Broken in Love (Studs in Stetsons Book 2)

by Megan Hetherington

  A warm hand on my waist wakes me from my indulgence and I turn to smile at Carson. His smile is bigger though and a twinkle in his eyes tells me he’s glad we’re here, too.

  I grab the beer from him and take a swig.

  “You itching to get out there?” he asks, tipping the neck of his low-alcohol beer bottle at the dance floor.

  “No rush.” I cross my legs so I don’t dart off anywhere. “You been here before, then?”

  “Kind of. On duty.”

  “Oh.” I lean in so only he can hear me. “Was it anything bad?”

  He chuckles and takes a swig from his bottle.

  “Not always.”

  I squeeze his bicep, which tenses at my touch, and I rub my thumb on the hard ridge of muscle. “Come on, tell me.”

  He smiles wryly. “I’d call that gossip.”

  I gasp. “Not when you don’t know the people involved. Then it’s just an interesting story.”

  He chuckles. “Who said you don’t know who was involved?”

  “You’re messing with me!”

  “Maybe.”

  “Ooh.” I give his arm one last squeeze before dropping my hand back to my hip. “Mystery man.”

  The next song is “In Between” by Scotty McCreary. I find my hips swaying. It’s irresistible, the pull of the beat is insane.

  “Come on.” I peel Carson’s bottle from him and plonk our drinks on a bar table and grab his hand, dragging him onto the dance floor.

  A few people dance now, but not so many I have to restrict my moves. I don’t mean to be the center of attention, or step on anyone’s toes, but when I’m in the mood for dancing, I become lost in my world.

  Carson plants his boots on the floor and he flexes his knees, his hips twitch to every other beat. I latch onto his eyes and shimmy a few inches before him. His hand glides up from my hip to my waist, where it lingers with a gentle touch. His move is seductive and I’m impressed.

  With increasing pressure, he wraps his hand on my lower back and pulls me to him, until there’s no option but to straddle his solid thigh. It’s incredibly hot and hard in between my legs. A huge turn on. His hands skate up my ribs, bringing my arms with them until my hands are high above my head, then he presses his thumbs under my breasts so that my back arches and he gyrates me like a rag doll.

  Holy smoke.

  His confidence is sky high. Not at all what I expected from Carson Perrins. He’s owning this dance floor. And me.

  Some built guys put too much into dancing and end up looking like bulls in ballet pumps. But not Carson. He’s restrained, but confidently so.

  His thumbs stroke over the bumps of my ribcage and my head fills with blood, giving me a giddy rush, as he levers my body backward. I’m heady on a mix of alcohol, the throbbing beat of the bass, and this scorching hot police officer. The combination leaves me addicted and confused. And I give in to it.

  We dance non-stop for several more songs and I can honestly say I haven’t felt this good in a long while. I love to lose myself in music but doing so with someone else is intoxicating and pushes endorphins around every inch of my body.

  “That was fun.” I laugh as we walk to the bar.

  A rowdy group are in our line and I attempt to walk around them, but one guy on the edge of the group steps in front of me and smirks. “You sure have one helluva body, sugar. And…” He bends his knees and pats his thighs. “You can come sit on my lap anytime.”

  Honestly, I don’t care whether guys think I’m pretty, but if they judge me as easy, they’re very much mistaken. I don’t dance for them, despite how it might appear. Losing myself in music is what it’s all about, giving in to the thrum of the beat and letting myself go.

  I open my mouth and stiffen my spine but before I can retaliate, Carson steps calmly to my side and places a solid palm on the small of my back, guiding me around the asshole. He doesn’t square up to him but locks eyes as we pass. A silent confidence pulses from Carson, which makes the asshole step back and frown. I like that. No need for a scene or an excessive show of macho bravery, yet Carson’s ego is very much intact and I feel protected.

  With a smile of thanks, I squeeze his side.

  “Another beer?”

  I nod, licking my dry lips. “I’m sorry about that, Carson.”

  His face grows stern. “You got nothing to be sorry about. You’re a sexy woman and some men can’t handle that.”

  My mouth drops open and a shiver shoots down my spine and lands right between my legs.

  I gain control of my jaw and say, “I’m going to the bathroom.” I need to cool down.

  “Okay.”

  Carson grabs the bar tender’s attention and it’s as if there is no line as the bartender takes his order. When I peek over my shoulder at him before I enter the hallway, he’s leaning back on his elbows, watching me and keeping me safe from afar.

  Taking a minute at the mirror, I put on some extra lip gloss and examine my face. I’ve been so focused on Blue Corrigan, in an all-consuming way, I haven’t stopped to examine myself. Any time I’ve spent in front of a mirror has been to paint on a mask of makeup. It’s never been to assess how I feel. And I’m good. Good with everything right now. Being out of the house. Dancing in a club. On a date. With my former best friend.

  When two women barge into the restroom, I pry my eyes away, pop my lip gloss in my back pocket, and run my fingers through my hair. Glancing once again at my reflection in the mirror, I walk with confidence toward the swinging door.

  Out in the main hall, my eyes meet Carson’s and I stride across to him with loose hips. He reels me in with his stare and I wonder why I’ve never considered him like I do now. And I fizz with excitement about where this might lead.

  Eleven

  Carson

  She snakes through the crowd to me like a firefly to a flame.

  Her tight jeans hug her curves perfectly and the way her tits fill out her top sends all sorts of crazy vibes around my body.

  There’s nothing innocent looking about Lemon, she has a body built for sin and a playful mind to go with it. It’s taken an awesome amount of willpower to stay here and not follow her into those restrooms.

  She seems more relaxed than when we spent the evening together last weekend. And as long as I can keep the conversation away from Blue, then I might make some progress.

  As she nears the group of guys, I keep one eye on the dickhead who approached her earlier and one on her. When she’s close enough for me to focus on only her, I relax my fists. “You okay?”

  “Uhuh.”

  I pass over her beer and she takes a long swig; her neck lengthens and entices me in. I move closer, with a tensed core so I don’t pounce on her like I want to. She smells of seduction and it makes me want to bury my nose into her neck until her scent is all I can smell.

  “Ooh.” She bounces on her heels, her soft flesh jiggling at the collar of the blouse. Fuck that blouse. I want to reach in and scoop her tits over the top of it, massage them with my hands, and clamp my mouth around her nipples. Thoughts of us getting naked drives me nuts and I just hope to fuck she doesn’t still see me as the boy next door. “C’mon, let’s dance.”

  I set our bottles on the bar and nod at the bartender, waiting for him to pull them into the safety of his prep area as Lemon pulls on my arm.

  We dance closer this time. I make sure of that. Her full body rubs up against mine and any thoughts of her as my childhood friend evaporate. She holds her hands high up above her head and stares at me over her shoulder. Her eyes smolder. Her skin is slick with a sheen of sweat. Her moves are sexy as hell, and I’m sure right now every guy in this joint is flipping me off for being with the most beautiful and seductive woman here. And I don’t care. They could all be on their knees right now or crying into their beer and I wouldn’t give a flying fuck. She’s here with me.

  After enough songs for her to make me as hard as stone, I create a space between us so I can cool it off before we return to the ba
r. She chatters all the way. She’s excited. Happy. Carefree. I order more drinks and then, with a nod at the bartender, I leave Lemon to drink her beer while I go to the restroom.

  The dickhead from earlier is in there. He sways, steadying himself against the wall. He looks up briefly as I walk in and then his head hangs as I go about my business.

  “How much did she cost you?” he asks as he zips up.

  Now, mid piss, that’s not a fair thing to say to a guy. “Seriously?” I side eye him.

  He leaves with a brave chortle.

  Unable to follow him, I finish and wash up, calmly striding out to the club. The guy stands at the same position as earlier at the bar; laughing and joking with his friends.

  Calmly, I approach the group and tap him on the shoulder. “A word.”

  He splutters his beer and laughs like a fucking hyena.

  I twitch my eyebrows. “We can either do this a step away from your friends or I will rip you to pieces in front of them.” I stand fast. “Your choice.”

  “Hang on to this.” He thrusts his beer at his friend. “Won’t be long. Just need to deal with this dick.”

  Inside, I’m laughing. But I don’t show it.

  He steps to me. “Think you’re something special, do you? Well she’s not. She’s a cheap hooker. I’ve seen her at the Green Parrot in Gunner Ridge.”

  “Whatever your views, I suggest you keep them to yourself. I’m here to enjoy an evening and I’m sure you are too. I’m not going to spoil that by throwing you out.”

  “Pah.” He laughs. “Who do you think you are coming over here with all my buddies here?” He waves his arm at his friends lined up at the bar, watching us. “And you all on your lonesome.”

  “This is a warning. And as a rule, I only give one. Stay away from my girl and keep your comments to yourself.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “I’ll arrest you.”

  He laughs but I remain motionless. His face crumples. “Arrest me?”

  I stand fast.

  “You’re a cop?” He looks me up and down and I watch him visibly shrink.

  I hate using that card, but if stops this idiot embarrassing Lemon, then so be it. I could easily knock him out, but I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate her night cut short by any of that macho crap.

  When I return to the bar, Lemon is chatting to the bar man, and she slides a hand up my back onto my shoulder.

  The bar tender swipes a cloth over the countertop and asks me, “Everything cool?”

  “Yeah, fine.”

  Lemon doesn’t say anything and even if she did, I wouldn’t have told her what that dickhead said. She’s no hooker and I don’t want her upset by what that idiot thinks.

  “Wanna dance some more?” I ask her.

  “No, to be honest, I’ve got blisters on my feet from these shoes. I didn’t think I’d get to dance as much. We can always—”

  “Shall we sit—”

  “D’ya want to go—”

  The next three attempts are as bad, each contradicting the other about staying or going. So, I take control and lead her out of the club.

  “Where we going, then?” she asks.

  The dickhead and his friends loiter near the exit and I walk at a pace to my car. I don’t need any shit going down now. “My place.” I’ve got one thing on my mind and hope she does too.

  Lemon glances at the guys and I can sense she is fighting with herself to say something to them. When we reach the truck, she clambers in. “Thank you for fixing it with those idiots. Especially the way you did. If it was Blue, he would have clean knocked them…” She sighs and straps herself in with the seatbelt. “I’m sorry Carson, I need to stop talking about him, don’t I?”

  Silently, I scream. But I don’t utter a sound. Instead I lean across the center console and put a hand to her face and stare deep into her beautiful eyes. Her mouth twitches as if she is about to say something else and I can’t let her. I stretch my thumb over to still her plump pink lips and she smiles beneath it. I lighten the pressure and she wraps a hand around my forearm and pulls back. “Come on then, take me to your place.”

  Game on.

  Twelve

  Carson

  “Carson?” Lemon shuffles in her seat, grabbing onto the door handle and the center armrest as I drive faster than I should along the dirt track to my house. “Why are we coming here?”

  “This is where I live.”

  “Why didn’t I know this?”

  Because you were too caught up in everything Blue Corrigan. “I don’t know.”

  She laughs. “Stupidly, I thought you were still at your parents’ place.”

  I splutter a laugh. “You wanted me to take you to my parents’?” I glance across at her repeatedly.

  “No. I didn’t really think when you said earlier.”

  I park up next to my patrol car and turn off the ignition. “No, that place got sold. Mom’s in a bungalow not far from your house. Dad moved to Visalia with his job.”

  She squeezes my forearm. “Aw, Carson. I’m sorry. Why did they split?”

  “When I left for college. Mom said he was married to the job and there wasn’t room for three in the marriage.”

  “Oh. I am sorry.”

  “It’s fine. They’re both better for it, really.”

  “And you?”

  I shrug. “It’s a life lesson, that’s for sure.” I fling open the door. “Anyway, c’mon. I didn’t bring you here to sit in the truck all night.” Or talk about my parents. I want to make love to you and unless you say otherwise there will be no distractions tonight.

  Still holding onto my forearm, she leans across and kisses my cheek and I love and hate the act in equal measure. Love that she touched me in an intimate way; hate that it’s a sweet gesture when I’m full of passion.

  I expect her to follow me to the house, but she ambles toward the lake. I stand and watch as she kicks off her shoes and sits on the jetty, dangling her legs over the side.

  “Ooh, that’s bliss,” she calls out to me as I walk over.

  She pulls one foot up from the water and massages it.

  “Here. Let me.” Reluctantly, I sit down beside her and pull her foot onto my lap, using both hands to massage her foot.

  “Lord, that’s good.” She leans back on her hands and moans softly.

  It’s a noise that has a direct line to my dick.

  A heat builds at my groin and I wriggle to alleviate the ache. Just like I used to as a teenager besotted by Lemon Gillespie.

  “It’s so peaceful here,” she says narrowing her gaze at the night view of the lake, but I can’t look because I’m glued to her. Sitting here beside me as if she’s a vision I’ve conjured up. Although I’m sure I could never have imagined this. It’s too much of a perfect dream. And my dreams are never that good.

  “I’d forgotten this place existed.”

  The hole in my heart grows wider. “Really?”

  “No, actually, I remember coming here. It’s just…” She turns to me and her eyes mist over. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it is.” She reaches over and rubs my forearm, the hairs standing on end at her touch. “All those times we would come after school and in recess…” She drifts off. “We kissed here, didn’t we?”

  I nod and stifle a sigh. One of the most repeated memories I have of our time together. A brief grazing of lips.

  She scoops her feet in to sit cross-legged and leans into me. “Did you have feelings for me then?”

  I snort a laugh. “Of course.” There’s no lying to Lemon. Her achingly honest questions deserve equally painful responses. “I’ve always had feelings for you.”

  “Carson.” She sighs. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  I shrug. “Does it matter now? You’re here, aren’t you?” I place a finger and thumb on her chin and she looks straight at me. “Anyway, what did you think that kiss was back then?”

  She pouts. “Experimenting?”

  I laugh,
losing my grip on her chin. “What the hell?”

  “I know.” She laughs. “All my friends were ‘experimenting’.” She signals quote marks with her fingers. “And I thought that’s what we were doing too. I didn’t think you thought anymore of it. Anyhow you ‘experimented’ plenty, I seem to remember.”

  “That was way after then. When you…” I can’t say what I want to without it sounding bad. The way she followed Blue like a lap dog, even when he and Josie were together, was soul destroying.

  “Hmm.” She cocks her head to a side as if she’s weighing me up. Then she turns back to the lake. “Do you wanna skinny dip?”

  “You’re kidding right? It’s cold enough on a hot summer’s day. Right now, it’d give you heart failure.”

  “Didn’t seem that cold on my feet.”

  “Hmm.”

  She shivers.

  “Told you. Let’s go inside.”

  I stand and she takes my hand to pull up on. Her face lands an inch from mine. And her eyes bloom right in front of me.

  “Don’t you want to get naked with me, Carson?”

  All my blood rushes to my dick, “Hell yeah. Sure, I want to get naked with you, Lemon.” I push my hands into her hair, gripping the strands in a way that I’m barely control of. “Just not here.” I pull her onto my lips and that first touch is better than I dared dream. There’s no clash of teeth or rogue tongues. It’s a hot mix of neediness and satisfaction. And when I push my tongue into her mouth she tastes as sweet as sun-ripened raisins. She moans in response to my invasion and I deepen our kiss, pressing her into my body and cupping the back of her head with my hand.

  “Holy hell.” She pants when eventually I let up. “What was that?”