I give her props for the take down, but what comes next is even better. Fucking dinner and a show tonight. I rip open the Snickers and lean against a handy tree. Sarah Jo and the other chick both lunge for the same super-sized licorice rope, tussling and laughing. If God were feeling benevolent, this is when the skies would open up and rain down enough water to turn this wrestling match into a mud fight. That would be fucking awesome.
Since the California drought shows no signs of quitting, however, I enjoy what I’ve got. Sarah Jo is no quitter, but the brunette chick has some crazy talented moves. They roll around, legs going everywhere, asses in the air, and Sarah Jo’s wife-beater climbs steadily toward her tits as she battles for control of the licorice rope. Moments later, she springs to her feet, waving the candy over her head. As if that’s not enough, she dances away, tears open the plastic wrapper, and licks the red tip.
Fuck. Me.
I need a distraction. I need to grab my boy and get the hell out of here. I do not need to start imagining Sarah Jo’s mouth closing around my dick and sucking me deep. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that whatever’s brought Sarah Jo here to Big Bear Lake, she’s got some serious issues and she doesn’t want attention. She wears more clothes than a convention of Mormons.
Lola and Hunter are squabbling about something. I take a step closer, trying to ignore the iron bar in my pants. It’s like a fucking dowsing rod except it’s pointing straight to Sarah Jo. I guess she’s a cool drink of water. She’s certainly cold enough. Despite being one of Big Bear Lake’s few single women, she’s made it plenty clear that dating and when hell freezes over are synonymous in her own personal dictionary. I don’t aim my hose where it hasn’t been invited, so I focus on Hunter and Lola, who’s busy giving him loud crap about his refusal to join in the mad scramble for the piñata’s contents. The woman has three volumes: loud, louder, and loudest.
“Who doesn’t like candy?” she says, hands on hips.
Hunter opens his mouth to disagree, so I step in and save his ass. He can thank me later.
“Better listen to your girl.”
Both Lola and Hunter turn to stare at me like they’re surprised to see me. Do I need an engraved invitation to crash their shenanigans?
“What’s up?” Hunter doesn’t sound thrilled. He starts patting his pocket as if he’s looking for his phone. He probably thinks I’ve come about a fire instead of on a mission of mercy.
“Came to drag you out with us,” I announce.
Did that sound like a threat to you? Because my words definitely get the attention of the two wrestlers. The brunette chick just snorts something under her breath, but Sarah Jo bolts toward us, grabbing the abandoned baseball bat. She goes all watchdog, her fingers tightening on the handle as she raises it like she’s more than ready to take a swing at any shit I toss her way. Hunter tenses. Lola mutters something. Hello, DECFON two.
And Sarah Jo stares at me. She’s got both hands on the bat. She looks downright terrified. I know I’m a big guy. I came out of the dark with no warning. But when she looks at me, I don’t think she sees me at all. She’s watching her past or some really bad memories—and she’s working herself up to take a swing at those demons.
I step out of the shadows and into the light so she can get a good look at me. She’s welcome to hit me if it makes her feel better but I want full credit for any skull-cracking I allow. This also gives me a better view of her face.
I could look at her face for hours. She’s pocket-sized compared to my bulk, a tiny, curvy dynamo biting a pair of lush, pink lips. I’d be happy to do the biting for her, to nibble on her all night. Her top slides down one shoulder and I have to force my eyes to stay put and not detour downward with her shirt. I mentioned she wasn’t wearing a bra, right? So you should pin a fucking medal on me right now. She’d be fucking hot if she didn’t look so scared. I may look like a Neanderthal, but I do have some rules. Consent is one of them. Orgasms and happiness for all is another.
I slide my hands up in the air. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”