by Marie Harte
“Ha. I heard that,” Tex growled at her.
“All bark and no bite. Play like you have a pair,” she growled back then stuck her tongue out at him.
“Oh, you’ll pay, Goldie.”
She blushed. “Would you shut up and quit stalling the game?”
He gave a dark laugh and drank more beer.
Reggie hated to admit it, but they balanced each other nicely. One seemed to know when to give so the other could take. Conversation, game play, just being there for each other and enjoying the other’s company. It was clear.
Tex might be mooning over the battalion chief’s daughter, but she was mooning over their Texan Romeo right back.
Mack leaned close as if to whisper and said in a loud voice, “Aren’t they just the cutest?”
Tex spit beer over himself, making Bree and the others laugh.
Reggie groaned. “Why does the mess always happen at my house?”
Everyone pointed at Mack, who shrugged. “What? Something I said?”
Reggie couldn’t help but laugh. “Go get a rag.”
“I hear, and I obey.”
“If only.”
By the time the night wound down, everyone but Tex and Bree had left. As they started out the door, Reggie pulled Bree back. “What? No hug?”
“Hug?” Her eyes brightened. “Are you kidding? Heck, yeah.” She smiled and held onto him with the grip of a grizzly before easing away. “Thanks for such a fun time, Reggie. You guys had me laughing so hard, my stomach hurts.” Then she leaned closer and whispered, “So did I pass the gauntlet?”
“With flying colors.” He kissed her cheek. “Try not to hurt him too much, okay?”
She looked puzzled.
“You’ll fight and make up and fight again. He’s from Texas and has a hard head. It’ll happen.”
She chuckled. “Okay.”
Tex had stepped away and returned. Reggie didn’t want to think the guy might have been pissing on his lawn.
With a leer at Bree’s legs, Tex asked, “What’d I miss?”
“Nothing, cowboy. Go wait in the truck, okay?” She clicked the fob of his keychain. “I’m driving.”
“Sure thing, sugar lips.” He laughed as he walked on unsteady feet to the truck.
“Sugar lips?” Reggie tried not to laugh and failed.
“That’s a new one. Courtesy of your many bottles of beer.”
“Hey, I was having root beer floats.” He sighed, not wanting to have to say it but needing to. “Bree, we know the pressure you two are under to keep this quiet, but if you’re going to get serious, it can’t just stay between you two. Unless you become hermits. Or hobbits.”
“Hobbits?”
He grinned. “Sure. On your journey to Middle Earth, may you find love and happiness. Live long and prosper.”
“Mixing up your fantasy and sci-fi should be a crime against nature.”
“Aw, man. If Tex doesn’t stick, remember my number,” he teased, knowing he’d never date a brother’s ex. It went against the guy code.
She knew it too, because she rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure. Tease me, why don’t you.” Then she grew serious. “I know we have decisions to make, but it means a lot that you guys care. Thanks, Reggie.”
“Drive safe.”
She nodded and joined her drunk, now singing cowboy in the truck.
“Friends in Low Places” drawled down the street as they left, and Reggie watched until the truck’s lights vanished.
“Good luck, Tex. You deserve to be happy.” He sighed, rubbing the ache in his heart, feeling alone once more. “Because the alternative is such a bitch.”
***
Tex woke in the morning with the absolute worst hangover. It tasted as if something had died in his mouth.
“Well, look who’s awake? Hello, princess.”
He groaned at all the damn noise. Was she using a megaphone or what?
“It’s eight o’clock in the morning.” Bree laughed and bounced on his bed. That didn’t have that kind of bounce.
Her bed?
He blinked up at her sitting on her knees over him, unfortunately dressed. The sight of her weird chandelier-looking overhead light fixture clearly told him he was in the wrong house.
“I’m not…home?”
“Man, did you have a lot to drink. What, was that two cases that took you down?”
“Five beers too close together, I think.” He groaned again. “Why do I feel so terrible?” He left the bed for the bathroom and, after doing his business, decided to shower. The hot water felt good, as did using what felt like half a tube of Bree’s toothpaste as he brushed his teeth with his finger.
The night’s events started to filter back. Having so much fun with the guys and Avery. Watching Bree fit in as if she’d always been a part of the group, a part of him. Letting her drive his precious truck while he sat next to her and marveled at her beauty.
Then coming into her home, taking forever to pee in the bathroom, focusing super hard on not hitting anywhere but the actual toilet.
Her putting him to bed while he told her how incredible, lovely, and sweet she was. Talk about being a lovin’ kind of drunk.
And then waking up to her smiling, super cheerful, annoying face. Hey, he could love the hell out of her. Still didn’t make him a morning person.
Now feeling minty fresh and awake, he toweled off, wrapped the towel around his waist, and walked back into the bedroom.
Only to find a topless Bree lounging on the bed.
A woman he hadn’t slept with in way too long.
Tex dropped the towel and felt his dick swell, as if the caress of her gaze wrapped around him and squeezed.
“My, my. Someone sure seems pent up.”
He walked toward her, watching her watching him. Her gaze seemed glued to his dick. Perfect.
“Is this the part of my dream where you prove what a good girl you are?”
“Is the part where you lick me until I scream?”
“Am I hearing a shout-out for a sixty-nine?”
She laughed. “Maybe.”
“But, darlin,’ panties don’t work in a sixty-nine.”
She scooted back on the bed and shimmied out of her panties. Then she spread her legs and fingered herself.
I’m in heaven. “Oh, yeah. That’s it. Get nice and wet.”
She moaned and showed him just what he’d been missing. But before he could dive in, she put out a hand to stop him. “No way. You said sixty-nine. Stick to your guns.”
“Hey, I’m happy to make you scream. I can wait.”
“Maybe I can’t.” She crooked her finger at him and, when he neared, yanked him down for a kiss. Her lips destroyed him, and her small hand wrapped around his cock. Thoughts became too much. She could lead him anywhere she wanted if she’d squeeze a little harder.
She pulled back to nip at his lower lip. “Turn around. Let’s race.”
“Fuck, yeah.” He kissed her again, so in love with the woman, it wasn’t funny. “Winner gets to torture the other for a while longer.”
“Deal.”
He moved on top of her and turned around. In seconds he felt hands on his cock then a warm, wet mouth sucking. It wouldn’t be long for him at all.
Desperate to please her, he zeroed in on her sex and started kissing, licking, and sucking in time to the magical mouth between his legs. Her drive increased his own, and they were both soon moaning and gyrating as passion overwhelmed any sense of a challenge.
Her groans vibrated around his cock. And then the little witch started dragging her fingernails over his inner thighs. She cupped his balls, playing with the taut sac, sending him right to the edge as her tongue worked its own magic.
He thrust a finger inside her, working her with his mouth and hands, so close,
he couldn’t stop. And then she was coming, taking him right along with her as she sucked and wouldn’t let go. Tex let the release wash over him, drowning in her scent as he shot down her throat. Ecstasy entwined with the love he felt for this woman who could take him places he’d never before been.
When she gave him a gentle push, he withdrew from her mouth and pulled away from her swollen clit. With a last kiss, he crawled off and collapsed beside her, a sudden shiver of sensation working its way out of him.
“Oh my God.” She put her head on his chest, her breaths coming in soft puffs over his nipples, stirring him anew though his body demanded a rest. “That was so good. I needed that.”
“You and me both.” He blew out a breath, contemplating the glorious morning. “You need more protein though.”
“Oh, do I?” She laughed. “You must have been pent up. I nearly drowned.”
“That’s because I’m hung like an elephant. I’m my own fireman, putting out fires with the mighty power of my massive hose.”
“Okay, I’ve heard enough.”
He laughed. “Good, because I was starting to gross myself out. So, who won, do you think?”
“I did come first, so technically, you won.”
“I really did. You sucked so hard, when you came, and I was just…gone.” He kissed her hair then pulled her over him, bringing her close so he could access her mouth. After a while, he sighed and ran his fingers through her soft hair.
“Does it bother you?” she asked, her cheeks rosy.
“What?”
“Tasting yourself on my lips.”
“I think it’s sexy as hell. Does it bother you when you tasted yourself on my mouth?”
“Not at all. I’m amazing.”
He smiled. “Bree, I feel so damn good when I’m with you.” I don’t want the world to interfere. But I know one of these days it will. He didn’t want to have the future talk with her, not now. But they’d need it soon. “What do you say I try to make you breakfast this time? After I get up and get dressed.”
“Sounds great.” She leaned back to kiss him again. “And by the way, next time you go down on me, brush your teeth again first. The minty thing you were doing was out of this world.”
He smirked. “So, I guess we’re both winners.”
“Sure, sure. But if there’s no number one, we just have a lot of number twos. And I’m not awarding you a participation trophy anytime soon, so keep working on your game.”
He barked a laugh and left for the bathroom.
***
After darting into the hall bath to do a quick cleanup, Bree hurriedly dressed in loungewear for the day in a pair of loose, cotton shorts and an oversize sweatshirt and skipped into the kitchen to make a pot of much-needed coffee. She’d love for Tex to try to make her breakfast, but she was taking no chances on her caffeine.
After downing a cup, she poured him one and started to take it to him. What was he doing back there, anyway? She listened and chuckled. Another shower? My, he certainly did like getting dirty and cleaning up. She wondered if she messed her man up again, would he go for a bath next time? Maybe he was part dolphin. Or a merman who liked seducing mortal women.
He’d surely seduced her out of a few brain cells.
The doorbell rang.
She glanced at the clock on the mantle. Eight thirty on a Saturday? What the heck? Sure, she’d normally be up and moving by now, but it seemed a little early for someone to be calling on her. She put the cups down and moved to the door.
The doorknob twisted.
Frozen, she watched in horror as the door slowly opened, not sure what to do. But she had a six-foot-four fireman not far away.
Then her father walked through with a tray of coffee in one hand and a paper bag clenched between his teeth, his hand on the key. He saw her and smiled, the key in his pocket once more, the bag and coffee in hand.
“Hey there, sweetheart. I’m sorry to barge in on you like this but…” John Gilchrist trailed off as a whistling, bare-chested Tex walked down the hall towel-drying his hair. He wore shorts at least, but the happy grin on his face and lack of clothing spoke volumes.
“Bree, did you—” The sight of her father stopped Tex in his tracks. To his credit, he didn’t bolt or turn pale. Instead, he nodded. “Morning, Chief. Bree, uh, could I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back, Dad.” She darted down the hallway, following a fast-moving Tex, and shut the bedroom door behind them. Her bedroom. With Tex. Probably not the best move she could have made.
“So, um, that’s your dad.”
“Yep.” She tried to figure out what to do. “He saw us. You. Me. Well, really, first me, then you.” I’m twenty-seven, for heaven’s sake. Why do I feel like I’m eleven again, caught getting my first kiss?
“Bree?”
“What?”
Tex gave her a soft kiss and smiled. “I think the cat’s out of the bag. Why don’t you go talk to your dad while I put a shirt on? I’ll be right out to back you up.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“Okay then.” Time to confront the dragon guarding his nonvirgin of a daughter.
Won’t this be fun?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tex looked from Chief Gilchrist to Bree and back, wondering what he’d missed in the scant seconds he’d been looking for his shirt. Fortunately, it didn’t smell too bad. A little like alcohol, but probably better to be fully dressed than shirtless with the chief’s daughter.
Well, so much for keeping secrets.
He sat next to Bree across from her dad at her dining table, in full view of the sunny backyard, the promise of yet another warm June day. The chief sat hunched over a cup of steaming coffee he must have purchased from the café down the street. He munched on a croissant and stared from his daughter to Tex, his glower darkening.
Bree smiled as if nothing was amiss and encouraged Tex to have one of the delicious-looking pastries the chief had brought. For his daughter.
“Nah, I’m good.” He hadn’t touched the store-bought cup either, accepting the mug Bree had made for him.
No one spoke until the chief said, “We’re all going to pretend this isn’t happening? Is that it?” He looked pissed.
“This?” Bree asked, frowning. “What exactly is the problem with this?” Before the chief could answer, she added, “And why the heck did you use your key, Dad? You scared the life out of me.”
Chief Gilchrist turned red. “Sorry. I texted and called, but you didn’t answer. I thought I’d pop over for some dad/daughter time. We haven’t shared breakfast in way too long.”
“I can leave…” Tex started to offer before both Bree and her father shook their heads.
“No, you stay,” Bree said.
“Oh, please, stay.” The chief smiled through his teeth. “You’re already here, aren’t you?”
Already fucked your career, you mean. Tex stifled a loud sigh. “You know what, I think I will have a pastry.” He chose an apple tart and sunk his teeth into it. Time to see just how ugly the chief would get about Tex dating his grown daughter.
“I’m having a cherry one,” Bree said. She chewed and stared at her father.
They all sat chewing and stewing in silence. Tex saw the humor in it and did his best not to laugh.
The chief didn’t look amused. “What’s so funny?” Gilchrist snapped. “That you’re corrupting my daughter?”
“Oh my God. Corrupting?” Bree clapped a hand over her eyes.
Tex coughed to cover the laughter that escaped. “Sorry, sorry. It’s just… We’re all sitting here in silence, chewing, while you’re glaring me to the depths of hell. And it’s so surreal. Chief, look, when I was at dinner with your family, we—”
“Were you taking advantage of Bree back then? Lying to me in m
y own home?”
Tex swore he could see steam coming out of the guy’s ears.
“Dad, enough.”
All eyes turned to Bree. Hmm. Tex hadn’t been treated to that particular voice before, though they’d had their share of petty arguments. Hell, he liked tussling with Bree, both in and out of bed. But he wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that tone.
“Bree,” the chief started.
“No, Dad. This is beyond ridiculous. I’m twenty-seven years old. Who I sleep with or date or do anything else with is not your business.”
Tex frowned. Sleeping with or dating he understood. What did “anything else with” mean, exactly?
Her father frowned as well. “I don’t ask much from you. Just this one thing. I’d like you to steer clear of firefighters. It keeps personal and professional lives from crossing and creating this kind of dynamic.”
“Your personal and professional lives, you mean. When Tex was helping me around the city, he did everything by the book. No flirting. No goofing around. He did his job. Period.”
The chief seemed to ease back a little. He shot a look at Tex. “That right?”
“Yes, sir. I’m proud to wear the uniform. I was on duty and did what I was told to do. Bree got her pictures because I showed her different parts of the city and our station houses. She saw two fires. You were there for the one.”
The chief nodded.
“I have nothing to apologize for then, or now.”
The man’s eyes narrowed.
“Dad, he’s right. I’m sorry if you feel that my dating Tex violates some weird work code, but the plain truth is that it doesn’t. Tex hasn’t been working with me for a while now. This relationship is ours. We’re dating.”
Tex reached for her hand on the table and held it. He glanced at her with a smile. “Exclusively.”
“Yep. Exclusively.” Bree gripped his hand. Hard.
Her father looked at them, then at Tex. Tex couldn’t read the man’s expression. “I told you not to get involved. You did. I told you, Bree, to stay away from a life you think you know, but you don’t.”
“Dad?”
The chief stood. “Well, you’ve both made your decision. I hope you can live with the consequences.”