I was pulled away from the wall and deposited on the bed, his body joined with mine the entire time.
“I can’t get enough,” he whispered above me.
My hands cupped his face. “I’m here. Take more. I want more.”
His blue eyes were staring into mine with such fierce intensity, I felt like he could see into my very soul. Our bodies rocked and moved together, his eyes closing as he pushed in impossibly deep. A whimper escaped my mouth and he immediately stopped moving.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, strain evident on his face.
I nodded, reaching down to grab his ass and pull him deeper. “Better than okay. Fuck me,” I begged.
His eyes held mine as he slowly moved in and out of my body, scraping his dick along the walls of my pussy with each lovely stroke. It was a slow-burning fire, increasing with every caress inside my body.
The tempo picked up and I could feel his muscles flexing and straining. It was like riding a powerful rocket. I knew he was going to explode. The anticipation was making me crazy, fueling another orgasm.
When he erupted inside me, I felt as if I were soaring, flying higher and higher, unwilling to settle back down onto earth. He had taken me somewhere I had never been before.
When the heavy breathing and tiny muscle contractions slowed and finally ceased, I opened my eyes to find him staring at me. There was a sudden awkwardness between us again.
He rolled off me and I quickly scrambled off his bed, frantically pulling on my clothes. I looked back at him. He was lying there in all his naked glory, watching me move around. The harsh light felt too bright now that the passion had faded.
“Bye,” I said, then slid on my sandals and rushed out of his room. I heard him chuckle behind me.
“Jenna,” he whispered my name just as I was about to walk out the front door.
I turned to look at him, questioning him. He stared at me for several long seconds before muttering goodbye.
I practically ran home, kicking myself for letting my desire lead me straight into his bedroom. I couldn’t believe I had just had sex with my neighbor, with his little girl in the next room. I had no idea what came over me.
Yes, I did.
Passion. Lust. Desire. All rolled up into one very delicious ball of pure ecstasy. That was what came over me.
I had known from the moment I laid eyes on him that I wanted him. Now that I had a taste of him, I wasn’t sure if I would regret it in the morning. Maybe he would regret it and never want to look at me again.
I couldn’t blame the alcohol, either. I was buzzed but not drunk. I knew exactly what I was doing when I kissed him back and I knew exactly where it would lead. That had been the point of kissing him in the first place.
I’d worry about the shame and guilt tomorrow, I thought, climbing into my own bed.
Tonight, I was going to bask in the afterglow of some of the best sex I had ever experienced.
Chapter 9
Colton
It was the morning after some of the most satisfying sex I could ever remember and I was in a bit of shock. It still didn’t seem real.
I didn’t regret it, but it was certainly not something I wanted to make a habit of. No, scratch that. I wanted it to happen again and again and in every way possible, but it couldn’t. She had some kind of power over me. I would be spilling my guts and telling her my life story if I wasn’t careful.
I had loved Cara very much, and sex with her had been fantastic. It was different with Jenna. I wasn’t sure if it was because it had been a while or it was the newness of it all, but I had nearly snapped in two when my body erupted deep inside hers. It had been cataclysmic, like no other orgasm I had experienced before.
“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered, staring at the popcorn ceiling.
Phenomenal sex wasn’t worth my life. I had to keep my distance. I’d get her out of my system soon enough. I’d get my welder fired up and keep busy. I saw there was a gym in town on my last tour down some of the side streets. I could at least keep up with my training. I wanted to stay in shape. I had worked too long and hard to get soft and weak.
I rolled my head to the side, saw the time, and was a little surprised to see how late I had slept. To be fair, I’d been up half the night burning a lot of calories. I was starving. I climbed out of bed, pulling on my shorts before heading into the kitchen for something fast.
Pulling open the pantry, I groaned at the lack of quick options. I settled on a bowl of Abby’s over-sweetened cereal. My mind kept going back to Jenna. If only life was different. If only I had met her in Boston before shit had hit the fan. Before I found myself knee deep in a world of trouble that would end badly for me in every way.
I smiled, thinking about how sassy she was. She didn’t take shit from me or those guys in the diner that day. I liked that she had a presence about her that said she was strong but not bitchy. She was sweet, sassy, and hot as hell.
“Hi, bug,” I said in a cheery voice when Abby made her way into the dining room. “Want some cereal?”
She nodded. I quickly poured her a bowl and sat down at the table with her. I hated to admit it, but I was a little bored. I’d never not had something to do or someplace to be. I wasn’t going to be able to do this. I couldn’t sit in the house day in and day out.
“I’m going to get dressed and then why don’t we go check out that park we saw the other day?”
Her eyes lit up. “Can I take my doll?”
“Of course.”
I headed into my bedroom, righting a bottle of cologne that had been knocked over in our haste to get naked last night. I sucked in a deep breath, closing my eyes and letting her scent wash over me. I could still smell the evidence of our night together.
Sickened that I was going to be one of those guys, I knew I had no choice. I had to be a dick—it was a one-night stand. That was it. The fact that she lived next door was a minor issue. I’d just have to ignore her until she got the hint.
I’d ghosted women before but never a next-door neighbor. I supposed I could try to be friendly and see if she was interested in a friends-with-benefits arrangement. No. No, I couldn’t do that.
I had to keep myself closed off. Getting close to anyone could get them dead or hurt. I wouldn’t do that to her. The chances of them finding me here were slim—I knew that—but it was still a chance. If they suspected I was close to anyone, they would use that person to get to me. It was bad enough I had Abby with me, but there was nowhere else for her to go. Besides, I knew that when it came to protecting her, I was the best man for the job. No one could protect as well as I could.
“Abby,” I called out, knocking on her closed bedroom door.
I opened the door when I heard her say to come in. She was wearing a pretty yellow dress, which I wasn’t sure was the best outfit for playtime at the park, but I would let her decide.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yep.”
“We’ll play for a bit and then I have a few errands to run, okay?” I said, pulling on my baseball cap and grabbing my aviator sunglasses. It wasn’t exactly a disguise, but it would make it a bit harder to notice me.
There were a few kids at the park when we arrived. I parked myself on the opposite side of the benches, not wanting to get friendly with the other parents. I could see a couple of the mothers whispering about me. Either they thought I was a pedophile hanging out at the park or they were interested. That was just the way it was, even back home in Boston. Guys like me hanging out at a park with little kids was one of those things that scared people.
Watching Abby like a hawk, I never sat down. I stayed on my feet, ready to attack anyone that got too close for my liking.
“It’s time to go,” I hollered, watching her come down the slide once again.
She pouted. “One more time?”
“Fine, one more time.”
A woman had walked close to where I was standing. “They all say that,” she said with laughter in her voice.
>
I nodded, keeping my eyes on Abby as she climbed the ladder. “I guess they do.”
“How old is she?”
“Four.”
“Oh, such a fun age. Izzy is seven. Are you two new in town or just visiting?”
Inwardly, I sighed. This was why I wasn’t looking forward to small-town living. Everybody knew everything about everyone. It did little good to try and lie low. I was new in town. I was bound to attract some attention.
“We’re visiting,” I said, not wanting to be rude and really stand out in her mind.
“Oh, do you have family here?”
I bit back a groan. She was irritating me, and I hated nosey people anyway. I knew she was just trying to be friendly, but it was still annoying.
Clearing my throat, I replied, “No, we’re from up north and headed out west. We’re just exploring the country, looking for a place to call home.”
“That’s exciting! I love a good adventure.”
Thankfully, Abby came running toward me, giving me the break I needed.
“All right, we better get going. We still have a few errands to run.” I kept my hat pulled low and didn’t make direct eye contact.
“Take care! I hope we’ll see you around again.”
“Who was that, Daddy?” Abby asked me.
“I don’t know.”
Abby seemed a little confused by my answer. I picked her up, making the walk back to the Tahoe much faster. I didn’t want anyone getting a good look at me or trying to chat.
I drove to the gym, took Abby inside with me, and spoke with someone about a trial membership. I would start in a few days. It wasn’t exactly a Gold’s, but I noticed they had decent equipment. That was all I needed. I couldn’t exactly go for a run in the morning and leave Abby at home all alone, and I was certainly not going to drag her along with me.
“Okay, let’s head to the grocery store!” I said with renewed enthusiasm about our little home in Nebraska. We could make this work. I’d find a groove and that creativity I needed to make pieces that would sell for good money, ensuring I could stay on the run for as long as necessary.
We took our time at the grocery store, picking up a cartload of freezer meals along with a few basic staples. I knew I had to improve my cooking skills, though I had no idea what I needed and ended up buying a little of everything.
At the checkout, the young cashier tried to flirt. I was new in town. Fresh meat. The mystery man with the kid. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew what the draw was. If they only knew how dangerous I was to them, they’d be barking up another tree altogether.
I quickly unloaded the groceries from the cart and slammed the back of the Tahoe shut, then came face to face with two of the guys from the diner incident.
Shit.
“Oh, look who it is, Darren,” said the one who tried to fight me at the diner, walking toward me. “It’s our little friend with the hard-on for Jenna.”
“You need to keep on walking,” I said, turning my hat to face backward.
Darren, I gathered from the use of his name, smiled at me. “You think so? The way I see it, there’s two of us and one of you.”
I shook my head. “And even then, it isn’t fair. Trust me. You want to back the fuck up and stay away from me.”
“Bryce, check this dude out. He thinks he can whoop both our asses.”
I sighed. They were young and stupid. I couldn’t kick their ass and feel good about it. I could have kicked their asses, but that would be wrong.
“Walk away,” I said again with a little more force in my voice.
Bryce stepped forward, invading my personal space in a way that made me want to lay him out on the shitty paved parking lot of the grocery store.
“Who do you think you are, man? You can’t show up in our town and act like you own the place.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Look, you’re starting to piss me off. I’ve got my little girl in the car. I’m not going to fight you with her three feet away.”
“Pussy,” Darren spat.
“If that’s what makes you feel better about yourself.”
I saw a sheriff’s car pull into the parking lot and immediately went on alert. The car came to a stop behind mine. An older, pudgy man got out, hitching up his pants as he did.
“Afternoon, gentlemen,” he said, sauntering toward where the three of us were standing. “Everything okay here?”
“All good, Sheriff Weston,” Bryce said with his thousand-watt smile. “We were just introducing ourselves.”
The older man looked at them both before looking at me. “Well, isn’t that mighty nice of you? Now that you’ve all gotten to know each other, why don’t you boys head on out of here?”
Bryce and Darren sneered before walking toward the store, muttering under their breath before turning to look at me, flipping me the bird.
“They giving you trouble?” the sheriff asked.
I shrugged a shoulder, turning my hat back around. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“I’m Sheriff Weston. You are?”
I hesitated. “Colton Jones.”
“Jones, huh? That’s a generic name.”
I chuckled. “I suppose it is. Only one I’ve got though. If you don’t mind, I’ve got my little girl in the rig. I’d like to get her home now.”
He nodded his head. “Watch out for those two. There’s a third one that’s usually with them. They’re obnoxious, but their daddies own this town.”
I smirked. “That explains a lot. Good to know. Thanks.”
He climbed back into his car as I got into mine. I couldn’t afford to be having run-ins with the local police. I had no idea if there was an APB out for my arrest or not. Murder charges were no joke. One of these local yokels would get a real thrill if they could collar a murderer. I wasn’t going to give them the chance.
At the first sign of trouble, I’d be out of town and gone in a flash.
Chapter 10
Jenna
I didn’t typically go out drinking in the middle of the week. Actually, I didn’t go out a lot in general. There were two clubs in town where the younger crowd hung out. Once you were my age, an advanced twenty-five, you hung out at the bars instead. However, bars didn’t do ladies’ night.
Rose insisted we go out, taking advantage of ladies’ night at a club with a free cover. We’d get free drinks and I’d get to dance. I needed to dance after I’d been avoiding Colton since our night of searing hot passion. Or maybe he was avoiding me. I didn’t know how to act around him, and in true one-night stand awkwardness, I chose to avoid it all and hide when I saw him.
I met her outside the club, and she, of course, was dressed to kill—or be laid perhaps. She was a beautiful woman. I had always been a little jealous of the natural sexiness she had. She could wear a paper bag and look like a goddess.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I said when she walked up to me wearing a tiny black dress with heels that would probably kill me.
“Hey, baby!” she said, overly loud and drawing attention from the others going inside. “You look hot.”
I laughed, looking down at my plain, although tight, red skirt and white top. I rarely wore red as it always made me feel a little slutty, but tonight, I felt daring. I was still riding the high of multiple orgasms and being told repeatedly how sexy I was. If anything, Colton had given me a huge boost of confidence at a time when I really needed it.
“You ready?” I asked. “What are we looking for? Tall, dark, and handsome? Mysterious? Dangerous?”
“Please, you know me. I’m up for whatever gets me hot. What about you? What should I be looking for?”
I grinned. “I think I’m good.”
“Uh, how can you be good? We haven’t been out—” She stopped talking and looked at me. “You didn’t sleep with Jason!”
I scrunched up my nose. “No!”
“Don’t act like you’re surprised I asked. He was your one. He can call, talk sweet, and your panties drop.”
“
It wasn’t him. It was Colton.”
“Colton?” she asked, confusion on her face.
I smiled. “The neighbor.”
Her eyes widened. “No way!”
I winked.
“I want details.”
I blushed. “He’s amazing. Like, beyond amazing.”
“I’m jealous. Super jealous.”
I shook my head. “You should be. I’m not going to give you details, but…” I held up three fingers.
“No!” she screamed. “Three!”
I laughed, not confirming or denying anything.
“Damn, come on. I need to get in there and find me a man. You got me worked up just talking about great sex. I need great sex. I’ve had way too much plain, boring sex.”
We got in line, got our hands stamped, and headed inside. I was truly not interested in finding a guy to take home, but I would definitely help her find a good prospect. We walked in, identifying the regulars and steering clear. Next, we found the mean girl snobs that we detested. They were just like us, having grown up right here in Beatrice but somehow felt they were above everyone else who lived in town.
We managed to find a little table toward the back. It wasn’t a great spot for attracting a lot of attention, but it did make it a lot easier to carry on a conversation.
“So, are you two going to hook up again?” she asked, sipping her Long Island iced tea.
I shrugged. “I don’t think so. I’m not interested in anything serious.”
“Come on. He’s hot. And three times? You would have to be crazy to let that get away.”
“I don’t think he’s looking for anything serious either. I don’t really want a boyfriend. The last thing I need is to get involved and have my heart shattered again. Jason really did a number on me.” I shook my head before downing the ice-cold beer and not giving a shit that I looked like a redneck.
“Get over it. Seriously, Jason was a douchebag. You were so far above him. I’m glad he cheated on you.”
“Hey!” I protested.
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