Warnings and Wildfires

I lean down and brush my lips against her ear. “I mean it.”

She presses her hand against my chest. “Jake said you don’t take girls to your house.”

When the hell did they have that conversation? And why?

“I don’t want to take girls to my house. I want to take you.” My dick flexes against my fly as if he’s happy I’m finally admitting how much I want this woman.

She bites her bottom lip and glances away. “Okay,” she whispers.

I search the parking lot, but there’s no sign of my brother.

“What’s wrong?”

“Looking for Jake to see if he can drive my Jeep home.”

There’s enough moonlight to make out the confusion in her eyes. “Why?”

I can’t help but steal a quick kiss before explaining. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

She traces her fingers over my cheek, stopping at my bottom lip. “Trust me, Sullivan, I won’t change my mind.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The urge to pinch myself won’t fade.

After Sully tracks down his brother, he takes my hand and opens the passenger door for me. I don’t even hesitate to hand over the keys to my sister’s car. I’m way too excited to operate a vehicle.

I’m going home with Sully.

My lips still tingle from where we kissed.

He’s been fighting what he feels for weeks, but now he’s taking me to his house.

Was he jealous? Lots of guys had hit on me or asked for my number tonight. I chalked it up to drunken gamblers and brushed them off. I’m only interested in one man. Even if up until now he’s done nothing but push me away.

I hate to break the spell, but I have to ask. “Why tonight?”

He glances over. “I lose my mind around you.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“I guess it depends on your perspective.” He glances over and winks.

“So you were jealous?”

His hands tighten on the steering wheel. “I didn’t like the way some of those guys looked at you. But that’s not why I want you to come home with me.”

I’m too keyed up to pay attention to where we’re going and soon he’s pulling into a short driveway and shutting the engine off.

“Do you want to come in?” He glances over with a half-smile.

“I…I thought…”

His smile grows. “Nothing’s set in stone, Aubrey.”

He pushes his door open and comes around to my side, opening my door and holding out his hand.

My heels make a soft clicking over the blue stones lining the walkway to his front porch. He nods at the house right next to his. “My mom’s house.”

“You live next door to your mother? That’s so sweet.”

He flashes an unapologetic grin. It makes me like him even more. Which could be dangerous since I already like Sully way too much.

Inside is neat and tidy. Only a few young adult novels on the coffee table indicate a child spends any time here.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asks, closing the door behind us.

“Water would be great. My throat’s dry from yelling so much tonight.”

He moves through the house with ease and I follow him into the kitchen where he pulls a pitcher of water out of the fridge and plucks a glass out of the dishwasher.

“You did well,” he says, handing me the water. “Tonight.”

I take a long sip before answering. “Didn’t think I had it in me, did you?”

“I just didn’t want you getting hurt.”

“Honestly, I like Jake. Trust him, I mean. And Griff seems decent enough. But I didn’t really feel safe until I saw you there.”

He takes a step closer. “You’re always safe with me.”

I nod and set the glass on the counter. “I believe you.”

There’s a split second of hesitation between us. An anticipation as he brushes my hair off my cheek, staring into my eyes before bending down to kiss me. His mouth is warm and demanding. One of his hands cradles my jaw while the other presses against the small of my back. He drags his tongue across my bottom lip and I open for him. He tastes like mint. His arms wrap around my body, crushing me against him as our kisses turn deeper, rougher, almost frantic.

I love it.

My hands brush against his sides, stroking down his ribs to settle at his waist. He growls in response, a low rumble in his throat that ripples over me. I dip my fingers under the hem of his T-shirt, my thumbs brushing against his hot skin and he kisses me even harder.

Sully’s usually so…polite and reserved. I’m not expecting him to take charge.

But does he ever.

Tilting my head back for a better angle, he kisses me slow and hard. When our height difference is still too much, he growls and wrapping his massive arms around my body, lifts me in the air.

I pull back and stare at him.

“Aubrey, you have no idea how many times I’ve thought about this.”

“You’re the stubborn one.”

“I am.” We’re moving through the house and he only stops kissing me to utter a brief explanation. “I thought it was better not to get involved.” More frantic kisses. “But I can’t resist you.”

“Shh,” I place my fingers over his lips. “Keep kissing me. I’m all yours tonight.”

He hesitates. Does he want me to say I’m his for more than one night? I am. In my heart, I already feel it.

I don’t think I can say it yet.

At a doorway, he stops and lets me down. His gaze darts into the darkened room. “Are you sure? This won’t change anything. At work. For you, I mean. Either way.”

I can’t keep up. One second he’s take charge and the next he’s incredibly sweet and sensitive.

I tilt my head and squint up at him. “Work talk’s not very sexy.”

He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. “I’m serious.”

“Do you want my resignation first?”

He frowns. “Fuck no.” As if the reality of me quitting really bothers him, he draws me into his arms again. “I don’t think I could run the place without you now.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

He shrugs as if he’s telling the truth and takes my hand. Inside his room, he flicks on a small lamp. A weak circle of light reveals a neat bedroom. It’s not college-dorm-room utilitarian, but it’s definitely more functional than fancy.

My gaze flicks to his bed and my stomach tightens with anticipation. Maybe a little fear too. Years have passed since my last boyfriend and that was a disaster.

His fingers brush my cheek. “What’re you thinking about?”

“You,” I answer which isn’t a lie. He seems to invade all my thoughts.

“I’m right here.” He pulls me to him and his rough fingers graze my thighs. My stomach tightens with anticipation as he grasps the fabric of my dress and slides it up. “This fucking dress drove me nuts all night.” Frustration creeps into his tone but his mouth curls with appreciation. In an effortless move, he yanks the dress over my head and tosses it on his dresser. I squeeze closer, kissing his throat, but he pulls back enough to sweep his gaze over my body, drinking me in like he’s parched.

Uncomfortable under his stare, I cross my arms over my chest. He leans in closer and brushes a kiss over m

y cheek. “I want to see you.”

He hooks his hands in mine and drags them to my sides. “That’s better.”

“You’re making me nervous.”

That seems to bother him, and he draws back. “Why?”

I wave my hands at his tight-fitting T-shirt. “Well, one, you’re still dressed.”

In a quick, smooth move, he whips his shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor. “Done. What else ya got?”

I’m so busy drooling at his chiseled muscles, my tongue doesn’t want to work. “You’re all fitness-y and I’m kinda fluffy.”

He hooks his arm around my waist and spins me around. “Fluffy? Like a cat?” One of his hands slides down my back and over my butt. “Nope. No tail.” He squeezes each cheek thoroughly.

It’s so ridiculous, I can’t stop giggling and he turns me to face him. “I’m not sure how I feel about you laughing in my bedroom.” He taps the side of his head. “I had some other noises in mind.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“Aubrey.” His raspy voice cuts my laughter short. He caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. “You’re beautiful and I’ve wanted you for a long time.”

The honest admission steals my words and I blink up at him.

He walks me closer to the bed and nudges me. “Lie back. I need to do something.”

“What?”

He doesn’t ask again, just lifts his chin. I drop down and to my surprise, he kneels in front of me. Our gazes lock and he leans in, placing a kiss to my inner knee. His lips travel farther, light feathery kisses that leave me trembling. Finally, he reaches my mound and lays another kiss. Even through the satin underwear, I feel the heat of his mouth so close to my core.

“Don’t.” My voice comes out barely above a whisper. I place my hand over his.

Sully pulls back and stares up at me. “What?”

“I…That. I’m not…” I trail off, unsure of how to explain myself. My heart’s racing impossibly fast.

“Aubrey.” His rough baritone electrifies my skin. His fingers skim up the sides of my legs, landing on my hips. He tucks his fingers into the waistband of my panties and teases the material from my body. “That day I took you home and fixed your leg. You have no idea how badly I wanted to do this.” He stops to nuzzle his face against the fabric barely concealing me and my lady bits freak out.