The Edge

by Aliyah Burke

  Jenn joined in because her sister had it correct. “Don’t do that again. It’s scary how much like her you can sound.”

  “There’s coffee behind the table. It’s been busy today and the Clarks from Halton said they would be back to purchase those three bushels by where I was just sitting.”

  “Got it.”

  Mary gave her a smile then paused. “You sure you want me driving your car?”

  “You can’t very well take the truck back when I’m using it. Just make sure you are careful with it.”

  A sadistic smile crossed her face. “Of course, I will. Vroom, vroom!” She cackled and rubbed her hands together with glee. “Vroom, vroom. Vrroooomm!”

  “Mary,” Jenn warned, even as she tried not to laugh at her sister’s antics. Damn, it felt good to laugh.

  Her sister climbed in and started the engine. She stuck her head out of the window, laughed with maniacal precision once more and peeled out, tires squealing.

  “Better not wreck my car,” she yelled after her.

  Heading behind the table, she sat, reached for the lockbox and pulled out the receipt book that was in with the cash. Mary hadn’t been lying—she’d had a busy day.

  Five people stopped by before she looked up and saw a dirty truck pull in and park after hers. When the driver stepped from behind the wheel, her heart kicked over in her chest.

  Tony.

  He sauntered up to the table and watched her from beneath the bill of his ball cap. Damn him for doing all these things to her without ever putting a hand on her. She’d woken up that morning from an erotic dream involving this man.

  “Afternoon,” she said with a smile. “Anything here catch your fancy?”

  “Most definitely.”

  His words warmed her despite the day’s chill. He had his hands shoved in his leather jacket.

  “How are you doing today, Princeton?”

  “I’m fine.” Better now.

  “I’m looking for some raspberries. And some cherries.”

  She cut her gaze to her left, where those fruits were. “Making a large salad?”

  “Smoothies.”

  She raked her gaze over his fit physique. “I see.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at her blatant perusal. Tony stepped closer, picked up a pint of cherries and ate one. “Goddamn, these are delicious.”

  “Yes, they are.”

  Who knew watching him eat cherries would be such a turn on? She was happy to make it an even trade if she was allowed to finish ogling him.

  Another vehicle pulled up and she bit back a curse. She didn’t want to share him with anyone. An older gentleman walked near with a wide smile on his face.

  “You must be little Jennifer Meyers. I spoke with your sister earlier. I’m Martin Clark. She was keeping some fruit set aside for us.”

  Little? Crap she was bigger than her sister. Letting that go, she nodded. “Of course, Mr. Clark. Let me just get the crates for you loaded up.”

  “I got it,” Tony interrupted as he walked around the back of the table and set down his cherries. “Keep an eye on my cherries, will you?”

  Somehow that sounded so damn dirty coming from his mouth and she loved every word. “Sure thing.”

  “Do I owe you any more?” Martin asked her.

  “No, sir, according to the receipt, you’re all paid up, unless you’d like something else.”

  “The cherries are perfect,” Tony put out as he walked by with two of the fruit crates.

  Jenn tipped her head to the side and stared at the way his ass moved in his jeans.

  “I’ll take whatever you have left of those as well. My wife is doing her canning and she wants as much fruit as she can get.”

  “Let’s see what we can get together then.”

  She and Tony worked together and got Martin squared away and off. As the old truck rattled off down the road, she turned to Tony.

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. He bought all the cherries I was going to get.”

  “I think I know of a place you can get some more.”

  He faced her and settled his large hands on her waist. “Is that so?”

  Tony skimmed the back of his hand along her face before tucking more hair behind her ear. The look in his eyes was gentle and tender.

  “So.”

  He dipped his head and claimed her mouth with his. She pushed up on her toes ever so slightly, to be that much closer. His fingers flexed against her and she opened for his questing tongue.

  One thing about the country and dirt roads was without fail people coming could be heard and the rumble of another car drew them apart. She stared into his stormy gray eyes and wished once more they were alone somewhere without any interruptions.

  “As good as those cherries are, you beat them hands down, Princeton.”

  Her belly flipped and quivered. She gulped and stepped back from him as their next customer rolled up and stopped.

  * * * *

  Tony watched as she waited before the stand, giving it a final look before shutting down for the night. She flipped the closed sign over, then dusted off her palms before setting them on her hips.

  This was the Jenn he remembered. Her hair had been tossed up in a ponytail and her jeans made him want to sink to his knees in gratitude. For whatever reason, the day had been cooler so she’d kept her jacket on, but none of that had stopped the heat from coursing through him at that brief kiss.

  All too brief.

  She looked at him and smiled. God, he’d travel through hell to get one of those from her.

  “Ready to leave?”

  “Nope, I have to finish up the paperwork, then I’ll head out. Thank you for your help. I promise I’ll get you some cherries to replace the ones I sold out from under you today.”

  He strode up to her and backed her into the shelter. Their stands were handmade by her father, octagonal in shape and painted the colors of the farm with their name on the front. Right now the counters were empty, as what hadn’t been sold was back on her truck. He ignored the small table and continued until the countertop stopped her. There were panels on hinges to keep animals out when they closed, and they’d already been lowered, so it was him and her, shut out from the rest of the night.

  Hands on either side of her, he dipped his head and nibbled on her neck. “I’m not going to leave you out here alone, Princeton.”

  Her pulse kicked up—he felt it against him. She inhaled deep and settled her hands on his waistband.

  “Not the first time I’ve been at a fruit stand, Tony.”

  “First time with me.”

  She scraped her nails along his skin, light and teasing as her breathing picked up. Tony curved a hand around her midsection, drawing her flush to him as he continued his tactile assault with his mouth. His touch went along her graceful neck. He pushed her jacket off her shoulders.

  He couldn’t see her—it was dark inside the stand and the fading light of day did little, if anything, to penetrate where they were. He didn’t care—well, he did but he was fine learning her body in the dark.

  “Tony,” she gasped.

  He swiped his tongue under her bra strap, before moving it aside with his teeth. “Yes?”

  “What are we doing?”

  “Has it been that long for you? What? Are those guys fucking morons where you are to not be after you?”

  She stiffened and he sucked on her neck until she relaxed. Tremors moved through her and he clamped down on his control, determined to make this last.

  “What about the bar?”

  “Closed.” He nuzzled her skin, inhaling deeply.

  “Dinner?”

  “About to indulge right now.”

  He used his fingers to slide the other strap down over her shoulder. She gasped again and he moved his attention to that side, licking and nipping his way over her skin. Jenn dragged up his shirt and he moaned at her touch on his own skin.

  “We shouldn’t,” she panted.

&n
bsp; “Are you involved with someone?” The words were akin to razor blades being swallowed to get the question past his lips.

  “No, God no.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “Protection?”

  Fuck, he’d completely forgotten about that. He had stopped carrying condoms in his wallet a long time ago. Right now, he was kicking himself for getting out of the habit. But she was correct—it wasn’t smart to do this without any.

  “So, we alter the plan a bit,” he said, pushing the jacket off her the rest of the way. Using his hands as his visual aid, he skimmed up her arms and continued on between her breasts. He already knew she was wearing a button-down and he made short work of those, exposing her to him.

  He cupped them, massaged them, and bent to kiss each one. Low moans and sharp mewls left her as he continued. He drew a nipple into his mouth, grazing his teeth over the pebbled tip until she cried his name. He moved and mimicked the action on her left breast.

  She sank her hand into his hair and held him to her even as she begged for more. Tony undid the button on her jeans and tugged them over her hips. He released her breast and captured her mouth once more, pushing his tongue deep, relearning her taste, her unique flavor.

  “Yes,” she cried into his mouth.

  Covering her pussy, he nudged the edge of her panties over and swiped two fingers up her slit. She wobbled on her feet and he anchored one arm around her waist, keeping her upright.

  Jenn bucked against him but he refused to touch her clit or push his fingers inside her heat.

  “Tony,” she begged.

  “Tell me what you want,” he muttered against her lips.

  She grabbed his hand with her own and pressed it harder against her.

  “No, Princeton. I want to hear those words come out of your mouth. Tell me to fuck you, tell me you want my mouth on that sexy pussy of yours. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it. But I want the words.”

  His cock hurt, it was so hard, but he focused on her. This wasn’t about him.

  “Kiss me.”

  He captured her lips once more even while he continued leisurely strokes of her pussy with his fingers.

  “No,” she panted. “Down there.”

  “Where?”

  She yanked his hair, the sting bringing tears to his eyes.

  “Where your hand is.”

  “I want the words. Tell me you want my lips on your pussy. Tell me you want me to push my two thick fingers deep inside your slick channel and I’ll do it. I promise I will give you what you want, but you have to ask for it.”

  “My pussy,” she forced out. “Kiss my pussy. Fuck me with your fingers and suck on my clit.”

  Yep, he could get harder.

  “Thought you’d never ask.” He bit her neck then dropped to his knees before her. He yanked her jeans down farther until they were at her ankles and moved his hand along her panty edge. With a curse and a jerk, he removed that obstacle.

  All she did was moan and do her best to widen her legs as her fingers tightened in his hair. Her scent flowed to him and he wanted to taste her cream, have it roll over his tongue as he fucked her with it.

  Spreading her, he swiped twice with his tongue before pushing two fingers inside her core.

  “Oh god,” she wailed.

  As he fucked her with his fingers, he used his mouth and tongue on her clit. She nearly yanked out his hair as she came hard around his digits. Jenn screamed his name to the night air.

  He didn’t relent, but simply continued pistoning and sucking as she shuddered. Pulling out his fingers, he then put his tongue inside her and loved how she gave another sharp cry to the night. Thumb on her clit, he used a lubricated finger to push against the small rosette of her ass.

  “Tony,” she whimpered.

  He pushed slow and was rewarded with another buck and more of her release. Yeah, his cock was choking in his jeans, but this was worth it. He wasn’t going to give this woman up for anything.

  Chapter Four

  Jenn shifted in the chair. She was in her father’s office, now on the most current year of bookwork, and all she could think about was Tony and what they’d done three nights ago out by the road, in the stand.

  She fanned herself and reached for her water. After a second of staring at it, she took a big gulp. Ah, fuck it. She shoved back from the desk, almost knocking over her drink, and marched out of the door, toward her vehicle. Without a word to anyone, she drove to the bar.

  His truck was in the parking lot and she hoped none of the staff were there with him. She parked beside him and went to the employees’ door. Opening it, she inched inside the darkened hallway.

  “Oh, yes, yes, yes!”

  Jenn froze. She knew what that was, knew precisely what was going on in that office. Hell, she’d made that sound the other night with Tony.

  “Just like that. Oh, my fucking god, you know how to work that dick of yours. Yes, don’t you fucking stop. Don’t you dare until I come all over your thick cock.”

  Her stomach heaved and she damn near lost her lunch all over the floor. Clasping her hand over her mouth, she stumbled back to the door. Why did she even buy into the notion that there were good men out there? She should have known better than to think she would be anything special to him.

  The sun blinded her and she squinted as her eyes adjusted. Then she ran for her car and tore out of there, not looking back. As she headed for the town boundary, she fumbled for her phone and placed a call.

  “Hello?”

  “Ainsley?” Even she heard the sob in her voice.

  “Shit, what happened? Is it your dad?”

  The music in the background quieted in an instant.

  “Jenn? Talk to me, I can’t see you.”

  “I fucked up,” she said.

  “Where are you?”

  “Leaving The Edge.”

  “Pull over, I don’t want you driving like this. When you’re parked, tell me what the fuck is going on.”

  Listening to her friend she got her card off the road. With several deep breaths, she wiped her eyes and put in her handsfree device. “I let myself get to close to someone in town.”

  “So, your dad is okay?”

  She blinked. “Yes, he’s doing well. Recovery is slower than we’d all like, but it’s going in the right direction.”

  “Thank you for that. This freaked me out for a moment. Now what is this about being close to someone?”

  She tipped her head to the sun and closed her eyes as the car idled in park beneath her. “A guy I grew up and went to school with.”

  “Ohh, hometown romance.”

  “Not hardly.”

  “So that’s not pining I hear in your voice?”

  “Neither here nor there.” She opened her glovebox and looked for something to eat. Nothing. Rooting through her purse, she came up empty there as well.

  “Right, of course not. Go on, tell me what happened.”

  She gave Ainsley a brief rundown of the events between her and Tony.

  “Wait a second, let me get this straight. This man actually got you to say pussy and cock?”

  “I would have said anything to have him continue what he was doing.”

  “And he’s a keeper. So, what’s the problem?”

  “I went to his bar, his truck was there, so I went in and they were having sex.” Her voice broke.

  “Who was having sex?”

  “I don’t know who the woman was, but I do know the sounds of someone in that situation.”

  “Right, because you’d just done it along the road,” she teased.

  “Bitch.”

  “Happily. Now, how do you know it was him?”

  “His truck was there.”

  “It’s his place, right?”

  “Exactly.” The bile surged back up and she struggled to keep it down.

  “So how do you know he didn’t just leave it there? Did you see the copulating couple?”

  She snorted. L
eave it to Ainsley to make her laugh when she felt like shit. “No, I had no wish to see them in that state.”

  “I hate to say this, hon, but you have to ask. You can’t assume it was him.”

  “Why not? Again, his truck was there.”

  “And so what? You’ve left your car at work before. It happens. If you didn’t see him fucking this woman, don’t write him off.”

  “And you think he’s actually going to be truthful about it if I ask him outright?”

  “I think he’d be shocked you knew. And because of that shock he would give you some kind of indication that it had happened.”

  “And if he was there?”

  “Then you forget about him, but if he wasn’t, Christ, Jenn. This guy got you to say words you blush when saying to me.” A moment of silence. “Seems like if he got to you that much, he may just be worth keeping around to see how it goes.”

  “What about you?”

  Ainsley tsked. “This call isn’t about me and my hang-ups, this is about you and yours. So, go track him down and get this straightened out. I want to meet this man. I like him for you.”

  Jenn scowled. “You don’t even know him.”

  “Don’t have to. You got naked for him alongside the road. That’s all I need to know.” Ainsley blew her kisses. “Turn around, get back to town and fight for your man.” She hung up the phone before Jenn could speak another word.

  Pulling her ear away from the phone and putting it on the seat beside her, she sighed heavily, scrunched up her eyes and did it again. Ainsley had been her friend for years. She understood her hang-ups as she did her own. That was what made them such wonderful friends—they didn’t pull punches but called each other out on their shit.

  She put her car in gear, punched the accelerator and whipped a shitty right there to speed back into The Edge. This time she headed for his house and tried there. No answer, so she went to the diner and grabbed a quick bite while she worked out how she would do this while staying calm and professional.

  Then she went back to Perimeter. There were other people there now and the joint was hopping. She pushed past the entrance and found Tony down at one end of the bar going through receipts. He glanced up at her when she stopped on the other side. A slow, sexy smile lifted his bow-shaped lips.