by Jodi Vaughn
Something in her shifted, cracking the barrier she had so carefully erected to keep others out of her heart. One hot cop comes along with a sledgehammer of tender words destroying all those walls she’d built.
She licked her lips wetting them for the promise of a kiss. “So what are you waiting for?”
He breathed a sigh of relief and kissed her. This kiss was different, gentler, yet no less intense. She dug her fingers in his soft hair and pulled him close. She didn’t want gentle. She wanted to feel like a woman. She wanted to feel alive. She wanted to feel wanted.
His hand caressed down her back to cradle her hip. His hold was firm, holding her tight against his body of muscle.
Breathless, she pulled away and sucked in a deep shuddering breath.
“Too fast?”
“I’m not used to this, to feeling so much. Things are going too fast. It’s very overwhelming.”
“Overwhelming in a good way, I hope.” He cradled her against his chest as his hand ran up and down her back in a soothing caress.
“Yes, in a good way.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. It both frightened and excited her. She rested her head against his chest. The rapid thump of his heartbeat echoed against her head. She placed her hand over his heart.
“Come on.” He laced his fingers through hers and led her to the edge of the lake. Security lights stood at intervals around the perimeter of the water, lighting the paved walkway around the lake. Picnic tables were scattered under a copse of trees.
“It’s bigger than what the map showed. I didn’t expect it to have lights out here.”
“They expanded it a few years ago. The town wanted to make it more of a park since there’s not much else to do in Cloverton.” He held her close as they meandered around the water.
Despite the humid night she snuggled in the warmth of his chest. “Do people come out here at night?”
“The kids do in the summer months, once school is out. We have to keep a close watch on them to make sure they’re not out here drinking.”
They edged closer to the water and she hesitated. “There aren’t any snakes, are there?”
“I’m praying there are. Maybe you’ll jump me again.”
She looked up at him and laughed. “That was purely out of terror.”
“I’m not complaining. I’ll take whatever gets you in my arms.”
She swatted his arm, feigning insult. He laughed and entwined his fingers through hers.
They continued toward the picnic tables, where he lifted her up and settled her on the edge of the table. Nudging her legs apart, he stepped closer and took her face between his hands.
“What are we doing, Sloan?” She lifted her heavy lidded gaze to his.
“I’m not sure.” His thumb made tiny circles against her cheek as her breathing sped up. “I don’t think I can stop whatever this is between us.”
She held onto his wrists and pulled him closer. Whatever this attraction was between them was beyond her control. It was a living, breathing thing that had a life of its own and she couldn’t stop it either.
This time she made the first move. She pressed her lips to his. He stood still, letting her have control of the kiss. Her hands slid down to his lean waist, his ripped muscles dipped under her fingertips. She wanted nothing between them, skin against skin.
She pulled his shirt out of his jeans and worked on the buttons. Despite the dimness of the lighted area, she could feel his heated gaze raking across her body like a hot summer breeze, threatening to steal her breath.
“I don’t want to rush you. Tell me what you want.” His husky voice filled the night, cocooning around her like invisible threads.
“Take your shirt off,” she breathed.
He moved his hands down the front of his shirt and eased the buttons out of their holes. Her gaze stayed glued to his hands, fascinated that such an ordinary chore could make her want him more.
He shrugged out of his shirt. The tight undershirt he wore showcased each ripped muscle.
“Take that off too.” Her commanding voice sounded alien in her own ears.
Reaching behind his head, he pulled the shirt off in one move. His chest, muscled and tanned, flexed with each movement.
She’d never been more turned on in her life.
“It’s your turn.” He moved back between her legs and rested his hands on either side of her thighs. His rock hard erection pressed into her heat. “Pull your dress down.”
Her heart beat hard against her chest and she hesitated for a moment. Her hands moved behind her neck and untied the halter top. She let the strings fall, exposing the top curve of her breast.
His finger traced the outline of her breasts and then dipped down under the material. Her nipple hardened against the caress of his finger. She gasped and leaned back.
“I want to see all of you.” He slid the dress down to her waist. The warm night breeze licked across her nipples like a hot mouth. She moaned.
“You’re perfect.” His hands cupped her breasts as he bent his head and sucked her sensitive nipple into his wet mouth.
“Sloan.” She panted as she clasped his head to her. His greedy mouth licked and sucked her in a tortuous game of pleasure. Her body was like liquid fire, threatening to consume her alive.
She wound her legs around his waist as his mouth moved to her other breast.
“You feel so damn good.” He groaned against her nipple and ground his cock against her.
“More, Sloan.”
He lifted his head. “I want our first time to be in bed, not on a damn picnic table.” The muscle in his cheek twitched with barely controlled restraint.
“I don’t care. I want you now.” She brought his mouth to hers, kissing him hard.
His hand snaked under her dress and found her damp panties. “You’re already wet for me.” His finger teased the edge of her lace panties and she regretted wearing panties at all.
His finger flicked over her clit and she moaned low and deep. “Grace, this is about you tonight. I want to make you feel good.” His hand slipped under the lace of her panties and cupped her. His mouth found her breast and pulled her nipple into his mouth. The dual sensations sent pleasure through her body in waves.
His finger slid across her wet heat, teasing. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, begging him for more.
“Not yet.” He pulled her dress up to her waist. She was practically naked, breasts exposed and panties pulled to the side. He kissed her hard and deep while his finger slipped inside of her.
She was so close to orgasm. She clutched his hand, holding it against her.
He sucked her nipple and quickened his fingers until she was grinding against his hand.
“Sloan.” She cried out as her orgasm washed over her taking her breath. He continued to stroke her, taking her down easy until her very last tremor had subsided.
She met his heated gaze and brought her lips to his.
She stroked her hand down his bare chest to the bulge in his jeans and squeezed.
He pumped into her hand and buried his face against her neck.
Her fingers tugged his zipper down. She kissed his shoulder, tasting the saltiness of his skin. “I want to feel you without any clothes between us.” She slipped her hand inside his jeans.
He groaned as she wrapped her fingers around his rock hard erection. She squeezed and slid her hand up and down his cock, loving how good he felt.
“That feels too damn good.” He groaned, his hot breath caressing her shoulder as he sucked the sensitive skin at her neck. He panted as he held her tight, thrusting faster into her hand. He groaned against her neck as his body tensed and came in her hand. He fell against her, his breath hot on her shoulder.
“I think I messed up your dress,” he murmured against her neck.
“It can be cleaned.” She smiled, loving how she made him lose control.
“Come home with me tonight.” He kissed her lips softly.
“Okay.” After
what he’d just done to her she should have been spent. With just one look her body heated and she was already aching for him again.
She pulled up her top and retied the halter. He straightened her skirt before lifting her down off the picnic table.
He quickly dressed and grabbed her hand and hurried back to the truck. Just as he closed the door, a pair of headlights bobbed down the hill, heading toward the other side of the lake, away from them.
“Damn it.”
“Who is it?” She looked out the open window.
Probably some underage kids out drinking.” Sloan started the truck and backed up. “I need to go check it out.”
Sloan drove around the lake. As soon as his headlights landed on a red sports car, he let out a curse. “What the hell is he doing out here?”
“Who is it?” Grace glanced over at him.
“It’s Mitch. My partner.” He threw the truck in park and killed the engine. He got out and opened her door. “Come on. I want you to meet him. He’s also my best friend.”
The fact that he wanted to introduce her to his best friend had her heart fluttering in her chest. Most guys wouldn’t even think about such a small thing. Sloan wasn’t like a lot of men.
A guy, just as broad as Sloan, slid out of the red Mustang. He kept his head down and shoved his hands in his jeans. He was a man that looked like he had a lot on his mind.
“Mitch, what are you doing out here?” Sloan ambled over.
“Trying to cool off.” Mitch glanced up. The security light illuminated the bloodied cut above his eyebrow.
Sloan’s eyes widened. “What the hell happened to you?”
“Oh, my God.” Grace gasped, holding her hand over her mouth.
Mitch cringed. “Some drunk guy at the bar was getting a little too close to Allison. He didn’t take the hint that it was time for him to leave. He managed to hit me with a beer bottle before I wrangled him out of the bar.”
“Is Allison okay?”
“She wasn’t too happy about me interrupting her date. She sure can pick them.” Mitch snorted and looked at the ground. He glanced up and met Grace’s gaze. “Sorry, for not introducing myself. I’m Mitch. ” He held out his hand.
Grace took it and smiled. “I’m Grace. Nice to meet you.” She nodded at his injury. “I think you might need stitches.”
Mitch swiped the back of his hand across his forehead and looked at the blood. “I don’t think so. Cuts on the head bleed a lot. They always look worse than they are.”
“I know,” she whispered.
Sloan pulled his phone out of his back pocket.
“Don’t bother calling her. She left her phone at the bar.” Mitch reached in his open car window, pulled out a cell phone, and tossed it to Sloan who caught it mid-air.
“Who was the guy?” Sloan cocked his head.
“Some random guy just passing through town.” Mitch cut his glance at Sloan. “He wasn’t much better than Rob.”
“Who’s Rob?” Grace looked between the two men.
“He’s the piece of shit that broke Allison’s heart.” Mitch offered up the explanation with venom.
“Did you check on her to make sure she was okay?” Sloan asked.
“I went to her apartment, but she told me to fuck off.”
Grace’s eyebrows shot up. “Allison actually said fuck off?”
Mitch nodded in appreciation. “She did.”
“I think I need to go check on her myself.” Sloan looked at Grace. Worry furrowed his brow.
“Of course.” Grace placed her hand on Sloan’s chest. Seeing how much he cared for his sister made her care for him even more. She turned to Mitch. “Thanks for letting us know about Allison.”
“Grace is right. You need to have that cut looked at.” Sloan clamped a hand across Mitch’s shoulder. Mitch snorted and got back in his car and drove away.
“I’m sorry, Grace.”
She shook her head. “No, you need to check on your sister. Family comes first.” Her heart ached a little with envy. She had no family. She shook her head to dislodge the traitorous thought. “Drop me off and go check on Allison. Call and let me know if there is anything I can do.”
Minutes later, Grace watched Sloan pull out of her driveway. He’d given her a quick kiss and promised their next date would be better. It had been the best first date she’d ever been on.
That night she’d let down her walls with Sloan, allowed him to see her naked, both physically and mentally. She couldn’t deny the chemistry that arced between them every damn time they were in the same room. It was like their bodies were calling to one another in a primal sense.
Her face heated as she thought how he’d brought her to climax so fast with his talented fingers, stroking her until she exploded in pleasure. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her chest, shivering as she remembered the feel of him in her hand.
She opened her eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
She’d seen his sincerity when he’d told her he wanted her. In his eyes, he’d meant more than just sex. He wanted her body and soul. Sloan wouldn’t be the type of guy to settle for a casual relationship.
No, he’d want the full deal.
And with that came honesty.
She just wasn’t sure she could handle the honesty yet.
Maybe soon.
Or maybe she’d never be ready.
Chapter Seven
“Allison, I know you’re in there. Open the door.” Sloan pounded on the door and waited.
“Go away.”
“Honey, let me in.”
He heard a shuffling noise and then the slide of the dead bolt he’d insisted be installed when she moved in.
The door swung open. Allison stood there in oversized sweatpants and his old Tennessee Volts T-shirt. She crossed her arms and glared back at him, as if daring him to step foot across her threshold.
He’d been looking for that T-shirt for weeks. He was beginning the think he’d lost it on a fishing trip. “Is that my shirt?”
“Yeah.”
He pushed past her and stepped inside. “I think those are my sweatpants too.”
“I needed something comfy to wear at night. Or when I felt bloated. I guess you want them back now.”
He cringed. “Just keep them.”
The door slammed shut. “What do you want, Sloan? I thought you had a date?”
He turned. “How did you know about that?”
“My friend Angie spotted you and Grace in the restaurant and sent me a text.”
“You’re not mad?” He studied her expression. “You know, for dating your friend?”
She snorted. “No. I’m glad you finally decided to get off your ass and do something about your dry spell.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened at the bar?” He sat beside her on the contemporary-looking sofa.
“Mitch didn’t tell you?”
“He said some guy got too close and Mitch had to call him on his shit.”
“I was on a date.”
“Mitch said the guy was drunk.”
“We were both drinking. Besides, I could have handled the situation myself.”
Sloan narrowed his eyes. “Doesn’t sound like it. From the looks of Mitch, it was a violent situation.”
She cringed. “If Mitch wouldn’t have walked in like he was in charge and got up in the guy’s face, things wouldn’t have escalated.”
Sloan relaxed. “Mitch is my best friend. I’m sure he was just looking out for you.”
“I’m tired of you and him thinking I need some big strong man watching out for me.” She laid her head against the back of the couch. “That was the first guy that acted interested in me since Rob left.” She sighed and looked at him under her lashes. “How’s his head?”
“Mitch will be fine. It will take more than a beer bottle to do some serious damage to his hard head.”
She sighed, looking absolutely miserable. “Why can’t I find someone who wants me for me
? Not for what I can give them?”
His heart tugged for his little sister. He knelt down in front of her and brushed her blonde hair out of her face. “When the right one comes along, you’ll know.”
She wrinkled up her nose. “Are you kidding me with that bullshit? Do you know how many available men there are in this town? Not a lot, let me tell you.” She pulled a pillow over her face and moaned.
“What about Steve?”
She shoved the pillow up and gave him a horrified look. “From the hardware store? Hardware Steve?”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s a mouth-breather.”
“A what?”
“A mouth-breather. He breathes through his mouth.” She shuddered. “It’s like talking to Darth Vader.”
“What about John over at the fire department?”
She looked at him like he had grown a second head. “Are you serious?”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He propositioned Mary Wilkins for a blowjob in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store.”
He shuddered. “Eighty-four-year-old Mary Wilkins?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t she make a police report?” That complaint would have been all over the police department before the sun went down.
“I didn’t say she complained about it.”
His stomach pitched. His dinner with Grace was threatening to make a reappearance.
“Look, Sloan.” She sat up and picked up his hands. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you with Grace. I think she’s beautiful and wonderful and strong. She’s so different than Felicia. She’s good for you. She’s has helped you find your way back to happiness.”
He grinned. He knew that he’d never been as happy as when he was with Grace.
“Well, I don’t want just anyone. I want The One.”
“I know, Allie, I know.” He smiled. “I can tell you this for sure, if I can find Grace, then you will find the guy of your dreams too.”
She smiled. “Really? Will he have abs of steel?”
His smiled faded, not liking the direction of the conversation. “I don’t really know.”
She arched her eyebrow. “Do you think he’ll be big and strong and can pick me up against the wall when he kisses me?”