Stripped Down

by Erin McCarthy

  “Oh, yeah,” he said. That song took him right back to high school and pep rallies and lusting after Sloane. “Bring it.”

  On the beat, she whirled back around and bent over, swinging her head so that her hair went flying. She remembered the dance routine. She actually fucking remembered it and she was hitting every move. Every rock and arm motion, a sultry expression on her face. He sat there and got hard as fuck watching her. What made him actually swear out loud though was when she did a kick and he saw right up under that tiny skirt.

  No panties.

  He saw everything she had for one brief amazing moment before her leg came back down. She moved closer to him with some kind of cheerleader voodoo that had her moving her arms and legs in a way that propelled her forward. He didn’t know what any of it was called, just that it was destroying his ability to form words.

  When the music came to an end, and she turned and stomped off, shooting him an arrogant look over her shoulder, he clapped. It was a performance worthy of applause. “Babe, you killed it. That was fucking hot.”

  She turned and dropped the smoldering expression. She started laughing, a little breathless. “That was fun, I admit it. Maybe I should start going to dance classes as a hobby.”

  “I’ll pay for them,” he said. “Especially if they’re pole dancing classes.”

  Pulling a face, she came over and stood over him, placing both palms on his chest. “You’re very bad.”

  “Says the girl not wearing panties.” He put his hands under her skirt, cupping her tight little ass. “See? Bare as the day you were born.” He squeezed that tender flesh and she gave a soft cry of surprise and pleasure. “Stand up, Sloane. I need my pants off yesterday.”

  She stood back up and gave him a pout. It wasn’t a very Sloane expression and he drew her back to him and kissed her, sinking his teeth into her bottom lip. She gasped.

  “No pouting,” he murmured against her mouth. “I’m going to make you very happy in about sixty seconds.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “I’m not sure I can get this top off all that easily. I may need your help.”

  Rick shook his head. “Oh, the top is staying on. That’s part of the fun.”

  Sloane laughed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. We’re ridiculous.”

  “No. We’re awesome.” Instantly that sounded a little too much like they were a couple, but Rick covered it by peeling his T-shirt off. That way he didn’t have to make eye contact. He didn’t want to come across as wanting more from Sloane than she could give.

  Dropping his shirt, he tugged her hand. “Over here.” He pulled her to the end of her couch. “Turn around.” He pushed on her back, so that she bent over. Her ass rose enticingly in that tiny skirt. The bottom of her cheeks peeked out from under the fabric.

  She splayed her palms on the arm of the couch and glanced back at him. “Oh, I see where this is going.”

  “Yep. And I’m going to pull your hair too, while I’m fucking you.” Rick reached under her skirt and eased a finger between her thighs and drove it deep into her pussy. “Look what I found.”

  “What?” she breathed, arching her back and shifting her legs open even further.

  “A wet, sweet pussy.”

  “Imagine that.”

  He eased in and out of her, moistening up her clit with her own slickness, listening to her breathing change, grow deeper, more frantic. When she came it seemed to shock her. She moaned.

  “What the hell?” she asked. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  He drew his hand down over all that thick hair and gave a soft laugh. “The point is to do that.”

  “But not so soon.”

  “I’ll give you another one. Don’t worry.”

  First, though, he was going to prep her for something he wanted to try later. Not today, but he had to start somewhere. And he refused to think about the fact that he was assuming there would be a “later.”

  Nope.

  Not going there in his head.

  So instead he took his slicked-up index finger and he teased it into Sloane’s ass.

  She jerked but then gave a small cry. “Oh, my. Oh, wait… oh, Rick, that’s not bad at all.”

  “Good. This is just a little practice for another day. We’ll get there in stages. Because now that it’s in my head, I can’t let it go.”

  “It’s very different but interesting.” She was gripping the couch tightly.

  Rick pulled her skirt up so he could have a full view of her sweet ass. “Are you ready for my cock in your pussy?”

  She nodded. “Yes. So ready.”

  Rick shoved his jeans down and took one for the team.

  Twelve

  Sloane had never felt sexier in her entire life.

  Which was insane. She was in a cheerleading uniform.

  As Rick kicked her legs further apart and slid inside her, she groaned. “Oh, damn, that feels good.”

  Being with Rick felt freeing. Like she could just totally let go and have fun. Noting was awkward or off-limits. He’d found her dance hot instead of ridiculous and she had felt good doing it. Thirty and she still remembered that routine.

  His rhythm started out slow, then he really went at her hard. She was shocked by how fantastic that felt. Her entire body tingled with sexual tension and she leaned further so that she wouldn’t shift. The slap of him pushing inside her was better when she was immobile. She liked it hard and deep, who knew? Not her, that was for damn sure.

  “Sloane.”

  “Yes?” Her eyes were half closed and she was starting to feel frantic. As desperate as the rhythm he was using to drive into her. Dancing for him had gotten her wound up, then the shocking feel of him teasing into her ass had driven her wild. There was just something about knowing he had yanked her into uncharted territory that was sensual beyond anything she’d ever experienced.

  It made her wonder what heights of desire they could reach together.

  If they were together.

  “Scream my name. Let me hear how much you like being fucked.”

  She hesitated. She wanted to but she had never done that. Never let go that much and screamed out her pleasure. She didn’t scream out about anything. She kept everything in, nice and tight.

  Rick’s callused fingers entwined in her hair and he yanked it back. “Oh, damn!” she said. Not because it hurt but because the sharp sting was unexpectedly arousing.

  “Scream, baby. I want you to scream.”

  Sloane closed her eyes and blocked out everything but the way Rick was making her feel. The way he was taking her so hard, and filling her so completely. And as she tipped over into an orgasm, she finally fully let go. Her voice rose, like her orgasm, keening and urgent and excited as she screamed his name over and over.

  “That’s it, beautiful. So fucking perfect.”

  Rick yanked her hair again, bringing tears to her eyes, as he exploded with her.

  It was vibrant and electric and it felt Rick had kicked down the boarded up walls around her and let her out. This was her. The real Sloane. The woman who liked sex and laughter and a dirty joke.

  As they both found their release and Rick slowed to a stop, Sloane lowered her voice. Her throat was hoarse from yelling and she became aware that her hips were being crushed by the piping on the couch. But she was boneless and satisfied. Drawing in a shuddery breath, she said, “How was that? You finally nailed a cheerleader.”

  “It was like the Stanley Cup and the Super Bowl all wrapped up in one.” Rick exhaled, and eased out of her. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  That made her laugh. “The pleasure was all mine.”

  Rick helped her up and flipped her skirt back down. He was tipping his head to kiss her when they both heard it. The door downstairs open and River running up the stairs, chattering away.

  “Shit,” Rick muttered. “That’s the end of my fun for tonight.”

 
“I want to check on Kate,” River said loudly.

  Now it was Sloane’s turn to swear. “Shit, she’s going to knock on the door any second and I’m in a cheerleading uniform.” She bolted to her bedroom, abandoning Rick to his own devices.

  “Really?” he called after her.

  Her response was to slam the door shut. She would die if River and Ralph saw her role playing with Rick. It would be mortifying. Absolutely mortifying. She pulled on panties under the skirt, then sweat pants. Unzipping the skirt and shoving it down over the sweats she heard Rick using the kitchen sink, then opening the front door.

  “Hey, kiddo,” he said, sounding like a birthday clown. Manic and creepy over-the-top cheerful.

  “What are you doing at Sloane’s?” River asked, sounding super suspicious.

  Grappling with the top, Sloane tried to tug it off. “Damn, it’s stuck.” She was sweating bullets and smelled like sex and now she was stuck in this thing. Not trusting Rick to stay discreet she yanked again, arms over her head and crossed in an effort to try to pull it up. Nothing budged.

  Giving up, she dragged out a sweatshirt. She yanked in on over the top, her hair going in all directions. She was burning up, but it would do for now.

  Rushing out into her living room she waved. “Hey, guys!” Great, now she sounded like she’d been sucking helium. “How was dinner?”

  “Fine. Where’s Kate?”

  “She’s in your apartment. Rick was helping me hang some pictures and I didn’t want her to get scared. You know, all that drilling.”

  Rick’s head whipped around and he coughed into his hand, amusement flashing in his eyes. “Lots of drilling.”

  “Oh. I’ll go get her,” River said.

  Fortunately she didn’t look like she thought that explanation was stupid, which it was. Rick’s father was a different story.

  “Too soon after your divorce, huh?” he said, grinning. He gave her a wink, which looked a lot like Rick. “Sorry we’re home so early. The kid was worried about the dog.”

  “It’s fine,” she said, adjusting her sweatshirt. The damn uniform top felt like she was wearing a seaweed wrap. Moist and tight.

  “Not really,” Rick said. “But five minutes sooner would have been much worse.”

  If she had been wearing a shoe she would have thrown it at him. He was all but admitting they’d had sex. It was probably pretty obvious but he didn’t need to confirm it. But there was no time to chew him out because River came running in with Kate, who was leaping up and down excitedly.

  “I’m so glad she’s okay!” River said, sounding like she’d eaten a bowl of sugar for dinner. Or three cans of Mountain Dew. “Bye, Sloane!” She grabbed Rick by the arm. “Come on. I want to show you the new iPhone Dad got me.”

  Rick’s smile fell off his face. “You bought her an iPhone? You could have checked with me first, you know. She’s nine and on electronics too much already.”

  “She’s my daughter. I don’t need your permission.”

  Uh-oh.

  Rick said, “We’ll talk about this later,” in a tight voice. Then he turned and said, “Goodnight, Sloane. Talk to you soon.”

  “Goodnight,” she said, weakly.

  They all disappeared across the hall and she sank down onto her couch, dew on the back of her neck from overheating. That was a lackluster ending to a fantastic night. “Come here, Kate,” she said. “I am so happy to see you and I really need your cuddles now.”

  Kate jumped up beside her and nuzzled her head under Sloane’s hand. She called Maribeth. “Thanks for covering for Rick,” she said after their hellos. “What did Tom do?”

  “Tom concluded Rick was a Good Samaritan trying to help. He thinks she got out when the lawn maintenance crew showed up to spray.”

  “Oh, good. So is he looking for her?” She pulled Kate in closer, like Tom was going to appear out of nowhere and snag her.

  “No. He actually said ‘good riddance.’ I wanted to punch him, but restrained myself since you have Kate safe and sound.”

  The idea of what might have happened to Kate made her sick. She hadn’t thought Tom capable of such cruelty. If she had followed legal channels and waited for her attorney, what would the outcome have been? “Thanks, Maribeth.”

  “Okay, now let’s talk about the hottie. Are you having sex with that man? Because if you are, I am so jealous of you. If you aren’t, why the actual hell not?”

  Sloane hesitated. But then she spilled, because she couldn’t tell anyone in Beaver Bend. “Yes, I am, and holy moly, it’s amazing.”

  “Well, duh. I mean, his muscles have muscles. Please tell me he’s thrown you against a wall.”

  “No. But we had sex on his motorcycle.”

  Maribeth whimpered. “Stop. That is just… wow. So are you dating or doing the dirty?”

  “Just doing the dirty.” She sighed. “I’ve known him since high school. We kissed in a bathroom at a party once.”

  “Sloane, watch yourself. You’re in a vulnerable state right now and the man drove several hours to rescue your dog. Be guarded.”

  That was the problem. She’d spent her whole life being guarded. “He’s my brother’s best friend,” she said, which was not really a response. “We’re sneaking around so Sullivan doesn’t find out.”

  “Oh, sweetie,” Maribeth said. “Too late. You’re already falling for him. I can hear it in your voice.”

  She was but she resented that it was that obvious. “I just said it was a secret! How is that indicative of deep emotion?”

  “If it was just a hookup you wouldn’t care what your brother thinks. You’ve known in your heart since the beginning you might want more.”

  Her friend’s voice was gentle and full of the wisdom of an older woman. Sloane realized not for the first time, this was what it might have been like growing up with a mother. “I don’t see how that’s possible,” she murmured “We called him Little Dickie in high school.”

  “Dickie or not, be honest with yourself.”

  “Yeah, sure. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Tonight she needed to put a cold compress on her aching head and reevaluate her entire life.

  “Sure, sweetie. Take care.”

  Sloane ended the call and turned to her dog. “Kate, we have a problem.”

  Her dog gave a soft woof.

  “I think I might be falling for Rick. It’s either that or I’m so used to bad sex I’ve confused myself what the difference between love and lust is.”

  Kate barked.

  “Yeah, that’s what I think too. Any man who raises his sister and rescues a dog is worth falling in love with. I mean, I always like Rick, as a person. And seeing him now, the way he lives his life, I think…” That they were perfect for each other. She couldn’t bring herself to say that out loud.

  Because her brother would lose his shit.

  And Rick was a perpetual bachelor.

  And she had a history of attaching too soon.

  “Oh, my God, I feel like I’m burning up from the inside out.” She felt feverish and frantic as she yanked off her sweatshirt. “I wish you had thumbs. I think I’m going to have to cut myself out of this top.”

  But at the same time she was reluctant to trash the top so after much twisting and turning and tugging she got it up to her neck. It was rolled like a burrito, but she was able to shove it completely off. She exhaled and breathed a sigh of relief as cool air washed over her hot skin.

  She sat on her couch topless, petting her dog, and wondering what on earth she was supposed to do now.

  * * *

  Rick followed his father and River into his apartment but then he told River immediately, “Go take a shower and get ready for bed.” He wanted to talk to Ralph.

  She made a face. “It’s eight o’clock.”

  “You can read in bed.”

  River dragged her feet but she went into her room. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to hold on to his patience. “Dad, you can’t just buy stuff for River without t
alking to me about it. Something like an iPhone means I have to monitor her activity on it, apps, social media. It’s a whole can of worms that you just dumped in my lap.”

  His father shrugged. “What’s the big deal? Every kid has a phone now. Didn’t you want a phone when you were in high school?”

  Rick wanted to point out high school and the fourth grade were two completely different things but that would get him nowhere. “Can you just show me the respect to run it past me? My whole life you’ve never respected me.”

  “Oh, here we go. Now we’re going to drag the past into this. You didn’t have a bad life, so don’t go acting all high and mighty.”

  His patience was quickly eroding. “We had to wash dishes in the bathroom because you had too much crap in the kitchen sink. We couldn’t use the stove because you had boxes on it to the ceiling. My cat disappeared and we found his skeleton three years later under a mountain of old magazines that fell on him. My childhood wasn’t stellar, and that is why River lives with me.” It was just so frustrating to deal with his old man because he never took responsibility. “But that’s not even the point. None of it is the damn point. The point is, I’m raising your daughter. I am. That’s the reality and I’m happy to do it. I love that kid with all my heart. But don’t make it harder for me by not respecting those boundaries.”

  It wasn’t often he threw reality right at Ralph. His father sniffled, shifted his lips, crammed his hands in his pockets. Finally he said, “Yeah, all right. Whatever you say, kiddo.”

  Not exactly an admission of guilt or an apology but he’d take it. “Thanks.”

  “I’m heading out.” His father headed for the door.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” Rick looked across the hallway to Sloane’s apartment door, willing it to open. He hated how they had been interrupted. He hadn’t even gotten to give her a goodnight kiss.

  What the hell were they doing? He’d talked about his mother with her. About his frustration with his father. She’d talked about her marriage. Not a lot, but he had a feeling they were both sharing more than they ever did with other people. This was no longer a teen fantasy for him. This was a friendship growing and developing and becoming something much, much more. Only he had no fucking clue how to handle that. Sure, Sloane was opening up to him. But he’d spent most of his adult life having women want him for the outside package, not nearly caring all that much who he was on the inside.