by Rhian Cahill
A shudder racked her. Then her pussy clamped around his thumb like a vise. She moaned deep in her throat and rocked her hips faster. She was so close. With the next thrust of his thumb, swipe of his tongue, her orgasm broke and her ass opened up.
His finger sank all the way in and held it still while she bucked her hips, working herself on his tongue, thumb and finger. He’d never experienced anything as erotic as Reena fucking herself with her vibrator, but this—this blew that away.
She sobbed above him, her body convulsing as her orgasm burst into new life. Without thought, he added another finger to her ass and felt her jump another level.
She screamed. Ground down on him so hard he couldn’t breath and had to turn his head. She was out of control and, if her keening cries were any indication, loving every second of it.
His balls burned, his spine tingled, and the woman riding his face as though the world would end if she didn’t sent pleasure so bright and hot through his groin, he cursed with the electric jolt of it.
He needed to come. Using his free hand to grab his cock, he jerked his length in punishing strokes.
Rush had never witnessed a multiple orgasm like the one Reena was experiencing. She thrashed over him, her pelvis slamming her forward into his face again and again.
He pulled his dick harder as his balls tightened and come shot up his length. It spurted onto his stomach, the hot wads of liquid splattering over his skin.
And Reena was still coming.
Except now, her body was pushing him out, clamping tight in an effort to stop him from invading. He eased his fingers from her ass, his thumb from her pussy and, grabbing her hips, pulled her down his body to cradle her against his chest.
She shuddered in his arms, sobbed into his neck, and he cursed himself a fool for not stopping sooner.
“Reena, baby, are you okay?” He stroked a hand over her hair. Tried to soothe her with his touch and his words. “I’m sorry. We won’t do that again.”
“No.” Her head shook against him.
“Okay. Whatever you want. Anything you want.”
“That,” she gasped. “I want that again.”
Chapter Eleven
Reena walked into the kitchen with a full tray in her hands and kept her head down. She didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone. She was positive they’d be able to tell what she’d spent the last two days doing with Rush. A fresh wave of heat crashed over her. Skin tingling, muscles clenching, and a throb hard and insistent between her legs.
Stumbling forward, the tray in her hand tilted, plates and glasses sliding—
“Wow. Easy there.”
She looked up to find Mrs. Wallace steadying her and the tray. “Sorry. Must have slipped,” Reena muttered, doing her best to avoid meeting her boss’s eyes.
“Oh, yes. I’m sure that’s it. There’s no way it has anything to do with the young man at the corner table who can’t keep his eyes off you.” Mrs. Wallace winked at her when Reena glanced up. “He’s a fine one. Pop likes him.”
“Ah, yes. Um…”
“Look at you, all stammering and turning a pretty shade of pink. Reena, I’m so happy for you.”
Before Reena could process Mrs. Wallace’s words, the tray was taken out of her hands and she was engulfed in a warm hug.
They rocked back and forth for a minute before Mrs. Wallace gripped her arms and held her away, the older woman’s gaze catching Reena’s in a steely grip. “I’m giving you the rest of the day off. Go have lunch with your new man. I’ve got Yvonne making you both today’s special.”
“But—”
A hand covered her mouth. “Not a word. Go.”
Reena found herself turned around and pushed out of the kitchen.
Protesting always seemed impossible with a Collins. Caitlyn’s mom might have changed her name when she married but there was no mistaking the Collins stubbornness. Reena thought it had to be the first thing stamped into their DNA. It boggled the mind to think anything got done around here with so many stubborn people working together.
Then again, when all that determination got aimed at the same goal, they were a force of nature. Good thing they didn’t have designs on world domination.
Peeking over her shoulder, Reena found Mrs. Wallace, arms crossed, one brow arched, staring at her. Okay, she really wasn’t going to convince the woman she didn’t need to finish work early. With a sigh, she turned down the hall that led to the small room the staff used to store their things.
She pushed open the door and almost smacked Slade, one of the barmen, in the head with it. Jumping back—and unintentionally taking a second shot at his head—she gasped, “Oh, sorry.”
“No problem.” He straightened from tying his shoe. Grinned at her. “You missed.”
Reena smiled. She didn’t know Slade all that well but what she did know, she liked. He was friendly and funny and the customers loved him. “Even if I was aiming at you, I’d have missed. I’m not very athletic.”
Slade chuckled. “Don’t think you need to be if you want to bean someone with a door.”
Laughing, Reena stepped into the room. “True, true.” She pulled off her apron.
“You done already?”
“Yeah. Mrs. Wallace gave me the rest of the day off.”
“Lucky you.”
“I’m not sure about that.” Reena frowned. She’d been all but ordered to eat lunch at Sunday’s with Rush. No doubt they’d have lots of eyes on them.
“Make the most of your time off. I’ll see you later. I need to get behind the bar before Tris comes looking for me. I’d be getting the boot, not the afternoon off.” Slade waved before he disappeared out the door.
Reena grabbed her bag and checked her phone. There were several missed messages. All from Rush. She smiled as she opened them up. He’d sent a ton of emojis. Kisses, hearts, flowers, a moon and stars and sun, and something that looked like… “Oh my god!”
He’d sent her a penis. Thank god it wasn’t a picture of his actual penis.
Laughing, she switched her phone off, dropped it in her bag and headed out of the staffroom. The man was incorrigible. He knew how to make her laugh, how to help her relax and enjoy herself in a world she hadn’t felt a part of for so long. He made her happy.
And he was going home in three days.
Her mood shifted. It was so easy to forget he didn’t live in Baltimore. Being with him, having him in her house, she’d gotten a false sense of comfort. He wasn’t hers to keep. He wouldn’t stay. He had a life and a job and it was hundreds of miles away from her.
“Hey. You all right?” Rush placed his hands on her shoulders, scrutinized her intently with concerned blue eyes.
Forcing a smile, she said, “Oh, yes. I’ve got the rest of the day off.”
“That’s good but why the frown?”
“Nothing.” She tried to move around him except he proved to be as stubborn as a Collins.
“Nope. Not buying it.” He tipped her face up with a finger under her chin. “Talk to me. Don’t keep whatever it is running around inside that overanalyzing head of yours to yourself.”
Reena sighed. “It’s Wednesday.”
“And?”
“We’ve only got three days left, and I have to work all but one of them and that’s the day you leave, so it doesn’t count.” She loved her job, except right now she hated it. Hated that it kept her from Rush.
He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not disappearing from your life when I go home. We’ll still see each other.”
“How?”
Rush shrugged. “I don’t know yet but I promise we’ll work it out.”
“Hey you two. I think these are yours.”
Reena turned to see Felicity beside them, a plate of the day’s special in each hand. Felicity’s rolled ankle had turned out to be minor and she was already back at work.
“Oh. Right. I forgot. Lunch.” She smiled at Rush. “Hope you’re hungry.”
�
��Always hungry for food when it comes out of Sunday’s kitchen.” He ushered her the few feet to their table and pulled out her chair. “What are we having? It smells delicious.”
“Corned beef and cabbage. It’s a Collins family favorite,” Reena explained as Rush took the seat beside her and Felicity placed their meals in front of them.
They dug in and Reena thought she’d escaped the conversation she didn’t want to have. Except Rush hadn’t forgotten, and the minute he’d swallowed the last mouthful, he reached for her hand and wove their fingers together.
“We’re not a holiday fling. I know it might seem that way, with how we met and now I’m here for only a week, but I promise you we’re more than that.”
“How can you be sure?” Reena wanted to believe him. She hadn’t wished for something this much since those horrible days and months after her parents had died.
“Because spending time with you is worth any separation or distance traveled.” He leaned in closer. “I’ll work my schedule so I have four days off every second week instead of two a week. I’ll drive down or fly. Whatever is faster.”
“That sounds like a lot of effort for only a couple of days.”
“I’d do it for a couple of minutes.” He gripped the back of her head and pressed his brow to hers. “You’re worth it Reena. What we have is worth it. I can’t go back without knowing you want this as much as I do. I need you with me on this.”
She swallowed. Her throat tight with fear and hope and desperation so thick, she could taste it.
***
Rush waited for Reena’s reply. The seconds she took searching his eyes tightened his chest and constricted his throat. He had no idea what he’d do if she didn’t agree to continue seeing him. If she decided it was too much trouble…
He’d quit his job and move here. Money wasn’t an issue. Time was.
Except it would all be pointless if she didn’t want to be with him. His insides coiled, spiraled tighter and tighter until he couldn’t suck in a deep enough breath.
She’d taken too long. He couldn’t stand another minute of silence. “Don’t answer now. We’ve got three days.”
He closed his eyes and pressed his mouth to hers to stop any reply she might make.
He’d convince her. He would. He had to. He couldn’t accept anything less.
She cupped his cheek and spoke against his lips. “I don’t want this to end but I don’t see how we can make it work. We live in different places.”
Rush pressed his mouth to hers harder. He didn’t want to hear any of that. Not now. Right now, he wanted to spend time with Reena. Jerking away, he held her gaze with his. “Let’s not worry about it now. We’ve got the afternoon free and there’s still places I haven’t seen that you promised to take me.”
Pulling some cash from his wallet, he left more than enough to cover their meals and a decent tip, and got to his feet, tugging Reena up with him.
“Come on. I want to visit the Natty Boh shop.”
“Really? It’s kind of a joke around here,” Reena said as she trailed behind him out of Sunday’s.
“I know. Which is why I want to go there.” He grinned over his shoulder. “What do you think Mr. Collins would say if I turned up tomorrow wearing a Natty Boh shirt?”
Reena laughed, as he’d hoped she would. “He’d probably break a pint of Guinness over your head. No. Wait. He’d never waste a real beer like that.”
As they stepped out onto the street, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his side. She was smiling again and the creases in her forehead had vanished. He’d take that. For now. He’d worry about leaving when the time came.
Between now and Saturday morning, Rush planned to spend every second of his time in Baltimore within seeing distance of this woman. He’d do everything in his power to prove to her what they had was worth fighting for.
Chapter Twelve
Rush sat at the bar nursing a beer and watching Reena move between the pub and Sunday’s. She smiled at customers, laughed at something her fellow waitress said and looked like she was happy. But he could see the strain around her eyes, the look of sorrow in them whenever they turned his way.
They were down to a day and a half. After Reena’s early finish yesterday, they’d hit downtown Baltimore and wandered for hours with no particular destination in mind. It had been a balmy evening and they had strolled hand in hand, talking and laughing, sometimes not saying a word. They’d eventually found a pub—not as good as Pat’s—with a beer garden to have a meal and a drink.
Then they’d gone home and had some of the hottest sex of his life. Every time with Reena was hot but there had been an edge of violence, a frantic urgency to their fucking Rush had never experienced before. He knew it stemmed from the increasing tension over his departure.
As he lay there listening to Reena’s breathing even out, knowing she’d fallen into an exhausted slumber, that same oblivion had eluded him. He’d stared up at the dark ceiling and mapped out the rest of their time together. He didn’t like the way it made him feel as though he was manipulating her but he had to have a plan. Had to be sure every second until he left Baltimore was used to his advantage.
Today had been a lazy stay-in-bed day. He couldn’t remember ever spending time in bed with a woman and not having sex. It surprised him how much he enjoyed being snuggled up under the covers watching movies on Netflix with Reena curled into his side. They’d stayed in their warm cocoon until the last second before she had to get ready for work.
He wished they were still hidden away inside her house ignoring the world.
Except she had the dinner shift and Rush knew her well enough to know she’d never call in sick. And Pat’s was hopping, they’d have felt it if Reena hadn’t come in. Tris, the Collins who ran the bar tonight, had told him they were unusually busy due to the rumor floating around that Sky and Teagan Mitchell were in town. Apparently, that drew in local fans hoping for an impromptu performance.
Rush hadn’t made the connection between the Collins family and Sky Mitchell before Tris mention the famous singer—and his equally famous wife, who happened to be Tris’s sister. He also noticed the man hadn’t confirmed or denied the rumor.
“Want some company while you wait?” Mr. Collins clapped him on the shoulder as he took the stool beside Rush.
He grinned at the older man. “It’s your bar.”
“That it is.”
Tris appeared in front of his father. “Guinness, Pop?”
Mr. Collins tapped the bar top. “Couldn’t convince you to make it a Jameson, could I?”
Tris arched an eyebrow, grabbed a pint glass and pulled a Guinness from the tap. Placing the perfectly poured beer in front of his father, he said, “Do I look like I have a death wish? My wife’s here tonight, you know.” He indicated the back corner of the room with a tip of his chin.
“Damn women,” Mr. Collins grumbled. “They’re all but measuring me for a coffin. I ain’t going nowhere ’til I see all them babies happy and settled like me and my Sunday were. Like you and your siblings are.”
Rush had just brought his own beer to his mouth when a boney finger was poked in his face.
“And you.”
He glanced at the Collins patriarch, wondering what the hell he had to do with anything.
“You need to make that girly happy. Give her a bunch of babies and that’ll get her settled. She needs it. Family. We all do. It’s what makes us strong. Gives us a reason to do better. And you two got nothing, so you have to make your own.”
Rush stared at the old man.
“Pop. Leave the guy alone.” Tris smiled at him apologetically before moving to serve the customer waving from the end of the bar.
“I’m right, ain’t I? You got no one.” Mr. Collins tapped the wrinkly skin beside his right eye. “I got peepers and they see more than people think. Damn fool kids thinking they know it all,” he muttered.
“I…” Rush swallowed. “What gave it away
?”
Mr. Collins shrugged. “Who knows? Could be I’m just an old Irishman spouting nonsense.”
Rush chuckled. “I doubt that.” He took a sip of his beer and pondered the old man’s words. “I’m in love with her.”
“I see it.”
“Can’t say she feels the same.”
“Oh, I think she does.” Mr. Collins glanced over to where Reena was delivering a tray of food to a table at the back of the room. “She’s lost a lot that one. Had it taken when she was too young to know how to handle it. Beth helped but the scars run deep. You’ll need more than a bit of patience if you want to stick.” The man turned perceptive eyes Rush’s way. “And you want to stick, right?”
“Yeah. I want to stick.”
“Then here’s my advice.” He clapped Rush on the shoulder. “Your woman is always right, and when she isn’t, she is anyway.”
“I’m not sure she’s mine.”
“Oh, mark my words, she is.” Mr. Collins smiled. “I know what love looks like, and Sabreena’s got the look, you just gotta get past all that hurt and fear. Once you’ve done that, you’ll stick.”
Rush did something he hadn’t ever done before. He prayed. Prayed that an old man’s words would come true.
***
Reena hated the tension coiling tight in belly. She had a headache, knew it was because she couldn’t stop thinking about Rush leaving in thirty-six hours. She’d promised him—herself—she wouldn’t worry about it, and she’d tried—really she had. But he was leaving.
“Hey.”
She smiled at Caitlyn. “Big crowd tonight.”
“Yeah. Someone started a rumor Sky and Teagan were here.”
She’d heard the gossip, and if she wasn’t so tied in knots over Rush’s imminent departure, she might be excited about the possibility.
“They’re not.” Caitlyn frowned. “We’re going to have to give them something though.”