Summer Fire
Page 120
“Jackie told me about Roxy.” She half-laughed. “Roxy was firmly in your court. She stopped talking to me after the last time I—chickened out.” She looked away. “You know, it’s been more than four years since I last talked to my parents. Or Pierce, for that matter.”
All through high school, and most of college, he was her on again, off again boyfriend. Her mother was convinced Pierce was everything Chloe could hope for.
Doug sneered. “Didn’t he go to Brown with you?”
“He did, but he focused on law, and I went into medical school. We veered paths, and after I caught him cheating, we were done. My freaking mother tried to convince me I should give him another chance.” She raised one finger for each point made. “He was on the fast track to politics. I wouldn’t have to work. I could focus on being the perfect wife, since I’d already given up on her idea of the perfect career.” She groaned. “The thought of marrying that prick always made me sick.”
Doug grimaced. “Never did understand why you kept going back to him.”
She winced. “He was safe. Most of the time it was easy to be around him. I had an excuse not to go out partying and could focus on school.”
Doug shook his head. “Sorry about your parents, and Pierce. Look on the bright side, you followed your heart anyway.”
“Not about you. I’m sorry I was a fool.”
“Stop. We’re both in different places. We aren’t even the same people. How can you possibly know I’m what you want?”
“I want a chance—an opportunity—to find out. Is that too much to hope for?”
He groaned, drank down the rest of his mocha, and set the mug aside. His eyes bored into her, looking for some answer.
She reached out and carefully captured the fingers of his injured hand, curled over his knee. “Am I crazy?” she whispered, scooting closer. “Am I the only one who feels this?”
His eyes dropped to her lips with a groan. “I’m going to regret this,” he muttered, before threading his good hand into her hair and drawing her to a stand with him.
Doug’s mouth crashed over hers, frantic, heated, maybe even angry. His wounded palm drifted up her side, pulling her against his body. His hard length pressed into her stomach.
She wanted to promise it would be different, but he kissed her until she had to pull back, panting. Lack of oxygen didn’t deter her from pulling his shirt over his head.
Damn, he’d filled out. Hard muscle everywhere.
“Sure you aren’t a personal trainer?” she teased breathlessly.
He looked down with a chuckle. “Been working out with Mike. His routine has benefits.”
Her eyes trailed down the chiseled muscle to the ridged-V disappearing into his pants. Wasting no time, she opened his belt and fly, hooked her fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs, and pushed it all down. Yup, still thick and proud, even better than she remembered.
She couldn’t tear her eyes from his cock.
“Hey now,” he quipped with a smirk. “Greedy much? You’re wearing far too many clothes if we’re doing what I think we are.” He kicked off his boots and lost the rest of the clothes while she stood there staring.
*
A twinge of fear raced through him. The dumbstruck look of lust did nothing to dissuade his concern that she wanted nothing more than another hot night. He stood there, naked, while she stared like she was starving but didn’t know where to start on the buffet.
Still, Doug couldn’t resist. He closed the distance and caught her shirt, pulling it over her head. He winced at his sore hand but got the garment off somewhat smoothly.
Chloe finally snapped out of it, and looked up into his eyes. “You can say that again,” she breathed.
“Hmm?”
“Greedy. Looking at all that hard muscle makes a girl stupid.”
That sentiment drove home how moronic this path was. Didn’t deter him. “Honestly, Chloe, I’m not sure how to take that. You just going to stare, or are you going to touch?” Please, touch me already.
She nodded. After pushing her pants down her legs, she reached behind her, unhooking her bra. He helped slide it down her arms before removing the silky scrap of panties.
More gorgeous than he remembered.
Blushing, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hall, toward a room at the far end.
At least three bedrooms, and two baths. I’m back to feeling inadequate.
She shoved him onto the bed and he caught himself, wincing at the jolt of pain.
“Careful, don’t want to hurt you, just want to take a ride,” she warned.
Once again, he questioned his sanity. His dick didn’t want this to end though, no matter what his brain was yelling. And his heart, well his heart had always been a fool.
“Come here,” he whispered, staring up at her sassy smile.
She climbed into his lap, rubbing against his cock. Damn, that felt good, but he wanted inside her.
He gripped her hips and rolled her to the bed as he stood. “Wait, need something.” He left the room in search of a condom. There were a couple in his wallet, courtesy of Jordan, who had them stashed throughout the house from his groupie banging days. Doug indulged here and there, but more often than not, he preferred getting to know a woman before jumping into bed.
Walking back, he thought about the way she looked at him. Until his clothes came off, there was real emotion behind her eyes. After, it was all lust. Doug didn’t know what to think, but he was afraid to hope things would be different this time.
He stepped through the door and found Chloe propped on her elbows, her legs hanging off the bed, with a wicked grin.
All thought flew out the window.
He tore the package and rolled the condom on before striding to the bed. Pushing her legs wide, he rubbed his head through her folds, then pressed in. Her heat surrounded him. She felt so damned good but the last piece of him still argued about the sanity of opening this door.
She fell back on a moan. He gripped under her knees, driving into her with hard, steady strokes, watching her breasts bounce with each thrust.
Right there, that blissful look on her face, that’s what I want to see every day.
His heart thumped in his chest, and he pumped her harder, trying to silence the feelings stirring, and let his dick do all the thinking. Squeezing his eyes shut didn’t help.
“Need more of you. Come here,” she begged. He stopped, panting as he crawled up the bed. She pushed him to his back and took over, leaning down to lick across his lips. He opened for her, caressed her tongue with his. Unable to resist the allure of her body, he trailed his hands over her silky skin as she slowly rode him.
Chloe’s sounds turned from eager to needy, and he rolled her to her back, taking over as he deepened the kiss, rocking into her body with force. Her hands gripped his hair as her body moved in perfect tempo with his.
Wrapping tighter around him, her legs shuddered as she came, bringing him along for the ride. He fell to her side and she rolled into him, wrapping her arms around his chest.
How long will this last? he wondered morbidly.
“You’re the only guy I could ever be myself around.”
And you still walked away—twice.
Doug held her close, unable to voice his fears.
“I’ve missed you so much, Doug.” She let out a yawn and tucked her head under his chin.
Hating himself, he rubbed her back, wishing he believed, but she’d said that last time, too.
Chapter Four
As soon as she was sound asleep, Doug slipped from the bed, dealt with the condom, and snuck into the living room. He pulled his clothes on, hating himself for what he was about to do.
Leaving was the only way to protect his fool heart. He hurried down the stairs and walked home. In the rain.
He half-laughed at the irony.
It had been raining both times he woke up after she left him. Both times he stood in the downpour, hoping it would wash away the
sting of rejection.
Doug made his way up the hill to the apartment he shared with Jordan. He prayed the bastard was either out, or locked in his bedroom with his woman.
Fuck, what if she really meant what she said? What if she wanted to try?
His hands cranked into fists and he hissed at the pain. He’d forgotten his knuckles were sore from the alley fight.
He stepped inside to find Jordan at the kitchen counter. Looking up with a frown, his roommate asked, “Turning the tables on Chloe?”
“You didn’t have to ditch me,” Doug muttered, going to the fridge for a bottle of water.
“I talked to her last night. She’s sorry for bailing before. She wants to make up for it.”
“And what if she just wants to fuck me and leave me like every other time?”
Jordan’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why would you think that?”
“She was awfully hot for my body. Kept saying shit that made it sounded like that’s all she wanted.”
“Like what?”
Frustrated, Doug scrubbed a hand over his face. “She stared at me, drooling for a good two minutes, before I finally took matters into my own hands and got us going.”
Jordan’s brow arched. “And that’s bad why?”
“Shit, then she said ‘just want to go for a ride.’ What the fuck else am I supposed to think?”
“So, she’s horny. That doesn’t mean she’s not also feeling something more.”
He thumped his hand over his chest. “I’m not risking her trampling over my heart again. She’s in Seattle. If she wants me, she can find me. I’m not holding my breath.” With that he went back to his room and fell on the bed. Not that he had any hopes of sleep.
Staring at the ceiling, every second with Chloe played back in his head.
*
Reaching across the bed, Chloe realized she was alone. Cracking one eye open, she found proof. Her heart sank as she climbed to her feet.
She slipped on a robe and walked to the living room. Sure enough, his stuff was gone.
Or, most of it. Something flat lay under the coffee table, blinking. Bending down, she picked up his phone and smiled.
She tried to unlock the display, but needed a pattern. Didn’t matter, the lock screen had the logo. Strike a Chord. Looked like Mike’s work. He was the artist of the group.
Formulating an idea, she went to her laptop and fired it up. In a matter of minutes she had the address, their hours of operation, and a plan.
This time she would prove she wasn’t walking away. Hopefully, her efforts would be enough.
Chapter Five
Doug threw yesterday’s pants against the wall and sat heavily on the bed. Last thing he wanted to deal with was Chloe.
The door opened and Jordan leaned against the frame, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s all the racket for?”
“Left my fucking phone at her house.” He stood up, grabbed his wallet, and shoved it in his pocket. “Whatever, I needed a new one anyway.”
“I could swing by her place and pick it up,” Jordan offered.
“Nah, my contract is up. Good time to upgrade. It’s fine.” He headed out the door.
“You’re being a dick,” Jordan called. “Trust me, as the king of all dicks, you’re taking dickdom to a whole new level.”
Doug rounded on him. “Look, I’m not discussing Chloe. She fucked me and walked away twice. This is no different, other than I beat her to the door this time.” Though he was the one feeling it in his gut.
Jordan held up his hands in surrender.
After storming out, he made his way to the cell shop across the street from his store and bought a new phone.
Am I being an ass? Yes! But I don’t fucking care.
His chest hurt but he ignored the ache. Running to the shop had to be the cause. Not his fool heart.
He walked into the Jitterhouse and waved at Skylar.
She grinned. “I hear you went home with Chloe Mae.”
“Let’s not go there,” he warned. “And before you make my drink, today I want a plain coffee, black, nothing in it.”
She frowned, then shrugged and poured a brewed cup. “Thought you didn’t like plain coffee.”
No, but he needed caffeine, and something not the slightest bit sweet. “Needed a pick me up.”
One corner of her lips twitched but she held in her comment.
Once he had his coffee in hand, he plopped down a five and strode for the door.
“Doug,” she called in exasperation. “That’s too much for a plain coffee.”
He waved a hand over his shoulder. “Put the rest in your tip jar. I need to go to work.”
He heard her groan and had to chuckle. Granted, he’d known Skylar all the way through school, and thought of her like a sister, but he still paid for his coffee, and he would have shoved a couple dollars in there regardless.
*
After the door shut, Chloe stepped out of the back. “He’s pissed.”
Skylar shrugged, her smirk devious. “Sounds like he’s mad at himself.”
“I don’t know. Guess we’ll see when I go over there. If he’ll even let me in.”
“Go to the backdoor. He’ll think it’s a delivery that showed up early.”
“Wish me luck.” Chloe walked out the coffee shop’s door at the same time Doug entered his shop. She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath before hurrying around the building.
Holding her breath, she knocked on the door in the alley.
“Hang on,” Doug shouted.
She waited, wringing her hands.
Finally, the door opened and Doug immediately tried to shut it, but Chloe shoved it open, pushing him back. “Listen first.”
His head jerked to the side. “How’d you find me?”
“Your phone. Which I have right here.” She held it up with an arched brow.
Anger filled his eyes. “Did you open it?”
“No. Your lock screen has your logo.” She handed the phone over. “Wasn’t hard to Google you.”
“Thanks.” He took the phone and shoved it in his pocket. “That it? Are you done with me now?”
“Done?” She shook her head. “I told you, I’m not making the same mistake.”
He took a breath, and let it out. His shoulders slumped as the anger dissipated. “What do you want me to say?”
“That you’ll give me a chance to prove myself.”
“I don’t know, Chloe. I don’t get you. If you’re after my body, there are other men out there. I want something real, and you don’t seem to be there.”
“I don’t seem to be there?” She shoved him. “I’m only after your body?” Another push. “What the hell gave you that impression?”
His chest heaved as he shook his head. “The two minutes of ogling me without a word.” Then he mimicked her voice, “I don’t want to hurt you, just take a ride.” He shook his head, looking up at the ceiling with a snarl. “Seemed you missed what we had, and we only had sex. You never let me in. What the fuck else am I supposed to think?”
“Well, we both know I suck at finding the right words. Yes, I want your body, but only if it comes with your heart. You make me feel like nobody else.”
One brow arched. “Don’t tell me you listen to that My Darkest Days song.”
On repeat, whenever she thought about Doug, which was all the damned time. She shrugged. “Every time I hear ‘Like Nobody Else’ I think of you.”
His scowl slipped into a frown. “You don’t hate me for leaving?”
She sighed, looking into his eyes. “I deserved it.”
“And now?”
“I’ll keep coming back until you let me in.”
A soft smile pulled at his lips. “Promise?”
She nodded.
His fingers delved into her hair as he stared into her eyes. “Tell me it will be different this time. And you better damn well mean it.”
“Different, completely one-hundred-and-eighty degr
ees different. I swear,” she vowed.
His mouth crashed over hers and he backed her into the wall. She felt his passion, his desperation.
The knock on the delivery door made her jump. He stepped back, staring at her as he dropped his hands. “Need to get that. Can you stay? Maybe look around the front of the store and I’ll be there in a few.”
She dipped her head. “I’ll be here.”
*
Doug dealt with the shipment and then stood in the back trying to get his head in order. Did he believe Chloe? He wanted to. Was it enough? Time would tell.
He pushed his fingers through his hair before going to the front. Chloe ran her fingers over his first guitar. It hung behind the counter, on the wall. He still played it from time-to-time. She turned to him with a dreamy smile.
“Still play guitar as well?”
He nodded. “Mike never learned bass and I’ve always enjoyed it. There’s not much I can’t play though. You could say getting to know new instruments is a hobby.”
“I wish I had half your talent.”
“You do, but your talent is in another area. You’re a doctor who graduated from an Ivy League school. No way in hell I could ever manage that.”
A smile pulled at her lips and she walked toward him. “Thanks. Look, I don’t expect you to pledge forever. But I do want an opportunity to prove what I feel.”
“Not like I’ve ever been able to resist you, Chloe.” He looked up at the ceiling for a moment before meeting her amber gaze. “Be careful with my heart. You left it fragile.”
She placed a hand over the beating organ. “Let me mend it.”
“Let’s be real for a moment. We definitely have something, but let’s not put a label on it until we know what.”
Chloe nodded. “Anything else?”
He shrugged. “We’ll see where this goes. I make no promises.”
Her smile gave him hope. Then she asked, “Can I pick you up later? We could go out.”
“Give me your phone number, and I’ll call you when I’m done. I have someone working here in a few hours, but Jared is my morning guy, and he may not be in. I should probably call to check on him.”