The Summer He Came Home (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake 1)

Maggie shook her head. “I’m not really a glass kind of girl.” A smile crept over her mouth. “The bottle is fine.”

He held his Corona aloft, and Maggie raised hers as well. “To our first date,” he murmured.

The next three hours flew by. Cain shared a good many details about his life, and she found herself fascinated at the stories he told of faraway places she’d only seen in magazines and of the funny, crazy, and sometimes disturbing intricacies of living out of a suitcase for months at a time.

He told her about growing up in Crystal Lake, of the good times he’d shared, of the Bad Boys, and of the lost one, Jesse. Maggie was enthralled and touched, and laughed until her belly hurt.

By the time they were done eating she was totally under his spell.

“I see why you’re the front person in your band.” She paused, enjoying the way the candlelight danced in his eyes. “Why all the women are thrilled you’re home.”

Cain cocked his head and smiled. “And that would be because…”

Maggie lowered her eyes and ran her fingers along the empty bottle of beer in front of her. “I’m sure you’re a great musician—”

“You’re sure?” he interrupted with a laugh.

“Well, I’m not familiar with your music, but I think it’s safe to assume you’ve got talent.” She smiled and shrugged. “But I think it’s probably more than just the fact that you write good songs.”

He leaned closer. “So tell me what you really think.”

“I think you could charm the pants off just about anyone without even trying.”

Silence fell between them for several long moments, and then he spoke, his voice so low she barely heard him. “There’s only one person I want to charm tonight, and she sure as hell ain’t wearing pants.”

The jukebox had long finished, and the candles flickered in the dark. His eyes were intense, and she felt the change in the air. It was like a physical touch, a caress, and a shudder all at once. He grabbed her hand, his touch gentle and hot. Maggie watched, her breaths falling in jerky spurts as he lifted her fingers to his mouth and slowly licked the last remnants of sticky sauce off them.

The ache between her legs erupted in a single shot of urgent need, and she bit her lip, her eyes never leaving his.

“I think we’re done here.” His voice was rough.

Maggie stood, and when he held out his hand, she slipped hers inside his large grasp, loving the way he pulled her into his body. She felt like she belonged, and the thought was one that soothed and calmed and fanned the flames of desire at the same time.

“Let’s go.”

Outside the early-evening sky was shot through with reds and golds. It sliced through the dark that loomed on the horizon—a beautiful, mad palette of color. The sidewalks were mostly empty, though the few patios scattered downtown were filled with patrons.

When they reached his truck, Cain’s hands slid along her waist, and he brushed his mouth against hers, a quick, probing touch that was over much too soon.

And yet it nearly took her breath away.

“Let’s get you home,” he murmured against her mouth.

The ride back to her house was silent; the air was charged with an energy that slithered along her body and left her trembling. Maggie gripped her purse tightly, forced herself to relax, but it was hard.

Cain pulled into her driveway and hopped out of the truck in a quick, fluid movement. She already had her door open, but he helped her down. His touch was sure and possessive. It lingered and burned.

His hand didn’t leave hers, and when she fumbled for her key, he grabbed them from her purse, unlocked her front door, and followed her inside.

The silence of her home was so loud, she was sure he heard her heart banging against her chest. Lord knows, it pounded in her ears furiously enough. For a second she felt dizzy, weak, most likely panicked, but then he was there behind her, his body heat searing the bare flesh of her back.

Cain’s arms slid around her rib cage and he held her for the longest time, so tight she felt every inch of his hard frame. His breath was hot against her neck, and when he nuzzled the sensitive area beneath her ear, she groaned.

His right hand slid up and cupped her breast as he continued to trail small kisses along her neck. “Oh Maggie, the things I’m going to do to you…”

Gently he turned her in his embrace. Her eyes focused on the pulse that beat in his neck. The rhythm was as mad and frantic as hers. It hit her then. He was just as affected as she. That knowledge filled her with a confidence she’d never felt before.

Slowly her eyes rose.