“Funny.”
“I thought so.” She paused, as if debating whether to confide in him. “I needed to get away from my friends for a few minutes. My best friend Tessa just landed a huge promotion at the advertising agency where she works, so a group of us went out to celebrate.”
Cash raised a brow. “And you’re hiding out. Wow. You’re a really shitty friend.”
“Me? How about Tessa? She’s the one holding this let’s-gush-about-my-new-job get-together on the same day her best friend was fired.”
“You got fired?”
“Yep, but that’s the least of my problems. I also have a crazy ex to contend with.” She exhaled loudly. “Let’s just say I’ve been having a really bad month, okay?”
Cash could commiserate—his six-month sexual dry spell wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. “Did you like your job?” he asked, deciding not to touch the crazy ex comment.
“No. I hated it, actually. I worked as a salesgirl at a jewelry store and my boss was a total creep. He kept offering to take me to Victoria’s Secret to help me pick out lingerie. You know, in case I need a second opinion.” She blew out another frustrated breath. “But that’s not the point. The point is, I got fired. Again.”
Cash couldn’t help but laugh. “It happens to you a lot?”
“Sure does.” She slanted her head. “What line of work are you in?”
He hesitated for a beat, then said, “Security.”
Fine, he was lying again, but he’d already escaped one navy groupie tonight and he wasn’t looking for a repeat performance. Then again, this woman was so beautiful he might be willing to make an exception.
“Huh. I figured you’d say military. You give off a military vibe. I mean, look at that big, buff body of yours—it ought to be illegal.”
He didn’t miss the slight note of derision when she said the word military. “Got something against military men?” he asked lightly.
“Nope. I respect the hell out of them,” she answered. “I just don’t want to date them.”
He frowned, a part of him wanting to admit he’d lied about his job, just to see how she’d react. But she kept talking before he could get a word in. “I bet you’re good at security. Me, on the other hand? I suck at everything.”
Cash smiled. “I don’t believe that.”
“It’s true. That’s why I always get fired. School was never my thing, so I didn’t go to college. I have no interest in medicine like my mom, no distinguishable talents, no great passions. I like messing around with my camera and taking pictures, but that’s just a hobby.” Vulnerability flashed in her big blue eyes. “Do you think there’s a certain age when you should have everything figured out? Because I just turned twenty-six, and I still have no idea what I want to do with my life.”
He shrugged. “I think everyone figures stuff out at their own pace. Eventually you’ll find yourself on the right path.”
“I guess.” Her shoulders sagged. “Maybe I should get into porn. According to some creepy producer who approached me on the street, I have the ‘look’ for it.”
“You really got asked to do porn?” Well. Apparently he wasn’t the only one who could totally picture this blue-eyed beauty in his own personal naked film.
“Yes, I really did,” she said in a glum voice.
“Porn’s an admirable profession,” he said solemnly.
She pursed her lips in thought. “But my porn-star name sucks. You know how you’re supposed to take the name of your first pet and pair it with the street you grew up on? Well, our dog’s name was Boris and I grew up on Denton Street. Boris Denton. That sounds like a dictator.”
“I’m not even going to ask why you’d name your dog Boris.”
“That’s my brother’s doing.” She fired him a curious look. “What would your porn name be?”
“I don’t know. I never had any pets growing up.” He shrugged again. “Besides, I’ve been told my real name sounds like a porn name anyway, so I guess I’ve already got one.” He supplied his name before she could ask. “Cash McCoy.”
She promptly shook her head. “That’s not a porn name. That’s cowboy all the way.”
“Cowboy,” he echoed dubiously.
“Hell yeah. Or maybe an actor.” She clapped her hands together. “An actor who plays a cowboy. Can’t you see it?” Her voice deepened to mimic the movie-man voice from the previews. “One duel, one chance to avenge his pa’s murder…Cash McCoy in…High Noon Outlaw.” She grinned at him. “Maybe that’s what I should do—write the copy for movie trailers.”
“I think you should stick to porn. High Noon Outlaw sounds like the worst movie on the planet.”
As another peal of laughter left that Cupid’s bow mouth of hers, lust slammed into his groin again. Damn, her lips were so damn sexy. Pink, ripe and utterly kissable. His mouth tingled, and he had to fight the urge to lean in and press his lips to hers. He was dying to know if she tasted as sweet as she looked. The kind of noises she’d make when their tongues touched.
“Why do you keep staring at my lips?”
Sheepish, he met her eyes, which were narrowed with distrust. “I can’t help it. You have really nice lips.”
“And let me guess, they’d look even nicer wrapped around your dick.”
He choked out a laugh. “You said it, not me.”
“But you were thinking it.”
Yup, he sure was. And his cock seemed to enjoy the wicked thoughts running through Cash’s mind—the big boy was harder than a baseball bat, pushing against his zipper and begging for some attention.
“So it’s true, huh? Men really do think about sex like every other minute,” she said in a wry voice.
“Afraid so,” he confirmed.
Rolling her eyes, the blonde bombshell ran a hand through her hair, causing the scent of her shampoo to drift into his nose and wreak havoc on his senses. She smelled like cherries—man oh man, he loved cherries.
Make a move, McCoy.
His brain’s order—or had that come from his cock?—called attention to the opportunity staring him square in the eye. Here he was, sitting in the dark with a beautiful woman and an erection—why the hell was he dilly-dallying?
“You know, I just had a thought,” he drawled.
“Is that a new occurrence for you? Is your brain tingling?”
One of them is…
Cash fought a grin and slid across the couch, stopping when only a mere foot separated them. “See, you just got fired, which means you’re upset. And I’m not the kind of man who walks away when he encounters a damsel in distress.”
“Uh-huh. Go on.”
“It’s in my nature to want to ease that distress. Lucky for you, I know exactly how I can make you feel better.”
“I’m sure you do.” Her lips twitched as if she were holding back laughter. “So, pray tell, what will make me feel better?”
“A kiss.”
“Ah.” She paused. “I think I’ll pass.”
“You sure about that?”
He slid even closer, so that his thigh pressed into hers. The moment contact was made, a jolt of heat seared through his camo pants and scorched his skin. The blonde’s eyes widened at his nearness, but she didn’t scoot away. In fact, he was certain he glimpsed a flicker of desire in those baby-blues. And he’d definitely heard the hitch in her breath.
Oh, and look at that, the tip of her tongue was sweeping over her bottom lip.
Cash chuckled. “You totally want to kiss me.”
Even in the darkness, he saw the blush staining her cheeks. “I do not.”
“Yes you do. You licked your lips.”
“So?”
“So that’s a clear sign of anticipation.” His voice took on a note of pure male arrogance. “You’re dying for me to put my mouth on you. And don’t think I forgot about your big, buff body comment. You’re into me—don’t bother denying it.”
He expected her to deny it. He expected her to hop off the couch in indign
ation and tell him where to shove it.
What he didn’t expect?
Getting mauled.
Before he could blink, two warm hands cupped his chin and yanked his head down, and then that sexy mouth collided with his in a hard, reckless kiss.
Oh yeah. That’s what he was talkin’ about.
His pulse accelerated as she devoured his mouth. Devoured it. Everything about the kiss drove him mad with arousal. The softness of her lips, the hungry swirl of her tongue, the nip of her teeth on his bottom lip. Every inch of his body throbbed, every muscle tight with sexual tension. Those long, desperate kisses summoned a low groan from his chest, making him want to flip her onto her back and grind his aching cock into the juncture of her thighs.
Shit, it had been way too long since he’d kissed a woman, and damn it, as satisfying as it was feeling that hot mouth pressed to his, it wasn’t nearly enough.
Fingers shaking from lust overload, he stroked the graceful curve of her neck, then dropped his hands to her breasts. When he squeezed those perfect tits, she moaned into his lips and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Spurred on by her moans, he continued to explore her petite body over her clothing, skimming his fingertips over her slender hips, her flat belly, firm thighs that clenched beneath his touch. His hands drifted back to her breasts, and he began to toy with her nipples through her shirt, his mouth flooding with saliva as he imagined sucking on those rigid buds.
“You know what, cowboy?” she murmured as she wrenched her mouth free. “I do feel better.”
She sounded surprised, embarrassed even, but he didn’t give her time to second-guess her decision to maul him. Instead, he dipped his head to kiss her again, slowly leaning into her until she lay flat on her back and his body covered hers. Groaning, he deepened the kiss, then parted her legs with his knee and ground himself into her thigh, his hips matching the frantic thrusting of his tongue.
“Oh,” she squeaked. “You’re…hard.”
“That’s what usually happens when I’m making out with a beautiful woman.” He nuzzled her neck, then licked his way up to her ear, tracing the delicate lobe with his tongue. “What about you, sweetheart? Are you wet for me?”
She moaned.
He bit on her earlobe. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes. God, yes.” Making an agitated sound, she shifted beneath him, wrapped her legs around his hips and arched her back so that he was grinding into her warm mound.
Lust fogged Cash’s brain. His erection ached, craving release. His balls drew up tight, tingling as he pumped faster, needing the contact, the relief. When she glided her hands down his back and squeezed his ass, he nearly lost it.
“Fuck,” he choked out. “I need more.”
She responded with a breathy moan that made his groin tighten with need. As his pulse shrieked like a banshee in his ears, he brought his hand to her waist and undid the button of her jeans. Screw it. So what if they were in a coatroom? So what if someone could walk in at any moment? So what if he didn’t even know her name? He was no drama queen, but he feared he might actually die if he didn’t fuck this woman. Like. Right. Now.
She made the sexiest whimpering noise he’d ever heard when his fingers dipped underneath the elastic of her lacy panties. He slid his hand inside, groaning at the first feel of her pussy. Holy hell. She was completely bare. And so very wet.
Cash rubbed her damp sex with his palm, using the heel of his hand to apply pressure to her clit.
“Oh God,” she whimpered. “Don’t stop.”
Stop? He doubted that was even possible, not when the words go, go, go pounded in his head like some kind of tribal rhythm.
He pushed one finger into her wet heat, growling when her inner muscles clenched around it. Jesus, she was tight.
“I’ve never done this before,” she said breathlessly.
Cash froze.
Holy hell. Was she a virgin?
Guilt slammed into him, along with a tug of disgust—directed at himself. He’d been so blinded by her angelic face and smoking-hot body that he’d completely ignored all the signs: her shyness, the nervous babbling, the sweet blush on her cheeks. She clearly wasn’t some vixen seductress, and he was a real asshole for not picking up on that.
Soft laughter jarred him from his self-reproach. She must have sensed where his thoughts had drifted because her eyes twinkled knowingly. “Relax. I’m not a virgin. I just meant that I’ve never fooled around with a stranger before.”
He relaxed. “Oh. Thank God. I was feeling like a total ass, thinking I was taking advantage of you.”
She rocked her hips, reminding him of the fact that his finger was still lodged deep inside her. “Nobody’s taking advantage of anyone. You promised to make me feel better, remember?”
Chuckling, he brushed his lips over hers. “Right. I’ll just get back to work then.” To punctuate that, he slipped a second finger into her, drawing a delighted cry from those sexy lips.
Their tongues tangled in a hungry kiss as he pumped his fingers in and out of that tight pussy. His heart hammered out a frantic beat, each wild thud vibrating in his groin and bringing him to a new level of sexual desperation. Excitement built inside him, hot and hungry, making his skin burn. Damn it, he needed more.
With a growl, he lowered his other hand and fumbled with his zipper. The second his jeans came undone, the blonde shoved her hand inside his boxer-briefs and encircled his cock.
A groan lodged in his chest. He thrust into her hand, literally seeing stars as she jerked his aching cock. “Yeah, that’s good,” he hissed out. “A bit faster, sweetheart.”
She jacked faster, squeezing the engorged head on each upstroke, until he felt the telltale tingling sensation in his balls. Oh shit, he was close. Too close. He distracted himself by focusing on her pleasure, feathering his thumb over her clit as his fingers worked that hot channel. Her juices coated his fingers and drenched his palm, making him groan as he imagined his cock being bathed by all that sweet honey.
“Condom,” he croaked. “We need a—”
“What the hell are you two doing?”
An outraged voice reverberated in the room, and then light flooded the small space.
Like a pair of teenagers who’d been busted by their parents, Cash and the blonde broke apart so fast he almost fell on his ass. Hands fumbled with buttons and zippers. Clothing was rearranged. After they made themselves presentable, they both shot to their feet, their guilty gazes darting in the direction of the door.
A stocky man with a bushy mustache and furious eyes stood in the doorway, shaking his head in disgust. “You two aren’t supposed to be in here.” He jabbed his finger in the air. “Both of you, out. Now. Don’t make me call the cops.”
As the man spun on his heel and stormed off, Cash stifled a wry grin. “Well. That didn’t go as planned.” His gaze dropped to his crotch, which sported a big, unhappy bulge.
Discomfort flickered in the blonde’s eyes, which were a brighter blue than he’d realized. In the light, they were the color of a clear sky, with flecks of silver around the pupils, framed by thick dark-blonde lashes.
Biting her bottom lip, she bent down to retrieve the black leather purse sitting on the floor by the couch. “I think the mustache man did us a favor, though. Sex in public is never a good idea.”
“How about sex in private?” he suggested hopefully. “My car’s parked down the street. We could—”
She cut him off. “I’m here with friends, remember? And I already feel like a jerk for disappearing this long. I should probably go back out there and put on my celebration face before Tessa un-friends me.”
He swallowed his disappointment. Wow. The universe really didn’t like him tonight.
“Trust me, you’re dodging a bullet, cowboy,” she added with a sigh. “You don’t want to get involved with me. My life is a total mess right now, and I’m not usually this fun and spontaneous. I’m a total space cadet—seriously, I spend way too much time daydreaming. And let?
??s face it, I’m weird. Nobody gets my sense of humor. I’m super forgetful—I have to leave notes all over my apartment just so I remember to do things, like eat, or breathe. Oh, and I babble a lot, in case you haven’t noticed.” She gave a firm nod. “So yeah, you’re totally dodging a bullet.”
Cash smiled. Damned if that speech didn’t make him like her even more.
“Maybe I’m not a dodging kind of guy,” he said, raising his brows in challenge. “Maybe I’m the man who jumps in front of bullets.”
“Well, then you’re even weirder than I am.” She took a step toward the door.
“Can I at least get your number?” he called after her.
She stopped. “Are you actually going to call? Because with those looks, I bet you collect a lot of numbers.”
“I’ll call,” he promised. A grin lifted his lips. “I think we’d be doing each other a disservice if we didn’t finish what we started.”
She pursed her lips for a moment, indecision creasing her beautiful features. After a beat, she reached into her purse and rummaged around, pulling out a scrap of paper and a pen. He watched the dainty movements of her hand as she scribbled something, and resisted doing a little victory dance.
Clicking her pen, she walked over and handed him the paper. “Here.”
Cash glanced at the phone number, wincing when he saw that she’d also scrawled her name on the paper. Jeez, he really was a manwhore, huh? Getting the woman’s name after he nearly slept with her.
“Jen,” he said sheepishly. “Nice to meet you, Jen.”
“Pleasure was all mine, cowboy.” That cute blush returned to her flawless cheeks. “So, um, yeah, call me.”
With that, she strolled out of the room, leaving him grinning like a goofy idiot. Damn, he couldn’t wait to see her again.
Cash waited a few seconds before exiting the coatroom. Thankfully, the navy groupie didn’t pop out of nowhere and ambush him.
He found himself whistling softly as he left the bar. He clutched Jen’s phone number in his hand like it was a trophy, wishing they’d finished what they’d started but at the same time happy they hadn’t settled for a hurried lay in a public bar. He wanted more than a fully clothed quickie. He wanted her naked in his bed, while his mouth and hands and cock explored every inch of her X-rated body.