Reckless Heat

  Drew was tuning up his bike when I made it over after the celebratory drinks Rhett insisted we have. I was a tiny bit tipsy, which made me feel both better able to tell Drew the news, and incredibly horny.

  We still hadn’t had sex. In fact, we hadn’t gone any further than we did that first night on the beach. I’d expected him to rip my clothes off at the first opportunity, but it was like Drew had sensed that I needed a little more time and was waiting for some sort of signal that we were good to go.

  Maybe I’d finally light that flare tonight. Hell, I was in a celebrating mood, and good sex seemed like a great way to do just that.

  “Hey, you.” Drew grinned and wiped the grease from his face with the back of his hand.

  The look in his eyes made me wobbly on my feet. Or maybe that was the alcohol. “Hey back.”

  Drew rose and wiped his hands on his jeans, then walked over to claim my mouth with his. I almost lost the nerve to tell him. I could just disappear for a few days or possibly forever without mentioning it, right? It wasn’t that I was afraid he would be upset so much as I was afraid that he wouldn’t care at all. I didn’t think I could handle that.

  Screw it. I just needed to get it over with.

  I licked my tingling lips before I spoke. “I’ve got an announcement.”

  He frowned, his normally bright green eyes wary. “Not sure I like the sound of that.”

  I plunged forward.

  “I’m leaving in the morning for a job interview,” I said and bit my lip. “Back in Boston.”

  Drew’s gazes fixed on me, pinning me to the spot. “Job interview, huh? For journalism?”

  I nodded.

  He let out a sigh and pulled me toward him, circling his muscular arms around my back. He smelled like he always did – a mixture of sweat, dirt, and something else that I’d never been able to put my finger on. Whatever it was, it was like crack to me. I rested my head on his chest.

  “Let’s not talk about it,” Drew suggested. His deep voice rumbled through my cheek. “You’re coming back, right?”

  I nodded. “On Sunday.”

  “Good.” His hands lowered to my butt, and he gave it a hearty squeeze. “Cause I’m not done with you yet.”

  The dark promise in his voice nearly made me forget that I had to leave at all. A shiver ran down my spine. Job interview? What job interview?

  I blamed my lackluster interview performance on the fact that I hadn’t slept well the night before, so I didn’t have to think about what was really on my mind. Who was really on my mind.

  Unfortunately, my parents demanded an in-depth play-by-play over dinner that night. I’d missed them and their constant bickering. I’d also missed gourmet food. Holy hell was my ravioli good.

  “The only Italian place in Holmwood also happens to be the only date-appropriate restaurant in town, so it’s always filled with teenage couples and married people with something to celebrate,” I explained as I shoveled the pasta into my mouth.

  My parents watched in amusement. “If you don’t go back, you won’t have to stock up so much on the good food while you’re here,” Mom said, a smile in her eyes. “You could come anytime you wanted.”

  Fiamo was one of my mom’s favorite restaurants in the city. It would probably be enough to deter her from moving away all on its own.

  I speared another piece of pasta. “Rhett made the very good point that I’m figuring out how to be non-student me while I’m in North Carolina. And his parent’s place is close to the beach.”

  My mom gave me a knowing smile. “Are you sure that’s all that’s making you so eager to get back?”

  I swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  The conversation turned soon afterward to my dad’s work – he’d performed a particularly tricky bypass surgery today – but I couldn’t get my mom’s words out of my head. Would I be so eager to get back if it weren’t for Drew?

  More importantly, how hard would it be if I got this job and had to leave for good?

  I elected not to think about it, and instead shoved another ravioli into my mouth and chewed with fierce determination.

  7

  Drew

  I didn’t hang around my phone on Sunday. It was the last day of the fair, so I had plenty to do to keep busy. In between shows, I went to my hotel and packed up the few items I’d brought with me, then called my sister and assured her that I’d be good to play Ultimate Frisbee with her the morning after I got home. The girl was an addict. And my brothers and I were definitely enablers.

  After my last show, when I knew Jinx was likely back in town, I drove my bike back to the hotel and had a shower just in case she decided to stop by. We mostly hung out in my room when we weren’t out around town. Not like we could hang out at Rhett’s family’s house.

  I was annoyed with her. I didn’t want to be, but I was. Who was I to get in the way of her career? It wasn’t like we’d made any sort of commitment, but I still wanted to hold her tight and keep her with me.

  I was irritated with myself for feeling like that. And also irritated with her for making me feel like that. In general, I was just irritated.

  There was a gentle knock on my door just after ten. I knew it was her without even having to look, and my heart jumped in my chest.

  “Hey,” Jinx greeted when I opened the door. She was wearing that little sundress I’d first seen her in on the main strip. I’d never told her how fucking hot it was.

  “Hey.” I stepped aside to let her in.

  She came into the room but didn’t sit. She just stood there, wringing her hands in front of her and nibbling at her lip. A rush of blood went straight to my cock. I was having trouble remembering why I shouldn’t rip off her clothes and fuck her against the wall.

  “You didn’t reply to my text,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind that I stopped by.”

  “Haven’t checked my phone much.” The words came out flat.

  “Oh.” She looked down at her hands, and I instantly felt guilty.

  I raked my fingers through my hair. Shit. I’d have to tell her what was wrong now instead of just pretending like her leaving didn’t affect me. Awesome.

  “Look, Jinx...”

  She glanced back up at me, her eyes just wide enough for me to see that she thought I was about to kick her out. I couldn’t stand her being so uncertain and stepped forward, grasping her forearms. I loved how when I was up close, I could see the little flecks of gold in her eyes. They mesmerized me, making me forget what I’d been saying.

  “You’re killing me here. What is it?”

  “If you’re planning on going back to Boston...” I shook my head, frowning as I tried to find the right words, “I mean, I always figured you would, but I guess the interview really solidified that. What I’m trying to say is that I know this thing between us – whatever it is – will end.” I sighed. “I can’t move to Boston, Jinx. There’s no work for me there. And long distance just doesn’t work, not for anybody.”

  I didn’t tell her my other worry – that if she went back again, even just for a visit, she’d see just how much I didn’t fit in her life. I was afraid she’d already seen it anyway.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “They probably won’t hire me anyway. I don’t think I did very well on the interview.”

  I should have told her that they’d be crazy to not want her, but I was so relieved that I couldn’t do anything but kiss her. She was just as soft and warm as I remembered, and her body fit against mine snugly. Perfectly. I deepened the kiss, wanting to sear the memory of our connection into my mind forever. Just in case.

  I put a hand on the small of her back, used it to press her body even more firmly against me. Her hands gripped at the fabric of my t-shirt and pulled it up, but she couldn’t quite reach over my head. I chuckled and pulled back just enough to assist her. Skin to skin was worth a few seconds apart. There was a fire in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before, and my cock twitched in anticipation. I wouldn’t force her, but I
wasn’t going to pull back anymore either.

  Her skin was so soft against my calloused fingers, and I loved that they didn’t seem to bother her. I eased the straps of her dress off her shoulders as I pressed my lips against her neck. She smelled like honey and tasted even sweeter. Her nipples were hard and visible through the thin fabric of her dress.

  The fantasy I’d had of making her cry out while I pounded into her from behind, dress bunched around her hips, sprang to the front of my mind.

  But not tonight. Tonight, we would take things slow. I’d lavish attention on every inch of her skin. And the next time she thought about moving back to Boston, she’d feel the memory of my lips on her like a hot brand.

  Jinx sighed and tipped her head back, allowing me better access. I slid my hands down, moving over the curve of her ass, and then under the skirt to find her bare flesh.

  Fuck.

  She wasn’t wearing any panties, and I was fairly certain she wasn’t wearing a bra either.

  The dress had to go.

  Her tongue tangled with mine as I found the zipper at the back of her dress. I eased it down, felt the smooth expanse of her back under my fingertips. I kissed along her jaw until my mouth reached her ear.

  “I’ll stop if you tell me to,” I said, “but I really want to take this dress off of you and do wicked, wicked things to that amazing body you have.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What if I want to do wicked, wicked things to your amazing body?”

  Cheeky little minx.

  I reclaimed her mouth and pushed her dress off the rest of the way, letting it pool at her feet. The next second my mouth was on her tits, tongue, and lips moving all around until I reached her perfectly pink nipples. I took each one in my mouth in turn, sucking until they were taut and Jinx was moaning, writhing.

  She arched her back, leaning into the hand balancing her. “That feels so good, Drew.”

  I growled, mouth still working over her nipple as I moved my hand down between her legs. Fuck. She was sopping wet for me.

  “I’ve wanted to fuck you since I first saw you in town,” I told her as I moved us back to the bed. “You were wearing this same dress. I fantasized about what your body looked like underneath.” I nipped at the sensitive bud and then moved back to her mouth as I lowered her to the bed.

  When I finally straightened, her entire body was flushed, and I allowed myself to look as I yanked my shirt over my head. Desire flared in her eyes, sending a jolt of pride through me. I liked that she wanted me. Me. Not the excitement of being with someone like me, but me.

  “Does reality live up to your expectations?”

  I grinned as my pants joined my shirt, leaving me in a pair of boxers. I leaned down and nibbled on her lower lip. “It exceeds it.”

  Jinx’s hand rubbed my cock through my boxers, and a shiver ran down my spine. “Why don’t you take these off so I can see if you live up to my expectations?” Her tone was playful and light, but it reached some deep, primal part of me.

  I kicked off my boxers, and when I straightened, she was staring at the hard-on I’d been sporting from pretty much the first time I’d laid eyes on her.

  “And?” My dick had never been something I was self-conscious about. The expression on her face was exactly why. Thick and long, it’d never failed to hit the spot.

  “Wow. Exceeds expectations.”

  I laughed and kissed her again, slipping my fingers back between her folds, my thumb brushing over her clit. My other hand went to the bedside table, where I’d stashed a box of condoms in anticipation of this very event. I saw Jinx’s eyes follow my hand, and a small smile graced her lips when she saw that the box hadn’t been opened yet.

  As if I’d thought about fucking anyone but her since the moment I tasted her lips.

  I desperately wanted to bury my tongue between her legs, but I needed to be inside her. It only took a second for me to sheathe myself, and then I poised my body over hers, nudging the head of my cock at her seam. If my hands hadn’t been pressed against the mattress, they would have been shaking. I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her.

  I watched her face as I pushed in slowly, inch by painful inch, relishing the way her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and her jaw dropped open. Fuck, she looked good impaled on my dick.

  She was so tight and so hot, it felt like sinking into heaven itself. Or maybe with that heat, it was more like hell. Wherever it was, I would spend eternity there if it meant I got to stay inside her.

  When I was finally completely inside, I rested my forehead against hers, trying to process the intense sensations coursing through me, not the least of which was amazement and relief that we were finally together.

  “You feel so fucking good.”

  Her nails dug into my back, and she nipped my earlobe, her body arching against me. My mind went blank, unable to focus on anything but the woman beneath me. I took three long, deep strokes...and then she cried out my name, and I felt her shake around me, saw her face as she came.

  Fuck.

  I pulled out and slammed back in again, trying and failing to hold myself back. The part of me that wanted to take things slow and savor every second was gone, and something darker had been unleashed. We crashed into each other again and again, all finesse gone. This was raw and primal coupling. Our kisses were sloppy and wet, our breathing ragged. Even as I had all of her, I still couldn’t slake my thirst.

  I wanted more. I wanted everything. I wanted her.

  Her hips rolled in time with my thrusts. Her moans grew louder, and I knew she was close again.

  “Oh, Drew!” she cried out my name. Then her nails tore biting lines of pleasure down my back.

  Seeing her come apart below me again was so beautiful, so fucking arousing, that I came right then and there. Anchoring my hips against hers and slamming my lips down to her mouth one final time, I reveled in the pure bliss of the moment.

  Jinx would be a hard one to forget. I was beginning to hope I’d never have to.

  8

  Jinx

  Having sex with Drew was everything I’d dreamed it would be and more. I knew that sounded super corny, but I couldn’t have wished for a better first time with him. Usually, when you had sex with a new partner, there was the expectancy that things wouldn’t be entirely smooth sailing. And yeah, it was usually awkward.

  But with Drew, it was like our bodies spoke the same language. We moved together. We came together. Lost ourselves together.

  And damn, it was hot.

  But that didn’t mean I’d figured out how I felt about our earlier discussion. Or at least our partial discussion. I mean, I was relieved that he wasn’t just waiting for me to hop off back to Boston so he could go back to being gorgeous and unfettered. He wanted me to stay, and it warmed me to the core.

  But he also didn’t seem at all compelled to comfort me for what had been a truly dismal interview. Or even express any sympathies about it. At least, I’d thought it was dismal. Looking back, it was hard to tell how the interviewers would have interpreted my awkward behavior. But either way, I would have liked something from Drew.

  All of this hit me immediately after Drew had gotten up to get rid of the condom. He slid back into bed a moment later, and my attitude had flipped drastically. Though I still couldn’t resist cuddling up next to his muscular chest and listening to the deep thudding of his heart, I couldn’t shake the negative cloud that had come over what we’d just done.

  On Monday morning, I went shopping with Rhett. He was concerned about what coming out would mean for his job prospects in the small town and wanted to dress to impress just in case. I still didn’t understand why he insisted on coming back home after four years in the big city, but Rhett and I had very different views on family. He needed to be close to his to feel like himself. I only needed to talk to mine every once in a while to achieve the same result.

  But hey, whatever worked for him, I guess.

  “I’m not sure that Holmwood is
ready for a waistcoat,” Rhett commented, turning to get a view of the three piece from the side. The angled mirrors at the far end of the change room reflected a very handsome, very well-dressed man with a very big frown.

  “Then why pick one out?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “A man can dream. What do you think of the rest of the outfit?”

  I held back a comment about how he shouldn’t have to fit into a certain mold just because that was the law of the land here. Rhett was a big boy, and he could make his own choices. If he stayed true to who he was, him sticking around would be good for this little town.

  I dropped my eyes and surveyed the outfit. “I think that you look smokin’ hot.”

  He gave me a flat look. “I’m not one of your girlfriends, Jinx. You don’t have to primp me up quite so much.”

  “I mean it,” I insisted. “You look amazing. Anyone would be dumb not to hire you.”

  “Unless they had a problem with my credentials or personality,” he muttered.

  The unspoken words hung in the air. Or my sexuality.

  “Whoever has the privilege of getting you into an interview will quickly see how much of an asset you’d be to any school.” I rose and walked toward him, placing a hand on his sleeve. The material was incredibly soft. “But you could always...”

  “Go back to Boston, I know.” He wrinkled his nose, then sighed. “This is my home, Jinx. Whether I like it or not, and whether the townspeople like it or not.” He stood a little taller. “I’m going to smash down some barriers and look good doing it.”

  “There’s the spirit!”

  I wished I had that same kind of uncomplicated drive right now. If I was as gung-ho about getting a job back in Boston as Rhett was about getting one in Holmwood, I’d have been set. But something was holding me back from being too hasty with my decisions.

  Someone.