Two Brutes, One Barista: An Alaskan Romantic Comedy (Alaskan Romance Book 3)

by Shaye Marlow

  “What’s your plan?” Thea asked, peering over my shoulder.

  “Catch a fish,” I said. I glanced up at her. “And I doubt you’re allowed to help.”

  She smiled. “No?” Her fingertips drifted along the back of my neck, whisper-soft.

  I shivered, my attention split between the cool, clear, sunlit depths of the pond, and her enchanting touch. Her fingers sifted into my hair, gently massaging. I leaned into her, unable to help myself. My eyes remained open only enough to see—barely.

  Her warm, knowing hand moved back down to my neck, and then around, sliding in the front of my collar. And beyond, smoothing down my chest. My muscles twitched as it slid down, down, down…

  She laid a kiss on my ear at the same moment her finger dipped into my belly button, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Cock throbbing, I caught her arm. “What are you doing?”

  I could see a fish, just a few feet away, swimming along the surface.

  “Distracting you,” she murmured in my ear. She was draped over my shoulder, her breath against my cheek. The finger in my navel wiggled, tightening my loins.

  “That’s not helping,” I said.

  “I know. So it’s allowed, right?”

  I groaned. My erection was making it hard to think.

  The fish was coming closer.

  On the one hand, I had my pride, and I didn’t want to lose—especially not to Wreck. On the other hand was Thea, possibly feeling frisky.

  I released her hand, wanting to know where she’d take this. Needing both hands to catch that fish.

  I was poised, ready. It was mere inches from grabbing range when she whispered in my ear.

  “I was wondering,” she said as I prepared to lunge, “if you had time for a quickie.”

  Caught off balance, I almost toppled into the water. And I certainly didn’t catch the fish. The little bugger darted away.

  But that was okay. Thea’s needs were far-and-away a higher priority. My muscles tensed, and I just kept myself from pouncing. First, I had to clarify.

  “Now?” I asked.

  THEA

  Joker thinks he can mess with me…

  “Yes, I want you now,” I said. “Quickly.”

  He was on me so fast I gasped, and then laughed as he scooped me up in his arms. He was carrying me out of the muck, and his mouth was on mine before my feet even touched dry ground.

  I strained to keep my wits about me as he met my hurried kisses. I plunged my hand into his elastic waistband and stroked him. He was so hot, so hard. It’d been just seconds since I propositioned him, and he was like steel. It was flattering… and so frickin’ hot.

  He was threatening to consume me whole, his hands gripping my ass. My back came up against a tree, and I hadn’t even realized we were moving. I stroked him harder, needing to drive him to that point, needing him to lose control before I did.

  J.D. pulled back, just enough for me to see his eyes were on fire, and then his hand was between us, in my pants, returning the favor. His fingers were sliding silkily, parting me, finding that engorged nub, riding over it as they slid deeper. Then his mouth was on my neck, and I made a helpless sound of pleasure as my head thumped against the tree trunk.

  He groaned as I redoubled my efforts, as I pumped him. “You keep doing that,” he rasped beneath my ear, “and I’m gonna cum in my pants.”

  “I wanna make you cum,” I moaned. I cupped his balls, stroking them, testing their weight.

  He thrust forward, jamming the tangle of our arms between us. Fingers curling inside me, he growled, “I want you,” between toe-curling scrapes of his teeth against my neck. His free hand squeezed my breast.

  “I want you, too,” I panted, not sure if I’d have the strength to see this through. He had me almost to orgasm, just with his hands, his mouth, and a handful of seconds.

  A rush of sensation started to spread outward through my limbs, and I yanked his hand away just before he managed it. My body cried with loss, and he looked confused.

  But then I brought that hand up, and as I sucked his finger into my mouth, his eyes darkened with lust. I could feel how much he liked it when I licked my tangy juices from him. When I sucked, his cock throbbed in my hand. When I moaned, his fingers curled, scraping the bark next to my head.

  He thrust against me again, pinning me to that tree, his eyes on fire.

  I let his fingers pop free. “Is it doggy style, if both parties are standing up?”

  “You… Now,” he growled, gripping me. “I need you now.”

  “Wait, wait,” I panted, cocking my head. “I thought I heard something.”

  With our record of wildlife encounters, this had enough impact that he stepped back to look quickly around. “Where?” he asked.

  “I thought it came from…” I peered around the tree. “I think I heard someone say my name,” I said. “And you know, I’m not sure this is such a great idea. I mean, we’re out in the open—someone could see us. And you’re obviously incapable of making love quickly, so… You know, I should probably just go back.”

  He moved like lightning, his hand slapping tree bark to block my escape. “You didn’t hear shit,” he said, his tone somehow accusing and admiring at the same time.

  I tried to look innocent, felt myself failing to keep the grin off my face…

  Then I pantsed him and ran.

  “Dammit! Thea—”

  I’d ducked under his arm and bolted, felt a whisper along my back as he made a grab for me. But then I was hustling through the woods, clutching at my waistband so my undone pants didn’t work their way off. I laughed, exhilarated by the chase.

  “You little…”

  My flight ended too soon. His weight hit my back, and as I hurtled toward the ground, I expected to have a very bad day. But he spun us around, and I landed on him. Not sure that was an improvement, considering how hard he was, but it was considerate.

  But, I didn’t let any daisies grow under my feet, considering his considerateness. I slipped his grip. “Really,” I said, scrambling away, “they’re sure to come looking for me, especially if I scream.”

  He grabbed me by the waistband, a move which tugged my pants and panties down over my butt. “Don’t scream then,” he growled, holding onto my pants while my momentum took me right out of them.

  I yelped as he picked me up entirely, not sure which way was up or what the hell he was doing—and next thing I knew, I was sitting on his face. “Oh my god,” I gasped, clutching at his shirt. His mouth was on me, making me giddy. My knees were forced wide by his shoulders, and he’d looped his arms over them, holding me in place, and his mouth was driving me absolutely—fucking—wild.

  “Oh god. Oh god.” I tried to shift, but couldn’t. Tried to sit straight, but I couldn’t do that either. My spine bowed as he sucked my clit. I cursed as his tongue thrust into me. My hips rocked, and I panted, and I was—officially—out of control.

  And, I needed something in my mouth. Considering my face was inches from his straining erection, it wasn’t too much of a stretch. He groaned against my pussy as I opened wide and sucked him in. I strained in his hold, sucking him wildly, my body roaring toward orgasm.

  I ground onto his face and came with a scream muffled by his cock. I did my best not to bite down—and then it wasn’t a problem anymore, because he was no longer under me. On hands and knees, I shuddered, my pussy contracting, feeling so painfully empty.

  His hands found my hips, and then he was pushing into me from behind. I muffled my next scream against the forest floor.

  “God, yes, I wanted to feel it,” he said, his voice low. “You squeezing my cock.” His breath hissed as another contraction struck, rendering me mindless.

  He was huge inside me, the feel of his movements indescribable. “You feel so good,” I panted, clawing at the earth. So good… Too good.

  I loved his hands on my hips, the way he controlled me, the way he pulled me back, the way he filled me almost to the point of pain. But it
was too good, the heavy slide of him too perfect, too easy.

  I groaned. “Condom,” I said, losing the word as he curled his hips, stretching me to my limit. “Condom,” I gasped, louder.

  “Fuck. You’re right.” He pulled away.

  I moaned, mourning the sudden loss, but stayed put as I heard foil crinkle.

  “Shit, I’m so sorry Thea. I’ve never done that before. I’m sorry. I’m clean, if that makes it any better.”

  I shook my head. “Not worried. Please, just put it on, and put it back in.”

  He didn’t need to be told twice. His fingers found me, parted me, and then it was his blunt head finding the give of my entrance, pressing forward. He felt even bigger than before, just so fucking—amazing.

  His hands had started on my hips, but as he eased into me, they moved inward, caressing my cheeks. “I love this ass,” he said. “I love the shape of it, round as a heart.” He growled as he sank even deeper. “Did you know you have a freckle, here?” he asked, tapping me lightly.

  “No.” I couldn’t concentrate. His invasion demanded all of my attention. Consumed me.

  He pulled me back on him, pushing in to the hilt, and his hands tightened. “I love how your skin reddens,” he said, spreading me as he began to slide back. “Did you know I couldn’t stop thinking about this, about your ass, after that hike?”

  I shook my head, feeling every inch of him stretching me, loving how his voice filled my ears as he thrust.

  “Do you know how much I wanted you, how close I came to just pushing you down on the forest floor, and taking you?” he growled, his voice falling ever closer.

  “No,” I whimpered. The picture he painted filled my head, a perfect counterpoint to the feel of him moving inside me.

  His hands were on the move, one sliding around my hip, the other travelling up my back. He gripped my shoulder as he buried himself balls-deep. Then, before I could catch my breath, his fingers were on my clit, circling, sending liquid fire through my veins.

  “You said you dreamed about it.” His voice was deep and grating.

  I made a noise that tried to be a yes, but the word simply wouldn’t form.

  “Do you like making love in the woods?” he asked. He tugged at my hairband. My hair spilled free.

  “Do you like being fucked like an animal?”

  I gasped as my whole body reacted to his raw words. I was lit from within as he pulled my hair. He’d gathered it up, and the cords in my neck tightened as he brought my ear near his mouth.

  “Answer me.” He punctuated the order with another incredible thrust.

  I trembled under him, feeling too hot, too full. “Yes,” I gasped. “Yes.”

  He growled his approval, keeping the tension on my hair as he worked himself into me. My whole body tingled. My toes went numb.

  I hovered right on the brink, and maybe he knew it, because he kept doing what he was doing, stroking, murmuring dirty, dirty things into my ear, producing shockwaves with each thrust, and the shockwaves got bigger. Wilder. I started to tremble, to gasp.

  “That’s it,” he murmured. “That’s it.”

  I arched under him, stiffened. The moment just before was timeless, breathless. Sightless.

  Then, I exploded. I came cussing. I gasped with his next thrust, his next tug. My body clamped down on him, and it was so fucking good, it hurt.

  He released my hair, and I didn’t even have the strength to hold myself up. “God, Thea, yes. You feel so good when you—” He groaned, gripping my hips, plunging into me at a punishing pace. I keened into the dirt, each impact rocking me clear through to my soul.

  He drove home one last time, and then he was gasping as his fingertips dug into me. He jerked, and finally sank against me, riding me to the ground.

  I concentrated on catching my breath, calming my heart. And yet, I couldn’t stop feeling him—his heavy body over mine, his penis moving minutely inside me as it softened.

  He laid several kisses against my ear, and finally rolled away.

  Groaning, feeling sensitive all over, and wet, and messy, and aching, I flopped over onto my back in the moss and dead leaves. “We’ve got a problem,” I said.

  He was in the process of trying to figure out what to do with the condom. “A problem?” he echoed.

  “Yeah. We didn’t do it right.”

  He froze. “What?”

  “We still don’t have the answer,” I said, giving him an impatient look.

  “What answer?”

  I let him hang for a few moments before allowing a shit-eating grin to envelop my face. “Whether it’s doggy-style if it’s standing up.”

  His gaze heated. “Next time,” he said.

  “Or, you know, we could Google it.”

  J.D. shook his head, pointing that remarkably full condom at me. “Next time,” he promised.

  I laughed.

  J.D.

  I scooped up the fish, careful not to close my hand on its little spike. Knife in one hand, fish squirming in the other, Thea following close behind, I walked back to the party.

  Rory was munching on a muffin when he caught sight of me. “J.D. What? More questions?”

  I threw the two-inch stickleback at his feet. It turned out to be a mistake, as the tiny fish immediately disappeared in the grass. Muttering obscenities, I got on my knees to try and find the little bugger.

  Two minutes later, I presented it once more. “Your fish,” I said.

  Rory laughed, and then his eyes widened. “Wait. You can’t be serious.”

  “You said ‘any fish’,” I pointed out.

  Rory sputtered. “But… the point was to feed your woman. She can’t eat that!”

  “I could,” Thea said, a calm presence at my elbow. If she hadn’t been there, I probably would’ve decked my brother.

  “You said,” I repeated, in a level tone, “‘any fish’.”

  Zack appeared, and caught sight of my prize. He threw his head back and laughed, then punched Rory in the shoulder. “He deserves style points for that,” he said, shaking his head.

  “It’s a freaking stickleback!” Rory cried.

  “A stickleback’s a fish,” Helly said, having moved in on our little argument. “You did not give size requirements.”

  “Goddammit.” Rory scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. “This is a technicality,” he said, fixing me with an icy blue stare. “You really wanna win on a technicality?”

  “I don’t really care how I win this farce.” Or even, really, if I did—but saying that would weaken my argument.

  His eyes got a crafty glint. “You do realize that people make comparisons between the size of a man’s fish and his…” His gaze flickered meaningfully downward.

  I stood there, hand out, tiny fish still in it, while Thea threw her head back and laughed.

  Rory reddened. “But, it’s not the manly way,” he insisted, still refusing to accept my fish.

  “What, smart isn’t manly?” Dotty challenged, elbowing her way into our circle. “I’ve lifted a pocket protector or two in my time, and you know what? Some of the best, kinkiest times in my life.”

  Rory sputtered.

  “Oh for god’s sake. Give him the win. Try and trip him up with the next,” Dotty said.

  And that’s how I won round three.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  J.D.

  “This final challenge,” Rory said, taking his showmanship up a notch as he slowly surveyed the crowd, “is the ultimate test of a man.”

  On the table in front of him lay a long object covered by a polar fleece throw, both of which he’d unloaded from the back of the Jeep just minutes before. He touched it, running his hand slowly, reverentially along its length.

  And suddenly, I knew what must be under there. He only wore that better-than-sex expression for one thing.

  He whipped off the blanket, confirming: It was a rocket launcher.

  Gary whistled. In fact, most of the men present got an ins
tant hard-on.

  I did, too. But, I also got a headache, wondering where he’d gotten that, where he was storing the rockets, and how legal it all was.

  “I have two rounds,” he said. “For two contestants.”

  “Now wait a minute,” said Ed. “This is my bar, my property, and I won’t allow—”

  “You were talking about cutting down some of the trees over there to expand the yard, maybe put in a fire pit and gazebo. I heard you,” Rory said. His face bloomed into a wicked grin. “Well, how about blowing the trees outta the ground, instead?”

  Ed hesitated, obviously tempted. “You only have two rounds for that thing?” he asked.

  “I might have three, for the right person.”

  Ed nodded. “I get to go first, and you have a deal.”

  “Sold!” Rory lifted the rocket launcher, and presented it to Ed.

  Ed lifted the big green cylinder like it was the holy grail, turning it over in his hands, running his fingertips over the directions on the side. His beard cracked into a smile. “Where on earth did you get this?” he asked. “How did you get this?”

  “I have my ways,” Rory said. “C’mon over here, we can’t have anyone behind you for this.”

  “We’re shooting trees?” Ed asked, moving to where Rory directed him.

  “Hey, yeah. Unless you wanna remodel the front of the bar, too,” Rory suggested, his eyes gleaming with a hopeful light.

  Ed shook his head.

  Rory pouted, then showed him the sights and safety.

  “Wait a minute,” Helly said. “How is this a contest? And how does this have anything to do with manliness?”

  “Blowing shit up is manly,” Zack said.

  “And as to it being a contest,” Rory called, “we will be comparing technique, the size and impressiveness of the explosion, and results of the shot.” He jogged toward us with what could only be described as a howl of glee. “Might wanna plug your ears!”

  Ed shouldered the rocket launcher, pointed it at the trees, took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger. The concussion was ear-shattering. The earth at the base of a tree exploded, shooting a gout of smoke, and earth and moss and clumps of grass, into the air in every direction. The tree remained standing, but Ed didn’t seem to care. He whooped, his grin wide.