Savin' Me (A Heat Wave Novel)

by Alannah Lynne

  He was thinking the same thing about her. Having her in his private suite seemed perfectly natural. And positively terrifying. Add in the overwhelming, urgent need to kiss the hell out of her, and he was left feeling like an oxygen deprived man with no hope of resuscitation.

  The kiss in the hallway the other night had been the incendiary device. He thought of little else since, and waiting for her today had been like pouring lighter fluid on an open flame. He moved to stand behind her, and when she turned around, he didn’t even give her time to prepare for his onslaught. He wrapped one hand around the back of her head, cupped her jaw with the other, and captured her mouth with his. The kiss was hot, rapacious, and unapologetic.

  She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her, taking everything he gave. His hand trailed a path down the side of her neck, across her collarbone to her breast. When his mouth followed the same path, she trembled in his arms.

  Heat unlike anything he’d ever experienced shot through his entire being, and stripping her clothes off became as much a necessity as breathing.

  As he slid the third button on her dress free, Mazze’s voice rang out from the bottom of the steps. “Kat, you ready? You aren’t being held hostage, are you?”

  Erik cursed vehemently and gnashed his teeth together. “That asshole is going to wind up dead before the weekend is over.”

  Kat gazed at him through glassy eyes and smiled. “Well, it was my idea to go for the run. I guess I should get changed.” She broke away and began rummaging through her bag. “Want to come with us?”

  Erik grimaced. “Probably not a good idea in my current condition. Besides, running’s too much like work, and I don’t do that while I’m here.” He grabbed a beer from the mini fridge and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “I’ll hang out with Steve until you get back.”

  ***

  Erik, Steve, and Little Bit silently watched Kat and Kevin disappear along the water’s edge. Erik knew it wouldn’t take Steve long to start with the jawing, and he wasn’t disappointed. “It’s the first time you’ve invited someone to the beach.”

  Erik took a drink of his beer and studied the horizon. “Yep.”

  “They say love’ll make you do crazy things,” Steve said as he watched a seagull fly and screech overhead.

  “I’m not in love.”

  “Whatever.”

  “It’s just a weekend,” Erik contended, maybe a little too fervently.

  Steve propped his feet on the railing and winced in pain. “You know it’s okay if you are. Right?”

  No, it’s not okay. “Not gonna happen, man. Leave it alone.”

  Disgusted, Steve shook his head. “What the hell are you doin’? You’ve known her… what, a week?” He gave Erik a pointed glare. “Or so you claim, and she’s already got you in knots. You’re doing shit you swore you’d never do, like bringing her here and having her stay upstairs. Obviously, there’s something special about her. But you’re gonna fuck it up, without giving her a fair shake, just because you’re scared.”

  “I’m not scared,” Erik said, a little too fervently, once again. “Fear has nothing to do with it.” A small part of him acknowledged Steve might be right, but the larger part screamed that Steve didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. He didn’t have firsthand experience of the pain and destruction love could cause.

  Yeah, Steve and Kevin had been there for Erik and had kept him from breaking into a million pieces when Lindsey died. But Steve didn’t know that pain. There was a difference.

  After a long period of strained silence, benign conversation picked up again, and before long, they were back to being two guys having a few beers, laughing, and catching up.

  After what seemed an eternity, Erik caught sight of Kat and Kevin plodding toward the house. There was a group of children riding boogie boards, and Kat stopped to talk to their parents, who were sitting watch on the beach. Kat said something to Kevin, who nodded and continued on toward the house. Then she sat on the sand and took off her shoes and socks before wading into the water with the children.

  In sync, Erik and Steve leaned forward in their chairs. They propped their elbows on their knees and watched with mild curiosity as Kat and the children continued to wade out further until Kat was waist deep. The kids, laughing and giggling, demonstrated the proper technique for riding a wave. One of the children handed Kat his board and made a paddling motion with his hands. When the next wave came along, Kat jumped onto the board and took off, riding the wave all the way to the shore. When she reached the shore, she rolled off into the water, then stood and bowed to the cheering crowd.

  Pleasure rippled through Erik at seeing her carefree spirit once again reveal itself, and he threw his head back with a burst of laughter.

  Steve leaned back in his chair, grinning. “She’s a keeper, dude. Give her a shot.”

  Refusing to allow Steve’s comment to put a damper on his happiness, Erik stood to better see as Kat rode another wave to the shore. He didn’t have any boogie boards—they weren’t exactly his speed—but tomorrow he’d buy one just for Kat to have when she was here.

  Chapter Ten

  Kat released a longsuffering sigh and glanced around at the six grinning faces waiting for her to drink the generous portion of Crown Royal Kevin had poured for her. Crown wasn’t her favorite drink, and she shuddered as the shot slid down her throat. Setting the glass on the table with more force than she’d intended, she said, “I’m done.”

  Erik’s friends had been teaching her to play a complicated card game, one she still hadn’t gotten the hang of, and the penalty shots were taking a toll. Always a fierce competitor, she’d stubbornly hung in, refusing to accept defeat. However, as the table tilted one way and the floor tilted another, she was forced to concede defeat. “Okay, gentleman, I quit. Maybe next time I’ll figure this out.”

  “Maybe next time we’ll do a better job of explaining the rules,” Kevin said as he laughed and stood to give her a hug.

  Realizing she’d been set up, she slugged him in the shoulder. “Punk. Now I know why Erik didn’t trust me with you.”

  She excused herself from the table, the men thoroughly enjoying themselves at her expense, and went in search of Erik. She found him leaning against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest, one ankle over the other, watching the lightning from an approaching storm.

  Sliding in behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and stood on tiptoes so she could whisper in his ear. “I need a shower.”

  He swiveled his head around and looked at her through hooded eyes. “Need someone to wash your back?”

  His deep, suggestive tone mixed with the Crown Royal simmering in her lower belly and sent out warm, fuzzy alert signals to all her feminine hot spots. “I need someone to do a whole lot more than that.”

  The deep frown line that had been creasing his forehead softened, and the clenched muscles in his jaw relaxed. Without saying a word, he laced his fingers through hers and hustled them toward the stairs.

  Acutely aware that all conversation had ceased, Kat turned and looked over her shoulder. Everyone but Kevin and Steve sat wide-eyed, open-mouthed, bold-faced gawking.

  She tugged on Erik’s hand and, in a quiet voice so as to not be overhead, asked, “Why are they staring at us?”

  “Because they’re a bunch of jackasses,” Erik yelled, in a voice guaranteed to be heard by the group.

  Laughter erupted at the bottom of the stairs, and the sounds of the party resumed.

  “I don’t understand why they’re surprised,” Kat continued. “As much as I’ve had to drink, they had to know you were going to get lucky.”

  He smiled over his shoulder as he crested the stairs, but didn’t respond. Once inside the room, he kicked the door shut behind them, then tucked his hands into his front pockets. “They’re shocked because I’ve never invited a woman up here.” When she stared at him in disbelief, he shrugged and said, “This is my private space. I’ve never wanted to sh
are it with anyone.”

  His tone was soft, his expression serious, leaving her no doubt he spoke the truth. And like that first night in the gazebo, wariness swam in his eyes instead of the normal sparkling dance.

  A lump squeezed her throat and her heart faltered. “Why me?”

  He studied the floor, then walked to the open doorway. “I don’t know. Everything about you, from the moment I laid eyes on you in that bar in Charlotte, has been different. You made me laugh when I thought nothing could. You made a horrible day better. And you’ve been stuck in my gut since.”

  Warmth spread through her while she fought the urge to laugh. His words alone would be a compliment. The tone he used suggested he’d rather have rabies than have her stuck in his gut.

  She understood the conundrum. It was confusing, and frustrating, to have someone constantly sitting on the edge of your thoughts. Especially when you thought you’d never see them again.

  “I’ve gone out a few times since that night in Charlotte, but…” He shook his head. “Every time, I’ve found myself unfairly comparing the woman to you. Everything is different since I met you.”

  The weight of his words seemed magnified by the roar of the ocean and the rumble of echoing thunder. She moved to stand next to him in the open doorway and quietly admitted, “You’re better off than me. I haven’t gone out with anyone since you.”

  He whipped his head around and, rather than appearing pleased by the admission, he pressed his lips into a thin line and the tic in his jaw returned. “Shit, Kat.” He drew in a long, ragged breath. “We’re in trouble.”

  He might be right, but instead of agreeing with him, she tried to justify the situation and make it less scary and threatening. “It’s unfinished business; that’s all. You wanted more than one night. I wanted more too, but I didn’t stick around to see if that was an option. Once we’ve had a chance to finish what we started, we’ll be all right.”

  “Do you really believe that bullshit?”

  Pfft, no. “Sure,” she said, trying to make her voice light and airy and thoroughly convincing.

  She stepped onto the small, private deck that held one Adirondack chair and a small table. Taking a deep breath, she pulled moist, electrified air into her lungs and watched the aggressive waves encroach upon the beach, then break against the dunes in a thundering roar. Partial moonlight peeked from behind a storm cloud and reflected off the water’s surface. Lightning flashed nearby, and the sea oats swayed in the wind, all combining to create an eerie but dramatically beautiful landscape. As raindrops began to fall, she took another deep breath, then turned to head back inside.

  Erik was standing in the middle of the room next to the bed. He’d stripped off his shirt, his hands were dangling at his sides, and he wore a dark and dangerous expression. “Come here.”

  A shiver raced down her spine as nervous anticipation sliced through her. She’d seen desire in a man’s eyes before, but the fire in his transcended simple lust. And heaven help her, she was damn near desperate for everything he offered. She pulled the door shut behind her, then moved across the room toward him. The closer she got, the more she trembled and the harder her heart pounded.

  His pupils were dilated, and in the dim lighting, his eyes looked like luminous sapphires. A streak of lightning flashed and reflected off the dark orbs, so full of their own burning heat. The house shook from the force of the thunderous boom, causing her to jump and cease her forward motion.

  She dropped her gaze to his bare shoulders and chest, where the muscles bunched and flexed with his apparent impatience. Her eyes raked across his well-defined abs and down the thin trail of dark hair disappearing into the waistband of his pants. At the thought of tasting him, she licked her lips.

  His resolve must have snapped because he closed the distance between them in one stride. He slid one hand through her hair, then wrapped it tightly around his fist, while the other slipped around her waist. His mouth crushed hers as his tongue pushed past her lips, demanding complete and unlimited access. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth with an insatiable hunger as his hand slid from her waist to her ass, then hauled her body up tightly against his.

  Despite the intensity of the kiss, she wanted more. Needed more. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her in desperation. He rewarded her by deepening the kiss and increasing the thrusting tempo of his tongue. But then, something shifted within him, and he suddenly broke away.

  Breathing hard, he dropped his forehead to the crook of her neck and whispered, “God help me.”

  Confusion swamped her as she continued to tremble and her breathing came in short, jerky gasps. She still had her arms wrapped around his neck in a death grip, so she released him.

  He slowly unraveled her hair from his fist, took a few steps back, then flopped down on the edge of the bed. His chest heaved with his labored breathing, his hands were clenched into tight fists, and the muscles in his jaw worked overtime. Letting his gaze travel from her bare feet to her eyes, he said, “Why don’t you undress for me?”

  It was more command than request, and her knees weakened at the domineering tone and searing look. She’d been confused by his reaction to their kiss, but seeing the intensity in his eyes, she suspected his distance had been a defensive reaction. For her part, she liked the responsive intensity. It made her feel sexy and desirable and powerful as a woman. She wanted to make this time with him memorable. She knew she’d never forget it, and she wanted to make sure he didn’t either.

  She relaxed her head back toward her shoulders, closed her eyes so she wouldn’t be distracted by his gaze, and drifted away in a world of sensations. As she moved in slow, sinuous movements, she focused on the rain pounding against the glass, the claps of thunder rocking the house, and the flashes of lightning visible through her closed eyelids. She hadn’t noticed a ceiling fan earlier, but lost in the hypersensitivity of the moment, she became aware of the faint whir of a motor and the cool breeze stroking her skin.

  Continuing her languid, fluid movements, she took care of a few inconvenient details, like stripping off her frumpy, oversized T-shirt and freeing her hair from its ponytail. A sports bra and running shorts weren’t the sexiest clothing, but she’d have to make the best of it.

  Pretending her hands were Erik’s, she touched herself in all the places and all the ways she wanted him to. She ran light, stroking caresses across her stomach and shivered as her hair swung across her back, causing a tickling sensation that mirrored that of her fingers on her stomach.

  Craving a more intimate touch, she brushed her hands over her heated flesh and cupped her breasts. Her nipples were tight and achy, and the spandex of the bra was too confining. She pushed the fabric up, revealing her breasts, then pinched and rolled her nipples between her fingers and thumbs. A moan escaped her throat and mingled in the air with a hiss and muttered curse from Erik.

  Emboldened by his reaction, she stroked the side of her neck, then trailed her fingers back down to her nipple while her other hand slid across her stomach, down her crotch, and stroked the inside of her thigh.

  “Shit, baby.” His voice was husky and strangled and wrapped around her like a caress, encouraging her to keep going.

  She hooked her thumbs under the waistband of her running shorts and slowly pushed them down her thighs, then let them drop in a silky puddle at her feet. Every nerve ending had risen to the surface, and she ached for Erik’s touch. Fantasizing had gotten her this far, but she needed the real thing.

  She opened her eyes and was greeted by a scorching look that sent flames shooting from the tips of her toes to her head. A flush swept over her as she took a step closer and whispered, “I need you to touch me. Please.”

  The inferno in his eyes settled to a smoldering warmth as he reached his hand out to her. When she slipped her palm into his, he surprised her by twirling her around before pulling her onto his lap.

  She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. Her bare back pres
sed against his warm chest, and, thanks to the nonexistent back of her thong, the rough fabric of his shorts and prominent erection stroked her ass.

  He slipped his knees under hers, hooked his ankles inside of hers, and used his legs to spread her wide. She gasped as the cool currents from the ceiling fan brushed over her heated core.

  Hands, rough like leather, cupped her breasts. Warm velvet breath stroked her neck and shoulder. “Open your eyes for me, sweetheart.” As she struggled to force her eyelids open, he said, “Look straight ahead.”

  She lifted her heavy head from the comfort of his shoulder and found herself staring straight into the reflection of a wanton woman with her bra pushed up over her breasts, sitting on a man’s lap, her legs spread wide. What a nefarious picture they made.

  In an instant, she understood the appeal of mirrors on the ceiling. It was incredibly arousing to watch as he tugged on her tight nipples, kissed and laved the side of her neck, and nibbled his way to her earlobe.

  He ran his hands down her arms and quietly said, “Wrap your hands around the outside of my thighs.” She did as he said, and he tucked her fingers under his legs, effectively trapping them.

  Watching her reflection in the mirror, he said, “You are so beautiful.”

  He pushed her hair over one shoulder and dropped gentle kisses along the side of her exposed neck, sending chills racing down her spine, while she moaned and wiggled restlessly on his lap, eager for more contact.

  Grinning arrogantly, he teased, “What’s the matter? A minute ago you enjoyed slow torture.”

  “God, Erik, you’ve been torturing me for days.” It didn’t matter if she was awake or asleep, thoughts of being with Erik had kept her in a perpetual state of arousal. Last night had been amazing, but it hadn’t satisfied her as much as left her wanting more.

  He moved his hand across the soft, smooth flesh of her stomach and stopped short of the edge of her panties. She lifted her hips, encouraging him to move lower, but he only smiled and dropped both hands to her knees. While his fingers took an agonizingly slow trip up her inner thighs, his tongue and mouth worked their magic on the back of her neck and shoulders.