by J. H. Croix
As I drove toward the only place I could call home right now, I shook my head. He thought he had a handle on it, but he also felt the need to warn me about people. What the fuck? I'd found out about the whole mess by accident. When my brother was out of town, I’d gone to check on his cat. Some guys had shown up while I was there and conducted “business” while I hid in the bathroom.
Utterly confused, I'd gone to Ryder, and to his credit, he’d simply told me the truth. Of course, only a week later, I was having dinner with my parents, and my dad mentioned that his office was looking into a drug ring in the area. I’d felt sick to my stomach until I'd found this job and moved away.
So … home. That wasn't home anymore, and I didn't imagine it would be anytime soon. This was home for now, but it was new. Now, I had a roommate—or rather, not a roommate—who I’d stupidly kissed. Just as I pulled in to park in front of the house, my phone rang.
I wasn’t thinking and tapped the button on the dash to answer. “Hey, Paisley.” Ryder’s voice carried into my car. “How's it going?”
Obviously, my brother had found a way around the number block. “It's fine.” My stomach tightened because my brother rarely called lately just to chat. “Do you have a new warning for me?” I asked, figuring we might as well get through the difficult part of this conversation.
“No, why would you assume that?”
I rolled my eyes. “Because that's your life these days.”
My brother sighed. “Paisley, I'm sorry. I wish you didn't even know about this. You don't need to worry. I was honestly just calling to let you know that I wanted to plan something for Mom and Dad's anniversary.”
“Next month?”
“Yeah. It'll be their thirty-fifth anniversary. Do you want to come down for a visit?”
My chest felt tight, and tears stung the backs of my eyes. Visiting meant putting up a good front. “I'll have to see if I can travel for work,” I said, which was true. I was pretty sure Graham would give me a few days off even though I was new.
“Think about it. Even if you can't travel, let's plan something together.”
“Okay,” I managed.
“Love you, Pais.”
“I love you too.”
The line went quiet, and I turned my car off, sitting there for a few minutes while the sounds of the engine cooling ticked around me. I felt spun tight inside, and I wanted to jump out of my own skin. Restless, I climbed out of the car quickly and walked inside, completely forgetting to be careful about encountering Russell. The door clicked shut behind me, and the archway into our shared kitchen was right in front of me.
Russell was standing in the kitchen with his back to me. Without a shirt. My mouth went dry.
He was reaching for something on the counter. I watched the flex of his muscles in his back. Dear God. He turned as I stood there, and I prayed my mouth snapped shut in time. I swallowed as heat spun like fiery pinwheels through my body. I blinked and couldn't seem to do anything other than remain frozen where I was.
Russell arched a brow, turning and resting his hips on the counter as he took a swallow from a bottle of beer. As I had at the bar, I tracked the motion of his throat. My eyes dipped when he lowered his hand, watching the subtle motion of the muscles in his forearm. Every inch of him was delectable. He had a dusting of hair on his chest. My eyes dropped lower, tracking the defined contours and noting a small scar along his ribs.
I snapped to attention when he asked, “Get a good enough look?”
Well, all that did was send a hot jolt of anger through me, the anger spinning into the desire nearly electrifying my body. Lifting my chin, I replied, “Maybe.”
I was feeling contrary and unsettled about so many things that had nothing to do with Russell. His eyes skated over my face, dipping down. I was suddenly aware that my jacket hung open, and I was wearing a V-neck T-shirt and jeans with boots. Nothing special, practically a uniform for me. But my nipples tightened to an ache, and I knew they were probably visible pressing against the cotton. I could feel the blazing heat of his gaze moving over me.
He was provoking me, and I knew it, but I couldn't turn away. We were caught in this magnetic dance. His eyes made their way back to mine at a leisurely pace.
“Why did you leave early?” I asked, surprising myself with my question.
He held my gaze for a moment, something flickering in his eyes before he replied, “For no particular reason.”
His reply annoyed me. I rolled my eyes. “Okay.” I turned to walk away, and then I heard him moving. His footsteps were slow and deliberate behind me. As if he had a thread attached to me, I turned around again.
“Going to bed?” he asked.
The man moved like a cat, smooth and quiet. My mouth was still dry, and I swallowed. I was hot all over, my skin prickling with awareness. I was acutely aware of the slick arousal at my core. There was that low tug in my belly, my body reacting to his instinctively. The next thing I knew, he was right in front of me, and I was scrambling to think. But thinking at this moment was the equivalent of trying to start a car with a dead battery. It just didn't happen. Reason and rational thought didn't catch hold.
Instead, my senses were alive, busy absorbing the cacophony of sensation created by Russell being close to me without a shirt.
My nipples were so tight, they hurt. I could feel the fabric of my clothes on my skin, and I wanted to shake it off. The sensation was almost irritating.
“Can't stand being close?” he asked.
My one-word reply came out in a frayed breath. “What?”
“It's early,” he added when he stopped, way too freaking close to me.
I'd never been so aware of space in my life. By my measure, he was maybe a foot away. The potency of his presence radiated to me. I could feel the heat, sense his strength. And that magnetic pull to him had me consciously keeping my feet planted where they were already.
“So what?” I countered.
I had to clench my hands into fists because I wanted to touch him so badly. He was close enough for me to catch his scent—musky, woodsy. I felt wild and primal as if I was chasing a scent to get closer. His skin was burnished bronze, and I wanted to trail my fingertips over the ridges of his abdomen. I wanted to drag my tongue along the side of his neck. I wanted to taste him as much as I wanted him. I knew what it felt like to be in his arms—knew the feel of his strength and power—and I wanted it fiercely. I wanted to drink it in, to forget everything.
I expected him to taunt me. When he didn’t, that was almost worse for the state of my body. His eyes searched my face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
His voice broke through the echoing beat of my heart pounding in my ears. “What do you mean?”
“You look upset. Are you okay?”
I was upset because calls from my brother tended to do that these days. I hated what I had lost because of my brother’s choices. I was keeping secrets I didn’t want to keep. I worried about him, and I was angry with him. Occasionally, I worried about myself, but that was last on the list. I usually pushed that far out of my mind because it wasn't worth it. I would take the risks to my own safety if only I had the power to change all the rest. I never talked about my brother with anyone because I couldn't.
But somehow, Russell's question and the concern evident in his eyes tapped into something in me. I heard myself answering, “Family stuff.”
Maybe that wasn't exactly confiding, but it was more than I offered to anyone. I suddenly felt vulnerable. Anger followed swiftly, my defenses rising. On the heels of that, I felt even more desperate for him to hold me close.
He nodded slowly. “Understood. Family has a way of getting to us in ways that no one else can. I don't mean that in a bad way. It's just the truth.”
My head bobbed up and down in agreement. I didn't notice when he lifted his hand, but the sensation sent filaments of fire through me when his fingertips brushed across my cheek. I didn't realize my hair had caught on my ea
rring. He loosened it gently before saying, “There. It was tangled.”
That subtle touch practically undid me. I realized then that there was one surefire way to forget all my worries. Russell could deliver an escape.
It was crazy and stupid, but maybe it would be worth it because I wanted to forget so desperately. I needed to be delivered from the restless ache of needing him. Maybe diving into this was the only way out.
My feet moved closer. There were now maybe three inches separating us. Russell's eyes blinked as he looked down at me.
“It's not fair,” I murmured.
His lips curled in a grin, slow and sensual. “What's not fair?”
My belly was tingling and spun in flips as liquid need spread like wildfire through my veins. “Your eyelashes. They’re curly and thick.” It was nothing but the truth.
He chuckled. “I've never paid attention to them.”
“Well, you wouldn't,” I retorted, a prick of annoyance following.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
“Being reckless,” I replied, more honestly than was probably smart.
He cocked his head to the side, a glint entering his eyes. “What's reckless?”
Reality slapped me. Because I knew Russell was dangerous to me somehow or, rather, to my sanity, I stepped back abruptly. “Never mind.” I turned and started to make my way out of the kitchen when his voice caught me like a hook.
“What are you afraid of, Paisley?”
I spun back to face him, fury rising inside. My emotions were a jumble, and I wasn't thinking rationally. I was feeling too vulnerable.
“I'm not afraid of anything,” I insisted when I stepped back toward him.
I didn't know who kissed who first. But the next thing I knew, I was held fast against him, his lips were angling over mine, and I was moaning into our kiss. His chest was everything—the muscled surface firm and his skin warm. His mouth was magic. This kiss went from zero to one hundred within the lick of a flame. His tongue swept into my mouth, and I was on my tippy toes as he held me against him. One of my hands clutched a muscled shoulder as the other slid around his neck, and I held on tight.
Our kiss felt like a war. My annoyance at my fierce need for him only drove my frustration higher. My reckless, unsettled state had me feeling feverish. Russell kissed just as good as I remembered with deep sweeps of his tongue followed by him gentling before nipping at my lips and diving back in. I had no idea how long we stood there, but somewhere along the way, he spun us around and pressed my back against the wall, which was absolutely perfect. I could brace against it as I curled my legs around his hips and whimpered at the feel of his arousal pressing between my thighs.
He shoved my coat off my shoulders, and I tore my arms loose from the sleeves, gasping when I felt his palm slide under my T-shirt. His touch was hot, a brand on my skin, and I trembled all over. His calloused palm coasted over the curve of my belly, and he cupped a breast. My nipple was so tight I cried out when his thumb brushed over it. Every nerve ending felt raw with almost unbearable sensitivity.
I had no idea how long we kissed until he broke free, and the sound of our ragged breathing ricocheted in the space. I was on fire, so needy. I lost all shame. I didn't care that I was annoyed with him or that this was stupid. I needed him, and I needed only him. An orgasm with my favorite vibrator would not do the trick tonight.
“Paisley.” His gruff whisper had me lifting my heavy lids to stare into his eyes, dark with desire. “I thought you said this was stupid.”
“It is,” I whispered between ragged pants. “I still want you.”
He closed his eyes, his brow creasing as he took a shuddering breath before his gaze met mine again. “We work together, and we live together.”
“I don't care.” My caution had been incinerated in the fire of his kiss.
We stared at each other, and I could feel the rapid beat of his heart under my palm, which had landed on his chest somewhere along the way.
“Your room or mine?” he asked after a long moment.
I hadn't seen his room, and I was curious. “Yours.”
Russell never even put me down, which was so fucking sexy. He held me easily as he walked us down the stairs. I felt the friction of his hard arousal at the apex of my thighs with every step. The subtle motion nearly brought me to climax. I dipped my head and dragged my tongue along his collarbone, savoring the salty tang of his skin.
“Wait,” he murmured. “You're going to drive me crazy, Paisley.”
I loved how he made me feel alive and wild. And, as if maybe, just maybe, this wasn't only me. A moment later, we were walking into his space. He nudged the light on with his elbow. It was basically a replica of my place. I barely had time to absorb any details before he kicked open the door to his bedroom. With another nudge of his elbow, a lamp came on in the corner.
My eyes snagged on the navy-blue down quilt, and then Russell was lowering me to the bed. In one smooth move, his hand hooked the hem of my T-shirt and tossed it aside. He let out a rough groan and cupped my breasts, dipping his head and dropping hot kisses in the valley between them. Cool air struck my skin as he flicked the clasp on my bra. With a shimmy, I slipped the straps free of my arms, and my bra was tossed to the floor.
I cried out at the feel of his warm mouth closing over a nipple and giving it a sharp suck. Each sensation collided with the next. My senses were scrambled with pleasure. He murmured hot words, dirty words, telling me I was beautiful, sexy, and so fucking hot.
“Boots gotta go,” he said, lifting his head before straightening and stepping back.
He shoved down the sweatpants he was wearing. My core clenched tight at the sight of him in fitted black briefs with his thick cock outlined. Staring at Russell was almost more than I could take. He cleared his throat.
“Oh.” I hurriedly shimmied to the edge of the bed and kicked off my boots.
He was ever helpful, unbuttoning my jeans and shoving them down. In a hot second, I was lifted in the air, landing on the bed as he came down beside me. I stared up at him, trying to catch my breath, trying to think. His eyes coasted over me. His gaze was burning, leaving sparks in its wake on my skin.
“I knew you were dangerous,” he murmured, his voice low and gravelly.
“Dangerous?”
His eyes met mine as he nodded slowly.
Chapter Thirteen
Russell
Paisley's jade eyes blinked up at me. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were kiss bitten. She was fucking dangerous. Jesus. Her breasts were round, just enough to fill my palms. Her nipples were dusky pink and taut. I couldn't help it and dipped my head again to swirl my tongue around one and give it a suck. I savored the way she trembled underneath me and let out a sharp cry.
“Russell,” she murmured.
I lifted my head. “Yes?”
“What do you mean I’m dangerous?” she pressed.
“You're so hot, and well, you're dangerous for me because I can’t think.”
I slid my palm over her belly. Her skin was warm and dewy. I brought my lips to her skin again, this time following the random scatter of freckles on one side of her belly. She was wearing practical black cotton panties, which suited her. I let my hand slide down between her thighs, teasing over the damp cotton. I doubted she was as turned on as me because that would be fucking impossible.
I was so hard I was riding the edge of pain. I'd kept my briefs on for a reason. I knew the minute I was naked I’d need to be inside her. I wanted this to be good for Paisley and didn’t want to rush through it. Her hips rocked into my hand, and she let out something between a moan and a whimper. I only had so much restraint and hooked a finger over the edge of the elastic, tugging her panties down over her hips. She was helpful, lifting her hips and shimmying as she kicked her panties free from her ankles.
My gaze landed on the tidy thatch of auburn hair, and I sifted my fingers through her curls and dipped into her folds. My
fingers became instantly slick with her arousal, and she impatiently bucked into my touch, her pussy clenching around me as I delved into her.
Paisley could be so cranky with me and so quick to argue. Fuck, I loved how fiery she was. I also loved that she was wet—for me.
She gasped my name. I lifted my head. “Yes?”
I sank two fingers in her, and her eyes fell closed as she arched back. Fuck me. I wanted all of it at once. I wanted to tease her breasts and taste every inch of her skin, but I was busy fucking her with my fingers.
I pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses on her belly while she shuddered underneath me. Shifting lower, I pushed her thighs apart and finally tasted her. She was salty and sweet, her scent musky. I licked into her folds, loving her incoherent cries and her impatience with me. Her orgasm came faster than I expected when I swirled my tongue around her clit, and she tensed before her entire body trembled when she let out a sharp, keening cry.
My mind was hazed with need. I rose, rolling to the side and fumbling for a condom in my night table. I shucked my briefs when I stood. When I lifted my gaze, I found Paisley’s eyes opened wide.
“Come here,” she murmured as she propped herself up on an elbow.
I still had the condom in my hand, but I stepped close to her. My knees sank into the mattress when she curled her palm around my throbbing length. Her thumb swiped over the bead of cum rolling out. With her eyes on mine, she licked her thumb clean.
“That is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” I growled.
She leaned forward to swirl her tongue around the tip of my cock, then she sucked me in quick. I almost came right then and was relieved when she drew back.