The Edge

by Aliyah Burke

  The Meyers Fruit Farm was a huge business and they had a lot of acreage. She knew she had to be careful or she’d be wandering about all night. Lost and freaking cold. Yet, she continued on, driven—or drawn—by something she hadn’t figured out thus far.

  She rubbed her arms again and wished she’d at least been smart enough to grab her jacket. A rumble sounded in the distance and she froze. What the fuck? All of a sudden it wasn’t a family farm but a background for the horror flick streaming through her mind, where a deranged killer was on the hunt for her and she, idiot she was, didn’t take the advice the entire viewing audience yelled at her, but continued on, thinking she was the lone person who could outsmart the one coming to kill her.

  At least I’m not cold anymore. How could she be when her heart thundered a mile a minute, kicking up her pulse, combined with the fear pushing through her veins? Run? Stay? Hide?

  Indecision flashed through her and the approaching sound grew louder with each wasted second. The moment she made her choice on the next step, headlights flashed over her where she was leaning against a tree.

  She couldn’t see who it was and that didn’t do a damn thing to ease her freaked-out mind.

  “What are you doing out here, Ainsley?”

  That voice she recognized. The deep timbre of one Patrick Meyers. For an instant, relief calmed her down, then in the next, her body kicked right back into high gear for nothing other than the reason of who stood by the ATV.

  “Christ, you’re not even wearing a jacket.”

  One second she squinted at the headlights coming at her, the next his large frame blocked most of them out, allowing her to see him. He whipped off his leather jacket and draped it around her shoulders. Heat flowed through her along with his masculine scent.

  “Thank you,” she said, grateful to be warm once more.

  “Do you have any idea how far you are from the house?”

  No, she didn’t. Ainsley shook her head.

  He stepped closer, forcing her to tip back to maintain eye contact. Instead of answering, he grabbed her by the edges of his jacket and yanked her to him, close enough that he could claim her mouth.

  Need slammed her, replacing the cold and the exhaustion that had owned her before. She opened for him, welcoming his tongue to dance and duel with her own. A low rumble escaped him as his arms tightened around her, holding her close.

  He palmed her ass, lifting her to grind against his hardness. She hooked her legs around him, not wanting to be anywhere but right here. With him. Regrets, if any, could come later.

  Shoving her fingers into the hair along his neck, she tugged as she wriggled closer. He popped her once sharp on the ass before nipping at her tongue.

  “Ainsley,” he said, not releasing her. “You have one chance to tell me to take you to the house and walk away.”

  “Shut up and fuck me, Patrick.”

  “Trust me. I aim to.” He carried her over to the ATV and climbed on. “No, stay just like that,” he said when she began to release him to swing on the back. “I’d love to do this with my cock deep inside you. Make sure you feel each and every bump as we ride along.”

  Her pussy creamed and she trembled. He started them off again and damn it, she wanted that too. Each bump—it didn’t seem to matter how tiny—slammed her into his dick, and her body craved him inside her, thrusting, driving, filling her up. Making her muscles work and stretch.

  God, how she craved that. Craved him.

  She hadn’t a clue where he was taking her, but when he stopped and shut off the engine, she looked about. The mist rolled in surrounding the small cabin, or shack, they were in front of. Patrick, with her still holding on to him, climbed off and headed for the door.

  “What is this place?” she asked, finally finding her voice.

  “One of our older cabins that was built years ago.” He pushed the door open and she waited for lights or something to come on. Nothing. It remained dark except for the thin beams of light that managed to penetrate the thickening mist.

  “Okay.”

  “We used to camp out here as kids. Now we use it to get away or keep an eye on the property.”

  Now she was confused. “So, what are we doing here?”

  “You wanted me to fuck you. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I also know you’re still not over being sick, so I want you to at least have a bed because what I have in mind isn’t going to be over in five minutes.”

  She nipped at his chin before pressing a light kiss there. “Are you sure?”

  He dropped her to bounce on a bed. “Definitely.”

  Patrick was on her even before she stopped moving. His mouth claimed hers as his touch roamed over her, inciting more heat to flare to life. She squirmed beneath him, needing more. She ached for him. Spreading her legs, she welcomed him between them, cradling his cock at her entrance.

  He kissed his way down her neck, taking small bites before laving away the sharp sting. He had his hands around her breasts, plumping them, feeling their weight, and plucking at the already hard tips, making her moan and arch farther into his touch.

  A sharp gasp fell from her lips as he closed his mouth over her left breast, shirt and all, to suck. She dug her fingers into his shoulder muscles as he moved back and forth between the two.

  Patrick took one hand and dipped it down, gathering her shirt and pushing it up as he moved, exposing her skin to the air that, quite honestly, didn’t feel so damn cold anymore. Her gasp turned into a cry when he moved his warm mouth over her sensitive skin. He teased the nipple with his teeth, driving her to distraction.

  Yanking on his hair, she demanded, “Now, Patrick.”

  He nipped again but slid one hand down her pants, cupping her core and making her purr with anticipation.

  “You’re wet,” he murmured around her breast.

  “And you’re hard.” She yanked again. “Stop torturing me.”

  She couldn’t make out his words, but it didn’t matter when he brushed her panties aside and pushed two fingers inside her wetness.

  “So fucking tight and wet,” he growled, pumping his wrist.

  “I want your cock,” she begged. “Please.”

  “Boots, my boots are on.”

  “I don’t care.” She fumbled with the buttons on his jeans and freed him. “Worry about it later.”

  Curling her hand around his thickness, she licked her lips, wanting to again have this in her mouth. Later.

  Patrick pulled his fingers free, flipped her over onto her knees and yanked her pants down over her ass. Then he pushed his digits back into her pussy. She moaned and bucked against him, wanting him deeper.

  “Please,” she cried. Her body was aflame and she needed him.

  Once more his fingers exited her body and her breath caught when she felt the nudge of his large head at her opening. Yes, oh God, yes!

  He pushed himself into her. Not slammed, pushed, allowing her a bit of time to get used to his size once more. Plus, with her still wearing pants, her legs were tight together, causing even more friction.

  When he was seated fully inside her, he bent over her back and nipped her shoulder. “Okay?”

  “Never better.” She rotated her hips, trying to get him to move.

  “Hold on.”

  That was his only warning.

  Chapter Four

  Patrick rolled over in the narrow bed, seeking the woman he’d spent all night out there with, fucking and talking. Thank God they kept supplies out there so they’d not even been cold overnight.

  Friction did that as well.

  She wasn’t there. Ainsley wasn’t in the bed with him. He opened his eyes to see where she was. His cock tented the blankets as he remembered fucking her all night. Her sucking him, his fucking her ass. All of it. And he wanted more.

  He gripped his dick and looked around, slowly stroking it. No one was in the space with him. And her clothes were gone as well. He had learned so much about her last night that he knew, without
a doubt, he didn’t want to let her go. That inkling had been there that night in Chicago, but now it was definite.

  Perhaps she’d just stepped outside. However, as he released his cock and climbed out of the blankets, he had a sinking feeling that wasn’t the case. A feeling solidified when he saw she’d left his coat for him. If she was going to be outside, he was sure she would have taken it to keep warm.

  Tidying up the cabin, he hurried outside and swung a leg into the ATV, cursing as the morning dew soaked his jeans against the seat. He started the engine and raced off for the house. The remnants of her footprints remained visible on the damp ground.

  He didn’t park in the barn, but roared up to the house and hopped off after he cut the engine, then jumped the steps to get inside quicker. Her car hadn’t been in the drive either. His mom was in the kitchen making breakfast and she hollered for him to stop.

  Grinding his jaw impatiently, he backed up and stuck his head in there. “Yes, Mom?”

  “What are you doing making all this racket?”

  “I’m looking for Ainsley.” The truth, just not all of it.

  “You look like you slept in those clothes, Patrick.”

  “I didn’t, but I just put them back on. I was out at the cabin. With Ainsley. Now where is she?”

  “She left. Said it was time for her to go.”

  Damn it! “Excuse me.” He dashed up the stairs to Jenn’s room and pushed in without knocking.

  “Shit!” his sister said from where she lay beneath Tony at the moment. No shock in what he’d walked in on. “Get out, Patrick.”

  “Ainsley left,” he said turning around, not wanting to see his sister fucking anyone.

  “What the hell did you do to her? Stop, Tony. Get off me.”

  “Fucker,” Tony muttered.

  “Use your hand,” he snapped back, not giving a damn that he’d stopped them before Tony could get off.

  “Knock it off, you two.” Jenn stepped up beside him, tugging on her shirt. “Let’s go.”

  “Go where?” he asked, following Jenn out of her bedroom. “And I can’t believe you’re having sex in Mom and Dad’s house.”

  “Could you state it any louder?”

  “Sure, if you want me to.”

  Tony’s curse followed them down the stairs. Patrick had to admit, that was a bit fun to do.

  “You’re going to owe Tony an apology.”

  “No way. He’s fucking my sister. Like hell I’m going to apologize for interrupting.”

  “You’re such an asshole.” They both headed right out of the door without talking to anyone else.

  They climbed into his truck and he started the engine. “Where’m I going?”

  “Diner. She said she wanted to have breakfast there before she left. What the hell did you do to her to make her leave? She wasn’t supposed to go for two more days.”

  “Nothing. We spent the night talking and stuff.”

  “You slept with her again,” Jenn accused. “Damn it, Patrick. Can’t you keep it in your pants? That’s my friend. One of my best friends.”

  “I know that and it’s not like I forced her, Jenn. I’m not that kind of man.”

  She crossed her arms and tapped her right foot. “Go faster.”

  As he did, he slanted a gaze to his sister. There was more than anger at him on her face. There was fear and concern. His cop instincts were screaming at him.

  “How did you two meet?”

  She snapped her gaze to him. “She didn’t tell you?”

  “Said it was at school but that more details would have to come from you.” He shifted gears. “I figured that was code for you were doing something I shouldn’t know about.”

  “No, it’s just that, she’s this kind of person, it’s why I love her so much. We met at a support-group meeting.”

  “For?” Hell, he’d not known his sister had ever gone to something like that.

  “Rape victims.”

  Patrick slammed on the brakes, the truck fishtailing on the road. Jenn screeched then fell silent.

  “What did you say?” Anger thrummed through him.

  “I was raped while in school. Wasn’t doing well with it and was thinking of ending my life. Don’t talk about this, Patrick, please. It’s hard enough for me to tell you.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, I was outside the room, chickening out when Ainsley walked up. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but—”

  “I know about what happened to her with her uncle. She told me last night.”

  “That says a lot about how much you mean to her. She doesn’t talk about that…to damn near anyone.”

  That made him feel a bit better. Not a ton, but a bit.

  “She walked up,” Jenn continued. “And just hugged me. Didn’t say a word, just gave me a hug. I broke down into tears and she never judged me for any of it. My cowardice for everything.”

  Patrick opened his mouth and she shook her head. “I know, it’s not my fault, but I felt that way. You should keep driving.”

  “It’ll wait.” He wasn’t about not to give her his full attention. “Keep going.”

  “She sat with me in the back of the room during the group and the next day when I saw her on campus, all she did was smile and say hi. She never told anyone where she saw me or what she’d done for me. In fact, I had to seek her out, she wouldn’t approach me. I brought it up when I was ready and she was always there to listen, never judge.”

  He leaned over and hugged her. “What happened to the guy?”

  “He’s in jail.”

  “Good.” A kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry it happened to you, Jenn, but I’m so glad that she was there for you when you needed it the most.”

  “It’s always been that way. She’s a rock for me, and now I’ve let her down because I wanted to spend time with Tony instead of being available for her to talk to.”

  He put them back on the road. “She talked to me. I’m not letting her go, Jenn. I know it’s sudden and sounds crazy, but I’m in love with her. I want her with me, by me. I love the snark, the fire, everything. It’s like for the past years after I had the fling with her, my world was a shade of gray. Not anymore. And I like the colors.”

  They got to town and at Mindy’s they were told Ainsley had been there but had left about twenty minutes before.

  He balled up a fist and almost pounded the window of his vehicle. He wasn’t giving up that easy. “What are you going to do?”

  “Take me to the airport, Jenn.”

  * * * *

  Ainsley climbed out of the car and stretched. It had been a long drive, a few days. She’d half expected Jenn to ask her what had happened when she’d spoken to her, but her friend had minded her own business. Sometimes things just got a bit too rough.

  Seeing those children who were running from an abusive foster home, to a grandmother they’d only heard about, had struck her deep. She’d been in one. Cold bumps broke out on her as she recalled her uncle, the man who’d made her life a living hell.

  She did what she could to help but the wounds were never fully healed and she’d already been exposed by reuniting with Patrick. So, after she’d given him everything that night, she’d run. Chicken? Sure. But it was what she’d decided to do.

  She loved him. There was something that drew him to her, but she wasn’t ready for him, wasn’t ready for anything like that. And she couldn’t handle just having sex with him because they were explosive in bed together. She didn’t do “fuck ’em and forget ‘em.” No, with her, there were always emotions involved. And with Patrick, the emotion wasn’t lust, but love.

  Ainsley knew she wasn’t the woman for him. One day he’d have a wife and kids around that family farm and she would be back east, working. For the best.

  Suitcase in hand, she walked up the cobbled path to her house and drew open the screen, then stopped. There was a pair of silver handcuffs dangling from the doorknob.

  What the hell?

  She looked around but didn’t see
anyone, so she took them off and held them up for a closer inspection. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. This time when she turned, Patrick Meyers stood there her, arms crossed and no expression on his face.

  Even so, her heartbeat tripled and she swallowed a few times to get some much-needed moisture in her mouth. “I think you lost something.”

  He nodded and stepped closer. “I did, you’re absolutely correct.”

  She offered him the handcuffs but he didn’t reach for them, just moved closer until the toes of his boots touched her shoes. “Aren’t you going to take them back?”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “But you put them here. I didn’t take them with me when I left.”

  He pushed some hair away from her face. Her belly clenched at the tender touch.

  “Why did you leave?”

  “I had to get back.” Okay, lame-as-hell-sounding excuse. She had no doubt he knew how long she’d planned on staying there.

  He nodded a bit absently, not saying anything else as he ran his gaze over her body.

  “So, here, take your cuffs.”

  “That’s not what I came for.”

  She was tired. It had been a long drive. Rubbing the back of her neck, she sighed. “I’m confused. You said you wanted to get what you lost. So, then take them.”

  “I didn’t lose those. I put them there. I knew exactly where they were.”

  “Then what did you lose and come for?”

  He cocked an eyebrow, that incredible blue gaze refusing to let her go. “You.”

  Her suitcase slipped from numb fingers at his announcement, landing with a thump beside her feet. “I’m sorry, I thought you said you came for me.”

  “I did.”

  “But you didn’t lose me.”

  “I think I did. You see, I went to spend the night in a cabin with a beautiful woman who rocked my world both sexually and intellectually. Who shared intimate things with me, showed me who she was.”

  Something blossomed within her chest. Hope? She wasn’t sure. “And who do you think I am?”

  “A woman who thinks and cares about others, more than herself. A woman who loves unconditionally and wholeheartedly.”