Blazing Hearts: Books 1-3 (10 page)

E
rica Jones handed
out the beers to the table full of young men who had come in celebrating a bachelor party. The groom-to-be was three sheets to the wind. If he kept it up he’d miss his own wedding come morning. She didn’t really care if he showed or not and had to admit it would be amusing if he was too drunk to make it.

One of his buddies caught hold of her wrist. He dragged Erica off balance and onto his lap. The air whooshed from her lungs at the force of the act. Before Erica could so much as utter a word she found herself being lifted gently off the young man and set aside. Kaleb was there, bearing down a look of death on the young guy. The guy gulped and put his hands up. “S-sorry man. I didn’t know she was yours.”

Erica refrained from saying she wasn’t Kaleb’s. At least not anymore. There had been a time when she’d considered herself his. That time had passed. She’d done her best to keep tabs on him and the more she learned, the less she felt she knew him anymore. He’d grown in a man she wasn’t even sure she liked, but dammit he still looked good. Even better than she remembered. He’d finally grown into his body, filling it out nicely.

Kaleb bent lower, putting his face right in the kid’s. “She’s mine, and if you so much as look at her again without respect in your eyes, I’ll rip your head off. Got it?”

The young man nodded, appearing as if he might wet himself.

Kaleb faced her and she arched a brow, a hand going to her hip—something she seemed to do a lot of around him. “Thanks. Must have taken everything in you to pull yourself from the busty gal.”

He glanced in the direction of the big-boobed chick he’d been rubbing against on the dance floor only moments ago. “She’ll be there when I get back.”

Erica snorted. He’d turned into a dick. Where was her sweet, loving Kaleb? “Of course she will.”

“Unless you’d rather take her place,” he offered, suggestion written all over his face.

“Seriously, go away and don’t come back.”

He eased closer to her. “You all right?”

It was hard to stay mad at him when genuine concern could be heard in his voice. “I’m good. Thank you.”

He hesitated. “I’ll keep an eye on these boys.”

She huffed. If he thought for a second any of the men in the bachelor party would be dumb enough to touch her again after his show, he was crazy. The guys all looked like they were ready to mess themselves. “Yeah, you do that. And, thanks again.”

He held her to him. “Erica, it’s good to have you home.”

This stranger before her who had once been the most important person in her life showed a glimpse of the man she’d once known. Behind the hardness in his eyes she could still see her Kaleb. The one she’d come home for only to find he’d changed.

Hope surged and she had to tamp it down, afraid to let her heart be hurt more than it already had been. Just because she saw signs of Kaleb still being in there under the tough exterior, she wasn’t so sure he’d admit to it. Not after the long talks she’d had with John about him and what he’d turned into.

A total and complete womanizer.

Kaleb eased closer to her. “You here for the long haul?”

“I’m here for now,” she responded, unable to give him more than that because she wasn’t sure herself.

E
rica finished drawing
her bath and sat on the edge of the tub, her hand dipping just below the surface. It had been another long night at work. She smiled, thinking about Kaleb. He’d grown into a looker, for sure. He also seemed to know as much. Sexy men were almost always assholes. That being said, he was still easy on the eyes and would make for a fun night of fantasy.

Turning, she reached and opened the drawer near the sink. She withdrew her waterproof vibrator and held it in the palm of her hand. She smiled and stood, letting her red robe fall to the floor at her feet. She stepped into the hot bathwater and kept hold of her vibrator as she sank down into the water.

A soft moan slipped from her lips as she opened her legs. She’d always liked the feel of hot water on her pussy. She tipped her head back, drawing up images of Kaleb, sexy-as-sin, Smith. Oh, she’d been sure to pump her boss for as much info as she could get about Kaleb without letting on she was still into him.

A lady’s man.

That’s what John had called him but in a good-natured tone, like he didn’t believe that was the real Kaleb. She didn’t want to believe it either. The Kaleb she’d known wouldn’t have dared sleep with a new girl every night. He’d been hers and hers alone while they were together and she missed him desperately.

She thought about Kaleb’s dashing good looks and how muscular his body was. He’d been wild in bed, even when they were new to sex and learning together. She didn’t doubt for a minute he’d gotten better with age. He’d ride her like a bronco, she was sure of it. She turned on her vibrator and placed it against her clit, stimulating it to get herself going nice and good.

She wiggled in the water, pressing the vibrator harder against her clit. In her mind, Kaleb had his face buried between her legs, his tongue slinking over her swollen bud. His hands were callused, she’d seen as much when he’d been coming on to her at the bar. John said Kaleb was now a personal trainer who helped a lot at a horse ranch he’d grown up on.

A lot of good times had been had between them behind the stables of Garnes’ Ranch. She smiled and thought of Kaleb’s hands. He’d been good with his hands.

Another hushed moan passed over her lips. Her legs twitched and she lifted one foot, placing it upon the edge of the large tub. She moved the vibrator down and pressed it into her core. It was Kaleb she imagined there, his cock pushing into her. In no time flat she was fucking herself with the vibrator.

It was him she saw above her. Kaleb’s well-muscled body she imagined straining as he pounded his hard cock into her. The erotic thoughts would be enough for her to masturbate to for weeks.

He was that sexy of a man and had managed to leave that lasting an impression on her. With her free hand she cupped her left breast and squeezed it. In her mind, Kaleb was biting her nipple, being rough with her, the way she liked it. Damn, she needed to get laid and fast. She fucked herself faster, the bubbles splashing up and over the side of the tub. They hit the floor but she paid no mind to them, too focused on coming to care about the mess. It would clean up. Right now she needed to orgasm soon and hard.

K
aleb leaned
against the wall of the seedy hotel he’d found himself at. The hot little brunette in front of him was busy kissing his neck. When he’d sweet-talked her into the leaving the bar with him, he’d assumed she’d do well to ease the ache in his cock. Right now he just wanted her to magically turn into the super sexy redhead who had spent the evening shooting him down.

Erica.

She’d been out of his life for years and he’d gotten used to the idea she’d never be back. Everything was different now. She was home. Thumping his head against the exterior wall of the hotel, Kaleb tried to picture Erica there with him. Not the woman with him now.

What was her name?

He caught her face with his hands. The red of her eyes said she was shit-faced. “What’s your name, darlin’?”

“Carrie,” she said with an annoying giggle. “I told you that three times already.”

“It’s not your name I’m interested in,” he confessed. He dragged a finger over her lower lip. “I’m just worried about your mouth and how good you can suck a dick.”

She licked her lips. The act did nothing for him.

“Oh, I’m a great dick sucker.”

As the words came out of her mouth, his cock decided to curl up and refuse to get excited. Dammit. Guilt ate at him. Erica was back in town and he’d only just left her at the bar, and here he was making moves on another woman.

I’m an asshole.

This wasn’t going to work. Dammit all to hell.

He exhaled and had to pry Carrie from him. She was an eager piece of ass. That much was for sure. He had to hold her steady to keep her from stripping naked. “You’re drunk.”

“I’m horny,” she said, slurring her words slightly.

He led her to the office doorway. When he opened the door, the old man working the desk grinned, showing his missing front teeth. “Got yourself another one?”

Kaleb nodded to Carrie. “We’re gonna need you to call a taxi for her.”

“This time of night?” the man asked. “The two we got aren’t gonna be runnin’ this late.”

Carrie hiccupped. “Mm, take me to bed, cowboy.”

The man at the counter laughed. “She wants it bad.”

“I know,” Kaleb said.

“You ain’t gonna give it to her?”

Kaleb eyed the girl. She was attractive but his dick had a redhead in mind. “I’m goin’ to make sure she gets home safe and sound and then I’m gonna track down a stubborn redhead.”

“Boy, if I had a woman that sexy wantin’ to give it to me, I’d let her.” He motioned to Carrie who was now slumped against Kaleb’s shoulder.

She was going to have one hell of a headache come morning. He just hoped she didn’t puke in his truck. He’d search her purse for identification and then make sure she got home. The night wasn’t ending as he’d planned. Far from it.

The man at the counter whistled. “Must be some woman you’re runnin’ back to.”

“She is.”

“
T
ell
me again why you’re still here, after closing?” Erica asked of Kaleb as he helped her to stack chairs on the tabletops. He’d arrived partway through her shift, and she’d had to hide her smile. When he’d walked out of the bar the night prior she wasn’t sure he’d show his face again. Not after the way she’s shot him down. No use letting him know he’d already worked his way under her armor. Better to at least make him sweat it, if only for a few more minutes.

The apex of her thighs dampened at the thought of how hard she’d made herself come by thinking of him and using her vibrator. One of the best self-pleasuring experiences she’d ever had. And she couldn’t wait to get to do it again, though the real thing would be so much better.

She already knew as much.

There was no way a man as sexy as Kaleb couldn’t fuck even better than he used to. Plus, she’d seen the way the ladies lined up for a chance to be near him. That said something. They knew a good thing when they saw it and rumors spread. She’d heard a set of twins whispering about how good of a lay he was. She wasn’t surprised to hear he’d done them both. Seemed like something the new Kaleb would do.

Kaleb’s arm brushed hers as he set a chair on the table. “John had to cut out early and he didn’t want you here closing by yourself. I offered to help.”

His story was plausible, but she was betting there was more to it. He was probably hoping she’d give in and fuck him. She might. She nudged him lightly with her hip. “Thanks.”

His gaze ran over her slowly and she could easily see the cords in his neck working overtime. “No problem.”

Damn. He wanted her bad.

She bit at her inner cheek. She wanted him too.

Stop fighting it. He’ll get you off and go on his merry way. He’s not the man he used to be. Might be just what you need.

His gaze locked on her breasts, and instead of taking offense, she glanced around, understanding they were totally alone and that this man could work perfectly to help fill her needs. She hadn’t been good and screwed in months. And that hadn’t exactly been a performance she’d call stellar. More like
meh
. She’d not come but her bed partner had. No surprise. Men were always putting their needs first.

With a sigh, he faced her fully. “Erica, I came here to spend time with you. We were close once, right?”

“Yes.” They were beyond close once. So much had changed.

His brown gaze bored into her. “I want that back.”

She tensed and emotions lodged in her throat. “We were young then. We have a different history now. One that includes more than the two of us.”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t find common ground again,” he countered. “We were good together.”

They were.

He stared harder at her. “Why did you stop writing me back?”

“Everything in my life flipped upside down,” she confessed. “I lost my dad, and within two months my mother remarried.”

His brows listed. “Your father passed?”

She nodded.

“You should have told me. I’d have come up there. I’d have been there for you.”

She reached for his hand and touched it gently. He was warmer than she and his hands felt like someone used to doing a hard day’s work. That turned her on more. She’d never had any interest in men who sat on their asses all day. She liked her men tougher than that. Liked knowing they were good with their hands.

“I know you’d have come. That’s why I didn’t tell you,” she said.

He appeared confused.

She sighed, having wanted to avoid this very conversation with him. “Kaleb, my dad was sick for several months. I didn’t tell you. My mom was seeing a dirtbag of a guy the entire time—the one she married right away after my father passed. Had you come to Detroit, you’d have ended up in juvenile detention again or worse.”

He caught her upper arm, fire burning in his eyes. He yanked her closer to him. “And why is that? What the hell did he do to you?”

“He had a temper,” she said, lowering her gaze. “And wandering eyes.”

A tic started in his jaw. “Where is he? I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“Stop,” she said, pressing her body to his. “He’s been out of my life for years. I moved out the minute I turned eighteen and I didn’t look back.”

He stiffened. “You didn’t come home to me either.”

“I couldn’t. I needed time to heal emotionally. You had enough…” She stopped, not wanting to hurt him.

He kept her held to him. “I suffered at the hands of a sick son-of-a-bitch when I was younger. You knew that. You knew I’d understand. Why not come to me for help? Did you think I was too fucked up to lend a hand?”

She thought of lying but decided against it. “Partly, yes.”

He closed his eyes.

She caressed his chest. “Kaleb, I’m sorry.”

“No. You were probably right. Took me a hell of a long time to make it right with my demons. I probably wasn’t in a place mentally that I could have helped, but Garnes would have found a way. It’s what he does.”

“It’s in my past,” she said. “Please, can we leave it there? I don’t want it between us.”

“But you want something between us? Just not baggage?” he asked.

She was about to shake her head no when she paused, thinking more on it. Here was her Kaleb—her loving Kaleb who would have done anything for her, regardless how damaged he was. “Yes. I want something between us.”

Kaleb tipped his head and licked his lower lip brazenly, desire deeply engraved in his gaze. “Keep givin’ me signs that you’re all right with me fuckin’ you, and I’ll have you naked on that bar top in two-point-five seconds.”

Thankful for his frankness, she nodded, wanting what he was offering. “Fine by me.”

Confusion knit his brow. “Erica?”

She tugged on his hand. “Do it. Fuck me.”

“Woman, tell me this isn’t a sick joke, because I turned down a good offer of pussy last night, thinkin’ of you.”

She wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or offended. She chose the first. “No joke. I want sex and I’m pretty sure you do too.”

He stood at his full height, towering over her, leaking testosterone all over the place. “Tell me now what I can and can’t do. No misunderstandings.”

She found herself liking him more and more. She brought his hand to her breast and placed it upon her right one. “Give me some idea of what you’re looking for as an answer.”

“I only fuck with condoms on,” he said, his thumb moving over her hardened, cloth-covered nipple. “You were the only one I’ve ever been in bareback. And I’m clean. I get regular checks. I want in you bare again. And you already know I like oral, givin’ and getting’. I’m a fan of missionary to a point and then I like to switch it up. Doggie style is one of my favorites. And I like to fuck a woman’s ass. That is something we never got around to doin’.”

Sucking in a deep breath, she felt her body heating in response to his likes. “No ass sex tonight.”

She wasn’t ruling it out. In fact, it had always interested her, but she didn’t want to go that far tonight.

“How rough do you like your sex?” he asked. “I can get pretty rough. If you tell me you don’t like it rough, I’ll hold back for you. I’d do anything for you.”

She’d never had a conversation like this before. She thought upon it. The idea of Kaleb being primal with her, of taking what he wanted, turned her on. “Rough.”

“Red, yellow and green, got it?” he asked.

Unable to find a quick reply, she had to think about what he was saying. She wasn’t totally naïve in the ways of sex. In fact, one of the men who had been sniffing around her lately was into bondage and some underground sex club. He’d asked her time and again to join him and let him show her a whole new side of life. She’d done a little research on it all and had to admit it had it had its appeals. “Red for stop, yellow for caution and green is go?”

“Yeah, baby. That is exactly what it means.” He flashed a feral smile and then jerked her against him with his free hand. His other hand squeezed her breast as his lips found hers. Within in two seconds of his tongue finding hers, she knew she was in over her head. The man was walking sex.

Sin in cowboy boots.

And he could still kiss. Damn the man for only getting better with age.

His hands found their way up and under her t-shirt and she took it as a sign to get her ass in gear and get to feeling him as well. That was hardly a hardship by any means.

Her pussy dampened as his kisses became more demanding. Holy hell, if heavy petting and kissing had her this turned on, she might not survive sex with Kaleb Smith again.

What a way to go.

She ate at his mouth, following his lead, her hands pushing at his shirt, helping to work it off him. They broke their kiss long enough for them to pull one another’s shirts over their heads and then slammed into each other again, the attraction evident. Her bra never stood a chance against the man. It was off her in the blink of an eye and he had hold of her breasts before she could so much as gasp in pleasure.

Which she did.

Kaleb backed her up in the direction of the bar. He kissed her faster, pinching her nipples with enough pressure to get and keep her attention. Her panties were soaked with the anticipation of what she was about to get.

Good and fucked.

She ran her hands down his rippling abs and then unbuttoned his faded jeans. No underwear. Why was she not surprised? She smiled against his lips as she pushed his jeans lower on his hips. She lowered herself more, her lips scraping past his bobbing cock head.

He groaned.

She captured the tip of his dick with her mouth and sucked. Kaleb’s hand went to the sides of her head, guiding her as she took him deeper. She increased her pace but he pulled her off his cock, his gaze hungry. He bent and kissed her roughly.