Melt For Him

by Lauren Blakely

  “You’re so wet for me,” he said, his voice low and husky, his tone revealing how much he savored everything they had together. The connection, the desire, the love.

  “I love the way you touch me. I love everything about it,” she said, her breathing already turning shallow as he stroked her.

  “The feeling is so completely mutual.” He took her hand, showing her how aroused he was, pressing her palm against his erection, straining the denim of his jeans. He was so thick and hard, and she desperately needed to feel him. She unzipped his pants, slid them down his hips, and took his hard length in her hand. “Seems we’re a good fit,” she murmured. “Now, think you’ve got a condom you could put on right about now? Because I can’t wait anymore for you.”

  He stepped out of his jeans all the way, removed his shirt, and rolled on a condom. He settled between her legs and sank into her. He stilled for a moment, took a deep breath, as if being inside her was sending him to another realm too.

  Then he made love to her, soft and tender, stroking inside her, whispering to her all the things he loved about her, as she whimpered and gasped and thanked the world that they’d both come to their senses, because there was nothing better than this, than him, than them.

  “Come with me now, Becker,” she whispered.

  She wrapped her legs as tightly around him as she could, gripping his hips in her thighs, holding him deep as he groaned and she cried out, and they came together.

  Then, as he held her close in his arms, she turned down his offer to move with her.

  …

  He tensed all over. “You don’t want me to go with you?”

  Hell, he’d been crazy to suggest packing up everything and leaving town. That was kind of presumptuous, wasn’t it?

  “No,” she said with a wild grin, like she had a fantastic secret.

  “Then what?”

  “I’m staying in town.”

  His eyes widened in shock. “You are? But what about Portland? What about the tattoo shop and the job?”

  “I’ll visit Portland. Besides, the reason I dreamed of going was that I didn’t have a place I wanted to stay. I was trying on new towns. Now I do have a place where I want to be. I want to stay here. Hidden Oaks is my home. My mom is here, Travis is here, the bookstore is here, Jamie’s here, my favorite coffee shop is here, and the river is here…” she said, letting her voice trail off in a tease.

  “And? Anything else here that belongs on that list of your favorite things?”

  “And you’re here,” she added, snuggling closer to him. “So I’m staying.”

  “I’m officially the happiest man in the world now,” he said, and all the tension left his body. “But what are you going to do? I want you to be happy.”

  “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

  Epilogue

  FALL

  She’d used many canvasses in the last few months, but Becker’s shoulder was by far her favorite. As she finished the final letter of his ink, she smiled to herself, pleased with her work. He’d been rock-solid in the chair, not flinching and barely tensing as she marked his skin. She hadn’t minded either that he’d been shirtless, though of course she’d seen him clothes-free countless times. Still, the look and feel of his beautiful body had not grown old. In fact, the more she had him, the more of him she wanted.

  Fortunately, they lived together now, so she was able to have him as much as she wanted. She’d bounced around town for a bit, crashing at her mom’s some nights, at other times staying at Jamie’s when Jamie was with Smith. But that had only lasted so long. Becker had wanted her in his home, and that’s where she wanted to be, too.

  “All right. That’s a wrap,” she said, setting down her tools and spinning him a few inches so he could see his first tattoo in the mirror.

  He angled his shoulder slightly to get a better look, and she watched as he took it in. She loved this moment—when clients first saw their tattoos. It was a priceless reaction, and his meant so much to her. Because it was him, and because of what he’d chosen—the initials of his two fallen friends from Chicago.

  He’d moved past the pain that had hobbled him, and now he’d found strength in the memories of those friendships. This was another way to remember them, he’d said when he told her he wanted her to ink him. It had been his idea completely and she was thrilled that he’d come to it on his own, and delighted that she’d get to do it.

  “It’s perfect,” he said softly, with reverence in his voice. She bent over and kissed his hair. “Thank you,” he added.

  “No, thank you for choosing my shop for your first tattoo,” she said, then gestured to the tiny little place she owned and operated in Hidden Oaks. Her mom had been about to expand the café at her bookstore, but since their town was bereft of a tattoo shop, she’d given the additional space to Megan.

  “Mom, I can’t take it. This is your store. Your space,” Megan had said when her mom made the offer.

  “Please. It’s my gift to you. It’s the least I can do.”

  Megan relented, understanding deeply why her mom wanted to do it. “Then I accept this amazing gift.”

  Smith had quickly shifted gears with the construction, turning the unfinished space into a tattoo shop, while Megan moonlighted at her friend’s tattoo parlor in San Francisco. She finished her apprenticeship there, until both she and the shop in her hometown were ready. She created the sign that hung on the window that looked out on the town square. PAINT MY BODY. Every town needed a tattoo shop; this was the first one in Hidden Oaks.

  “As if I’d choose anyplace else but the shop you named for me,” Becker said, leaning back in the chair and reaching for her, roping his arms around her.

  She pointed to the calendar that hung on the wall, open to his month—November—and the shot of him by the river after they’d painted each other. “My inspiration for the name looks at me every day as I work.”

  “Speaking of work, I need to get going. My shift starts soon,” he said as he stood and pulled on his shirt.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow when it’s over.”

  “Yes. You will.”

  He gave her a soft and sweet kiss, the kind that said he’d be coming home to her. As she kissed him back, she was telling him without words that she had all the faith in the world that he’d be walking through the door tomorrow.

  Did you love this Brazen? Check out more of our steamy titles here!

  And for exclusive sneak peeks at our upcoming books, excerpts, contests, chats with our authors and editors, and more…

  Be sure to like us on Facebook

  Follow us on Twitter

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to all my amazing readers, who blow my mind every day with their passion for reading. Thank you to my editors, Stacy and Alycia, who helped me find the true love between Megan and Becker. Thank you to my agent Michelle for her guiding insight.

  The fantastically talented Samanthe Beck read an early draft and provided invaluable insight. I am indebted to my eagle-eye readers Tanya Farrell and Kim Bias for making sure the story was all it could be. My author buddies are my writing family and I adore Jessie Evans, Monica Murphy, Sawyer Bennett, Melody Grace, Violet Duke, Lexi Ryan, and Kendall Ryan.

  To all the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day in the fire service—I am ever grateful for your courage.

  Most of all, thank you to my family for making every day worthwhile.

  And of course, thanks to my pets for being awesome. Dogs rule.

  About the Author

  Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and many of her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA TODAY, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in her novel, Far Too Tempting, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whi
tney.

  www.laurenblakely.com

  Sign up for our Steals & Deals newsletter and be the first to hear about 99¢ releases from Lauren Blakely and other fantastic Entangled authors!

  Reviews help other readers find books. We appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank you for reading!

  Discover Lauren Blakely’s Fighting Fire series…

  BURN FOR ME

  Jamie Lansing has had it bad for firefighter Smith Grayson for as long as they’ve been friends. Yes, he’s ridiculously charming and she might stare a little too long at his abs, but his dirty-talking, rough-around-the-edges ways aren’t for her. But Smith has only ever had eyes for Jamie. When she suggests a week of no-strings-attached sex to get him out of her system, Smith knows this is his one chance to prove he’s not just the man she needs in her bed, but the man she needs in her life.

  Also by Lauren Blakely

  FAR TOO TEMPTING

  CAUGHT UP IN HER

  CAUGHT UP IN US

  PRETENDING HE’S MINE

  PLAYING WITH HER HEART

  TROPHY HUSBAND

  STARS IN THEIR EYES

  FAR TOO TEMPTING

  THE THRILL OF IT

  THE START OF US

  EVERY SECOND WITH YOU

  NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

  AFTER THIS NIGHT

  ONE MORE NIGHT

  If you love sexy romance, one-click these steamy Brazen releases…

  ONE NIGHT OF SCANDAL

  an After Hours novel by Elle Kennedy

  Newly single teacher Darcy Grant is tired of walking the straight and narrow path. She’s on the hunt for passion, and there’s no denying ex-fighter Reed Miller is just the man to give it to her. There’s only one problem—Reed is her ex’s best friend. Now it’s just a matter of setting a few ground rules…and hoping her rule-breaking, sweet-talking bad boy agrees to follow them. But if she lets Reed into her bed, does she stand a chance of keeping him out of her heart?

  CHASING TROUBLE

  a Chasing Love novel by Joya Ryan

  Kindergarten teacher Jenna Justice has lived her life by the book—right school, right career, right image. Too bad the townsfolk of Diamond, Kansas, have a hard time forgetting that she wasn’t born on the right side of the tracks. Away from prying eyes, she allows herself one sizzling, fantasy-filled night with her best friend’s bad boy brother, Colt McCade. His fast-and-loose reputation could cost her everything she’s worked for, but walking away might cost him more...

  TEMPTED BY THE SOLDIER

  a Falling for You novel by Nicolette Day

  The long drive to her friend’s wedding is the perfect opportunity for Lilly Grayson to make sexy Marine Nate Jennings desperate for a taste of what he gave up. And Nate wants a taste—so badly he can barely keep his hands on the wheel. But the ghosts of his last tour still haunt him, and Lilly deserves a man who can love her the way she deserves to be loved. And that can’t be Nate. Not when he’s leaving again in two weeks, and this time, he’s not sure he’ll return…

  RISING ASSETS

  a Maverick Montana novel by Rebecca Zanetti

  Melanie Jacobs’s chances for having a family are shrinking with every passing day. Her only comfort is her best friend, sexy cowboy Colton Freeze, but when a heated argument between them turns into an even hotter kiss, the boundaries of their friendship are blurred. But will their new friends-with-sexy-benefits arrangement destroy everything they once shared?

  CRASH INTO ME

  a Shaken Dirty novel by Tracy Wolff

  After his fame destroyed his last girlfriend, rock star Ryder Montgomery swore he’d never fall in love again. So when Jamison, his best friend’s little sister and the girl he’s been in danger of loving for years, joins his band on the road, he’ll do anything to deny the sparks between them. But Jamison is determined to show Ryder that he’s worthy of love—her love—and that she’s all grown up…and ready to play.

  Introducing Entangled’s newest category romance imprint...Lovestruck!

  MEETING HIS MATCH

  a Match Me novel by Katee Robert

  The last thing Caine McNeill needs is a matchmaker—especially a gorgeous redhead who critiques what he drives and how he dresses, and buys him a dog. But the sexy southern CEO is a challenge Addison St. Claire can’t resist. She recognizes misery when she sees it, and if anyone needs to meet his soul mate, it’s this man. Addison is determined to stick to her plan despite the chemistry flaring between them, but the only woman Caine intends to seduce is her.

  FIANCÉE FOR HIRE

  a Front and Center novel by Tawna Fenske

  Former Marine MacArthur Patton is used to handling top-secret government contracts and black-ops missions, but his new assignment involves something more dangerous—marriage. Enter his little sister’s best friend Kelli Landers. She can’t wait to bring Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Detached to his knees, and her longtime crush on the commitment-phobe makes her plan to seduce him even sweeter. Love wasn’t part of the plan, but soon Mac and Kelli find that more than a weapons deal is on the line…

  TEMPTING HER BEST FRIEND

  a What Happens in Vegas novella by Gina L. Maxwell

  Tired of waiting for her best friend to see her as more, Alyssa Miller heads to Las Vegas for a romance book convention. But when Dillon Alexander realizes his best friend plans to have a one-night stand on her vacation, he hauls ass after her to make sure he’s the one to scratch her itch—commitment issues be damned. Neither of them expects their chemistry to be so explosive, but with a little help, what happens in Vegas might not stay in Vegas…

  SLEEPING WITH THE BOSS

  an Anderson Brothers novel by Marissa Clarke

  Claire Williams is off to see the world, but first, she needs quick cash. A temp job at Anderson Auctions seems perfect, especially with the unexpected benefit of the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes—or hands—on. William Anderson’s military training makes him the perfect man to flush out the spy undercutting his family business, but no amount of time in the Marines could prepare him for the suspicious—and sexy—new temp. Desire lands them in bed…but duty may cost him his heart.