by Mari Carr
He grinned as he noticed they were in the same position they’d been in when he’d woken up this morning, give or take the bed. Then he realized they were actually miles from where they’d been. She was his. She’d admitted it. Now he just had to make sure she believed it.
Chapter Seven
Tris mixed two martinis and handed them to Keira before strolling back to the end of the bar where Lane sat sipping her glass of wine. It was Wednesday night, Lane’s night off. When she’d agreed to take the nursing position with Pop, Tris had made sure she would have every Wednesday night off. The first two weeks she’d refused to leave the apartment, too worried about moving even one floor away from his pop, but tonight Pop insisted she get out and have a little time to herself.
Tris couldn’t restrain his grin as he recalled his pop winking at him after making the suggestion. He’d worried initially about Pop’s reaction when he learned Lane was going to be staying in his bedroom. He obviously needn’t have wasted the time or the anxiety. Pop had returned from his walk with Teagan and Riley the morning his sister had spied Lane naked in his bed. Tris could only assume Riley hadn’t been able to resist filling Pop in on exactly what she’d seen in his bedroom. Pop had drawn him aside and asked if he’d remembered to use protection. When Tris assured him he had, he was shocked as hell when the old man muttered something under his breath about never having grandkids before walking away.
“You want another glass of wine?” he asked.
She hesitated. “I probably shouldn’t stay much longer. I’m worried—”
“Teagan and Sean are upstairs with Pop. If they need you, they’ll come get you. Besides, you aren’t leaving until after closing.”
She gave him a confused look. “I’m not?”
He shook his head. “I’ve spent weeks imagining how you would look half-dressed and bent over this bar with me fucking you from behind.”
She sucked in a deep breath at his words and he let his gaze drift to her T-shirt. Sure enough, her nipples were poking through the thin material.
“Stop that,” she whispered.
“I love your pretty nipples. They always let me know ahead of time if I’m getting lucky or not.”
Lane snorted. “I think this past week has proven you must live at the end of the damn rainbow.”
He chuckled and agreed. Moving Lane into his bedroom had unhooked the leash on all his pent-up lust and he couldn’t resist indulging in her body several times a day. Lucky for him, Lane was as insatiable as he was.
“We’re just making up for lost time.”
“We didn’t lose that much time, Tris.”
He bent forward and kissed the end of her nose. “Will you stay and help me close?”
She nodded.
“Good. Here, have some more wine. I want you nice and relaxed for what I have in mind.”
She squirmed on the seat and leaned forward, obviously anticipating more details. Lane was a sucker for dirty talk. Before he could proceed, her cell phone rang.
“Damn,” she muttered, reaching for it. She glanced at the number and frowned.
“Telemarketer?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Just Joy. I better take this.” She stepped away from the bar and into a quiet corner. He watched her, wondering about the lie she’d just told. He was becoming very good at reading her face. When she lied, she looked away and flushed slightly. He couldn’t hear what she was saying, but he could tell she wasn’t engaged in a friendly conversation.
“I need two pints of Guinness,” Keira said, walking up to the bar and giving Tris the order.
He nodded and poured the beer.
“How are things with you and Lane?”
“Great.” He glanced back at Lane, still talking on the phone. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was arguing with the person on the other end.
“She’s the one, isn’t she?”
He looked at his sister and considered avoiding her question. He nodded instead.
“She was always the one,” Keira said.
He nodded again.
“I’m glad she came back.”
“Me too,” he confessed.
“The two of you are a good fit.”
He grinned. “I wish you’d tell her that.”
“She’ll figure it out. She’s had some rough times. It may take awhile. Which means…” Keira paused and gave him one of her annoying sister smiles. “You’re going to have to practice patience.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And I assume from that smirk, you think I can’t do this?”
“I think you’re going to have to work very hard not to pull a typical macho Tris move. You’re not going to be able to power your way through this. Lane has issues with trust. I can’t blame her really. If I’d grown up the way she did or been stuck in a shitty marriage like hers, I’d have a hard time trusting someone too.”
“I love her, Keira. I’m not going to hurt her or betray her trust.”
“I know that, but you can’t expect her to trust you overnight. It takes time.”
“We’ve known each other for nearly three years.”
She shook her head. “No dice. You were acquaintances, friends that first year, and the second year she was on the other side of the country. You’re starting from scratch, brother dear.”
“Fuck,” he muttered as Keira laughed. “You’ll be fine. Just be patient. Don’t try to push her too hard, too fast.”
His sister took the tray of drinks as Lane returned to her seat.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded and he could tell she was upset.
“You sure?”
“Everything’s fine, Tris.”
He wanted to press her on the subject, but Keira’s words hovered. “Great.”
* * * * *
Tris locked the door behind the remaining customers and Lane wondered how she’d made it through the last two hours. Between Tris whispering all the naughty things he wanted to do to her and her anxiety over James’ phone call, she was a horny, emotional wreck.
Her ex clearly wasn’t happy about her new job and had called—as a friend, he’d said—to tell her of a position in one of the nursing homes in the city. Apparently the manager of the place was an old high-school pal and James offered to pull some strings if she was interested. She’d tried to tell him politely that she wasn’t. When he argued that her job with the Collins family was only temporary, she’d lost her temper. She’d been about to hang up on him when he mentioned her grandmother’s picture again. He didn’t seem inclined to simply drop it off at the pub and he’d invited her out for lunch the next day. She’d told him she was busy and repeated her request that he bring it to her, but she had a gut feeling he wasn’t going to make anything easy. What else was new?
She jumped as arms enveloped her from behind.
“Hey,” Tris said, tightening his grip. “It’s just me, kitten. You okay? You were a million miles away for a minute.”
“Just thinking,” she said and she felt his smile against her ear.
“About us? About tonight?”
She nodded, grateful he couldn’t see her face as she lied. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing James out of her head. He was the past, an ass. She was moving forward, moving on. Trying like hell to figure out how to be in a normal relationship. Tris was a natural at it and she was following his lead, but she still felt herself holding back a bit. She knew he could sense it, but she couldn’t find a way to make the final leap. Hell, the final seven leaps. She was drifting in no man’s land without a clue as to where she was supposed to go next.
Tris stepped away and turned off the lights in the pub. He’d lowered the blinds on the front windows, but a small shaft of light streamed through from the streetlights outside. She thought for a moment the lack of lighting should make the place frightening, but instead it was actually quite romantic.
Tris walked over and took her hand, leading her around to the side of the bar and through the hing
ed opening until they were standing next to the taps. The light aroma of beer hovered in the air and she smiled, the delicate scent reminding her of the man standing beside her.
“I’ve imagined this so many times,” he said softly.
She smiled. “Tell me.”
He took a step closer and lightly grasped her waist. “I’m going to show you.”
He tugged her T-shirt from her jeans, slowly dragging it up her body until her bra was revealed. She started to help him by stripping it off completely, but he stopped her.
“Leave the shirt there. As much as I love you naked, kitten, there’s something very sexy about a half-dressed woman.”
“Any woman?”
“My woman. You.”
She giggled. “Good answer.”
He reached behind her and unhooked her bra, dragging the lace away until it lay gathered above her breasts with her T-shirt. Tristan’s gaze drifted down and she shivered under his seductive look. “Beautiful.” He bent forward and took one of her taut nipples into his mouth.
Her hands reached up to tangle in his hair, her fingers playing with the thick strands as he made love to her breasts with his mouth. For several minutes, he worshiped at the altar of her body and she felt very much like a pagan princess. She gasped as he increased the suction, the throbbing pleasure weaving its way through her. She was straddling his thigh, riding him in a vain attempt to find relief.
“Shhh,” he whispered as he stepped away. “Let’s get rid of these jeans. They’re in the way.”
She helped him push the denim over her hips and once again, he stopped her before she could kick them off. “Turn around, Lane.” He helped her spin and pushed her upper body down until she was bent over the low counter behind the bar. His hands caressed her bare ass and she trembled.
“God. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve imagined you like this. Your clothing in disarray, your body spread out over this bar, waiting for me to take you.”
She looked at him over her shoulder, her breathing erratic, her heart racing with excitement.
“I’m going to take you, Lane. I’m going to take you hard and fast and just when you think you can’t stand any more, I’m going to do it all over again.” His hand moved from her ass cheeks to the line between and she groaned when he thrust two fingers inside her pussy.
“Hurry, Tris,” she begged, but he didn’t respond to her plea, by word or action. His fingers moved too slowly inside her.
He bent forward and kissed her ass, his rough cheek scratching the sensitive skin and driving her arousal higher. She loved his five o’clock shadow, although she’d had some embarrassing moments trying to hide the love marks he’d left on her neck the past few days.
“I don’t think you’re hot enough,” he murmured.
“Dammit, Tris. If I get much hotter, I’ll singe this bar. Fuck me. Please.”
“No. I’m hungry. Think I’ll have a little snack before we get down to business.”
“I’m going to kill you if you stop now,” she muttered and he laughed.
“I changed my mind. These jeans are in the way. Take them off. I want you wide open for this.”
She fought to kick off her pants, her body pulsating with need.
“You know, there’s something very kinky about the idea of popping your cherry.”
She glanced over her shoulder when she felt him rummaging around on the bar. “What?”
Her breath caught when she saw him pick up a bright red cherry from the garnish tray, removing the stem. “What are you going to do with that?”
“Eat it,” he replied. “Now hold still.” He nudged her legs farther apart with his foot and she sucked in a breath when she felt him place the cool piece of fruit at her opening.
“God,” she whispered when he pushed the cherry inside.
“How many should I eat?” he asked, but she was too focused on the idea of what he was about to do to answer.
He pushed three more cherries into her hot pussy before she felt his lips touch her aching flesh. His tongue caressed her opening before thrusting inside.
“So sweet,” he murmured as his fingers moved beneath her to play with her clit. She groaned as he worked the tiny nub while fucking her with his tongue. She tried to thrust against his mouth, but he used his free hand to hold her to the counter.
“Please,” she begged when she felt his tongue move the cherries around inside her.
“Watch me,” he said, moving back a bit and replacing his tongue with his fingers. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see him…feel him…pop the first cherry out. He moved the fruit to his mouth and ate it. She groaned at the sexiness of his actions. He took out two more of the cherries and ate them as she watched. When he dragged out the last small piece, he leaned over her, his back caging her to the counter as he pushed the fruit between her lips. She was assaulted by contrasting flavors—the sweet juice from the cherry and the tartness from her body’s liquid.
“Delicious,” he whispered in her ear. She felt him fumbling with his pants, heard the crinkling of a foil wrapper and then she felt heaven. The head of his cock nudged her opening and she growled. He’d pushed her beyond needy, beyond hungry. She was ravenous.
“Sounds like my kitten’s turned into a wildcat. Hold on, Lane.”
His warning was no empty threat. He came into her body just as he’d promised—hard and fast and perfect. She climaxed after only a few thrusts, but Tris gave her no reprieve. He pounded into her greedy body as she fought to restrain her screams. Her first and second climax seemed to be connected and she wondered if it was possible to come for so long. Tris kept her at the edge, never allowing her body to rest, to recover. He took her like a man possessed, or in the act of possessing, and she willingly surrendered her body into his all-too-capable hands.
His hands were wrapped around her, gripping her breasts firmly, moving her body toward his. The sound of their labored breathing, her soft moans and his whispered praises filled the bar.
“So good,” he murmured. “So fucking hot. God, I love you, Lane.”
She came, his proclamation and hard thrusts triggering the response. He followed her into the white-hot bliss and she shuddered, trying to regain control of her body. He remained above her for several minutes, his head resting against her back as hers lay lifeless on the counter.
“Just like you imagined?” she asked.
“Better.”
“I think I’m going to sleep here,” she murmured, deciding there was no way she could make her limp muscles carry her up two flights of stairs.
He chuckled. “Not that I don’t think my brothers wouldn’t love to get a glimpse of your sexy bare ass first thing in the morning, but I think you might be more comfortable in my bed.”
“Problem is, I can’t get there.”
“I’ll carry you,” he said.
She looked at him. “Is this going to become a habit?”
“Maybe.”
“Cool,” she answered. “Have to admit it’s pretty sexy.”
He rose and helped her to a standing position. He lowered her shirt and bra, not bothering to hook it back up. While he zipped his jeans, she put hers back on. The second they were decent, he bent over, hefting her over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift.
“Hey!” she protested as she dangled upside down, looking at his back.
He laughed. “Not what you had in mind?” He headed for the stairs.
“You know it wasn’t.” She tried to push her way down, but he stopped her struggles by pinching her ass.
“Ouch,” she cried.
“Hush,” he said as they neared the top of the first landing. “You’ll wake up my family.”
They passed through the living room and up the second set of steps to Tristan’s room. Once there, he tossed her on his bed while she giggled.
“Take off your clothes. I like sleeping naked with you.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of asking nicely? Maybe saying the magic word?�
�� she teased, though she starting taking off her jeans.
“Will you take off your clothes?” he asked. “So I can please you until your toes curl?”
“Mmm. Much better. I like how you use the magic word.”
“I thought you might. Are we finished with the lesson on manners for now?”
She nodded and grinned.
“Good.” He finished undressing and joined her on the bed.
Her eyebrow rose when she spotted his erection. “You’re kidding, right? I thought that magic-word line was a joke.”
“There’s nothing funny about the magic word. Are you sore?”
She shook her head. “No, but God knows I should be. We’ve been fucking like bunnies for days.”
He laughed. “We don’t have to do it if you’re too tired, Lane. I pretty much walk around with a hard-on all the time now that you’re here.”
“Oh my. Well, I certainly can’t have that on my head.” She lay back and reached up, beckoning him to her. “Fuck me, Tris,” she whispered.
He paused, cocking his head to the side as if waiting for something.
“Please,” she added with a giggle.
As they drifted to sleep nearly an hour later, Lane curled up in his arms and whispered one word. “Magic.”
* * * * *
“It’s a beautiful day,” Lane said a week later as she and Mr. Collins took a short walk around the block. The sun had come out full force, gracing spring with a gorgeous burst of warm weather.
“Yes, it is,” Mr. Collins agreed. His walking had improved greatly and he’d moved from the walker to a cane a few days earlier. Lane knew he was suffering from serious cabin fever and she’d begun to wonder how much longer she’d manage to keep him from work. Tris was worried about his pop pushing himself too far, too fast, but she knew there was also a danger in allowing Mr. Collins to languish too long. The problem was finding the happy medium.
“So how is my son treating you?” he asked.
Lane grinned. Mr. Collins had been surprisingly close-mouthed about her budding relationship with Tris, though she knew he was consumed with curiosity. The fact he was questioning her was a clue he was definitely on the mend.