1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Fourteen

by Kristen Ashley

  He leaned down and kissed her firmly on the lips. “You know it.”

  They were standing in the middle of the parking lot, their breaths quickening and her heart racing.

  “Are we dating?” she blurted. “Forget I asked. Never mind. Let’s go get some food. I’m starving.”

  She tried to pull away, but he didn’t let her go.

  “Yeah, Holly, we’re dating. Is that okay?”

  “Oh.” She paused. “Okay.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “We’re friends on our way to get some food, and I can’t help wanting to kiss you, so yeah, that’s dating in my book. But that doesn’t mean we have to freak out about it. Okay? Just one thing at a time. One checkmark on Holly’s List at a time.”

  She looked up at him, studying his face. “Is kissing you on my list, then?”

  “Well, until recently, you’d never done that. So, yeah, I guess it is.”

  Her mind went to what else could be on the list that involved him, and she almost had to press her legs together and moan.

  “Food,” she blurted. “I need food.”

  “Your wish is my command, Holly.” He paused. “Always.”

  Always is a long time, she thought as they walked into the restaurant and then to their table in the corner.

  A long time.

  Thankfully, neither of them brought up what had happened out in the parking lot. Instead, he made her laugh with stories about Harper and Alex at the gym, and she told him about the time she’d ended up with little paint handprints on her butt when a child fell down behind her.

  He threw his head back and laughed, causing some of the women in the room to watch him with admiration. Too bad for them he was there with Holly. At that smug thought, she sipped her water, needing to cool down a bit.

  “What color were they?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Bright yellow on my black pants I could never wear again. It was during my training so I wasn’t allowed to pick the lesson plans. Paint like that will never be involved in my classroom again.”

  He shook his head and snagged the last bite of food from her plate. He’d been right in saying he could finish not only his meal but also half of hers. The man ate like a horse but was lean and muscled. She’d be angry at him for that, but she couldn’t help but admire the way he looked.

  “I thought that was you.”

  Holly turned at the sound of Jake’s voice as her ex—and now friend—walked up to them. She held back a cringe because as much as Brody sounded like he found nothing odd about her being friends with Jake, it was a little different.

  Maya and Border were right behind Jake, and the five of them said their hellos, hugging and giving each other pecks on the cheek.

  “Out on a date?” Brody asked. They were in the back of the restaurant so there was room enough for the five of them to stand and not be in the way. But Holly hadn’t missed the odd looks some people gave the trio that had walked up to them.

  Maya leaned into Border’s side while holding Jake’s hand. Holly knew the three of them weren’t usually so open in public, but this restaurant was owned by a nice couple who loved them and weren’t small-minded. Unfortunately, Holly saw a few people in the building who weren’t as pleased with it, disgust evident on their faces.

  Idiots.

  “We were going to get dessert, actually,” Maya put in. “But we decided we should go home and check on Murphy and Owen.” Murphy and Owen were two of Jake’s brothers. “It got a bit chilly in here, if you know what I mean.”

  Holly narrowed her eyes at the people openly gawking behind the trio, but Jake shook his head.

  “Don’t worry about them,” he said softly as he kissed his wife’s temple. “They don’t matter.”

  Border was silent and he studied Brody and Holly, but the grip he had on Maya’s waist tightened.

  Brody rolled his neck and put some cash on the table since they’d brought the check by a few moments ago. “Let’s head out of here, shall we?” he asked, once again holding his hand out for Holly.

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Holly agreed and picked up her purse. The five of them left with a wave to the owners but didn’t say a word. It turned out the trio had parked a couple of cars down from Brody’s truck, so they stayed out in the parking lot for a few moments talking.

  Border kept his gaze on alert, however, and Holly hated that they had to do that. “We shouldn’t stand out here for too long,” the big man grumbled. “I didn’t like the looks that group of guys in the corner gave us.”

  Maya’s jaw tightened, and Jake cursed. “I like this place, guys. I want to keep coming back.”

  “Then we will,” Border said simply, though it was anything but simple. “But I’m not letting you guys get hurt because of idiots.”

  Brody slid his arm around Holly, pulling her close. She needed the warmth and was grateful he was there. “You guys okay driving home? Want us to follow you?”

  “We’ll be okay. Thanks, though,” Jake said softly. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”

  “Okay,” Maya whispered, so unlike the woman that it made Holly’s heart hurt. Maya never lowered her voice because she was also so confident. And yet right then, Maya seemed anything but confident.

  They said their good-byes and got into their respective vehicles to head back to their homes.

  God, she hated that people’s judgment had put those she loved and cared about on edge. It wasn’t fair that Maya, Jake, and Border couldn’t go out like regular people. Yes, their relationship was unconventional, but they weren’t hurting anyone. And the sad thing was, with all the ink and piercings Maya had, she might have had some of the same trouble even if she went out with just one guy at a time. Let alone what happened when Border and Jake went out on dates in public. Some of the world had changed enough to be tolerant, but not enough of it.

  Inside the truck, Brody brought her hand to his lips and gave her palm a small kiss. “I’m sorry our evening ended on a bad note.” He pulled away and drove out of the parking lot, letting her think.

  She let out a breath. “I’m so pissed off for them. They haven’t done anything wrong, and their relationship isn’t anyone’s business. Yet they need to deal with crap like this daily. And their kid, Noah? He’s going to deal with people like that for the rest of his life, even though the Montgomerys and Gallaghers are going to try and protect him with everything they have. Not everyone is a bigot, but enough people are that it’s dangerous.”

  She wiped viciously at the tears that had dared to slide down her cheeks. “Sorry. I’m just so angry, and because there’s nothing I can do, I cry.”

  He let out a curse and reached over to squeeze her thigh. “When I get angry, I tend to punch things. Hence why I box with Alex and Harper. If you don’t like crying, ever think about boxing?”

  She looked at him incredulously. “Seriously?”

  He kept his hand on her thigh, and she was very, very aware of how amazing his large hand felt there, and how warm and tingly she felt.

  From the way his throat worked as he swallowed, he was fully aware of it, too.

  “It got you to stop crying, didn’t it?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “You’ve seen me trip how many times since you’ve met me and you still want me to get in a ring?”

  He shrugged as he pulled into her driveway. As he turned off the engine, his fingers danced along the hem of her dress, barely brushing her skin, but just enough that she wanted to rock into him.

  “I think you can do anything you set your mind to, Holly,” he said softly.

  Her heart did that clutching thing again that worried her so much, and she dutifully ignored it. “What’s next on the list, Brody?”

  He turned to meet her gaze, and the heat she saw there nearly had her losing her breath. “I should walk you to your door.”

  Maybe it was time for her to take that next step. Take that next leap.

  “Or you could come in.”

  His ey
es narrowed. “If I go inside with you right now, I’m going to strip you out of that dress and fuck you hard against the first surface I find.”

  “Then we’d better get inside quickly.”

  He let out a curse, and before she knew it, they were both out of the car and her hands were shaking as she tried to get the key into the lock of her door. Brody stood behind her, his hands on her hips, his cock pressed firmly against her butt.

  If what she felt behind her was any indication of what lay beneath his zipper, the man was hard, big, and freaking ready for her.

  Good thing she was ready for him.

  She finally got the door open, and Brody pushed her inside before closing it behind them. He cupped her face and kissed her hard, pressing her back against the door. She moaned into him, sliding her hands up and down his body, needing to touch him, needing his touch, needing more.

  His tongue tangled with hers, and they moaned in unison as her nipples pressed against his chest. She reached between them, brushing the back of her hand along the long line of his erection.

  “You’re going to have to stop touching me like that if you don’t want me to blow my load in my pants. And shit, Holly. As soon as I have you in my arms, I act like a caveman. An inarticulate one, who says the crudest things that come to mind.”

  She bit his lip, and he licked hers back. “I’m not as innocent as I look,” she promised. When he pulled away, she slowly slid her sweet summer dress up over her thighs to reveal her lace panties. He groaned but didn’t touch her. Instead, she slid one hand down her belly and between her legs.

  She wasn’t a virgin. She liked sex and wanted more of it. She might look like some innocent little teacher who didn’t know how to pleasure herself, but she wasn’t. Not in any shape or form. She might not curse as much as her friends, and she didn’t have any piercings or tattoos, but she knew how to get herself off.

  Now she needed Brody to do that for her.

  “I’m already wet, Brody. What are you going to do about it?”

  He groaned and fell to his knees, grabbing her thighs with both hands and spreading her just a bit more. When he nuzzled her, she let out a high moan, needing more of him.

  “You surprise me more every day, Holly.” He looked up, his head between her legs as he knelt at her feet. She could totally get used to this. “I like surprises.”

  She licked her lips and tilted her head. “Then you’re going to be in for a treat.”

  He slid his finger under her panties and ran his hand over her lower lips. “Oh, yeah, and my tasty treat is right here.”

  He slowly pulled down her panties, and she arched her back, making it easier for him. When he lowered his head again to lick at her, playing with her curls with one hand and teasing her with the other, she rotated her hips slightly.

  “That’s it, baby. Ride my face as I make you come.”

  Later, she’d do a little dance in glee that Brody was a dirty talker. For now, she’d do as he told her and ride him until he made her see stars.

  He used his hands and mouth on her, eating her like he was a man starving in the desert and she was his feast. And when he sucked just right on that little bundle of nerves, she came, calling his name and arching her back even more.

  Before she could catch her breath, Brody had his mouth on hers, the sweet taste of herself erotic and tempting. He lifted her up with his hands under her butt, and she wrapped her legs around him, aware they’d left her panties by the door. He set her down on her couch and quickly stripped off his shirt before going back to his knees.

  She only had a few moments to once again admire the shape of him before he tugged on her dress and she lifted her arms for him. Soon, the dress was on the floor by her shoes he’d somehow taken off. Her bra went next, and then Brody’s head was once again between her thighs. He gripped her legs and shoved them back so they were by her head, and he was eating her out once again, licking, sucking, and biting until she was a writhing mess. He’d pulled her to the edge of the couch, and using long licks and just the right amount of pressure with his hands, he made her come once again.

  “Brody, I need you in me.” She wasn’t sure if she could come again, but she didn’t care. She needed the thick length of him inside her.

  He pulled away and shucked off his pants, digging around for his wallet and pulling out a condom. He wrapped himself in it, protecting them both, then gripped the base.

  “One day, I’m going to want that very pretty mouth around my cock, but I’m not going to last that long tonight.”

  He leaned over her and positioned them both so she was fully on her back with him between her legs. He slid himself between her lips but not inside, teasing. As he teased, he explored her with his mouth, using his tongue to lave at her breasts and trail his fingers down her stomach. She roamed his body with her hands, memorizing each plane of him, each curve, every scar.

  She wanted this man like none before, and while that should have scared her, she was too far gone to care.

  And when he slid inside, she called out his name, his body stretching her to the limit but the burn oh so good.

  “Holly, I need you to look at me,” Brody said through gritted teeth. “I need to see your face when I fuck you, when I move in and out of you. Can you do that, Holly Rose? Can you keep your eyes open so I can watch when you come again?”

  She gripped his shoulders. “I don’t think I can come again,” she panted, her eyes wide open.

  He grinned that devilish grin of his, his dimple once again peeking out. “I’ll take that challenge, darling.”

  And with that, he moved.

  Though they were panting, sweaty, and groaning for each other, she knew this was more than what they’d both had on their minds when they’d started this whole thing. This wasn’t just two bodies in need of release. This was something more.

  At least it was for her.

  And when she came again, he followed, his body straining from the pressure of it. She pulled him close, needing to feel his heartbeat against her chest. He gave her the softest of kisses, and something inside her twisted ever so slightly.

  She was falling for this man.

  A man she shouldn’t.

  That hadn’t been in the cards, hadn’t been on her list.

  So instead of doing what he asked, she closed her eyes, hiding what she felt, what she didn’t understand. Because it was far too soon, and Brody wasn’t here for more than what they had.

  And she couldn’t take that risk, the gamble she swore she would never take again.

  She couldn’t fall in love with Brody Deacon.

  But she was afraid it might already be too late.

  Chapter Six

  Brody was in so much trouble, he couldn’t quite think straight. He shouldn’t have slept with Holly, shouldn’t have taken her to her bedroom after they’d almost broken her couch so he could see how she looked when she rode him.

  He would never forget the way her breasts looked as they bounced and jiggled, practically begging for his lips. And because Brody was the kind of man he was, he’d obliged them by sucking on her nipples until they were red and hard and probably sore.

  He’d been a very bad man, but hell, he was a sated man.

  And from the way Holly had lay limply beside him, her eyes glazed and her lips swollen from his kisses, she’d been one sated woman.

  Still, he knew he’d probably messed everything up by giving in.

  It wasn’t too late to walk away, to make sure they kept their distance.

  Except he knew that was a lie. He had a date planned with her later that day at a restaurant she’d never been to. It was sort of on the list they’d come up with while lying naked the night before. She’d never been to a hole in the wall restaurant, especially one she’d never heard of, so tonight, Brody would take her to one. Not the most exciting thing to do, but the food would be good, and it would cross off one more thing on her list.

  He hoped he didn’t hurt them both because he wa
s too chickenshit to walk away when he should.

  “Yo, Brody, you done with that oil change? The lady is here to pick up the car a few minutes early.” His buddy and coworker Grayson strolled over, a frown on his face like usual. Brody liked Grayson, but the man didn’t smile much…if at all.

  Brody wiped his hands on the dirty rag next to him and nodded. “Yeah, just finished.” They didn’t only do oil changes since they were an all-service shop, but he did more of them than he liked. He’d rather do body work than anything, but sometimes, oil changes paid the bills.

  “I’ll get her settled if you want to bring the car around front,” Grayson said. “I know you’re off shift now so I’ll finish the paperwork.”

  Brody tilted his invisible cowboy hat, and the man flipped him off. Brody and Grayson were both from Texas, and neither of them had ever worn a cowboy hat, but it was still fun to mess with the other man. The two of them had met in the shop, not in their hometowns since they’d grown up about six hours from each other. Texas was a big state, after all, even if people tended to brush it with one broad stroke.

  He scrubbed his hands as best he could, considering he’d always end up with a little dirt and grease on him no matter how hard he washed, and pulled the car into the front parking area. He tossed the keys to Grayson as the other man walked out and nodded politely at the woman. She didn’t even bother to look at Brody, and that was fine. Most people didn’t give their mechanic a second glance. As long as the work was good, that’s all that really mattered.

  As soon as he got home, he jumped in the shower and tried to scrub off the day and the doubts. He was starting to get annoyed with himself since all he kept doing was worrying about things that hadn’t even happened yet. He would do better to just live in the moment. Like always. For now, living in the moment meant making Holly happy with her list. If they both happened to get an orgasm or two out of the deal, then so be it.

  “Way to be a fucking jerk,” Brody mumbled to himself.

  He wasn’t that callous, and pretending that he was in order to get her off his mind and out of his…dare he say, heart, was going to mess him up and hurt her in the end. Better to act natural and not like a dick.