Five Alarm Alphas

by Leah Braemel, Lexxie Couper, Delilah Devlin, Marie Harte, Desiree Holt, Lissa Matthews, Cari Quinn, Shelli Stevens

  He watched as she took another sip of her drink. For just a moment he envisioned pressing a kiss against the pulse in her neck.

  “Yes. I have a business degree.”

  “Did you know you wanted to open a music club when you were in school?”

  “No. I was doing what the world expected me to do. Go to college. Party a little too hard. And play gigs with my band on the weekends.”

  Her brows rose. “You had a band?”

  “Still do. We perform at my place at least once a month.”

  “Jazz?”

  He laughed softly. “Yeah, surprisingly. We hold a jazz night at the club. I tried it thinking nobody would give two shits about it. It’s proven to be quite popular.”

  “I’m sure having a sexy drummer doesn’t help at all.”

  His amusement faded and that prevalent desire that had been simmering on low kicked up a notch.

  But she didn’t look embarrassed by her statement, if anything seemed all too comfortable holding his gaze. It almost felt like a challenge.

  “Being attractive was actually a requirement to get in the band.”

  Surprise flickered in her eyes. “Wait, seriously?”

  “No.”

  She made a small harrumph and tilted her head, looking at him through narrowed eyes now.

  “Why did you really invite me out tonight, Russ? I’m guessing it wasn’t because you’re looking for a trumpet player in your band.”

  “You still play?”

  “Occasionally.”

  “Nice.” He picked up his water and took a drink, observing her over his glass. “No. I’m not looking for a trumpet player. I’m trying to decide whether I should seduce you or not.”

  Chapter Five

  If she’d had water in her mouth, Shannon suspected she might’ve choked on it.

  Not only because of his bluntness, but that there was still a question on whether he wanted to seduce her or not. Should she be offended?

  She shook her head. “Is this some kind of reverse psychology technique? Where you think that by saying you don’t want to go to bed with me, I’ll be crawling all over your ass begging? Because if so—”

  “It’s not. I told you earlier I’m very particular who I go to bed with.”

  What the hell kind of game was this guy playing? “Yeah? Well most men aren’t.”

  “I’m not like most men.”

  No, he wasn’t. And she’d known that back in high school, and it was clear he hadn’t changed in that way.

  It didn’t even occur to her that their conversation might be overheard and offensive to anyone around them. At this time of night, it was a lot of the young party crowd. The table across from them was discussing where to go to score some weed after dinner.

  Before she could sarcastically ask him what his requirements were for a sexual partner, the waitress returned with their food. Pretty crappy timing.

  They were quiet for a moment, both focusing on that first bite of food, but she couldn’t kick the twitch of annoyance his words had caused. Maybe they were supposed to have been shocking and suggestive, but it seemed more insulting.

  “I’ve offended you.”

  It wasn’t a question. She shook her head, not quite sure how to respond to that. Instead she focused on her sandwich, taking a bite and trying to enjoy the mix of smoky meat and sweet barbeque sauce.

  He set down his sandwich. “But tell me I’m not alone in feeling this sexual tension between us.”

  She swallowed her bite and then met those beautiful blues that watched her a little too closely.

  “Oh I feel it all right. I felt it the moment I walked into your club and you couldn’t take your eyes off me. I felt it when I walked in the back room and you had your shirt off.” She tried not to think about that amazingly-sculpted, broad chest and lowered her gaze. “And I’m sure as hell feeling it now with the way you’re looking at me.”

  “And how am I looking at you?”

  Really? She arched a brow. “As if you’re imagining what I’d look like sprawled naked across this table.

  His lips twitched. “Close. But it was actually what you would look like bent over this table.”

  He said it oh so calmly, in between eating a bite of salad. As if he were completely unaware of how his words would send liquid heat rushing through every inch of her body. How they’d start an ache low in her belly and have her sex clenching.

  Already her imagination was creating an image and she closed her eyes against it. Didn’t want to think about how the table would feel against her ribcage. How his hands would grip her hips—

  “And now you’re thinking about it,” he mused.

  She swallowed the bite of food that had been in her mouth, but it was flavorless now. “Kind of hard not too.”

  His nostrils flared slightly and his gaze became more heated. His next words were quieter. “I bet every one of those guys at the firehouse has had similar thoughts about you since you started working there.”

  Taken aback by the change of subject, she gave an indifferent shrug. “I’m sure some of them think I’m hot. But they’re not going to act on it. Just like I wouldn’t either. As far as I’m concerned, those guys are my brothers.” She gave him a pointed look. “You wouldn’t sleep with that pretty blond waitress would you?”

  “No. Workplace romances are a terrible idea. Especially when you’re their boss.”

  “Exactly. Though I’m not the boss. Yet. Give me twenty years and ask again.”

  “You’d like to be the one giving orders?”

  The tone he used made the question seem a little odd. “I’d like to move up in my job. Stagnant gets boring.”

  “Yes, I can see that about you.”

  She wasn’t sure she liked where this conversation was going. Time to switch it back to the topic he’d started a moment ago.

  “So this sexual attraction bit, shouldn’t it be a no-brainer? Like if I gave you the green light, why wouldn’t we just end up in bed together? Not saying that I am, by the way.”

  “It goes beyond attraction. I’m sure you’re attracted to some other man out there somewhere. But you’re not necessarily jumping into bed with him.”

  “Of course not.” She stared at him. “But I think you’ve lost me.”

  “Let’s just eat. We can figure the rest of this stuff out later.”

  Stuff being sex. This was the oddest, most roundabout way she’d ever gone into a sexual relationship. Not that she was in one, they were just talking about it. Damn weird. Maybe it would be better if they just went separate ways after dinner. Who over-analyzed whether sex was a good idea?

  “Fine.” She went back to eating, determined to enjoy her food.

  Topics shifted from sex to safer things. What else they’d been up to since high school. Favorite microbrews. Sports teams. The weather. Anything considered safe. And surprisingly, she started to relax around him again. Enjoy the moment and not think about what it would be like to go to bed with Russell Catalano.

  Though the idea was always there, lingering in the back of her mind behind an invisible wall.

  By the time they were done eating—he’d insisted on paying her tab—and they were leaving the diner, she was half convinced they were just going to settle on being friends.

  On the walk back to the club, he made no move to touch her or say anything remotely sexual. A little frustrated, and a lot confused, she headed straight to her car. He followed her.

  There was a sexual attraction between them both—he’d blatantly admitted it. So why wasn’t he acting on it? Or why did he seem so hesitant in admitting what he wanted?

  When she reached her car, she realized the idea of driving away without even trying a kiss on for size was more than a little disappointing.

  Figuring she had nothing to lose, she turned, grabbed his T-shirt and pulled him forward. Surprise flickered in his eyes before she rose to her tiptoes and kissed him.

  His lips were soft and for a moment, comp
letely motionless. In fact, he seemed frozen. She’d shocked him. Well, screw it. She wasn’t about to back down just yet.

  She nibbled on his bottom lip before tracing her tongue along the seam of his mouth. Wanting just a taste.

  The steely hand at the back of her neck took her by surprise. Held her still to his counterassault. His lips parted and his tongue delved out to take control of hers.

  Chapter Six

  Shannon became the frozen one, even as fiery heat spread through each inch of her body. There was no denying who was in control now and she was somewhat surprised to realize how much she liked it.

  He explored her mouth with his own. Sucked and bit her tongue—lightly, but enough that it felt almost like a punishment.

  An ache gathered between her legs and she moaned softly. Instead of fighting the grip he had on her neck, she pressed herself closer to him. Until her breasts were crushed against his chest and her hips brushed his.

  A moment later he lifted his head and broke the kiss. A piercing disappointment jolted through her and she lifted her gaze to his.

  There was a blazing heat in his eyes and no mistaking the swelling erection pressing against her hip now. But his words contradicted everything his body said.

  “You’re a sexy woman, Shannon. But I’m not sure we’re a good fit,” his fingers tightened briefly around her nape, as if he hesitated to let go, but then he stepped back.

  He didn’t leave right away, and she stood there confused and dumbfounded. What? Had she missed something?

  She wanted to ask the question aloud, but pride held her back. It took a minute for it to register that he was waiting for her to get safely into her car. Walking to her car alone at night had never bothered her, and his concern was so at conflict with his last words that she was tempted to give him the finger.

  Instead she shook her head and climbed into her car without a backward glance. Even after she’d started the vehicle and driven off he stood there watching her.

  Just like she’d told herself earlier. These types of men were always trouble. And apparently Russ was sticking with the trend.

  Russ watched her leave, swearing softly under his breath. What the hell was wrong with him? Why wasn’t he jumping at the idea of getting her into bed? Certain parts of him, specifically below the waist, were.

  But there was the stubborn part of his mind that was pulling on the reins. Shannon was clearly a strong, independent woman who liked to be in control. Which would likely be a problem when he asked her to give it up in the bedroom.

  He watched her taillights disappear from the parking lot and sighed. There were definitely some women out there who were into the whole submissive in the bedroom thing, but more often than not they weren’t.

  He usually had a pretty good idea within ten minutes of talking to a woman if she would be a good partner in bed. Shannon might be sexy as hell, but he suspected she’d be turned off by the idea of being submissive.

  He pressed his fingers over the wound in his side and visualized the moment together in his office. He’d wanted her. Especially when she’d been bandaging him up and crouching down in front of him.

  Damn. He’d had to resist the urge to catch her hair in his fist and guide her head a little lower and to the side.

  He turned and walked toward the club, laughing softly. If he’d done that, she probably would’ve bitten off his dick instead of sucking it.

  Shannon just didn’t seem like the type to take orders in the bedroom. Hell, she might be the one used to giving commands there.

  Once he was back inside the club, Russ glanced around and noted it had cleared out by almost half. Past midnight on a weeknight, though, it was pretty typical.

  Delmar, his bouncer, spotted him from across the room and grinned, making his way over.

  “Heard you got yourself knifed?” He winced, glancing down at Russ’s side. “Is it bad? You just get back from the ER?”

  “Keeping the police and emergency room out of this.” He paused and gave a slight smile. “I had a little help from an off-duty firefighter.”

  “Not that sexy little thing who followed you into the back?”

  “Yeah, that’d be her.”

  “Hell.” Delmar looked around. “So where is she? Tell me you didn’t let her walk away.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, but yes, I let her go.”

  Skepticism flashed across Delmar’s face, and then understanding. “Not your type, huh?”

  “We went to high school together. I wasn’t looking to get her into bed.”

  “Mmm hmm. Well you won’t mind if I try next time she comes in would you?”

  For a moment Russ had the urge to punch the shit-eating grin off his friend’s face, but then Delmar threw his head back and laughed.

  “Just fucking with you, bro. Whether you admit it or not, you’ve staked your claim on that girl.”

  Scowling, Russ made his way to the back room and sat down in the rolling leather chair behind the desk.

  Staked a claim? Hardly. If he had, he wouldn’t have let her walk away after that insanely hot kiss. That she’d initiated.

  He wasn’t used to women being the aggressor. Usually it was a turnoff for him. But it hadn’t completely turned him off. Instead it had sent a surprising mix of arousal through him, tempering with the need to take back control. To see that look of shock in her eyes when he told her to get on her knees and take him with her mouth. She’d never play that way though.

  Folding his arms behind his head, he stared into the empty room and envisioned Shannon back in high school.

  She’d been on the skinny side, with her thick hair curly then instead of straightened—both ways looked good on her. She had been on the shy side, but was friendly to everyone; moving in and out of the bullshit social rankings in high school.

  And, just as he’d teased her earlier, she had been the good girl. Never got into trouble. Hadn’t dated anyone the year they were in band together. Just the pretty little freshman who’d played the trumpet in the jazz band.

  One day he’d heard a couple of the guys in class talking about what it’d be like to pop the clearly untouched Shannon’s cherry. And Russ had promptly ripped them a new one, disgusted by how quickly they were to degrade her.

  From that moment on, Russ had vowed to keep a silent watch over her. Not necessarily as her protector, but he kept one eye on her in case trouble came her way. He’d made sure it hadn’t in the one year they’d had together in high school. Who knew what had happened when he’d graduated.

  Clearly she’d gotten involved with someone during her high school years, because she’d gotten married at nineteen. Man, but he’d love to hear that story some time.

  He opened the laptop on his desk and did a quick search online for Shannon. It wasn’t hard. She showed up in two newspaper articles that mentioned the Portland Fire Department. He even found out which firehouse she was in.

  Not that he’d need that information. It was better if he walked away from her now and didn’t look back. One of the articles had an image of her, from when she was out at some children’s event representing her station. Even in the dark pants and logoed firefighter shirt, the curves of her body couldn’t be disguised.

  Who the hell would’ve thought he’d get a hard-on for a female firefighter? He rubbed his palm across his chest and sighed. Yeah. There were other women out there more suited for what he wanted in the bedroom. Forgetting he’d rediscovered Shannon tonight would come easily enough.

  The unease in his gut, though, wasn’t as quickly convinced.

  Chapter Seven

  “Where did you disappear to the other night? We looked for you after leaving the club.”

  Shannon glanced over at Lucas, who was currently driving the rig. They were heading back from a reported house fire call, which had turned out to be nothing more than the homeowner using his meat smoker out back.

  “I was helping out a stab victim. Your little fight on the club floor resulted in someone ge
tting hurt. You miss that part?”

  Lucas’s brows drew together and he shook his head. “Well hell. I guess so. That jerkoff had a knife?”

  “Yeah he did, and you’re lucky you didn’t get your ass hurt.”

  His scowl deepened. “I was fine. Who got stabbed?”

  “The club owner,” she murmured, visualizing the wound in her head. “One of the guys who was trying to break up your fight.”

  “Shit.” Lucas shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt.”

  She cast him a glance. The broad-shouldered, muscled blond might be a bit of a ladies man, but he wasn’t usually into violence or fighting. Which is why she’d been surprised to see him brawling on the dance floor.

  “So what happened? Are you going to tell me? Who was that guy who attacked you?”

  His jaw clenched. “I saw him getting a little rough with a girl, and I pulled him away from her. Called him on it.”

  She sighed. “And obviously that went over well.”

  “So well he decked me.” Lucas’s frown deepened. “And I didn’t even get her number out of it.”

  “What?” She shot him another sideways look.

  “The girl. She ran off without so much as a thank you. I think she was pretty freaked out. But man...she was hot.”

  A snort of laughter escaped her and Shannon shook her head. “You are a shameless player, Lucas.”

  His grin widened. “I’m harmless.”

  “Mmm hmm. I don’t know if the women of the world would agree with that.”

  Lucas’s grin widened. He pulled the rig outside the station in front of the bays. It wasn’t raining, so she figured he planned to wash the truck before putting it away. They both climbed out of the rig and Lucas went to grab the hose.

  “How’s the club owner?”

  She tried not to stiffen, but the question threw her for a loop. “What do you mean?”

  “You took care of him, right?”

  For a moment she’d thought he’d been asking about something else. “Yeah. I followed him to make sure he was all right.”