In the partial light, her gaze traced his handsome features before sliding down his strong neck to broad shoulders. The bag he clutched scarcely registered, so intent was she on checking out all of his assets. Turned out, her imagination hadn’t done him justice when she was contemplating what he’d look like without his firefighter garb. A fresh wave of excitement washed over her. From his smooth, tanned chest, to his lean narrow, paler hips, to his colorfully sheathed and still-impressive erection, he was all hers.
Well, for tonight, anyway.
“Let’s see if we can’t get earth-shaking orgasm number one going.” He sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled a small bottle out of the bag in which he’d been rummaging.
“What is it?” Clutching the sheet, she edged closer.
He angled the bottle toward the light. “It says it’s a stimulating oil to enhance female pleasure.”
“Sounds good.” She brushed the edge of her breast against his arm. “Do we put it on me … or you?”
In response, he waggled his eyebrows. “How about both?”
Nodding, she held out her hand.
After he’d poured a small puddle into her palm, he dispensed with his condom and liberally oiled his fingers before reaching for her.
Their mouths met.
Her hand closed around his erection at the same time his questing fingers found her already-excited flesh.
The first touch of his warm hand on her aching folds felt so fabulous, so right, she almost wept. Within a few seconds of oiled fondling, however, things began to heat up. A lot.
Beneath her hand, Thorne’s penis wasn’t the only thing stiff. His whole body was rigid.
Fire streaked from his hand to her clitoris as flames licked straight up her vagina. To say it burned was a gross understatement.
“Shit!” Thorne yelped, and pulled away from her grip. He grabbed his shaft, waving it through the air. “I’m on fire! What the hell is in that stuff?”
It took a second to respond since she was intent on gripping her crotch and rocking back and forth against the sheet. “How should I know? You’re the one who had the bright idea to use it!” Dang, it stung.
Gathering the sheet around her, she lunged from the bed. “Get out of my way! I have to wash it off!”
“I’m coming with you! I have to get this shit off before I become a eunuch!”
Lola yelped for joy and ran out when they opened the bathroom door.
Summer made a beeline for the big tub, twisting the handles on full blast as she flipped the drain plug shut.
“Are you nuts?” Thorne jerked open the clear glass shower door and slammed down the control lever. “I don’t have time for the tub to fill!” he yelled over the roar of water.
A glance at the scant inch of water in the bottom of the deep tub convinced her. Dropping her sheet, she followed Thorne into the steaming shower.
“Move over!” Her elbow connected with firm abs. Doggone it, she had to get the fire sauce off before she burned off her labia. There was no way Thorne could be feeling the burn as much, since all of his parts were on the outside.
Hard hands gripped her shoulders, setting her firmly on the opposite side of the big enclosure. “It’s a double shower. You use those controls.”
Ordinarily, she would have thanked him. After all, she had been raised to be polite. However, with her nether region threatening to go up in flames at any moment, she kept her mouth shut and reached for the handheld shower.
Twisting the dial, she aimed the needle-like spray directly at the part screaming for relief.
Within seconds, the fire between her legs dissipated to a less than pleasant intense heat. Did she dare try to use soap?
Behind her, Thorne heaved a sigh.
“What was in that stuff?” She accepted the bottle of shower gel and took a hesitant sniff. “Thanks.” It had a clean fragrance.
“No problem. It helps the sting on burns, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to try.” He sighed again, the sound echoing from the glass walls. “I don’t know what was in the oil. I don’t know about you, but I have no desire to try that crap again.”
“Hah! Considering my, um, parts are so sore and swollen, that won’t be happening.” They turned off their respective faucets.
The shower enclosure plunged into quiet, enclosing them in a misty cocoon. Gradually, the muffled sound of water running in the tub drifted in.
“Maybe I should sit in the tub a little while,” she said, accepting a towel from him as she stepped out of the shower.
He nodded and finished drying. “I’m going to get a beer. Would you like something? I have beer, a little white wine, and some orange juice, if it’s not expired. Oh, and water.”
“No, thanks.”
Gingerly lowering into the warm water, she winced. Through her eyelashes, she saw him watching her as he pulled on a robe. “Water stings a little.”
He nodded and left the room.
The stinging subsided a bit, allowing her to comfortably slide lower until the water covered her shoulders.
Behind her closed eyes, images of her new sexy roommate flashed by, an embarrassing reminder of her lack of a successful orgasm.
The question was, what was she going to do about it?
24
Thorne tossed his empty bottle in the trash and popped open another beer while he waited for Lola to do her business.
A gentle breeze off the Gulf cooled the sheen of perspiration that broke out over his body every few minutes.
“For her pleasure, my ass.” He chugged his beer, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, glaring at the innocent-looking bottle of oil perched on the railing. During his first beer, he’d read the label just to make sure he wasn’t really going to burst into flames. It was basically cinnamon oil. Go figure.
“Lola?” he called in a low voice. “Aren’t you done yet?”
“Thanks for letting her out.” Summer’s quiet voice came from behind him.
Squinting into the darkness, he pretended to look for the beagle. “No problem. Figured it was either that or clean up. Have you had your dog’s bladder checked?” He turned with a smile, letting her know he was teasing. “Did you find the gel I left by the bathroom door? Aloe works great on burns.”
She nodded, looking out at the waves. “I’m much better. Thanks. Again.” Her gaze met his as she stepped closer, dropping the robe he’d loaned her. “Want to try again?”
The slight rub of her breasts against his arm had him instantly hard. Hell yes, he wanted to try again. And again. And again. But the fact was his cock, while definitely interested, still burned more than a little.
And it was a sure bet her tender parts were worse off than his; she just didn’t know it yet.
His grandfather’s sage advice echoed in Thorne’s mind: When in doubt, leave it out. His grandfather always maintained it applied to many situations, although Thorne doubted Gramps had ever thought of Thorne’s current dilemma.
Damn, she was gorgeous, standing in the moonlight. Easily the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
Maybe if they were careful …
He took a small step toward her but stopped when the raw skin of his erection brushed painfully against the loops of the robe.
Unable to resist, he cupped her breasts, brushing the pads of his thumbs lightly over the distended nipples. Summoning all of his resolve, he touched his lips to one puckered tip, then another, before he straightened up.
Summer made a little sound in her throat and arched, thrusting her nipples higher. “More,” she finally managed to say. Despite her earlier discomfort, she knew she wanted Thorne. Now. The discomfort of the ointment from hell was nothing compared to the deep ache of unfulfillment.
To her utter disappointment, he pulled her robe back up. Stunned, she allowed him to pull the sleeves over her arms. He snuggled the collar up around her neck before tying the belt.
“How’s that?” His hushed voice would have been soothing had they been snu
ggling, naked, after hot sex. As it was, it was irritating, not to mention a little condescending. Did he honestly think being dressed and warm would take her mind off the fact that she’d missed out on quite possibly the best sex of her life?
Jerking away, she took a deep breath and counted to ten. “How is that? How do you think that is? I’m horny and aching. I assumed you were, too. Dang it, Thorne, we were so close! How can you just turn it off and walk away as though we weren’t within seconds of, of—”
“Fucking? Don’t look so shocked, Summer. That’s exactly where we were headed. You know it; I know it.” He turned and tossed his empty bottle in the recyle can on the deck before turning back to look at her. “But the fact is we hardly know each other. I’m too old for that. And you strike me as the type of woman who would develop a strong case of morning-after remorse. Together, not a good mix.”
She whirled on him. “What are you saying, Thorne? Are you trying to tell me you’re not interested in whatever we might do?” Summoning her courage, she flicked her fingers against his robed but still obvious erection. Fueled by anger now, she ignored his intake of breath. So she’d shocked him. Good.
She was tired of being the good girl. Tired of having sex on other people’s timetables.
She wanted sex.
She wanted it now.
And she wanted it with Thorne.
Pushing aside her usual shyness, she stalked him to the edge of the deck, not stopping until she’d backed him against the railing.
None too gently, she shoved his robe aside, baring his lean hips and impressive erection. With a hard shrug of her shoulders, her robe fell around her bare feet.
At another time, she might have paused to enjoy the sexy caress of the ocean breeze on her skin as it swirled around her body, tugging her nipples to sensitized peaks. But, for now, she was too focused, too eager for the naked man in front of her.
Closing the distance, she didn’t stop until her breasts were pressed to his firm pecs, heartbeat to heartbeat.
He opened his mouth, but she didn’t want to hear anything he might have to say. Not now. She’d waited far too long.
Grasping his ears, she pulled him down to her hungry mouth, nipping his lower lip before plundering his mouth with a kiss so carnal it took her breath away.
Thorne didn’t hesitate for long.
Hot, hard arms crushed her against his body while each of them fought for control of the kiss.
Hooking her right leg around his thigh, she inched her way upward until his hardness probed her still-tender opening.
Bracing her forearms on his shoulders, she rose a little more until they were aligned.
She broke the kiss, breathing hard against his mouth. “Now,” she urged. “Do it now! Fuck me!”
Thorne’s sweat-slicked chest slid against hers. His hands cupped her buttocks. His knees flexed, powerful thighs rubbing erotically against the backs of her legs.
With a guttural grunt, he impaled her.
Heat. Everywhere was heated. Inside and out. Good Lord, she was burning up.
Clutching her knees against Thorne’s waist, she rose up, then dropped back down onto his erection, causing them both to groan.
Soreness was forgotten as she increased the tempo, angling for just the right amount of friction. Close, she was so close.
“Faster! Harder!” She bit his ear, her hands grasping at the short strands of his hair. It wasn’t enough. She wanted to pull him totally into her body. Absorb him. Then do it all over again.
The thought gave her pause, and in that instant her orgasm snuck up on her. It pounded into her as surely as the waves pounded the shore, drowning her in delicious pleasure, dragging her under into sheer bliss.
Thorne’s back stiffened, his arms threatening to cut off her oxygen supply as he smashed her face into his shoulder.
Thorne and Lola howled at the same time.
25
Gradually, Summer regained her hearing. The cool breeze caressed her naked back while Thorne’s heated flesh warmed her front. It took a moment, but she finally recognized Lola’s soft, snuffling sounds. As soon as Summer’s muscles would obey her command, she would check on her dog.
“Summer?” Thorne’s low voice was a sexy growl in her ear.
She smiled against his chest. “Hmm?”
“Your dog is chewing on my ankle.”
Reality intruded. Okay, it slapped her in the face. Back stiff, she paused. They were still … joined, for lack of a better word. What was the protocol for, well, unjoining? Did one just climb off, redress, and go on?
Maybe she should say something clever, like Thanks, that was fun. Here’s your penis back. The thought had her swallowing a giggle.
At their feet, Lola continued her assault on Thorne’s ankle. Summer had to do something before her dog drew blood. Assuming she wasn’t too late.
With as much aplomb as she could muster, she peeled her abdomen away from the rock-hard abs of … what was Thorne to her now? Her lover? Her boyfriend? Her boy toy? She swallowed another hysterical giggle.
Sex had never been so much fun.
Thorne shifted, obviously uncomfortable with either their after-coitus body alignment or her dog. Or both.
Lola’s growls elevated in pitch, which meant she was beginning to enjoy what she was doing a little too much.
Summer used the movement to finish the separation, gingerly touching her toes to the sun-warmed deck, and stepped back.
She tugged her robe from beneath her pooch and quickly slipped it on.
“Lola, cut it out!” She scooped Lola into her arms, nearly toppling Thorne in the process. “I’m so sorry! She’s usually a people person—I mean, dog.”
As if to disprove Summer’s statement, Lola bared her sharp little doggy teeth and growled low in her throat.
Thorne winced as he glanced down at the redness on his ankle and tied his robe. “No offense, but that’s kind of hard to believe.”
“No, really, she is.” Summer’s arms ached from struggling to hold the squirming dog.
He ran a hand through his hair and looked out at the waves for a moment before looking back at Summer and Lola. “I think maybe it would be best for everyone if I went back to the motel. At least for tonight,” he hurried on when Summer started to protest. “I really should be checking on things there, anyway. You know, Miss Laura and her sisters.” He chuckled, the sound scratchy in the night air, and shrugged. “This way, you and your dog can have some privacy.”
He already regrets having sex. The thought caused a lump in Summer’s throat. Did he think she went around stripping and throwing herself at every man who came along? The thought gave her pause. Of course he did. Why wouldn’t he?
He stepped around her, causing Lola to renew her escape efforts, and disappeared into the house.
“Oh, Lola-belle,” she said into the warm fur head, “what have I done?”
Paused inside the door, Thorne heard Summer’s soft words and wanted to bang his head against something. Hard. What the hell had he been thinking? They were practically strangers.
So what if he knew, deep down, she was the one? She didn’t know it. Yet. As far as she was concerned, she’d been taken to a secluded beach house and fucked on the damn balcony. She may or may not remember it was consensual. Hell, he could be facing charges. He could lose his job.
In his bedroom, he made quick work of throwing a few things into his duffel bag. Damage control was definitely called for, but what could he say? Leaving was about his only option.
But he had to say something. Something besides wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am.
Back on the balcony, his tentative touch on her shoulder caused her to jump. Remorse turned his stomach. Poor thing probably thought he was ready for round two.
“You don’t have to go,” she said, her words fast and low. “I can leave. It’s your house, after all.”
“You don’t have a car, remember? I don’t mind. I have stuff I need to do back at the motel. I—
what are you doing?”
“Putting my number into your phone,” she said, her fingers clicking on the keys of his cell phone. “Call me if you change your mind.” Their eyes met, hers crinkling with her smile. “Or if you need help with the triplets.”
Chuckling, the tenseness in his chest easing, he reclipped his phone on his belt. “That just might happen.” His lips brushed the tip of her nose, eliciting another growl from her dog. “Pleasant dreams. I have a few things I need to take care of tomorrow, but I’ll be back in time to take you to the mall so you can pick up some clothes.”
Nodding, she watched him walk to the railing. Within seconds his footfall on the wooden stairs quieted. His truck engine roared, then faded away, leaving nothing but the sound of the surf.
“C’mon, Lola, let’s try to get some sleep. But I warn you,” Summer said as they entered the house and locked the door, “if you try hogging the covers again, you’re sleeping in the bathroom. Got that?”
The trill of her cell caused her heart to stumble. Was it Thorne calling already?
Almost afraid to hope, she looked at the screen. Dang.
“Hi, Miss Laura.” It was difficult to sound upbeat and pleased to hear from anyone other than Thorne.
The thought gave her pause. She’d have to think about that later.
“Hello, dear. Did you have a lovers’ spat?” Miss Laura asked, then hiccupped. “ ’Scuse me. We don’t mean to pry—”
“Like hell!” someone yelled from the background.
“Shut up, Cora; I’m on the telephone.” Laura’s sharp tone caused Summer to feel sorry for Cora. “Now, where was I? Oh yes. We don’t mean to pry, but we couldn’t help but notice your young man had returned to the motel.”
He’s not my young man. Darn it. Could he be, someday? The thought caused a tickle of excitement in the pit of her stomach. Did she want him to be hers? Crazy as it sounded, she did.
Feel the Heat Page 18