Cross My Heart (Heroes of Seaside Point Book 2) Page 4

  As soon as she had a fairly good head start, he followed behind at a decent, undiscoverable pace, even more angry when she led him into the town square and then disappeared inside the Seaside Point Fire Department. As soon as he inched closer to peer inside, he realized she’d outsmarted him again. So much for confrontation.

  With a disgusted sigh, he extracted his phone from his pocket and dialed. “I’ve followed her to the fire station. There’s a new development.”

  “Good or bad?”

  “I’m thinking it’s bad. She met one of the firemen.”

  “What color was his shirt?”

  “White. Why?”

  “That’s Travis Dupree. He’s the captain of the crew and a paramedic. They’re not an item.”

  “I think you’re mistaken. She shoved him into an office and shut the door.”

  “So? People talk behind closed doors all the time. What else did you see?”

  “Nothing. I can’t get any closer.”

  “It’s time to let her know you’re watching her.”

  “I’m way ahead of you. By the end of the evening, there will be no mistaking how close I am.”

  ***

  Travis looked down at the insanely beautiful woman crouched between his legs and hoped to hell he could practice some sort of self-control. Although she’d been there before, each experience proved that time had only fueled the fire between them.

  She wasted no time in removing his pants a second time and as soon as they lay around his ankles, his aching cock made a beeline for her full, plump lips, screaming for her to suck it into the warm, wet recesses of her mouth. He wound his fingers into the tresses of her hair and gave a pull. “Open for me, pretty baby.”

  A soft moan separated her lips and his cock slid easily into the moist entrance.

  “Sweet Jesus,” he groaned as she closed her mouth around him in a tight suction. Lost in utter content, he squeezed closed his eyes and widened his stance.

  Shivers of content climbed his spine as her tongue made several light, circular sweeps across his ultrasensitive head before finally moving to one side to allow her lips to crawl down toward the base of his cock. Her throat muscles worked in tandem to ease him inside, massaging each inch, taunting with every squeeze. His cock jumped and pulsed within the confines, greedy for more attention. And then, as if answering the silent demand, she swallowed him whole.

  A wave of impatience rolled over him as he gave her hair another yank and thrust his hips to begin a slow in-and-out rhythm. “That’s it, sweetheart. Take it all.”

  Her soft mew told him she was lost in the same lustful fog and forced his gaze downward. The hair he didn’t grasp in his fists fell forward around his hold, framing her face in a silky, black curtain. Her breasts were firm and tight beneath her top, her nipples peaked and visible, a clue that her panties were most likely wet. Saturated with desire. Her fingers indented the skin of his thighs while her lips wrapped his cock like saran wrap, making each of his thrusts snug and tight.

  Heaven, pure Heaven.

  He slipped into a comfortable cadence, driven by the silky smooth motion of her lips as they traveled down the length of his cock and back again. Squeezed in a vise of pure sensual sensation, the world around him disappeared. His only concern at that exact moment was the woman who expertly talked him out of his underwear and now held his dick hostage.

  The same woman who also held his heart.

  As if she felt the same magical connection between them, she raised her gaze. Now almost black, her midnight-blue eyes sparkled with arousal as she devoured him with every stroke. And although her lips were stretched around his cock, the hunger in her expression mirrored his present state of mind. He released a low, satisfied groan as she relaxed her jaw enough to loosen the suction and her tongue again swept the surface of his head. His whole body jerked when a warning shot of electricity zapped every single vertebrae in his backbone.

  Touch her, he had to touch her.

  “Stop, baby.”

  Her lips paused at the base of his cock and then slowly loosened the rest of the way into a sultry smile. A tight grimace moved his own lips as he stepped back and the hard flesh slipped free of the hot ecstasy surrounding it.

  “Come here.”

  He grasped one elbow and helped her to stand, distracted by her swollen, rosy red lips – particularly the bottom one that glistened with moisture she used as lubrication to glide over him. Pure desperation made him pull her against him and take her lips in a soul-binding kiss.

  Verity released a moan of pure satisfaction as Travis held her lips hostage with his, massaging them more than kissing them, making sweet love to her mouth. Tingles of electricity climbed her spine as he grasped her hips and pressed against her, the warmth of his body penetrating hers. Her nipples tightened as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, coaxing hers to play.

  Lost in a whirlwind of desire, she almost screamed when he ended the kiss and lifted his head.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” His lips split into a panty-dampening smile. “Take off your shirt.”

  She reached to grasp the hem and pull the top up and over her head, tossing it to the desk.

  He dipped his head and licked the hollow between her breasts. Then, with one hand he pulled back the cup of her bra and took a nipple between his lips.

  Out of pure delight, she arched into his mouth. “More,” she whispered.

  Just as he slid his hands around toward the catch of her bra, the sound of eardrum-piercing sirens penetrated her lustful fog.

  “Hell.” Travis bent and yanked his pants back up over his hips and fastened them. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

  She shook her head as she grabbed her top and poked it back over her head. “That’s what we get for sneaking around on duty.”

  “Here.” He tossed her a set of keys. “Lock up when the last engine leaves and leave them in the cubby where I hang my fire gear.” He gave her a quick kiss and then headed out the door.

  * * *

  As soon as she pushed open the heavy door to McGill’s, Lexi knew she had a pretty good chance of getting lucky. Tuesday nights were Ladies Night and the event attracted males by the truckload. There would be no problem checking the items off her list, it would just take a healthy dose of aggressiveness on her part.

  Determined to win the game, she positioned herself behind the railing that surrounded the bar and moved her gaze around the room to scope out a victim.

  “Well, well, well.”

  A warm rush covered Lexi’s body as a warm breath caressed the crook of her neck from the husky male voice she knew all too well. Maverick Ryder. The one absolutely swoonworthy man who managed to annoy her on a daily basis.

  “If it isn’t Sexy Lexi.”

  She closed her eyes and swallowed, tempted to spin around and show him just how sexy Lexi could be. She resisted the urge to snort. Like that would discourage him.

  Instead, she squared her shoulders, folded her arms across her chest, and slowly turned to face him. “How many times have I asked you not to call me that in public?”

  “At least a thousand.”

  “Are you ever going to stop?”

  “Nope.”

  “That’s what I thought,” she mumbled. “Could you at least keep your voice down?”

  “I could. But that wouldn’t be any fun.”

  Fun. No doubt Maverick could show her a whole lot of fun. She quickly harnessed those wayward thoughts and put them back on the scavenger hunt. Why not let him help? He owed her several favors for using the nickname.

  “I need your help.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes, Maverick.” She thrust her card at him. “I need all of these items and I’m pretty sure you can provide most of them.”

  He took the card and a wide smile soon split his lips. “You think I can give you chocolate cake?”

  “No!” She released a hard breath. “The
others.”

  He tucked the list into his shirt pocket and then braced his back against the railing. “Boxers, huh?”

  “Yes.”

  “On one condition.”

  “Oh geez, quit stalling! I’m on a deadline.”

  “You take them off of me.”

  “Are you kidding?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  She bit her bottom lip while she questioned her motives for demanding he hand over his underwear. The game. It was all about the game.

  “Where?”

  “Wherever you’d like.”

  “Come on, Maverick. Just go into the men’s room and undress.”

  “I’m not a big fan of commando but I’d do it for you.” Another ladykiller smile split his lips. “With my earlier stipulation.”

  “I’m not sure I want to win that badly,” she mumbled. Her conscience cleared its throat. Liar.

  “What’s the prize?”

  “Bragging rights,” she said weakly.

  “All the more reason to follow through. At least you’ll get to brag that you talked me out of them.”

  “You’re not putting up much of a fight,” she drawled.

  “You’re right. I’m actually talking you into doing something you know full well you want to do.”

  A wave of heat consumed her body and she knew for sure her cheeks were rosy red. Peeling Maverick out of his underwear was almost as good as Vanessa’s chocolate chip cookies.

  “You know I’m right,” he taunted.

  She narrowed her gaze. “You’re the devil.”

  He simply shrugged and gave her an I’m waiting look. Well, he could just wait.

  She folded her arms across her chest and prepared to hold her ground. He had another thing coming if he thought he could bully her into giving in – a whole lot of things, as a matter of fact.

  He mirrored her gesture and his t-shirt shifted over the hard muscles of his chest, shoulders, and biceps. Drool gathered in the corners of her mouth and she swallowed hard. She could do this. All she had to do was wait him out while his body taunted her until he figured out she wouldn’t budge.

  No pressure.

  Seconds ticked by while the standoff persisted. Music continued blaring from the sound system. Patrons – all of whom still wore their underwear, she assumed – appeared to be having a good time, oblivious to her dilemma. She almost laughed out loud. What a dilemma.

  Maverick finally unfolded his arms and glanced at the watch fastened around his wrist. “Didn’t you say something about a deadline?”

  She cocked her head to one side. “Yes, but it’s only relevant if I want to win.”

  “Oh, you want to win.”

  “Maybe.”

  “No maybe about it.”

  She took three more seconds to talk some sense into herself before she released a heavy sigh. For the first time in forever, her conscience decided to play mute.

  “Fine.”

  He gave her an arrogant, told-ya-so grin and gestured with one hand to a hallway in the corner. “After you.”

  Something between caution and naughty excitement accelerated her heartbeat as she realized she’d just made a deal with the devil. A mouth-wateringly, sexy devil with a pitchfork made for fun.

  Lord help her, she was going down in flames.

  Maverick followed behind Lexi, hypnotized by the sway of her hips and her perfect, heart-shaped ass. As usual, she wore a tight, short skirt obviously tailor-made for her figure, hugging her attributes and making his mouth dry. There was total truth in the nickname he used. Sexy Lexi. Damn.

  His cock twitched in warning. For the first time in a very long time, removing his shorts was going to be a true test of self-control. Although, she might let him off easily. As reluctant as she appeared to be to follow through, the process should go quickly. Like ripping off a Band-Aid – except a whole lot more pleasurable.

  When they stood in the open hallway, she turned to face him, a puzzled frown marring those plump, pink lips.

  She pointed up at the light fixture. “Not so dark here, hotshot.”

  “I wasn’t planning to flash the crowd.”

  “You said the hallway.”

  “No, I gestured in this direction.” He pushed open a door clearly labeled MEN. “You told me to undress in here.”

  She gave her sparkling green eyes a roll and then stepped inside. “Lock the door.”

  “Can’t.”

  “Well, then.” She braced her back against the wooden barrier, as if her maybe-one-hundred-and-twenty-pound body could prevent entry. “Hurry up and peel them off.”

  “Nuh-huh.”

  “What? I thought you agreed.”

  “I agreed, with the stipulation that you take them off.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re not going to hold me to that, are you?”

  “Absolutely.” He reached for one of her hands and then braided their fingers. “But not in front of this door. Your tiny body won’t keep anyone out.”

  She released a long breath, as if she were relieved. “Thank goodness. I thought for a minute you expected me to choose a stall.”

  “There’s two. Take your pick.”

  “Really, Maverick? You expect me to de-pants you in a bathroom stall?”

  “You’re lucky. McGill’s is one of the few places where the men’s room still has stalls. I suggest the handicapped one on the end, it’s larger.”

  Disappointment nudged him when she made no effort to move. One more poke and then he’d let her off the hook.

  “It’s your game. Just don’t be a sore loser.”

  “Go,” she spat as she pushed herself off the door. “All the way to the end.”

  Once they were inside, he slid the lock and then braced his back against the wall opposite the toilet paper dispenser. Lexi gave him one last long look and then knelt between his legs. He made the dire mistake of looking down.

  His cock went rogue, threatening to rip past the zipper on his jeans, tear right through his clothing, and go for the glory.

  “I assume you have a plan,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “Oh, I have definite strategy.” Her head bobbed in front of his groin as she spoke, the motion tormenting him with several wicked thoughts. His fingers itched to wind them in the depths of her hair and pull tight as she opened her mouth around him.

  Holy hell.

  He inhaled a deep breath as she grasped the metal pull with two fingers and then slowly dragged down his zipper over the tract until she stopped at the bulge caused by his very cramped, screaming hard-on.

  Her tongue left her mouth and swept her bottom lip as she glanced up at him. “I seem to have encountered a roadblock. This might take me longer than I thought.”

  Well, damn. The tiny stick of dynamite had just turned the tables on him and blown his plan to tease her all to hell. The sight of her hands positioned on both sides of his cock caused pure, raw lust to sprint through his system.

  “Do you need a few minutes?” she prompted.

  “Ignore it.”

  She glanced back down at his stiffened dick. “Don’t think I can.”

  With an iron control he certainly did not feel, he reached down and tilted her chin with one finger. “Lexi, unless you want me to take you right here, against this probably very contaminated bathroom wall, you will do everything in your power to get this over with and you will do it right now.”

  For half a second, she appeared stunned at his ultimatum and he honestly expected her to remove his clothing post-haste. And then, he saw the devil dance in the depths of her eyes.

  “What makes you think I’m worried, Maverick?”

  “I’m dead serious. Do what you came to do or I won’t be responsible for the consequences.”

  As if she hadn’t heard a word he said, she moved a hand and traced a fingernail down the length of his erection. “Impressive.”

  “Sonuvabitch.”

  Gripping her shoulders, he drew her to her feet, pushed h
er back from him, and then painfully shoved his jeans and boxer-briefs over his raging hard-on and down his legs. Once he stepped free enough to extract her bounty, he re-positioned the denim and pulled it back over his hips. He zipped very carefully.

  “Here.” He thrust his underwear at her.

  She took it from him and looped the waistband around her right index finger. “I was under the impression you wanted me to remove them.”

  “You know damn well why I changed my mind. Wad them in your fist and let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Just as he reached for the lock, satisfied that things were finally under control, he heard the squeak of an opening door. His gaze flew to Lexi’s and he managed to cover her mouth before she gave them away.

  Without a second thought, he lifted her and placed her feet on the toilet. He placed his fingers over his lips in an unmistakable warning. He didn’t even have to question whether she’d make a noise; her face was now ghostly white and her mouth hung wide open. He only hoped she wouldn’t drop the evidence.

  Luckily, it wasn’t long before the door squeaked open again. He unlocked the stall and peered around the corner, relieved to see they were alone.

  “C’mon.” He reached to help her step down from the porcelain throne.

  “You owe me,” she growled. “Big time.”

  “The men’s room was your idea,” he reminded her as they exited.

  “Doesn’t matter. You made me go inside.”

  “Okay Sexy Lexi, I owe you. Just be careful about what you ask for next time.”

  Rather than answer, she made a beeline for the door. He followed behind, almost desperate for an excuse to keep her there.

  “Hey, what about the baseball bat?”

  She stopped and gestured with her head at the bartender. “I’m sure Blake has one he’ll loan me.”

  “No doubt he keeps one behind the bar, but wouldn’t you rather have mine?”

  “You own a bat?”

  “Several.”

  “That’s all well and good, but I don’t have time to wait on you to drive home and get it.”