by Lora Leigh
“I hate to say this,” she wheezed. “That’s not a hard-on, Rowdy. That’s a baseball bat.”
His snorted chuckle vibrated against her back, and only pressed his erection closer against her rear. She stiffened further.
“Want me to move? I’m pretty comfortable right now.”
Oh, she just bet he was. She forced herself to breathe deeply, to push back the panic threatening, building in her mind. This was Rowdy and he wouldn’t hurt her now.
“You’re thinking it to death,” he murmured and he rubbed his chin against her hair. “Scared?”
“Of your baseball bat?” She fought for humor rather than hysteria. “I don’t know, Rowdy, I hear you’re pretty fond of it. Lots of practice and all.”
She felt his hand move, his fingers running over hers, sending tingling spirals of heat to build beneath them.
“You’re a little minx,” he growled at her ear, a velvet-soft sound that rippled through her senses. “That wasn’t very nice.”
A grin tugged at her lips at his chastising tone. She relaxed against him, feeling her body conform to his, settling against hard muscle and aroused heat.
“I’m not nice, remember?” Her eyes closed as he chuckled at her back. It was an old argument going back years before. It usually occurred whenever she told him what lousy taste he had in women, and pointed out their faults in vivid detail.
“I do remember.” His lips smoothed over the top of her head, the caress sending trailing fingers of pleasure to wash through her body. The slightest caress, no matter how subtle, had the power to make her tremble. “You have a mean wit sometimes, Kelly.”
She gave an amused snort at that. “I just didn’t care to tell you the truth, Rowdy.”
His girlfriends weren’t exactly the kind of woman he brought home to dinner. As a matter of fact, he had never brought a woman home to dinner. Kelly would never have been able to tolerate that. She wondered if he had known that.
“Do you remember when you were seventeen, and you bought that scrap of material you called a bathing suit?” he mused softly.
She remembered the bathing suit, bought specifically in the hope of teasing him past the control she always hated so much.
“I didn’t think you noticed.” She turned her head, staring up at him, close.
His eyes were darker, tiny pinpoints of emerald glittered in the sea green iris, mesmerizing her, filling her vision. And his lips. Her eyes darted to his lips, so close. And she knew how they felt rubbing against her own, firm and warm, stoking fires inside her she hadn’t imagined existed.
“I noticed,” he whispered, his voice rougher now. “All summer. I think my cock still has the imprint of my zipper on it.”
His hand stroked up her arm, his palm creating a heated friction that had her nerves prickling with awareness. She could still feel his erection like heated iron resting against the crevice of her rear, but his lips drew her.
“Are you going to kiss me again, Rowdy? Anytime soon?”
“Maybe.” The seductive croon had a shiver racing through her.
“When?” Now would be a good time.
“When do you want me to?” His hand slid from her arm to her stomach and rested there.
She felt his fingers, long, broad, resting against her, with nothing between them. And they were moving, slowly easing above her hips, passing her abdomen until his hand rested on the bare flesh of her midriff.
“Now.” God, if he didn’t kiss her she was going to die from the need of it. “You distracted me last night. I didn’t get to feel it real good.”
“My little Lolita.” His lips lowered, brushed against hers. “How long have you been teasing me now?”
“Since I was nine?” She breathed a laugh against his lips.
The first day she had seen him. He had been as handsome as sin and a god in her eyes when he saved her from a bully in that park.
“Hmm. I was fifteen. You were the sweetest little girl. Staring up at me with those big gray eyes so full of tears because that bully had taken your hair bow.”
“And you got my hair bow back.” She was panting for breath, her lips brushing his with each word.
“I got your hair bow back.”
He took her breath. His lips captured hers in an all too brief, fiery kiss. No tongue, no more than a taste of him on her lips before he drew back.
“Rowdy…” She reached for him, needing more, aching for more. “That’s not fair.”
His fingers played against her midriff, rubbing in slow sensual circles, creating little starbursts of sensation that exploded in her sex. Her nipples were on fire, begging to be touched, caressed. His hands were so close, the heat of them warming the tight, aching mounds.
She stilled against him as his hips shifted against her rear once again.
“I’m not scared of you,” she whispered, staring into his eyes, fighting to keep her own open. “I’ve never been scared of you, Rowdy.”
“Yeah, you are,” he whispered, his eyes darkening. “I can see it in your eyes, in your face.” A somber smile touched his lips. “But that’s okay, baby, you won’t be scared for long.”
She opened her lips to speak, then stared at him in astonishment as he rolled from the bed and flashed her a wicked smile. A teasing smile, before bending over and picking up his discarded sweats. He pulled them over his legs, covering his nakedness and the full, engorged length of his erection.
Kelly rolled to her back, propping herself on her elbows and staring at him as he moved to the bottom of the bed. He was so obviously aroused it made her mouth water. His cock pressed against the sweatpants with implicit demand, a thick length of steel-hard flesh that she ached for.
“I don’t like being teased like that,” she pouted. “Come back here and kiss me properly.”
“You don’t deserve it yet.” His voice was a dark croon, his expression arrogant, certain. Smug.
“I don’t deserve it?” Disbelief warred with amusement. “I’ve been of age for at least six years now, Rowdy. Ready, willing and able. And”—she stretched her legs out slowly, looking at him from beneath lowered lids—“I think I’ve waited too long. You didn’t give me a chance to fully enjoy it last night.”
His eyes narrowed, a seductive droop of the eyelids, the exceptional green eyes glittering from between heavy black lashes.
“Oh, I agree.” His voice lowered, his hands gripping the railed footboard of the bed, his fingers curling around it, clenching. “We’ve waited too long, Kelly. Now, let’s see how bad you want it.” He winked slowly. “Better shower, baby, I think you’re due at the marina this afternoon. I’ll take you in on the Harley.”
And just as easily as that he turned and sauntered to the bedroom door. He didn’t look back, didn’t pause. He opened the door and left the bedroom, his broad, bare shoulders straight and strong. Too damned sexy for his own good.
Dammit.
Mackay’s Marina was one of the smaller ones, specializing in rentals and mechanical servicing. Some berths were leased out, and the attached restaurant and convenience store added to the overall “one stop” friendly atmosphere of the landing.
Mackay’s Marina had begun with Rowdy’s grandfather, Joseph Mackay, and then under Ray Mackay’s guidance had turned into a thriving, yearlong enterprise. One he wanted to turn over to Rowdy as soon as his son was willing.
The bait shop and sporting goods section of the main buildings were separated from the store and restaurant by the main office. Kelly’s mother had put in the convenience store and additional gas pumps after their marriage on the condition that part of the enterprise go to Kelly once they retired. It was an agreement Ray and Rowdy had accepted easily.
Kelly was ringing up the variety of goods that old man Tanner and his son Ricky had picked up, when she saw Rowdy and Dawg walk into the main room. Natches had just left a few minutes ago after spending nearly an hour flirting and straightening the shelves at the side of the room.
She would have bee
n a fool not to notice that the careful restraint in his demeanor toward her had changed. He watched her now with a subtle interest; a promise unique to the Mackay boys. She knew their moves, and knew the instant he walked in the room that he was no longer simply watching over her as he and Dawg had done in the past year. The additional element of desire was no longer hidden from her.
“Kelly girl, you need to put these fishing rods on sale.” Ken Tanner’s scowl was fierce, his brown eyes eagle-bright. Wisps of gray hair stood on end over his head, and his lined face was normally fierce, though he had a heart of gold.
“I’ll tell Ray, Ken. But you know how he is. That will be $14.62.”
She took the money from him, ignoring his son. Ricky was a shifty-eyed little prick who took pleasure in poking at others’ weaknesses. Thankfully, he reined it in while his father was around.
As she counted out his change, she caught sight of Rowdy moving behind the counter while Dawg started straightening some of the higher shelves across the room. Dawg had spent his summers working at the marina before he left high school. For him, Rowdy, and Natches, it was almost automatic to work when they were hanging around.
“Hey, babe.” She stiffened as Rowdy moved behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “Tired yet?”
She felt the flush that suffused her face as Ricky’s gaze became frankly assessing and old man Tanner grinned in delight.
“Rowdy Mackay. Boy, it’s about time you came home. You just visiting or staying?” Ken’s raspy voice boomed through the store.
“Hello, Ken. Ricky.” He moved to the counter, shaking the gnarled hand reaching out to him. The older man’s hand was a pale, weak extension when clasped in Rowdy’s strong, darkly tanned hands. “I’m home to stay this time.”
“Well, it’s about time.” He nodded firmly, his knowing gaze shifting to Kelly for a long second, a hint of compassion entering his eyes. “You going to take care of our girl here?”
“Ken!” Her face flamed hotter at the question as she chastised him.
“Like all of us ain’t watched you twitching around him since you were too young to know what a twitch was.” He snorted, frowning back at her. “Don’t you be playing dumb, girl. Just ’cause I’m old don’t make me blind.”
She ignored Rowdy’s chuckle as she quickly bagged the items Ken had bought and handed them across the counter.
“I hope you catch lots of fish, Ken,” she gritted out between her clenched teeth, pasting a facsimile of a smile on her face.
She was as fond as she could be of the old man, but he wasn’t one to mince words.
His snicker was amused, kindly. “It’s all in the bait, girl. It’s all in the bait.” He nodded to Rowdy with one of the few smiles Kelly had ever seen out of him. “Let’s go, Ricky.” He nudged at his son, heading toward the lake-side door. “See you later, Rowdy.”
“Later, Ken.” As he spoke, Kelly felt his hand settle in the small of her back, his fingers rubbing in tiny circles over the loose cotton shirt she wore.
“Stop that,” she hissed, turning on him as Ken and Ricky left the building, the glass door whishing shut behind them.
She pushed his hand away, propped her hands on her hips, and glared up at his smiling face as he crossed his arms over his chest and smiled wickedly back at her.
“You’re just going to make me pout if you start refusing my pitiful advances, Kelly,” he sighed. “And here I stayed awake all night last night with a numb arm just so you could sleep comfortable.”
Dawg’s snicker was clearly heard.
“Dumb and dumber,” she muttered, though she couldn’t keep the smile from her face as he reached out to run the backs of his fingers over the side of her neck. Shivers raced through her at the small caress. And it wasn’t fear. She could feel the pleasure suffusing her body, dampening the flesh between her thighs.
It was disconcerting. She had spent months with the fear that she would never be able to enjoy Rowdy’s touch again. That the desires he had filled her with, the needs and fantasies, would be swamped with the fear. The knowledge that they were coming back, perhaps stronger than ever was at once nerve-racking and comforting.
“It’s almost closing time. I thought we’d help you close up. Then we take all that Chinese food I have out in the cycle’s saddlebag and have dinner before we head out on the lake.” He pushed her hair back from her shoulder as he spoke, his fingers lingering on the shell of her ear for long seconds after he finished.
From the corner of her eye she saw Dawg locking the lake-side doors and hanging up the Closed sign.
“Ray will skin you alive.” She shook her head, though she couldn’t still the smile on her lips. “Summer hours are longer now, Rowdy. I still have an hour.”
“I asked Dad first.” He moved back, his expression intent, sexy. “Better yet, Dawg can finish up for you. Come on, Kelly, sneak away with me.”
Sneak away with him? How many times had she dreamed of hearing him say those words? She would have snuck out with him, anytime, any place.
“Go on, Kelly.” Dawg lent his approval to the idea. “I’ll close up shop here and help Ray and your mom outside before I leave.”
As Rowdy’s first cousin, and the oldest by several months, Dawg had usually led the pranks the Nauti Boys had gotten into. The three men had been hell on wheels through their high school years.
She breathed in deeply, her hands sliding from her hips to her jeans pockets as she glanced up at Rowdy again.
“You know you want to,” he whispered with a wink. “Come on, I even spent the day airing out the boat and getting her ready.”
The Nauti Buoy was his pride and joy, not to mention his weekend home. He and his friends spent their summers on the water, normally in the houseboats they had acquired over the years. Their title, the Nauti Boys, had come as much from the names of their boats as from their sexual practices.
“Okay.” She gripped her courage with both hands and gave him a short nod. “I haven’t had Chinese in a while.”
She hadn’t eaten out much period, preferring to stay in the house when she was home rather than forcing herself to pretend a security she didn’t feel. It terrified her, not knowing who her attacker was. If he was a friend or a stranger, someone she trusted or would have trusted.
“Good,” he said, his voice warm, approving as she moved past him, tugging at the hem of her oversized shirt before one of his big hands caught one of hers.
Warmth surrounded her fingers, fed into her bloodstream, and sent heat surging through her system. Adrenaline spiked the wave of warmth, fed it into her tightening nipples, her swollen clit.
“We’ll catch you on the lake later, Dawg.”
“I’ll give you a call before I head out.” Dawg nodded as they moved past him, his eyes narrowed, the brilliant green glittering behind the spiked lashes surrounding them. They held the same teasing warmth and sensual promise that Natches’s had earlier.
“Come on.”
She followed Rowdy as he moved through the main marina office, waving to her mother as he opened the door and escorted her through it. She wondered if she looked as confused as she felt.
Stilling her emotions and her equilibrium after waking up with him that morning had been hard enough. She had been nervous, her fingers shaking, her stomach clenching each time she thought of waking up beside him, feeling him surrounding her, his erection pressing into her rear. That had been the most disconcerting part. She should have been frightened. The psychologist had told her she would likely be frightened the first time she tried intimate relations after the near-rape. That the intimacy of allowing a man to touch her, to hold her, might be difficult to get through.
It hadn’t been. He had made her more aroused than frightened. And in ways, that was more frightening than the fear of his touch. Everyone had told her for months that being touched would be difficult for her, but being touched by Rowdy had been a dream come true.
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�You think too much sometimes,” Rowdy announced as he collected the bags of Chinese food from the steel saddlebags mounted to the side of the motorcycle.
“I can walk and chew gum at the same time too.” She rolled her eyes at him, feeling his hand at the small of her back again.
In the past twenty-four hours he had touched her more than he had in the last ten years. Of course he hadn’t been home for the better part of those ten years, but it wasn’t as though the opportunity hadn’t been there.
“Why didn’t you go on to college?” he asked as they moved onto the docks. “I expected you to head off right after high school.”
She shrugged at the question. “I took business classes at the tech school. You might get the marina when Ray and Mom retire, but the store and fuel supply are mine,” she reminded him. “They’ll only grow as the traffic on the lake increases, and I wanted to be prepared for it.”
“You say that as though you think I might want to get rid of you.” They turned along the plank, heading for the Nauti Buoy, the fifty-foot sea green and white houseboat.
“Not get rid of me maybe.” She stepped onto the wide porch, moving back as he slid open the glass sliding doors before heading into the dim, air-conditioned comfort of the living room/kitchen.
The shades were all drawn, the lights out. As he closed the door behind them, he pulled the heavy drapes closed over it, sealing them inside the intimate, cool comfort of his home away from home.
“Then what?” he asked as he moved to the small kitchen. “Do you think I wouldn’t want you around, Kelly?”
The wheel column sat in the corner in front of the large shaded window beside the glass doors. A six-foot burgundy couch sat to her side, two matching chairs on the other side of the room, behind the wheel. The kitchen was equipped with a mini refrigerator, chest-type freezer, and narrow four-burner stove with an overhead microwave and oak cabinets. The double sink was narrow, but efficient. Across from the work area a circular table with four cushioned captain’s chairs sat beneath a stained-glass chandelier. Farther along was a small bathroom and shower, berth bed, and a walkout to the back diving area.