Chapter 5
Only hours ago Trent had told Rance that he wasn’t into meaningless hookups. Now that was exactly what he wanted. But he couldn’t speak for Brit.
She was attracted to him. He got that loud and clear. Her breathing was as wonky as his and the sweet aroma of aroused woman teased him unmercifully. But like he’d also told Rance, she was probably looking for something permanent.
They needed to talk about it before they reached the northeast corner of Maple and Stone, and that location was coming up fast. He cleared his throat, had to speak up over the arousing music. “Brit, I recently went through?—”
“An ugly divorce. Ella told me.”
“And as a result?—”
“You’re steering clear of relationships. I get it. So let’s agree not to have one.”
Looked like she was rejecting him before he even asked. Alrighty, then. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Neither am I. Tonight will be one and done.”
His body jerked as if she’d smacked him upside the head. “What?”
“Unless we’re not on the same page. In that case, I’ve just made a huge fool of myself.”
He sucked in a breath and rushed to erase that misperception. “Oh, we’re on the same page. But…you’d be okay with that?”
“More than okay. This whole setup is turning me on — the drinks, my birthday, riding in your fabulous truck, that song, the way you look in a hat, the?—”
“My hat? Really?” Rance also had a hat and a badass truck, but she’d turned him down.
“Well, duh. You’re dynamite without it, but once you put on that Stetson, you become the whole package.” She started to giggle. “Whoops. Freudian slip.”
“Uh-huh.” So what did he have that Rance didn’t? Timing. He’d been the guy closing the bar on the eve of her birthday. He’d keep that in mind before he got all full of himself because she’d chosen him.
He”d thank his lucky stars for this opportunity. She was extremely likeable on top of being sexy as hell. He wasn’t sure why she was so sexy. She had a gymnast’s build, more lithe than curvy. Not his type at all.
Yet he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. The prospect of that sent an urgent message to his groin and made driving a torture he longed to end ASAP.
He pulled up in front of a tidy bungalow and glanced at her. “We’re here.”
“Then come on in, cowboy.” Her voice had a breathy quality.
He shut off the engine and the music with it. Then he glanced at her. “Just to be clear, I don’t normally?—”
“Neither do I. I barely know you.”
“Then maybe we shouldn’t?—”
“Listen, you’re just looking for sex. Am I right?”
His face heated. “That sounds terrible.”
“Not to me. All I want is some hot birthday action. Does that sound terrible?”
“Nope.” It sounded freaking amazing.
“I have no intention of starting something with you.”
That stung a little. “Why not?”
“You aren’t ready.”
That stung a little more. “I appreciate your honesty.”
“I figured you’d be relieved to hear that. I’m hoping to find Mr. Right, but in the meantime….”
“You feel like celebrating your birthday?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then we’ll do that.” Unsnapping his seatbelt, he reached for the door handle when a blindingly obvious hurdle popped into his head. He sank back in defeat. “We can’t. I don’t have any?—”
“I do.”
He looked over at her, his hopes rising along with his eager cock. But had she checked the date on those convenient little items?
She met his gaze. “They haven’t expired.”
“Ah.”
“Are we on?”
He swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.” He broke eye contact and clutched the steering wheel as a wave of lust left him shaking. Then he reached for the door handle again. “Stay there. I’ll?—”
“I could use help with my seatbelt.”
Leaning over the console, he released the buckle. And then he was kissing her. Maybe he started it. Maybe she did. Didn’t matter. He had possession of her delicious mouth and his brain checked out.
She tasted citrus flavored with a no-holds-barred sensuality that left him gasping. He pulled back only to capture her lips again, thrusting his tongue deep. She tunneled her fingers through his hair and held him close as she opened to him with a desperate moan.
He lost track of where they were, of what made sense. He reached under the coat he’d loaned her and slipped his hand inside her shirt, craving the sensation of warm, smooth skin, the swell of her breasts under her silky bra, the?—
She tightened her grip on his head and drew back, her breath coming fast. “We should…go in.”
They should. Making out in his truck wouldn’t achieve what they both needed. He gulped for air. “I…didn’t mean to kiss you.” His voice sounded like ice in a blender.
“You didn’t. I kissed you.”
“Oh.”
“Couldn’t help it. But if we’re going to?—”
“Understood.” He eased away, reluctantly sliding his hand free. “I’ll help you out.” Snatching up his hat from the dash, he exited the truck, groaning as his jeans pinched him hard.
Taking his hat was stupid. It was the middle of the night, for God’s sake. But his ego demanded that he wear it since the Stetson turned her on. He tugged on the brim.
She’d made it clear he wasn’t worthy of more than a one-night stand, but in this moment, she couldn’t resist him. He should be thrilled she didn’t want to get involved. He was thrilled. That made tonight perfect.
He opened her door and she flashed him a grin.
“You put on your hat.”
“When something works, might as well go with it.” Scooping her out of the truck, he put her down and flung the door shut. “No more kissing until we’re inside.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t attack you until we’re within reach of those little raincoats.” She sashayed down the cement walkway. “Come with me, cowboy.”
“I fully intend to.” He lengthened his stride and ignored the pain in his privates.
“Sexy talk. I like it.”
She was setting the tone. He’d make sure to stay in his role as temporary guy, the one who was available when she needed to scratch an itch.
And wasn’t that how he saw her? He wasn’t looking for dreamy-eyed gazes and heartfelt sighs. He’d stumbled into a situation where the birthday girl needed a man for the night. He’d be a fool to pass that up.
Cold air cut through his cotton shirt. Good thing he’d given her his jacket. It engulfed her small frame, which plucked at his heartstrings. He put a lid on that tender emotion.
He’d best lock down all his emotions. Tonight’s episode was restricted to physical pleasure. He’d never had that kind of sex, but it was too late to question the premise.
The porch light was on but the inside of the one-story house was dark. He climbed the steps to the porch, his body throbbing as he waited for her to unlock the door.
She shoved it open. “Follow me.” Without turning on a light, she took off.
He walked in and closed the door behind him. He couldn’t see very well but he didn’t have to. Her ragged breathing pinpointed her whereabouts, along with the rapid click of her bootheels on the wood floor.
Even without those clues, he could have found her through scent alone. Her body called to him and he was more than ready to answer.
He caught movement, something flung through the air that landed with a plop. Likely his jacket.
“You take off your clothes and I’ll take off mine.”
He smiled at her rapid-fire command. “Yes, ma’am.” He started on the button on his cuff as he followed her into the hallway. Anticipation made him clumsy and he let out a soft swearword.
“You okay?”
“Just a case of fumble fingers.”
She responded with a breathless laugh. “Me, too.”
After undoing enough buttons that allowed him to pull his shirt over his head, he yanked it off. “Should I just drop stuff?”
“I did.”
His boot landed on something that wasn’t floor. “And I stepped on it.”
“Never mind. Just my shirt. We’re here. Doorway’s on your right.”
He didn’t need directions. He swore he could feel the heat coming off her as he walked in. Through a window on the far side of the room, the glittering night sky gave him enough light to make out four tall bedposts. He hung his hat on the closest one.
Toeing off his boots, he stripped down, kicking his jeans and briefs away, tugging off his socks. Her slender silhouette taunted him as she tossed back the covers. He wanted to see her, but this was her show and clearly she preferred the dark.
Her footsteps whispered over the wood floor as she rounded the bed to the far side. “Go ahead and get in. I’ll be with you in a second.”
The scrape of a wooden drawer told him she was fetching the condoms. Then came the distinctive rip of a foil wrapper. Maybe they’d ditch foreplay and head straight for the main event.
He slid onto the sheets and lay on his back, gasping as his hot skin came in contact with cool cotton. His cock ached as if someone had clamped it in a vise and his heart pounded like it would explode any second.
The mattress barely moved as she climbed in and crawled toward him. “I have something for you.” She straddled him, her smooth calves pressing against his thighs.
The breath left his lungs. “I hope it’s?—”
“This?” She rolled on the condom.
“Yep.” He clenched his jaw and his fists. He was so close. So damn close.
Rising over him, she settled the tip of his cock at the entrance to paradise.
He held very still and used every ounce of control he possessed to keep from coming.
“There.” She flattened her palms on his heaving chest and leaned down, her mouth nearly touching his. “I’ve got you where I want you.”
“Ditto, sweet lady.” He grasped her hips and lifted his, deepening the connection.
Her breath caught. Then with a cry of surrender, she took all of him, gasping and quivering in the grip of her climax.
Sheer stubbornness kept him from coming with her. She wanted a stud for her birthday and he would by God fulfill that request.