by Stacey Wilk
“Do you want to come inside? It’s freezing out here. Landon is out like a light. We won’t wake him.” She turned not waiting for his answer. She stepped through the door and left it open for his entrance.
He hesitated for only a second. The open door had to be an invitation to more than friendship. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it. The fire was on its way out. A chill had touched the air, and the room smelled like wood smoke.
“Would you like a glass of wine? I picked up a bottle tonight. It’s the cheap kind. All I could afford.” She shrugged and grabbed two glasses.
He took the wine from her and poured them each a glass. He didn’t know much about wine. He couldn’t tell a seven-dollar bottle from a seven hundred dollar one.
“Thanks again for today. I really appreciate it.” She rubbed her finger along the top of the glass.
He didn’t know what he was doing there. Coming over had been a mistake. Sure, he wanted to see her, to touch her, but he couldn’t get involved with her and she had just said as much to him. She didn’t appear to be the kind of person who would settle for a one-night stand, and he was pretty sure if they slept together he’d want to do it more than once.
“I can arrange for another lesson.” He put the wine down untouched. “Look, Raine, I’m sorry about coming over here so late. I should let you –”
“Chase, shut up and kiss me.” She rounded the counter and threw her arms around his neck.
He gripped her waist and pulled her against him. Her mouth opened to his and he wasted no time tasting her. Their tongues darted in and out. She licked his lips, and he let a moan slip.
She eased away from him. “Do you like that?”
Did he ever.
****
Raine wanted to touch him everywhere. Her skin was on fire and had been since the shooting range. He’d smelled so good standing behind her with his hips pressed to her back. She had to use all her self-control not to jump him then. But the second he called her tonight, she knew. He’d felt their heat too.
She ran her hands up the back of his sweatshirt, and his muscles flexed against her touch. He was strong, and solid. His took his lips from hers and began kissing her neck. His scruffy beard tickled her sensitive skin. “Mmmm.”
“Should I keep going?” He said against her neck.
She laced her fingers into his hair. His lips trailed down to her collar bone, and his hands pressed against her belly. She needed to get closer.
“Could we get rid of this?” She tugged at the bottom of his shirt.
He stepped back but stopped. “What about Landon? What if he comes out?”
“He won’t. Once he’s down he never comes out.”
He pressed his lips together. “There’s a first time for everything, and I don’t want his first time to be me half-dressed in his kitchen with my hands all over his mother.”
Her heart swelled. His first concern was her son and not for his needs. She placed a hand on his cheek. He held it and kissed her palm sending sparks across her already hot skin.
“I can go home if you think that’s best.” His voice was low, and husky.
She took him by the hand and led him down the hall to her bedroom. Inside, she locked the door. The only light in the room filtered in from the moon and the sheer curtains on the window. She needed nothing more. His tall frame was a silhouette against the moonlight like her own personal bodyguard.
Nothing about this town or this man made sense. She hardly knew him but did know he kept his feelings close to his chest. He had secrets of his own, and two people getting involved with something to hide was bound to blow up in their faces. Still, she couldn’t stop from walking across the room to where he stood with a wide stance and a devilish grin on his face. He lowered his head to meet hers, and his lips were on her again sending all the heat from her veins straight to her most sensitive spot.
“Please, Chase, take off your shirt. I want to feel all of you.”
He stepped back and ripped his shirt over his head. His chest was chiseled with a scar under his right collar bone. She traced a finger over the puckered skin, but he took her finger and sucked on it. Her knees buckled. He replaced that finger with the next keeping his intense gaze locked with hers.
She took her free hand and dragged it over his pecs and traced the thin line of hair leading to the top of his jeans. She tugged at the button. “I think I need some help.”
He released her and kicked off his boots sliding his pants down before stepping out of them. She held her breath. His erection was incredible like the rest of him.
“Is it in bad taste to say wow?”
A smile played on his lips. “Not at all and thank you. Now, how about you?” He wagged his finger up and down.
He placed his hands over hers and helped her lift her sweater over her head. His large hands sought out her belly and then her breasts cupping one then the other. He rubbed his thumb over the lace of her bra making her nipples hard. She pressed into his hand wanting more of his touch.
“I think I’m on fire,” she said.
He kissed the space between her breasts and with a skilled hand unhooked her bra pushing it off her shoulders. “Talk about wow.” He took her right breast into his mouth and teased her with his tongue.
“Chase.”
“Hmm?” He lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist moving his mouth from one breast to the other.
“I’m not like this, you know.”
His head snapped up. She regretted the words instantly. “Not like what?”
“I don’t normally sleep with a man I hardly know.”
“I realize that.” He returned to sucking on her nipple.
Her insides were melting. “How?”
“I’m a pretty good judge of character.” He scooped her up and placed her on the bed. Since she was wearing leggings, he had no trouble scooting them down her legs.
He propped himself up on his elbow. “You’re beautiful.” His finger traced circles around her belly button. “Could we do away with these?” He tucked a finger under the side of her thong.
“Please.” Her words were breathless.
His hands found the inside of her thighs. She thought she would explode. “Chase, please, touch me.”
His mouth was on hers, and his fingers found the liquid heat of her center. He slid a finger into her core and she moaned. “Yes, like that.” She moved her hips to the rhythm of his touch lifting her hips to get closer to him.
She wrapped a hand around his desire wanting to feel him hard and full inside her.
“You’re driving me mad, lady. I’ve wanted you to touch me like that for days now.” He growled against her neck.
She stroked him relishing in the enjoyment she was giving him. When she couldn’t take another minute of the torturous pleasure she said, “now. Please. Chase. Now.”
He slid on top of her brushing her damp hair away from her face. He rested between her legs but did not move. “I don’t know what is happening between us, Raine, but I know I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you.”
She traced the gray hairs on his chin. “I feel the same way. I mean wanting you more than any other man. Not another woman. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Nerves made her ramble. Who wasn’t a little nervous right before sex with the hottest guy she’d ever been with?
He laughed and nibbled at her ear.
Without another word, he entered her drawing her to the center of the heat. Her whole body burned, and as they rocked together she thought she’d turn to ash by the time they were done.
He pulled out just a little surprising her but drove into her again with more intensity. Her body convulsed with waves of relief crashing against her over and over. “Yes, Chase. Oh, yes.”
His body shuddered with hers. He squeezed his eyes shut at the last second until she could no longer feel the wash of his release inside her.
He rested his forehead against hers. “That was amazing.”
“It certainly was.”
Chapter Eleven
Chase held Raine in his arms. Her head was tucked under his chin, and he’d wrapped his legs over hers. She fit into his spaces. He’d have to get up soon but wanted to hold her a little longer. What he felt for her had to be lust. Two people could have simple chemistry between them, but if he dug deeper he might hit what was really happening to him. He felt more than just lust for her. She said what was on her mind. She was tough because whatever had her running didn’t have her whining about it. She knew she was on her own and was doing what she needed to take care of Landon. The subject on how to get a gun threw him a little, but who was he to question her methods? And Landon was a great kid. The reason had to be because of the mother.
“You asleep?” He whispered against her hair.
She snuggled closer pressing her breasts into his chest, and his blood started racing. If she kept that up he’d have an erection in about two seconds. “Don’t want to sleep. There’s a hot guy in my bed.”
“About that. I should go before we both fall asleep.” He didn’t like the idea of leaving the warm bed and unraveling himself from the pretty lady. He did want to wake up beside her though. She was quickly undoing the structured life he’d put together for himself here in Silent Water.
She pushed up on her elbow. Her hair spilled over her shoulder. He wrapped the end around his finger. “I appreciate your practical side.” Her lips brushed against his.
Yup, all his blood ran south. He grabbed her and pulled her on top of him. She squealed.
“Ssh. You don’t want someone knocking on the door.” He splayed his hands over her tight bottom and held her close. His erection pressed against her. He wanted her again, at least one more time before he left.
“I’ve enjoyed this. I really have. You are a…a pleasant surprise, but I think you’re right. You should go. It’s late and I need a couple of hours of sleep before I have to get up and get Landon to school.”
She ran her fingers over his chin.
“That feels nice.” He tilted his chin up to keep her doing anything that included her hands on him.
He slid his hands up and down her back.
“That also feels nice.”
He kissed her shoulder tasting her sweet and salty flavor, and kept his hands kneading the small of her back. She moaned and tilted his head to hers so she could kiss him full on the mouth.
He wasn’t about to protest. Her tongue slid in and out his mouth sending more heat to his center. He let his hands rest on her bottom again, and she pressed her hips into his. He slid his hand over her precious ass and touched her center. She was wet, hot, and ready. He thought he might come on the spot.
He was about to flip her over and drive into her, but she took him in her hands and stroked until white lights flamed behind his eyes. “Raine, that feels so good.”
She pushed up off his chest, aligned his erection with the place he wanted to be most, and slowly took all of him in. She felt so good wrapped around him. He had to think about cleaning the rabbit cage not to explode too soon. She directed their speed rocking her hips back and forth. She arched back and he circled her hard nipples with the tips of his fingers.
“Chase?”
“Hmm?” He didn’t have the strength to say more.
“Can you rock with me?” She’d turned her gaze on him, and he only wanted to see her and nothing else.
“Anything you want.” And he actually meant that in more ways than one. He lifted his hips to match her movements. Desire burned deep into his veins. Her gripped her hips to keep the momentum going.
When she threw her head back again and called out his name he lost control and let the flood gates of heat and desire wallop him. He drove up his hips, pushing further into her wanting to feel every inch of her convulse around him as she finished, and as his release crashed against him until he thought he might drown.
He pulled her against him until their hearts returned to a normal rhythm. He ran his fingers through her silky hair.
“Now, that was amazing,” she said against his chest. “I hate to make you get out of my bed, but now you really need to go.”
He turned them so they were both on their sides facing each other. “I have some friends coming over tomorrow night to play poker. Well, actually I guess it’s really today. Can I see you again…tomorrow?” He wanted to see her today, tonight, and tomorrow. What was happening to him?
“I’d like that, but I’ll have Landon.” She traced the edge of his jaw.
As much as he wanted her hands all over him, he eased her hand away from his face, and kissed her fingers. “Landon can come too.” He might have to work on a reliable, safe babysitter. “Don’t show me out. It’s cold. I’ll come by after my shift at the General.”
She sat up and gathered the blankets around her. She looked beautiful in the dim light from the moon with her hair falling in waves. “I hope you win at poker.”
“Thanks.” But he may have won at something else far better.
****
Chase opened the door to Deke and Max standing on his front porch. They pushed past him into the hallway.
“Christ, it’s cold out there.” Max knocked his booted feet on the tile and rubbed his hands together. His striped knit cap sat back on his almost shaven head, and his flannel coat flapped opened.
“Button your damn coat, then.” He stuck his head out the door to catch a quick glimpse at Raine’s place. Her beat-up Camry was in the carport where it belonged. A sense of ease lay across his shoulders. He closed the door keeping the freezing air outside.
Deke unbuttoned his double-breasted wool coat he’d bought in a second-hand shop because he thought it made him look like Sylvester Stallone in the eighties and hung it on the hook. “I told him he doesn’t know how to dress for winter on the east coast, but he doesn’t listen to me. Here.” He handed over a case of Heineken.
“Stop acting like my momma. I don’t need you to tell me how to dress.” Max made his way into the kitchen as if he’d been in the house a thousand times before.
“Shit. If you’d listen to me, you might get with the ladies once in a while.” Deke yelled after Max.
The laughter bounced off the walls and sounded like music to his soul. He’d missed hanging with these guys. “Thanks for driving up.” They had to have spent eight hours coming from the last operation. “At least you got here ahead of the storm.”
The weather forecasters still talked about a big storm on the way. They were predicting the later part of next week, but meteorologists were never right. He’d been wrong only once in his line of work and it has cost him everything. He wanted a job where he could be wrong most of the time. Even at the General Store he couldn’t screw up too much and not get Jim pissed at him.
The phone rang, and heat spread across his chest. Maybe it was Raine saying she was lying naked in her bed thinking of him. He shook his head. She was a mother who took care of her son. She wasn’t lying around thinking of him.
“I have to take this.” He shouted into the kitchen and turned into the front room where the extra phone sat on a small table. “Shepherd.”
“Chase, it’s Bob Masone down at the ranger station.”
“Hey, Bob. What did you find?” He’d asked Bob for a list of registered campers for the month of January.
“Well, I hope you’re wrong about the fellow you spoke to. I don’t have anyone fitting his description registered to camp. Just Jim and Cindy Marshall. They come out every January for two weeks. I gave a call to Jim to keep an eye out for anyone putting up camp because I’ll go in and drag them out without the proper paperwork. Do you think I’ve got a problem on my hands? I’m short staffed this month. I’ll have to call the county for help.”
He didn’t know what kind of trouble the guy with the man-bun was drumming up, but he didn’t want Bob to worry. “Maybe the weather scared him off.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. But thanks for the heads
up. I’ll let you know if he ever shows.”
“Thanks, Bob.”
What was Man-Bun up to? Why the story about the camping trip? Or was he just some guy who didn’t care about the rules, and wanted the adventure? But any prudent camper would want someone to know his location. Especially this time of year when the weather played a huge role in survival. He’d check around town if anyone else had seen this guy. He should stop in at the school to make sure he hadn’t returned.
He joined Deke and Max in the kitchen. They sat around the table drinking beer, eating chips, and betting money they didn’t have. They reminisced about old operations, bad girlfriends, and plenty of their antics over the years. He eased back in the chair and let the comfortable feeling float around him.
“So, Chase, you ready to do that birthday party detail with us? Easy money, man.” Deke tossed his chips into the growing pile in the center of the table.
“How far away is it?”
“We got him.” Max fist-pumped the air.
“Hang on a second.” He sat up straighter. Some of that easy feeling faded away. “I haven’t agreed to anything yet. Where is it? Who’s it for? How many hours? And what’s the drill?” He needed the specifics first before he went back on his promise to himself. He’d already broken the promise of no more women, and now he couldn’t get the image out of his head of Raine above him rocking his world. Okay, he didn’t really want to.
Deke opened another beer. “Simple. The party is in a candy factory in New York City next weekend. It’s for the daughter of some pop star the kids all love. He’s going to have a bunch of his friends there and they want the extra detail in case some fans storm the place or create a crowd outside. We’re basically going to stand around doing nothing because all those musicians travel with their own entourage.”
Seemed easy enough. Deke was right about them probably being extra hands more for show than anything else. “I won’t carry.” He may still go to the gun range to practice, and to help Raine, but he no longer wished to carry a gun on the job. Deke would have to understand that.
“You’ve got to get back in the saddle. The past is the past. You were cleared. You are the best shot, and the best team leader I know, man. Don’t let one dumb mistake take your life from you.” Max tossed his cards on the table and scratched at his buzz cut hair.