Hide & Seek

by Valerie Mann

  Clang! Clang!

  We both jumped back with a start and glanced toward the house where Jen was ringing the large dinner bell hanging from the porch ceiling.

  “What the hell was that?” he asked, his curious laugh tinged with some annoyance. Obviously, he was just as disappointed as I was at the untimely interruption.

  Damn, I’d been so close to tasting him. I shrugged, “We’re probably being summoned for the final game of the party.”

  His hands dropped from my hips and I didn’t bother to hide my sigh of regret. “Come on,” he grinned.

  His arm brushed mine with every step back to the house and the contact gave me goose bumps. Every nerve ending was on red alert, wanting to be touched by this man. I’d never fallen so fast or wanted a guy so much as I did right then.

  When we reached the edge of the patio, Nick bent down close to my ear and murmured, “I’m hot.” Boy was he ever. “I’m going to get another beer. Want one?”

  I shook my head, content to watch his sexy, loose-hipped saunter toward the tub Drake was busily re-stocking with beer. Within seconds the two men were once again deep in guy talk, no doubt regarding something at the station, so I turned my attention back to Jen.

  “As all of you who’ve been to our parties in the past know, we’re famous for our games.” She held her palms up to stop some good-natured groans and laughed, “Quit complaining. I guarantee you’ll have a blast.”

  Not a soul present doubted Jen’s claim. Anyone who’d ever attended one of her parties always returned the next year and others prayed for an invite.

  “Where’s Marshall?” she asked, scanning the crowd. A hand popped up from the middle of the group and a very stylish man jumped up and down.

  “Oh! Here I am!” he laughed and high-fived the equally fashionable man beside him.

  I tried to hide a grin. County Commissioner Marshall Hunt took exuberance to new levels, with a smile on his face and a cheerful way about him that’s both infectious and somewhat annoying for those who don’t know him.

  He pushed his way through the crowd and up the porch steps. Grasping Jen’s hands in his own, he asked, “What do you need me to do, sweetie?”

  Ignoring Marshall and unable to help myself, my gaze slid over to Nick again and saw him smiling at something Drake said, his teeth so white against his dark skin. Then, as though feeling my stare, he glanced my way, gave me a sexy wink and tipped the bottle toward me in a silent gesture that he’d be back over soon. A wave of delicious tingles skittered over my skin, making me shiver.

  Hurry .

  Focusing on Jen and Marshall again, I caught the name of the game and burst out laughing along with the rest of the group.

  Hide and Seek?

  God knows my sister can come up with some pretty clever ideas for her party games but even I hadn’t expected that one. One year we’d played Twister on dozens of colored circles spray-painted on the lawn. Intoxicated adults right-hand-bluing and left-foot-redding around each other caused a few minor injuries, but that game was still talked about. But Hide and Seek? This would be interesting.

  “Here are the official rules.” She pulled a paper out of her back pocket and cleared her throat. “Number one—no hiding in the house and just so you know, I’m locking all doors and windows. If any of y’all want to hide under the porch or in the crawl space with the critters, be my guest.”

  Marshall shivered. “Oh, honey, you couldn’t pay me enough!”

  She rolled her eyes and continued, “Number two—the porch is home base and if you make it without getting tagged, you have to ring the bell, then stay here.” She swept an arm behind her to indicate a long table laden with delicious Latin desserts. “As you can see, there is plenty of incentive to make it back here without getting tagged.”

  “Don’t forget to tell them about the prizes,” Drake called out from the sidelines.

  “I was getting to that part,” she replied and blew him a kiss.

  I caught Nick’s magnetic stare again. The burning desire in his eyes matched my own and I knew he hadn’t forgotten our own failed kiss. My nipples hardened and I crossed my arms to hide the traitorous little bumps as a quick tremor of anticipation shot through me. Come hell or high water, I’d be in a serious lip lock with that man before the night was over.

  “No Drake and Jen game would be complete without prizes.” Jen said. “Pick your hiding places with care because we’ve hidden five reward envelopes around the property. We promise you won’t be disappointed.”

  She wasn’t kidding. Previous years’ prizes included day spa gift certificates, tickets to Carolina Hurricanes games and weekend trips to our family’s beach house on Ocracoke Island. Jen was no dummy—prizes always made even the silliest game worthwhile and judging by the restlessness of the partygoers, they were ready to get started.

  She picked up the red bandana from the piñata game and held it out to Marshall. “You’re it. Count to one hundred and then start seeking.”

  “I love to be blindfolded!” he cried.

  “Save the excitement for the game, hot stuff,” Jen snickered and tied the scarf around his head.

  He immediately began to count and a frenzy of motion stampeded around me. I looked for Nick—we were so going to play this game together if I had anything to say about it. But after several precious seconds, I couldn’t find him. I was on my own. Bodies scattered in every direction while I stood and assessed the lay of the land. I knew it better than anyone else in the game. Where to hide?

  My dad’s workshop.

  I took off, tripping around people who kept changing direction, even slipping in the slick grass at one point. The door of the small shed faced the pond and by the time I got to it, I could hear Marshall counting in the forties. I burst through the door and paused to make sure I was alone.

  Two of the walls had a small window that let in just enough light from the full moon for me to see I’d made it there first. A short workbench ran under one window and on the far end of the tiny workshop was the perfect hideout—a small closet my father had used to lock up his dangerous tools and equipment. Jen and I had cleaned it out a couple of years ago, so I knew it was empty. Running feet thumped nearby, spurring me into action. I raced to the closet and yanked on the knob, nearly dislocating my shoulder, The door didn’t budge.

  Locked! What the hell?

  Fortunately, it had a simple push-button mechanism and I knew my dad always kept a thin nail above the door to unlock it. I stood on my tiptoes and scraped my fingers across the top of the frame, praying I wouldn’t encounter anything furry or venomous. A second later, I had the door open, scooted inside and clicked it shut quietly behind me. The familiar, nostalgic smells of motor oil and gasoline scented the air around me. Dust floated down from the ceiling and I sneezed then batted at something stringy brushing against my cheek. A vertical half-inch crack ran almost the length of the wood door and I twisted around in the small space to peer out, my heart still pounding after the mad dash to the shed. One of the windows was directly across the room in my line of sight. In the moonlight, I saw a shadow creep by and I held my breath.

  The tiniest flutter of air moved behind me at the same time a man whispered, “I guess I found one of the prizes.” Then, he clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle the ear-shattering scream before it erupted. I thought I was going to wet myself.

  “Shh! You’ll get us both caught!”

  I stopped struggling. I knew that voice.

  In the distance I heard a triumphant, “Ready or not, here I come!”

  ***

  I bit down on warm flesh and Nick pulled away with a curse. “Ow!”

  “Serves you right, you scared the shit out of me!” I hissed. “And you stole my hiding place.” My eyes were finally adjusting to the dim light and I could just make out a frowning Nick sucking on his palm.

  “I got here first. I can’t help it if you’re slow,” he muffled a disgruntled reply.

  My heart resumed a more nor
mal beat when I realized I didn’t need to be scared anymore. Then another realization dawned. I’m alone with Mr. Hottie in a dark, intimate place. Lord have mercy, maybe I’d get that kiss after all.

  Hell, maybe we’d even make out.

  “I just didn’t think anyone would hide this far from the house,” I said by way of apology. I reached for his big hand and held it up to the thin stream of light shining through the cracked door. Everything looked intact to me but I kissed the boo-boo anyway.

  The gesture seemed to pacify him because he touched my hair with his uninjured hand. “That’s okay,” he reassured me. “If I have to share my hiding spot, I’m glad it’s with you.”

  Oh, boy, the guy was hot and a romantic. I handed him another piece of my heart.

  A twig snapped on the other side of the thin shed wall and we both froze. Nick reached around me and clicked the lock button on the door handle. A second later, the workshop door squeaked open and stealthy footsteps crept in. I heard a giggle and turned my head to peek through the crack in the closet door. Nick’s body pressed closer to mine as he peered out too.

  It was McAvoy and the widow Paula. My boss shoved the shed door shut with his foot, looked around, then grabbed an old shovel and wedged it under the knob. Before he had a chance to turn around, Paula was on him like white on rice, tugging on his belt and pulling the starched dress shirt up and out of his khaki pants. Even though I knew what was going to happen next, I couldn’t stop staring. A zipping noise, followed by pants hitting the floor echoed in the small room. My jaw dropped. Holy voyeurism, Batman, were those smiley faces on his boxers? The crew in the ER was really going to love that little detail.

  McAvoy made quick work of Paula’s blouse and bra but didn’t bother with her skirt, the widow making quite the picture in nothing but strappy sandals and a miniskirt. So did the tent my boss made in his happy face shorts, for that matter. He palmed both of her breasts and she leaned back on her elbows against the workbench and sucked in a deep breath when he nuzzled his face between her ample boobs. One of his hands disappeared between her legs and stroked long and slow. She spread her knees as much as her skirt would allow and her low moan must have inflamed him because he spun her around and bent her face-down over the workbench. It didn’t surprise me when he lifted the skirt and I saw she’d gone commando.

  He pressed against her and groaned, “God, I can’t wait to fuck you.”

  Oh, boy, that phrase alone would be worth its weight in gold around the water cooler. I mentally rubbed my hands together knowing I’d be the gossip queen come Monday.

  Then McAvoy’s foreplay came to a screeching halt. Without further delay, he dropped the boxers, grasped her hips and plunged into her. Her sexy cries accompanied his thrusts as she gripped the edge of the table. He splayed a hand over the small of her back and hooked the other one under her right leg to lift it high. She squealed with pleasure and from the sound of his grunting, he sounded pretty pleased himself. I knew I’d never look at my father’s workbench the same way again. Or my boss, for that matter.

  I could barely breathe around the vision before me. And I hated to admit it but observing the good doctor and the merry widow go at it had a profound sexual effect on me, especially with a hot fireman pressing so close, watching it too.

  After another few seconds watching their carnal lust, I turned my head and whispered, “Oh my God, this is like watching porn. In High-Def.” Ragged breathing stirred the hair at my nape, letting me know Nick was no more immune by the scene playing out in front of us than I was.

  He wrapped his hands around my hips and pulled me tight, his fingers biting into my skin. An insistent bulge pressed against the small of my back making my lungs hitch. My panties were soaked with the erotic sights and sounds from McAvoy and Paula but got even wetter when warm lips tickled my ear and Nick whispered in a voice deep with desire, “Jesus, babe, I can’t look anymore.”

  The stuffy little closet got even tinier and the temperature notched up a good ten degrees while serious lust, both outside the closet and within, arced between us.

  I shifted around and barely had time to inhale before firm lips found mine in the darkness. His hands cupped my face and his seeking mouth nearly bruised mine with a mind-blowing, bone-melting kiss. And, oh, God, he tasted as good as he looked. I couldn’t get enough of him. Our tongues met and mated, the sensuous, warm, velvet strokes making me swallow a groan of pleasure. I lifted up on my toes, wrapped my arms around his neck to draw him even closer, and with a naughty wiggle, brushed against his erection. His hiss of pleasure made me smile. We feasted on each other for several long moments, only stopping to come up for air.

  More moans filtered over the workbench toward us, not that I truly cared at that point. Nick wedged me between a couple of two-by-four studs and plundered my lips, my soul. His hands left my face and skimmed down my neck, his hot, wet mouth following each caress. Sliding further down, they caressed my breasts, long, gentle fingers tormenting my aching nipples before he cupped my ass through my skirt and tugged me snug against his hard body.

  There was no denying his arousal—he’d placed it front and center and damn, the man was huge. He continued to ravish my mouth and run hands over my feverish skin and all the while we both kept as silent as possible. Even though the doctor and the widow might be banging each other in the outer room, I had no desire to have them or anyone else hear us.

  The bell clanged as someone made it safely to home base and shrieks from the game outside mingled with sex sounds on the other side of the door. But Nick and I were in our own little world, lost in the incredible sensations of touch and taste. Hot hands drifted up my thighs and under my skirt, kneading my ass with firm fingers. Hooking his index fingers around the waistband of my panties, he said in a hoarse whisper, “These need to come off.”

  With his help, I wiggled out of them and he stuffed them in his pocket. I jerked with delight when his thumb brushed across my swollen clit with a feather light stroke. A long finger slid into me, retreated, then pushed in again with deliberate slowness, making me mindless with the need for more. I arched into him and his other hand held the back of my head while he silenced my whimpers of pleasure with his mouth. I bucked against his hand when another finger joined the first and his thumb continued working its magic on my clitoris. I’d never been so aroused in my entire life. All I could think about was the imminent orgasm and how badly I wanted it. When the first spirals of sensation curled, my knees threatened to buckle and I dug my nails into his shoulders, clinging for dear life. Thoughtfully, he braced me against the wall with his free hand and spread my legs wider with his knee.

  That did it.

  The nearly public sex combined with the need for total silence made for an explosive release. Without a sound, my entire body shook with the force of the unbelievably intense orgasm. Helpless to do anything more than let the spasms take over, I leaned into him while they ripped through me for several precious, torturous seconds. I felt his own groan of need vibrate against me as his mouth covered mine again, sucking my tongue, mimicking the movement of my hips as they thrust back and forth against his talented fingers. When the final, exquisite shudder ceased, I straightened and dropped my arms. Sudden, unexpected emotions swamped me then, and as if sensing them, he wrapped me in his arms and held me while I caught my breath and my heart slowed. I’d never experienced anything so perfectly sensual, so beautifully wanton.

  “I just saw stars,” I murmured against his chest, a bit embarrassed at my unrestrained response to him. His chuckle of male satisfaction made me grin, let me know I had nothing to worry about.

  A woman’s sharp cry rang out from the workbench and a man’s long, guttural moan soon followed. Nick tensed against me and then we both started to laugh, our bodies shaking with the effort to stay quiet. What is it about hearing someone else have the big O that can cause such hilarity? Then again, maybe it was hearing my boss have the big one that made me hysterical. Nick rested his chin on the top
of my head and continued to hold me while we waited for the two lovebirds to leave. After a couple of minutes, we heard the rustle of clothing, small talk, and finally the shed door opened and closed.

  “Damn, I thought they’d never leave,” Nick said, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

  “About time,” I agreed and wrapped a hand around his neck and pulled him down to kiss me. His erection was rock hard against my belly. “We definitely have some unfinished business to take care of.” I slipped the other hand between our bodies and down his beautiful torso to lower his zipper. He grunted his pleasure when I slid my hand under the waistband of his briefs and wrapped my fingers around his hard length. Slick moisture pooled around the tip and I rubbed the sensitive skin with my thumb, feeling his shudder of pleasure. If possible, he got even bigger and harder in my hand. Dipping lower, I ran a fingernail along the base of his penis and gently kneaded his balls, loving their heavy weight and the way they filled my hand.

  “You’re killing me here,” he said in a strangled voice while strong fingers bit into my shoulders.

  With his cock like hot steel in my hand, and his desire so obvious, the words were like another potent dose of aphrodisiac for me. The residual languor of my orgasm disappeared, arousal hit me fast and hard and all I wanted to do was climb up his body and have him buried deep inside me. Which was not like me—I don’t do casual sex. The very tiny part of my brain controlling reason told me I needed to slow down. At least for a few seconds.

  “You know, Nick. I don’t really know you,” I teased, although at that point, I couldn’t have cared less. The guy was my ultimate wet dream—I was so going to do him. But, he was nice enough not to groan in frustration when I pulled my hand away.

  “What would you like to know?” I heard the impatience in his words and tucked my head to hide my grin. How gratifying that the attraction and lust wasn’t one-sided, especially after that uncontrollable orgasm I’d had minutes before.