Caught (4 page)

Before he broke contact completely, Laurel’s hands slid up his chest, leaving a wake of heat on their journey over his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers delving into his hair. The tight grasp sent shards of arousal through him. Grabbing her around the waist he hauled her against him, his erection grinding against her soft belly.

What started out as a gentle teasing of the lips turned into full on passion. He nipped her lower lip before driving inside the moist heat of her mouth when she gasped.

A low snicker and a couple of cat-calls invaded his brain.

Laurel pulled back before dropping her head and looking everywhere but at him. He didn’t miss the blush painting her cheeks. Spinning away she started making her way back to the hanger.

Quin looked around to see who interrupted what had to be the best kiss he ever had the pleasure of taking part in.

Rev stood next to them. “Yo’ bro, we need to get in. Looks like a storm is rolling in. I would hate for the equipment to get ruined.” He pointed down to the helmet, the two cameras still attached and vulnerable to the elements. Granted, they jumped in weather before; but if he could avoid getting gear wet, he would.

“Yeah,” he grunted. Jogging to catch up to Laurel he placed his hand in hers, neither said a word. He chanced a glance at her and saw she was nibbling on her bottom lip.

Damn that was going to drive him nuts. “What’s going on in that mind of yours, honey?”

She let go of her lip and graced him with a small smile. “Just wondering what that was about.”

“What? Rev interrupting or…?”

She bumped him with her shoulder. “The kiss,” she said softly. “You know I almost decided it was a bad idea.”

“You had to know I’ve been dying to kiss you all day and, from the way you kissed me back, I’d say you felt the same way.”

She chuckled softly and lightly squeezed his hand. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since high school.”

“That’s a long ass time. Did it live up to your expectations?”

“If you couldn’t decipher my reaction, then maybe we shouldn’t do it again. I’m still trying to figure out what you’re up to anyway, so maybe not kissing again
is
a good idea.”

“First off, I think you enjoyed me kissing you. Second, we will be kissing again. A lot. And third, I’m not up to anything, honey. I like you and I want to get to know you better.”

“How do you want to get to know me better? By kissing me senseless?”

She stared back at him, her eyebrow quirked up and what looked to be a challenge gleaming in her eyes. It was one of the sexiest damn things he’d seen, so it took him a minute to register what she said.

“I kissed you senseless? Well hot damn. We’ll definitely be doing that again.”

She laughed and as they entered the hanger, the skies opened up behind them. Taking a look around, he saw the crew packing things up for the night. Rev and Kegen were chatting off to the side. When he caught their attention, Rev lifted a hand signaling him to come over. Quin sighed and reluctantly let go. “I’ll be right back.”

Laurel glanced between Quin and his brothers. “I’ll just get all of my stuff packed up too. I should probably be heading home anyway. It’s a little bit of a drive back as you know.”

Quin looked between Laurel and his brothers. He was afraid she’d take off while he was talking to them. All day long anytime she would mention leaving, he found an excuse to keep her there. It seemed like he was finally out of options. The jumps were over and he had no doubt that he had all the pictures she would need. He hesitated before making a decision he hoped would give him some more time with her as well as time to figure out how to see her again.

“Just give me a few minutes to see what they need. I still need to get that memory card out for you, then I’ll walk you out when we’re done.”

“Oh, okay, but you know it isn’t necessary to walk me out. I’m sure I can make it to my car without any help.”

“It may not be necessary but I really want to.”

She seemed to study him for a few seconds before her face lit up with the sweetest smile. “If you say so.” She lifted on her toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips before turning away, heading for his office.

A little bit of shock and awe hit his system. All day long he was the one that made the first move. Holding her hand. Touching her back. Pulling her next to him. Her sweet kiss on his lips was the first time she’d touched him freely. He shook off the giddy feeling that had him trapped in his spot when Kegen called his name.

He walked over knowing he was beaming like a loon. “What’s up?”

Rev had a smirk on his face and Kegen grinned and shook his head.

“I think our older brother has finally been brought down, Kegen. What do you think?”

“Looks like it. I haven’t seen him this taken with a woman in forever. Not even all those years with Sami, and definitely not when he was with that cagey bitch Marcy.”

“Whatever guys. What did you need?”

Though he was doing his best to pay attention to his brothers, he couldn’t help but keep an eye on Laurel. She moved around his office gathering her gear. She looked like she belonged in there. A part of his space, his life, filled with her presence. Seeing her there did funny things to him. Her forehead scrunched up and she nibbled that delectable bottom lip again. She glanced up at him, catching his attention; the instant connection rocked him to his soul.

Rev and Kegen both started laughing, Kegen stopping before their brother. “It was nothing really. We were talking about Guys Night and grilling tomorrow. I’m pretty sure it’s your turn to bring the beer.” Kegen stopped and looked to where Laurel was in his office. “You can bring your girlfriend over there if you want too. I’d love to see you pant after her like a lost puppy some more.”

“Sure count me in, but I doubt Laurel will want to hang out with you two. What time were you thinking? We should be done with the jump around four.”

“You don’t know that she wouldn’t be interested. You might just be afraid she will pick us over you if you let her spend more than a minute alone with us.”

“Fuck you, dickhead. She would never go for your tag team style.” He was also pretty confident in the groundwork he had laid today in showing he was interested in her.

“Whatever you say man. How about six-thirty?”

“Sounds good. That should give me plenty of time to head home and get cleaned up before meeting at your place.”

Laurel walked out of the office then, bag slung over her shoulder and, for all intents and purposes, looking ready to leave. “Sorry to interrupt but I need to get going.”

“Hey honey, you’re not interrupting. We were just making plans for tomorrow.”

She looked at the three of them, a ghost of a smile on her lips, and then shook her head. “That can’t be good. The three of you always caused trouble when you did things together.”

Quin could tell Rev and Kegen didn’t remember her like he did. They had matching confused expressions on their faces and kept darting looks at him.

“They don’t remember you from high school,” he said.

“I would have been surprised if they did. No one really pays attention to the person behind the lens, especially in high school. It did make it easy for me to see what kind of trouble everyone got into. How did you think those photos of the Homecoming bonfire made it into the yearbook? Or the principal’s reaction when he found out you guys used his stinky, old prized graduation gown to get it going?”

Quin’s mouth dropped open when Laurel let out a hearty laugh. He was stunned to find out she knew about it. Kegen didn’t suffer from the same stunned affliction.

“How do you know we were to blame?” Kegen may have asked the question out loud, but it was the same one going through his head.

The three of them got into a lot of trouble after their parents found out about that stunt. All of them lost their driving privileges for the rest of the school year. There was nothing quite as humiliating as having your mother drop you off and having her call out that she loves you in front of all of your friends.

“Oh Kegen, really? Everyone knew. At any rate, I did happen to be there the night you three snuck it out of his office. I had been working late on the yearbook and locking up the room.”

Laurel leaned in toward Kegen, dropping her voice like she was telling a much sought after secret. “You see, I was one of those trusted students who kind of got the run of the place. I watched as you popped the lock on his office door. Rev stood watch in the hallway and Quin was the one to grab it and run. But don’t worry, I never told a soul. I did make sure I was around when the principal found it missing though. Man that thing was disgusting.”

Kegen threw his head back laughing. The smile on Laurel’s face lit up with glee.

“Do you know who ratted us out?” Rev asked.

“Well, of course, it was Bernie Robinson. A friend of mine heard someone talking about it in the locker room. Bernie heard and went straight to the principal to turn you in. He was livid that the gown was burned. He was supposed to be the chosen student to wear it that year.”

“Damn, he was a rat. I never liked that guy,” Rev grumbled and they all laughed.

“Anyway, I really need to get going. I just need that memory card.”

She turned toward him and held out her hand.

“Sure let me grab it out for you.” Propping the helmet on his hip he popped open the camera case and fished out the little device. Handing it over he asked, “You ready to go?”

Quin wanted Laurel away from his brothers and fast. He could tell by the looks on their faces that they were seeing her in a different light. They were probably just figuring out she might be someone they wanted to pursue. What they didn’t know was that he was claiming her for himself. It was going to be their loss and his gain.

He quickly slipped out of his harness and tossed it to Rev. “Thanks man.” Scooping up Laurel’s hand, he laced their fingers together. “Say goodbye to my brothers, Laurel.”

“Huh, what?”

“Say bye.” He tugged and got them moving.

“Oh! Bye Rev. Bye Kegen. Thanks for all your help.”

Quin heard his brothers’ laughter followed by their goodbyes as he and Laurel walked out into what was now a misty rain. Picking up speed, he had her through the gate and in her car with barely a dusting of moisture clinging to her hair.

Standing in her open door he made the split second decision to invite her to the barbeque, he just needed an opening.

“Thank you for everything, Quin. I couldn’t have gotten the rest of what I needed without your help.”

“You’re welcome. It really was my pleasure to help out.”

“Okay. Well…” She looked over to the door then back at him.

Shit.
Now he was standing around looking like an idiot.
Just ask her jackass.
“I was wondering if you wanted to come to a barbeque at Rev and Kegen’s place tomorrow.”

She scrunched up her cute nose. “I don’t know. I was going to clean my house and work on the book.”

“You should take the day off. You’ve been busting your butt out here. I’m sure you can take a day to relax. Everything will still be there the next day.”

“I know but-” She nibbled her lip and he almost lost it.

“It can be an early celebration for getting all of the pictures taken. Everything will be downhill from here, and I’m sure you have another project lined up already. I doubt you’ll take the time off to recharge. Come with me, you deserve it Laurel.”

She still didn’t look convinced and he wasn’t sure what he could do to convince her.

“A barbeque, at your brother’s place? Which one?”

Dear god, she better not be interested in one of them. He had no problem setting them in an unfavorable light. “At their place. The live together. I don’t think one can do anything without the other. I can’t promise the place will be clean, but I can vouch that the food will be great.”

“What time?”

That sounded promising. “Six-thirty. They live in that new housing development right before you get to town. The one with all of the palm trees everywhere and looks like some Florida resort.”

“Oh yeah, Twin Palms. I looked at places there with a friend of mine. Seemed like a nice little community.”

“So is that a yes?”

“Sure, why not. I can take a day off. It’ll be nice to take a day to relax. What should I bring?”

“Just yourself. What time should I pick you up?”

“That’s okay. I’ll come on my own. I live on the other side of town and would hate for you to go out of your way.”

Disappointment nailed him in the gut. Outwardly he smiled and leaned against the doorframe. “It wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Thank you for the offer, but no. I would feel more comfortable having my own car there.”

“Alright then, the offer stands though if you change your mind.”

“Okay. I’ll need the address.”

“No problem. Do you have a piece of paper and a pen?”

“Hold on.” She turned from him, leaning over the console in her SUV and started rummaging through her purse, her tantalizing ass lifting off the seat, teasing him. He’d love to test how taut it was. Spank it until it turned red and she begged him to fuck her.