4. Tanner
four
Tanner
I t's never taken me this long to get my cock under control before. But the memory of the way Rayne's body reacted to having me hose her down is driving my hunger for her to a level I've never felt before.
I hate to admit it, but I'm a twenty-six-year-old virgin. I've only ever known the touch of my hand. But the way Rayne was squirming in the decontamination tent today makes me realize I was doing something right.
Sure, I've watched pornos before—who hasn't? But watching her nipples pucker and the way she stuck her ass out, as if giving herself to me, is more than I expected.
I run my hand up and down my cock, the cool water from my shower doing nothing to help the pressure building in my balls as I close my eyes and imagine it's Rayne's smaller hands tugging on me, begging for me to fuck her.
With a grunt, I come all over the shower floor. I watch as it swirls down the drain, wishing it were in Rayne instead.
I turn off the water and hop out of the shower. Grabbing a towel, I dry off as my phone rings. "Hey, Tucker. What's up?" Even though it's Saturday night, both Tucker and I took tonight off. Travis and Tessa assured us that they would be fine without us. Plus, we've hired some new help to ease the burden of working every night for all of us.
"Ryan just called. He said Sutton is throwing a party for Rayne and Sky today, starting at six."
"That sounds nice. Having all their girlfriends over for wine and charcuterie." Thanks to Tessa, we know what a charcuterie board is.
"Um, it's not that kind of party. Ryan said the only women who will be there are Sky and Rayne, as Sutton tries to set them up with all the bachelor firefighters she's inviting."
I feel angry just imagining any of those assholes being anywhere near Rayne. Tucker must feel it too, considering how he's been pining after Sky for all these months.
Glancing at my watch, I realize it's already five o'clock. I want to make sure Tucker and I are the first two guys there. "Pick me up in half an hour. We have a party to crash."
***
"Surprise, surprise. What are you two doing here?" Sutton answers the door with a smirk.
Unable to hide my feelings any longer, I growl, "You know exactly why we're here."
"I might know why you're here." She taps her chin with her finger like she's deep in thought. "But those two poor girls have no idea why you're here." She narrows her eyes at Tucker first. "You, you won't even talk to poor Sky. You have her so tied up in knots. She's a nervous wreck half the time, waiting for you to ask her out." Tucker has the decency to hang his head in shame. Sutton turns on me next. "You're no better. Rayne has only known you for less than twenty-four hours, and you have her so confused she agreed to speed date twenty guys tonight."
"Like hell she is," I growl, stepping toward Sutton before Ryan comes out of nowhere and steps between us.
"Take one more step toward my wife, and I'll kick you out of my house and let her go ahead with her crazy scheme. But for now, I have her talked into only the six of us for the barbecue. So back the fuck off."
With a nod, I step back. "Sorry, Sutton. I'm just not myself these last twenty-four hours."
This is true. I went from not having a care in the world and hanging out with my friends, doing whatever I wanted, to canceling a poker night with my friends to stay home and dream about a woman I just met.
"Apology accepted. Oh, and I convinced the girls to keep their bikinis under their sundresses if anyone wants to use our hot tub later."
I almost swallow my tongue at the thought of Rayne in that tiny bikini. Her soft curves begging for my touch. I hear Tucker's sharp inhale and know he's thinking about Sky in her bikini.
Sutton and Ryan must have seen our reactions as they both laugh. "The girls are out back on the deck. We'll meet you out there in ten minutes." They turn and walk to the living room as Tucker and I make our way to the kitchen, which leads to the deck.
We've been to Ryan and Sutton's house several times since he's good friends with Turner, so we know our way around their home.
I reach for the patio door when Tucker grabs my arm. "D-do you think this is a good idea?" Poor Tucker, his nerves must be getting to him as his stutter appears.
"I think it's the best idea we've ever had." I pat his hand. "I've seen how Sky looks at you. I'd bet money that she's just as interested in you as you are in her."
"W-what if I stutter and embarrass her?" He looks so sad. My heart breaks for my youngest brother.
"Sky seems like a sweet girl. I don't think she'll care if you stutter. But if she does, you'll know she's not the one for you and you can move on."
I wait for him to argue with me, but instead he nods and releases his hold on my arm. "Okay, let's do this."
Sliding open the patio door, I step out onto the deck and find Rayne and Sky sitting at the table, engrossed in conversation. "Hey." Both Rayne and Sky look in my direction. "You two did great today at the hazmat training."
Wanting Tucker to add to the conversation, I give him a quick elbow to his side. "Oh, yeah, you looked good as we hosed you off with our hoses." I inwardly cringe at his words. They sound like a bad porno with all the talk of hoses and getting hosed off. Luckily, he saves the conversation by adding, "Normally, some of the guys act like the victims. And they are not as pretty as the two of you are."
Sky's face turns a pretty shade of pink, almost the same color as Tucker's, after talking more in one minute to Sky than he has in the six months since she's been in Wintervale. And even without a stutter.
Rayne smiles at Tucker, and damn it if I don't want the smile aimed at me. "You'll have to make it an annual event to be our pretend victim."
Shifting her gaze to mine, Rayne's smile falls. "I'm not sure that will be such a good idea."
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I don't realize I've said the words out loud until Sky answers. "What Rayne means is her husband might not like the idea of her getting hosed down by someone else's hose that isn't his."
My first thought is that Sky is the perfect match for Tucker because she says, "Hose and hosed off," so innocently, just like he did.
The second thought takes me a minute to process. "You're married?" My eyes drop to her left hand, searching for proof that she's taken. Then it hits me. There must be some miscommunication in what Sky is saying; otherwise, why would Sutton be trying to set Rayne up with someone?
Before Rayne can say anything, Sky answers for her. "Not yet, she isn't. But she likes it here and wants to settle down and start a family. And I love having my best friend live so close to me."
My eyes shift back up to Rayne's face, and she seems to prefer being anywhere but here at the moment, given how she's fidgeting in her seat.
Does Rayne really want to settle down in Wintervale? Is that why Sutton wants to set up a speed dating party for Rayne?
I have so many questions I want to ask Rayne, but I don't want to ask them in front of Sky and Tucker and risk having Sky answer for her again. I want to hear the truth from Rayne's lips.
"Beer?" Rayne jumps up. "I'm going to grab one; would anyone else like one?"
Sky and Tucker politely decline. "I'll take one." I eye her warily. What is she hiding? "Let me help you grab those beers."
"You don't have to. I can get them myself." With a wave of her hand, she walks toward the patio door.
Without giving her a chance to refuse again, I follow after her. "It's no trouble at all." As I slide the door shut behind me, I can't help but admire the way her hips sway as she gracefully glides across the kitchen to the refrigerator, searching for those beers.
I follow her across the room, waiting for the perfect opportunity. She pulls out two beers before shutting the door, giving me the opening I need to press her about her love life. "So, you're looking for a husband here in Wintervale. I'd like to throw my hat in the ring."
She visibly blanches at my words. If I were a less confident person like Tucker, I would tuck my tail between my legs and run away. Instead, I hold my ground, waiting for her to explain her reaction to me. I know we have chemistry; I felt it all the way through my hazmat suit.
With a sigh, she hands me one of the cans of beer. "It's not you, okay. I barely know you, but I don't think we'd be a good match."
"What do you mean, it's not me? Aren't you even going to give me a chance?" My anger flares, but I keep it in check.
"Look, Tessa told me you'd rather hang out with your friends. I grew up in a household like that. It was tough on my sisters and me. It's not something I want my kids to have to go through day after day, watching a father who would rather spend time with his friends."
Shit, I did say those words. Tessa just repeated what she thought she knew about me. The only one to blame is me. "Tessa's wrong. I mean, she was right, but after I saw you on stage last night, all thoughts of hanging out with my friends flew out the window,” When she doesn’t seem convinced, I press on. “There’s something between us. I felt it and I know you felt it the way your body reacted to the way I was hosing you off in the tent.”
With a sad smile, she opens her beer can with a loud pop. "I won’t deny we have chemistry. I felt it the first moment I laid eyes on you. But I don’t want to build a life on lust, no matter how great it would be. I want to build a life based on love and trust. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go back on the deck and talk to Sky.” She takes a step toward the door.
Damn it. I’m making a mess out of this. I need to say something quick, “Let’s go out on a date, and I’ll explain everything.” I grab her arm to stop her from leaving the room.
“What are you doing?” She tries to free herself, but I squeeze tighter.
Before I can explain my actions, the sliding glass door opens to a confused-looking Sky and Tucker. “Tanner, what’s going on?” Tucker looks to where my hand is gripping Rayne’s arm.
Unable to think of a good excuse as to why I’m manhandling Rayne I act on instinct and roll Rayne onto my back in a fireman’s carry securing her hands and legs with my arms as the rest of her body hangs over my back and neck. All the while Rayne is kicking and yelling for me to put her down.
Realizing I don’t have a car to take Rayne to my cabin because Tucker drove us here, I release my hold on Rayne’s legs and hold them out to Tucker. “Give me your keys.”
“No way. I’m not going to be party to a kidnapping.” Tucker shakes his head.
Surprisingly, Sky steps forward, placing her hand on Tucker’s arm. “Give him your keys. I’ll give you a ride home.”
“But he’s trying to kidnap your friend.”
Impatiently, I wait for them to either give me the keys or call the cops because either way I’m not letting Rayne go until I can talk to her in private or I’m locked behind bars.
“I think it’s romantic.” Sky sighs, the sound causing Rayne to stop her wiggling and yelling.
“You’re on his side. Unbelievable.”
“I think you’ll thank me one day for being on his side this time.” Sky snatches the keys out of Tucker’s hand as he slides them out of his pocket and hands them to me. “As for you. If you hurt her, I’m make sure you regret it.”
I’m left speechless. For such a timid little thing, Sky is a force to be reckoned with if you cross her.
Grabbing the keys out of her hand, I nod and dash out of the house before Sky changes her mind and calls the cops.
To my surprise, Rayne stops struggling and lets me place her in Tucker’s truck. She sits in the passenger seat like a good girl, waiting for me to get into the driver’s side without trying to escape. Which I’ll take as a win because I have a feeling winning against Rayne is going to be few and far between.