“I’m not.”
“You being here, you doing what you did for Mim, tells me otherwise.” He pushed to his feet, tossed his beer bottle into the trash bucket and said, “Come on. Help clean this shit up, then you can check on your ladies.”
Seriously. I’d had it. “One.” I chucked the hammer. “They aren’t my ladies.” Hands to hips, I continued. “Two. What makes you think I need to check on them? And three…” I threw my hands to the sky. “Fuck. I don’t have a three, but…whatever.”
The guy wasn’t stupid. He knew not to push. We cleaned up. Headed inside. Before parting ways, James pulled off his dusty cap and wiped his brow with the back of his arm. “You any good with engines?”
“I can manage.” I played uninterested, though there was nothing I loved more than dismantling a machine and then putting it back together.
“Good. That old Ford’s giving me trouble. Could use some help taking her apart.”
My answer should’ve been no, on account of my pending departure, but instead I grunted, “Sure thing.”
He hit me in the shoulder with his cap. “Great. See you at dinner.”
Yeah. I wasn’t joining anyone for dinner.
I wasted no time making my way to the second floor. Voices were audible behind the closed door, but too quiet to catch the gist of the conversation. I considered knocking, or tearing the door from its hinges, which made no fucking sense. I had no business worrying about how either one of those girls were holding up. Instead, I jogged up the stairs, slammed a beer, then cranked the shower to scalding.
They’d been alone for hours, and not once had I been called to comfort Mim. Not one damn time. Seemed she was getting better. Seemed the head doctor was as good as everyone kept telling me. Seemed I wouldn’t be needed much longer.
I ducked my head under the water flow and rubbed my left pec. Maybe with some quality shut eye, the ache in my chest would go away.
# # #
“Got a minute?”
“Sure.” I clutched the open door, towel hanging loose around my waist. I’d tried to sleep. A shower and two beers should’ve helped. They didn’t. So, I’d taken another shower, Moriah on my mind while I jacked off. “Where’s Mim?”
“With Rocky.” Moriah scooted past, her palm brushing my chest, and damn if her touch didn’t give me a swift kick in the gut.
“Rocky showed her how to build forts out of blankets and chairs. They watched movies on my tablet and fell asleep side by side. Lettie’s staying with them. She shooed me to bed.”
Swear to Christ the woman was torturing me. Thought I’d worked her out of my system in the shower, but those damn jeans, the way they hugged her ass and hips, that soft hair falling in her face, and those sweet fucking lips. I was hard again. And I wanted that woman so God damn bad.
Clueless to my agony, she continued. “The meeting went well. Thought you might want to know.”
“Okay.” I closed the door. Flipped the lock.
“Dr. Anderson says it’ll be challenging, taking Mim home, but we found a good doctor just outside Shelbyville, and she can work with us every day if needed.”
“So, you’re leaving soon.”
Moriah moved around the room, avoiding eye contact. “Yeah. I have to. My life is… My home is…” She swallowed, wincing, as if the words were painful.
“When you leaving?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
I wanted to hit something. “She isn’t ready.”
“Doctor says she is.”
I didn’t give two fucks what the doctor said. That little girl wasn’t ready for the real world. I wasn’t ready for either one of them to disappear. “This our last night?”
She didn’t answer.
I dropped the towel.
Moriah dropped her shoulders, taking me in. Dark circles rimmed her eyes. She’d lost weight since that night we’d met in the bar. The woman needed rest, but fuck, I needed her, and the way her cheeks flushed, and her lips parted, and her eyes pleaded, I couldn’t ignore the fact that she needed me, too.
“Take off your clothes, Moriah.” I grabbed my cock and stroked.
An exasperated sigh filled the room. She hesitated.
“I’m not wasting our last night together. Take off your fucking clothes.”
She toed off one shoe. I tightened my fist around my hard dick, gave it a good rub.
“You’re beautiful,” she whispered, kicking off the other shoe.
“I’m ugly, gorgeous.” I killed the lights before stepping closer. “You just haven’t looked close enough.”
Moonlight spilled through the window, highlighting her curves, bathing her face in a hazy glow. The ink on my back was well hidden in the dark, and I made to keep it that way, moving to keep Moriah between me and the window.
Her tongue dragged along her lower lip before disappearing.
“You’re taking too long.”
Her attention fell to the hand at my waist.
I pumped the full length again, then one more time, because those damn eyes begged for a show.
I took another step closer. Her chest rose and fell. Still, she hadn’t removed any of the barriers between us.
“Five.”
She gasped, her eyes widening, meeting mine.
“Four.”
Her T-shirt landed at my feet.
Another stroke. Another step closer to that bangin’ body.
“Three.”
She fumbled with her belt buckle, her bottom lip curled between her teeth.
“Two.” A heat blazed under my skin.
Moriah shimmied out of her jeans, crying out in frustration when they tangled at her feet.
God damn, she killed me.
“One.”
I charged, ducking to catch her over my shoulder.
She squealed.
Whack! My hand met that perfect ass.
“Ow!” She squirmed so hard I damn near dropped her.
Three strides to the bed. The bed that made too much noise for what I had in mind.
I lowered to one knee, then the other, setting her on her feet, squeezing those hips so she couldn’t retreat. “Hold still.”
She pushed the wild hair out of her face.
Her white cotton panties were sinful in their modesty, but hell if they weren’t the sexiest strips of cotton I’d ever seen. Especially after they hung shredded in my hands. “I’m gonna pound this pussy hard, gorgeous. Gonna give you a fuck you’ll never forget.”
I shoved my nose between her legs, then teased with a swipe of my tongue. The damn woman shivered, a full body blow.
“Gonna ruin you, baby. Fucking break you, then piece you back together so mine’s the only cock that can fit in that sweet, tight cunt.”
I moved one hand around her back, squeezing her ass, then shoved the other between her legs, rubbing the moisture there, teasing her opening, then rubbing her clit.
Trembling hands landed on my shoulders, those delicate fingers gripping tightly. Her hips curled into my touch, cranking my internal furnace to dangerous levels.
Greedy for her moans and her tits and her skin, I tugged her closer. Following my cue, she straddled my thighs, and lowered herself onto my lap, taking every hot, hard inch of my cock on the way down. She coiled her arms around my neck, I clamped mine around her back, and that sweet thing rode me hard, arching and bucking and bouncing on my thighs, chasing her pleasure, biting my lip, my ear, my neck, then tossing her head back, offering her chest to me.
I devoured those hard buds, sucking, biting, licking. Too damn soon, Moriah pushed me back, grabbing my shoulders, riding my cock, killing me with that hooded, lusty glare, those rosy cheeks and parted lips. When she stopped with the up and down, just rocking her hips, soaking me where our bodies were joined, she snaked her arms around me once again, panted my name, over and over, and came, her whole body going rigid, then limp against me.
Her pussy pulsed around my cock in erratic pulls and fuck, the last thing I want
ed was a disconnect, but we hadn’t taken time to grab a condom, and I was about to explode. Lifting her by the hips, I pulled out, then stroked my cock, once, twice, and still holding her close, I shot my load between us, and I didn’t fucking care about the mess. I snaked both arms around my sweaty, gorgeous girl, tangled my fingers in her hair, stared at the wall, and bit my tongue to hold back the words, stay, stay, stay.
But that was fucked. Foolish. We’d enjoyed a few good bangs. I was leaving. She was leaving. I had another day. One more day of bullshit to get through, then she would be gone. Mim would be gone. I could get back to…to what? What the fuck did I have but wasted years, foul memories, and a shit-ton of regret?
I slapped Moriah’s ass. “C’mon, gorgeous. Let’s get you to bed.”
“No. No. Just give me a few more minutes. Let me enjoy the fantasy awhile longer.” Her head grew heavy on my shoulder.
“Fantasy, huh?”
“I’m never gonna meet someone with a body like yours. Someone who kisses or touches me like you do. Someone who makes me feel like…”
“Like what?”
“Like a woman. Feminine, and sexy, and…” She dragged her nails up and down my back. “I don’t know. Wanted, I guess. I feel wanted, or needed, and it just feels really effin’ good.” She walked her fingers up my neck and then patted my cheek. “So please, hold me a minute, before we have to go back to reality.”
Reality.
What a fucking bitch the real world could be.
“Moriah.”
“Yeah?”
“You could stay the summer. Give Mim more time to heal.” What the fuck was I asking?
“I can’t. I have to get home. Get Mim settled. Find a job. I have to get back to my life.”
“Back to the real world,” I mumbled into her hair.
She sighed.
I wanted to punch something.
Instead, I begged, “Stay with me tonight.”
With a yawn, she replied, “Yeah. A sleepover. I’d love that.”
Moriah
“Did you guys have a fun sleepover?” I pushed my plate away, the scrambled eggs untouched, the pancake missing only two bites.
Mim shot a sideways glance at Rocky. Rocky shoved a forkful of pancake into his mouth, nodding.
Lettie yawned. “They were giggling all night long. It’s not fair, really, how they can be so chipper this morning.” She lifted her mug to her mouth and winked at me over the rim.
Mim turned her head away, as if trying to hide her smile.
“So.” Tango strode into the room, rubbing his hands together, like priming for a secret he couldn’t wait to share. “Since today is our last full day together, I thought you guys would like to go out on the boat for a few hours.”
Rocky hopped in his seat, dropping his utensil. “Fishing?”
“Well, little man, the fishing boat isn’t big enough for all of us. I was thinking our boat would be more fun.”
He shot his dad a glare. “We don’t have a boat.”
“We do now.” Tucker strode in, his blond hair a tousled mess, his blue eyes blazing, his jeans hanging low on his waist, and a Metallica tee hugging him in all the right places. Truly, the man belonged in a California tourism commercial. “Dad and Tito are backing her into the water as we speak.”
“What’s going on?” Rocky lowered his voice, cocking his head.
Tango squatted to Rocky’s level. Winked. “We bought a boat big enough for everyone.”
“Oh, my God.” Rocky clutched his chest. “A fast one?”
“Oh yeah.” Tango nodded, fighting a smile.
Rocky tackled his dad. Tucker jumped in, grabbed the boy by his waist, and flipped him upside down, dusting the floor with his black hair.
“Mim! We get to go on the boat.” Rocky squealed, then laughed a deep, throaty, infectious laugh.
I was so enthralled by the interaction between the boys, I hadn’t noticed Mim scooting closer. But Lord have mercy, did I feel every inch of her when she snuggled against my side and laid her head on my chest, seeking comfort. With me.
Tears bloomed, a few escaping, a slow glide down my cheek before I caught them with my knuckle.
I ducked my head, swallowed the threatening emotional breakdown, and whispered, “Do you want to go on the boat, Mim?”
She fisted the hem of my shirt.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to go.” I curled an arm around her shoulder, afraid she might shrug me off, but she didn’t and sweet Jesus I needed to lock myself in the closet and cry for a week. “But you have to let me know, Little One. You have to let me know if it’s a yes or a no.”
Mim turned her head and watched Rocky wrestle with his uncle on the floor. Rocky threw a punch in Tucker’s gut, and Mim buried her face in my boob. It was then I realized she wasn’t afraid of the boat, but the roughhousing.
“Hey. Mim.” I tucked a finger under her chin and urged her to look up. “They’re just playing. See? Rocky’s laughing. He’s happy. People do that sometimes. They’re pretend fighting. None of those boys would ever hurt each other. And none of them would ever hurt you.”
Tango must’ve overheard our conversation. He tore Rocky away from his uncle, whispered in his ear, then set him on his feet. The little man came our way. “C’mon Mim. The boat is so much fun. And I can teach you how to fish. I only have one fishing pole, but I can share.”
Mim studied Rocky with scrutiny only an adult should be able to pull off, the tip of her pinky finger between her teeth. After a long spell, she hopped off the chair, and took Rocky’s offered hand.
I scrunched my face, fighting another sob.
Tango stared a hole straight through me.
“Hey, Rocky.” Lettie stood and held her hand toward her grandson. “Let’s go see if we can help Mim find the right clothes to wear on the boat.”
The kids dashed down the hall without a backward glance, Lettie and Tucker following behind.
Tango invaded my personal space in two strides. “You okay?”
I nodded, biting my lip against a wave of nausea. “Did you see? She leaned on me. She let me touch her.”
“Yeah. I saw.”
“She’s gonna be okay.”
“I think so.” Exotic green eyes narrowed. “But are you?”
Aside from the overwhelming emotions choking me, I’d never been better. “I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”
As if on cue, the room spun, everything in my stomach clenched, and I dashed to the kitchen garbage, my breakfast making a violent reappearance.
Tango stood in wait, a cold, wet dishtowel in hand, a sad smile on his face.
When I could stand, he asked, “That good, huh?”
“I’m so embarrassed. I’m sorry. I have a sensitive stomach. This happens when I’m under a lot of stress.”
“You gonna be okay out on the water? You look a little green.”
“I’ll be fine, and a day on the lake will be good for Mim.”
“Yeah. Something healing about the water.” He offered nothing more but shooed me out of the way and tied the bag I’d just barfed into.
“Oh, God. Tango. Let me do that.” Mortified, I grabbed for the trash.
With one swift motion, he twisted to keep me from advancing, and lifted the garbage from the container. “We’re heading out in about thirty minutes. You go get ready.”
I stared at the bag in his hand, my vision blurring.
“Moriah.”
Matthew never would’ve cleaned my mess. He’d have left the room in a cloud of dust. Whenever I would get sick, he’d avoid me for a week, to make sure I wasn’t contagious.
“Hey, Moriah.”
Ugh. Matthew. I hadn’t had time to miss him, but he still hadn’t called, and that stung. But the more time I spent in Whisper Springs, the more I realized how blind I’d been to my boyfriend’s selfish ways. He was waiting for me to make the first move, to grovel, apologize, admit I’d been foolish to break up with him over the pho
ne. To break up with him at all. Before Mom’s funeral, before Mim, I had been that girl. The girl who caved. Admitted fault, even when the fault belonged elsewhere. That girl needed a permanent vacation.
A hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I’m fine.” I was, for the first time in a long time, and suddenly so much joy filled my heart I feared I would burst.
I had no right touching the man I hardly knew, but there was no stopping the crazy. I threw my arms around his waist and squeezed. “You guys are so nice to me, and I’m so grateful, and happy, and these past weeks have been too much, and…” Oh God. The tears again.
Tango wrapped his free arm around my shoulder and gave me the ol’ there, there. Oh, how I needed that hug. But wow, how I wished the arms around me belonged to the man who’d tortured three orgasms from me mere hours before.
We lingered in our awkward embrace for too long, only breaking apart when a throat cleared.
A voice full of jagged glass came over my shoulder, angry, and on the verge of violent. “Slade know you’re rubbing all over other ladies, Pretty Boy?”
Tango’s arms constricted, holding me in place, more protective than possessive. “Fuck off, Dane.”
“I’ll fuck off when you get your hands off my girl.”
“Your girl?” I squeaked, stumbling back a step.
Tango dropped his arm, releasing me. “The fuck?”
Dane was furious. Red-faced. Eyes dark as death. Hands fisted at his sides. His jaw clenched tight, every vein and sinew in his neck bulging.
He avoided my gaze, staring over my head at Tango, as if assessing the most efficient way to kill the competition. Clearly, those two had history. Although I was curious, I wanted no part in whatever was about to happen.
His girl? Seriously?
Didn’t matter. The kids could return any moment, and the last thing they needed to see was two grown men acting like teenagers.
I shoved a palm into Dane’s torso. “Get out.”
His feet didn’t budge, but his chest rose and fell in short, sharp jerks.
I pinched his nipple through his shirt and twisted hard until he aimed his glare my way. “Go cool off somewhere.”
Truck Stop Titan Page 10