by Amanda Usen
…
I should have said yes to dinner and no to the hurricane. Lianna poured them strong, and she’d thought her sister’s friend might have a clue as to where Kate was hiding out. No such luck, and now Betsy was on her fifth bar in two hours. No one in the neighborhood had seen hide nor hair of Kate, but everyone had been happy to give her free drinks. Because they haven’t seen me in months. Some of them haven’t seen me in years.
Another drink seemed like an excellent idea.
She headed straight for the bar, plunked herself down on a stool, and eyed the daiquiri machines. Without even trying, she’d almost drunk the rainbow tonight. Why not finish it up? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet…sounded like a plan to her. It was good to have a plan. She loved plans. What color was next? She thought back over the night. Hurricane, mango daiquiri, pineapple fizz, and a Chartreuse martini that had tasted like a turpentine Twizzler. She could use something to wash the taste out of her mouth.
“Can you make me something blue, please?” she asked the bartender.
“Coming right up.”
She didn’t recognize him, but she was a little farther down the strip than Kate usually strayed, not that she knew where Kate went anymore. She rested her head in her hand and sighed. Her little sister had become a stranger. She sensed a drink being placed in front of her, so she leaned forward the necessary inches to capture the straw and took a deep pull. Instant brain freeze. She clutched her head and groaned.
A deep chuckle added insult to injury. “Water, no ice, please.”
She glared at Quin as he placed a glass in her hand and lifted it toward her mouth, but she drank. As soon as the tepid water hit the back of her throat, her head stopped hurting.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
His features tightened in the closed expression she hated. “I got lost one street over after I dropped you off. I guess I don’t have to ask what you’ve been doing for the last few hours.”
“I told you I was going to look for Kate.”
“Any luck yet?”
“Nope. And I’m reaching the end of the rainbow.” She held up the drink and took a smaller sip.
He slid onto the stool next to her as she recounted her night. “I can’t stop drinking now. I’ve never had a purple drink. No, wait—indigo comes before violet. Maybe something blueberry? Oh! I have the perfect idea for violet.” Lila had told her about a cocktail made with blackberries, tequila, and lemonade, and she’d been dying to try it. The thought of Lila filled her with regret for no reason she could name. Thinking of Jenna made her feel the same way. But Kate…Kate was breaking her heart.
“You should drink the rest of that water and eat something or you’ll be seeing that rainbow again. In reverse.”
Although she knew he was right, she rolled her eyes. “I’d say ‘Thanks, Mom,’ but my momma would be back behind that bar working on indigo for me.” Part of her brain noted she was slurring her words, so she tipped the water glass to her lips and drained it. “Happy?”
For a second, she was lost in the gold glints of amusement in his eyes. “I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I’m happy to see you.” He gave her that slow smile, the one that started in his eyes and then traveled to his mouth, heating her everywhere. She stared at his lips for a long moment before she dragged her gaze away. Unfortunately, it landed on his broad chest, making her want to touch him. Yep, she wanted to run both hands over his firm pecs and maybe lean forward to nuzzle his neck and see if he smelled as good as he had earlier. Probably not her best idea in her current state, considering she lacked control around him even when she possessed all her faculties.
She felt a silly smile curve her lips. At least he’s not wearing a suit. If he were wearing a suit, she might loosen his tie and start unbuttoning his shirt right here. She could—just—resist him in a T-shirt and jeans, but she gave in to the urge to reach over to lay her hand on his thigh. She traced the seams and creases of the soft material of his jeans from knee to groin. With a teasing fingertip, she outlined his hardening cock. He caught her hand and pressed it flat against his thigh.
Undaunted, she slipped her hand free and slid into his lap. Warmth spread through her as she settled on top of his erection. “I’m happy to see you, too.” She lifted her hand to stroke his cheek.
The intensity in his gaze stole her breath. His hands bracketed her waist, and she tugged his face to meet hers. Satisfaction rolled through her as soon as they connected, but even though she’d initiated the kiss, he took control of it. His mouth made a demand she instantly answered, and her hand dropped to clutch his T-shirt, pulling him closer. Not the suit.
It wasn’t the suit that got her; it was the man, the power he had over her, the way he made her feel secure when they touched. She’d given him that power the night they met, surrendered it because she thought she’d never see him again, but here he was, still in control. Not for long. She spun to straddle him and found herself in the air, neatly deposited back on her own bar stool.
“If I order dinner, will you stay and eat with me?” he asked.
He wanted food instead of her? Her stomach tipped and twirled, spiraling downward, and not only with disappointment. She clenched her teeth as her mouth began to water and had to swallow a couple of times before she answered. “I’m not sure eating is a good idea.”
“Trust me. It is.” He tugged a menu from the metal clip on the bar. “Gotta get you ready for indigo and violet.”
The room spun in the opposite direction from her stomach. “That’s not a good idea, either.”
“Thank God.” He ordered sandwiches and then draped his arm around her shoulders, throwing her into further upheaval. He’d just forcibly ejected her from his lap, so why was he hugging her now? It made no sense, nor did the comfort his touch brought her, but she’d have to think about it later. Right now her full attention was focused on taking shallow breaths to keep from throwing up.
“This is why I don’t drink,” she whispered, closing her eyes and then snapping them wide as the spins got worse. “Why do people do this? It sucks.”
“It’s still early. If we run enough food and water into you, you’ll make it to work tomorrow. That’s the most important thing, right?” His voice held a note of challenge she was so not up to deciphering, so she just nodded slowly, shocked to realize she had no desire to open the café in the morning. It must be the booze screwing with her brain because that couldn’t be right. The café was her dream, her ticket to a better life. “I need to find Kate.”
“Not tonight, you don’t.”
She would have bristled at his autocratic tone, but even tipsy, she knew he was right. Her search had hit a dead end for now.
He nudged her refilled water glass toward her hand. “Why is it your responsibility to find her?”
“Mom had a lot on her plate with the bar when we were growing up. I always looked after Kate.” And she missed her like crazy. It felt like there was a hole in her heart. She took a long drink. “It’s been different between us since I got home from culinary school. She loves working in the bar.”
“And you want to close it and open for dinner.”
Frustration flashed through her, contributing to her out-of-control feeling. She felt her filter slipping. Why was she discussing this with him? But she couldn’t deny it felt good. “Kate thinks it’s fun, but I hate it. That’s why I got a job in a restaurant after high school, and that’s why I went to culinary school. I want more for us, a better future.”
“And you don’t want anyone interfering with your business.”
“Exactly.” Their food arrived, and her appetite returned with a vengeance at the sight of the massive fried shrimp po’boy. She picked it up and sank her teeth into it. Lettuce, tomato, mayo, hot sauce, the works. She wanted to rub her face in the sandwich like it was a beloved pillow beneath her head. Steam crunched from a shrimp and she sucked air through her teeth to cool it down. Quin was digging into his sandwi
ch with equal fervor or she would have been mortified by her inability to summon her table manners.
When the only things left on her plate were a few cold fries, she sighed and pushed the plate away. “That was awesome. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Feeling better?”
“About a thousand percent.”
He picked up the check, glanced at it, and handed it back to the bartender with cash. “We’re all set.” Then he took her hand and tugged her off the bar stool.
When her feet hit the floor, she fell against him, and the room tilted again. “Damn it.”
“Think you can sleep?” Since her ear was plastered to his chest, she both felt and heard his laugh. She nodded, but sleep wasn’t what she wanted to do, not when his body felt so damn good and filled up all the emptiness. Now that she wasn’t feeling sick anymore…
“Let’s go.” He guided her out of the bar. The night was warm, but she leaned against him, letting him half-carry, half-drag her toward her apartment. The lights from the bars and restaurants seemed too bright, so she closed her eyes and kept moving her feet, feeling as if she were floating through a dream. Sound streamed around her in slow motion, and her body was hypersensitive to his. She couldn’t wait to get him into her bed.
“Keys?”
Were they here already? She dug through her purse and handed them over. When he opened the door, she pulled him into her apartment.
“Let’s get you settled. It’s not even midnight. Plenty of time to sleep it off.”
She laughed under her breath as he locked the door and nudged her forward. “Bedroom? Bathroom?” he asked. He’d kept her water glass full, so she headed for the bathroom to take care of business. He was waiting in the hall when she opened the door.
“Your turn,” she said cheerfully, walking past him into the bedroom.
She threw off her clothes and collapsed on her bed, grinning, naked, and waiting for the second time today. The darkness swirled around her, and her skin tingled with anticipation. She cupped her breasts, rolling her nipples to hard peaks under her palms and then sliding one hand over her rounded belly to the wetness gathering between her thighs. She rubbed lightly, tracing a lazy path through her center as Quin entered the bedroom.
She knew the exact moment his eyes adjusted to the dark because his low groan hit her in exactly the right spot. She arched her back, showing him everything as she gazed at him from under heavy lids. He had a glass of water and she’d bet anything his other hand held ibuprofen from her medicine cabinet in the bathroom. An odd emotion swelled through her, putting a sharper edge on her arousal. She wanted to take him deep inside her body and hold him so tightly…
“Take these.” He held out his hand.
His eyes glittered as she sat up and teased the pills from his palm with her tongue. His hand was slightly wet and smelled of the vanilla-bean soap in her bathroom. The sweet scent on his skin made her smile as she reached for the glass. Sweet man.
She swallowed the pills and placed the glass on the bedside table. As soon as it left her hand, he was on her, tossing her to the center of the bed and pinning her with his hands on her hips. She parted her legs so he could settle between them, astonished by how easy it was to allow him the intimacy. He bent his head and pressed a soft kiss to her sex, and she sighed, the air rushing out of her lungs and with it the anxiety she had carried all night.
At the first touch of his tongue, the warm heat flickering inside her flared into a raging inferno. His hands clenched her ass, pulling her firmly against his open mouth. Sensation overwhelmed her, a swirling darkness shot with bright sparks. She ground shamelessly against his face, seeking more, and he gave it to her. She couldn’t separate her motions from his. Her body surged, straining, every muscle tensing. He moved faster and harder, and she was rising out of her body, shooting high into the sky, no end in sight. She reached for him, trying to drag him up her body and get him inside so he could take this journey with her, but he resisted, holding her down, keeping her tethered while he set fire to her center.
Pressure built. If she went any higher, she was going to fly apart. Every limb was shaking. She was lost to his flickering tongue, thrusting fingers, and the teasing thumb flirting with her ass. So good. She whimpered, begging wordlessly. He pumped faster, tireless and determined, and she knew he wouldn’t ever stop. Her entire world was burning, and she exploded in the middle of it, held together by his strong hands.
Bliss spread from head to toe, molten lava in her veins, melting her to the bed and then cooling by infinitesimal degrees. Her body became heavy and dark, and she was vaguely aware of covers being pulled back and her body rolling beneath them. Quin slid into bed behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. She roused enough to reach back to guide him inside, but was confused when her hand landed on fabric. Why was he still wearing his boxers?
He grasped her hand and enfolded her in his arms. “Sleepy time.”
Exhaustion tugged at her. Every thought and muscle moved slowly, but she could feel his erection throbbing against her ass. “Don’t you want to come, too?” she asked.
He didn’t move. Or answer.
A thought floated to the surface of her mind, and if she’d had the energy, she would have giggled. “Um…is it because I’m drunk? Because I think it’s a little late for gentlemanly behavior.”
He kissed the back of her neck and nestled closer. “Whatever gave you the idea I’m a gentleman? Go to sleep, Betsy. I have what I want.” His hand stroked her hip, spreading warm contentment, and she relaxed against him, remembering the last time she’d been this drowsy and content: this afternoon right before she’d crawled out of his bed.
A frisson of alarm spiked her buzz. “What do you want? To snuggle? I told you we’re just going to have sex, remember? Snuggling is not sex.”
She felt him tense. “Do you want me to leave?”
“Yes.” But when he began to pull away, she changed her mind. She gripped his arm, holding it across her breasts, and cuddled her ass more firmly into his hips. “In the morning.”
His chuckle sounded strained. “You’re going to drive me crazy.”
“Not as crazy as you drive me. Every time you get near me, I let you take charge, just like you did tonight. It’s absolutely terrifying.”
“There’s a difference between taking charge and helping someone, you know.”
“Not in my world. But thank you for saving me from indigo and violet.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sleep tugged at the edges of her thoughts, and she began to drift. “It’s back to just sex tomorrow, okay?”
“Got it.” His arm settled around her waist and squeezed, holding her as she tumbled into darkness.
Chapter Eleven
A wall of sound made Betsy flinch as she opened the door of Last Call. The bar was packed. Energy pulsed out into the street like a living, breathing entity. Music blared over the roar of voices. What the hell was going on?
She saw a flash, and the noise spiked.
She spotted Kate behind the bar, and an arrow of relief shot through her. Then she noticed her sister was pouring blue fire back and forth between two glasses. She stalked toward the bar. Flaming drinks were dangerous, and Kate had no business risking the property or their customers that way. Her heart pounded furiously in her ears, and every second she expected to see Kate’s hands falter, a glass break, or fire streak down the bar’s surface on a trail of spilled alcohol, igniting every bar napkin in its path. Instead, she saw Kate flip a silver shaker into the air. Cinnamon sparked as she caught it and sprinkled it over the flaming glass. She spun a whipped-cream canister like a baton and topped the drink, dousing the sputtering flames. Steam hissed as she poured the whole thing into a glass filled with ice and added more whipped cream, blowing a kiss as she placed it in front of a grinning customer.
Betsy slid through an opening and claimed a space at the bar. Her sister’s gaze flicked over her in automatic acknowledgement an
d then narrowed in recognition.
Kate lifted her chin. “Want one?”
Because her sister expected her to say no, she said, “What is it?”
“A flaming iced coffee. A consolation prize for being cut off. He’s had enough.” Her sister’s voice was sharp and defensive. “I don’t sell them.”
“That’s clever.” No one liked being denied another drink, and Kate had likely defused the man’s ire and eased his pride by making him something special. The caffeine would help, too. “Will you make me one?”
Her sister’s dark eyes flashed with surprise and delight, quickly hidden. “Sure.”
Betsy watched her sister’s hands, confident as they mixed and measured. Kate’s eyes were on the crowd, nodding greetings, acknowledging calls, and occasionally jerking her head to urge a cocktail waitress toward a restless table. When had her sister become such a pro? The room teemed with chaos, and Kate glowed bright in the middle of it, eating it up.
As her sister grooved on the noise, Betsy’s nerves jumped and popped. There was no orderly progression of orders. Every person stepping up to the bar felt entitled to instant service, and it made her seethe with memories of her years trapped behind the bar. Kate winked at the latest arrival, and tipped her glass toward the candle in front of her. “I’ll be right with you, sugar. I’ve got a fire to put out.” The man grinned in appreciation as he watched her handle the flames.
With a twirl and a flourish, Kate placed a cinnamon-and-sugar rimmed, whipped-cream-topped glass in front of Betsy. “On the house.”
Her sister spun down the bar, filling orders with a smile. Betsy wrapped her hands around the cool glass, chilled to the bone, and sipped the coffee. It was bittersweet and creamy, with only a faint reminder of the booze it held, a good thing because it had taken her three days to recover from her rainbow-colored hangover.
She’d awakened to the scent of coffee and bacon that next morning, a sumptuous breakfast delivered from the Keystone. Her humiliation at the way she’d thrown herself at Quin the preceding night was only eclipsed by her confusion over why he hadn’t wanted sex. She’d struggled out of bed, drawn by the lure of caffeine, and found him enjoying the paper, sprawled on her couch like he owned the place. He’d laughed when she kicked him out.