by Annie Dean
Watching, Sean felt like he should leave the room. This was a family moment, and as Addie was so fond of pointing out, he was just passing through. When the story was finished, he would get in his Milan and head for the airport. There was a mess waiting for him in Virginia, after all, and if that depressed the hell out of him, it was nobody's business but his own.
"We both have something to make up to Addie,” Manu said quietly. “Sometimes all you can see is your own loss and you aren't there for people who need you."
Reaching blindly, Addie pulled the big man into a three-way hug. Sean turned then and left the kitchen quietly. Aimless wandering carried him out to the covered porch, where he sank down into one of the sling chairs. It was amazing how isolated they were, nothing but open scrubland as far as they eye could see, broken only by telephone lines in the distance. As far as he knew, Lorene was the nearest neighbor and that was measured in miles, not blocks. So different from the condo where he lived.
Maybe fifteen minutes later, Sean waved as Lem pulled out of the garage, fortified with Addie's love and a nice box lunch, he felt sure. As he sat there, brooding, if he was honest with himself, he realized why he was dragging his heels about going back to Virginia. He had fun here, something that had been in short supply for longer than he cared to contemplate.
So fuck it, he told himself. Enjoy yourself and quit worrying.
That notion ran counter to ingrained habits and inclinations, but by the time Addie joined him on the porch, he had the melancholy firmly subdued. Sean offered her a smile and tugged her down onto his lap, anchoring her with his arms around her waist. Liking the way she snuggled in instinctively, he nuzzled against her throat, reveling in the faint oatmeal and honey scent.
"So Pop's gone to Texas,” she said, shaking her head as if she couldn't quite believe it. “If we go anywhere, we'll have to use your car, and as a matter of fact, we need groceries. I haven't been shopping in a while. Plus Manu has a date with Lorene tomorrow night, so we'll need to drop him off unless he asks her to come pick him up instead—what?” Addie narrowed her eyes. “Why are you smiling?"
He hadn't known he was, actually. “You're cute when you're in Troop Leader mode. You just organize the hell out of people, don't you?"
For just a moment she looked abashed, ducking her head against his shoulder. “Yeah, I guess I have a tendency to do that these days. Didn't used to be like that. Anyway. Having privacy tomorrow night will be fabulous,” she added, nuzzling his neck right back. “There are so many things I want to do to you in the pool. I never..."
Manu cleared his throat. “I don't think you want to finish that sentence. Lorene wants to know if you two want to go to the carnival in National City. A truck driver told her there's one running near Carnival Supermarket."
Addie glanced at Sean. “What do you think?"
He grinned and shrugged. “I'll sound like a cranky old bastard if I say those rides are unsafe. So let's go eat junk food and make out on the Ferris Wheel. When we get tired of it, we can do the grocery shopping."
"Sweet! Just let me get changed.” She bounded off his lap and headed for the door, and he knew better than to ask what was wrong with what she had on.
The other man put the phone to his ear as he sank down into one of the sling chairs. “Addie says it sounds fun. But Lem's gone with the truck...” That seemed to derail the conversation, and he listened as Manu brought Lorene up to date. “No, I swear,” he added when her response must have sounded dubious. “Anyway, you can pick us up or we can come get you. Are you at the Kwik-Stop?” He covered the phone with his palm, glancing at Sean. “Do you mind driving? Her backseat is kind of small."
"No, it's fine. I'll need someone to navigate, though."
"No problem."
Half an hour later, Addie came out freshly showered and dressed in low-slung khaki pants and a white shirt trimmed with red ribbon along the shoulders. Her shiny dark hair bounced in the ponytail he liked so well, cute and casual, and she'd put on a pair of small gold hoop earrings. They matched the gold wedge sandals on her feet; somehow she'd even managed to paint her nails and toes to match the trim on her blouse.
"You look beautiful."
"Thanks."
Obviously pleased, she bounced a little as she tugged him to his feet. Glancing down at himself, he realized what she'd done. In typical guy fashion, he was wearing a pair of rumpled khaki shorts and a white t-shirt with Cornell written on the chest in red letters. Manu's concession to going out in public was to stuff his wide feet into leather sandals, although Sean had to admit he liked the pattern on the lavalava today—a mix of buttercups and daisies in a grassy field.
As they headed for his Milan, he said, low, “You wanted us to look like a couple."
"Yeah,” she answered. “For today, I want there to be no doubt you're mine."
He felt those words like a shot in the heart. Since he couldn't think of anything to say, he drove to the Kwik-Stop in silence, where Lorene was waiting out front. “This is going to be so much fun!” she bubbled as she crawled in back.
"I hope they don't have teacups,” Manu said as he tucked the blonde beneath his arm. “I get so sick on those."
For some reason, that struck him as funny. “No teacups. Check."
Addie was giving directions when her cell phone rang and she hissed at everyone to be quiet, even clicked off the radio. Interesting. This would be the first time he'd actually heard her take an alibi call. Too bad he couldn't make notes, but as he was driving, he'd just have to hope memory would serve.
"Thanks for calling the...” Mumbling so he couldn't make out the word, she went on, “...Hotel and Conference Center, how may I direct your call?” She paused and then said, “Let me connect you to his room, please hold.” After mashing the mute button, she dug through her bag for her address book. “Terry,” she muttered, flipping pages. Then she went back on the line: “I'm sorry, he's not answering. He's probably still at the wellness seminar. Can I leave a message? Excellent."
Just that slick, she disconnected and starting tapping away on her cell phone, sending a text message to the cheating bastard, he knew. While this was no news to Manu, Sean glanced into the rear view to see how Lorene was taking it. Addie's blonde friend sat there, eyes wide with what he took to be surprise.
"I thought you were selling on eBay!” Lorene said finally. “This ... this is big!"
"Tell me about it,” Addie answered, sounded glum. “Sheriff Menlow contacted me through the website, using his actual work e-mail as point of contact, if you can imagine anyone being so dumb."
Her friend sounded incensed, and he felt her fist against the back of his seat. “He's cheating on Gail? Why, that no-good rat bastard!"
Addie sighed. “Guess so, but he's not content to grab a quickie now and then. He wants the full overnight experience."
"Ya want I should have a talk with him?” Manu's impression of Goodfella Number One surprised a laugh out of Sean.
He was so interested in the gossip about people he didn't even know—or had met only in passing—he almost missed the turn to the highway. So he made that, ignoring the complaints from the backseat, then asked, “Have I met her? Was she at the party?"
Beside him, Addie nodded. “She was the round, brown-haired lady who won the limbo contest."
"Seems to me,” Sean said thoughtfully, “if I had a wife at home who could bend like that, I wouldn't see a need to go anywhere else. Ow!” He rubbed the arm where both women had swatted him.
After a judicious pause, Manu added, “He has a point."
"What're you going to do?” Lorene asked. “You can't alibi him."
Shifting so she could see into the backseat, Addie rested her chin on her forearm. “That's my job."
"Well, your job sucks!"
Sean suspected everyone in the car was in complete agreement on that point. The car got really quiet after that, just the sound of the tires on the road and the wind rushing outside. Addie turned her face to
the window, and he rested his free hand on the back of her neck, rubbing gently at the knots he felt. He could only imagine the conflict of conscience she must be experiencing right now.
The festival was in full swing when they arrived, the smell of peanuts, popcorn and cotton candy as well as other smells, meat grease and fried dough, sugar and cinnamon from the Elephant Ears, permeating the air. He saw a Ferris wheel and a few other rides, tons of games, where you could allegedly win prizes. Hawkers sounded off, trying to con someone into stopping. It was a perfect day for a festival—the azure sky dotted with high cottony clouds. It was a cheap little traveling carnival, nothing special, but when Addie slipped her hand into his, he thought there was no place he'd rather be.
"We'll meet by the Octopus at ten,” Addie decided. “Or if you guys want to leave before then, just text me. You have your phone, right?"
"I'd go without panties before I'd forgo my phone,” Lorene said with a sniff.
"I know you, sweetie, and that's not saying much."
"Whatever.” Her friend threw up a palm, but as she grabbed Manu and led him away, he couldn't help notice Lorene didn't have any panty lines.
Addie was smiling when he turned to her. “So what do you want first? Junk food or to make out on the Ferris wheel?"
She appeared to consider. “Well, I might get queasy if the seat rocks while we're up there and I'm loaded up with sweets."
The idea of her tossing cookies all over him sounded about as romantic as an enema. “Let's eat later, then."
"That sounds good.” Addie's smile widened into a teasing grin and her green-gold eyes sparkled. “If I want you to win me a giant purple unicorn by knocking over the milk bottles at that...” she pointed, “—game, would you do it for me?"
For a moment, he gazed into her upturned face and thought about broken glass, wanting to prove something to her. He just didn't know what. God, she was pretty.
"Honey,” he drawled, “consider that unicorn yours. I don't like to brag, but you're looking at the former starting pitcher for the Sharpeville Badgers. Four years running."
"Oooh.” She laughed softly. “I had no idea I was sleeping with a celebrity. Will you sign my boobs later?"
Sean sealed a kiss onto her saucy upturned mouth. “Yep. But not with ink."
This was going to be a great night.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Addie set the purple unicorn on her dresser, making adjustments until it sat level. What a fantastic night. He'd spent almost twenty bucks, trying to win that thing for her. They'd kissed on the Ferris wheel and eaten tons of junk food, and then they did the grocery shopping together, beginning with cart races and ending with a hot kiss in the produce aisle.
That left a funny feeling in her tummy, tight and achy, because it gave her a glimpse of what life might have been like. Sometimes it wasn't only a matter of meeting the right person; timing was crucial as well. With a sigh, she shook off the mood, simply wanting to enjoy herself while she could. She brushed her teeth and moisturized with apple-pear body lotion, wanting her skin to feel good.
Before heading to the Grail, they'd dropped Manu and Lorene off, and then came home to an empty house to put away the food together. That was another first. Addie couldn't remember the last time she'd been alone—or she would've been, if Sean weren't around. Now the privacy whispered with other possibilities. It was a mild night, warm and clear, and she wondered whether she could talk him into getting naked in the pool.
When she came out of her room barefoot, she found him standing on the patio, gazing at the night sky. The tiles still felt a little warm against the soles of her feet as she crossed to him, but the breeze held a chill now that sun had gone down. It was late, and she should be tired, but instead she percolated with anticipation.
Creeping up behind him, she slid her palms across his eyes. “Guess who?"
"Kathleen Turner.” He turned into her arms without trying to dislodge them.
"Cute."
"I certainly think so.” But he was gazing down at her when he said it and followed it up with a kiss that curled her toes.
Addie leaned into him, marveling at his warmth, the way she fit against his chest as if they'd been carved from the same piece. “Did you enjoy today?"
His mouth did interesting things to her throat; her head fell back as desire slicked her pussy. “Mmm. Yes. God, you smell great.” As a shiver rolled through her, furling her nipples, she broke his hold on her and stepped back. Her shirt came off in a smooth motion and she dropped it at their feet. Sean studied her in the moonlight and then murmured in a wondering voice, “It's not my birthday, is it? Christmas?"
"Take off your pants,” she said, low. “And I'll make you feel like it's both."
"You're such a sweet talker.” He sounded shaky, but she noticed he didn't hesitate to start stripping. “I don't know if I've ever been naked outside before."
"There's a first time for everything."
"Thank God.” His voice was fervent as she took his hand and led him toward the pool, sparkling with starlight.
"It'll be a little cold at first,” she warned him. “But it'll warm up fast."
"The way I feel, it'll evaporate to steam when I get in."
As she'd predicted, the water offered a chilling shock, but he brought her into his arms before they reached the floor. Hot flesh and cool water—the contrast kept her nipples hard, and she brushed them back and forth against his chest, a calculated tease. Sean lifted her, probably intending to taste the breasts she was tormenting him with, but the extra buoyancy from the water sent her soaring, almost like a ballerina.
Before she could drop, she wrapped her thighs around his hips, and he supported her with his hands on her butt. His skin felt cool beneath her mouth as she licked and nibbled down his throat. This position let her taste him from chin to chest and she took full advantage as he staggered back against the cement wall. It was intoxicating to know she could make a strong man weak in the knees.
She nipped lightly at his pectoral muscle, surprising a moan out of him. He worked her against him, rubbing, testing, squeezing her ass cheeks, and the delicious pressure built, simmering in her clit. Orgasm would be so easy, if she shifted a little lower. A little friction and she would come all over him. But not yet, not just yet.
He nudged her head a little, so that her lips fastened on his right nipple. Addie felt a slight shimmer of surprise as he sucked in a sharp breath. Oh, he likes that. And she tested him with teeth and tongue, listening to his barely coherent responses and feeling his cock grow impossibly harder between her thighs. Seeming helpless to resist, he pushed his erection back and forth between her lips.
"Touch me.” Trembling, he guided her hand down. “Please, Addie."
Graceful in the water, she curled her fingers around him and squeezed, watching his face go tight with pleasure. His lashes fluttered in damp, sexy spikes against his cheeks as she stroked him, slow and deliberate. “Like that?"
"Yes,” he said hoarsely. “Exactly like that."
She didn't want to make him come in the water, so she ignored his moan of protest when she wrapped both arms around his neck. Loving the sensation of literally balancing on his cock, she tightened her thighs, pressing against him tighter. Bigger than her, stronger—at any time, he could pin her up against the pool wall. Instead he submitted to her, cock jerking beneath her, and it ratcheted her excitement to almost unbearable levels.
"Mmm,” she whispered into his skin.
Beneath her tongue, he tasted of springtime, thunderstorms made flesh, wrapped in sinew and strength. Addie lost herself as she writhed against him, cradled against his body, buoyed up by the water. She layered kisses on his throat and shoulders, teased his nipples until he shuddered. Tugging with her teeth, she flicked at his left with her tongue, a wicked rasp of hot velvet that made him arch.
"Oh Christ, Addie,” he bit out, his face sharp with lust.
Sean snapped, spinning with her to drive his cock in
to her in a single, glorious motion. Incredible heat. The world went blurry-vague and star-kissed beyond the boundary of his shoulders. He thrust and she clung, her mouth seeking his in a kiss that demanded more than she'd known she wanted. Sleek, hot tongue; she sucked, he tasted, and they ground together, urgent, waves building with their motion, wetting the cement. He had such a wicked, wild, wonderful mouth. Never made love in the water before, she mused, before he stole her last coherent thought.
And then they were simply two bodies straining toward perfect unison, hearts thudding in synch. He kissed her again and again, delving her mouth as if she tasted of forbidden, exotic delights. As she fell back, clenched and came, her nails dug into his shoulders, heels into the small of his back. He pushed longer, harder, faster, but Addie could only make encouraging noises as he went rigid, her hands clumsy with satiation.
"I can't feel my legs,” she told him when she caught her breath enough to get the words out.
Hands gentle on her cool skin, Sean stroked her back and she gave a little shiver. It felt as though every nerve in her body lay right on the surface at the moment. Her arms tightened on him, knees clinging in the reverse piggyback. When she forced her eyes open, Addie saw how the moon granted him corona of pure white light, and she shivered, oddly full of foreboding, as if she'd touched someone too beautiful to be real. Despite his heat and solidity, he might melt away, leaving her looking for his selkie skin.
"Me either. I hope it's temporary.” He grinned, looking so odiously self-satisfied that she wanted to protest, except she felt more or less the same way. For some reason, that smile dispelled her vague unease, though she didn't let go. She nuzzled, tasted, liking the way his breath caught.
"Addie, we didn't..."
"It's all right,” she whispered. “I'm clean. And I can't conceive.” She bit her lip before going on, “But I can get a checkup if you're worried."
