Down & Dirty 3_A Shameless Southern Nights Novel

by J. H. Croix

  All I could hear was the murmur of Jeremy’s reply and then Austin chattering again.

  In short order, Jeremy and Austin returned to the kitchen just as I was about to call them. "Dinner’s ready, guys, help yourselves."

  I helped Austin dish up, of course. I had no doubt that he would have made a mess of it as preoccupied as he was with Jeremy. Dinner with them was sweet and funny. Austin wouldn't stop talking and kept talking with food in his mouth, no matter how many times I admonished him for it.

  "They don't even have a tee-ball team at my new daycare,” Austin told Jeremy as he got him caught up on his day-to-day life in Savannah.

  Jeremy's eyes darkened. I knew he hated Austin having to give up things because of Wesley's selfish motivations as much as I did.

  "I miss Cypress Creek so much. Can't I come back and visit you for a little while? I'm already ahead at this school,” Austin added.

  Jeremy's eyes lifted from Austin's to mine. It was clear he was leaving this to me. He knew how careful I was when it came to explaining why we had to come back to Savannah.

  I really didn't want Austin to get anxious about Wesley. After everything he'd been through, he deserved every second of peace of mind I could give him.

  "Maybe we'll both visit Cypress soon, how does that sound?" I asked with a smile, hoping it would hide how desperately I wished we'd be able to do a lot more than visit Cypress soon.

  Austin perked up. "That sounds good."

  "Arcadian misses you too, you know," Jeremy told Austin, distracting him effectively enough that for the next few minutes while they finished their dinner. Austin was happy to hear how his best dog buddy was doing.

  "That was delicious," Austin said, punctuating his words by smacking his lips together. He favored me with a huge smile before returning his earnest gaze to Jeremy. "Time for my show, will you come watch with me?"

  "Wouldn't miss it," Jeremy told him. "Let me help your mom clean up and I'll be right there."

  "Okay," Austin agreed as he hurried away after putting his plate in the sink. The sound of the theme song to his show filtered over to us as he settled on the couch.

  Jeremy and I functioned pretty well as a team for after dinner cleanups by now after having done it together a few times before. We cleaned up without saying much to each other, not because there was nothing to say but because the counter to the kitchenette was open to the living room and Austin would be able to hear every word we said.

  We might not have spoken much, but we never stopped touching. It was only a brush of hands here, or his arm against mine there, but it was enough to keep me humming inside. The gentle touches started lingering, his hand on my hip or mine on his bicep. Our eyes kept bouncing into each other until our gazes were practically locked again, and I had to tear my eyes away from his.

  By the time we were done cleaning up, my body was coiled tight with anticipation. Every nerve ending was on fire.

  Wondering if I could risk pressing just a soft kiss to his lips, I glanced over at Austin. Just a minute ago he'd been glued to his show, but now he was down for the count. His lashes fanned his cheeks, his lips slightly parted as he slept soundly.

  Smiling softly, I met Jeremy's eyes and pressed a finger to my lips to warn him to keep quiet. Nodding in understanding, his eyes crinkled with his smile as he glanced over to Austin.

  I almost got lost in the moment, but then I remembered I needed to get Austin to bed. Jeremy followed me as I walked over to the couch and motioned to me he would carry Austin.

  After we put Austin to bed, Jeremy took my hand silently and wound his fingers through mine. Walking me across the hall to my bedroom, he led me inside and closed the door with a soft click.

  Before I had a chance to speak, his mouth was on mine, claiming me with bold sweeps of his tongue. I moaned into him, bunching his shirt between my fingers as I clutched at the material, crushing his chest to mine.

  His hand slid down my spine to cup my bottom, palming my ass and arching into me. I gasped at the feel of his arousal, hot and hard. My hands were greedy, mapping the hard planes of his chest. In a tangle, we collapsed onto my bed.

  I’d come to learn the connection between us was explosive, yet two weeks apart had me so taut with need, I could barely think. Jeremy, usually calmer than me and able to slow us down, hissed when I ground against him. A low groan rumbled from his chest.

  It was a heady feeling to realize his need was as powerful as mind. Our clothes came off in a frenzied rush.

  Chapter Five

  Jeremy

  Holy hell. Marie was going to make me lose my damn mind tonight. I was near trembling by the time I got her flirty little skirt off. Finally. It hadn't been that long since Marie had to move back to Savannah, but her absence had only intensified the desire that hummed on high idle between us.

  The moment she’d opened the door, it had taken an act of will to keep my hands to myself. With her glossy dark hair falling in shaggy layers, that streak of red teasing me, and her luminous green eyes, I’d taken one look at her and wanted to throw her over my shoulder and cart her to bed.

  But Austin was right there, and as much as I wanted Marie, I was a gentleman and wasn’t about to go all caveman in front of her son. Every feeling I might have associated with feeling alpha was coursing red hot and loud through me, tuning every instinct I had toward Marie and Austin.

  I'd been protective of them from the get go, but what I was feeling tonight surpassed protectiveness by about a thousand levels. The only thing I could think of was how I wanted to make it all better for them. Everything. No matter what I had to do, or what it cost me.

  All of my senses had felt turbocharged from the moment I'd stepped into this apartment. Austin had kept my focus throughout dinner because he was damn funny and a chatterbox. As soon as we’d put him to bed, my mind shifted its focus to Marie. The need pushing under the surface let loose now that she was bare beneath me.

  Her soft gasps and pants echoed straight to my soul. She flexed under me, her silky skin sliding against mine. Her body commanded every inch of me.

  A hint of vanilla mingling with her musky scent drifted to me. My pulse pounded as I devoured her mouth, marking her as mine in the only way I knew how. I didn't only want to mark her body, but her heart and soul. Her very being. The exact same way she'd marked mine.

  "Jeremy," she whispered, my name both a plea and the answer to it on her lips.

  While we were kissing, my fingers drifted down her sides, caressed her breasts and teased her nipples, taut and puckered tight.

  Tracing over the soft contour of her belly, my fingers traveled down until they were dipping between her thighs, into her slick heat. Her knee fell to the side as she arched into me with a low moan.

  In the darkness of her room, illuminated only by the faint light of streetlamps filtering in through the branches of the trees outside, her teeth bit into her bottom lip as she suppressed another moan. I sank a finger into her, knuckle deep, and teased her as I drew it in and out, coating it in her juices.

  A soft whimper fell from her as I brushed the pad of my thumb over her swollen clit. My cock twitched, begging to be tagged into the game. I ignored it, focusing on her pleasure.

  "I've thought about this so many nights alone in my bed," I whispered, stroking her rhythmically.

  Marie murmured something, her brow furrowed and her eyes heavy. Wanting her to focus on her own pleasure, I didn't wait for her to speak before I continued, "I fantasized about your sweet, tight pussy, wet for me.”

  The more I talked, the slicker she got, drenching my hand as her channel clenched my fingers. "You were there with me every night in my thoughts. Come for me, baby.”

  Her head thrashed with a nod. A few soft moans escaped even though she was trying to hold them back. I increased my speed, circling her clit with just a little more pressure. She was riding my hand now, her hips seeking every surge of my fingers inside of her, taking what she needed with as much abandon as I w
as giving it to her. A few strokes later, her entire body quivered, and she crushed her lips to mine to keep from crying out as she came.

  Her body barely stilled before I was kissing my way down, my mouth following the same path my fingers had earlier. Feeling her come on my fingers wasn’t enough. I wanted to taste her, and then I wanted to feel her all over again.

  “Jeremy, what’re you...?” she breathed, stiffening as I dragged my tongue over her seam. “Oh!”

  “Not done yet,” I groaned, spreading her thighs to fit my shoulders. Her pussy was glistening wet, pink and inviting. I couldn’t get enough, sinking my fingers into her as I explored every inch of her folds.

  Within moments, she was quaking again as she bucked against my mouth. I barely registered anything beyond the feel of her flying apart. Unable to hold back any longer, I rose up and moved back quickly to grab a condom. I fumbled with it for a second as my hands shook. Finally the damn thing was on. I moved up and settled between her thighs before sinking deep into her. Her slick warmth contracted around me as her orgasm subsided. I tried to take it slow, but I just couldn't. I needed her too much. I lost myself in her, nipping and kissing her neck as I thrust into her.

  I barely managed to grate out a whispered apology. "I'm sorry. Can't slow down. Can't take it… You just feel too good…"

  "Don't you even try to slow down," she whispered, her fingers digging into my ass and spurring me on. "Let go for me, Jeremy. Let it all go."

  My body responded to her words. Everything in me tightened, heat twisting at the base of my spine and sending pleasure slamming through me. Marie was right there with me, her body going taut underneath me as she bit into my shoulder.

  After our breathing slowed and my mind came back online, I rolled to my back and laced my fingers with hers as we rested on her bed. It was hot in Savannah and the light breeze from outside didn't do much to cool Marie's room down, but I wasn't about to let go of her.

  We lay quietly, while I absorbed the feel of her presence near me again. Don’t get me wrong, I’d needed her so fiercely it should’ve terrified me, but more than that, it felt good just to be with her again.

  After a bit, we talked quietly while she filled me in on how things were at the salon where Sarah found her temp work, and she asked how Doc was and how things were at work for me. I’d been relieved to tell her Doc was just fine. We’d found out he had suffered a minor heart attack, but now he was back home. I was beyond relieved he was okay. Sarah and a few other friends were more than happy to fuss over him. He’d declared it was the message he needed to remind him he’d done the right thing by signing the business over to me, so he could slow down.

  My earlier instincts to protect Marie went haywire when she expressed her worry about Wesley. "He hasn't been around in the last week, but he did try to stop by a few times like I told you. I keep wondering if maybe he's moved on, but then I remember that he dragged us all the way back to Savannah, so I guess that's too much to hope for."

  I wasn't planning on mentioning my chat with Tyson to her, but now that she mentioned Wesley I filled her in. Her eyes grew wide as she listened, propping herself up on an elbow to look into my eyes. "You mean he's doing this to two of us at the same time?"

  I nodded, tightening my grip on her. "Looks like it."

  "That's insane,” she mused, shaking her head as she relaxed and laid her head on my chest. "I knew he was nuts, but this has to be certifiable. It goes beyond mere obsession or fixation."

  "I know, but according to Tyson and Savannah, all of this is still good for our case."

  Marie sighed, burrowing deeper into my side as she traced random patterns on my chest. "Thanks for speaking to Tyson. It means a lot to me to have a little bit of an idea what's going on with Wesley. It makes me feel safer somehow."

  "You're safe with me," I murmured, only wishing there was some way I wouldn't have to leave them come day after tomorrow. "What did you tell Austin about my sleeping here?"

  "I told him we were having a sleepover since you were staying from out of town, so don't worry too much about it," she whispered, pulling the sheet up and yawning.

  "As long as I get to sleep next to you, I'm happy. But I'll take the couch too if you think it's better."

  "No, don't go. We'll figure it out in the morning. Besides, he knows you're here,” she said sleepily.

  I dropped a kiss on her temple. "Fine by me. Go to sleep, sweetheart," I murmured, my lips brushing against her hair. She relaxed against me, her breath shifting into the steady even rhythm of sleep. The feel of her warm against my side was damn near heaven.

  Chapter Six

  Marie

  Sunlight filtered through the curtains when I woke up the next morning, tangled in Jeremy’s arms. Since most nights I’d spent with him involved him sneaking out before dawn, it almost felt like the first time. Waking up with him energized me, recharged me and made me feel invincible. With Jeremy here, it felt like everyone who’d been assuring me that everything would eventually be okay just might be right.

  I relaxed into his arms, shimmying closer, only to gasp at the feel of his erection pressed into my bottom, hot and hard. The opportunity was too good to pass up. Slowly and carefully, I shifted under the sheets and slid down his body. Running my fingers lightly up his thigh, I marveled at the way his muscles rippled under my touch. His cock was long and thick. Leaning forward on my elbows, I swirled my tongue around the top.

  Jeremy groaned, lifting the sheets to peer down at me with heavily lidded, sleepy eyes. "Jesus, Marie. That feels…"

  I drew him deeper into my mouth. His words trailed off, shifting into an incomprehensible series of low moans. A surge of power rolled through me.

  My nipples puckered, an ache rising between my legs as I kept my mouth on him and curled my fist around his hard length. His hands tunneled into my hair and gripped it as his hips flexed into me.

  The sheet fell past my shoulders as I moved, pooling at my waist. Jeremy reached one of his hands down to play with my nipple. Circling my hand around the base of his shaft, I stretched my fingers to caress his balls while my other hand slid down my stomach until my fingers brushed my clit.

  Moaning around him, my fingers dipped into my wetness as I flicked my tongue over his head. The salty taste of pre-cum made me quiver.

  I raised my eyes to his face. His neck was arched, his head pressed back into the pillow. Breathing raggedly, the muscles in his throat worked. Dragging my tongue along the length of his cock, I watched him.

  "Yesss,” he moaned, his hips moving as he thrust into me. Then his eyes snapped open and found mine, the raw desire in them nearly making me come undone. "Come here,” he growled as he reached for me.

  Lifting me so I straddled him, he cupped the nape of my neck and kissed me deeply. Without breaking our kiss, he rolled us so he was on top me, his thick cock nudging at my entrance.

  "Condom,” he mumbled against my lips, sounding pained as he pulled away from me. The soft rip of a foil packet filled the air, his muscled form silhouetted by the predawn light. He sheathed himself quickly and leaned back on his haunches, his gaze nearly singeing me.

  In a flash, he reached for my hips and flipped me. My knees bent reflexively as he tugged me toward him, entering me with one swift thrust.

  "Jeremy," I cried into the pillow. Biting into it, his name came out as a muffled moan. His movements were slower, more sensual and sleepy than they had been last night.

  I was on fire for him, writhing and gasping as he sank into me, withdrawing slowly and thrusting back in to the hilt—again and again and again. Turning my head, his lips caught mine.

  Within seconds, his hand slipped around my waist, coasting over my belly and pressing into my clit. He was everywhere then, in me, around me, on top of me and below me. I was completely overcome and enveloped by him, and I loved every second of it.

  His thighs shook against mine, his breathing becoming more choppy. Mine quickened in response, pleasure starting to win
d tighter, building and pulling me higher until it crashed over me.

  "I’m coming," I gasped, pushing my hips back to meet his thrusts and arching into his hand. My channel pulsed and clenched, taking him over the edge with me.

  "Fuck, Marie," he bit out, thrusting harder as he found his own release.

  Going slack above me, he rolled off before collapsing and pulling me closer to his side.

  I could barely catch my breath as I glanced up to him. A lazy grin played on his lips. "I could get used to waking up like that."

  "Me too," I murmured in between deep gulps of air.

  A floorboard creaked. The soft whoosh of Austin’s door opening came next. My eyes flew open, and I was out of bed in the same breath. Jeremy sat bolt upright, his eyes alert and questioning until I mouthed, “Austin.”

  His tense jaw slackened, and he sank back onto the mattress, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. I swatted his arm, forcing my dresser open against the mattress to grab a pair of pajamas. Hurriedly pulling them on, I murmured, “I’m going to go check on him. You go shower.”

  “You mean before we get busted?” he asked, running his hands over his mouth to smoothe away the laughter.

  “Exactly,” I whisper-yelled, making sure when I opened my door I only pulled it far enough for me to slip out, but not for Austin to see in.

  He wasn't outside my room anyway though. The hallway was empty.

  “Austin?” I called softly.

  “In here,” came his reply from my left.

  I found him rummaging in the kitchen for his cereal. He turned from his seated position as his eyes brightened. "You're awake! Where's Jeremy?"

  My cheeks heated. I ducked my head into the fridge, first to pull out the milk for Austin's cereal and then to grab some eggs, trying to wait for the flush to subside. "I think he's in the shower. Here, have your cereal. I’ll make us all some breakfast once you and I have gotten cleaned up too."