Reckless Hearts Series, Book 1

by Heather Van Fleet

  “Collin Montgomery. So good to see you in here.”

  At his name, I looked up, finding the prettiest brunette with the greenest eyes staring down at Collin.

  Tall, thin, hair in perfect waves. My throat burned when I tried to swallow around a sudden lump in my throat. Was this Collin’s type?

  My teeth ground together and I chanced a look at Collin, finding his eyes not on the girl, but on me.

  “Hey, Katy. Good to see you again.”

  “It’s Kacey,” the girl said, giggling.

  Collin seemed like he couldn’t care less, eyebrows arched, fingers tapping on the table. But the girl was persistent, chomping on her bubble gum and never once taking her eyes off him.

  “How’s Chloe Bean?”

  Anxiousness rolled through my stomach like a tidal wave, but I managed to keep my gaze on the table, wondering if it were possible for a person to explode with frustration.

  “She’s fine, ain’t she, Addie?”

  I whipped my head up to see him looking at me with expectation. “Um…”

  “Hi, sorry. I should’ve introduced myself. I’m Kacey.” She reached for my hand, not a lick of hesitation on her face.

  Okay. So I guess she wasn’t so bad.

  “I used to date Max.”

  “Oh?” I looked to Collin for confirmation, because from what I had learned, Max didn’t date. He splurged on women like they were pennies he’d dropped on the ground.

  Collin laughed. “Yep. Poor thing.”

  Once our orders were taken and drinks were served, Collin leaned back in his seat and just stared at me.

  “What?”

  “You thought she was a girl of mine, didn’t you?” His dimples sank into his cheeks as he pulled his lower lip into his mouth.

  “So?” I bristled, bringing my coffee to my mouth.

  Elbows on the table, he leaned forward. “I like my women with black hair, sweetheart. Thick and long…something I can grab hold of.”

  Warmth built inside my tummy, trailing lower and lower, until I was forced to cross my legs and squeeze my thighs together. The look on his face as he trailed his gaze all over me didn’t say he liked all women with black hair…just one woman in particular.

  That woman being me.

  Suddenly the hoodie he’d picked out for me was too much. And all I wanted to do was strip and pour ice water all over myself. And if Collin sat there and watched, maybe even decided to drink from my skin, I wouldn’t hesitate to let him. He was the most confusing and infuriatingly sexy man I knew.

  The rest of breakfast was torture for me, mainly because Collin made eating a form of foreplay. Licking lips, licking forks, licking thumbs… Damn he had a long tongue. A perfectly pink and well-developed tongue. His lips were fuller than my own, and if I closed my eyes, I could almost feel them against my mouth, my neck, my ear…

  I needed help…and I needed it fast.

  Even though his mood swings had given me whiplash in the past, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was seeing a different side of him this morning. Sure, he still oozed sex, but he was also showing me a softer side of himself. One I ate up with abandon. Bottom line? I was drawn to him as a person now, which was something entirely different and more meaningful than just the sexual front.

  He’d opened up to me about some things: his past, his career choices, joining the marines after graduating from college. The two of us had a lot in common—both the type who wanted to do things our way, without anyone else’s opinions or thoughts to bog us down.

  By the time we got back to my apartment, I had a full tummy and a happy heart, which also meant my brain was jumbled when I asked, “Do you want to come inside for another cup of coffee?”

  Leaning the side of his face against the seat, Collin looked at me, eyes bright and nearly sparkling in the late-morning sun.

  “I would, but Max is at home with Chloe, so I gotta get back.”

  I stared down at the pocket of my hoodie. Shyness took over, and for the fortieth time since he’d arrived at my apartment, I felt my face grow hot.

  Collin blew out a strangled sigh, which, in turn, forced my gaze to meet his again.

  “What?” I tried to smile, failing to hold back the quivering in my voice.

  “I didn’t expect you.”

  Oh. “Oh.”

  Fingers lifted my chin up. I didn’t even know I’d looked away.

  “That night in the bar, when I first met you?” He searched my face, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. “I should’ve known you were different.”

  “Different how?” Did I even want to know his answer?

  “Different in a way that scared me.”

  My mouth made an O, yet the response I’d readied on my tongue failed to come out. “I was rude that night.”

  He laughed. “And I was an asshole. We made a good team.”

  A team? Oh God.

  “Should’ve kissed you then too.”

  “Huh?” My hands tightened around my purse.

  “I said, I should’ve kissed you. I’d thought so much about it that the night you showed up with my sister, I felt like I was dreaming. Like someone was torturing me at the same time.” He stared out the front window of his truck. “I knew God had it in for me, but when he brought me you, I thought maybe I’d gone too far, fucked up too many things, ya know?”

  “Collin…” The torture in his voice had me leaning across the console. When I reached for his hand, I interlocked our fingers, ignoring how much mine shook. “Things happen, bad things, good things. But we’re only given what we can handle in life. I believe that.”

  “Then why the hell do I feel like I’m losing control every time you come near?”

  I knew why, yet I couldn’t explain it with words. It was emotions coming free from the soul after being trapped inside for so long. The gist of it was, being around Collin made me feel the same way.

  “I swore to her grave I wouldn’t replace her.”

  My throat closed off, and warmth burned my eyes. The guilt he felt over Chloe’s mom was too much for him to bear. Is that why he pushed me away constantly? If I walked away, he might be safer. Yet at the same time, both of us might be losing something so amazing that the regret would eat away at us forever if we didn’t pursue it. Still, it wasn’t my choice to make.

  “Talk to me, Addison. Tell me how you feel.” He pushed the console up and moved closer. Our knees touched.

  “It’s not up to me.” I moved forward to press my fingers against his cheek. Leaning into my touch, he blew out a soft sigh and shut his eyes.

  “Wish I could promise you perfection. You deserve it,” he whispered.

  My fingers danced over his chin, his cheek, until I settled them against his throat. His neck bobbed beneath my fingers and I leaned in closer, pressing my forehead to his. I held my breath, waiting for something I had no idea I’d been waiting for.

  Him.

  “I don’t want perfection.” I pulled back first, brushing my nose across his cheek, taking the chance and running with it. “I only want you.”

  And then I moved forward and took a risk, kissing him once on the lips.

  Chapter 22

  Collin

  Two days had passed since Addie kissed me in my truck—a day that was now one for my record books. Not because it was the best kiss of my life, or because I’d sat there like a dumbass, unable to move as she told me good-bye and got out of my truck. It was record-book worthy because she’d done the impossible: taken my dreams and given them life with that one kiss.

  She’d gained control of my heart.

  I’d made her come against my door, had my hands all over her body, but nothing felt as surreal as the second her lips touched mine, which is why it had only taken me ten seconds to snap out of my daze and chase after her. Five second
s after that, I caught up with her on the sidewalk by the front of her building, and two seconds later I was kissing her again, this time pressed against the glass door, my hand in the thickness of her hair as she opened her mouth for me and moaned.

  Just when I was ready to take her up on more than the coffee she’d offered, Max called to say Chloe had bumped her head on the coffee table when she pulled herself up from the floor to stand.

  Now, there I was, after a long, Saturday night at work, staring down at my new dream come to life. Lying on my couch, with her hair spread over her face and a soft snore coming out of her nose, Addison looked like an angel.

  Easing down on the floor next to her, I pressed my hand to her cheek, brushing hair away from her mouth. Her tongue, all pink and sweet, darted between her plump lips, drawing me in closer. As lightly as I could, I pressed my mouth to hers, not wanting to wake her but okay if I did.

  When she didn’t stir at my touch, I headed into the bathroom to take a shower. It was gonna be a good day.

  Last night, out of the blue, I’d learned that I was up next for first shift, Monday through Friday. And I’d be starting tomorrow. Normal hours would mean normal sleep and normal time with Chloe—and now Addie too.

  Addie…

  Jesus, just thinking her name, imagining her in my bed, in this shower with me… Gripping the base of my cock, I stroked it hard, shuddering when I reached the head. With my forehead and a hand pressed against the wall, I envisioned her rocking over me, her hips thrusting hard, her tiny moans, her beautiful tits on display, bouncing in place.

  “Fuck.” I stroked faster, needing more—needing her. And just before I reached the edge, the moment of truth, someone opened the damn door.

  I stilled, teeth gritted, my pulsing cock aching for release.

  “Collin?”

  My body went stiff at her voice. Not thinking, I turned off the water, whipped the shower curtain open, and wrapped a towel around my waist.

  “Holy shit,” she whispered.

  I grabbed her wrist and pulled her fully into the room with me, shutting the door behind her.

  She covered her eyes and fumbled until she landed on the toilet lid. “Give a girl a warning before you go caveman, would ya?”

  Snorting to myself, I moved to stand in front of her. “How ’bout you learn to knock?”

  A noise sounded in the base of her throat. “I did knock, you idiot,” she grumbled.

  Needing to see her face, I peeled her fingers away from her eyes. “Look at me.”

  Her mouth fell open, then closed, but her eyes stayed shut even after I took her hands in mine.

  “I can’t.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “It’s, um… I…”

  “You got something to say to me, then say it. Don’t be afraid.” I rubbed my knuckles down her pink cheeks.

  “Well…see, you…”

  Loved how I could make her speechless. “Open those pretty eyes, Addie. See me.”

  Just when I thought I’d completely terrified her to the point of no return, her lashes began to flutter against her cheeks, and she lifted her chin to meet my gaze.

  “I like those eyes on me. Want them always on me, nobody else.”

  “You’re insane.” Her jaw worked and she stood, still facing me. “No way can you tell me who I can and cannot look at.” She shoved me back against the wall.

  Leaning closer again, I lowered my lips to her ears. “No, I can’t, but when I want something, I want it fully. Completely.” And I want you.

  “So, what exactly are you saying?” Her voice was low and husky. This woman made me crazy with lust, and I wanted inside her so bad I could damn near taste it on my tongue.

  “Saying that starting tonight, you’re gonna stay here in my house, and we’re gonna try this out. Me, you, together—officially.”

  “What?” Her lips twitched, and my cock jumped through the towel. She stiffened, eyes going wide, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “He’s not in charge, you know,” she grumbled, curling her lips.

  I laughed harder—so hard my chest ached. So hard that after a while, she started laughing too. And I liked the sound. A lot. Liked it so much I couldn’t stop myself from leaning forward, tucking my hands around the back of her head, and capturing it with my mouth.

  She gasped against my lips, but like the last time, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she reacted—always so receptive to my touches—by wrapping her hands around my naked shoulders. Fingernails scraped lightly across my skin and I shivered, tasting her, loving the soft moan coming through when I touched my tongue to hers.

  Girl built a fire in my chest that burned through my body. Now this could very well be the best kiss of my life.

  Not wanting to think any further, I lowered my arms and wrapped them below her ass, lifting her so high that she had to look down to keep her mouth sealed to mine. Her hands tangled in my hair when I squeezed her ass, her hair falling over her shoulders and covering both our faces.

  A growl built in my throat, testing me. I wanted her to lose control. I wanted her to know what I could to do to her—wanted her to feel what she did to me. So I set her on the counter by the sink, not caring that my towel was coming dangerously loose around my waist. No way worried my cock was hard and ready for her. Wouldn’t push her far—not yet. Wanted her to feel good but didn’t want to screw this up either.

  Another moan slipped from her lips, and because I loved that sound, I tipped her head back and kissed her throat so I could hear it loud and clear. Wanted to hear my name on her tongue.

  My hands grew wild, trailing down her arms and coming to rest on her hips. She hissed as my fingers slipped under her shirt. Against her neck I grinned, needing to hear more, do more, feel more.

  “Wanna see you, sweetheart.”

  She stiffened. “I…”

  Pulling back, I lifted my hands to cup her cheeks. I rubbed my thumbs over her skin, forcing her to keep her eyes locked with mine. “Wanna look at you, feel you against me. I won’t touch you anywhere else unless you ask me to. You good with that?”

  She held my stare, unwavering, until finally she lowered her fingers to the bottom of her shirt and pulled it slowly up over her head. Cheeks all pink and sexy as fuck, she smiled at me, so shy it hurt to take a breath. Nodding once, she gave me a small nudge backward, urging me to look, to take my fill.

  And, holy shit, did I do just that.

  “Fucking perfect.”

  At my words, she wrapped her legs around my hips and pulled me close again. Those hooded brown eyes could make a grown man weep with joy when they looked at you like she was looking at me.

  Then the second her gorgeous tits pressed against my chest, I was a goner.

  Couldn’t kiss her enough. Couldn’t hold her tight enough either. Needed to claim her, make her mine, even if doing so meant something I wasn’t ready for. I’d deal with the consequences later, but for now, I wanted to make her feel as good as I did.

  My towel slipped to the floor, and I rocked my hips against hers. She gasped and pulled away, staring down at my cock. A grin pulled up one side of her mouth. “It would seem as though you lost something,” she whispered, pressing her hands against the side of my neck. Her palms were smooth, like the rest of her skin.

  “Got no control over what happens down there.” I winked.

  One of her eyebrows arched. “So, what you’re telling me is that you need a leash for that bad boy.” Her lips twitched. “Am I right?”

  I laughed. “More like a saddle.”

  “Oh God.” Her nose scrunched up, and she leaned forward to press it against my wet neck. Smiling, I stroked the back of her long hair, holding her against me. In the mirror, I could see the smooth skin of her back, and I trailed my hands down her spine, watching her shiver beneath my touch.

 
“Collin…” My name, all soft on her tongue, had me pulling back and looking into her eyes again.

  In her stare, I saw what she couldn’t say, what she was too shy to ask for. And even though I hadn’t had a woman in well over a year, I knew lust and need when I saw it. Knew exactly how to ease the ache between her hips too.

  “You need something?” I grinned, hoping she’d play along.

  She studied me for a second longer, but I saw it all the same. She nodded, her acceptance of this, of us, was right there in the movement of her head, even if she didn’t verbally say the words.

  Knowing what I had to do, I moved her off the edge of the sink and then fell to my knees, bringing her tiny shorts and yellow panties along with me. Never once did I look away from her eyes, too entranced with her parted lips and pink cheeks. Her breath hitched as my fingers trailed over her thighs, and I grinned, watching her eyes go wide as I tossed the scraps of fabric behind me. Slowly, I eased my hands back up, cupping her perfect ass, only to lift her back up on the counter. Not wanting to completely freak her out, I grabbed my towel from the floor and wrapped it back around my waist.

  “W-what are you doing?”

  I brushed my knuckles along the side of her cheek. “Haven’t touched a woman for a long time. Don’t want to be distracted by my own needs when all I want to do is fill yours.”

  “Well, I mean, if you want to…”

  “Fuck?”

  Her cheeks went redder, but she still whispered, “Yes.”

  I lowered my forehead to hers, kissing her nose. “Baby, believe me, I want nothing more than to feel you wrapped around my cock, but this thing between us?” I motioned from my chest to hers. “I’m not gonna mess it up by going too fast. You get me?”

  Her shoulders fell, and I wasn’t sure if relief or disappointment coated her face. But I went with it, trusting my instincts, and fell to my knees. Eager and impatient, I licked my lips, spread her legs apart, and kissed the insides of her thighs. Back and forth I trailed my tongue across her skin, growing closer to her pretty little pussy, only to kiss around it and head over to the other thigh instead.

  “Jesus,” she gasped, grabbing my hair and urging me forward.