Stacy was concerned. It seemed like everything was happening in an instant. She didn’t like instant. She was a planner. She liked everything set out in an organized fashion. It helped to mak
e things run smoothly and left little room for error. The fact that everyone helped to finish painting the outside of the house was a plus. Now she wouldn’t have to face Max and Eric again unless it was on her terms. The remainder of the work that needed to be done was inside the house, and she was going to do that all by herself.
She put on a pajama tank top and a pair of fitted cotton shorts then walked into the kitchen for something to drink. The moment she heard the planks of wood on the front porch creak, she looked up and saw a large shadow. Gasping, she covered her mouth and panicked. Who could be outside? Was it her ex-boss or someone trying to intimidate her? So many thoughts went through her head as she stood absolutely still. A second later she looked around the room and kitchen for a weapon. Then she heard the knock on the door.
“Stacy, it’s Eric.”
Son of a bitch! He scared the living daylights out of me.
She hurried toward the door, feeling her blood practically boil through her veins. Who the hell did he think he was? It was nearly eleven o’clock in the evening.
Pulling the front door open, she began to speak when the sight of him stopped her midsentence. His short hair was wet and probably from taking a shower. The smell of soap and some sort of nice cologne filled her nostrils. The white T-shirt he wore stretched across his large, muscular chest and was tucked in at his thick yet flat waist.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she reprimanded, but it sounded deeper and way sexier to even her own ears. Eric of course raised his eyebrows then eyed her over. She crossed her arms in front of her chest in an attempt to cover herself from his view, but it was too late. Not only did he get a good look at her sleepwear, but her nipples became so hard that she felt them pressing against her arms.
“I came here to check on you,” he replied then gave her one of his reprimanding looks. It wasn’t as intense as Max’s was earlier today as he talked to the investigator, but it was impressive. She found herself taking a retreating step backward, which made Eric take it as a sign to enter. He closed the door behind him and took another step toward her.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t scare me,” she replied a bit too quickly and with a lot of attitude.
He took her hand and stared down at her with a knowing expression that bothered her and also gave her a weird quivering sensation in her body. He was such a sexy man and she was so attracted to him that she noticed so much about him. From his body to his dark-brown eyes and the way he stood with a thumb in the loop of his jeans in a sexy, relaxed fashion. He was like something out of an outfitters magazine.
She attempted to pull away, but it was a lame attempt. She really liked the way her small hand felt encased by his much larger one. He smelled really good, and she remembered how good his kiss was outside today. Then it hit her. She wasn’t wearing much clothing. As a matter of fact, he was way overdressed compared to her. She shyly turned away from him but kept one hand wrapped around her midsection as if it would help stop the butterflies from fluttering inside.
* * * *
Eric’s heart was pounding inside of his chest. He never felt anything like this before. Just the sight of Stacy got his blood pumping and his dick hard. Then the little vixen actually gave him lip and attitude. That should have pissed him off and turned him off, but instead he was like some lovesick teenager who couldn’t wait to bury his cock balls-deep in her pussy. No other pussy would do, and he knew it. It was fucking with his mind big-time. Everything about her made him feel possessive, lustful, and borderline out of control.
He gripped her hand, and she tried to pull away. Sort of. He sensed her reservations about getting close to him. He knew she was scared, but he also knew she was interested. He and Max knew women well. He kind of regretted the fact of just how well he knew women. But now all he wanted to know was this woman and every damn inch of her body, too.
“You smell really good,” he whispered then winced inside. What a stupid fucking thing to say. Like that wouldn’t scare her. But this was exactly what this woman did to his mind. He lost all suave, slick words of endearments and lines used in the past. She kept him real and, damn it, honest as any man could be standing in front of the goddess of his dreams. She looked back at him, and her arm remained in a protection position against her waist. Was she scared of him or just scared in general. He couldn’t resist temptation any longer. He had to touch her. Reaching up, he stroked her cheek, letting his index finger glide softly under her chin. He tilted it up toward him, and when her big brown eyes locked gazes with him, he knew she would belong to him and Max. .
“I really didn’t mean to scare you, honey. I wanted to check up on you.”
“But you didn’t,” she replied softly.
With her hand still in his other hand, he brought it up to his chest as he wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her against him.
She inhaled as her breast collided with his stomach and her eyes locked with his.
“I’m gonna kiss you now, Stacy. It’s the only way to settle down my heart and prove that you’re okay,” he whispered and began to lower his head. He held in a smile of celebration when she tilted her head back in preparation for his kiss then closed her eyes.
The moment he felt her soft, full lips against his own, his whole world turned upside down. Her taste, her scent filled him from his nostrils through to the inside of his body. At least that’s what it felt like for Eric. He felt her curves beneath his hands as he pressed along her lower back then up her spine to the back of her neck. He released the hand he held behind her back and cupped her face with both of his hands, loving her mouth like he never loved another woman’s mouth before. Her hands pressed against his chest, shooting waves of fire and heat through his pectoral muscles and right to his cock. She had to have felt his arousal, and the thought that he could have her and that he would have her one day soon fed his need to claim her. But then he remembered the circumstances that led her to move to Texas and the possible fear she might have of men. He didn’t want her to fear him or his brother Max. Slowly he released her lips but kept her embraced and against his chest. When she laid her cheek against his chest, he closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing. Yeah, their Stacy packed a punch all right.
* * * *
Stacy remained locked against Eric’s chest. She felt so safe, so loved and content, it took all her will to gain control of this out-of-control situation and step back. Eric allowed her just about a few inches between them, but the heat between their bodies was enough to cause an inferno. She knew it, but she was scared. She was no damsel in distress. Relationships that were initiated due to danger or potentially volatile situations were ultimately doomed. She couldn’t allow Eric and Max to make her lose control. They didn’t need to be her protectors.
“I think you should go,” she whispered and immediately felt the tension in Eric’s arms and then him relax. Her statement obviously caught him off guard.
“Do you want me to go?” he asked in a soft whisper then kissed her forehead then along her hairline. Unconsciously she tilted her head back to give him better access to her cheek then neck. Realizing that she gave in so easily to his tactics, she pulled away, and he released her. God, she loved being in Eric’s arms. She thought about nights cuddling on the couch with Eric or Max, and then she thought about both of them together. Her cheeks reddened, and her heart pounded in her chest. She could never do that. How could she even consider that? The more she thought about both men, the more she realized that she could be with both of them. She didn’t want one more than the other. She wanted them both.
“I don’t want you to be scared of me,” he stated, and his expression appeared empathetic and concerned.
“I’m not scared of you, Eric.”
He raised his eyebrows and then crossed his arms in front of his chest. He looked so yummy it was hard to act tough and uninterested.