Lucky Break (4 page)

Yet here was Jason again, bewitching and entrancing her. Erasing the memories of her sister and her family problems, overpowering her dislike of this town and her reasons for being here.

She hadn't sought him out for this. She'd just wanted a glimpse of him. To see how he'd changed. But they'd locked gazes across the field and she hadn't been in control of her emotions or her actions since.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said, bringing her back to earth as he swept her around, her feet barely brushing the dirt on the ground.

She tensed at his question. Too much. Too personal.

But his intent, curious eyes never left hers as he waited for her to answer.

“I'm just visiting. You?” she asked.

“I live here.” Without warning, he spun her around with the combination of grace and strength that had made him a successful athlete.

His strong thighs brushed against hers, hard and demanding, awakening needs only he'd ever aroused.

“I like your mask,” he said, his eyes focused on hers.

“Thank you. I like that you aren't wearing one. It lets me see your face.” She wanted to trace the strong lines of his jaw, explore the stubble on his cheeks.

“I like what I can see of yours,” he said, his voice huskier than before. “What made you choose that color?” He touched the edge of her mask with his finger.

“It called to me.”

His eyes darkened at her response. “Any chance you drive a red Porsche?”

She grinned. “It just so happens I do. How did you know?”

“It suits you for one thing. But there's also the fact that this is a small town with few new people or cars. Yours stood out.” He paused, then added, “And so do you.”

He inclined his head until his forehead touched hers and the dance continued. The night was truly magical and she was forced to admit she wanted more than this one dance.

She wanted
him
, and the throbbing erection against her stomach told her he desired her, too.

The music suddenly picked up tempo, interrupting their slow, intimate seductive dance. They paused and she met his gaze.

“I'm hot,” she murmured.

His eyes darkened with a heat she recognized. “Then let's get out of here.” He never broke eye contact, just waited for her to decide.

Life had very few pivotal moments, but Lauren sensed this was one. She needed this night.

“It's up to you.”

She swallowed hard, knowing her decision was already made. “Lead the way.”

He smiled, his expression one of surprise and relief. Before she could blink, he dipped his head for a kiss. A tantalizing, too brief brush of his mouth on hers that left her lips tingling, her senses soaring and her mind reeling.

Now all she had to do was keep the mask on and Jason too satisfied to notice or care.

 

J
ASON WAS ENJOYING
this stranger game Lauren was playing and wondered how far he could push her. He held her hand and led her toward the empty barn in a secluded corner of the field. They'd hung out together in various spots like this in the past, including this old barn. Did she remember?

“My cousin and I used to sneak beer here when
we were kids,” he said, pointing to the building he hoped would be empty.

“So you were trouble back then?” she asked.

“For a while.” He squeezed her hand and held on tighter. “Until I found my focus.”

Jason remembered confiding in her about his past. She knew all too well that he'd been happy to be a troublemaking Corwin in high school until he'd discovered snowboarding at sixteen. More exciting than skiing, the daredevil sport had changed his life, given him his real passion and focus, and he'd been set on Olympic gold ever since.

“Yet you're being bad again now. With me. Does that mean you've lost that focus?” she asked softly. Quietly, and far too perceptively.

She obviously knew about the scandal and was hoping he'd confide in her now. He swallowed the explanation she sought. No matter how much he wanted to reveal his pain, knowing she'd understand, he couldn't. Not until she'd revealed herself to him.

He pushed open the barn door and she followed him inside. The heavy wooden door banged shut behind them and he turned on the lights, hitting the switch on the wall. “Don't you worry. I'm extremely focused,” he assured her, pulling her into his arms. “Focused on you.”

He aligned his hips with hers, knowing damn
well his erection would be obvious, reminding her of why they were here.

Her eyes darkened at the intimate contact. “That's what I was hoping you'd say.”

Her husky voice turned Jason on even more than dancing with her already had. As much as he remembered the past, the good times and the summer that had been too short, he was totally in the present now. She smelled so damn good and fit in his arms even more perfectly now.

She'd filled out. Her breasts were fuller and plumper and he wanted to see her without the barrier of clothes. But first he needed to taste her more fully. With a low growl, he slid his tongue inside her mouth, taking possession and control. He ran his tongue through the damp recesses, soaking up the moisture, reveling in her sweetness. His body burned and throbbed more from this one kiss than any other sexual experience in his lifetime.

Merely kissing her did something to him that defied logic, and though he was primed and ready to glide into her hot body and feel her slick walls tighten around him, he couldn't stop devouring her mouth. Her tongue dueled and tangled with his, matching him, teasing him. She grabbed the back of his head with her hand, grasping onto his hair and holding him tight, arousing him beyond thought
and reason. Until finally the throbbing in his groin couldn't be denied.

He released her slowly, keeping one hand around her waist. When he met her hazy eyes, he wasn't surprised to see her adjusting the red mask.

He somehow withheld a grin. Though he wanted to rip off the covering and see her face, for whatever reason, she sought the anonymity. He needed her too much to break the spell by removing the mask. Besides, he had to admit the aura of mystery, and playing strangers heightened his desire.

“Come with me,” he said, heading across the room to the stairs leading to the loft. On the way, he spotted a blanket that had been left on a hook on the wall, grabbed it and gestured for her to go first.

Once in the loft, together they spread the blanket over the floor. Lauren was grateful for the few seconds to regain her composure. She was here again, with Jason. She shook her head in disbelief.

“Is this where you used to drink with the guys?” she asked as they settled onto the blanket. “Or is this where you used to bring the girls back when you were trouble?” She found she couldn't meet his gaze.

She'd thought she was special. After he'd left town, she often wondered if she'd misread that summer and that she'd been one of many. All these years later, she still needed to know.

He lifted her chin with his hand. “There's only one girl I used to bring here,” he murmured.

Her mouth ran dry and an unwanted lump formed in her throat, the emotions so overwhelming.

“But let's not talk about her now,” he said, and dodged further explanation by easing her onto the floor.

Lauren was finished talking, too. She slipped her hands inside his shirt and placed her palms against his chest, feeling his hair-roughened skin, savoring the warmth and inhaling his masculine scent.

She let her hands drift over his nipples, pausing to savor the hard puckering against her skin. He let out a satisfied groan, allowing her to grow bolder. He'd been a boy and now he was all man, kissing her thoroughly as she continued to explore. From the hard planes of his chest, she roamed lower to his tight stomach, then to the waistband of his jeans. Her breasts tightened and moisture dampened her panties, desire growing ever stronger.

He did his own share of exploration, too, pulling her tight top upward and cupping her covered breasts in his hands. Her nipples puckered against his palms and she writhed and moaned beneath him.

“You are so responsive, so sweet,” he murmured, bending his head and pulling one nipple into his mouth.

She arched her back and moaned aloud.

“God.” He unhooked the button on her black jeans and eased them down her legs, getting caught halfway.

Laughing, she shimmied her hips to help him, ending up wearing only her skimpy black lace panties.

His dark gaze settled on her
there.

“Gorgeous.” He sounded almost reverent as he spoke.

“Thank—” He placed his palm over her mound, cutting off any thought.

Her hips jerked upward, demanding relief, and he seemed to sense what she needed and slowly rotated his hand. Waves sprang to life inside her, building as he continued the torment, teasing her with one finger, filling her until she moaned aloud.

“Hang on.” He paused long enough to shed his jeans and underwear, grab a condom from his wallet.

She eyed the packet with relief and a stab of…jealousy? “You're prepared.”

“The men in my family always are.”

She didn't want to get into a conversation about the curse and its havoc. Not now. “I wish you'd hurry,” she said, reaching for him. Distracting him.

“Now, that I can do.”

With practiced ease, he slipped on protection while she quickly did her part, undressing—panties off, legs parted. So when he rejoined her, she was ready.

He slid over her, his thighs aligned with hers, his erection pulsing against her stomach. Still, he paused to brush her bangs off her forehead. A tender gesture that reminded her of the past and made this moment all the more special.

“I want you,” she said, needing him to hear the words. Parting her thighs, she invited him in.

His throbbing head nudged her open further as he slowly eased himself into her, his eyes never leaving hers. “Good?” he asked.

She'd dreamed of him, of this. Her throat was almost too full to speak but she needed to lighten the mood so she looked at him and smiled. “It's a start.”

He grinned. Then he thrust deep. His thighs crushed hers, their bodies joined tight, and he pulsed inside her, thick and alive.

Lauren gasped but she accepted all of him at once. Full to bursting, she felt the pleasure reverberate inside her, in every cell of her being. She could barely think, she felt so good.

Suddenly he pulled out, leaving her empty, making her want to beg, but just as quickly he thrust back in again, filling her, pleasuring her,
taking her higher. He was thick, hard, and she felt every velvet ridge inside her as he ground his hips into hers. He teased her as he picked up rhythm. Out…in…out…in…until the first wave took hold, washing over her and taking her breath away. And he continued to plunge into her hard and fast, over and over, even as he let out a groan of intense pleasure that served to increase her own until he finally collapsed on top of her.

Accepting his weight, she hooked one foot around his and laid her head back on the blanket, gasping for air, her body still tingling.

He breathed heavily in her ear as she struggled to come back to herself. As she did, she realized she had to tell him.

But he spoke first. “We're better with age, aren't we?” he asked, his voice rumbling against her chest.

Lauren gasped.
He knew?

Before she could reply, the barn door creaked open, then slammed, and a voice called out from downstairs. “Hello, is anyone in here?”

“Oh my God.” Lauren took in his equally stunned expression.

She had no desire to get caught up here with her pants off in a small town that thrived on gossip. Gossip about the Perkins gossip. And she was the only Perkins around.

“Get up!” Panicked, she shoved at his shoulders.

They both scrambled to their feet and rushed to find their jeans.

Lauren dressed in record time, but like a man, he was faster.

“Hello? The light's on so come on down and show yourself!” the female voice called.

Sharon.

Lauren narrowed her gaze. Face her friend or have a heart-to-heart with Jason. Neither choice appealed. Heart pounding in her chest, she wanted nothing more than to get away from them both. Once she gathered her thoughts and feelings, she could deal with what happened much better. She buttoned her black jeans and did the best she could to smooth wrinkles, pick off stray pieces of dirt on her clothes and look as if she hadn't been having sex on the floor.

She had pride and she had more than a little bit of modesty and she didn't want to embarrass herself.

She brushed her bangs and hoped her mask wasn't sideways as she headed for the ladder.

“Wait!” He reached for her arm.

“Not now.”

He shot her an amused glance. “Later, then?”