by Anya Breton
“Second, you’re not actually supposed to devour a girl’s entire head when kissing.”
“I can’t help getting into it,” he mumbled against her hand.
“Try starting soft. Think of teasing with your lips.”
He wanted to tease something with his lips. It wasn’t her mouth. Erica would taste sweet.
“Brush them against the corners,” she said. “Tease beneath the lower lip. Lightly kiss the entire mouth. Then and only then should you increase the pressure.”
“Babe, that’s not always the—”
“Don’t call me babe.” She emphasized her displeasure with a squeeze on his sinuses. The hint of pain hit his eyes. “That’s what you called half the female population of Manchester yesterday.”
She was strangely worked up about other women, given her demand for this to be a one-night engagement. Nonetheless, he wanted that one-night engagement. He’d apologize even if it went against his nature.
“Sorry, Erica. It won’t happen again.” Her furrowed forehead prompted him into action. He smoothed a palm up her arm, rubbing at her elbow with the circular motions that had always gotten women going in the past. “Tease with my lips. Light at first. What’s next?”
She relaxed in two seconds’ time. “Don’t shove your tongue down a girl’s gullet. You’re not excavating a cave, you’re making love to her mouth.”
Drew took advantage of the topic shift to press himself against her. She was soft and warm—better than the sumptuous bed with Egyptian cotton sheets he’d missed for the past two weeks. His erection settled between her thighs, close to where he needed it. “I want to make love to more than your mouth.”
Her breath puffed against his cheek, filling his nose with the fragrance of coffee and something sweeter. “Later—”
One swift tug on her elbow had her plush breasts smashed against his bare chest. She gasped, a sound he cut short when he brushed his lips against the right corner of her mouth. Erica’s skin tasted of sugar—perhaps a flavored lip gloss. He wanted more of it, all of it, but recalled he wasn’t supposed to devour her no matter how much he wanted to. She went pliant against him, a marked change to how she’d behaved since she hopped down from her tow truck the first time.
He lifted his lips from the right side of her mouth and deposited them on the left portion. Her small sigh ruffled his hair. He stealthily flicked it back in place. Erica’s eyelids fluttered shut.
Drew needed to touch her breasts. It was integral to his continued existence that he have at least one in his palm in the next few minutes. While he distracted her with the teasing smooch beneath her lower lip, Drew tugged at the tank top she’d left hanging over her waistband. She snuffled—a pleased sound if he’d ever heard one. Was that for the not-kisses? Or for the shirt he was about to remove?
He had his answer when her eyelids snapped open a split second before he plunged his finger beneath the cup of her bra.
“What are you doing?” Her sharp question nearly put him on the defensive. But he’d not defend against what they both wanted.
“Um. It’s pretty damn obvious. We agreed—”
“I agreed to a one-night stand. It’s 7:30 in the morning!”
“A one-night stand doesn’t have to happen at night.”
“I’m at work! Customers could arrive at any moment.” She finally pushed at his shoulders, dislodging his grip. “Besides, don’t you want to do this properly, like in a bed?”
Drew dropped his attention to the obvious erection pressing at his boxer seams. He caught her eye once again, pleased that she’d been staring at his shorts. “I want to properly thrust that in you. I don’t care where I do it—on a bed, on the floor or up against a wall. But I want to do it now.”
She drew her lower lip between her teeth. The delicate gnaw made his erection bounce. Erica released her tender skin. “I have work to do.”
He spared at look over his shoulder at the bank of windows and the empty parking lot. “No one is banging down the door. Can’t you just turn the Open sign off for a little while?”
“I could. I don’t—”
“Don’t tell me you don’t want to. You want to.” Drew framed her generous hips in his hands, loving how soft she felt even if he wasn’t supposed to be attracted to her. “You don’t think you should.”
Her eyebrows drew down into an expression that didn’t bode well for continued sexy time. “Have you ever worked a day in your life?”
Drew stiffened. This was not a discussion he wanted to have now. And his erection threatened to deflate. “My employment history is irrelevant for a one-night stand.”
“I’m surprised you even know a word like ‘irrelevant’.”
His dick slumped lower than his shoulders. “I’m lazy, not stupid.”
“So you admit you’re lazy?”
He’d had enough of her denigration. This was some attempt to put him off his plan to screw her in the office. He’d fantasized eight different scenarios occurring in this very room last night. At least one of them was happening today. “The only thing I’m going to admit is that I’m going to fuck you. Here. Today. The only question is, do you want the first time to be in view of the windows or should we head to the backroom?”
“First time?” Erica retreated to the counter behind her, he presumed to put space between them. “I said it could only happen once.”
A loud snort scraped the inside of his throat. “You said one-night stand.” Drew strode forward, stealing the space she’d created. He lowered his head beside hers. Her scent was intoxicating, now with a hint of spice. Was this the marker of lust he’d heard the animal races could sense? “I plan to start early so I can come as many times as my body will allow.”
“I said once…” Her argument trailed off when he tongued her neck.
“You already think I’m an insulting, stupid asshole,” he said in between licks. “Why not add deal-breaker to the list?”
“And player,” she added breathlessly. “Don’t forget that.”
He never did.
Chapter Five
His mouth closed over a nipple she hadn’t felt him free. “We have to go to the other room,” Erica gasped out as she tugged her tank top back down. “And I have to close the shop.”
“Do what you have to do,” Drew said as if he had the right to command her. “I’ll find a condom. You have two minutes before I grab you wherever you are.”
Oh god. He hadn’t had a condom already? What was she getting herself into?
Nonetheless, she scribbled a hasty note declaring a late opening and flipped off the fluorescent Open sign. With a good deal of trepidation she started for the garage and the storage room.
This was a bad idea. Several bad ideas actually.
She shouldn’t get involved with a man like Drew. Nor should she be involved with a customer who couldn’t pay his bill. Above all, she didn’t know if she was capable of a one-night stand.
Don’t do that, the little voice in her head griped.
True. She was capable of anything she set her mind to. Just look at this garage. No one thought she could keep it running after her dad passed. Not only had she proved them wrong, she’d also increased profits. Auto owners from larger towns had begun bringing their vehicles to Stoddard for the promise of a fair diagnosis at a decent price.
Erica put on her bravest face. Determination settled within her muscles as she strode forward. She could do this without getting hurt.
She arrived in time to catch Drew slipping his silk boxers over his muscled thighs. He turned unselfconsciously, sending her a sloppy smile. But she wasn’t paying attention to his mouth. Her gaze sank far lower.
He was…
Erica squinted.
He wasn’t as well-endowed as she’d have imagined a playboy to be. She hid her disappointment. The rest of him was well made to the point of unfairness. That six-pack abdomen matched biceps that no doubt would bulge out of any short-sleeved shirt he tried to wear. Legs that were t
he ideal combination of lean muscle and gently furred skin completed the look.
Drew would be perfect if it weren’t for his personality and small cock. Oh, and the little problem of him being destitute. But money wasn’t needed to have a good time.
“Your turn.” His smile shifted into a cheeky grin.
Erica could easily see what would have prompted dozens of women to hop into bed with him. She secured the door behind her before kicking off her boots and grabbing the bottom of her tank top. Up it came with little fanfare. She dropped it aside then slipped her arms behind her. “Bra on or off?”
Drew shot her a look so twisted with disgust that Erica was positive she blushed. “Off,” he said.
“Well, I didn’t know.”
“I was already sucking your nipple. That should have been a hint.” He reached for her despite the feet between them.
Her bra slithered down her shoulders. Erica hid her breasts behind her arm. Drew’s gaze grew heavy. He pushed off his right foot, crossing the space in one long stride. His palms framed her face. That cheeky grin formed over her mouth, slopped in moisture. She made a sound of displeasure.
He drew back, perhaps for a quick look at her expression. Then he wiped his mouth on his forearm. One thumb caressed away the wet spot he’d left on her lips. The small movement was a perfect tease he followed up with a brush of his mouth to the right corner of hers.
He was learning. Erica couldn’t help but smile.
Drew dropped his hands, nudging her arm aside. He stared at her breasts for several silent beats. Her stomach dipped with worry. He’d already hinted she was fat. He was going to remind her of it now.
She hadn’t realized how much she wanted this until the thought came that she might not get it. So when he covered her breasts in his warm palms and gently squeezed instead of insulting her, Erica couldn’t hide her relief. Relief quickly turned to desire as he resumed his delicate kisses, first at her cheeks. By the time Drew’s tongue got involved, she was in the mood for anything he wanted to do.
What he wanted to do was get her out of her jeans. He was unwilling to be away from her breasts for long. Crouched in front of her, Drew swirled his tongue around her right nipple while he worked at the fastener on her pants. She gave in to the urge to touch his hair. It might have been soft at one time but her fingers got caught on old product. No surprise given how put together he’d looked yesterday. That reminded her, he’d neglected to shower today. Yet he still smelled of fresh cotton sheets and male.
“Oh my,” he said soon after dragging her jeans over her thighs. “I thought you’d wear granny panties.”
No doubt because he thought they didn’t make any other panties in her size.
“That’s a good color on you,” Drew said of the evergreen lace she’d pulled on this morning. “Were you hoping to show them off?”
Had she been? While she didn’t wear lace panties every day, it wasn’t unheard of for her to wear them to work. And Saturdays were a short day at the shop.
“I need to do laundry.” It was a partial truth. There was a basket of dirty jeans waiting to go through the rinse. She’d had plenty of undergarments to choose from but he didn’t need to know that.
He hooked his thumbs beneath the lace and pulled. There was no censure in his gaze as he looked up from the floor. If he still thought her attractive despite her figure, he wasn’t showing it. Drew licked two fingers and then swiped them through her folds. Not the sexiest way to get her lubricated but she didn’t complain.
Lubrication was no longer a problem once he resumed his attention to her breasts. Erica threw her head back. A long sigh traveled down the column of her throat. He was on his feet a moment later, nibbling at her collarbone and on up her neck.
Drew speared her without warning. The initial uncomfortable thrust caught her breath. She dragged her lip between her teeth, biting to keep from making a sound. He concentrated on teasing her nipples and sucking at her chin for several seconds before she began to enjoy herself.
He hauled her aloft, wrapping her thighs around his waist. Deeper, he thrust once. Shivery heat warmed up her body.
Carefully, he lowered to the cot. “Ride me.”
“I don’t think the cot—”
“Erica. Ride me.”
He was the playboy. He knew what he was doing. Erica rocked back, slowly at first until she was certain he and the cot could handle the motion. Drew helped set the rapid pace by slipping his hands under her ass and lifting.
And then the cot crumpled beneath them.
Drew slammed backward, taking her with him. She froze. Embarrassment seared her face. Except for Tina’s digs, Erica’s figure hadn’t been a major concern for her until Drew turned up. Now everything was a reminder of her need to shed a few pounds.
“That’s a first.” Was that a chuckle? He wasn’t furious with her? “Don’t stop,” he said next.
“I…” Erica didn’t know what to say. The mood was ruined as surely as her cot.
“Erica.” Drew cupped her face. “You’re beautiful and I’m going to fuck you if the floor caves in beneath us. Don’t. Stop.”
Oh. That was quite possibly the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. How sad was that?
Drew thrust upward, wiping her mind of everything. She clung to him within the ruin of the cot, loving how he grunted in her ear. He lifted her over his cock with surprising ease and met her on the fall back down. Each motion created a harder thrust until she couldn’t see, think or breathe without concerted concentration. Ragged inhales were the name of the game as desire coursed through her. He murmured sexily in between sloppy kisses.
“I imagined sixteen different interludes with you in here and this wasn’t one of them.”
He’d imagined sex with her? Of course he had. He was male.
Drew went on. “Want to know how many fantasies I have that take place in the tow truck? Only four. I prefer space for a good fuck.”
His arms banded around her, holding her aloft several inches. Erica lost her breath in his tight grip. She lost more than her breath when he truly began thrusting. Erica couldn’t have reasoned her way out of a paper bag with a map to the exit while he took her on his wild ride. Too soon she broke apart around him and he groaned as if in pain. Drew stilled beneath her, clinging tightly while he came.
He was quiet for a pair of seconds. Too long for Erica. Stuck in his arms, she could do nothing but think about what they had just done.
Sex. In the backroom in her garage. That had been nothing like any of her exes. No, that had been equal parts pain and pleasure, crazed and sane, as well as satisfied and unfulfilled.
How fitting for a playboy to leave her more confused than before he’d fucked her.
* * * * *
Erica stumbled out of the storage room. That had been…awkward. The destruction of the cot would have been a deal-breaker with Jared. But Drew had kept right on going. Was that a playboy thing?
Whatever the case, she had work to do. There was a Dodge Ram with a failing brake line in the parking lot. And someone was due in at nine to pick up his Jeep. She washed up as best she could in the privacy of the restroom. Erica fixed her tank top around her middle and raked her fingers through her hair. One of these days she really needed to remember a comb.
She flipped the sign to Open before starting for the Dodge. The part she’d been waiting on had finally arrived. She dropped into the driver’s seat and turned on the engine, whirling the volume dial around to avoid potential eardrum blowout from the rock music. Erica took care with the failing brakes on the drive forward. She eased the Dodge onto the hydraulics in garage bay one. Now to get thing up on the lift, but first…
Erica hopped out and strode for the storage room with a question on her lips. The words stalled in her throat upon finding Drew sprawled on the broken cot, deep in sleep. She hadn’t tired him out that much. Was he planning to sleep the day away while she worked?
He had said he’d had a rough night. But
then so had she. She wasn’t snoozing behind the counter or at home in bed. Erica was an adult who had to work for her living. Drew should learn what that was like.
She picked up the nearest thing—an empty cardboard box—and tossed it across the room. It landed on Drew’s hip. He bolted upright, palms lifting as if he could shoot webs like Spiderman.
Surprised eyes cleared and focused. “Erica? What’s going on?”
“You were sleeping.”
“That’s usually what happens when I’m tired.”
“I’m tired too but I have to work. Look, am I towing you down to Boston or what?”
“I can’t pay you for it right now.”
“I can write you a bill. Just give me your address—”
“Hello,” a female called from the front of the garage. “Erica? Erica!” The volume increased and the tone roughened. “My car made it five miles before it broke down!”
No, she silently whimpered on her trip out. That wasn’t possible. She recognized the voice, knew the GMC had been in peak condition when it had left. Erica went cold.
“Mrs. Hamon.” Erica greeted the older woman with a smile she wasn’t feeling. “What happened?”
The woman’s pinched expression didn’t bode well. “I got the car home. Parked it. And then the next day when I went to the general store, the damn thing wouldn’t start! I had to have Harold drive me home! I paid you extra money simply because I heard you did better work than everyone else. This isn’t better work. This is the worst work I’ve ever had!”
“I’ll come out and fix it—”
“No.” The woman slashed a hand through the air. “Jared is already working on it. I want a refund.”
Erica ground her teeth to avoid growling aloud.
Of course Jared had jumped in with assistance. He was like an ambulance chaser. The guy had probably cackled gleefully like an old-timey bad guy, twirling a handlebar moustache around his finger. Given half the chance he’d certainly tie her to a train track and run the locomotive over her himself.