Warnings and Wildfires

by Autumn Jones Lake

  I flick my tongue over her swollen clit faster and faster until she just snaps. She gasps and stutters my name, her whole body trembling through her release.

  Perfect.

  Exactly what I needed. Her wet, satisfied, and ready for more.

  I haven’t even caught my breath before Sully’s over top of me, cock nudging against me, slipping in the evidence of how much pleasure he gives me and how much more I want.

  All my senses are heightened, and I’ve never felt more alive. Heart racing, sweat rolling over my skin, impatient for him to be inside me.

  “Hurry.”

  He half-smiles and grabs a condom from the nightstand. Using one arm, he tries to shift our bodies toward the headboard.

  “Work with me, Aubrey,” he grunts.

  Even as I’m dying to have him inside me, I giggle at his frustration. “What are you doing?”

  He gives up trying to move us and reaches down, positioning himself.

  Dark, simmering eyes stare down at me. “I need to be inside you so bad, I’m afraid I’ll fuck you right off the bed.”

  I’d laugh, except he’s too intense to be joking.

  “Hang on,” he grits out as he pushes inside me.

  My hands grip his biceps, hard as stone from holding himself back.

  “Give it to me,” I pant.

  He’s hot, hard, and solid everywhere.

  Another long thrust hits a sensitive spot and I moan, lifting my hips to get more of that sensation.

  “Like that?” He grins and does it again. And again.

  I’m trembling. On the verge of climax when I hear something that sounds an awful lot like a door closing.

  Not the bedroom door.

  Farther away.

  “Sully,” I whisper.

  “Right here, babe.”

  “No!” I thump his chest with my hand. “I think someone’s in the house.”

  He stops and cocks his head to the side.

  Rigid and completely still, we both listen for another sound.

  Unfortunately, my nether-regions have their own agenda and tighten around him.

  He groans and closes his eyes. “I can’t concentrate if you do that.”

  “Sullivan?” someone calls out.

  He curses and leaves my body so abruptly I have trouble processing what happened.

  “Sullivan, are you home?”

  “Oh, shit,” I mutter, recognizing the voice.

  “Yeah,” he calls out, yanking on a pair of shorts and quickly tying them.

  For some idiotic reason, I scamper under the covers and pull them up over my head.

  How much did Mrs. Wallace overhear? I’ll never be able to look her in the face again.

  “Ma? What are you doing?” I ask as I close the bedroom door.

  She whirls around. “There you are! I wanted to let you know I was home. You didn’t answer…” Her voice trails off and she stops mid-step. Her shrewd gaze sweeps over me.

  I’m sure my hair’s sticking up in every direction. If that doesn’t clue her in, my sweaty, bare torso and hastily thrown on gym shorts should do the trick.

  Her gaze drops to the floor where Aubrey and I left a trail of clothes from the front door to the couch.

  She covers her mouth with her hand. “Is Aubrey? Did I? Were you?” Her voice rises in pitch with each half-question.

  It’s been a while since my mother was tongue-tied. But the moment is way too awkward to fully enjoy.

  Her cheeks flame red. “I’m so, so sorry. Forget I was here,” she says, backing toward the door.

  Unlikely.

  “I’m glad you’re home safe. We’ll talk in the morning,” I say.

  “Okay. Tell Aubrey I’m sorry.”

  She slams the door behind her and I wait a few seconds before hurrying over to engage the chain lock. Never bothered to use that before, but I sure as fuck will from now on.

  Not that I think Mom will ever stop by unannounced ever again.

  Aubrey’s still hiding under the covers when I return to my bedroom. I close—and lock—the bedroom door behind me.

  “You can come out now.” I’d laugh, but the mother—ha!—of all blue balls weighs me down as I approach the bed.

  “I’ll never be able to be in the same room as your mom again.” Her voice is muffled from under the covers, but her mortification is clear.

  “If it makes you feel better, I think she was just as embarrassed.”

  Aubrey pokes her head from underneath the blankets. “That doesn’t make me feel any better. I actually like your mom and now she’s going to think—”

  “That you make her son very happy. Trust me, that’s all she’s worried about.” I grin. “And more grandbabies, because she’s definitely worried about that.”

  The look of pure horror on Aubrey’s face makes me think maybe I should’ve kept that last one to myself. But then she laughs it off. “You’ll have to be the one to break it to her then. I don’t think my lady parts will ever work right again.”

  “Sounds like a challenge to me.” I rub my palms together to show her how eager I am.

  She opens her mouth to say something and I place my finger over her lips. “We can talk about it later.” I point to my almost-ready-for-action-again dick. “I’m in actual pain here.”

  She snorts, then bursts into full-blown giggles. “Oh, dear. We can’t have that.” She reaches for the waistband of my shorts and tugs. “I think it’s imperative we finish. Otherwise, we might not ever be able to do it again,” she says in a grave tone.

  “Laugh all you want, but it’s probably true.”

  She snickers and tugs at my shorts. “I bet with minimal effort, you can have me hot and bothered again.”

  I slide the shorts down my legs and her eyes widen. She tosses the sheets back and sits up, reaching for my cock. “Yup, that should do the trick,” she says, licking her lips. My eyes squeeze shut as she works her hand up and down my shaft.

  “Harder,” I urge, placing my hand over hers. Her thumb grazes the sensitive spot underneath and I hiss with pleasure. “Don’t stop.”

  I reach over for another condom. Opening my eyes to rip it open, I find her watching me.

  “You okay?” I ask, feeling like a dick. Instead of worrying about my hard-on, which let’s face it, it was going to return the second I got a glimpse of Aubrey’s naked body, I should’ve focused on working her up again.

  I’m not at all prepared for what comes out of her mouth.

  “I’m on the pill.”

  My dick is all “‘Yes, please!’” while my brain is like, “‘Fuck no. Last time you believed a chick and went in commando resulted in a daughter you didn’t get to see for the first four years of her life.’”

  Trust issues much?

  “I don’t mind,” I say.

  Her cheeks turn pink. Knowing Aubrey, that probably took a lot of courage.

  Fuck.

  She waves her hand in the air as if she’s trying to dismiss whatever just happened.

  “Another time.”

  Even though my dick is not pleased about being smothered in latex after Aubrey’s offer, I’m harder than a motherfucker.

  I grab her hips and haul her to the edge of the bed. “Wrap your legs around me.”

  She hooks her feet together, heels resting above my ass and pulls me closer.

  “Not so fast.” I tease her entrance with the head of my cock until she’s squirming under me.

  “Sully,” she pleads.

  I push inside. Slow this time, watching the pleasure flickering over her face. She arches her back and her lips part.

  “Ohh. Right there.”

  I lick my thumb and place it over her clit, rubbing in the fast, tight circles I’ve discovered she really likes.

  She gasps, and I keep going. Slow and steady. Pulling almost all the way out before pushing in deep.

  She reaches out to me and I take her hands. “Like that?”

  “Yes,” she whispers.

/>   “You’re going to come for me, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” I thrust in deeper. Faster. Keep rubbing and thrusting.

  Her heels dig into the small of my back and I fall down over her, gathering her in my arms.

  She trembles. Writhes under me. So close, but not quite there.

  Then she breaks with a sweet cry of relief. I bury my face against her neck, grinding into her harder and faster until I let go. Squeezing my eyes shut as the orgasm overtakes me.

  As I keep pumping into her, I wish I’d taken her up on the no condom offer. All sorts of images run through my head. Coming inside her. Filling her. It’s something primal. Mating instinct? I don’t fucking know. I want all of it though. Want all of her.

  Mine.

  I touch my lips to her forehead, trying to orient myself. Catch my breath.

  Regain my sanity.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  I wake with Aubrey snuggled up against my back. The warm weight of her feels so right next to me.

  As smoothly as possible, I turn, watching her for a few minutes.

  She blinks and smiles when she sees me. “Morning.”

  “Move in with me,” I say.

  She raises her eyebrows.

  “I miss you when you’re not here and I love waking up next to you.”

  “Wow,” she whispers. “That’s some good morning.”

  “I’m serious.” I brush a few stray strands of hair off her face. “Move in with me.”

  She sits up, pressing the sheet against her breasts. “I don’t know. Your family has a knack for walking in when we’re in delicate situations.”

  She’s teasing me. I sit up and kiss her shoulder.

  “I’ll buy better locks. And a Do Not Disturb sign.”

  She turns, but there’s no hint of teasing. “What about Madison? Won’t that be weird for her? Will it screw up your custody arrangement?”

  I don’t get the sense she’s trying to dodge my question. More like she’s genuinely worried about these things.

  And it makes me love her even more.

  “Let me worry about that stuff.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay, you’ll move in?”

  Her lashes flutter and a smile flickers over her lips. “Yes.” She hesitates. “Just give me a little time to break it to my sister.”

  “Whenever you’re ready.”

  She turns over and I draw her into my arms. At first just to hold her, but other parts of my anatomy have different ideas.

  I kiss her shoulder blade and up to her neck, moving her hair so I can kiss behind her ear. Not so subtly, I rub my morning wood against her ass. “Did you offer up something last night?”

  “Such as?” A cautious note colors her question.

  I decide not to fuck around and go right for the important information. I trust her not to lie to me. “I haven’t been with anyone but you since my last physical.”

  “Oh,” she whispers. “Me either.”

  Reaching down, I hook my arm under her knee, lifting her leg. “Arch your back.”

  My other arm snakes under her body, cupping her breast and anchoring her to me. Molding myself to her, I continue nibbling on her neck. My cock nudges her entrance and she presses back even more, inviting me to drive in. I stop, overcome with how fucking amazing she feels bare.

  “Fuck,” I groan against her shoulder, grazing my teeth over her smooth skin.

  She wiggles and I lift her leg higher for a better angle.

  One of her hands reaches back, gripping my arm. “Fuck. That feels. That feels amazing,” she whispers.

  No sounds except us. So hot. Like we’re melting into each other. She leans back, and I nuzzle her, leaving faint abrasions from my rough morning stubble on her skin.

  I’m not sure how long we’re like that—half cuddling, half fucking—until she shudders against me. I push her over on her stomach and stuff a pillow under her hips. She arches her back, granting me access to push back inside. My hands fit into the curve of her waist, holding her in place while I pound into her with unrelenting strokes. Under me, she bucks, moans, and encourages me with dirty words.

  “Oh.” She claws at the pillows, grasping and pulling them toward her. “Oh.” Her moans go on and on, triggering my release. I hold myself up, tense as I empty everything I have into her.

  When I’m finished and can see again, I kiss my way up her spine. “I want to wake up with you like this every day,” I whisper.

  She turns, watching me over her shoulder. “Sounds good to me.”

  Pulling out, I tap her ass once, then again because it feels so good. “Love your ass,” I mumble.

  She glances back. “I can’t get rid of it no matter what I do, so I guess that’s good for me.”

  Shaking my head, I sit next to her on the bed, rubbing my hand over her back and ass. “You have any idea how many times in class I had to stop myself from grabbing this hot ass? Don’t you dare try to get rid of it.” This time, I grab a handful and she squeals, laughing and slapping my hand away.

  “Mine,” I growl before planting a kiss on her cheek.

  “You’re full of it.”

  Wow, she seriously questions herself. Something I’ve noticed since I met her. Not the usual fishing-for-compliments insecurity some girls display. Something much deeper than that.

  I rub my finger over her cheek. “I don’t lie, Aubrey.”

  “But you didn’t want anything to do with me.”

  “That’s not true at all.”

  She raises an eyebrow, challenging me to explain. I sigh and trace my fingers down the line of her spine, trying to decide how much I’m willing to share.

  I may have reached a new level of pathetic and needy. The man told me he loves me last night. Asked me to move in with him this morning. Gave me one of the most intense orgasms of my life—in fact, I’m still quivering from it, which is why I haven’t found the strength to move yet.

  But seeing Darren yesterday messed with my head. I might have shoved the encounter out of my mind for a few hours last night, but his words won’t stop echoing. And, oh, how I hate letting that particular ghost haunt me when I’m with Sully.

  He seems so torn and I’m almost afraid to hear what he has to say. The soothing way he keeps stroking his hands over my back seems to help.

  “It’s not because I wasn’t attracted to you,” he explains. At first, his voice seems tentative as if he doesn’t want to reveal too much, but then he shakes his head and continues. “I wasn’t using not getting involved with clients as an excuse. I meant it. This is a small community with a lot of big mouths. You know all those free classes I do at the shelter and the Y? They’re not gonna let me do that if I gain a reputation as some sleaze who hits on all the students.”

  I turn over and sit up, dragging the sheet over me. “Why do you do so many of those free classes?” I admire him for it, especially since it comes at the cost of not growing his business in ways that will earn him more money. His dedication stems from something deep that I want to understand.

  His stepfather. Sully already gave me the answer the other day. I just didn’t hear him.

  “Did your stepfather hit your mom?”

  He runs his hand over the back of his neck and looks away. “Yes.”

  “Her injury. Her eye. Did he do that?”

  His jaw locks tight and he nods.

  I reach out, run my hand over his arm and twine my fingers with his. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s a long time ago.” He seems to shake himself out of the memory. “He ended up dead. I went into juvenile detention.”

  “Jesus. Why? For protecting your mother?”

  He shrugs. “A man was dead.” He snorts. “The ‘Castle’ where they hold the fights? That used to be a Juvenile Detention center. One of the more vicious ones. It got shut down when the feds investigated and found out just how many broken bones and teeth were caused by the so-called youth counselors.”

&n
bsp; “Oh my God. No wonder you wanted to stay away,” I whisper, feeling awful that I made him go there when it probably brought up a lot of bad memories for him.

  “That’s not the main reason. To Griff and Remy it’s their way of flipping off the system. But yeah, I’d rather not be reminded of my stay there. Although it is where I took up an interest in martial arts.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Around eleven.” He lets out a humorless laugh and turns his head. “A guard there offered to ‘train’ me. It was really more of an excuse to kick my ass.”

  “But you were so young.”

  “Youngest one there for a while.” He forces a bitter smile. “Everyone knew I was there for killing my stepfather. People tended to steer clear of me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It feels like a lifetime ago.” He closes his eyes. “I didn’t want to be defined by that one thing for the rest of my life. The counselors used to say it was a warm-up of what the rest of our lives would be like—in and out of prison. It drove me to prove them wrong. It’s why I get so pissed with Jake—”

  “Because the fighting could get him in trouble?”

  “That and…other stuff, but yeah.”

  I understand exactly what he means by not wanting to have your whole life determined by one bad incident. It’s why I’ve lived the last few years trying to escape and bury my own painful past. Hiding it from anyone in my “new” life.

  Now that Darren’s resurfaced, I might not be able to hide any longer.

  “Sully?”

  “Too much too soon?”

  “No. Not at all. Thank you for trusting me.” Now it’s my turn. “I—”

  His phone rings and I snap my mouth shut.

  “Hey, Maddy,” he answers. A genuine smile lights him up.

  Her voice is loud enough to hear her excitement but not the actual words. While Sully talks to her, I get up and run to the bathroom, clean up, and throw on a T-shirt.

  He’s dressed but still on the phone when I emerge. “Okay. Yup. Heading out in a few. Talk to you later. Love you too.”

  He’s grinning when he ends the call. “School was closed today. She’s pissed she didn’t know about it sooner so she could’ve stayed an extra day.”