Caution

by Tara Mills

  “I mean I’m usually more than a little tipsy,” she said, overly aware of his hand suddenly curled around her waist.

  He turned her smoothly into his arms and they swayed, fingers fused, bodies pressed so close they could have buttoned their shirts together. Chad’s aftershave was fading but Piper found that even more unsettling because now, this close, his natural scent was quietly emerging and mingling with the cologne. She liked it, a little too much. It was a powerful double whammy, smelling him, feeling him against her.

  The tempo of the next song was more energetic so they separated to gyrate, bump, and spin laughing as they tried all the ridiculous moves they could remember.

  “Not bad for a woman who doesn’t dance,” he teased, leading her off the pavers afterwards.

  “I do my best.” She looked around. “Where did I leave my glass?”

  “I left it, remember?” He reached out to pick it up from the wooden table where he set it earlier and stopped. “Never mind. You don’t want this one. There’s a hornet in it.”

  They went back inside and filled two fresh glasses with punch. Piper tipped hers back and the world shifted on her. Feeling a little fuzzy in the head she grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself.

  “Wow. Still has a kick,” Piper said licking her lips and contemplating her empty glass. “I got a little dizzy when I tipped my head back. Maybe I need a straw.” She turned and stared at the cabinets thoughtfully. “I wonder if Joy has any straws.”

  “Forget it. I think we should both probably switch to water.”

  “Party pooper,” she said with a pout.

  Chad put his hand on Piper’s shoulder and turned her towards the table. “Eat something. Food might help.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Eat.” Chad held a strawberry against her lips until she opened her mouth. He smiled as he popped it in. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  Piper rolled her eyes then blinked when it made her dizzy. “You don’t have to take care of me. I’m not your daughter, you know.”

  “I hope not.”

  He pushed another large strawberry on her and after she swallowed it she slipped his empty cup inside hers and sashayed over to the garbage can. She stopped and stared at the heaping container, then set the glasses on the counter.

  “I can’t leave it like this. I wonder where Joy keeps fresh bags.” She opened the obvious cabinets but came up empty handed.

  “Maybe in here?” Chad tried a door off the kitchen and they found themselves in a small laundry room with utility cupboards. They scavenged but this was evidently not where she kept her trash bags either.

  “Let’s not worry about it,” he said finally.

  “I just wanted to help, that’s all.”

  “I know. That’s very sweet.”

  Because neither of them bothered to slide the doorstop into place, the laundry door had swung silently closed behind them leaving only a narrow two inch gap. Giving up the search with a sigh, Piper reached for the knob to pull it open.

  Chad’s hand shot out and caught hers, startling them both. Piper turned and looked at him in surprise and he moved closer, relenting to the temptation that had dogged him all evening.

  She knew he was going to kiss her. She needed him to kiss her. She stumbled backwards into the door and it shut firmly behind her.

  Chapter 23

  Piper looked up at him and smiled and Chad could see the spirits glittering in her eyes. She wasn’t exactly sober and his impulse to kiss her wavered. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to take advantage. But then, apparently sensing his hesitation, Piper lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles.

  Chad held his breath and watched the soft brush of her lips make contact with his hand. He felt the moist teasing stroke of her tongue in the valley of his knuckles and groaned.

  “What are we doing?” he said softly, stepping closer and running his free hand down her hair.

  “Do you want to stop?” she asked, her lips softly sealing over his knuckle.

  “Probably should.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  “I know.”

  He slid his hand behind her head and caught a handful of hair then gently yet firmly tugged her head back. Moving in, he pressed his body flush against hers and dipped down to kiss her. Piper moaned and rubbed him harder, purring as she ground over his erection. Their kiss deepened and soon Piper was clinging to him.

  When Chad finally eased back to take a breath, she nuzzled at his throat and inhaled. “You smell so good tonight. You’ve been driving me crazy.”

  “Why do we torture ourselves like this?” Chad asked, nipping and licking down her neck.

  “Insanity?” She ran her hands down his chest and found his nipples with her thumbs.

  “I want you — so much.”

  “I want you, too.”

  Chad seized Piper, lifting her right off her feet. Her legs and arms wrapped tightly around him and he carried her over to the washer as they fed from each other. He set her down on top and put his finger to his lips. “We have to be quiet.”

  Piper nodded and flexed her fingers into his hair like a cat. Chad groaned and dipped his head to nuzzle between her breasts. When she didn’t object or stop him he took it further, thrusting her shirt and bra up with one quick move to expose her tight nipples.

  • • •

  Piper’s head fell back as he latched onto her breast and sucked her deep, his mouth, his tongue doing rhythmical things to her she wasn’t strong enough to resist. It was sweet exquisite torture but it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough, yet it still managed to get the machine rumbling like thunder beneath her.

  She was running short of patience when she hauled his shirt out of his pants then leaned back, breaking his suction on her breast with a loud pop. Now she could tug his shirt over his head. Once he was bared, she needed a minute to simply admire him. He was a feast for the senses.

  “I don’t want to want you so much,” she said, taking Chad’s face in her hands and kissing him hard.

  “Not my fault.” He kissed her back.

  “Where are you?” she demanded, working at his fly.

  He tore his mouth away. “You’re too high, anyway.”

  He set her on her feet and dragged her pants down. His were already pooled around his ankles and together they stepped free of their clothing. Chad kicked it aside.

  “Now,” she whispered into his ear then sucked his earlobe. “Who knows how much time we have?”

  She slid to the floor and Chad stretched out over her. Her eyes were sparkling when she looked into his.

  “This is the last time,” she said quite seriously.

  “Whatever you say,” he agreed impatiently.

  Her knees came up around him and he thrust deep. Piper sighed, running her hands all over him.

  “I needed this,” she admitted softly. “I really needed this. You feel so good.”

  “So do you,” he said, kissing her.

  Chad moved to thrust again but his cotton socks slid out across the vinyl floor behind him. He had no grip.

  “Hold on,” he grunted then grabbed Piper around the waist and hauled her back with him to the wall so he could brace his feet. With a sigh he took another shot at it but this time Piper slipped away from him.

  “Shit! Did she just wax the fucking floor?” He swore in frustration. “Hold onto me — hard,” he ordered.

  For some odd reason Piper was completely turned on by the command. She wanted him, now, more than ever. She was his to possess and she hoped he did it soon. She grabbed hold of his shoulders and hooked her heels behind his knees and when he drove into her she quivered with unimagined relief.

  “
Don’t go easy on me,” she whispered in his ear then sucked his lobe.

  • • •

  Her breath, her words drove him crazy. “Don’t tempt me,” he growled.

  She laughed, low and rich. “Chad, nail me to the floor.”

  “Just remember that you asked for it.”

  After a week of sexual frustration and no release he took his foot off the brake and hit the accelerator. He didn’t have to hold back or control the need to satisfy her again. He had her permission to let loose and he was willing to give her everything she asked for.

  He teased her at first, with long slow drives that made her legs shake. She lifted her hips, almost frantic to swallow him faster, urge him along but he was in control and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

  Then he changed again, dropping into her heavily, using the weight of his hips to add to the force of each deep thrust. Piper shuddered and gasped, shifting herself so that he would hit the spot that would allow her to take complete advantage of each jarring and delicious impact.

  Right before his eyes Piper’s face colored like the blushing sunset and Chad picked up the pace; stabbing into her harder and harder, faster and faster, hoping to keep up. Neither felt the tiny granules of sand they were grinding into their bare skin.

  “Oh god, Chad,” her voice wavered on the brink.

  There was panic and pleasure swirling in her eyes and he knew from experience what she was warning. He grinned and shoved his thumb into her mouth, hoping it would help mute her orgasmic cries but she started sucking it, teasing it with her tongue and the sensations shot right through him. With a groan he went wild, pounding into her body like a tenderizing hammer and Piper’s glow deepened. She strained desperately to absorb every crash until finally the collisions rebounded on them and their bodies seized, shattering them into particles and returning them to their truest forms.

  Only after they recovered did they realize how lucky they were not to get caught in this unlocked room. They laughed like naughty kids while they dressed, coming together for one last lingering kiss and grope before cautiously opening the door and slipping into the empty kitchen.

  They found Joy in the back yard and said their good-byes.

  Walking back to Piper’s car Chad asked, “Mind if I drive?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m more comfortable behind the wheel.”

  “Fine.” She tossed the keys to him and smiled, impressed when he caught them in the dying light.

  “Thanks.”

  “Welcome.”

  He gave her a meaningful look over the roof. “No — thanks.”

  Now that the heated coupling was over she blushed bashfully as she smiled back. “Thank you, too.”

  “Last time.” He didn’t mean a word.

  “Absolutely,” she agreed.

  • • •

  He drove to his dark worksite and they parked like a couple of teenagers, steaming up the windows, consuming each other hungrily. Both looked like they’d been through a Chicago windstorm when they parted, a good deal later than expected and with the promise that this really would be the last time.

  Chapter 24

  It was just after two in the afternoon and Piper and Joy were finishing their clean-up when Joy gave her a yell.

  “Piper, someone’s here to see you.”

  Piper put away the broom and dustpan.

  As they passed, Joy whispered, “He’s cute.”

  “Yeah.” Piper agreed grudgingly. She stopped just back from the case and looked over the top with unfriendly eyes. “Mick.”

  He smiled back at her, ignoring her moods like he always had. “Hi ya, luscious.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “I called your mom.”

  “She told you where I am?” Piper blustered furiously. “Nice to know who you can trust.” She took a second to calm herself but her next question came out sharper than intended anyway. “Why did you want to know?”

  He laughed, unfazed. “Still the best at farting out the candles, I see.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “Come on Piper, chill out. I have something of yours and I know you’re going to want it back. Are you about done here?”

  “I can take care of the rest,” Joy called out from the back.

  Piper shook her head. “Yeah, I guess. Let me get my things.”

  Joy’s curiosity was working overtime when she watched Piper punch out and grab her purse from her locker. For once she didn’t bother changing out of her work shoes before walking out from behind the counter and leaving with Mick through the store instead of using the employee entrance.

  Theirs was a silent walk broken only when she saw his car in the lot. “You’re kidding. That’s still running?”

  “More or less.”

  They stopped at the back and she rolled her eyes at the “Ski Naked” bumper sticker curling up in two corners while he found his key. He slid it into the lock.

  Turning to her Mick said, “So I’m moving to Colorado. Do you remember Ed?”

  “Morino?”

  “Yeah. He looked me up. He’s gonna be running this new restaurant right off the slopes and he thought of me. He wants me for sous-chef. The money’s good.”

  “Colorado?”

  “Yeah. I should be able to get in a lot of skiing.”

  Among other things. “Sounds like your dream job.”

  He grinned. “I know. I’m really psyched about it.”

  “What’ll you do in the warmer months?”

  “I’ll squeeze a little work in between the climbing, biking, and rafting. Work just enough to afford my beer and digs.” He was jumpy with excitement.

  “Think this old beast is going to make it?” She nudged the bumper with her knee.

  “No way. Do you know anyone who might be interested in a twelve-year-old Volvo?”

  Knowing how he took care of things she gave a hasty shake of the head.

  “Actually I’m heading out with Saundra. He offered her something, too.”

  She remembered Saundra. Mick had enjoyed a few tumble sessions with that slut while they were still together. “Are you seeing her now?”

  His expression soured. “No, we’re just having fun. I expect we’ll both be ready to move on when we get there and check out the new menu.”

  She’d heard enough. “You said you found something of mine?”

  “Yeah.” Mick finally turned the key and opened up the back. Reaching inside he slid a large box towards her.

  “My grandmother’s linens,” Piper whispered, distressed that she never even missed them.

  “This was in the cage in the basement. I didn’t recognize the box when I was packing up so I almost sent it with a bunch of stuff to the Salvation Army.”

  She ran her hand over the box then looked at him. “Thanks for not doing that.”

  He shrugged. “When I opened it and saw what it was I knew you’d want it back so don’t be too mad at your mom, okay?”

  “I’m not anymore.”

  “I’ll put this in your car for you. Where are you parked?”

  She pointed at the far corner of the parking lot.

  “I’m not walking it all the way over there. Get in, we’ll drive it over.”

  He opened the passenger door for her and she had to chuck a handful of garbage over the seat and onto the floor before she could sit down. He closed her door and went to the other side.

  When he got in she said, “Why don’t you ever throw this crap away? It’s so easy to do it when you gas up. Honestly, the garbage cans are right there, pretty hard to miss.”

  “Piper, I shouldn’t need to remind you that you don’t get to nag me anymore. Let it go.”

  She l
aughed at herself. “You’re right.”

  And that’s all it took, his simple reminder to let it go and she felt the weight of the past release her, too.

  • • •

  When Chad spotted Piper outside the store he searched for the closest parking space, before pulling into one the next aisle over. She wasn’t expecting him this afternoon but he hoped he could entice her into spending a quiet evening with him. If kissing or, say, sex came into play, all the better. God, he couldn’t get over how good it felt just looking at her.

  He settled back, giving her time to finish her conversation but then she climbed into the other guy’s car and Chad felt a crushing pain clamp down on his chest.

  They were still talking when they backed out. Chad’s agony increased tenfold when Piper laughed, her happiness unmistakable.

  Chad took a deep breath and pounded the heel of his hand on the steering wheel several times while he cursed and swore at himself. Then he threw the car in reverse and shot out of the parking lot, wondering why the hell he never listened to her when she warned him off.

  • • •

  Mick found Piper’s car without any help and stopped right behind it. It was the work of a moment to transfer the box from his car to hers and they parted, one last time with a sincere hug and good wishes between them.

  • • •

  Piper was unusually quiet when Mick drove off with a final wave. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear Joy come up behind her.

  “So what was that all about?”

  Piper glanced over. “Mick’s moving to Colorado and he found something of mine in storage. He just brought it to me.”

  “Seriously? That was unexpectedly nice of him.”

  Piper looked at her. “I never said Mick wasn’t nice. He’s as charming as a diplomat. That’s why people like him and why I was vulnerable to a backslide but his Achilles’ heel has always been self-interest. He’ll do anything for you as long as it doesn’t conflict with what he wants or inconvenience him too much.”

  “Are you still susceptible to his charm?”