Monroe, Marla - Long, Lonely Nights [The Protectors 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Marla Monroe

  Three hours later, he stood up and stretched to work the kinks out of his back. The skin pulled along the scars that dotted his body. They weren’t really noticeable, he was told, but they were noticeable to him. Every time he moved, he remembered them and how they had gotten there. He checked his watch and groaned. It was nearly six o’clock. He was supposed to meet an old buddy for dinner and a beer at seven. He hadn’t seen Riley in nearly six months. Well, since he had moved to this house in fact.

  Riley and Logan went through their first eight years of service together before splitting off to go in different directions. They kept in touch and got together anytime they were in the same city. Riley was still drifting around and hadn’t found anywhere he particularly wanted to settle down. Logan invited him to stay with him, but Riley wanted his own space and rented a room at one of the long-term hotels with kitchenettes.

  Logan turned off the lights and headed to his bedroom to change into jeans and a shirt. He grabbed his truck keys off the dresser and turned to leave. Something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.

  There she was, sitting outside on her deck in short shorts and a halter top reading a book. She had pulled her long auburn hair back in some sort of clip. He found himself just staring at her as if he had nothing better to do. Right. Riley. He huffed out a breath in disgust and turned away from the sight of her delicious body.

  It took him nearly twenty minutes to make the twelve mile trip to meet him at the restaurant. Traffic sucked on Saturday nights. It would only get worse, too. Riley was already there leaning against his bike. The black machine suited the bad boy persona that surrounded him. From the top of his shaved head to the tips of his black shit-kickers, the man oozed bad-ass from his pours.

  “’Bout time you showed your scrawny ass up. I’ve been sitting here frying for the last ten minutes.” Riley bumped knuckles with Logan.

  “You get much uglier and I’ll have to quit being seen with you.” He grinned. “How the hell ya’ been?”

  “Alive, buddy. Alive.”

  They walked inside the restaurant and asked for seats in the back. It took nearly fifteen minutes until a table in the back came open, but it didn’t bother them. The two of them spent the time at the bar catching up. When their table opened up, Logan and Riley took their beers with them and positioned themselves to see the front entrance and the door to the kitchen, normal behavior for them. They watched each other’s backs more than once while in the Army. It came naturally for them.

  “So, where have you been since I saw you in Dallas?” Logan asked.

  “Hung around Dallas for a few weeks, then biked up to Stillwater, Oklahoma. Remember Dodge? He lives there now.” Riley took a swig of beer.

  “How is he doing? He wasn’t adjusting to losing his leg when I left the hospital last year.”

  “Hell. He’s a little better, but still hasn’t come to terms with it yet. He pretends nothing is wrong. Pisses me off to see him like that,” Riley said.

  “He got family in Stillwater?” Logan asked.

  “Yeah, got a sister and his parents. You can guess how that’s working out.”

  “They’re smothering him, and he’s rebelling against them.” Logan shook his head.

  “I tried to talk to the sister some. She seemed to listen, but who knows. Got a place of his own outside of town. Not sure being so secluded is good for him, but I’m not him.” Riley looked up when their waitress approached the table.

  The pretty little thing looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there taking their order. He knew what they looked like to others. Two big, rough-looking men tended to scare the locals. It didn’t help that Riley was dressed all in black with his chaps, and leather jacket on the back of the chair. It was too hot for the thing but safer for riding a bike. He attempted a smile at the woman, but it must have looked scary because she took a step back instead of forward.

  Riley sighed and shook his head.

  “I’m not going to eat you. Just give me another beer and the twelve once rib eye, medium rare. Give me a baked potato with butter and sour cream. That’ll do me.” He looked over at Logan

  “Same here.”

  The waitress didn’t even bother to write his order down. She hightailed it back to the kitchen. He doubted new recruits could have kept up with her. He laughed.

  “Still scaring them silly. How do you get laid, man?” Logan asked.

  “Hey, it wasn’t me she was looking at. She stared at you like you had two heads, man.”

  “So how long you planning to hang around?”

  “Don’t know. I like what I’ve seen so far. I’ll let you know if I get antsy before I leave,” he said.

  “You need to come by the house, and we’ll cook out and watch a movie.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  They talked about old times until the food made an appearance, but with a different waitress this time. Logan and Riley exchanged looks at the change in guard. It didn’t seem to bother Riley, but it grated on his nerves sometimes to get those looks. Hell, why care?

  After they had finished eating they rode over to his favorite hangout for more beer and dancing. He figured Riley would be right at home since it was a biker bar. One of the few places he felt welcomed without everyone watching him like he might pull an Uzi out and spray the place. Here the women didn’t run screaming when they walked in. Instead, they actually came on to them and vied for their attention. It felt good. Until an image of his neighbor in her halter top and indecent shorts popped into his head. Shit.

  He shook off the thought of her alone at her house, maybe enjoying a hot bubble bath. He grabbed one of the women and maneuvered her out on the dance floor. A little dirty dancing, a few beers, a few gropes, and he was ready for more grown up games. Riley had two ladies dancing a little bump and grind and looked set for the evening. He caught Riley’s eye and jerked his head towards the door. His friend smiled, gave him a little salute, and went right back to what he was doing.

  Logan had his arm around his date’s shoulders and steered them towards the door. They made it to his truck. He pressed her to the side of it with his hands grasping her ass and his mouth playing havoc with hers. She wrapped her legs around him and proceeded to grind her pussy against the hard ridge of his cock. Damn, it felt good. He lowered his head to her more than ample breasts, biting her nipples until she moaned. He let her slide down his body and was about to open the door to help her inside when his thoughts once again turned to his neighbor, Tina was what she said her name was. His cock lost some of its hardness. He realized he wasn’t going to take this woman home after all. Well, hell.

  “Okay, honey. Got to go. Sorry to leave you high and dry, but something’s come up.”

  Baby, I ain’t dry at all. She proceeded to unbutton her jeans to show him. He stopped her and buttoned them back up.

  “Nope. Not interested.” He turned and started to walk around to his side of the truck. She reached out a hand to his elbow and stopped him.

  “What’s different about tonight, lover? You don’t usually back out on me,” she whined.

  “Got something I need to take care of. I’ll catch you next time.” He kissed her and walked around and got in the truck.

  He looked out the passenger window in time to see his date give him the bird. He grinned and waved as he started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. No doubt she would bad mouth him inside, but it wouldn’t amount to anything. She would be all over him the next time he showed up for a beer.

  So what in the hell was the matter with him, anyway?

  Christine was what was wrong with him.

  Chapter Two

  Tina wondered if her neighbor would return tonight. She heard his truck when it pulled out several hours earlier. Usually, when he went anywhere on the weekend, he didn’t come back until noon or so the next day. She had little doubt what he did. It bothered her for some reason. They were nothing to each other, but she found herself jealous over some wom
an she had never met. So if he were seriously dating someone, why hadn’t he brought her back to his place? It didn’t make sense to her. And why should it matter?

  She decided on a bath for a change. She was hot and sweaty after sitting outside most of the evening reading. She had a little bit of sunburn on her legs and cheeks. She should have reapplied her sun block. Oh well. It would smooth out by the time to go to work Monday. She turned on the water and adjusted the temp to just above hot, but well below scalding. It wouldn’t feel the best on her legs, but she would enjoy it with some bath salts.

  She stripped out of her shorts and halter top and stepped into the deliciously sudsy water. The warm water welcomed her. She leaned back to rest her head against her bath pillow. Why didn’t she take more baths, she wondered? They felt decadent. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift as the warmth seeped deep inside her. It wasn’t long before her thoughts latched onto her favorite pastime, her neighbor. She now knew his name. Logan. It was a strong name, like the man.

  He had a body to die for. Strong muscular legs led up to a tight ass and a delicious chest with just the right amount of chest hair. He had wide shoulders and an interesting face. His one shortcoming as far as she was concerned is that he wore his hair in a crew cut. She liked longer hair—hair that begged to be pulled during sex. Sex. Something she hadn’t had in a long time. Not since… She refused to think about that in the same moment she thought about Logan.

  Man, I’m a pitiful excuse of a human being. I’m lusting after a man who doesn’t seem to even like me. Tina figured he wouldn’t even remember her name the next time she saw him. If there was a next time. Maybe the UPS guy would deliver another of his packages to her instead.

  She soaked until the water cooled. Then she hurried and bathed before it was too cold to handle. She dried off and slipped into her favorite lounge wear, silk panties and an over large T-shirt. It was still a little early to try for sleep, so, after disengaging the security system, she opened her French doors. Tina settled herself on one of her lounge chairs and drew her legs up to her chest to enjoy the night air.

  The sound of her neighbor’s truck driving up the street startled her. Had he finally decided to bring his girlfriend back with him? She frowned at the thought. She started to go inside when the lights went on in his living room, and his shadow appeared in the window—his shadow and no one else’s.

  She smiled. So he hadn’t brought a date home after all. Pleased, she wondered if he would pull his drapes or head on to bed. She hoped he would come outside for a little while.

  As if in answer to her wish, he pulled open the drapes on his sliding glass door and opened the door. He was once again in nothing but his boxers. He must have undressed as soon as he walked in, she thought. He stretched and then settled on one of his chairs. He propped his feet up on another one. He had big feet she realized. Wonder if what they say about a man’s penis is true? She had to stifle a giggle so he wouldn’t know she was out there.

  He slipped one hand inside his boxers, and Tina nearly fell off her chair when he drew out his cock. Dear God! It was true. It was a monster. He slid his hand up over the top of his cock. He would be weeping pre-come, she decided, and spreading it for lubrication. His other hand went behind his head giving her the perfect view of his privates that weren’t so private anymore. He slowly ran his hand up and down his long thick member as she watched.

  Tina slipped her hand inside her panties and fingered her pussy as she watched him speed up. He pumped his cock a little faster. She dipped one finger inside and spread her gathering juices around her clit. She pinched her breast through her T-shirt with the other hand. Her eyes stayed glued to the show below her. He took his hand down from behind his head and reached down to fondle his balls. He rolled them around as he continued to pump. She rolled her nipple around with her fingers as she watched him.

  She fingered her clit and felt the beginnings of her climax tighten in her womb. He sped up shafting his cock faster and faster. She followed suit and soon felt the tell tale signs burn within her. Just as he shouted and come spouted from his cock, she pinched her clit and nipple at the same time and came. She bit her lip to keep from making any noise, but a slight whimper escaped. Mortified, she watched to see if he noticed. He didn’t seem to. Instead, he lay back and caught his breath before standing up and disappearing back inside his house.

  She breathed a sigh of relief as she finally managed to catch her breath. Her panties were soaking wet. She would have to change them. She stood up and hurried inside. After cleaning up and changing panties, Tina settled back in bed hoping she would sleep tonight without the nightmare and without dreaming of Logan. She had had enough of him to last her a long time.

  Maybe.

  * * * *

  Monday turned out to be a very busy day at work. Tina finalized one account and started a new one right behind it. She usually took the rest of a day to organize her desk before picking up a new client. Today, she felt the need to stay busy. Thoughts of her neighbor’s show kept popping up in her head all during the day. It made concentrating on work nearly impossible. By the time to go home, she was wet and aroused. Sure that everyone could tell, Tina raced to finish what she worked on so she could escape.

  “Hey, girl. Let’s go grab dinner at the Los Margarita’s. We haven’t been out to eat in a long time.” Jenna, her best friend stood in the doorway of her office.

  “Um, not tonight, Jenna. What about tomorrow night instead?” she asked.

  “I’ve got a hair appointment tomorrow after work. Come on. Don’t be a spoil sport. I promise not to keep you out past nine or ten,” she pleaded.

  Something was up with her friend. She didn’t normally put up a fuss if Tina declined. Damn, she couldn’t not go. Not if her friend need her.

  “Okay. I’ll go. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll meet you there.”

  “Great! See you then,” Jenna said, and disappeared from the doorway.

  Tina finished up what she worked on, and shut down her computer. A night out would do her good. Maybe even erase, or at least tone down a particular memory. It couldn’t hurt to try.

  Jenna already had a pitcher of margaritas and a nacho basket on the table when she arrived. Tina poured a glass and took her first drink. It went down smooth. She needed this after all, she decided.

  “So, what has been going on with you lately?” Jenna asked.

  “Nothing really. Mostly I take work home. You know me. No social life outside of you.”

  “You should really get out some, Tina. You don’t need to hole up in your house. It’s not healthy.”

  “I’m fine, thank you very much,” Tina said.

  “So have you seen anymore of your neighbor?”

  Tina nearly spewed her drink all over Jenna. Yeah, you could say she had seen more of him. She couldn’t help blushing at the memory. She hoped Jenna wouldn’t notice or think it was just her sunburn.

  “Ah, you have seen more of him. Come on. Give,” she said.

  Tina thought fast. “Well. Um. The UPS man left a package of his at my house, and I took it over to him.”

  “So, what is he like? Is he as yummy up close and personal as he is from your balcony?” she asked.

  Tina had made the mistake of telling Jenna about watching her neighbor from her balcony. It had been after one such night of margaritas too. She would have to watch herself tonight.

  “Well, he’s a lot bigger in person than he seemed from my balcony, but he’s not exactly handsome. He’s also an asshole.”

  “Figures. Most men are. Did you at least get his name?”

  “Yea, it’s Logan.”

  Yep, something was up with her friend. The guy she had been dating lately must have turned out not to be so nice.

  “What about you? How are you and Todd doing?” she asked

  “We’re not. He’s no better than my ex-husband is. I seem to attract abusive men.”

  “Aw, Jenna. Did he hurt you?” Tina looked closely at h
er friend but didn’t see any bruising.

  Jenna’s ex had been very abusive, and after nearly putting her in the hospital, she finally left him and got a divorce. She’d ended up needing a restraining order against him as well.

  “No, not really. Just pushed me around some. He’s history though.” She sighed. “What is it about me that they flock to me?”

  “It’s not you. It’s just some men are like that. You just happened to have picked a couple of them.”

  “A couple? Besides my ex, this is number three. I’m ready to give up. There can’t be any decent men left. Case in point, your neighbor,” Jenna pointed out.

  “I might have caught him at a bad time, or he was having a bad day. He might not really be that way. I’m going to reserve judgment until I talk to him again.”

  Jenna laughed. “Not giving up on him, huh?”

  Tina smiled. “Not yet.”

  They ditched the discussion of men since Tina felt like Jenna needed to forget about the boyfriend. Instead, they talked about work and movies. They decided to go to one Friday night if there was anything decent on to see. There were two out that they both wanted to see if they were at one of the theaters in town. A movie night would be wonderful, she decided. And, it would take Jenna’s mind off of men for a little longer.

  They ordered their meals, and by the time she’d eaten her carnitas and her part of the nachos, Tina figured she was sufficiently sober to drive home. Jenna appeared fine as well, so she wasn’t worried about her friend making it home. It was nearly ten when they called it a night.

  “See you at work tomorrow,” she said.

  “Don’t stay up looking at your neighbor. Get some sleep,” her friend teased.

  “Don’t worry. I’m ready for bed. Today was a bear of a day.”

  They parted company. Tina drove home thinking about Jenna and her latest dating disaster. She’d really been hoping Todd would turn out to be different from her other boyfriends. Nothing she’d seen about him would have indicated he was violent, but looks could be deceiving. Her friend deserved a nice stable man. Now she, on the other hand, didn’t think she would ever find one since she didn’t go out anymore. She just couldn’t make herself trust a man enough to date one. Not since her attack.