by Johnson, Cat
The distant roar of a car engine brought me back to myself enough to realize we were still outside. I pulled my mouth from hers long enough to speak.
“Do you want to take this inside?”
At her jerky nod, I wrapped my hands around her thighs and lifted her. Her legs wound around my hips, and I turned and strode back inside, kicked the door shut behind me and pinned her against the nearest wall.
My head bent once more to recapture her lips, and I rocked my hips into her, letting her feel the extent of my arousal. Her finger tangled into my hair, and her throaty moan spurred me on. I took a sideways step, heard a crash and wondered briefly what had fallen. Tightening my grip, I spun and took us into the living room, devouring her mouth as I walked, aiming for the general location of the couch and tumbled her onto it, coming down above her.
My hand found the hem of her dress and I slid my palm up the silky expanse of thigh. She shifted restlessly, her own hands smoothing over my shoulders, up my neck, and spearing into my hair.
“Wood.” My name on her lips was a plea, one I wasn’t going to deny.
I kissed a path down her throat, followed the neckline of her dress down over the curve of her breast and paused to lift my head.
Her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted, throat arched, and I’d never seen anything so fucking beautiful in my life.
“Dress. Off,” I grunted, peeling off my shirt as I spoke. I needed her hands on my skin almost as much as I needed my mouth on hers.
Her hands dropped from my hair and slowly, excruciatingly slowly, drew her dress up, revealing creamy skin, pale pink panties, a toned stomach with a navel piercing and up over breasts … breasts tipped with little pink nipples which had my mouth watering for a taste.
“Fuck,” I breathed and lowered my head to take one between my lips. Her back arched, lifting her breasts to meet me.
My tongue flicked across one taut peak before nipping at it with my teeth. My other hand was already finding its way between her legs, beneath her panties and into a wet heat that almost undid me right there.
Her hips jerked, a soft gasp breaking free from her, as I pushed a finger into her. My thumb found her clit, and stroked.
“Wood!”
“Again. Say my name again.” My demand was low and rough. I loved the sound of my name on her lips. When she complied, I sucked her nipple back into my mouth and added a second finger, pumping in and out, driving her arousal higher.
Her body tensed, arched, back bowing, and her fingers clawed at my shoulders, biting deep. I welcomed the sting, relished the thought that my touch was driving her over the edge.
I kissed my way down her body, gave her piercing a gentle tug with my teeth, and then moved down lower until I could peel off her panties and bury my face between her thighs. The first stroke of my tongue over her clit made her cry out and clutch at my hair, and she attempted to haul me back up.
“Patience. I want to taste you.” And that’s exactly what I did, until she was panting and cursing my name, begging for me to let her come. “Christ, you’re so fucking wet. Do you want me inside you?”
“Yes!” Tami almost screamed my name, yanking on my hair in her frustration.
I chuckled, the sound thick with my own arousal.
“Now, Wood!” she demanded.
How could I refuse her? Easing my fingers out of her, I rose up and pulled off my pants. She was dragging me back down onto her before they’d left my legs. Her fingers curled around my erection and I almost came right there.
“Fuck ... wait ... fuck!” I gritted my teeth, covered her hand with mine to slow her movements before I completely lost it, and pressed against her, felt myself push inside, her body adapting to my invasion.
Tami’s legs moved, hooking around my hips, and the angle forced me deeper until I was completely seated inside her body. We both froze, and our eyes met. And I could see it, right there, in her gaze. She felt it too. This connection. Our bodies were flush, breast to breast, hip to hip, no space between us.
And then she moved … just her hand. It curved over my ass; her nails dragging over my sensitized skin, and I groaned.
“God, you feel so good.”
“Fuck me, Wood,” she whispered.
My hips rocked forward, a willing slave to her wishes. I wanted to take it slow, savor the way she felt beneath me, surrounding me, but Tami wouldn’t have any of it. Her nails urged me deeper, until I was slamming into her and she was arching up to meet every thrust.
My whole body was shuddering, and I could feel my orgasm approaching, but there was no way—no fucking way—I was going to come before she did. My fingers found her clit, teased it in time with my thrusts. I nipped and sucked at her nipples, and heard it in her voice when she fell over the edge. The way her body clenched around me sent me free falling after her.
My head dropped against her shoulder, my heartbeat racing in my ears. Had I ever felt so good? I didn’t think so.
“I think I’m going to keep you,” I whispered.
She gave a weak laugh, and after a few seconds, I joined her.
Epilogue
Wood
One Year Later
I gnawed at my thumbnail, my eyes on the doors. Where the fuck was she? People were getting restless. I could hear them talking, whispering, and I knew what they were saying.
They rushed into it.
It’ll never last.
“She’s outside.” My best friend, Cole Spencer, leaned in close to whisper in my ear.
The music started, the doors swung open, and there she was.
A vision in white.
My heart stuttered to a stop as I watched her move toward me. Behind her, my sister walked, resplendent in a jade dress. She caught my eye and gave me a thumbs up. And then Tami was beside me. I reached out with shaking hands to lift the veil.
“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind.”
She grinned up at me. “What? And let everyone say I told you so?”
I laughed. “I love you.”
Tami tilted her head, eyes glowing. “I know. I love you, too.”
“I knew I picked the right girl,” Phoebe cut in, taking Tami’s bouquet from her, and reminding us we weren’t alone. “You have no idea how many girls I interviewed before I found her. But I knew … knew she would be the one for you.”
About the Author
If you are looking for gentle romps through the flowers, with lovers holding hands and never making mistakes, then L. Ann’s books are not for you. She doesn’t write heroes or heroines, she writes people with baggage, history and problems. Her characters are flawed, they're messy, and they often make disastrous mistakes that are hard to come back from. Her stories can be sweet and kind, but more often they are sarcastic and, at times, cruel. They deal with uncomfortable subjects and she makes no apology for it. So if you like plot twists, characters you don't think you'll ever grow to love but eventually do, sarcasm, dark paths and messy relationships, then come on in. The water may be deep and shark-infested, but she knows the way out ...honest!
https://lannauthor.com
https://lannauthor.com/keep-in-touch
Back To You
Cynthia Terelst
Could you survive 10 days in a car with the person who destroyed your faith in love?
1
Chloe
“I’m nearly there,” I said to Sam as I turned onto her street. The leafy trees arched across the road. Dappled light filtered through the thick canopy.
She laughed. “Late as usual.”
“I’ll be pulling into the driveway any second now.” I imagined her rolling her eyes.
“I’ve packed everything you and Rex will need: water and food bowl, food and his bed.”
I turned into the windy driveway and made my way to the house.
“Thanks for bringing Rex. I can’t imagine getting married without my second-best friend.”
“Lucky you said second. Because only your best friend
would drive your scared-of-flying dog over 3000km for your wedding.”
She laughed. “Trust me, it was easier to get him up here than get all of Rob’s family down there.”
“Corey knows we’re not driving straight there? That I want to stop and do things along the way?”
Silence. Unusual from my best friend.
One last bend and the brick house came into sight. What the fuck? The man standing next to Rex on the porch was not Corey. He began to raise his hand in greeting. I slammed on the brakes. His hand stopped.
“Sam?” My voice shook.
“Yes?”
I needed to get out of there.
Without thinking, I put the car in reverse. What was I doing? I couldn’t just leave. I needed to pick up Rex.
I stared at the man and golden retriever. They stared right back.
“Chloe?” Sam’s cautious voice asked.
“Why is Alex here?” My heart beat fast.
“So you can give him a lift. Remember, I said the flights were booked out?”
I clenched my teeth and took a deep breath. I remembered the conversation word for word. She asked if I could take her brother with me. She never said which brother.
“You led me to believe I’d be taking Corey.” I tried to keep my voice calm but it had a distinct edge.
“No, I didn’t. You believed that.”
“You never corrected me.”
“Semantics.”
“Don’t fucking semantics me.”
Alex was talking to Rex, scratching his favourite spot behind his ears. I tried to drag my eyes away from Alex. I tried not to notice how good he looked. How his jeans hugged his thighs and his t-shirt stretched across his chest. I imagined the sight if he turned around. The way his jeans would—
I directed my attention to Rex, who was waiting patiently, his bum parked firmly, looking between Alex and the car. Alex produced his phone and his fingers moved across the screen.
I couldn’t believe my best friend would do this to me. She knew how I felt about her older brother.
“Alex wants to know if you’re actually going to drive the rest of the way to the house.”
I gave him the finger. I regretted that she couldn’t see it as well.
Sam tapped on her phone screen, her nails making rapping sounds like machine gun fire. Was she texting him?
“Five years, and that’s how you greet me?” Alex’s voice came through my speaker.
She freaking added him to our call.
“Yeah, well, it was better than running you over.”
“Come on, Chlo.”
His deep voice still had the same effect after all these years. My stomach leapt like a surfer’s did when catching a big wave. First, my best friend lied to me. Then, my body betrayed me.
Stuff it. We were all adults here. I put the car in drive and drove the last ten metres.
“I’ll see you in ten days. I can’t guarantee Alex will survive the trip.” I disconnected the call.
Getting out of the car, I didn’t even acknowledge Alex’s presence. Well, I didn’t personally acknowledge him, but every cell in my body was on red alert. I strode past him and stopped at Rex, who looked up at me with his warm brown eyes and lolling tongue.
“I’m good. Thanks, Chloe. How about you?”
Like you give a shit. You didn’t five years ago.
I kept my mouth shut. I knew that would irk him more. Instead, I reached my hand out to Rex and gave him a pat. Thank God I had Rex with me. He would help keep me calm.
I packed Rex’s things into the boot of the car. Alex made his way over to me with his bags and smiled. That same freaking smile he used when I amused him.
“Ten days is a long time not to speak to me.”
Alex dumped his bags in the boot, walked over to the passenger door and opened it.
“Excuse me,” I said, giving him the sarcasm he so dearly wanted, “that’s Rex’s seat.”
His brown eyes rose to mine as he considered me.
“In you go, Rex.” I pointed to the seat. Rex obediently jumped in, turned around twice and sat. I smiled with satisfaction, until he jumped into the back seat and stretched out.
2
Alex
The expression on Chloe’s face was priceless. I expected her to stomp her foot like she used to, but she just huffed and got into the car. I couldn’t help chuckling. Her clenched jaw told me it wasn’t a smart move.
This was Sam’s idea, me joining Chloe for the drive north. Sam believed being stuck in a car together for ten days would help us rebuild what we once had. By Chloe’s reaction, I wasn’t sure ten days would be enough. Maybe I didn’t deserve a second chance. What I’d done was a dick move.
I needed to get her talking. I needed a safe subject. As we drove north along the coast road, I looked out towards the surfers. Surfing was definitely not a safe subject.
“Where’s our first stop?”
One second. Two seconds. Was she going to answer? I was patient. Patience was necessary in my line of work.
She sighed, her chest expanding. I noticed how her curves had softened. I wanted to run my hands over them, learn all the new things about her body.
I tore my eyes away.
“Kalbarri,” she said.
“What are we doing there?”
I expected her to say we aren’t doing anything.
“Rex is booked in with a dog sitter tomorrow. We’re going on a hike and canoe tour in the national park.”
“That sounds great.”
Rex snored in the back seat. We both turned to glance at him. Chloe smiled. The exact same smile she wore in the photo I had of her in my wallet. The photo I’d looked at every day for the past five years. Her blue eyes locked with mine briefly. My heart thumped. I wanted to get lost in those eyes, in her.
Chloe frowned and looked away.
This was my one shot. I needed to make it count.
“What else do you have planned?”
“Snorkelling on the Ningaloo Reef, Staircase to the Moon in Broome—”
“That only happens three days a month, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, we’ll make it on time for the last day.”
“You can’t pull a Chloe then and be late.”
I could tell by the way she clutched the steering wheel that she didn’t appreciate my humour.
We talked on and off through the six-hour drive. Sometimes it flowed easily, other times not so much. Whenever I asked personal questions, like where she lived while at university, her answers were curt.
When we got to the caravan park, she pulled the tent out of the boot. I went over to help her erect it while Rex sat and watched.
She dismissed me by saying, “Rex and I are sleeping here. You can sleep in the car.”
Yep, I had lots of work to do to break through her barrier.
3
Chloe
Rex and I exited the tent. I’d had a restless night knowing Alex was only metres away in the car. I did feel a little bad that I hadn’t let him sleep with us. But being that close to him after five years scared me. I didn’t know if anger would overtake me, as it had over the years, or if my body wouldn’t be able to resist him.
Alex was standing by the car with his back to us, wearing only a pair of shorts. His close-cropped blonde hair glistened. He’d already showered. I guess army life did that to a person; they became regimented. I stared at his body as I had many a time when hormones had taken over as a teen and I’d learnt the opposite sex was something to admire. Alex had been something to admire. And he still was. His arse filled his shorts nicely. I appreciated that.
The morning light highlighted the scars on his back as he stretched. He was probably trying to soothe his muscles from his cramped sleeping position. Guilt hit me. I’d made a man injured in the service of our country sleep in a car.
Oh well, it was better than killing him. Or having sex with him.
Rex ran to Alex, whose hand immediately went down to
pat his head.
“Good morning,” he said, turning to me. He acted like he was surprised we were there. But I knew he knew. Soldiers, in particular snipers, had well trained ears.
I gulped as I took in the rest of his body. It was spectacular—tanned wide shoulders, toned stomach, slim waist. Even more so than in our teenage years when we’d surfed together…and did much more together. Knowing my eyes had lingered too long, I blushed.
“Enjoying the view?” he asked, giving me a crooked smile.
“I’m going to shower.” I strode past him. Rex went to follow but Alex called him back.
I chastised myself. I may have been grateful and maybe guilty that he slept in the car, but that didn’t mean I forgave him. I needed to remember that.
And it didn’t mean I should behave like a desperate woman.
Walking back to the campsite, I tied my blond hair in a pony tail. Alex was sitting on one of the camp chairs. “I’ve taken Rex to the office for the pet sitter to collect. And brought you a sandwich for breakfast.” He indicated to the paper bag on the other chair.
“Thanks.”
I put my toiletries away and sat down to eat my sandwich—ham, cheese and tomato, my favourite—while we waited for the tour bus.
Half an hour later, I stared out of the window of the bus. Vibrant red dirt and sparse trees rushed by while Alex spoke to some of the passengers. One older couple with grey hair and glasses paid particular attention to him. I did too, but pretended not to. I had my earphones in but they weren’t on.
“When you leave the army, acclimatising to civilian life will be hard at first,” the man said.
“Yes. I’m sure my family will help when the time comes.”
“And your lady here will help, too,” the man’s wife said.