Jack tipped the mug under the keg spout, and Nate watched the amber liquid fill the frosty mug. His mouth salivated. Nate didn’t drink beer to get drunk. He drank it because he loved the taste of beer. If he wanted to get drunk, he’d tap into some of that moonshine from Myakka that he kept in his pantry. Though there had been moments while fighting the fire last night that Nate thought drowning in the moonshine would ease his sore muscles, he wanted to relax, not numb himself.
“It’s on the house,” Jack said, smiling at Nate. “You’ve earned this one.” He slid the beer in front of Nate, who gripped it in his hand and brought the cold mug to his lips. Because of his crazy shifts at the firehouse over the last few weeks and all the wildfires keeping them on their toes, it had been at least a week since Nate had even sipped a beer. He had to be “on” constantly. Jack was right. He’d earned this beer. And he planned to enjoy every sip.
“Thanks,” Nate said, spilling some beer into his mouth and savoring the cool, sharp flavor as it rolled over his tongue and down the back of his throat. “Ahhh, that’s great.”
The door to the bar creaked open, and light from the late afternoon filtered into the dreary cinderblock building. The hair on the back of Nate’s neck stood on end, and his nostrils flared at the scent that wafted around him. It was a tangy scent like citrus fruit with a hint of spice, but it was all female. He’d never smelled it before, but it caused every muscle in his body to tense. His fingers grasped the beer mug in a death grip, and his cock instantly sprang to attention. What the fuck? He hadn’t even seen the individual who entered the Watering Hole, but his instincts and senses already indicated that she would be more than just a sexual conquest.
“Hiya, Uncle Jack.” The sweet voice cascaded over the soft volume of Johnny Cash on the jukebox. Nate’s body flexed at the sound of her voice, and it slipped over his body like silk. Jesus Christ! What is wrong with me?
“Hey, Ciara,” Jack said, smiling at the female behind Nate as he wiped the bar top down with a white towel.
Nate slowly turned his head. He had to get a look of the woman that caused his entire body to go on alert without even seeing her. Walking towards him in a red tank top and a pair of cut-off jean shorts that highlighted her tanned and toned limbs was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on. His cock bulged against his jeans, begging for release … release inside her body. He’d never had such an immediate physical reaction to a female, and he took it to heart. Without even knowing who she was, he already knew she would be his.
Her long wavy blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her big blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm when she eyed him. She might have been five foot five, maybe, and her body was rocking. Full tits with cleavage that peeked out over the top of her tank. Thighs that Nate could only imagine wrapped around his hips as he buried his cock inside her sweet pussy. And he knew it was sweet. He could smell it. There are some advantages to my keen panther sense of smell! Now his mouth watered over tasting her sweetness on his tongue. Before this night was over, he needed to be between her legs.
“Ciara, this is Nate Thorne,” Jack said as she bounced behind the bar and dropped her brown bag in the cupboard. “He’s one of our local firefighters. He’s had a rough couple days fighting that wildfire further east, so make sure his mug is full.” Nate watched as she fastened her long mane in a ponytail. Her tits bounced with each pull through the band.
As she cleared her throat, Nate’s attention rose to her face. A sexy smile spread across her lips telling him she knew exactly what had caught his attention.
“Hi, Nate,” she said, holding out her hand to him.
“Ciara,” Nate said, wrapping his hand around her delicate one. A bolt of electricity shot up his arm, and by the look on her face, she’d felt something, too. “Good to meet you.” She pulled her hand from his, her eyes wide with wonderment and a hint of fear about what just happened between them.
“Ciara is my niece and my new helper. She buzzed into town about two weeks ago looking for work. With snow-bird season right around the corner, I could use the extra hands. Besides she’s good for business. People are tired of seeing my old ass. I’m certainly not getting any younger.” Jack laughed. “I’m going to hide out in the office for about twenty minutes and wrap up some of the books. I’ll head out before the rush comes.”
“Sure thing,” Ciara said, not taking her eyes off of Nate. Jack walked the length of the bar and ducked into a doorway at the end.
“What brought you to town, Ciara?” Nate asked. His gaze wandered over her face. Her nose dipped just slightly giving her a delicate look. Her lips were full and pouty, perfect for wrapping around his cock. Fuck! I need to get my head on straight. It hasn’t been that long since I’ve been laid. But it had been that long since he’d wanted so desperately to be laid by a particular female. In fact, this may have been the only time he could remember feeling only one female could bring him the release he needed, and that female was her. Every ounce of him, body and soul, told him Ciara was his mate.
“A change,” she said, softly, finally looking away from him.
“A change from what?” he pushed.
“A change from my family,” she said, opening the cooler and apparently checking the stock.
“What’s wrong with your family?” Nate asked. “Jack’s a great guy.” Shutting the cooler door, she turned to face him. Placing her hands on the counter, she leaned in closer to him. Her scent enveloped him and he had to bite his lower lip to keep from growling.
“Uncle Jack’s not the problem. He’s the reason I stayed in Florida. Otherwise, I’d have headed out west to get clear of my money-grubbing father and stepbrother,” she said, looking him straight in the eye. “You’re quite the nibby-nose!”
“Just like to know who’s pouring my beer,” he said with a smirk.
“Are you going to look at me all night like you want to eat me alive?”
Nate’s hands shot out to grasp her wrist in such a quick fashion that Ciara looked stunned. Being a panther shifter made him more agile than most normal men. His quickness had saved his life on more than one occasion, but it also benefitted him in situations like this one where he wanted to make a point and catch someone off guard. The feel of her skin against his was more than he could take, and the growl that he had been trying to stifle escaped.
“I am going to eat you alive,” he whispered, tightening his grip on her wrists. Her blue eyes widened. Though there was a hint of fear in her eyes, he also saw the desire, and that made him continue. “I’m going to bury my tongue in that sweet little pussy of yours until you come all over my face. I can’t wait to taste you.” She inhaled sharply at his words.
“How do you know it’s sweet?” she asked, playing coy once the shock wore off.
“Oh it’s sweet,” he said with a smile. “I can smell you from here.” He inhaled deeply, and a soft rumble expanded through his chest. He hadn’t shifted in a few days, but this woman brought out every animal aspect of him.
“And what makes you think I’m going to let you anywhere near my pussy?” she asked with confidence. Nate liked her … a lot. Even though he may have initially intimidated her, Ciara clearly was not the kind of girl who got pushed around. Seemed like she learned how to handle herself quite well thanks to her father and stepbrother. She had spunk.
“Because since we’ve been having this conversation, your pussy has gotten wetter. Yes, I can smell that, too. And I see that vein in your neck pulsing more rapidly with each rub of my thumb over your wrists. You want my face between your legs as much as I do.”
“Well, we’ll just see about that,” she said with sass. She yanked her wrists free and hurried down to the other side of the bar to start cutting limes. Nate watched her hips sway back and forth, those little jeans shorts leaving just enough to the imagination.
Nate took another sip of his beer. She might play hard to get, but he loved the hunt. It was in his nature, and it was his favorite part. Just as he set hi
s empty mug on the bar with a thump, her eyes lifted in his direction. Her tongue darted out wetting her lower lip before pulling that very lip between her teeth. Oh yeah! This is one hunt that will be more than worth it in the end.
Chapter Two
What sort of freak is this Nate Thorne? He can smell my arousal? Seriously! No one had ever been quite so brazen with Ciara Black. Sure, she’d heard her share of pick-up lines. Mostly the cheesy kind. In fact, she could probably write one of those books about how not to land a girl with all the lines and scheming she’d experienced.
But Nate was different. He didn’t beat around the bush. Nope! He laid his intentions on the bar top immediately upon her asking. If she were honest, she’d admit that it had been a turn on. No one had ever looked at her with such desire, such … what was that look? Need. Yes, Nate looked at her like he needed her.
All she could imagine as she stood there staring at him was how amazing his full lips would feel moving all over her body. And his hands. Good God. Roughened clearly by his occupation, but oh so strong as he held her wrists. Goose bumps had risen all over her body at the thought of him running those hands against her skin elsewhere.
The Watering Hole started filling up. Five o’clock had come and gone, and it was a typical Friday night. Someone squatted at every bar stool, and the few booths around the edge of the building were packed as well. The Johnson brothers had their usual game of pool going, and most eyes were glued to the large screen television that offered the summer’s pastime of a Tampa Bay Rays game. But Ciara couldn’t get her mind off of Nate Thorne, who sat chatting about the fires with a guy who sat next to him. Even while deep in conversation, his predatory gaze followed her every move as if he were stalking prey and she was his target.
“Hey, sweet cheeks,” Darrin Johnson said, sliding up to the bar next to Nate. Though Ciara had only been in town a couple weeks, the Johnson brothers practically lived at the Watering Hole, and she’d come to know them a bit. Darrin never relented on his flirting, constantly trying to get her to go out with him. But he wasn’t her type.
In fact, she hadn’t really known her type until she met Nate Thorne. Fuck! He is hotter than hell. His tawny hair lay short on his head but long enough to run fingers through and grasp, and his light brown eyes sparkled with gold flecks. And he was a firefighter. Hot damn! His body could easily grace one of those firefighter calendars. Many women would be proud to hang him in their homes.
“You know my name, Darrin,” she said with a smile. “And it’s not sweet cheeks.”
“But you do have sweet cheeks,” Darrin said in a joking manner. A tiny growl rolled out of Nate as he turned his head in her direction. Nate’s light brown eyes flashed with annoyance, and his lips pulled back as if he were seconds away from snarling at Darrin.
“Is that the way you talk to a lady, Johnson?” Nate asked, snapping his head in Darrin’s direction.
“Thorne, hey,” Darrin said, patting Nate on the back. Nate’s muscles tensed at the condescending gesture. His biceps bulged under the tightness of his dark blue t-shirt. His pecs drew the shirt tight across his chest.
Being underneath his hard body would be a fantasy come true for Ciara. At twenty-seven, she was no virgin, but it had been several months since she’d been with a man. Several months. Over the last year, shit with her father made it impossible for her to have a normal life. “See you survived the brush fire unscathed.”
“I wouldn’t say unscathed, but I survived just fine,” Nate said sharply. “Don’t talk to the lady in such a crude way. She has a name.” Ciara bit the inside of her cheek to keep from cracking up. Crude! Ha! Nate has some nerve after what he said to me!
“Sorry,” Darrin said. “Didn’t realize you were her bodyguard, Thorne. Hope I didn’t offend you, Ciara.” She grabbed two longnecks out of the cooler and twisted off the caps, throwing them in the garbage bin.
“Not offended at all,” she said, sliding the two bottles across the bar for Darrin. “People have said far cruder things to me.” Her gaze fell on Nate, who seemed to be enthralled with the way she stretched out over the bar to give Darrin his beers. A look of possessiveness crossed his features, and it thrilled her.
“Any chance you want to grab a pizza tonight?” Darrin asked. Nate’s entire body went rigid before her as he waited for her answer.
“Thanks, Darrin,” she said softly. “Not tonight.” Nate released a loud breath, and Ciara noticed his tension seemed to ease.
“Maybe next weekend,” Darrin said. “She’s always turning me down, Thorne. I don’t understand it.”
“Maybe it’s the way you talk to her,” Nate said with a snide chuckle. “Or maybe you’re just not her type.”
“I’m her type,” Darrin said sharply.
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Nate said with disdain.
“I’m positive of it,” Darrin said. He turned and headed back to his brother at the pool table. Ciara couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so fucking funny?” Nate asked. His gaze blazed over her body, landing on her chest, which she realized bounced from her laughter.
“You,” she said giggling.
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“How so?” He ran a hand through his hair before leaning forward on his elbows on the bar.
“You called Darrin crude,” Ciara said laughing.
“He called you sweet cheeks. That was crude.” His lip twitched up on the left side. Obviously, he attempted to rein in his smile, but it was a struggle for him. Leaning over the cooler onto the bar, Ciara put her face an inch from his. His nostrils flared, and he inhaled deeply, his breath becoming rapid. She clearly had a profound effect on him.
“You told me you were going to bury your tongue in my pussy,” she whispered. A rumble escaped his chest at her words. “That wasn’t crude?” His pupils dilated to the point that most of the gold had disappeared.
“Perhaps it was a little crude,” he whispered back, but he couldn’t keep the smile from stretching across his face any longer. “But it was one hundred percent true. Can you take a break?” Heat spread over her body at his words, and her panties dampened. What the hell is he doing to me? I don’t even know him. All she knew was that one look at him when she walked into the Watering Hole, and she wanted him. It had been instantaneous.
“What? Are you going to take me in the restroom?” she asked, flicking her tongue out over her lips. The idea had some appeal.
“Nope,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m going to lay you out in the back seat of my Silverado and lap up that sweet pussy until you are begging me to let you come. Then I’ll let you get back to your shift.” Now her breathing increased, and her heart pounded against her rib cage.
“I’ll meet you outside in five,” she said, pulling back from the bar. A wicked smile stretched across his lips at her response, and heat flooded between her legs at just the thought of being sprawled underneath him. Flipping her ponytail over her shoulder, she sauntered down to the other end of the bar to pour a couple shots of Patrόn for a couple celebrating an anniversary. She poured one for herself and slung it back, chasing it with a bite of lime.
She’d just agreed to let Nate Thorne between her legs. A little liquid courage couldn’t hurt. She turned to look in his direction at the bar, but all she saw was a fifty dollar bill on the counter and an empty bar stool.
Chapter Three
Nate stood outside the Watering Hole trying to gain his composure. If that beauty walked out that door at this second, he couldn’t promise himself he wouldn’t slam her against the wall and take her right there. She had him harder than stone. Licking her lips. Bending over. Bouncing her tits with every giggle. Any man would go insane. But something about her caused him to go beyond insanity.
His father had always told him he’d know his mate when he found her. The panther inside him told him Ciara was the one. She turned him inside out. He wanted her like he’d wanted nothing else in his life. Yes, he
wanted to fuck her, but it was more than that. He wanted to possess her. To protect her. He needed to claim her.
Taking a few deep breaths, he strolled over to his black Silverado 1500, hitting the unlock button on his key. Leaning his back against the back door of the extended cab, he waited. He smelled her before he heard or saw her. She must have escaped out of the back door of the bar. Allowing her scent to invade his senses, he rested his head back against the window and moaned.
“Ciara,” he whispered to himself, watching her walk towards him, fully aware of her prowess. She is definitely mine! She had let her hair down out of the ponytail, and the blonde tendrils cascaded over her shoulders as she stood before him. His hand reached out for her hair and twisted it around his fingers, pulling her closer to him. Her head tilted up, and yearning shone in her eyes.
“You’re fucking beautiful,” he choked out, just before gripping both sides of her face in his hands and slamming his mouth down on hers. His lips moved over her soft, pliable mouth. As he flicked his tongue out over her lips, she whimpered against him. He took advantage of her whimper and pushed his tongue into the recesses of her mouth. God, she fucking tastes amazing.
Her hands gripped his t-shirt as he assaulted her mouth. He couldn’t get enough of her taste. His tongue explored every crevice of her mouth, her teeth. His hand tangled in her hair gripping the back of her head, holding her to him. His other hand slid down to her hip. His fingers flexed over the curve of her ass, and he pulled her body into his.
Her body melted into his, soft and generous. All the blood in his body rushed to his cock, and he thickened beyond what he even thought possible. His cock pulsed against the fly of his jeans. When he pulled her hard against him, she groaned into his mouth as her belly made contact with his erection.
“I’ve only got fifteen minutes,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Then we better not waste a single second,” he said, flicking his tongue out over her bottom lip before pulling it into his mouth and sucking on it. Her knees buckled, and his arm tightened around her holding her upright.
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