by Quinn, Taryn
“You seem awfully involved for someone who is just her brother-in-law.”
“Family takes care of each other.”
I swallowed down the flood of warmth at his words. I had family. It wasn’t as if I was an orphan or unloved, but my parents weren’t exactly the type to get all up in someone’s business on my behalf.
“Well, she seems fine. I think you’re exaggerating. Now, she has a lot of work to do.” Kathy crossed her arms, her face inscrutable.
I grasped his upper arm. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. Who acts like that about their employees?”
“It’s really not that big a deal.” I tried to drag him back near the door, but he wasn’t moving.
“This is the third time she’s been late.” Kathy sniffed.
This time, he turned to me. “Has this happened before?”
I knew what he was talking about, but Kathy did not. “Let it go.”
He frowned down at me and reached out to touch my cheek.
I backed up. Embarrassment flamed up my chest and neck. I hated being put on the spot like this, which was funny since I wasn’t exactly the type to downplay reactions to being cornered.
But I needed this job. And while I might not have been wild about Kathy or her judgy, cheap ass ways, I would deal with it until I found something else.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
I shook my head. Sleepwalking and insomnia weren’t exactly conditions I wanted to shout out to the world. I’d tried sleeping pills, but those lovely side effects they talked about in the commercial? Yeah, not even close to reality.
They made me way worse.
“Why would you need a doctor?” Kathy came forward.
“I don’t need a freaking doctor. I just need everyone to leave me alone about it. I didn’t sleep well and overslept because I was…sick.”
Yeah, that sounded believable. Not. Maybe if my tone hadn’t been so damn uncertain.
“I’m sorry, Rylee, but I don’t want liars working for me.”
I whirled around. “Kathy, I’m not lying. I just have to get used to being in my new place and a new job. I’ll be better, I promise. You won’t have to worry about me.”
Panic shoved down the warm gooey caramel feeling Gage had created. I’d just moved out on my own. I couldn’t lose my job too.
Kathy shook her head. “I don’t think this is going to work out.”
“No, wait.” I threw a narrowed gaze at Gage.
“She doesn’t need to work here with someone who doesn’t care about their employees.”
Kathy’s eyes went wide. “How dare you?”
“No. You should be ashamed.” Gage stepped forward.
“Do not talk for me, Gage Kramer! I am not your girlfriend or wife or whatever that you feel you need to defend me to this woman.”
The words this woman dripped with venom. Because my flapping jaws did not care if I had to eat tuna three meals a day.
And I didn’t even like tuna.
Kathy’s face went red. “I think I’d like you to leave now.”
Dammit. My stupid mouth. Couldn’t just leave it at defend. Nope, sure couldn’t. “You know what? I don’t want to work here anyway. That three-hundred-dollar vase looks like something out of a discount bin.” I whirled around to Gage. “And you, stop getting into my business!” I stomped over to my workstation and grabbed everything I could see in my blind rage.
Keys.
Air Pods.
Phone.
Favorite mug.
All of it went into my purse.
Gage came up behind me and I elbowed him. “Just go.”
“No, you’re upset.”
I glanced at Kathy, who was standing there with a pissy expression. I couldn’t even blame Gage for that sour-lemon face.
Just had to get one last shot at her, didn’t you, Rylee?
I growled and slammed out the door.
Gage caught the door so I couldn’t even have that satisfaction. Then again, knowing my luck right now, I’d shatter the glass pane.
As it was, I didn’t even know if I’d get paid for my time there.
“Dammit.”
I rushed down the street.
“Rylee, wait.”
“I do not want to talk to you right now.”
“You’re better than that job, and you know it.”
I whirled around to face him and the words log-jammed in my brain. I couldn’t even think around my anger. Because yes, I was better than that job, but it was all I had right now.
I let out a whoosh of sound like a growl had a baby with a scream and stalked down the sidewalk toward my apartment. Gage, of course, kept walking behind me, but at least he didn’t talk.
Because I was pretty sure I would murder him. And I might even get off in my current mental state.
Did insomnia-induced insanity count as a defense?
We were about to find out.
Nine
Shit.
I was definitely falling off the leader board in every aspect of my life this week.
I kept a safe distance from Rylee. I’d thought her ability with darts was dangerous—it had nothing on her in full-on anger mode.
Then again, I kinda had gotten her fired.
Fuck.
But she really was so much better than that job. She was smart enough and talented enough to be running her own shop. She didn’t have the personality to actually work for anyone. I understood, because I was very much the same.
She stalked across the street, the heels of her boots clicking ominously in that way that only women seemed to be able to do. I dashed after her when she didn’t even bother to look both ways to check for oncoming traffic.
“Jesus, woman.” I scooped her up and set her down on the sidewalk just as a cyclist zipped by.
Her huge dark eyes were startled, almost on the verge of shock.
“Look, I get that you’re mad, but you gotta slow down and think.”
“Think? Right now, I’m going through four different scenarios that I know of to hide your body. One of them might include that lake.” She shoved me back and practically ran down the sidewalk.
What the hell was it with the women in this town and threatening me with murder? I wasn’t that much of an asshole.
At least I didn’t think so.
Luckily, my long legs didn’t require the sprinting situation she had going on. I drove fast, I didn’t run. However, I did pick up the pace when I saw how close she was to her door. I knew she would not let me upstairs.
I managed to grab the door just as she tried to slam it in my face.
“I did not invite you in.”
“Rylee?”
“What?”
“Shut up.” I pulled her against my chest and covered her mouth with mine. It was the only way I knew to quiet her down long enough to let me in.
Miraculously, she didn’t even pretend to fight me. I knew she was riding that adrenaline wave and needed a target. Instead of stabbing me with whatever sharp implements she could find in her apartment, she allowed me to re-route her agenda.
She went up on her toes and dragged me down closer. “This doesn’t mean anything, you understand me?”
“Right. Not a thing.” I curled my arm around her waist and hauled her up against me, half carrying her and half dragging her up the stairs.
I slammed my hip into the doorknob as we got to the top of the stairs. Her apartment was the first one on her floor. She reached around me to twist it open and shoved me against the island right inside the door.
Memories of our first night slammed into me. She’d been much the same that night. Determined to find some sort of outlet using me and the crazy attraction that flamed between us.
I’d wanted it to be more that night, and those same feelings were crowding me now. I was the king of one-nighters, but nothing about Rylee felt as if it should be one and done, no matter what she said. And I was going to prove it to her.
&nb
sp; But this go-round, I wasn’t going to let her make all the rules. We’d tried that before.
It was time for her to see just what—and who—she was dealing with.
I picked her up and set her on the counter, shoving the drainer into the sink. Handily, it was empty.
She went for my pants, but I set her hands on the counter. “Stay there.”
Her dark eyes were like burning embers and her chest heaved as if she’d run a mile. She was so goddamn beautiful when she was angry. Evidently, I had issues and I was so totally going down, man.
Hopefully literally, because I needed another taste or five hundred of her.
She narrowed her eyes, then tilted her head. “All right.”
I was so fucked. But I was going to earn the crash and burn here.
I dragged down the sweater that was already dipping off her shoulder. I brushed a gentle kiss there and moved up to the dark blue strap of her bra, then to the soft skin leading to her neck.
“Move along, Kramer. This is supposed to be for us to let off some steam. You owe me an orgasm at the very least.”
I smiled against her skin. “Patience, huntress. This time, you’re the one who needs to settle in and enjoy.”
“I enjoyed just fine last time.”
I closed my teeth around her earlobe, her earring clicking against the enamel. I tugged and she let out a gasp. I brushed away the soft, wispy hair from her messy knot. I needed all that raven-colored hair around her shoulders.
She lifted her hand to her hair.
“Back where your hands are supposed to be.”
“Or what?” But she put her hand back on the counter.
“Or I’ll walk out that door and try again.”
She hooked her leg around the back of my thigh. “That is not the agreement here.”
“You think this is just about scratching an itch. I’m here to show you it’s not just a bounce.” I ran my nose along her neck. “I want more.”
“What, for the few weeks you’ll be here? Maybe a month.?”
“You keep talking like you know what my plan is.”
“Oh, and like you know?”
“Nope. I don’t.” I eased back so I could look her in the eye. “But I do know that we’re both on the edge of something new and different. Why can’t we figure it out together? What are you afraid of?”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of anything. I just know the score.”
“You think you do.” I lowered my mouth to hers and let the curl of annoyance flow into her. The kiss was hard and soft at the same time. I owned the bit of real estate there. Her soft, full lips were made for mine. She knew just how to give and take. As the greed took us under, I hooked her legs firmly around my hips.
I fumbled with her zipper and she tried to get to my belt. I grabbed her fingers and set them back on the edge of the counter. Apparently, asking her to keep her hands there was too much. “There, huntress. Give me just a few more minutes, and then you can rip into me.”
“You make me sound like a freaking animal.” She dropped her head back as I went for her throat again.
“I remember the claw marks I wore for days after you left me.”
She groaned as my fingers pushed through the layers of cotton, silk, and lace to find what I’d been longing for. The sweet, warm cleft I still dreamed about on the lonely nights.
I twisted my wrist to slowly sink two fingers into her. She hissed and lifted to my touch. God, she drove me crazy with just how much she owned her sexuality. Most women would need a few drinks to be this free. Then it was just sloppy and a totally different experience.
I couldn’t say I hadn’t enjoyed a few of those nights in my time, but this…
This was pure Rylee.
She rolled her hips in time with my touch. My name a whispered sigh rumbling in her chest and teasing her tongue. I wanted the first crack at it. Not to let it free to the air, but to own it and swallow it inside me.
She didn’t want to know my name that first night, but now it tumbled out of her like breath. She strained under my orders for her hands to stay at her sides. If she touched me, I’d be done. I wouldn’t be able to deny her anything.
Again.
Like then, but even stronger now because I knew what she was like and I was running into that storm with knowledge and hopefully, a little more fortitude.
Each burning groan I took and gave back more with a flick of my thumb to add to the grasping tightness of her pussy. My forearm ached and spasmed at the angle, but I didn’t care. She was going to come with my name on her fucking lips.
I curved deeper and thrust slowly and endlessly as she gasped and shifted against me. I dragged the other shoulder of her sweater down with the strap of her little scrap of lace under the sweater.
Her little brown nipple puckered, and I covered it, sucking on it hard as she bucked up for more. “Yes,” I mumbled against her skin.
Warm silk over the most perfect breasts on the damn planet.
I cupped my hand around it, lifting so I could get to every bit of her. I relearned her taste and with each flick of my tongue, she arched for me. Finally, she cried out and shook around my hand, her arm hooking around my neck to hold me tighter to her breast.
My name was a shout with a desperate groan chaser.
Shit, I couldn’t wait any longer.
I slid out of her and wrapped my arms around her. “Hold onto me.”
Once her legs and arms were secure around my shoulders and hips, I strode through her tiny living room to the doorway of her bedroom. I set her down on the twisted sheets and we both stripped. My fingers were shaking, for fuck’s sake.
I was still trying to open my button-down shirt when she flipped her sweater over her head and went for my belt.
I groaned as she curled her fingers around my shaft and gave it a firm squeeze. “God, do that again,” I said on a broken breath.
She stood up and fisted my cock with a wild smirk. “Get inside me and I’ll squeeze you even tighter.”
“Jesus.”
I toed off my boots and eased her away from me so I could get my goddamn jeans and underwear off. I had just enough brain power left to dig out my wallet and a condom before I threw my jeans to the side.
However, Rylee would not be deterred. She twisted her long fingers between my arms and got a hold of me again.
I tossed the condom on her bedside table. Since she wasn’t going to listen to me at this point, I shifted and went for her jeans instead. She kicked off her boots with a little help from me, and we both rolled onto her bed with a laugh.
My only goal was to get inside her perfect pussy.
I knelt between her legs and swiped my thumb up her soaked slit. She rolled her hips as she circled my wrist to bring the flat pad of my thumb back down where she needed it. She hissed out a breath as I found her clit.
I wanted inside her, to feel the clasp of her body again. But I knew I wasn’t going to last.
There hadn’t been anyone since Rylee.
Even when I attempted to push her out of my head with another woman, I couldn’t get beyond a drink. Hell, I hadn’t even kissed anyone since her.
She was a first for me in so many ways.
I lowered my mouth to the little triangle of dark hair and sipped from her soaked skin. I found her clit and lightly curled my tongue around it and explored my way to every pleasure center she had. She pushed at my head to get me to stop, but I wasn’t going to be happy until I heard my name again.
I sucked and twirled my tongue around her tight little clit. To get some relief, I pressed my throbbing hard-on into the bed. Concentrating on her was what mattered now.
I could wait. I would wait.
She raked her nails over the nape of my neck, then down to my shoulders as she went up and over again. Her thighs quivered and she sobbed out nonsensical words. Her head thrashed on the pillows, scattering them onto the floor as she tried to twist away from me. When I wouldn’t let her, she he
ld on to the white wooden headboard and swore she’d kill me.
I didn’t stop.
Couldn’t.
I wanted to laugh and tell her to just try and get me off of her right now, but my brain was Swiss cheese with the need to bury myself inside her.
I wanted to demand my name, but I needed her to give it even more.
She dug her heels into the mattress and lifted her hips to my mouth as I drank her down. I flattened my hand over her soft belly and joined my thumb in the torture with my tongue.
Finally, she cried out my name and I nearly sagged in relief.
But instead of letting her think for a minute we were even close to done, I rolled onto my knees and gently folded her legs together. The gorgeous curve of her hip drew my mouth like a flame.
I bit the rounded curve of her truly excellent ass. She curled her knees up against her chest, but that wasn’t what I was after.
Though part of me thought about sliding between her tucked legs and letting her strangle my cock with each thrust.
But I wouldn’t last.
I knew I wouldn’t. And I was prideful enough to dig deep for a little more strength.
I reached for the condom and cursed my shaking hands as I rolled it on. When I looked up again, Rylee was kneeling facing away from me, her hands on the headboard.
“I’m not done with you yet.”
“Fuck.”
She lifted her ass in invitation. “That would be the plan.” She looked over her shoulder and I closed my eyes on a silent prayer that this wasn’t the last time I’d get to do this.
I tugged her down lower and brushed the tip of my dick along her swollen pussy. She rotated her hips slowly and took me inside.
I tipped my head back as I slowly sunk into her. If I watched, it would be over. She was molten heat and gripped me so tightly. Each inch I slid deeper made me feel huge and powerful. I curved my hands around her hips and eased out of her, praying the whimper in my head didn’t come out of my mouth. Then I snapped my hips forward and buried myself back into her perfection.
She pushed back on me, shifting the angle, and her head fell between her braced arms as we lost ourselves in the relentless rhythm of pure, animal fucking. I took and she gave. I drove into her and she demanded more.
