time, enjoy and devour her until I’m completely stuffed and stumble out of here exhausted.

  “Cameron . . .”

  I close my eyes and drop my head at the sound of my full name from her lips. How can something I’ve heard my whole life suddenly sound so wanton, so fucking sexy?

  Her teeth work her lower lip, and my mouth waters to taste it. I lean over her, making sure to hold most of my weight with my free arm. Her knees lock to my hips, as if she’s got me where she wants me and I’ll have to fight to get free. But there will be no power struggle. I’m exactly where I want to be.

  Running my nose along her cheek, I inhale and take her scent deep into my lungs. My hand works between her legs, and she pulls in a breath.

  “Fuckin’ beautiful, Eve.” I nip at her lower lip.

  Her hands rake into my hair, fisting so hard my scalp stings. My breath quickens as she pushes me to the point that my dick throbs. I tilt my head and moan at the first touch of her sweet mouth. She opens to me, her tongue darting out and sliding against mine. Wet, hot, we find our rhythm and drink from each other, savoring. Damn, if I’m not careful, this woman’s kiss will destroy me.

  I travel from her lips down her jaw and trace her collarbone with my tongue. Every part of her tastes so fucking perfect. Delicate and delicious. For a second, I want to kick my own ass for not taking my time with her the first time, but as my mouth meets her full breast, my thoughts scramble.

  “These are . . .” I kiss the tender underside, one and then the other. Mine. “Gorgeous.”

  “Please, stop teasing.” She grinds down on my fingers. “Don’t make me wait.”

  I know this is wrong for so many reasons, but risks have never stopped me before. And now, this close, the taste of her on my tongue, the sound of her soft moans in the air, there’s no way this isn’t happening.

  “We can go fast this time, babe, but I plan on taking my time with you for the rest of the night.” Her eyes flash with something I can’t name before I dip my head and suck one firm nipple deep into my mouth. She cries out, the sound of audible pleasure ricocheting off the walls. I growl in approval and clamp down with my teeth.

  She shoves hard with one heel against the bed and I allow her to roll me to my back but refuse to release her nipple.

  “Oh my . . . I’m gonna . . .” She rocks her hips against my hand. Faster. Harder.

  I reach down and free myself from the confines of my boxer briefs and stroke while I do the same to her.

  Hungry for her mouth, I swirl my tongue around to soothe my bite and release her breast. “Mouth.”

  She complies immediately, dropping her chin to crush her lips to mine. One hard kiss, and then she’s gone. What the fuck? I blink and see her standing at the edge of the bed. Her hair is wild around her face, and she shimmies her panties down her legs, never once taking her eyes off mine.

  I lift my hips and do the same, kicking my boxer briefs to the floor. She bends to her side table, opening the top drawer, and tosses a square foil packet on my chest.

  Condom. In her side table. Jealously mixed with fierce possession flares behind my ribs. I have no right to feel it, but I’m not the kind of man who shares his women, and the idea that Eve has slept with anyone besides me makes me want to rip these fucking walls down and light this bedroom on fire.

  Rational? Probably not.

  I scoot back on the bed and roll on the condom. She crawls toward me on the king-sized mattress, throwing a sexy sway in her hips.

  She straddles my waist and leans down, her lips held just a fraction of an inch from mine. “I’m glad you came over.” She grips my dick and guides me in.

  I fist the comforter at my sides to avoid grabbing her hips and slamming her down onto me. “Happy you let me in.” I tilt my hips, accentuating my meaning.

  She smiles against my lips before she opens hers over mine. I cup her jaw then fist her hair and hold her to me. Her hips rock against mine and the pressure builds deep in my gut. Kissing her while I’m buried deep, feeling every roll of her pelvis and her thighs clamped tightly at my hips, I need more.

  I break the kiss and flip us to her back without breaking our connection. Her legs immediately wrap around me, locking me in place so tightly it’s hard to move.

  I rub the outside of her thigh. “Shhh . . . Love you holding on, babe, but you don’t need to worry.” I drop a single kiss to her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Her body freezes as her legs convulse around me. “What did you say?”

  A small smile tugs at my lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Her bottom lip quivers and her eyes turn glassy.

  Oh fuck. What did I do? “Whoa, Eve.” I brush her thick bangs back off her forehead. “Talk to me.”

  She shakes her head fast, blowing me off.

  “Answer me.” I pull back and thrust in deep and hard.

  She gasps and moans. “Do
n’t stop.”

  My chin drops, and my eyes slam shut at the desperation in her voice. I have a split second to decide. Stop this and make her talk, or give in to our bodies’ demands and talk afterward. She reaches down and grabs my ass with two hands, digging in her fingernails.

  Decision made, I thrust into her hard. We’ll talk afterward.

  Pushing up to brace myself, I throw my weight behind my body. I’m relentless, needy for what this girl does to me. Her body erases my thoughts, helps me to forget all the shit. With her, it’s just us. No past, no future, just now.

  Over and over again I pound into her tight body until her legs clamp against my sides and she cries out, pulsing around me. I slow down while she rides out the aftershocks of her orgasm and her arms and legs fall limp to the bed.

  I pull one of her legs up and rest the back of her knee at my shoulder. She’s sated and stares up at me through sex-fogged eyes.

  “You okay?”

  She bites her lip and nods.

  I dip down and press a kiss to her lips. “Arms up, babe.”

  Her arms go over her head and push against the headboard; every rock of my hips she meets with a push of her own. Tension coils in my lower back, pressure building and on the cusp. I chase down my release and slam into her with a frenzy that shocks even me.

  But not Eve. Her face is relaxed. Big blue eyes stare up at me as though I’m not a failure, as if the world starts and ends with me. She looks at me as though I’ve never failed, fuck, as if I couldn’t fail.

  My orgasm explodes in a blinding euphoria, and I groan into her neck. “Fuckin’ A, woman.”

  Our chests press together, hearts racing, bodies intertwined. Like two people morphing into one, even our breathing is identical. What is that? Something inside clicks, and even though it should be obvious, it feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Much more than an orgasm, but what?

  I crush her body with mine, and she doesn’t let me go. For the first time in a lifetime of heavy, I feel . . . light.

  ~*~

  Eve

  There’s no way I’m sleeping. No friggin’ way. The sun is coming up, and I haven’t closed my eyes once since my last orgasm. Why? Oh gee, let’s see. Maybe because I’m still riding the high from four hours of earth-shattering sex? Or huh, could it be the fact that I’ve never been so sexually satisfied in my life, and yet I’m still hungry for more? No, that’s not it either.