by Naomi Porter
Her head popped up, eyes wide. “I can’t take that.”
“Why not?”
“Leo, it’s one thing to take birth control pills or use a condom to prevent pregnancy. It’s entirely different to try to end a pregnancy after the fact. I can’t take it. I don’t believe in it.”
My mouth went dry at the unwavering tone in her voice. “Red, I don’t want kids.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “It’s probably fine. It was just one time.”
I could tell she didn’t believe her own words. I was too wrung out to argue right now. It could wait until later. After we had a little nap.
“Don’t stress, sweetheart.” I rubbed her back. She settled down and her breathing evened out. “Everything will be okay.” I didn’t believe my words either, but I drifted off to dreamland with her just the same.
A buzzing sound woke me. I recognized it as my cell phone.
I opened my eyes and smiled. Red was curled into my side, arm draped over my stomach. The very sight of her long red hair fanned out over her shoulders made me hard.
I lifted my head; it was morning. I’d spent the night. No big deal, I liked Red. This could be the start of something.
My phone started buzzing again in my shorts on the floor. I had a feeling it was my buddies wondering where I was at. Judging by the bright sun filtering through the blinds on the window, it was well past the time I should be meeting the guys at the beach to catch some morning waves.
“What’s that buzzing?” she mumbled.
“Shh, it’s just my phone. It’ll stop on its own.” I rubbed her ass, feeling frisky and wanting more of Red. I could put her on her back and slip right in. Yeah, that sounded righteous. I’d never had morning sex with a woman before. Red would be my first… first of many things, I hoped.
“What time is it?” Her eyes were still closed. Damn, she was gorgeous and adorable with her pink puckered lips.
“Early, Red.” I rolled her onto her back. It was like she knew what I wanted when she spread her legs and wrapped them around my hips. “Are you sore?”
She shook her head.
Perfect.
I inched in, pulling out and pushing in until I was all the way inside her. She gasped and arched into me, but still, her eyes remained closed.
“Jesus, I could get used to this. You feel ginormous inside me.”
I smirked. Her little pussy took me in and adjusted to my size with ease. Red was made for me. I kissed her neck, licking and nibbling. “You’re managing just fine, baby.”
“Mmm, because this is a dream.”
I stopped and stared down at her. Her eyes were still closed. “Red, open your eyes. Look at me.”
“I don’t want to wake up yet.”
Fuck. She really believed this was a dream.
“Baby, open your eyes. You aren’t dreaming.”
“What?” Her green eyes flashed open.
“Morning, Red.” I dropped a kiss on her lips and bucked slowly into her.
“I don’t know what to say. You’re not supposed to be here. Why didn’t you leave last night?”
“We fell asleep. What’s the problem? Don’t you think this feels good?”
“Yes, but… Are you not wearing a condom again?”
“Shh, let’s just enjoy this time together.” I lowered my mouth to hers as I made love to her. She hesitated for like a millisecond, then kissed me back.
Like last night I was lost in Red. Our bodies moved in perfect harmony as our orgasms formed at the same speed. I slipped in and out of her warm, wet pussy with ease. I never wanted this to end.
It was fucking heaven.
Red was heaven.
“I’m close, Leo,” she said in a breathy voice.
That was all it took for both of us to jump off the cliff of ecstasy. Coming inside Red without a barrier was better the second time. Shit, it would probably be this good every time. My eyes rolled back into my head as a wave of warmth washed over my cock. Dammit, nothing ever felt so freaking incredible.
We cuddled afterward, catching our breath. This was a side of sex I never knew before. I rather liked it. But then my goddamn phone started buzzing and ruined my peaceful morning.
“You should see who’s calling. Might be important. I’m taking a shower.” She climbed out of bed.
“Is that an invitation?” I grinned, getting an eyeful of her sexy body. Red was toned with strong legs, and I’d experienced their strength when she wrapped them around my waist. I wondered if she worked out or was a runner.
At the door, she tilted her head my way. “You shouldn’t be here, you know.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She shrugged. “Do what you want.” She left the room.
Hot damn! I knew what I’d be doing after I answered the freaking phone. I hopped out of bed, found my shorts, and retrieved my phone.
“What?”
“Where the fuck are you? We were worried.”
“Seth, you actually showed up to surf?”
“Yeah, asshole. I did. Where the fuck are you?”
The sound of the shower stole my attention. I wandered out of the room and followed the sound of humming. My heart slammed against my chest as I watched her silhouette through the frosted glass door.
“Do I hear a woman humming?”
I winced and went back into Red’s bedroom. “I gotta go.”
“To take a shower, it sounds like. Who is she?”
“None of your business. I gotta go.” I ended the call and rushed back into the bathroom. I needed more of Red. Hell, I doubted I’d ever get enough.
I opened the door, and she smiled, moving to the side to make room for me.
“You need to leave after this.”
“After I fuck you in the shower.”
Desire flashed in her mesmerizing green eyes. “Yes.”
I lifted her small frame into my arms and pressed her against the shower wall. “Fuck, Red. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
“Stop talking and just fuck me.” She rubbed her pussy against my cock.
“Jeez, you’re bossy in the morning.”
“Damn straight.” She looped her arms around my neck. “It would behoove you to remember that.”
I impaled her on my cock and she yelped. “Fucking hell, Red.” I held her wet, silky body closer to mine and kissed her. “Your pussy is heaven. I love your fire.” Wait, what?
“Shut up and stop talking, or we’re done in here.”
I heeded her warning and got to the fucking she seemed to be desperate for. Hell, I was needing to fuck her too.
What was with all the crazy shit spewing from my mouth? Red made me lose my mind when I was buried deep inside her. That never happened before. With the other women, I was on autopilot. The only talking I’d done with them was dirty talk. Never did I say the word love unless I was talking about surfing or food. I certainly didn’t use it regarding anything about them.
Well, Red demanded I fuck her and I would. I’d pound her so fucking hard against the tile wall, she would never forget me and may not be able to walk afterward.
Fuck, I was screwed. I knew Red was going to try to push me away when we were finished. But I couldn’t let her. Plus, there was the issue about the unprotected sex. She really needed to take the morning-after pill. But I wouldn’t mention it to her until we were out of the shower and having breakfast.
For now, I’d just enjoy the best morning I’d ever had with the most beautiful woman I’d ever met.
I thrust into her and set an unrelenting pace.
“That’s it. Blow my mind, Leo.”
“Baby, when I’m done with you, you won’t be able to walk.” And hopefully, never forget me.
I captured her lips and skimmed my hand over her wet body. She held onto me tightly, singing her song of pleasure. She sounded so fucking hot and aroused. There was nothing better than hearing her.
But what if this was the last time I was with Red?
A pang hit me deep in the chest. Somehow, I needed to make her mine.
Fuck, she was mine.
Mine.
Red is mine.
7
Scarlett
I AVOIDED EYE contact with Leo as we got dressed after having sex in the shower. The more we fucked, the better it got. I couldn’t believe I’d gone so long without it. I wondered, though, if I enjoyed it so much because it was with Leo. Was sex out of this world because of him?
Stop overthinking, Scar.
“Let’s go out for breakfast.”
I kept my back to him as I slipped into a sundress. My eyes focused on the clothes hanging in my closet. If I looked at him, into his ocean-blue eyes, I might not be able to resist him. It was no wonder hordes of women were after him. Leo was irresistible in every way. Not only was he sexy as hell with his surfer look, tan skin, eight-pack of abs, and dirty-blond hair, Leo was also sweet, funny, gentle, and caring. I could tell he was smart, though he didn’t show off his intelligence much.
And the way he held me all night long… He could be the perfect boyfriend.
His hands encircled my waist, making my heart race as his lips dropped to my neck. “Are you listening to me, Red? I said, let’s grab breakfast. Maybe take a stroll on the beach after.”
Tears burned behind my eyes. His deep, husky voice raked down my skin and I fought a tremble.
“Can’t. Don’t you have to work or something?”
He continued kissing my neck as he held my body to his. “Yeah, but not till ten. We have time.” His hands brushed across my stomach as he held me firmly.
“I can’t. I have things to do.”
He stopped adorning my neck with his decadent kisses and turned me around. His hands cradled my face and a severe glint appeared in his blue depths. “I’m not going to let you push me away.”
I snorted even though a lump was in my throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The fuck you don’t.” His voice hardened and his grip tightened on my face as if he was afraid to let go. “How many times did you say it was a one-night stand? That once we were finished, I had to leave. Huh? You’re trying to get rid of me.”
“I do have things to do, Leo.”
“What’s your real name? I want your phone number. I’ll take you to dinner tonight after I get off of work.”
I shook my head. “Why are you doing this? I thought you didn’t date.”
“I don’t, but—”
“Then let’s not complicate things. I’m just another notch on your belt.”
He released me with a stunned expression on his face. I darted out of the room and went into the kitchen. If he wanted breakfast, I’d give him something to take with him.
It pissed me off how he made it sound like last night was special to him. It diminished how much it meant to me, and it hurt. Now that we’d had sex, I hated knowing how he treated other women. Knowing the way he made love to them. Kissed them. Talked sweetly to him. He had his script down to a science because he stole my damn heart right out from under me.
I put the pod in the Keurig and grabbed a travel mug. I felt his eyes on me but ignored him. After I pushed start on the machine, I went to the cabinet where I had cherry turnovers. How ironic, cherry turnovers for the morning after Leo popped mine.
“We need to talk,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t have time to talk. You need to leave.” I tapped my finger on the counter, waiting for the coffee to brew.
“I’m not going anywhere until we talk. Straighten some things out.”
“Not necessary. I know how this works.”
“You don’t know shit, Red. You only lost your fucking V-card twelve fucking hours ago. Don’t pretend you know what a hookup is like, because you don’t!”
“You asshole. Go ahead, make fun of me. You’re the expert on meaningless sex but you don’t have to be an ass about it.” I removed the travel mug from the machine and put the lid on it. I bagged a turnover, blinking my eyes because stupid tears were on the verge of falling.
“I’m sorry. I—”
“Just stop, Leo.” I shoved the bag and mug into his chest, forcing him to take them.
“What’s this?”
“Breakfast to-go.”
“Baby, let’s talk this through.”
Jesus, why did he look sad? I was so confused, but I couldn’t deal with my feelings or him right now.
“I want you to leave, Leo. I have stuff to do today.” I wasn’t lying. My flight left in four hours. I needed to get on the road to the airport. Traffic might be crazy.
“Come on, Red, why are you doing this?”
My stomach was tight as I opened the door. “Because it was a one-time thing.”
“Bullshit. It was so much more.”
“Really? Now I think you’re screwing with me. I’m not sure why and I don’t want to know. Please leave.” I pushed him out the door.
“I’m not giving up on you. I’ll leave, but I’ll be back tonight. We will talk about us.”
I snorted. “Leo, there isn’t an us. It was a one-night stand.” I slammed the door and locked it.
“Like fuck it was!” He hit the door. “I’ll see you tonight, Red.”
No he wouldn’t because I’d be in Montana for the next nine days. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. What I needed was to be around my family. They’d help me find my resolve with what happened with Leo. They’d help to get my head on straight.
I hoped they’d also helped me to forget Lifeguard Leo.
8
Leo
ALL DAY I couldn’t get Red off my mind. I watched the clock like it was a ticking timebomb. I was anxious to get out of here, go home to shower, then head back to Red’s place. We were so talking about us. The fact I thought of us as a couple after one night with her made me question my sanity.
That girl just did something to me. I wasn’t sure what I wanted with her. Love and relationships scared the hell out of me. Maybe we could just hang together and see what happened.
“So what gives?”
I turned toward my best friend, Chris. We worked a few days a week together. Lifeguarding was only a part-time gig for him, a chance to get some sun after being holed up in his home office. He was a freelance web developer; it was his bread and butter.
“It’s a woman.” No sense in lying to him. Chris knew me about as well as coding websites, which meant very well. He was in-demand for his talents.
“Well, obviously. You look like a miserable fuck today. The last time I saw you like this was… well, never. So what happened?”
Chris and I had been best friends since we met at UCLA. We dicked around together when we were in classes. He was also an only child, came from money, and his parents were divorced too. Neither of us ever wanted to get married and have a family, figuring it was better to break the failed-marriage cycle.
“She’s different. I spent the night with her and—”
“Hold the fuck up. Dude, rule number one, the most important rule—you don’t spend the night. I thought you understood the rules of hooking up.” He leaned against the rail on our tower.
“I didn’t intend on staying with her.” Okay, that was a lie. I could have run out after popping her cherry, but I’d wanted to cuddle with her and take a nap. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew I’d fall asleep. It was glorious waking up to her beautiful face. “But she’s different.”
“You said that already. What’s so extraordinary about her?”
“Everything.”
“I don’t see the problem other than after one night you’re pussy-whipped.”
I rolled my eyes and peered through my binoculars to scan the area. “She’s sweet. Beautiful. She has long red hair”—I leveled my gaze at him—“and it’s her natural color. Her green eyes are mesmerizing. She makes me feel shit.”
“She sounds like a goddess.”
“She is.”
“That makes he
r dangerous.”
“Tell me something I don’t already know.”
“You need to fuck her out of your system before you fall for her.”
“Too late. I’ve fallen hard in one night. I’ll fuck up any guy who touches her. Red is mine.”
“Red?”
“I call her Red because I don’t know her real name.”
He belly laughed. “Oh Jesus. She won’t tell you her name and you still want her? She has you by the balls for sure, buddy.” Chris laughed his ass off. It didn’t bother me though. He didn’t know Red, but I was sure once he met her, he’d understand where I was coming from. “So, what are you going to do?”
“After work I’m going to her place to sort this shit out. I don’t exactly know what I want to happen with us. All I know is I want Red.”
“Well, good luck because it sounds like she isn’t going to be an easy catch.”
“You’re right about that.” But Red was worth catching. The only problem I saw was what to do with her after I caught her.
“Does this Red chick mean you’re turning in your ladies’ man card? You looking to settle down with a wife, kids, and white picket fence?”
“Fuck no. That’s not what this means at all. Red is just someone who I’m slightly enamored with. I’m sure it will fade.”
Chris considered me a long second. His critical eye made me uncomfortable. “Nah, the only time dudes like us chase a woman is because she’s the one. Fuck, man, I think I hear ‘Taps’ playing.” He lifted his gaze to the sky and saluted. Asshole.
I laughed, shoving his arm. “Screw you. I’m not marriage material. You know this. We had shitty childhoods, so kids are also out of the question.”
“Does Red know this? She might want all the things you don’t.”
Fucking A, he was probably right. How did I not think about what Red wanted? Her words came back and steamrolled me. Leo, it’s one thing to take birth control pills or use a condom to prevent pregnancy. It’s entirely different to try to end a pregnancy after the fact. I can’t take it. I don’t believe in it.
Even after I told her I didn’t want kids, she brushed it off like it wasn’t a big deal. Jesus, was she hoping to get pregnant? My stomach soured at the thought.