Wicked Sinner

by Stacey Kennedy

  When she reached for his shirt, lifting it up, somewhere in his brain, reality kicked in. He broke away, breathless. “Fuck, we can’t do this.”

  “Sure we can,” she said, pushing on his chest until he was walking backward. “If I recall, you used to excel in this department. I can only imagine you’ve gotten better these past ten years.”

  “Remy,” he said firmly, but a push sent him down on the couch.

  “Asher.” She climbed onto his lap, sliding her hands up biceps flexing beneath her touch. “I know you want me.” She brought her heat tight against his erection, threading her fingers into his hair. “I can feel it.” She ground against him and her fingernails dragged against his scalp. “I can see it in how you watch me sometimes.”

  He slid his hands to her sweet ass. A low sound came from deep in his chest, finally feeling her. “I do want you,” he told her. She lowered her mouth closer to his, and he quickly added, “But you’re drunk, and I’m pretty damn close to it.”

  She laughed softly, looking a lot like the woman he once loved. “I’m not that drunk. I’m just happy. I also totally know what I’m doing.”

  Her mouth got closer.

  “You’re going to regret this tomorrow,” he told her, squeezing his hands onto her hips, holding her still.

  “Am not,” she rebuked, then kissed him. Hard.

  He let her play a while, teasing him with openmouthed kisses and a little tongue before he needed to point out the obvious. He rested his head on the back of the couch, watching her carefully. “This is a dangerous thing you’re starting. You know what happens when we touch each other.” We only want more he left unsaid.

  “It’s only dangerous,” she said, her breath against his lips, grinding her heat against him, “if we’re not grown-ups and can’t handle this. I can handle this. Can you?”

  He ground his teeth against the pleasure and played with the hair by her face, taking in her dark, aroused eyes, and then tucked her hair behind her ear. A few hours ago, she finally decided to be his friend again, and he didn’t want to screw that up. He knew this was a dangerous road he should not take, and yet, the stronger part of him wanted her—that had never faded over the years. In fact, his desire only grew when he’d returned to Stoney Creek, finding the girl he once knew had become a gorgeous woman. He simply never thought it was a possibility she’d ever let him close, considering it took her years to talk to him again. Now with the possibility there in front of him, he hungered to feel the good that Remy made him feel, and to watch her fall apart in his arms in the way only Remy did. But most of all, he wanted to make her happy, to be everything she needed until she no longer looked at him like the biggest mistake of her life…even though he knew it was wrong. Knew he couldn’t ultimately give her what she wanted. “I can handle this, and you,” he told her seriously. “That is not the problem here.”

  Instead of answering him, she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled the fabric quickly over her head, revealing a black bra, and his brain failed to comprehend anything but her. Her skin, both creamy and smooth. Her body was so familiar to him, and yet he wanted another full introduction to what made her wiggle, moan…and what made her scream. Yeah, he wanted that most of all. Still, his mind stuttered. “Should I remind you that you nearly married someone else yesterday?”

  “Believe me.” She planted her hands on either side of his head on the back of the couch, giving him full eye contact. “I fully remember that fact. But here’s the thing: I’m done feeling like shit. This night has been so much better than I even thought possible. It’s made me remember how good you used to make me feel. And most of all, you’re a safe bet.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “A safe bet?”

  “I won’t fall in love with you,” she said firmly, then grabbed his face. “Asher, shut up and have sex with me already.”

  She didn’t need to ask him twice. Any further objections failed to enter his mind. He wanted her friendship, but he was all in for friends with benefits. He gathered her in his arms and strode them up the stairs next to her kitchen leading to her loft. He tossed her onto the bed, sending her laughing and the mattress bouncing. She was so damn sexy. He grabbed his shirt over his head, tossed it to the ground, then reached for a condom in his wallet before shedding his boxer briefs and jeans.

  “You’ve gotten big. Most definitely became a man.” Her gaze traced over his shoulders, his chest, down his abdomen, which all flexed under her examination. When her gaze hit his erection, she grinned and looked into his eyes. “There, you were always big.”

  “I’m glad I don’t disappoint. Get over here.” Feeling like no time and no pain had passed between them, he grabbed on to her foot, yanking her closer toward him. He reached around and removed her bra and then dropped his mouth over her rosy nipple, sucking while he reached for her leggings. With quick fingers, he pulled them off, finding her exactly as he remembered her.

  Sweet. Perfect.

  Primal need had him grabbing her thighs and he yanked her ass off the bed, sending her squealing. Desperate to get the taste of her he’d been wanting, he spread her wide and slid the flat of his tongue across her wet and hot heat, remembering how sensitive she’d been. He moaned against her flesh, overwhelmed by her.

  “Yes. Damn. Yes,” she drawled, threading her fingers through his hair. She held on to him, slowly grinding her hips as his tongue worked over her clit. His body flushed and muscles flexed against the intensity surging through him. He knew this body. He had loved this body. He’d been the one to teach her about lust, about sex, about how to let go and lose your goddamn mind.

  And she obviously remembered too. She rode his mouth, searching for her pleasure.

  When her moans shortened and legs trembled, he slid one finger inside her and then another, and in a few fast pumps, she was shuddering, coming beautifully against his mouth. His muscles were quivering, hot desire pulsing through his veins with every moan she gave. When she gasped, sensitive, he drew away, finding her head tilted back, her chest rising and falling, her eyes closed to the orgasm.

  He grinned at how boneless he made her and sheathed himself quickly in a condom, unable to wait another second to have her. He grabbed her waist, pushing her farther onto the bed while sliding between her thighs. Her hands rested on his arms while he pressed his tip against her wet slit. He entered her in one swift stroke, and her fingernails dug into his skin when she finally looked at him with wide eyes. Needing all of her, and desperate to make her finally feel good again, he dropped his mouth to hers and he kissed her with everything he had to give. He moved slowly, gently, allowing her to become accustomed to him. He went nearly cross-eyed at the squeeze of her, the beautiful feel of her. His Remy.

  “Make me come again,” she breathed again his mouth.

  He shifted his weight onto one arm, threading his fingers into her hair. “Been a while for you?” he asked with pure masculine satisfaction, giving a hard thrust forward.

  She gasped. “It’s been a while since I’ve come like that.”

  Because it wasn’t me touching you… He kept his thought to himself and leaned up on his arms, staring into eyes that he both lost and found himself in. “Whatever you want, Remy. I’ll give you it all.” He thrust slow and hard, building up the pleasure, enjoying the feel of her around him, all for himself. Years he’d not had her. He’d take these moments to feel the sweetness of her body hugging his until he reminded her how well he knew her body.

  Her lips parted but only a moan escaped.

  Overwhelmed by finally being close to her again and feeling like—for this one moment—nothing had ever come between them, he pumped his hips harder, knowing just how she liked it. That’s where he wanted her. Right there, beneath him. Safe. Staring into his eyes—only his. He slid a hand under her soft bottom, lifting her to him, determined to give her all that she needed and more.

  Her breath hitched, muscles clenched, and she moved with him until she was falling into pleasure. Captured by
her beauty, and in that sweet second of bliss, where they became united fully and completely by the passion between them, he gave in to the warmth in his chest and followed her into hot intense pulses of pleasure.

  Chapter 6

  Early the next morning, Remy jolted awake in her bed. Her head pounded with every pulse of her heart, and her mouth was dry, reminding her she’d had way too much alcohol last night. She forced her eyes open, glancing out her window and finding a blue sky with big fluffy clouds. All that was fine. What wasn’t fine at all was the warm, familiar, deliciously hard body next to her. She wanted to move closer, yet she also itched to run away.

  “No, no!” she exclaimed, removing herself from Asher’s arms and snapping up in bed, covering her bare chest with the blanket. She blinked once, then nearly drooled when she caught sight of Asher naked, the sheet sitting low on his body, revealing his near perfect form with all those beautiful muscles, including the V at his waist. Every detail about last night came back in an instant. Heat flushed to her cheeks, spilling all the way down to her chest. “I totally jumped you last night.”

  Asher peeked an eye open and said in a low, gravelly voice, “I liked it.”

  “No. No. No.” She lurched out of bed and then grabbed her head. “Ow.”

  Asher gave his low sexy chuckle. “Climb back in bed with me. I’ll make that headache go away.”

  She looked through her fingers. Yup, the sheet was even lower now, showing a little bit of his groomed pubic hair. “Oh, this is so, so bad,” she muttered. Especially considering he looked delicious, and she really, really wanted to take him up on his offer.

  His chuckle deepened, and he leaned up on one arm, displaying his incredible six-pack. “I recall you yelling out last night that I was oh, so, so good.” Damn him, his eyes twinkled.

  She dropped her head into her hands. “Oh my God, I threw myself at you,” she grumbled into her fingers. “This is so embarrassing.” Drunk Remy was always so much braver and sexier than sober Remy. “What is wrong with me?”

  “Absolutely nothing,” he said huskily. “Come here, and I’ll prove it.”

  She dropped her hands, her headache pushed to the side now that her embarrassment had stolen the show. She tried to think up one of Nana’s spells that could somehow make all this better, but she failed miserably. Memories of last night began drifting in, and her pushy seduction followed. She needed to hide under that blanket, which meant he had to get out. “If I got back into that bed with you, that would be the second”—she counted on her fingers—”no, like the fifth mistake I’ve made this week, if you include my almost getting married to a con man.”

  “Last night wasn’t a mistake,” Asher said softy in a tone she supposed was meant to be reassuring. “You needed something. You took it. And I happily gave it.” He grinned and then his gaze did a full once-over on her body before those sexy eyes rose to hers again.

  Instantly reminded she was naked, she crossed everything, “Don’t look at me.”

  His easy grin widened. “I kissed and touched every inch of you three times last night. Why can’t I look now?”

  “Ugh. Stop it!” She beelined it for her closet, stopping short at the emptiness on the right side, where all of Damon’s clothes had been. Dear God, she was going to marry another man two days ago and she’d slept with the love of her life last night. Bad, Remy. So, so bad! She hurried into a sports bra, T-shirt, and yoga pants before returning to him.

  Asher hadn’t moved an inch. The shit.

  “Okay, you have to go,” she said, crossing her arms. “Right now.”

  He laced his hands behind his head on the pillow. “Why?”

  “Why?” She moved closer, put her hands on her hips. “Are you kidding me? Two days ago I was wearing a wedding dress and was about to marry someone else.”

  “A wedding dress you burned,” he gently reminded her. “And your groom is in jail and will likely stay there for a very long time.” Asher’s gaze basically ate her up, promising things, making her nipples pucker.

  She went to turn away. “I cannot even talk about this.”

  “Talk about how you ravished the hell out of me last night. Three times,” Asher said, drawing her attention back to him. “Well, twice”—he winked—“I did the ravishing that third time.” He smiled, a playful grin.

  Her body froze in place, her face and neck and ears all feeling impossibly hot. Oh, my God! A quick glance around revealed Asher’s clothes scattered on the floor. She scooped each thing up, then hastily handed them to him. “You’ve got to go. We need to forget this ever happened.”

  Asher stretched, and in his easy manner, he slid out of bed. He rose to his full height, staring down at her, displaying his spectacular body with muscles on top of muscles. “I can go.” His voice was low and smooth, and sent heat straight between her thighs as he went on. “But I won’t forget last night happened.”

  She blinked, momentarily stunned by his hefty erection. Did every inch of him have to be so damn perfect? She put on her game face and looked him in the eye. “Put that away.”

  His grin melted her bones. “There’s definitely a place, or two, I’d like to put this. And it’s not back in my jeans.”

  She squeezed her legs together against the hot pulsing need.

  His grin widened.

  She rolled her eyes and gave him a gentle push. “Stop flattering yourself. You’re hot and you’ve got a perfect dick. I can’t help but notice you.” She turned her back to him, folding her arms. “But that changes nothing. Get dressed.”

  His low laugh that echoed with heady masculine amusement rose goose bumps on her arms. Damn, she was in so much trouble.

  When she heard the zipper, she turned back to find him wearing only his jeans and dog tags. She shouldn’t have turned around. Emotion flooded her, making her move toward him and touch those dog tags. With all that body on her mind, and maybe her shock, she hadn’t seen those on him last night, or been sober enough to realize, but those belonged to his mother, who had been in the military. “You still wear them, huh?”

  He moved away, pulling the tags from Remy’s hands as he slid his T-shirt quickly over his head. “They never come off.”

  For all the heat that had been there a second ago, all the confusion and fear pulsing through her, now the air only seemed to hold thick emotion, pulling her forward. The memory of the last time she’d felt that emotion slammed into her.

  The steady beep of the monitor was the only indication that any life remained in the woman lying in front of them. Remy stayed back as Asher sat on the chair next to the hospital bed, holding his mother’s hand. Remy’s heart reached for Asher, but it also reached for his mother. She couldn’t imagine being so wrapped up in any man, or having such low self-esteem, that when he left her she’d seen no way to continue on, so she took her own life. Maybe downing the pills had been a cry for help. Or his mother hadn’t meant to actually go through with it, hoping it would bring her husband back to her. But more likely, years of abuse suffered by the hands of a drunk had rendered his mother broken. Too broken to carry on.

  “Mom, can you hear me?” Asher asked, breaking into Remy’s thoughts.

  Tears welled and emotion clawed at Remy’s throat. She wanted to stay next to him and hold him, but she knew he needed time with his mom. The curtains were drawn in the room, only a sliver of sunlight casting into the room.

  “Mom,” Asher said louder. “Mom.”

  Each second felt like a lifetime. Asher should have everyone here. His family. All his people. But he refused to call the people who loved him most. The only person he called was his father, who answered his cell phone completely inebriated. He’d shown up to the hospital after driving drunk to get there, made a spectacle of himself, and then was arrested. Remy wished so hard she could cut the man from Asher’s life, as much as wished she could have given his mother the strength she never had.

  The beeping slowed and slowed until his mom flatlined.

  Remy closed
her eyes and let the tears fall. For his mother. And for Asher.

  A second later, the nurse turned off the monitor. “I’m sorry.” She pressed a hand to his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Asher. I’ll give you a minute with her.”

  When the nurse left the room, Asher dropped his face into his hands. His body shook with his silent cries. Remy shot forward, wrapping one arm around his neck, the other hand threaded through his hair. He turned into her, gripping her so tight. And she held on, pressing her lips to the top of Asher’s head as he cried into her shirt.

  She blinked out of the memory, staring into the same eyes, and yet they were so different from back when they were younger. Harder. Darker. Wiser. They’d been through so much. Gains. Losses. Death.

  Asher’s brow furrowed as he took her hand, tugging her forward into his warmth and strength. “We don’t need to overthink this. I can be what you need right now.” He tucked a finger under her chin. “Let me be that for you.”

  Maybe this was a big mistake. Maybe Asher was trying to fix walking out on her by being there for her now. But what Remy knew for certain was that she didn’t want to become the woman she was after Asher left. A shell of what she once was. Broken and shattered into a thousand pieces. She couldn’t fall into that depression again, hiding under the blankets, refusing to live. She stepped back. “Right now, I need to think about me, and figure out how I got myself into all these messes.” Most of all, she couldn’t get hurt again.

  And her heart felt unsteady with Asher. Her body, obviously not so much.

  “Whatever you need, Remy.” He gave a sweet smile that touched places that her heart didn’t want him touching, then headed down the stairs. “Lock the door behind me.”