I kept my head down and tried to remain calm. As calm as I could be when my mind knew just how it felt to have Thorn’s tongue explore my mouth.
“Here. Let me give you a hand with that.” His deep voice washed over me like a caress and I ended up dropping the cooler and backing away, afraid of how my body would react if he happened to touch me. “Thanks.”
He bent over to grab the handle and looked up from his near eye-level position with me. His pupils dilated and he made a sound, from the back of his throat, that resembled a choking gasp. “Your, uh… Your skirt keeps flying up.”
I used both hands to hold down the bottom of my skirt, frustrated that I’d chosen to wear it for a night outside. Heat blossomed across my chest and I swore. “Yep. That’s happening.”
He looked around us, at all the people gathered, all the shirtless men milling about. “Hold on a second.”
I watched his muscled, tattooed back disappear into the bar and swallowed hard. He was stunning. If there’d ever been a man who could literally incinerate my panties, it was Thorn. And I hated it. He was so obviously a player. Of course, I was attracted to him.
I groaned and looked up at the darkening sky. There hadn’t been a cloud around all day long. It’d warmed up since my walk that morning, but it was getting cooler again with the sun fading.
“Here. You can tie this around. It should help.”
I took the large flannel shirt from Thorn’s outstretched hand and tied it around my waist, eager to keep from showing my ass to all of Burden. I flashed him a small smile and looked away. “Thanks. I’ll get it back to you tonight.”
“What? You can’t look at me now?” He easily lifted the cooler and walked it towards the makeshift bar at the side of the field.
I blew out a rough breath. “Of course, I can look at you.”
“Then do it.”
I forced myself to look over at him, but seeing his arms stretched taut with the cooler, his muscles flexing, did things to me. I clenched my thighs together and stumbled. More heat took over my neck and face and I was sure everyone around could tell I was blushing and stumbling around like some teenage idiot.
“Smooth.” He put the cooler down and then moved closer to me. His breath washed over my neck and chest as he sighed. “Should I apologize for this morning?”
I made the mistake of looking up at him and met his bright eyes. Those eyes. Instantly entranced, I shifted my body to face his full on and chewed on my bottom lip. “Sure.”
He moved impossibly closer, somehow still not touching me. “Did you enjoy it?”
Of course, I’d enjoyed it. I’d enjoyed it so much that I’d had to go back to the trailer and change panties. I’d never been so stimulated by a kiss in my life. I’d enjoyed it so much that I almost didn’t feel guilty when I thought of Eric, sitting at his desk in his corner office, growing more and more agitated that I wasn’t calling. I’d enjoyed it so much that when Kayla, another waitress, offered to let me use her charger to recharge my phone, I’d refused.
I jumped when Thorn’s big hand landed on my hip. Even through the fabric of my shirt, it felt like fire. I blinked a few times and tried to remember why I was saying no to him. “I have a fiancé.”
Something darkened in his eyes and he backed away. “So you said.”
I watched him jog back to the other side of the field and then shook myself out of it. No matter what, I wasn’t hooking up with Thorn. Sleeping with the boss was a one-way street to getting fired and being back in my car. I wasn’t ready to end my trip. I should’ve known better than to let another man kiss me while I was sort of engaged to Eric. I wasn’t behaving any better than the men who’d hurt me.
I didn’t know how to forget the way he’d made me feel that morning, though. It hadn’t felt like a simple kiss. It had felt like Thorn was capturing a part of me, or something equally inappropriate. To feel that kind of attachment after one kiss was insane. Impossible. Yet…I’d spent my entire day thinking about Thorn, feeling the same familiarity and belonging to him that I felt to his bar. It was driving me nuts. There shouldn’t have been anything. He was an attractive man, sure, but I wasn’t a boy-crazy school girl having a first crush. Admiring his sexy physique was one thing, but the wild lust that I felt when I looked at him? Certifiably nuts!
Abram showed up while I was lost in thought and gave me a hand setting up the table for the night. The game started shortly after, two teams of guys I didn’t recognize tearing up the field. I watched while passing out beers and taking money.
The game was intense. The men didn’t hold back their aggression. They took the opposing teams down with enough force to seriously injure. Yet, time and time again, the players kept getting up and going again. I didn’t know how they were doing it.
“It’s not as tough as it looks.”
I turned to find a man I didn’t recognize staring down at me with interest. Something about the way he held himself put me on alert, too much confidence oozing out of his pores like oil of narcissism.
His eyes travelled my body, leaving an almost palpable trail of ick behind. “Taking hits like that isn’t hard. Especially not when you’re taking them from pussies like Thorn and his pals.”
I looked over to where the guys were lining up, getting ready to head out onto the field themselves. “You think those men are pussies?”
The slimy stranger combed his hair back with his fingers in a way that I could tell was practiced and nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
I took in his sleeveless shirt, jersey shorts, and tennis shoes. He wasn’t dressed much differently than the guys playing, he didn’t look different, but there was something about him that bothered me and made him stink with ugly. “Do you need a beer or…”
He grinned. “That the only way I’m going to get you to talk to me? Buy one of Hawthorn’s cheap beers?”
I raised my eyebrows and put my hands on my hips. “You’ve got a problem with the beer?”
“Here. Take this and keep the change. You go ahead and have the beer yourself, if you’re thirsty. My treat.” He handed me a twenty and then, when I didn’t take it, shoved it into the pocket on the front of my apron. “Let’s talk about something other than those idiots. When did you get into town?”
I was going to lose my shit on him. As stressed as I already was with my lust for Thorn growing by the minute, I couldn’t handle some jerk being all weird with me. “You want a beer, I’ll sell you a beer. You want to talk, go find a therapist. I’m working here. And, take your twenty back. I’m not accepting tips tonight.”
11
Hawthorne
“Fucking Kyle Barns is talking to your new girl.” Wyatt shook his head and popped his knuckles. “It looks like she’s giving him a hard time, though.”
I didn’t need his commentary. I’d seen Kyle approach her and was struggling with the urge to run over and bash his face into the table in between them. I’d crushed a football with one hand when I saw him slip the tips of his fingers into her apron. I knew she could take care of herself, but I was feeling like I was about to go ballistic, I wanted to go to her so bad.
I watched as they talked more and then Allie tossed the money he’d slipped into her apron at his face. It bounced off Kyle’s nose and landed between them on the table. Kyle’s back grew stiff as he leaned down with his palms on the table and spoke to her.
Before I even knew what I was doing, I was crossing the field, interrupting the game in progress, and reaching for him. Turned out Allie didn’t need me, though. As I watched, she grabbed the neck of a bottle, smashed the bottom of it against the table and then held the makeshift weapon between their bodies.
“Threaten me again and I’ll cut your dick off. And if I don’t, Thorn will. Isn’t that right, Thorn?” Her voice was strong and full of the fire that reflected in her eyes. Her hand didn’t shake as it held the broken bottle, sharp end pointed at Kyle.
“Gladly.” My voice was a low growl. “Get going, Kyle. I’d hate to cause a
scene.”
He stayed where he was, facing Allie and I could feel it getting to her. “Run along, little bear. I’ve got business to finish with the lady.”
He shifted his fingers on the table and it was all I needed. I grabbed him by the back of his neck and threw him away from her. A shriek escaped her soft mouth and I vowed to make it right before the day ended. That mouth was made for sounds of pleasure, not fear.
Kyle spun around to face me, but I was already planting the bottom of my shoe on his chest. He went flying backwards and I followed, muscles expanding and threatening to shift. “Stand down, Kyle. Unless you want to thoroughly embarrass yourself.”
He climbed to his feet and I let him. “Afraid of a little competition, Thorn?”
Competition? For Allie. He’d die painfully before I let him lay a finger on her. My bear would never allow it. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn tail and head home.”
He leered, practically bearing his teeth at me. “You think you’re the shit, don’t you? I should show you just how untrue that is.”
I was just about to show him just how far he was pushing me, but Sterling and Sam appeared at my side with Wyatt and Hutch behind them. Hutch stepped behind me and squeezed my shoulders. “Relax, brother. This punk is leaving.”
Wyatt crossed his arms. “Right?”
And just that quickly, it ended. Kyle was a fool and was going to need to be reminded of just how far down the rankings he really was, but he wasn’t crazy enough to try to take on all of us. Most likely, he wasn’t even crazy enough to try to take on just me alone. So, when he turned to leave, we let him go.
“I’m getting really fucking tired of his shit.”
I looked at Sterling and rolled my eyes. “You did that.”
Sterling started rambling about how it wasn’t his fault, but we all knew the truth. Sterling poked his pecker in the wrong place and that place happened to be Kyle’s girlfriend. Since then, the man had had it out for us. He’d made it his mission to fuck with us every chance he got.
“Well, either way, looks like their team is one down to play us.”
I glanced back at Allie and then to Hutch. “Nope, we’re down one, too. I’m going to take Allie inside and make sure she’s okay. Play this first game without me.”
They tried to hassle me about it, but I ignored them. Even though I knew what I needed to do, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stay away from her. That little cry of hers was echoing around my head like a fucking bullet to the brain.
She was still standing where she’d been, the bottle at her side. I finally noticed the way her fingers were now trembling and eased the bottle from her.
“Come inside with me for a second. We’ll make sure you’re okay.” I tossed the bottle away and took her small hand in mine. Warmth spread from my stomach out and I had to swallow back a groan. She was going to be the death of me. I couldn’t have her, but my body didn’t understand that. My bear sure as hell didn’t.
She let me lead her inside the back door and into the bar. I figured she could use a shot after all that excitement. “Where’d you learn that nifty little bottle trick?”
A shaky laugh escaped her mouth. “What? That’s not normal? Your daddy didn’t get into bar brawls in front of you when you were young?
I looked over at my shoulder at her while grabbing a bottle of whiskey. “My old man was more of the leaving type. Though, I’m sure he did participate in many a bar fight. Just not around here.”
She was quiet until I slid a shot in front of her. “What’s this?”
I picked it up and held it to her mouth. “Your hands. You’re trembling. Figured you could use something to knock the edge off.”
Amazingly, she parted her lips and let me tip the liquid into her waiting mouth. Her throat worked as she swallowed it down, drawing my eyes to it. “That guy was such a dick. What was his problem?”
I threw back a shot of my own and pushed the bottle away. It wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough to dull the aching desire I felt for her. It pulsed through me until it felt like this physical entity wrapping around my throat, leaving me no chance of getting away unscathed.
“Thorn?”
I shook my head to clear it. “He’s just an asshole. What did he say to you?”
“He just told me I was nothing and that he could have me in a second if he really wanted me. Something like no one would stop him because he’s the best, yada, yada, yada.”
I ground my teeth together and clenched my fists. “I’m going to kill him.”
Allie shook her head and then looked up at me. A sudden wide grin spread across her face. “You should’ve seen his face when I broke that bottle.”
Anger left my body in an instant, replaced with scorching heat. Her beautiful smile nearly brought me to my knees. I was an idiot for thinking I could be near her and not touch her. “Allie…”
Her eyes widened but she didn’t leave. It was the sign I needed. Or didn’t need. I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to her. God help me.
12
Allie
I was in panic mode and it had nothing to do with the jerkwad outside. It was Thorn. I’d let him pull me inside, away from everyone else. Just the two of us. Sure, I was a little taken aback by the fact that I could so easily break a bottle to use as a shank, but then again, I wasn’t some delicate flower. I was capable enough to stop Thorn if I hadn’t wanted to be alone with him. Yet here I was, facing a man whose sex appeal was something that should go down in the record books.
Thorn’s eyes glowed in the dim light of the bar. He seemed bigger behind the bar, where there was less space, and I felt myself being tugged towards him by the sheer will of my body. I wanted him like I’d never wanted anyone or anything before in my life.
I knew the difference between right and wrong and I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help myself. Or, maybe I could and I just didn’t want to anymore. The man made resisting him for twenty-four hours feel like a lifetime of neglect.
A strong hum from the music that someone had turned on over the loudspeakers outside teased me, an old southern rock beat pulsing in tune with my heartbeat until I could feel it all over my skin, in my core, at the tips of my breasts. I felt like I was in heat.
“I shouldn’t do this…”
Thorn watched me with his lower lip caught between his teeth, while his eyes danced over my body and face. When he let his lip go, there were indentions from his teeth there that I wanted to lick. “Do what, Allie?”
“This…thing with us.” I gestured between our bodies, my knuckles grazing his stomach as I did.
He reacted like I’d burned him. He sucked in a sharp breath and stood up taller. “Leave then. Get back out there and serve drinks. Do the smart thing for both of us.”
I should, yessiree, I absolutely should. I stepped closer to him. “You want me to go?”
He stared over my head and grabbed the bar behind him. His knuckles were white from the grip he had on it. “Yeah. I think you should.”
I didn’t want to hear no from him. I didn’t want to leave and be the good girl. I could maybe justify it later by rationalizing that I wanted the experience of being the one who did the bad thing for a change, but honestly, that had nothing to do with it. I just wanted Thorn with every screaming cell of my body. I wanted him inside of me. I wanted him to do things to me. Naughty things. Things that I’d never wanted another man to do. I needed him bad.
“Not happening.” I leaned into him, pressing my chest against his, and gasped as my nipples met his solid body. His bare skin was hot to the touch and I couldn’t wait to taste him. “Do you know that out of the four serious boyfriends I’ve had, all four of them have cheated on me?” I don’t know why I said that. Maybe an attempt at justifying what I was about to do?
He tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling, still not touching me. “Even the fiancé?”
I gave in and dipped my face forward so I could run my tongue up
his chest. “Yep.”
That gained me a low growl and I rewarded myself by moving over slightly and flicking my tongue over his nipple. The jerk and tensing of his muscles encouraged me so I did it again.
“Every single one of them,” I whispered softly, “and I still remained the good girlfriend. Doting and caring. Baking goddamned cupcakes and showing up at their offices in nothing but a trench coat. I was an all-star friggin’ girlfriend to each of them.”
I raked my nails down from his shoulders and lightly bit down on his nipple before moving to the other one and doing the same. “Still kept right on smiling through the pain and doing my very best to not inconvenience anyone.”
I turned around and snaked my body against Thorn’s, wiggling until I felt his rock-hard boner pressing between my ass cheeks. When I straightened, I wrapped my arms behind me and around the back of his neck. “I’m done with that. I deserve to be bad. Help me be bad, Thorn.”
I let out a squeal as he grabbed me and spun me around so that I was sitting on the work station in front of him, his hands branding my knees where he touched them.
“You want to be bad?”
I bit my lip and nodded.
“Take off your shirt.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and slowly moved my hands to the hem of my shirt. “Just this one time, Hawthorn. Just enough to get it out of our systems.”
He stepped back so that no part of him was touching me and then crossed his arms over his chest. “Shirt, Allie. Take it off. No talking.”
My pulse soared. Not knowing what he was thinking was like holding my hand over a flame. It set me on fire, the danger so real and threatening to the life I’d accepted for myself. Would he grab me on my way out of work the next day and demand a replay? The day after that? My one-time rule would probably be dependent on how well Thorn adhered to it. I already knew I was too weak to say no to him.
Bears of Burden Complete Series Box Set Page 5