“I know.” He speared the last piece of T-bone with his fork and shrugged. “Apparently, the owners already bought a condo in Denver to be near their new granddaughter and are eager to move.”
“Ah, that’s sweet.”
So was she, as well as her now empty plate.
It was damn sexy to see a woman polish off eight ounces of prime rib. Most of the women he’d dated had eaten salads. Not that he had anything against salads. He just appreciated Lori’s lack of inhibitions when it came to her…appetites.
She inhaled and set her fork on the table. “Whatever it is you’re thinking…hold that thought.” She flagged down the server for the check and told them to box the chocolate lava cake.
Fighting a grin, he cocked his head. “You don’t want to eat your dessert here?”
A wicked gleam entered her eyes. “Pretty sure we’d both get arrested if I ate the dessert I’m hungry for…”
Heat shot straight to his groin. “Damn.”
When the server returned, Lori grabbed the check and paid before he had the chance. “My treat.”
He couldn’t stop the grin from crossing his lips. “Not yet, but you will be.”
Color flushed her cheeks and heat entered her eyes, and something in his chest squeezed tight. Her beauty stole his breath.
RJ rose to his feet and held out a hand to her. “Ready?”
She placed her hand in his and grinned. “More than you know…”
Damn…she didn’t play fair.
And he was about to tug her close when a group of people approached.
“Oh my God. It is you,” a teenager with dark hair in a ponytail gushed, her face bright with excitement.
“Yeah!” Another squealed, blonde hair also pulled back like her friend…and Lori. “You’re the one on TV.”
Even a man crowded close, tablet in hand. “Which one are you? Loni or Lori?”
“Lori.” She chuckled, signing away, her body a hell of lot more relaxed than RJ’s. He’d been a half second away from decking the guy.
Damn, he needed to calm down. This wasn’t enemy territory, it was just a few eager fans.
“Oh my God. Lori! You’re the artist and so talented. That life-sized Marie Antoinette cake you sculpted was my favorite!”
“Me, too.”
More tablets and pens were shoved at them.
“Oh, can we have pictures, too?”
The next seven minutes, RJ played photographer-bodyguard, as he obliged the fans while keeping an eye out for weapons.
After what seemed like hours, he finally opened his door and whisked Lori inside. Even though he’d made sure they weren’t followed, he stuck his head out and glanced around one last time.
“Sorry about that.” Lori set the dessert takeout bag on the island and turned to face him. “Believe it or not, Loni gets it a lot worse.”
He shook his head. “Bless Dean.”
His buddy had to be going out of his mind with worry, especially with Loni’s vision issues.
“Indeed.” She sighed. “But he knew what he signed up for when Loni discussed the show with him.”
RJ nodded, moving his living room curtain aside to get a better look. He thought he’d seen movement, but after several seconds went by with no sign of anyone on their dead-end street, he let the curtain fall back into place.
Christ, was he always going to be this paranoid?
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “Look, I’d understand if this was too much for you. I mean, the fans and paparazzi can be a little daunting at times, not to mention the film crew in your face.”
“Hey, it’s fine.” He moved close and cupped her face, not at all liking where this conversation was heading. “I’m not going anywhere. Don’t you worry about me. I’ll always have your back.”
A sheen of tears filled her gaze as she set her hands on his chest. “I don’t deserve you.”
“You deserve better.”
She slid her hands around his neck and lifted up on tiptoe. “There isn’t any better,” she murmured, her lips brushing his with each word spoken before kissing him full on.
RJ crushed her close, encouraged by her words, wanting all of her and to give her all in return.
He also wanted her on the couch. Naked. And screaming his name.
“Wait.” She broke the kiss and arched a brow. “Maybe we should eat that dessert first. Lava cake is best served hot.”
“It’s one of my favorite desserts, but I’d much rather have a hot Lori.”
She choked on a laugh. “Is that right?” She pressed closer. “Mmm…tell me more.”
“I’d much rather show you,” he said, backing her up until the back of her knees hit the couch, and she fell onto the cushions.
“I— ”
RJ followed her down, swallowing her words with his tongue, covering her sweet body completely with his. God, he loved how she felt, all warm and soft and trembling. She thrust her hands into his hair and brushed the back of his neck with her fingers, sending goose bumps down his shoulders and spine.
He groaned and ground into her, eliciting a sweet, sexy moan that heated his blood. Her hands left his hair and skimmed his back before she grabbed his ass and pressed up into him.
Ah, hell, yeah…
She was definitely on the same page as him. He broke the kiss and lifted up just enough to yank her top over her head. Air funneled into his lungs at the sight of her black, lacy bra barely containing her generous breasts. So gorgeous. He dipped down to kiss her cleavage, and her hands returned to his head as he pulled the lace aside and sucked a beaded nipple into his mouth.
“Yes…” Her breaths were shallow and ragged.
Her body was that molten lava-hot he loved. He needed to touch her. All of her.
Now.
RJ slid his hand under her skirt and shifted his weight so he could push the silky material up to her hips. Releasing her nipple, he glanced down, his erection throbbing at the sight of her matching lace thong.
Fuck…she’d had that on at the restaurant?
“Don’t stop,” she begged, pulling his head back down to her chest.
More than happy to comply, he kissed and licked his way to her other nipple and pressed the stiff peak to the roof of his mouth with his tongue. Lori moaned and arched into him, filling his mouth with more of her soft curves. So soft.
He trailed his fingers down her quivering belly to brush over her sexy lace panties…finding them wet.
A low, hungry groan filled the cottage, and it took RJ a moment to realize the sound had come from him. He didn’t care. He slid his fingers under the thong and stroked her slick heat, lost in the softness of the sexy woman writhing beneath him.
“RJ? Lori?”
A loud pounding shook the door and had RJ on his feet and pivoting around before his eyes had a chance to focus.
Jesus…
What was Dean’s problem?
Lori was on her feet, pulling her shirt over her head, tucking things in as he headed for the door. When he was certain she was covered, he unlocked the door and yanked it open.
“Oh, thank God you’re both in here,” Dean said, Loni pushing past him to pull Lori in for a hug.
But RJ barely registered them as his mind focused on the site of Lori’s cottage engulfed in flames.
Chapter Ten
Flames shot from the windows and licked at the roof on all visible sides.
RJ’s heart was lodged in his throat. Lori’s cottage was fully engulfed.
How the hell could it have gone up so quickly?
He glanced at his watch. They’d left the restaurant fifteen minutes ago.
“You okay?” Dean set a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
“Yeah.” He nodded as a firetruck pulled up to a nearby hydrant, with a tanker and ambulance arriving next.
Firefighters emerged from several vehicles at once.
“Pull the two and a half and hit the house!” the one in charged called out, and a flurry of activity ensued.
Gabe arrived, blocking the street with his vehicle. RJ watched the sheriff jump out and speak to a deputy before rushing down the sidewalk toward him. “Is Lori with you?”
“Yes.” RJ pointed inside his open doorway where she stood, watching the flames with her sister’s arm around her shoulder.
He wanted to hold her but refrained, not wanting to disturb the twins.
“Thank Christ.” Gabe nodded, relief easing the lines around his mouth. “Tanner!” he called toward the street.
The firefighter in charge strode over. “Yeah, Sheriff?”
“It’s empty. Lori’s over here.”
Tanner’s shoulders drooped slightly in relief. “Roger that.” The guy rushed back to the street, barking more orders, “Structure’s clear. Damage is too extensive. It can’t be saved. Let’s make sure the fire doesn’t spread.”
As firefighters positioned lines around the house and hit it from all sides, RJ spoke his concern to Gabe, “We were only at my place around fifteen minutes when Dean was knocking on my door. Her cottage was fine when we arrived. We weren’t even aware of the fire. It seems like it went up real fast.”
“And…?” Gabe frowned. “What aren’t you saying?”
RJ glanced to make sure they were far enough away so the girls couldn’t hear. “Might be nothing, but from the corner of my eye, I thought I saw something move over at her place when we got here. I watched for a minute or two, but nothing happened.”
Gabe’s brow lifted. “And you’re sure you were only in your place fifteen minutes?”
“Yeah, probably less.” He wiped his face. The heat was so intense, sweat beaded across their foreheads. “I know we left Tex Pub at eighteen-twenty-nine because I glanced at my watch once Lori finished signing autographs and posing for pictures.”
He’d been impatient, wanting to get her back to his place.
Christ. Thank God they’d gone to his place and not hers…
Gabe narrowed his eyes. “Do you think any of those people followed you?”
Dean snorted. “Seriously?”
RJ let a smile tug his mouth. “I always keep a close eye on our perimeter,” he replied. “Training is too ingrained.”
Gabe smirked. “Roger that.”
He blew out a breath. “Besides, if someone had followed her, why torch her place? They would’ve known she was at my cottage and torched it instead.”
“Then maybe it’s just a fluke that it went up so fast,” Gabe said. “It could just be an accident.”
RJ nodded, but regardless of the cause of the fire, his stomach was knotted anyway. And the arrival of the damn film crew tightened the knot. At least more deputies had arrived and were currently keeping the crowd at bay.
A distinct cracking sound could be heard over the roar and crackle of fire, and a second later, the roof caved in, sending debris into the smoke-filled air before settling back down into the inferno.
He heard two gasps behind him and turned to walk back to Lori, unable to keep his distance from her any longer. Dean fell into step with him and pulled Loni close.
Doing his best to hold onto his control, RJ opened his arms and closed his eyes when Lori slid her arms around him and squeezed tight. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
She nodded but didn’t loosen her hold. He met Dean’s gaze over her head and motioned with his eyes toward his open door.
Lori could be in danger. He didn’t want her outside.
His buddy nodded, and together they ushered the girls inside then shut the door.
“Anyone want water?” he asked.
Lori nodded, but again, didn’t loosen her grasp.
Her sister stepped out of Dean’s arms and headed for the fridge. “I’ll get it.”
They spent the next half hour finishing their water and depleting the chocolate lava cake. Even Lori ate some…while leaning against him. Which was fine by RJ. He wasn’t ready to release her. Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
Christ, she could’ve been killed tonight…
That thought wouldn’t leave his head.
His hand shook as he lifted the bottle to his mouth and finished the last of his water.
“I think the camera crew got their marching papers from Gabe,” Dean said, turning away from the window. “You ready to go, Loni?”
She glanced at Lori, who was still glued to RJ’s side. “Yeah.” Loni nodded. “You don’t need to worry about coming into work tomorrow, Lori.”
Lori stiffened against him. “Yeah, I do. We still have that cake to make for that new escape room place that just opened, plus Mel is coming in to talk about her tattoo wedding cake.”
“All right,” her sister said. “But it’s okay if you change your mind in the morning.”
“Okay. But I won’t.”
Stubborn twins.
RJ glanced over at Dean to find him smirking, no doubt thinking the same thing.
“Now, go home with your man. I’m fine,” Lori said, walking toward the door with her arm around him, putting up a good front, but he could still feel her shake once in a while.
As soon as the others left, he locked the door, and felt her arms tighten.
Alarm shook through RJ. He grasped her shoulders and drew back to stare down at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged, concern clouding her gaze. “But I can’t help thinking…what if we’d been at my place instead tonight?”
Her sigh filled the air between them while her lips trembled.
The same thought had resounded in his head all evening.
“Come here,” he muttered, drawing her close, needing to hold her, to reassure himself she was indeed all right.
“You could’ve been hurt.” She pressed against him, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
The fire still flickered across the street. He could hear the roar of the hoses and clanking of equipment, but he shut it all out, focusing on the living, breathing, beautiful woman in his arms. He kissed her temple. “Are you cold? You’re shaking.”
“You are, too,” she said against his throat.
Son-of-a-bitch. She was right. He was shaking.
“You could’ve been hurt,” he said, borrowing her words from earlier.
Lulled by the warmth of her body pressed close and the reassuring feel of her hands slowly gliding up and down his back, he exhaled a breath it felt like he’d been holding since answering Dean’s knocks.
“I already lost one person who never should’ve died,” he said, closing his eyes, remembering that day vividly. “I came out of the crash, but he didn’t make it.”
He could still see the young SEAL’s dead-eyed stare. RJ had tried to move to get to him, to dig him out from underneath the debris.
Lori’s hand stilled and she hugged him tighter. “Troy.”
His heart rocked. How had she known?
“Dean sometimes has nightmares and mutters that name in his sleep,” Lori said, as if reading his mind. “I’m sorry, RJ. I’m so sorry you and your team had to go through that.”
His eyes burned and throat closed as he gathered Lori near, soaking up her strength and warmth, letting go and facing an ache he’d held inside for almost a year.
“My mother died when I was eighteen.” Lori’s voice was thick with emotion a few minutes later.
“How?”
He felt her shrug.
“A boating accident.” She trembled against him. “I swear, if I would’ve known she was going to die that day…”
Her voice trailed off, full of emotion he understood all too well.
“Hey.” He kissed her head and drew back to cup her face. “You had no way of knowing. And I don’t think we’re supposed to. All we can do is live for today and hope it’s enough.”
Tears filled her beautiful blue eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Something cracked open in his chest and she burrowed in deep.
“Same goes for you.” She turned her head and brushed his palm with her lips.
Nee
ding her more than before, he lowered his mouth to kiss away her tears, then her temple, then each eye, slowly making his way to those sweet lips of hers.
Kissing her gently, he took his time, basking as her trembling increased. He wasn’t in any hurry, tasting, drinking, showing her how much she’d come to mean to him. And she did. A lot.
So damn much.
She slid her arms around his neck, opened up for him, and melted against him. It was a gift and he took it, slipping his tongue inside to brush against hers. She moaned, and somehow, the kiss changed to a frantic, heated, demanding exploration, and before long, he was too far gone to stop.
All the adrenaline from the past hour amplified into a desperate need to taste her, be inside her, to rejoice at having the special woman close. Warm. Breathing.
Alive.
Every inch of RJ craved her.
When they drew apart for air, she was apparently on the same page, because she yanked off her blouse, removed her bra, and slipped out of her skirt. His erection throbbed at the sight of her standing in nothing but that sexy damn thong.
In less than a minute, he stripped, his clothes joining hers on the floor, before he bent to fish a condom out of his pants. Tossing it on the counter behind her, he watched as she removed the last of her clothes.
“God, you’re beautiful.” Reaching for her to crush her close, he took her mouth in a heated kiss, devouring, branding, claiming everything the woman was willing to give.
She gave it all, demanding it all in return.
Her soft curves brushed enticingly against him. He cupped her by the ass and set her on the island, need eating at him from the inside out.
He released her mouth to lick and kiss his way to her nipple, caressing the other with his hand, rolling the tight bud between his thumb and forefinger before giving it a slight tug.
“RJ.” She sucked in a breath, and when he switched to the other gorgeous peak she moaned, “I can’t wait. Need you in me now.”
He smiled against her chest. “Patience. I have other plans first.”
Gently pressing her down on the counter, he dipped down to drag his mouth over her belly and hips, loving how her warm skin quivered under his touch. So intoxicating. Needing to put his mouth on every inch of her, he trailed kisses down her leg, before grabbing her ankles, and bending her at the knee as he set her feet flat on the island.
RJ (HC Heroes Series Book 7) Page 9
