Summer of the Cougar (Cougar Challenge)

by Nicole Austin

  Nineteen years and no serious relationships. There had been a couple of brief affairs but sex hadn’t been important to her. She'd been too busy with the kids to truly miss it. Not until she found erotic romances. She’d never experienced many of the titillating things she read about. Now her body hummed with sexual need and she actually owned several adult toys.

  She had hoped JD would reintroduce her to pleasures of the flesh. His loss! This wasn’t a race, although she felt the familiar drive of competition. She had all summer and lots of young studs to choose from. She vowed that the next one to pique her interest would earn her cougar status.

  Like her friends, many of whom were now in fulfilling relationships, she’d be bold, daring and confident. Maybe she’d even be scandalously naughty and get two younger men in her bed—at the same time—focused on giving her one hell of an amazing night.

  Stevie raved about her experience with multiple partners. Monica, Autumn, Lynn and Loralee all had tried out ménages. Why shouldn’t she find out what all the fuss was about and experience that ultimate pleasure?

  Ha, take that, JD!

  Chapter Two

  “Damn, I’m tired.”

  “That was one crazy shift.”

  “I’m going to veg in front of the TV all day.”

  “Dream on, Doug. Tracey will never let you get away with that.”

  The guys all laughed. JD didn’t hang around to chat. He had better things to do this morning. Like grovel and beg for forgiveness from one very sexy lady. Real hardship that.

  No sooner had they gotten back to the house after he’d met Rissa than they’d raced off to battle an apartment fire. That had been a bad one. And the calls had just kept coming, one after another. By the time he’d had a chance to pick up the phone it had been after midnight and he hadn’t wanted to wake her. Hopefully she would understand.

  “Hey, where’s he off to so fast?”

  “Yo, JD. You got a hot date?”

  “Oooh, maybe with the sexy Latin schoolteacher whose car burned up. There were some definite sparks flying from her.”

  “None of your business.” JD didn’t slow down. He knew if he did he wouldn’t make it out of there for at least an hour, and he definitely had something better in mind than hanging out with the guys.

  It was still early but he was done waiting. JD closed his truck door and dialed Rissa’s number before pulling out of the parking lot.

  “Hello?”

  She had such a great voice. It reached right through the phone to tug at his cock, which came to instant attention. “Mornin’, gorgeous.”

  Her response was several long seconds in coming. “Who’s this?”

  His brow furrowed. How many men had she been expecting calls from? “JD…the firefighter.” Nothing. “We met yesterday…at the beach. You know, when your car was on fire.”

  He couldn’t be that damn forgettable.

  “And?”

  Fuck! The chill carried in that one word traveled down the length of his spine and every muscle tensed.

  “Sorry I didn’t get to call you yesterday. God, I was dying to hear your voice. But we stayed busy ‘til after midnight. I have to admit, I was very tempted to call you then just to find out how your voice sounds when you’re sleepy. I figured you’d had a rough day, though, and I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”

  “Oh, that’s all right.” The ice cracked and started to melt. “Your job is very important.”

  Work was the last thing he wanted to talk about. “Hey, listen. My shift’s over now and I’m starving. Have you eaten yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Great. Can I take you out for breakfast? It’s rush hour so it will take me about an hour to drive over to your place.”

  “No.”

  His heart dropped. Shit, he’d really screwed up by not calling her last night.

  “Forget going out. I’ll cook.”

  Yes! JD punched his fist in the air. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman other than his mother had cooked for him. And a homemade meal would be nicer than a restaurant. More intimate.

  “Awesome. I’ll be there quick as I can.” He couldn’t wait to see her again.

  “Don’t you dare rush. Drive carefully.” She probably used that stern tone to tame unruly students. He wasn’t immune to its power, which had his stomach flip-flopping.

  “Okay, I will.”

  “See you soon, JD.”

  He disconnected on a groan. God, he loved hearing his name roll over her tongue. Rissa had a low and very sensual voice—perfect for dirty talk and phone sex. A man wouldn’t mind hearing that voice whisper in his ear every morning. Like luxurious silk, it clung to him, molding to his body—warm, tantalizing and intimate.

  Rissa Cross was one sultry woman. He’d bet his paycheck she’d also be fiery. Damn sure she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen outside the pages of a magazine. Her naturally dark-toned skin looked even softer than her thick mass of long brown hair. She smelled sweeter than honeysuckle. And that body. If he’d had a teacher that looked half as good he would have never learned a damn thing. All he would have studied was her.

  Miss Cross kept herself in excellent shape. Hourglass shape—full breasts, narrow waist and curvy hips. The bright butterfly tattooed on the side of her belly was both sexy and elegant. But her lips—images of her wide mouth and pouty, glossed lips would haunt his dreams. Oh, the things he imagined her doing with those lips. Meeting his own hungry kiss, tasting his skin and stretching around his cock as she sucked him down her throat.

  He shifted, adjusting his erection to a less painful position in his shorts. His mind filled with seductive images of all the ways their bodies would fit together.

  JD couldn’t help but press harder on the gas pedal.

  * * * * *

  Only a few hours after sunrise and the temperatures were already in the mid-eighties. Rissa considered putting on a nice outfit and fixing her hair after her morning run then quickly discarded the idea. Comfort won out over vanity. It was simply too hot for excess clothing. Besides, either JD wanted her or he didn’t. No amount of primping would change his desires. And why get all dressed up when she intended to be naked before long.

  She settled on a yellow eyelet camisole and denim shorts, skipping undergarments entirely. The top fell somewhere in the gray area between decency and blatant invitation, revealing a flirty glimpse of cleavage. After running a brush through her hair she pulled the heavy mass into a ponytail. A quick swipe of gloss across her lips was her one concession to makeup.

  Now for breakfast. Her abuela swore the fastest way to catch a man was to cook for him. Rissa didn’t want his heart, but hoped the meal she prepared would get her in JD’s pants.

  The spicy scent of chorizo and onions grilling in the skillet had her stomach growling. She scrambled in some eggs and raisins then the completed dish went into the warm oven along with a plate of fresh tortillas. Earlier she’d made salsa and set the table. But she was hungry for more than food. Rissa had every intention of getting JD on the menu.

  She headed for her laptop to check email when someone knocked on the door. Glancing at the clock she noted how fast he’d made the drive. She started talking as she opened the door. “Wow, you made good ti—”

  The sight of JD waiting on her doorstep, smiling at her broadly, had the words dying in her dry throat as Rissa nearly swallowed her tongue. She’d imagined how he’d look out of the uniform. Her imagination had nothing on reality.

  Washed so many times the material was nearly threadbare, his blue T-shirt bore the fire department emblem and lovingly conformed to his chiseled torso. Intricate lines of a black tattoo that accentuated his huge biceps disappeared under his left sleeve. She longed to trace all those twisting, twirling lines with the tip of her tongue, and contemplated how much skin they covered.

  He’d tucked the shirt into a faded pair of low-riding shorts that failed to disguise the thick bulge that extended all the way to hi
s left hip. Saliva flooded her mouth and she wondered how he’d taste. Her breasts felt swollen and heavy, and with each ragged breath her rock-hard nipples rasped against her top. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Rissa realized more than her mouth had gotten wet.

  “Damn, honey. You’re even more beautiful than I remembered.”

  He lifted his right hand and held out a red fire extinguisher bearing a festive streamer of multicolored ribbons. How had she failed to notice the large red cylinder dangling from his fist? “I brought you a present.”

  “Um…thanks.” Rather unique gift.

  “When you get another car, I want you to put that in the trunk so I’ll know you’re safe.”

  Awww!

  The sweet gesture left her speechless. For several long moments she stared into his dark eyes. Reflected in their depths she saw the potential for a future. A long-lasting relationship.

  Rissa shook her head to dispel the rather disturbing idea. She wanted to live, have fun, sample all the different flavors she’d never tasted—not tie herself to one man. No matter how sweet and sexy and thoughtful he might be.

  Breakfast. They were supposed to be having breakfast.

  “Come on in.” Stepping back from the door, she allowed him to enter her home. Not sure what else to do with it, she put his gift in the hall closet. Turning back toward him, she said, “I hope you’re hungry. I cooked—”

  The breath rushed from her lungs as her back came up against the wall. Warmth and JD’s masculine scent enveloped her as his hard body fitted against her soft curves. It was a glorious fit. His body caged hers and his fingers bracketed her face, holding her in place.

  “I’m starved.” His voice rumbled close to her ear. “For you.” Then his lips, soft yet firm, brushed along her jaw, moving slowly toward her mouth. She could have ducked or turned her head away. Longing for his kiss, she did neither. At the first touch of his lips to hers, Rissa spontaneously combusted. Fire raced across her skin and her blood turned to molten lava. From head to toe she burned and her toes curled into the carpet.

  Dios, she might need that fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

  He claimed her mouth in a scorching hot kiss and her lips opened wide, inviting him inside. JD accepted her summons. His tongue thrust into her mouth, slid against hers and she moaned as his bold and sweet taste washed over her like warm, delicious honey. Without conscious thought, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him.

  JD took over, exploring her mouth with his tongue, drinking down her needy moans and whimpers. Her breasts were crushed against his chest and everywhere they touched, from shoulder to knee, his body heat left a wake of desire licking at her skin.

  She had never been so thoroughly and completely kissed. And if the shudders that shook his body were any indication, she wasn’t alone. Their kiss had the same potent effect on him.

  The heady mating of their mouths ended way too soon. Resting his forehead against hers, JD stared into her eyes as they both struggled to find solid footing. Her body hummed with desire, aching and ready for more. She wanted so much more.

  “Damn, baby,” he panted. “You’re burning me alive.”

  Burning him? He’s the one who started the inferno. He damn well needed to do something other than stare at her. Preferably something involving the long, thick erection that had left its impression branded over her abdomen.

  “Now that we have the first kiss out of the way, we can relax and enjoy breakfast.”

  Breakfast? Her brain short-circuited. How could he think about food when she was primed and ready for sex? She wanted nothing more than to rip their clothes off and get lost in his amazing body. To hell with the food, they could eat each other.

  A vivid image filled her mind. JD stretched out on the bed naked, her on top of him. Their bodies locked together in a sixty-nine, hungrily devouring each other. She could almost taste the tang of his semen on her tongue, feel it sliding down her throat.

  Lust slammed into Rissa, melting bone and muscle. She would have dropped to the floor if not for his strong arms holding her tight.

  “Come on, baby. Let’s eat. We can work off the calories later.”

  Damn right they would. Perhaps on top of the kitchen table, getting all hot and sweaty then taking a shower together. She’d wanted to have shower sex since one of the cougars had raved about the wet and slippery glide of soapy hands over damp skin. Taken from behind, bent over in the shower with the spray sluicing over their bodies.

  Oh yeah! She had a lot of ideas for how they could work off breakfast.

  Chapter Three

  Rissa could barely see to place the last of the silverware in the dishwasher. She laughed to the point tears streamed down her cheeks as JD told her hilarious stories about the bizarre calls the fire department routinely received.

  “This one tops all the rest. It will go down in history. We got a call for an assist from the medics. Patient was inside the house but unable to come open the door. No big deal, happens sometimes.”

  The wicked grin drawing up the corners of his sensual mouth told her the call had been anything other than ordinary and likely involved sex. Many of his stories did.

  “We busted open the door and hung around to make sure the medics didn’t need anything else. Brian and Sean are two very serious dudes, but they came out of that house wearing big cheesy grins. They had a sheet covering one hell of a huge mass on the stretcher and we knew something weird was going on. We didn’t see what until they turned at the end of the driveway.”

  He paused for effect and the anticipation got the better of her. “What? What was on the stretcher?”

  “A couple.”

  “A couple of what?”

  “Not what, who. Two people, a man and woman. They were naked under the sheet. The woman was on top, facing the man underneath her.”

  “Why would they put two patients on the same stretcher?”

  “Couldn’t separate them.”

  The sparkle in his dark eyes told her the sexual punch line to his story would be shocking.

  “They were joined at the hip—literally. Stuck together. When the woman orgasmed, her vaginal muscles clamped down on the guy’s already swollen cock and stayed that way.”

  Rissa scratched her head as she considered his words. Sure, it had been a long time since she’d had sex. She still didn’t see how what he described was possible.

  “You know, like when someone gets lockjaw.”

  Her confused expression prompted further explanation.

  “Lockjaw happens when a sustained spasm of the jaw muscles causes the mouth to clamp shut. Only in this case…” His grin grew impossibly wider. The rest came out in fits and starts punctuated with robust laughter. “This was a case of l-lock pussy. The m-muscle spasms…of her orgasm…d-didn’t stop. The pressure…oh god. The pressure around the base of his cock made…him swell. Like a really tight cock r-ring. Same effect.”

  “No way.”

  “Yes way. Had to take them to the hospital. The doc had to shoot her up with muscle relaxers before she finally let go of the poor guy.”

  Rissa narrowed her gaze on him. Something told her there was more to the story. “You went to the hospital, didn’t you.”

  It had been more statement than question. JD nodded anyway. “Had to. They might have ne-needed the Jaws of Life to save that poor guy.”

  Her mouth dropped open and for several long seconds she fought a valiant battle not to laugh. She didn’t want to laugh, no matter how funny. But snapping her mouth shut tight to bite her tongue just reminded her of the woman clamping down on the man.

  Unable to hold back any longer, she slapped a hand over her eyes and turned her face in to her shoulder. He knew though. She might be able to hide her expression but nothing would quiet her sobbed laughs or the violent shaking of her body.

  JD loved making Rissa laugh. The way her face and eyes lit up gave him a warm sensation different from the blinding, all-consuming
sexual heat she generated. She lived totally in the moment and he got the distinct impression it hadn’t always been that way. Almost as if she was making up for lost time. Yet whenever he hit on a personal subject or question, she quickly changed the topic or tried to distract him, which only piqued his interest in knowing more.

  He knew he’d surprised her by not falling in with her plans of heading straight for her bed after breakfast. Not that he hadn’t been tempted. The painfully hard erection filling out the front of his shorts was testament to how badly he wanted her. But he wanted more than a casual tangle in the sheets.

  Her distraction worked in his favor. She laughed the whole way out to his truck and they were on the road before she tensed up.

  “Hey, where are we going again?” Her arms crossed defiantly over her chest and she muttered something in Spanish he didn’t catch. Probably nothing good. “I don’t remember agreeing to go anywhere.”

  That fiery temper—damn, it did funny things to him. All that heady passion bottled up and ready to explode turned him on. He wanted her to open up and unleash all that heated energy, let it pour all over him.

  He let her stew for a few moments before answering. “My friend’s place on the Hillsborough River.”

  “And why are we going there?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “I hate surprises.”

  Yeah right. That’s why excitement radiated from every pore of her luscious body. He wasn’t fooled by her adamant denial.

  “How much farther?”

  Her foot tapped an impatient rhythm against the floorboard. After making the turn onto the dirt drive, JD squeezed her knee. “Relax.” He pointed to the ranch house about five hundred feet away. “We’re here.”