“Hey,” he managed to croak out, finally. “Come on in and have a seat.”
He ushered her into his office, unsuccessfully trying to ignore Chad and BJ making wild gestures out of Eva-Marie’s sight. BJ drew an hourglass shape in the air, then tossed his long dreadlocks, mimicking Eva-Marie’s sexy hair flip, which she must have done while she waited for him. BJ mouthed “wow” to Wade, giving him the thumbs up. Chad was pantomiming breasts and booty, uttering a low wolf whistle Wade hoped she couldn’t hear. He rolled his eyes at their immature behavior, then flipped them off. Stepping into his office behind Eva-Marie, he shut the door, hesitated, then lowered the blinds as well.
As he walked around his desk, she fingered the small parts and paperwork near the edge. Dropping into his chair, he watched her carefully slide everything a few inches to the side, then settle herself on the desktop.
“Whoa.” He took her hands and attempted to pull her off the dirty surface. “You shouldn’t sit there. You’ll mess up your expensive clothes.”
She giggled charmingly, and slid her hands around his to flip his palms up. Looking down, he saw his own hands smudged with motor oil, his fingernails caked with grime. He’d already left matching smudges on her skin.
“Oh, shit.” He grabbed a shop towel and scrubbed at her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m probably the dirtiest thing in here. You shouldn’t be in this mess at all, princess.”
She took the towel away from Wade and tossed it aside. He watched it flutter to the floor, then met her eyes, his own full of questions. She reached for his hands once more, holding them tightly in hers when he tried to pull away.
“Mechanics come with dirt and oil, yes?” she asked softly, with a lilt of Canberra in her husky voice.
He nodded.
“Then why should I expect anything else when I’m consorting with a mechanic?”
Wade laughed. He couldn’t help it. She was so damned cute.
“Consorting? That’s funny. Is that what we’re doing?”
Eva-Marie slid from the desk onto his lap and placed his hands, which she still held, on her waist. Wiggling around to get comfortable, she ground her soft, bubble butt against him, causing an instant erection. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her lips to his.
That was all Wade could take. He kissed Eva-Marie like he’d been desperate to do since high school. A deep, soul-searching kiss that had her melting in his arms. She moaned against his lips, and he pressed hers open, exploring her mouth, trying to memorize everything. How each millimeter of her tasted. Which touches of his tongue made her groan and squirm. How she strained against his body, her fingers sifting through his hair, but her hold on him firm, as if she wanted even more.
Wade ran his hand across her hip and trailed it down to her ass, where he squeezed lightly. Sliding his other arm around her waist, he pulled her closer, rocking his hips slightly to rub his throbbing cock against the plush heat of her fantastic ass.
Eva-Marie moaned again, loudly this time. Loud enough to startle them both. They broke apart, his breathing hard and heavy. She trembled in his arms, her chest heaving as quickly as his own.
Meeting her wide-eyed gaze, he saw the questions reflected there, along with the desire. Attempting to reassure her, and maybe himself as well, he cuddled her closer, bending to rest his forehead against hers. The longing he felt was more than a match for hers. But his heart was involved. If he was going to risk it, he needed to be damned sure it was worth it, and that he could take the punishment.
“So, this is consorting?” His voice was still thick with lust.
Eva-Marie snuggled into Wade’s embrace.
“Yes.” She caressed his cheek, and lowered her head to rest on his chest. “That’s exactly what this is.”
****
Back in her car, Eva-Marie heaved a huge sigh of relief. She was so glad she’d finally taken Scott’s advice and made the first move with Wade. She knew for certain from the coffee date that he was attracted to her, but for some unknown reason, he seemed determined to keep her at arm’s length.
It had been all she could manage to choke down her nervousness and sit on his lap. When he hardened beneath her almost right away, she could have jumped up and cheered. Instead, she took a chance, and kissed him.
It turned out to be the best decision she’d made. He kissed her back with enough passion to scorch her lips. He had her moaning like they were actually having sex, just from his kisses. She might not be able to handle getting him naked if he could break her down like that while she was still fully clothed. Her legs still felt a little weak. Damn, he had some wicked talent in those lips.
She had to get a grip, though. She’d let him know she wanted him. He didn’t need to know just how deeply she was under his spell. Wade had always been the most effortlessly sexy man she’d ever seen. Even as a teen, he’d been able to melt her with just a look. Unfortunately for her, most of the looks he cast in her direction were less than friendly. Scott assured her that Wade had never disliked her, but she wasn’t so sure. As recently as a few days ago in his parents’ kitchen, he’d been downright rude.
No matter how mutual their attraction, something about her still seemed to rub him the wrong way. She wished he’d just come out and say whatever it was, so they could get past it. She’d waited so long to be with him, and wanted this so much. The thought that she could lose everything for some unknown reason when it was finally within reach was unbearable.
Hopefully, he was as ready as she was to see what could happen between them. Hanging on to that thought, she drove home.
****
Wade locked the garage doors and chuckled to himself. Chad and BJ had been ribbing him about Eva-Marie since she’d left. What was her name? Where had he been hiding her? Did she have any sisters? They were hilarious. It progressed to them sneaking up behind him quoting the lyrics to dirty rap songs. Assholes. He’d really missed them while he was on the road. Today, though, he’d threatened to fire them if they didn’t fuck off. Which, of course, only made them worse. Still smiling, he mounted the stairs to his apartment above the shop.
After having a shower and dinner, Wade was still antsy. There was nothing on television, and he couldn’t find a book that held his attention. As usual, he was thinking of Eva-Marie. After that kiss, her interest in him was pretty clear. He kept telling himself not to question his good fortune, but the thought of being a substitute for his brother still made him uneasy.
Cranking up some music, he sat down at his drums and played. By the fifth song, he was sweating like the stage lights were shining on him. A few songs later, he’d found his groove. He was in the zone. The world, and all his frustrations, faded away as the music took over. Wade lost himself to the surround sound and the rhythm of the drumbeats. Closing his eyes, he let his imagination run riot, his body following as he layered the backbeats with complicated licks. His arms and his spirits were flying.
Eventually winding down, Wade opened his eyes to find Eva-Marie standing in his doorway. He froze. Where had she come from, and how long had she been standing there? Slowly, he laid down his sticks, then reached for his remote control, half expecting her to disappear like some sexy mirage. He shut off the music, but before he could get a word out, Eva-Marie was nervously babbling, the same way she’d done in his parents’ kitchen.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming up here without an invitation. I’m sorry for intruding. The gates were still open, and I rang the bell, but the music was so loud I was sure you couldn’t hear it. The door was already open. If it’s not a good time I can go.” The words tumbled from her so fast he could barely keep up.
“No,” Wade interrupted. “It’s fine.” He stepped away from the drums. Just give me a second to clean up a bit.” Grabbing a towel he’d draped across a barstool after his shower, he scrubbed his face and hair, attempting to dry off some of the sweat. Moving the towel down to wipe his neck, he noticed Eva-Marie still standing in the doorway.
“Come on
in. Make yourself at home.”
Wade rubbed his chest and abs briskly, trying to covertly swab his sweaty armpits. But instead of going to the sofa as he expected, she dropped her purse and keys on the table by the door and walked directly to him. Without a word, she took the towel from him and stretched it out. Moving behind him, she drew the soft, fluffy cotton along his skin. Each slow wipe was a sensual caress. He could feel the warmth of her touch through the terrycloth, tracing electric patterns across his back.
The teasing torture he was already enduring was nothing compared to the agony of her attention when she came around to the front. Her movements slowed to a crawl as she gave his chest and abdomen her full concentration. The softness of her brushes across his nipples, and the drag of her nails against the towel as her fingers roamed through the hair on his chest almost drove him crazy. Every line of his six-pack abs was traced with the utmost care, while her warm breath fanned across his chest.
His skin practically quivered under her touches. His cock stood up and reached for her. Dammit, if Eva-Marie didn’t stop, he was going to embarrass himself like a high school virgin. Taking hold of her wrists, he brought his wonderful torment to a halt.
“Em.” Her whole name was too much to handle at the moment. He could barely get the harsh whisper of the nickname past the lump in his throat. “You’re going to start something I’m not sure I can stop.” Wade needed to give her the opportunity to back off before he acted on the pressing need in his heart, and his pants.
Eva-Marie looked up at him, a naughty twinkle in her wide, tawny eyes. She made no effort to free herself from his grasp. Instead, dropping the towel, she blinked innocently up at him, and inched a little closer.
“Sorry,” she said, her tone letting him know she wasn’t sorry at all. “I was enjoying myself. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
So, she was aware of his stiff cock, even though she hadn’t looked at it or come in contact with it at all. The princess wanted to play with fire, eh? Fine.
Releasing her wrists, he executed a swift move and scooped her into his arms, shocking a tiny shriek from her lips. Stalking over to the big leather sectional sofa cradling his prize, Wade twisted, falling onto his back. He held Eva-Marie close to absorb the impact of the fall, and to take pleasure in the feel of her amazing body against his. Her curves fit into his arms like he was made to hold her. Curly chestnut hair cascaded across his face, and he inhaled the rich, herbal scent of her shampoo. It wasn’t the flowery, girly scent he expected from the princess, but damn if it wasn’t acting like a magical substitute for a little blue pill.
Wriggling in his arms, Eva-Marie slid around on top of Wade, making herself comfortable. Her hands moved over his shoulders and down his biceps, and she raised her head to speak to him.
“I knew you were strong, but wow.” Her already husky voice was slightly deeper, breathless. He flexed automatically when she squeezed his biceps, suppressing a smile at the catch in her breath.
She dropped her head back to his chest, nuzzling her cheek against the mat of curly hair that had grown since he’d been home. No manscaping when he wasn’t on tour was his personal policy. When Eva-Marie gave a slight, needy little moan, he knew he’d made the right choice. Bringing a hand to his chest, she smoothed her fingers reverently across the hair on one side, continuing to snuggle her cheek into the other side.
If this was her idea of a seduction, it was the sweetest one he’d ever seen. And it was working like a fucking charm. Wade had never been this turned on in his life, especially since there were still so many clothes between them.
He ran his hands down Eva-Marie’s back, and she answered by arching into his caresses, rocking her hips and pressing against his hard length. They moaned in unison. Slipping his hands beneath her tee shirt, Wade stroked the flawless silk of her skin. He hoped like hell she wouldn’t find his calloused palms repulsive, but he needed to touch her too badly to stop himself.
Instead of pulling away, she rained kisses across his chest. He watched her tongue dart out and lap at the tiny nub of his nipple when she reached it, shivering at the sensation it caused. Wade groaned deep in his chest and reached down to fill his hands with the fantastic flesh of her denim-covered ass, and rolled his hips so his hardness pressed into her softness.
“Mmm,” she murmured against his chest, parting her legs to straddle his, so his cock was cradled against her mound. “You feel good.”
“Em, seriously,” Wade managed to get out through gritted teeth. “Stop now, or we’re not stopping.”
She kissed him. A scorching hot, devastating kiss that broke him down to a needy, horny high school kid again. He felt her in every cell in his body, as if she was the lifeblood flowing through his veins. For a split second, she released his mouth, and there was a brush of fabric across his cheek. But when he opened his eyes to see what was happening, all he could see was a curtain of russet curls. Then, her lips were upon his once again, and his mind was overtaken by whatever magic spell she was weaving over him.
While his tongue tangled with hers, his hands were busy too, roaming her body, memorizing every inch she’d uncovered by shedding her shirt. Her skin, smoother than silk and warmer than cashmere, branded him with fire wherever they touched. Eva-Marie had left her personal mark on him, and Wade was happy to be claimed.
His fingers searched along the strap at her back for the closure to her bra, but there wasn’t one. In the front. Sliding his hands between their bodies, he cupped her lace-covered breasts in his palms and gently massaged before attempting to free them. Not a problem.
Someone moaned. Wade wasn’t sure if it was her or him. Eva-Marie trembled in his arms, her nipples pebbling in his palms through a barely-there scrap of lace. He squeezed her sweet mounds of flesh, smooshing them together so he could reach the center clasp without releasing his hold on his prizes. Finally liberating them from their lacy prison, he wiggled his fingers to pinch and roll her taut nipples, priming them for his lips and tongue.
Breaking their kiss at last, he reached down to lift Eva-Marie to his hungry and waiting mouth, enjoying the added pleasure of her body dragging along his. Nibbling his way down her neck to her chest, Wade made it to his promised land, and froze at the sight of her bright red bra.
“Wade?” Eva-Marie looked confused as she stared down at him. “What’s wrong? Did I do something you didn’t like?”
Setting her away from him as gently as possible, he sat up, dragging his hands across his face. It was just lingerie, he knew, but the effect on him was like a bucket of ice water to the balls. An immediate flash of Eva-Marie, lying halfway underneath Scott went through his mind. His hands were on her skin, and that damned red bra she was wearing that night, the one that changed his whole life, shone like neon.
“Shit.” Rising, he stalked to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He offered her one, but she shook her head and continued pulling her bra back into place and refastening the clasp. He frowned, watching her every move.
“Your problem with me, tell me what it is.” Eva-Marie relaxed against the pillows on the sofa, folding her arms and glaring at him.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
She remained stock still and deathly quiet, her face completely unreadable.
Wade sighed heavily.
“Your bra.”
“What about it?” The words were clipped like she was angry, her accent slightly more noticeable.
Taking a long swig from the beer bottle, Wade gathered the nerve to tell her what she wanted to know. He cleared his throat and spoke, rushing through the explanation to get it over with as fast as he could.
“It’s red. Like the night I saw you making out with Scott. The night I got wasted and ended up in jail.”
Eva-Marie bolted up, eyes wide as silver dollars, mouth hanging open in shock. Her hand rose up, seemingly of its own accord, and covered her gaping mouth. She stared at him for what felt like forever before she said anything.
> “You saw us?”
“Not everything.” He grimaced, replaying the memory in his head for the two millionth time. “Just enough to see where things were headed between you and my brother.” Wade chugged the rest of his beer and set the bottle aside, then jammed his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting during the most uncomfortable fucking conversation of his life.
“It makes me wonder,” he continued, “and not for the first time, why you’re here with me now. Why the sudden interest in me?”
Her frown brought a fierceness to her face he’d never seen before.
“Why do you think?”
Wade knew his answer could determine whether anything ever happened between them. All he could do was tell her the truth, and hope for the best, whatever the hell that was.
“Honestly, I think I might be a substitute for Scott, since you guys aren’t intimate any more. I don’t want it to be true, but the thought has crossed my mind.”
“I see.”
Eva-Marie reached down and retrieved her shirt from the floor, where she’d carelessly tossed it earlier in the midst of their passion. She pulled it over her head and settled it on her body, then lifted her hair from the collar, shaking her curls into place. Each move seemed slow and careful, as if she was deliberately mocking him with her seductive beauty. Every gesture said if you weren’t acting silly, you could be touching this right now.
“You should have stayed to watch the rest of it.” Her voice was flat, her eyes challenging him to believe her explanation. “You would have seen that nothing happened.”
“Nothing?”
“Not a thing. Neither of our hearts was in it. When we talked, we discovered that each of us had a thing for someone else. Scott and I care for each other very much, but only as friends.”
Wade was stunned. All these years he’d thought Scott had a claim on Eva-Marie’s heart, and he was wrong. Dead wrong. Shock wasn’t a strong enough word for what he was feeling.
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