Tattoo My Heart Page 9

  She raised an eyebrow. “Finish?”

  With a hearty chuckle he shook his head and headed up the stairs.

  ***

  Inside the office of the fire station, Travis ran a hand across his forehead as he processed Casey’s call, suspicious that his best friend hadn’t told him the whole story about the night’s events. Then again, the poor guy had been doused in pepper spray not too many hours ago. As concerned as he was about Annessa, he knew she was safe with Casey. But was Casey safe with her?

  As long as he could remember, trouble always managed to find his sister. Or maybe it was the other way around. One way or another Annessa always ended up in the middle of something. He and Casey both had scars to prove it.

  With a heavy sigh, he dialed his cell phone. Tonight’s plans would have to change.

  Despite his disappointment, a smile split his lips when a breathy hello tickled his ear. “Hey, Verity.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  He frowned. “What makes you think there’s something wrong?”

  “There are only two times you use my name and … we’re not having sex.”

  Travis laughed out loud. The woman was entirely too perceptive. “You can’t imagine the evening I’ve had.”

  “Try me.”

  He relayed the night’s events, relieved to have a confidante. “Long story short, Annessa’s home,” he finished.

  Verity’s light giggle oozed through the line and made a beeline for his cock. His anatomy recognized that same small noise as the one she made when his lips were buried between her legs, nibbling on her soft, wet flesh.

  “Do you need me to take a look at Casey?”

  “He’s fine. I’m more concerned about my sister. I think I should probably stay put tonight.”

  “Absolutely,” she agreed, “but I’ll miss you.”

  He scrubbed a hand down his jaw. “I’ll miss you like hell, Doc.” He released a long breath. “You could come by the house tomorrow night.”

  A several seconds pause almost caused him to panic.

  “Annessa is there,” she said finally.

  He moved to the edge of the chair and braced his elbows on his knees. “Yes, she is. I’m just thinking maybe it’s time to come clean.”

  “We made a deal,” she reminded him.

  “My sisters are gown women. Hell, I’m surprised they haven’t figured it out yet.”

  While he waited for her argument, he racked his brain for a logical rebuttal. Instead, another of those cock-choking giggles caused him to lose concentration.

  “That’s not a decision we have to make tonight.” Her soft silky voice of reason tightened its grip on his dick. “Besides, we can play on the phone, if you’re game.”

  He snapped his head up from between his knees and snickered as he stood to press the lock on the door. “Oh baby, you know I’m game.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Annessa spent the whole next day nervous as hell. Partly because now she was sure someone followed her and partly because Casey was undeniably angry. Not to mention the fact that her brother wouldn’t let her out of his sight. So, there she sat on the steps of Engine Number Five in the middle bay of the Seaside Fire Department, watching Cpt. Travis Dupree shine the already-glistening fire truck.

  “Come on, Travis. I’ll be fine. The alarm company was supposed to be finished by noon. It’s five o’clock.”

  “No. Casey will be here to get you in a few minutes. Then you can go home and do whatever it is you two do when I’m not around.”

  Suddenly, keeping company with her brother just got a whole lot more fun.

  “So Trav,” she said as she braced her feet against the side of the truck, “what do you suppose Casey and I do when we’re all alone?”

  “Don’t know and don’t care.” She noticed her brother’s biceps flex with the force of his motion.

  “Want me to tell you?”

  He stopped in mid-rub and shot her a glare. “You are evil, baby sister.”

  She turned her head to see Maverick stroll through the open garage door. “Betcha Mav knows.”

  Maverick frowned. “Knows what?”

  “Don’t ask,” Travis mumbled.

  “Travis doesn’t know what Casey and I do when we’re alone at the house,” she answered.

  Maverick glanced at Travis and then back at her. “I’m not sure you should share that information, Annessa.”

  Her eyes widened. “You too?”

  “We all helped raised you. That’s not information we need at this point.”

  Her shoulders shook with her giggles. “Fine. Forget I said anything.”

  “Gladly.” Maverick nodded at Travis. “I’ll be upstairs.”

  As soon as Maverick topped the stairs, Travis cleared his throat. “Casey loves you, Annessa.”

  She lifted an eyebrow, somewhat stunned by Travis’ remark. Not because it wasn’t true, but because the words slipped out of his mouth.

  “I love him too, Travis,” she said quietly. “I’m just not sure what that means.”

  Travis stopped wiping the truck, squatted in front of her, and pushed a wayward piece of hair over her shoulder. “It means you should forgive him and put the past behind you.”

  Now she was shocked. “You know about that?”

  “No particulars. I only know that something went insanely wrong and now it’s time to fix it. For both your sakes.”

  “Vanessa told you?”

  “No. Casey’s my best friend, almost my brother. I can read him almost as well as you, brat.”

  She gave her brother a weak smile. “I’m trying, I really am.”

  Travis stood and threw the towel at her. “Try harder.”

  Annessa caught the towel and tossed it from hand to hand while she digested her brother’s advice. Perhaps holding Casey responsible wasn’t entirely fair. Maybe her juvenile, infatuated brain hadn’t thought things through before she planned to seduce him. Honestly, the timing sucked and even worse, she hadn’t had a clue what to do. Now, however, she knew exactly what turned him on.

  “It’s awfully quiet in here.”

  Annessa lifted her gaze to see Casey braced against the rear bumper of the truck. Her nipples responded with their usual standing ovation.

  Travis snorted. “For a change.”

  She grinned and threw the towel at her brother. “Ha, ha.”

  Travis wadded the rag into a ball and grinned. “She’s all yours, McIntyre. I’ll see you two after my shift.”

  Casey nodded as Travis climbed the stairs then turned his gaze back to her. “Do you still want to see that building?”

  She paused a moment to interpret his question. Purchasing the property meant coming home. For good. She wanted that more than anything – as long as he stayed too.

  “Why?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “I’ll take you.”

  A grin split her lips. He could pretend nonchalance all he wanted, she could read him just as well as he read her. His gesture was the same as handcuffing her to him. Again.

  “I’d like that.”

  He grasped her hand and led her to his truck, letting go only to open the door. “Inside, short stuff.”

  “Thank God for step rails,” she mumbled as she climbed up and into the cab.

  “I had them added just for you.”

  Although she realized he was probably teasing, she still couldn’t help but wonder if that was another of his sly attempts to show her he was serious about convincing her to stay. Hoping, maybe.

  “Seatbelt,” he reminded her.

  Once he sat behind the steering wheel, he buckled his own belt then laid an open palm on the seat between them in silent invitation. Without a second thought, she placed her hand there, warmed when his fingers threaded hers.

  “Did you talk to your brother about your shadow?”

  His question brought sordid reality right back to the forefront of her mind. “No. I promised you I would tonight. I’ll t
ell everyone, all together.”

  “No more running, Annessa.”

  “I promise.” She gave his hand a squeeze.

  He started the engine and drove away from the Fire Department, headed for the neighboring town. Annessa sighed and relaxed back against the leather seat, safe and secure for the first time in the last week. She’d been so stupid to try and avoid him; she knew full well the only place truly safe was with Casey.

  She settled into comfortable silence as he drove, his thumb stroking the top of her knuckles. The gentleness of his touch both soothed and excited her. With each pass over her skin, his strength strangled her fear in a chokehold and teased her libido senseless. Something told her if she and Casey ever ended up between the sheets, the linens would not wrinkle – no, they would tangle. She gave herself a mental eye-roll. If? More like, when.

  “How’s business?”

  She smiled. His warm, husky voice only proved her point. Her hormones were now screaming at the top of their lungs. “Very good. Dorie’s considering hiring another planner.”

  “Is that why you want to leave?”

  “I don’t know that I want to leave Los Angeles. I just think it’s time for me to branch out on my own. I’ve made a lot of contacts there who have encouraged me. “

  He gave her a cursory glance. “Sounds promising. But that’s not all.”

  Of course he wouldn’t take her explanation at face value. “Honestly, I miss Vanessa.” And you. I miss you so much, Casey. She bit her tongue almost in two to keep that confession inside.

  “Do you think Mourning Dove Harbor can help?”

  “I can pick up more beach business.”

  He hit the blinker and turned down a side road. “How about we scope out the location?”

  “Now?”

  “Yeah. It’s not dark yet and you’re with me.”

  Once parked on the sand, Casey opened her door and helped her from the truck. The soothing sound of roaring waves rolled over her tense nerves, kneading them into a comfortable hum.

  Casey slipped her hand inside his and urged her down the beach. “Remember the first time I brought you here?”

  Remember? That memory was burnt in her psyche just as permanently as the tattoo on her hip. “Do you?”

  “You were seven and scared to death of the water.” He squeezed her hand. “I had to bribe you with gummy bears to stick your feet in.”

  She grinned as the warm sand seeped over the sides of her sandals and tickled the tops of her toes. “I’d do just about anything for gummy bears back then.” And for you.

  “Would you now?”

  “Depends. What do you have in mind?”

  His gentle laugh wrapped her into a warm cocoon. “By the end of the summer, we couldn’t get you out.”

  “Do you ever come back?”

  “I haven’t had a reason.” He stopped and pulled her against him. “Until now.”

  “You know everything about me, don’t you?” she said into his chest.

  She listened to the steady sound of his heartbeat while waves rolled across the water until they disappeared at the shoreline. Pressed against him, she felt tension leak from her muscles.

  “I really screwed up, didn’t I?” he said against the top of her head.

  His question didn’t exactly surprise her. She took a deep breath and stepped back. “Not entirely. I think I may have had a part in it.”

  “No, baby. You tried to show me how you felt and I was too damn selfish to let you express yourself.”

  “Selfish?”

  “Yes. I should’ve given you a chance and then explained why I turned you away.”

  “You think you could’ve stopped me?”

  “Not without a fight, I’m sure.”

  “Your denial affected me a little differently than you think.”

  “You were hurt.”

  “Embarrassed,” she mumbled, “but I got over that.”

  “You did?”

  “After I finally came to the conclusion you pushed me away to save our relationship.” His silence gave her the advantage she needed to continue. “After my parents died I had some serious abandonment issues.”

  His warmth lulled her into peaceful contentment. “You wouldn’t let Travis or me out of your sight. Took us months to get you through that. Broke my heart.”

  She nodded and stood silent to allow him to process the hidden meaning behind her explanation. Suddenly, pain graced his handsome face.

  “I abandoned you too,” he whispered.

  “Not on purpose.” She placed a soft kiss on his lips to dispel his discomfort. “I understand now. I wanted you so badly. I just went about it the wrong way.”

  “So the sex didn’t really matter?”

  “Oh, it mattered. Just not as much as leaving me, Casey.”

  “God, the things you made me think, Ness.”

  “Things?”

  “Things I had no business thinking then.”

  “Like what?”

  “Remember last night on the couch?”

  She released a desperate groan. “Oh yeah.”

  “I’ve dreamed about that in vivid detail.”

  Her heart began to pound. “What else?”

  “Every time I kissed the tip of your nose I had to fight to keep from sliding my lips down those few inches to your mouth.” He closed the distance between them. “And when I cradled your soft body in my arms, it was all I could do not to ease you underneath me and warm you with my own kind of friction.”

  His lips nuzzled the base of her neck, prompting the all-too-familiar throb between her legs. “Casey,” she moaned.

  Her panties dampened as he drew his tongue across her skin to the top of her shoulder and then nipped the soft skin there.

  “What baby?”

  “I’m ready now.”

  “You’ll get sand in your—”

  She forced his head up and then sealed their mouths to smother his excuse. “Don’t care,” she murmured against his lips.

  A low groan left his throat as he grasped her hips and pressed their bodies together. Packed so tightly against him, she felt the strength of his erection against her abdomen and her libido purred like a napping cat.

  While he continued his tender assault on her lips, arousal pushed her to reach between them and stroke his length through his uniform pants. Her fingers tightened around him as she slid upward, moved her palm over the swollen head, and then moved downward, only to repeat the whole process with the next stroke.

  “Your touch makes me crazy,” he said as he pushed further into her hand.

  She tightened her fist around his solid length and squeezed. Her nipples stood at attention and her clit quivered. Suddenly she understood the meaning of crazy.

  He slid his hand under her shirt and up her torso, grazing her bare skin with his fingertips until he rolled her nipples between them, tugging and teasing until they begged for mercy. Desperate to feel him against her, she plastered her hips to his groin and resumed the up-and-down motion on his erection in an effort to ease the ache in her needy clit.

  As if he sensed her desperation, he moved one hand down her body and beneath her skirt until his fingers found her slick flesh. Very gently, he opened her and slid inside to play.

  Annessa moaned as his thumb worked her clit while his middle finger entered her swollen passage. Her hips swayed in time with his movement as she sought relief.

  “That’s right, baby.” He encouraged her with a short pinch to her clit. “Take what you need.”

  She ground her hips tighter against him and he responded by inserting another finger. Her body answered with a tight squeeze on his fingers.

  “You want to come, don’t you?”

  She groaned out load at the absurdity of his question. Of course she wanted to come.

  “Inside me,” she whispered.

  “Not here, sweetheart.” His fingers began a rapid pace. “Reach between us and stroke me.”

  She needed no furth
er direction and quickly lowered his zipper and slipped her hand inside his pants and under his boxer briefs to close him in her grip.

  “Pull hard,” he ground out as his fingers resumed movement between her legs.

  Her breathing quickened from excitement while she worked his long hard length with rapid, determined strokes, and her body tightened around his fingers.

  “Now, Annessa,” he demanded. “Come with me, baby.”

  She tossed her head back and moaned as her orgasm wrapped her in warmth and shook her whole body with its force. Casey released a low growl as his erection pulsed in her hold, leaving behind evidence of his satisfaction.

  For several seconds, she rested her head against his chest and listened to the sound of his heavy breathing, matching it to her own. Finally, he placed a soft kiss on her lips as he extracted himself from her grip and moved his hands from her body.

  “Again,” she said against his lips.

  “Later.” He kissed the top of her head before he straightened her clothing and then tucked himself back into his pants. “Let’s go check out the rental.”

  ***

  Once they stood outside the business, Casey watched Annessa jam the key into the lock, her hands shaking.

  “Let me.”

  He slid the key in and then turned the knob. The door popped easily open.

  Annessa pushed against his back. “Go inside. Hurry.” The door closed behind them and she twisted the lock.

  He ran a hand across the top of his head, angered by her fear. “This is borderline insane, Annessa. You’re running around like a scared rabbit.”

  “I’m fine. Besides, I’m armed.”

  “Pepper spray is no match for a bullet, baby.”

  “True, but I happen to have a bigger weapon.”

  “Are you packing, Ness?” He raised an eyebrow and hoped to hell she wouldn’t answer his question in the positive.

  She moved her gaze to his usual hard-on. “No, but you are.”

  He groaned. “Seriously, I need to call in reinforcement.”

  “No.” She stepped out of his embrace. “C’mon, I’ll show you the dressing area.”

  Casey glanced out the glass door with an evil eye, almost daring someone to challenge him. The street and the sidewalk on the other side remained lit by the spotlight over the door. He gave the knob a tug.