by J. H. Croix
Somehow they made it into the kitchen, while Jax raced past them out into the yard. By that point, Vivi had abandoned any restraint. She kicked her shoes off and tossed her jacket and purse on the counter. Heath was in the middle of tugging his jacket off when she stepped in front of him. She slid a palm up his chest and curled it around the back of his neck.
“Now.”
He met her halfway, fitting his mouth over hers. The kiss that had begun outside continued. He swept his tongue inside her mouth, nipped at her lips and traced them. His hands roamed over her body, as hers did his. She savored the feel of the hard planes of his body under her touch, while the feel of his hands stroking down her back, cupping her bottom and curling around a breast was so delicious, she felt delirious.
She shoved his jacket off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. With a sigh, she slid her hands under his shirt and gasped at the warmth of his skin. He tore his lips away and blazed a wet trail down her neck. He broke free and held still, his eyes dark with need. The moment was hot and electric. Everything sped up. Clothes were torn off and tossed aside. The only light came from a lamp in the corner. Vivi snapped out of the haze of desire long enough to take in the sight of Heath. He wore nothing save a pair of black briefs. He was honed and sculpted. His years in the military were evident in the pure, raw muscle of his body. A ragged scar ran at an angle across his thigh, along with several precise, surgical scars—the permanent reminders of his brush with death. Her heart tightened when she recalled how close he’d come to not making it through to the other side of that car accident.
He stepped to her side, his hands tracing the curve of her waist. She stood almost bare before him, in white cotton underwear with red polka dots and a matching bra, both selected by Julianna once when they went shopping. She wanted everyone to wear polka dots, so Vivi obliged, figuring her underwear would never be seen. Now, she felt a twinge of embarrassment when Heath’s eyes met hers with a gleam.
“I like your polka dots.”
She flushed straight through and bit back a laugh. Heath traced her lips with his thumb before trailing it down along her neck and onto her shoulder. In slow motion, he hooked it under her bra strap and peeled it off her shoulder, the other following quickly. Her breasts tumbled loose, and she gasped in relief. Her nipples were so tight, they verged on pain. Heath’s fingers traced lightly along the undersides of her breasts before circling her nipples. Her breath broke on a moan when his lips closed over one taut nipple. He swirled his tongue around it while teasing the other with his fingers. She lost herself in a haze of sensation, arching and flexing in his arms.
***
Heath dragged his eyes open. Vivi’s hips were resting against the kitchen table. Her dark hair fell in a rumple around her shoulders. Her body was all lush curves and softness tempered with strength. She was bare except for her white and red polka dot panties, which somehow hit him right in the heart. She dragged a hand down his chest and stroked boldly over his briefs. What little control he had was almost lost when she curled her palm around his cock. He’d been throbbing with need for her for hours at this point, so it didn’t take much to push him to the edge of his control.
He started to step back when she hooked her thumb over the waistband of his briefs and yanked them down. Before he could take a breath, she leaned forward and dragged her tongue along his cock. She teased him to near madness for several heated minutes while she explored him with her lips and tongue. A ragged groan broke free when she took him in her mouth. Hot, wet strokes of her tongue, the warm suction of her mouth and the grip of her palm, and he almost lost control. He yanked on the reins of his restraint and hung on—just barely.
He pulled her up and lifted her onto the table, while he simultaneously dragged her panties off with one hand and fumbled in the pocket of his jeans that were hanging over a chair by the table. His wallet fell to the floor when he tugged the condom out. He bumped heads with Vivi when she tried to helpfully roll the condom on. She giggled and glanced up, her blue eyes dark with passion and hinted with mirth. For a second, he froze. He was tossed asunder in the grip of pure lust mingled with an intimacy he’d never known with anyone.
Vivi’s smile faded and her hand stilled. He nudged her chin up and caught her lips in another kiss. He stepped between her knees. She shimmied closer to the edge of the table when he reached between her legs and dragged his fingers through her folds. She was so wet, so ready. He stepped a fraction closer and nudged into her entrance.
“Vivi,” he whispered.
He needed to see her. Her eyes opened, dark with a wild edge. Only then did he sheathe himself in her. She was tight and gasped when he seated himself fully within her. He held still, almost overcome at what it felt like to be this close to her. After several beats, he began to move. She curled her legs around his hips, her body flush against his. He held her hips as he surged again and again. He was so close to the edge, he could barely hold back. He slid a hand between them and circled it over her clit. Her eyes finally closed when her head fell back with her cry. Her channel clenched and throbbed around him. He finally let go, his release thundering through him. He dropped his head into the curve of her shoulder, his body shuddering from the echoes of his release.
Chapter 7
Vivi came awake slowly. She was curled on her side with Heath spooned behind her, his feet tangled with hers and his hand resting on her hip. The wispy light of dawn filtered through the curtains in her bedroom. Jax must have been sleeping on the other side of Heath because even though she couldn’t see him, she could hear his purr rumbling through the room. She lay still, soaking in the feel of being skin to skin with Heath. She couldn’t quite wrap her brain around what happened last night. Heath had blown past her barriers and made her youthful fantasies look weak. Just thinking about what it felt like to be with him flushed her. Restless, she shifted her legs.
“Mmm,” Heath mumbled against her neck.
A shiver chased over her skin. His hand stroked up her side from her hip, following the dip of her waist, up along the side of her breast and over her shoulder. He brushed her tangled hair away from her face. Her belly fluttered and warmth spread through her. Oh. Dear. God. It felt so good to wake up with him like this.
He stretched behind her, his body going taut and then relaxing against her again. “Mornin’,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.
She rolled in his arms. His eyes were bright in the thin light. His dark curls were a wild mess. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Heath sleepy. His mouth hooked at one corner. “What’s so funny?”
She lifted a hand and ran it through his hair. “You have some serious bed head.”
He chuckled. “Usually do. I wasn’t much of a fan of the military buzz cut, but it did prevent this mess,” he said, gesturing to his head.
Quiet fell between them. Jax’s purr kept going. Heath glanced over his shoulder. “Wow, I’m surprised I didn’t wake up.”
She giggled. “Jax takes his purring very seriously. I’ve gotten so used to it, I hardly notice. When Julianna’s home, he sleeps with her though.”
“When do you need to pick her up?” he asked, his hand sifting through her hair.
“Oh, she takes the bus from my mom’s straight to school. Since I usually work one shift during the school week, we have it all sorted out.”
Heath nodded slowly. “Does that mean I can take you out to breakfast?”
She held his gaze, her heart clamoring for her to say yes, while her mind spun with worry. What if this didn’t work out? What if she had to find a way to let her feelings go? It had all seemed so much easier when she’d kind of had a thing for him, but nothing had actually happened. Now, a lot more than something had happened. She didn’t know how she could keep her feelings in a tidy corner anymore. She bit her lip and tried to take a breath to quell the anxiety rising up within her.
“Is breakfast okay?” he asked finally. When she didn’t reply right awa
y, his hand stilled and he leaned up on his elbow. “Okay, spill it. What the hell are you thinking? I’m not a mind reader, but I can tell you’re worried.”
“I, um, I don’t know. I’m not sure what we’re doing and I don’t know if it’s a good idea…” She stumbled over her words and gulped in air. She had no idea how to contain her feelings for him and every little thing they shared only tightened the grip he had on her heart.
He held up a hand, and she quieted, somewhat relieved because she didn’t know what the hell she meant to say.
“We blew way past breakfast last night. Maybe you’re not sure what we’re doing, but I am.”
He sat up a little further, the sheet sliding down to his waist. He just had to go and do that. One look at him and her mouth went dry and longing coiled within her. His muscled chest and abs flexed as he slid up until he was leaning against the headboard. She pushed up on her elbow and sat up beside him, tucking the sheet up over her breasts.
When he spoke again, his voice was low and clear. “Back when I first kissed you, I meant what I said. I waited too damn long. I’m not after a fling. I’m after a lot more than that. I just didn’t want to push too far or too fast.”
Vivi thought her heart might pound its way out of her chest. Hope spun in circles inside, but she batted it back. She might have had a silly crush on Heath once upon a time, he might call to her like no other, but she wasn’t a silly girl anymore. She didn’t quite trust herself to know when she’d find the right mate for her. Because she’d been so wrong about Chris. She’d truly thought she’d found her mate in him—that shifter fantasy of another shifter who called to her like no other. In hindsight, what had blinded her were her own hopes and dreams and the need to prove to herself she could find another shifter who attracted her the way Heath did. Even though she’d tried to convince herself Chris did, it had never been the same.
To have Heath sitting here beside her now telling her he wanted a lot more than a fling, well, it flat out terrified her. Because what if she was wrong about him too? Oh, she trusted him to be good to her and not blow in and out of her life. She knew him to be a man and shifter of honor, but what if she didn’t turn out to be what he hoped for? What if this was just a passing blip of pure lust?
“Vivi?”
Heath’s voice nudged her out of her thoughts. She glanced over at him. His eyes never broke away. She couldn’t quite find her words.
He reached over and curled his hand around hers. The warmth and strength of his grip anchored her and soothed the unsettled feeling inside. “I’m not going to take off on you like Chris did. You have to know that,” he said, his words firm.
Her throat was tight. She swallowed against the feeling and took in a gulp of air. “I know you wouldn’t do that, but what if this doesn’t work out? I can’t really avoid you if things go wrong—it’ll be weird. It’s not simple being a single mother either. I have to think about Julianna. I don’t want to confuse her, or…” She paused and forced herself to take another breath. She didn’t quite know how to tell him she just couldn’t take it if it turned out he didn’t want to stay with her. She didn’t do casual, she never had.
“I know we have to think about Julianna. Even if I know precisely what I want, I have enough sense to know we have to take it one step at a time. Can you just try to trust me that I know what we have here?”
Tears pressed at the back of her eyes, but she held the feeling inside. She wasn’t going to fall apart right now. It would be far too mortifying for Heath to see just how vulnerable she felt with him. She glanced over. “Is this one of those things where you think you found your mate?” Her question was tinged with sarcasm.
Heath didn’t flinch. He nodded firmly. “Don’t make light of it. You didn’t with Sophia, so don’t do it with yourself. It’s not like we barely know each other. If last year hadn’t been such a mess for me, I’d have let you know how I felt a hell of a lot sooner. I had to know I could be the man you deserved before I did that. Can we just enjoy that we had an amazing night and have some breakfast? I thought you needed to know how I felt, so you didn’t start wondering what I wanted. I can wait until you’re ready though.”
His words hit her right in her center. He was so clear, so definite. While she was a muddle inside. Even though she knew she wanted him, she also knew it wouldn’t help to ruminate on her worries just now. She’d practice taking it one step at a time. She met his eyes and nodded. “How about we have breakfast here? I’ll cook.” At his grin, she kicked the covers free.
***
Heath pushed through the door at the bank and walked briskly to his truck. He tossed the folder of papers on the seat and closed the door. He paused on the sidewalk and glanced around. Painter was nestled in a valley with mountains surrounding it. Main Street was picturesque with quaint, colorful storefronts. A gust of wind sent leaves spinning in a swirl. He stepped off the sidewalk and looked both ways before striding across the street to Mile High Grounds. The bell jangled above the door when he entered. It was late afternoon and the coffee shop was quieter than at most hours. A few college students were nursing coffees while they studied and there was a knitting group in the corner. His sister glanced up from the counter.
“Hey Heath! How’s it going?”
He reached the counter. “It’s going pretty damn good. Just got the bank loan approved to get my construction business started. I thought the paperwork would never end, but it’s official as of a few minutes ago.”
Sophia squealed and clapped her hands. “Yippee! I know you wanted to get that taken care of. So what does it mean?”
“It means I’ve got seed money to invest in the heavier equipment I need. I’ve already been picking up jobs, but I had to keep it small. Now, I can take on bigger jobs and hire a team when I’ve got enough work to make it worthwhile.”
Sophia grinned and leaned a hip against the counter. “You can use my accountant if you want.”
Heath chuckled and kicked his toe against the floor. “I’ll probably take you up on that.”
“It’s Sara Willis. Her office is just a few doors down the street. She’s awesome and so picky it’s annoying. I figure picky’s good when it comes to accounting. Anyway, coffee?”
“Of course. Just something dark today. Nothing sweet.”
“Got it!” Tommy called out from behind the espresso machine.
Heath glanced around the room, half hoping to see Vivi walk through the door. He’d barely been able to keep her out of his mind since last night and this morning. A few hours of hard work on a small decking job kept him from spinning circles inside. He’d been distracted at the bank meeting, but fortunately all the details had already been hammered out.
“Looking for Vivi?”
He whipped his head back to Sophia to find her grinning.
“No, I…” He paused with a shake of his head. “Actually, yes. I thought she might be by this afternoon.”
“Logical guess, seeing as she stops by here most afternoons.”
Tommy stepped to the counter and slid Heath’s coffee across. He glanced between them. “Yeah, we both noticed you can hardly keep your eyes off Vivi lately.”
Heath almost choked on his sip of coffee. Sophia started to laugh and immediately covered her mouth when he glared at her. Tommy turned away and headed to the back room, but not before tossing a sly grin over his shoulder. “Gotta play those cards closer to your chest if you don’t want anyone to notice.”
When Tommy disappeared through the door into the back, Sophia’s expression sobered. “So, you and Vivi?”
Heath wasn’t ready to tell his little sister about last night, but he wasn’t going to hide his feelings. He nodded and took a gulp of his coffee, savoring the rich flavor.
Sophia looked at him for a long moment, her eyes searching and considering. “She means a lot to you.”
“She does.” His heart tightened. Last night had taken the hints of his feelings and ratcheted up their intens
ity.
Sophia watched him for another moment. Her breath came out on a sigh. “Oh. Does she know how you feel?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I tried to let her know, but I’m not so sure how much she’s ready to hear.”
Sophia was quiet for several beats. “Give her time.”
“That’s it? Give her time?”
Sophia gave him a small smile and shrugged. “That’s it. It may not sound like much, but she’s been on her own for years. After the way things went with Chris, she’s wary. If you don’t give her time, she’ll get in her own way.”
At that moment, another customer approached the counter and Heath stepped out of the way. “I’ll probably be by again soon,” he said with a lift of his coffee cup.
“I’ll be here. Maybe you can meet Daniel and I for dinner tomorrow.”
“Just tell me where.”
At that, he turned and left. As he was walking back across the street, Daniel’s truck passed by. He came to a quick stop and waved to Heath as he rolled down his window.
“What’s up?” Heath said when he reached Daniel’s truck.
“I was just about to call you. Roger wants us to stop by. They’ve caught a few leads north of town.”
“You got it. I’ll meet you there.”
A short while later, Heath leaned against the wall in Roger Shaw’s office. Roger was the lead investigator on the various cases associated with the smuggling network. He and a few other officers were shifters, which came in quite handy during the months of searching for Nelson.
“To keep it short, we’ve been revisiting the properties around town, and we’re pretty sure someone’s living in the old buildings on the main property where your grandfather’s offices were. It’s one of the first places we checked out. I figured all along Nelson and anyone helping him would wait it out and loop back this way.”