Ten
“Isn’t that your teammate Halo kissing some woman at the top of the Ferris wheel?” Eden Cates asked Landon Kane as they approached the entrance to the pier.
She drew her glasses down her nose, and squinted skyward. Land tipped back his baseball cap, caught his own glimpse of the couple seated in the uppermost passenger car. He was fairly certain the man was Halo. The woman was shadowed by his wide shoulders. He bet the babe was his fiancée. He’d gamble it was Alyn Jayne.
He was right, he realized, moments later. Ten yards ahead, seated on a bench, were Martha and Danny, along with his contest winner Eleanor Norris. Quigley was stretched at their feet. Eleanor noticed him within a second of his seeing her. She flagged him down.
“Landon and the pretty photographer.” She sounded glad to see them. “What brings you to the pier?”
“You,” he told her.
“And Eden.” Eleanor called it like she saw it. “I want to stop into Old Tyme Portraits before I leave town. Get my picture taken in a vintage swimsuit. That’s the style we wore, back in my day.”
“I’m sure you wore it well.”
Eleanor tapped Land with her cane. “Still sweet-talking me, boy. I like it.”
“How are you doing?” he asked the older woman. “Is there anything you need?”
“Sitting pretty, me and Herman. Here with the Jaynes.”
Danny popped off the bench, came to shake Landon’s hand. “I ate chili-cheese nachos,” he said. “Two baskets. They’re all gone. I didn’t save you any.”
“We’re good,” Landon assured him. “You didn’t know we were coming. Dinner comes later for us. Eden’s here to shoot a sunset wedding.” He glanced at his watch. It was closing in on four o’clock. It was February, and the sun dropped at six. They had some time to kill.
He hunkered down to pet Quigley, and Danny knelt, too. Land scratched the pug under the chin. The dog wiggled. “How’s your day going?” he asked the boy.
Danny gave him a quick, but thorough rundown of the day’s activities, finishing with, “Halo and my sister are doing circles.”
Kissing circles, thought Landon, smiling to himself, as the Ferris wheel turned. His best friend was claiming his fiancée publically. He was a witness.
Eden came to stand beside him. Danny returned to his mother. “Are you surprised?” She kept her voice low. Her camera was strapped around her neck, and she lifted it now, focusing on the riders. She snapped three consecutive shots. “I’m not.”
“Why not?” he questioned.
She shrugged. “Photographer’s eye, perhaps. The pictures I developed from the bonfire defined them as a couple. Halo’s gaze was hotter than the flames. Alyn eyed him with interest.”
“You’re reading a lot into the pictures.”
“It can’t be missed. They reflect a future together. It’s there for anyone to see.”
Landon rose. Towered over her. His back was to Eleanor and the Jaynes. “We’re talking Halo here,” he reminded her.
“He’s a person, not just a reputation.”
“Like you know him.”
“You don’t have to know someone well to read their features. Alyn and Halo are committed, whether you believe me or not.”
He’d have to see the photos to trust her instincts. Or see them face-to-face, as he was about to now. He saw Halo signal the Ferris wheel operator, and the ride came to an end. Halo climbed out of the car, then offered Alyn his hand. She took it, all natural and easy, as if they’d been holding hands for years.
They’d known each other eight days. Landon had difficulty reconciling that fact with the intimacy between them. Or maybe he chose not to. He’d seen initial sparks between them, the night they first arrived in town. How close Alyn stood to Halo. How protective he was of her. The way they glanced and caught each other’s eye. Halo would stare until she blushed. Then grin broadly.
Attraction was one thing. Acting on it, another. Halo was raw, rough—all indulgence and gratification. He wasn’t known for his longevity with the ladies. He lived for the moment. Alyn looked to the future. She was sweet and shy. With a subtle strength. A woman of substance and permanence. So unlike anyone Halo had ever dated. He hoped neither would get hurt.
Land kept his eye on them as they approached. They were too busy looking at each other to notice him. “Entwined,” Eden whispered over his shoulder. He still had his doubts.
Danny spotted Halo and his sister, and took off running. Drawing their focus off each other and onto him. Alyn gave her brother a big hug. Halo fist bumped him. A sense of family surrounded them.
Eden spoke once more. “Give Halo the benefit of the doubt. The bigger the man, the harder he falls for the right woman.”
Landon would support his best friend, no matter the outcome. He only wished Halo had confided his engagement prior to Media Day. He’d been as blindsided as the next guy.
“Dude,” Halo said when he reached Landon. He nodded to Eden. Then tucked Alyn under his arm, fit her to his side.
They looked comfortable together, which helped Land to relax. “Your mystery woman.” It was more statement than question. He thumped Halo on the back. “Congratulations are in order.”
“Surprised?” Halo asked.
Land shrugged. “Not as much as you might think. When the time’s right, it’s right.” He leaned toward Alyn, dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Halo’s a lucky guy.”
Alyn eyed Eden. “You’re fortunate, too.”
He had to agree. Eden was insightful. Unique. Her own woman. She’d moved outside the group. Landon took that moment to leave, as well. But not before he asked, “Eleanor, would you like to have dinner with us?”
She passed. “Full on nachos.”
He trailed Eden down the wide set of steps that led from the pier to the beach. She held an inexplicable appeal. Today round Benjamin Franklin – style wire-rims replaced her rainbow glass frames. The day was humid, and her hair was full-blown frizz. She’d spent time in the sun since he’d last seen her. Her freckles stood out on her sunburned cheeks. She gravitated toward oversized button-downs and leggings. He figured she found them comfortable. Especially for work.
She waited for him on the sand. Smiling up at him as he came down. She had an honest face. The gap in her teeth made her look vulnerable. She was quick to kick off her flip-flops. Hung them over her fingertips. Dug her toes in the sand.
He came down on himself for not being more attentive to her. For allowing Halo’s engagement to crowd her out. He’d had ten women approach him since noon, asking for dates. He’d been flattered, but passed. Eden had been on his mind ever since the bonfire. Since she’d eaten the burnt marshmallows he’d roasted. He had to admire a woman who got her fingers, lips, and the tip of her nose all gooey, and could still laugh at herself.
She’d been really nice to Eleanor, too. He liked that. Eden hadn’t tried to draw his attention away from the older woman and onto herself. She’d listened intently when Eleanor outlined her future travels. She requested postcards from each locale, which pleased Eleanor greatly. Eleanor and Herman were willing to share their adventures.
Eden hadn’t come looking for him today. He’d sought her out, catching her as she’d snapped and printed her last portrait photo, then locked up her shop. He’d invited her to dinner; she’d informed him of her wedding shoot. Scheduled at six, for an hour, no more. Then she’d be free. He decided to tag along. They would dine afterward.
“Who’s getting married?” he asked her, as he chose a dry spot on the shoreline and dropped down. His light khakis were the same color as the sand. He bent one leg, rested an arm across his knee. “Family? Friend?”
“No one I know well,” she told him as she walked along the compact sand at the water’s edge. “A couple came into my shop last week, and had fun with their portrait shoot behind the bride and groom cutout. They asked if I’d photograph their vows. Nothing fancy. Stills, no video.”
“Size of the wedding party?”
“Just the two of them.” She smiled then. “Their officiant was ordained online overnight, just for the occasion.”
“They’re keeping it simple.”
“Marriage is about two people committing to be one,” she said. “Independent spirits can fly equally as high together.”
He liked her philosophy. “The women I’ve dated made it all about me,” he admitted. “They lost their personality in my popularity.”
“You’re in the spotlight much of the time. Do you perform best with eighty thousand fans shouting your name at the ballpark?”
He preferred one woman sighing his name in bed. He’d yet to find the right one. He evaded. “I don’t mind the attention, although anonymity would be nice on occasion. I take downtime when I need it. Like tonight—you, me, the twilight. No hurry. No hassles.”
She glanced toward the boardwalk, informed him, “Don’t turn around then. We’re not alone. There are dozens of people leaning against the railing, eyeing you. All wondering who you’re with and what you’re doing.”
Landon blew out a breath. He’d hoped to lose his identity to the sunset, become no more than a blur on the beach. Not happening, he realized. They were seeking his autograph. Wanting to talk. While he was involved in another activity. They needed to keep their distance, and not crash the wedding. He had a way to move them on. People seldom interrupted a kiss.
He crooked his finger. “Come here, Eden.”
She kinked her finger back. “You come to me.”
So that was the way of it. He understood her position. She didn’t want to appear to be coming on to him. So he went to her. He pushed up, got sand in his leather loafers. Sans socks. He shook out his feet. Some sand remained. Itched his toes.
Eden went still when he neared. She looked up, eyes wide behind her wire-rims. She seemed less self-assured. More shy. “What?” she asked, when he stared intently.
“An experiment.”
“Why?”
Why, indeed? Because he found her interesting, unconventional, and sexy. He kept that to himself, and said instead, “My fans should disperse if I kiss you. They’ll give us some privacy.”
She scrunched her nose. Skeptical. “A kiss is your solution?”
He shrugged. There were holes in his theory. He just had the sudden urge to kiss her. “It’s worth a try.” He didn’t allow her to question him further.
Her small Nikon hung on a strap around her neck, blocking him from getting too close. He gave her space, not wanting to damage the camera. Or push it into her chest, leaving an imprint on her breasts. He angled left, and their bodies touched. Awkwardly, but significantly. Satisfying him.
Sliding his hands into her hair, he cupped her face. The brush of his thumbs at the corner of her lips prepared her for his kiss. He leaned in, lowered his head. Experienced a sudden and unexpected physical jolt. Their kiss was strangely important to him. More than he’d anticipated. He took her mouth slowly, increasing the pressure when she kissed him back.
This was their first kiss, yet the romantic in him sensed both a newness and familiarity between them, as if they were meant to come together. To embrace each other at twilight.
Lingering, closed-mouth kisses were a turn-on, he found. Very soft and sensual, yet somewhat chaste and restrained. There was a different finesse to this kind of foreplay. Heightened sensation. Expectancy. Emerging feelings. Right there on the beach. Landon had never felt anything like it.
Apparently, neither had Eden. She clutched his upper arms, as much to steady herself as to shift closer. Desire shivered through her, and into him. He absorbed her pleasure. Shared his heat. His sex pressed her hip. He was aroused and charged. Fortunately, he had his back to the boardwalk. He avoided a public erection.
He broke their kiss when it was about to get complicated. Their time together was limited. She had a wedding to shoot. He needed to catch his breath, bring himself under control.
She dipped her head, inhaled deeply. Then glanced over his shoulder. “Our kiss cleared the boardwalk.”
Their audience had scattered. Privacy was theirs. For the moment. He waged an inner war. To kiss, or not to kiss her again. Her eyes were bright. Her face flushed. Her lips pouting, plump. Her breathing was uneven. Her breasts soft against his side. His thigh pressed between her legs. He was certain she was wet.
Her sigh whispered her own indecision.
He cleared his throat, came to his own conclusion. He stepped back. Disconnected. His hands itched to touch her again. He clamped them instead. Shifting his focus, he looked out over the Gulf. High tide. Heavy waves advanced on the shoreline. Retreated. He rolled his shoulders. Stretched his arms over his head. Kicked out each leg. Restored circulation to body parts other than his groin.
They’d separated just in time. “Eden, we’re here.” A woman’s voice drifted to them across the sand. “Are you ready for us?”
Eden collected herself quickly. She motioned the woman, man, and officiant to join her at water’s edge. She smiled warmly. “Perfect timing. We have an hour to work around the sunset.” She next introduced everyone, by first names.
Landon met Zoey, Ayre, and their best friend, Wilson, who would preside over the ceremony. There was nothing formal about their nuptials. The bride wore a white tank top and shorts, a woven band of daisies in her hair. The groom was equally casual, wearing a blue T-shirt and ladder-ripped jeans. Wilson slung a tie around his neck, his blue button-down wrinkled and stuffed into a pair of navy walking shorts. All were barefoot.
Land sensed they were meant for each other. Ayre looked at Zoey as if she were the most beautiful woman alive. Zoey’s gaze held his, deep and endearing. Her hands trembled, and Ayre brought them to his lips, kissing them reassuringly.
“I’m ready, whenever you are,” Eden called to them. “Do what feels natural. Pretend I’m not even here.” She took several steps back, circling them, standing on tiptoe, and then kneeling on the sand. She captured each expression from every angle.
They exchanged their vows on the sun’s descent. There was a richness to the night as it fell in shades of gold. The Gulf rippled copper, as if cast with pennies. The sand shimmered medallion bronze. The horizon was gilded. A glowing backdrop for their wedding.
“Kiss her,” Wilson soon told Ayre.
Free-spirited and spontaneous, Ayre picked up his bride, and carried her into the ocean. They kissed amid the toppling waves and waning twilight. Their laughter followed them back to shore.
“We’re headed to the movies,” Zoey said.
Marriage and a movie. Casual. Uncomplicated. Landon liked their lifestyle.
“Stop by my shop tomorrow,” said Eden. “I should have proofs available by noon.”
The couple waved as they ran across the sand. Wilson trailed them more slowly. Zoey and Ayre went right once they reached the boardwalk. Wilson left. He ducked into Molly’s Diner.
Eden stood at the waterline. Land walked to her. She smiled, happy in the aftermath of the wedding. He felt light-hearted, too. On impulse, he bent and kissed her on the forehead. As spontaneous as he, she kissed his cheek. Close to his mouth.
“What now?” he asked. “I promised you a meal.”
“I like a man who keeps his word.”
He hadn’t made a reservation. However his status as a Rogue would get him a table anywhere in town. “Steak, seafood?” Her choice. He wasn’t particular.
She made his life easy. “Let’s take a walk, see where it leads.”
He was willing. They held hands as they left the sand. He’d initiated the contact. She hadn’t pulled away. Soft skin. Short nails. Solid grasp. She led him with hungry purpose.
Her idea of dinner was creative eating down the boardwalk. No fancy, five-star dining. No candlelight. No muted music. No after-dinner liqueurs. Instead, she enjoyed junk food. Lady had a sweet tooth. Caramel apples. A box of homemade fudge. Bags of penny candy.
She turned healthy at Vigor, a wellness spa around the corner from the boardwalk. She sipped an orange-banana smoothie. He ordered an organic carrot-apple juice.
He never took his eyes off her. She’d captured his attention without even trying. Her life was fun. Without drama. She was her own person. A woman of switch-ups and surprises. Honest. Cute, quirky, without pretense. Free. She embraced the night, hugging herself, and then him. He liked her spontaneity.
She also people-watched with a prescient eye. She recognized love between couples that had yet to be discovered, yet to be spoken. She was a romantic after his own heart.
The boardwalk was hosting the Spring Music Festival. Musicians set the night to dancing. Every kind of music from contemporary to reggae was performed. People stopped to listen. Some clapped, some danced, and the majority of tourists tossed a few dollars in the instrument cases.
Carefree and comfortable in her own skin, Eden danced down the boardwalk. Her moves were smooth, creative. Rhythmic. An unoccupied, upright piano was chained to the blue metallic railing. A block-lettered sign was propped above the keyboard: FREE PLAY. EXPRESS YOURSELF. She patted the bench, and he accompanied her. They pounded out a basic duet of “Chopsticks.” A little off-key. Applause came with the last note.
Moments later, she took part in theater freeze frame, a boardwalk novelty performed by a local drama group. Still as stone, she became human art, alongside a pirate. People slowed and stared. She didn’t blink, barely breathed for a considerable time. Impressive.
Landon had his own way of bringing her back to life. He leaned in and kissed her. Soundly. She lowered her eyelashes, and smiled against his mouth. He eased back, grinned, too.
“You’ve walked me home,” she said. They’d nearly reached the end of the boardwalk. Her shop was two doors down.
It was only ten o’clock. He was having a great time and hated to see the night end. The air was warm. A half-moon climbed to meet the stars. He nodded toward a wooden bench. “Sit and share the moonlight?”
Silence from her, which didn’t bode well for him. Maybe she was ready to call it a night. Perhaps she wasn’t as into him as he was into her. That would be unfortunate. Her letting him down. Then walking away.
She bit her bottom lip, thoughtful. “Or . . .” She weighed her words. “We could make out on my couch in the back room?”
He hadn’t seen that coming. “I didn’t know you had a back room.” Totally lame. He tried again, “Kissing on a sofa, high-school style?”
“It’s a foldout.”
A bed. “You sleep here?”
“On nights I work late.” She took a step toward him. Raised an eyebrow. “So . . .”
Dry humps and kissathons. Why the hell not? “Sixteen and horny.”
She licked her lips. “Me, too.”
He came up behind her as she unlocked the door, entered. The outside lights filtered through the main window, twinkling on the floor. She eyed him over her shoulder. “Feel free to drop quarters to find your way out, like you did on the path to the wedding chapel.”
Heat crept up his neck. “You noticed?”
“I’m two dollars richer.”
He followed her past the faceless cutouts to a narrow rear door hidden behind a tall metal cabinet. A flick of a switch, and a panel of lights ran the full length of the drop-ceiling. Her back room was more efficiency apartment than storage space. Small and compact and outfitted with a sink, refrigerator, and bathroom. A retro circular table and two chairs sat in the center. Customer portraits framed the walls.
She placed her camera safely on the kitchen counter. With an adjustment of the dimmer switch, the room softened. Taking his hand, she led him to the overstuffed sofa. Three wide cushions. Dark fabric. Comfortably folded.
She cut him a look from beneath her eyelashes. Licked her lips suggestively. Actually giggled. “My parents are playing cards at the neighbors. They won’t be home for an hour. We can fool around, but no going all the way.”
Lady had imagination. She also had rules. No sex tonight, which was fine by him. Foreplay had a dual edge. He had ways of winding her so tight, she’d never uncoil. She wouldn’t be satisfied by anyone’s hands but his own.
They came together. He sat, and she straddled his lap. A slow slide onto his thighs. A spreading of her legs. He curved his hands over her knees. Splayed his fingers. She was slender; his hands big. His fingertips wandered up her leggings. She covered his hands before he could tuck them beneath her bottom. She held him off. He let her.
As she looked into his eyes, her sexy side emerged. She tossed her hair, and her breasts bounced. Tilting her head, she asked, “Why’d you ask me out, Landon?”
He tugged one white-blond curl. Drawing her face closer to him, he played along. “I’m into girls with electric hair.”
“I’m into popular boys. Especially jocks.”
“I play baseball.”
She flared her nostrils. “A turn-on.”
“Are you turned on now?”
“I’ve been hot since you asked me out.”
“That was three days ago.”
“I know.”
Land smiled to himself. She was good at their high school game. He felt a jolt in his belly. A stirring in his groin. Her sensual boldness aroused him.
She leaned in, finger-brushed his hair off his face. Then traced his eyebrows. Grazed his cheekbones. The blade of his nose. The symmetry of his jawline. Slow and intimate. Her gaze settled on his mouth. Eyes, deep blue and dilated. “You are fine,” she admired, before nipping his bottom lip. Hard enough to twist his hips. Draw his moan.
Expectant, she waited for his kiss. With parted lips. A peek of her tongue. Instead of taking her mouth, he kissed her brow. The arch of her cheek. Nuzzling close, he licked the soft spot below her ear. Then blew softly. Goose bumps rose, visible at the vee of her button-down. He started to unbutton her top, but she stopped him. “Clothes stay on.” Her rule, not his.
He could play dressed. It was very sexy. He also went with no touching. For the moment. He took her lips, only to pull back. Again and again. He kept his kisses light as breath. He savored her. Slow and lingering. Their closed-mouth kisses lasted forever, deepening their intimacy. Creating an emotional closeness.
“I heard you were a good kisser,” she sighed against his mouth. “The girls were right.”
“What girls?” He was curious.
“From my gym class. Susie, Linda, Danielle, Jody, Mary, Tammi.”
He played along. “Ah . . . those girls.”
“You’ve kissed many. Felt up a few. Gone all the way with the homecoming queen.”
Gossip built his reputation. “I’m with you now.”
“Are you liking me?”
Too damn much. “We’re working it.”
He wanted her. Bad. He went on to prove it. This time with touch and tongue. He French kissed her, long and deep. Mating with her mouth, mimicking sex. Until they were both breathing heavy. He wanted her hot. All worked up. When she gasped, needed a breather, he kissed her even more soundly.
She fanned her hands over his shoulders, curled her fingers into corded muscle. Her body had gone liquid. She clung to him as he grazed her chin, her cheek, with his teeth. Along with the pulse point at the base of her throat.
Her breath hitched, and her oversized shirt fluttered at her waist, revealing her belly. Her skin was as pale as the lighting. He felt her up; palmed her breasts. Her nipples poked the cotton cups of her bra. He wanted to flick the front clasp, but held back. Too much, too soon. He went on to trace her from cleavage to navel, then hand-spanned high on her legs. He stroked the crease between her thighs and torso, stopping short of her sweet spot.
She gave an involuntary shiver when he fingered the waistband on her leggings. Then strayed beneath the elastic. The rough pads of his fingers tipped her pubic bone. He realized that Eden shaved—everywhere. Her thigh muscles tightened, clenching his hips. An uncensored coming undone. He pulled out his hand. Cupped her butt.
Her heart pounded and anticipation took hold. Her own hands found their way beneath his blue polo. She saw his Rogues tattoo inside his left hip. The image of a sword with Invincible along the blade. She traced the edge. “A phallic symbol?” she asked.
“No metaphor needed.” He sported seven inches.
“Then what?”
“Myths and legends,” he managed. “I read The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White numerous times as a kid. Excalibur proved Arthur’s lineage.”
“I can picture you as a Knight of the Round Table. I have a cardboard cutout of Lancelot.”
“I’d rather be king.”
“Your Majesty.”
She focused again on his body, as if he were royalty. Running her nails up his sides, she lightly scratched down his middle. He was six-pack cut. Her fingers followed his happy trail, dipping a fraction of an inch beneath the waistband of his khakis. Only to exit, and rub along his zipper. She squeezed his length. Wound him tight. He almost lost it.
The calculated shift of her hips made his palms sweat. His hands fist. His hips jerked. The muscles in his thighs contracted. She teased him without mercy. The slightest scoot forward, and she was centered over him. She must feel his every flex. His every inch of hardness. Had they been naked, he would’ve entered her.
The air was as heavy as their breathing. Their scents mingled. He was hard, and she was inaccessible. There’d be no skin-on-skin. Foreplay was killing him. He set his back teeth; a muscle jumped along his jawline. He couldn’t collect himself. He was too far gone.
Their plan to make out on the couch like high schoolers was deceiving. Flawed. Teenage hormones didn’t come close to adult libido. He’d long passed sixteen. Temptation rubbed him. Raw and urgent. Sex pressured him now. He’d never wanted a woman as much as he desired Eden Cates. His patience was stretched to the max. He needed to be inside her. To feel her wetness. To bring them to orgasm.
There was only one way out. He took it. He kissed her one last time, with passion and possession. A sinful tangle of tongues. Then breaking apart, he craned his neck and pretended to listen. “I heard a car door slam.” His voice was deep, rough, forced.
“Y-you did?” she stammered.
“Your parents are home.”
“T-they are?” Her face was flushed. Her lips were swollen. Another button on her blouse had come undone. The elastic of her waistband had rolled beneath her navel. Her femininity was outlined by the thin fabric.
He lifted her from his lap in one fluid motion. Set her beside him. He rose, stood with his arms at his sides. His heart hammered. His chest heaved. He felt as unsteady as she looked.
Turning aside, he adjusted himself. His dick twitched, felt betrayed. No action tonight. Another time, Land promised. He signed off with, “See you at school tomorrow.”
“In algebra.”
He made it through her shop and out the front door.
He headed north on the boardwalk.
Stiff-man walking.
* * *
“How’d school go today?”
It was seven p.m., and Eden could barely hear Landon over all the barking. She sat on a long wooden bench in the fenced play yard at the no-kill animal shelter. She’d come to choose her four-footed companion for the Dog Jog, scheduled for Sunday. It was an event not to be missed. Worthwhile, memorable, tail-wagging fun.
She cut him a look. Appreciated the man. He wore a Barefoot William T-shirt tucked into worn jeans. He pulled off casual with style. Was male gorgeous. She was dressed similarly, in a pale blue tee with her store logo and cuffed jeans. “You cut algebra,” she returned.
“I didn’t finish my homework. I was preoccupied last night.”
“Making out can be a distraction.”
“I can always make up the assignment.”
“Jocks need to maintain their grades.”
“I carry a ‘B’ average.”
He dropped down beside her, kissed her lightly, familiarly, on the lips. Then took her hand. “Thanks for meeting me here,” he said. “We can pick our dogs together.” He scanned the grassy area. “Any caught your eye yet? Do you have a favorite?”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. It seemed natural to do so. “Not just one, I love them all. A very tough decision.” There were puppies and adult dogs. All sizes. All breeds. All worthy of adoption. All needing a forever home.
“I’m the last player on the team to pick a furry partner. The guys discussed the Dog Jog during warm-ups and scrimmages this morning. There are sixty entrants. Rylan’s got Atlas. The lead Great Dane. Halo and Alyn will bring up the rear with Quigley. Zoo viewed the dogs yesterday. He went with a year old Rottweiler, Turbo. Our pitcher Will decided on a Chihuahua, Cutie Patootie.”
She couldn’t help but grin. “Love her name.”
“Will’s calling her Patoot. The man’s six-six. The Chihuahua barely weighs four pounds. You can hardly see her over the top of his sneaker. He can carry her in his shirt pocket, if she gets tired.”
“Her little legs may only last a block.”
“He’ll get her to the finish line.”
They watched the dogs play, noticing that some interacted better than others. Eden was soon drawn to a shy male beagle who clung to the fence. He shook every time another dog approached, turning his head away.
Eden motioned to Betty Elroy. The shelter director hurried over. “Tell me about the beagle,” she requested.
Betty told them what she knew. Which was very little. “That’s Obie. Shelter-named. No background on him. He’s been here a month. Someone dropped him off in a crate by the back door. No note. No care instructions. No aggression on his part. He just hasn’t warmed up to anyone.”
Eden’s heart went soft and sad simultaneously. She released Landon’s hand, stood, and slowly walked toward Obie. She stopped when he started to tremble. She lowered herself to the ground. Sat cross-legged. Allowing him to get used to her.
“Head’s up,” Land called from behind her. She glanced back, and he tossed her a dog treat. “I packed snacks. Came prepared.”
Eden noticed that he had hunkered down, too. Presently, he began petting a reddish, long-haired dachshund. The weenie leaned against his ankle. Looked up at him adoringly. That was the effect he had on females.
“Her name is Ruby,” the director told Landon. “She’s eight. A real sweetheart. Sadly, her owner recently passed away. No immediate family wished to take her.”
“Has she met Obie?” asked Land.
“She just arrived, and hasn’t officially made the rounds.”
“Introductions are in order then.”
He pushed up, and Betty moved on. Scooping the dach against his chest, he crossed to Eden, then crouched again. He released Ruby. The dachsie sensed her purpose. She snuck the biscuit from Eden’s outstretched hand, and delivered it to the beagle. She dropped it by his left front paw. Obie remained reluctant.
Other dogs circled, checking out Ruby. She allowed them a sniff or two, then barked them along. She stood guard, not letting them near Obie.
Eden pointed. “Ruby’s gone belly-down.”
“Not much of a drop,” said Land. “She’s two inches off the ground.”
The dachshund scooted toward Obie. She didn’t bark, only whined, offering canine sympathy. Obie hung his head. Whimpered back. The sound was pitiful. Utter dejection.
Tears filled Eden’s eyes. The dogs were bonding. She’d never seen anything like it. She swore there was hope in Obie’s eyes, a moment of trust. He did the unexpected. He nudged the biscuit back to Ruby. She ate it, then trotted back to Landon, demanding a second.
It became a game, Land handing Ruby a treat. Her taking it to Obie. The beagle ate one of three. Ruby confiscated the other two. Eden used her iPhone to take pictures. They were priceless.
“Stand up, and follow my lead,” Land said. Eden did so.
“Ruby,” he called, patting his thigh. “Come, girl.” He took Eden’s hand, and they started to walk away. They hoped Ruby would follow. And that Obie would come after her.
The dachshund grew dismayed. She whined. Her eyes were on Landon, but she remained beside Obie. The director came to their rescue, providing a solution.
“A double-dog coupler,” Betty said, holding dual leashes, connected by a circular center link. “You can comfortably walk two dogs of different breeds and sizes without the hassle of tangled and twisted leashes. The coupler was donated to the shelter, but we’ve never had two dogs leave together, so it’s all yours.”
“Ours?” Eden said slowly.
Betty waved her hand, was apologetic. “My mistake. I jumped to conclusions. I assumed you’d be sponsoring the beagle and dachshund in the Dog Jog. Helping to find them a home.”
“You’d be right,” Landon assured her, accepting the coupler. “We’re also considering adoption. Joint custody.”
Eden started. “We are?”
Land rubbed the back of his neck. “Give us five to collect our thoughts.”
The director beamed. “Take all the time you need. A permanent home is preferable. But a chance for them to be showcased at the event is nice, too.” She moved on.
Eden gave him the eye. “What are we thinking?” she asked him.
“Pet parents. Any objections?”
She was truthful. “I barely know you.”
“We’ve known each other since high school.”
She laughed. A little. “Still, taking on pets is a huge responsibility.”
He grew serious. Sensitive. “Too soon to adopt? You mentioned losing a dog and cat a while back.”
“Their loss stayed with me a long time.” She still had their food bowls. Their old toys. Their bedding. “I love being an owner,” she admitted. “I miss having another heartbeat in the house. I’d planned on a future adoption. I just hadn’t gotten around to visiting the shelter, until now.”
Eden eyed the two dogs. “It’s obvious Obie needs Ruby. They should be adopted together. I think they both need us.” Somehow that felt right. Her heart warmed. Decision made.
“We have four days to familiarize them with the double-leash. They could enter the Dog Jog as a pair. Walk together.”
“You’d help me train them?”
“I’m up to the challenge.”
“It would mean seeing each other. Often.”
He seemed relieved. “A means to an end. I have the dogs to thank.”
“You want to spend time with me?” She wasn’t fishing for compliments, merely needed assurance.
“I like you, Eden.”
It was hard for her to accept. The man could date anyone on the boardwalk. Any woman in Richmond. Most any woman on the planet. Yet he chose to be with her.
She sat there, mind blown, until he nudged her with his elbow, asked, “You like me back?” His expression appeared more little boy than grown man.
“I feel sixteen.”
“I’m feeling awkward. Answer anytime.”
She considered. “Are you liking me to get me naked?”
He shook his head. “I’ve never told a woman I liked her to get her in bed.”
“Liking me will lead to sex.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
“So, you’re fine with foreplay, nothing more?”
“More would be nice.”
“Expect it.” The when and where would come in good time.
“You’re already making me sweat.”
“I like making you sweat.” Less apprehensive, she said, “I like you, too, Landon.”
His smile came fast. Hot and sexy. “We’re getting there.”
Getting where? She was about to ask, but just then the director of the shelter returned. She clasped her hands before her and looked questioningly at the two of them. “I hate to interrupt, but the couple standing by the gate are interested in Ruby. I told them you were discussing—”
“She’s adopted.” Eden didn’t let her finish.
“So is Obie,” added Land.
“How fortunate for them.” Betty was pleased. “Let me introduce the Fosters to another dachshund, and I’ll start your paperwork. My office is through the side entrance, second door on the left. I’ll meet you there.”
Land hooked Ruby to the coupler, but Obie fought it. The beagle cringed. Despaired. Backed against the fence. Curled into a ball. Landon went down on one knee, placed his palm on Obie’s shoulder. Gentled the dog. “No one’s going to hurt you ever again. You’re with us now. I protect what’s mine.”
Landon was their champion. He was kind and generous, a good man. Obie apparently thought so, too. He gave Land his paw. They shared a momentary truce, up until Landon tried to collar him. Obie panicked again, panting so heavily, Land released him.
He passed Ruby’s leash to Eden. “I’ll carry him,” he decided. Obie went stiff in his arms. Fortunately, it was a short distance to the office. Land again set him down.
The director soon joined them. They signed the paperwork and paid the adoption fees. Then headed out. Ruby trotted along on her half of the coupler. Obie got carried. The dog buried his head in Land’s chest.
They eventually stood in the parking lot between their Porsches, and went over their options. “My place,” Eden assumed.
“No pets allowed at Driftwood Inn.” Where the team resided.
“Follow me home?”
“Right behind you. I’ll bring the dogs.”
He didn’t want to split them up. Eden was appreciative. The two were better together. “I’ll drive slowly. Flash your headlights if they don’t ride well.”
“If for some reason we should pass you, and you see Ruby driving, be concerned. Very concerned.”
She laughed. “That’s a photo I’d stop and take.” She helped him load the dogs. Ruby settled in on the passenger seat. Obie dove for the floor mat.
“Food,” she said, once he was behind the wheel. “A stop at Quick Mart, and we’re set.”
He followed closely behind her. Eden glanced in her rearview mirror often. She saw Ruby’s head pop up and her paws go to the window, as the dachshund tried to look out. She bobbed, but was too short to see much.
Once home, they allowed the dogs the run of the yard, then called them inside. They sniffed, explored. Obie became Ruby’s shadow. They ate from the same bowl. Then took the hidden, narrow staircase located off the kitchen to the loft above the sanctuary.
Eden turned on a standing lamp just inside the door. The pink bulb provided soft lighting. Landon looked around her bedroom while she set out the dog beds. Two beds, but they settled on one. The excitement of a new home overtook Ruby, and she soon slept. Obie rested with one eye open. He breathed easier now, but wasn’t fully trusting.
She next turned to Landon. They stood so close, they could’ve been one person. “Dogs are tucked in.”
“It’s our time now.”
She was ready for him. The promise of sex filled the room. Invisible, yet tangible. Their silence became foreplay. The moments stretched out as awareness became arousal.
She kicked off her flip-flops.
He heel-toed his tennis shoes.
He curved one arm about her shoulders, the other beneath her knees, and lifted her. Still clothed. He moved the few feet to the double bed set in the middle of the room against the wall. Her bed was unmade. She’d left the house in a hurry that morning. The blankets and sheets twisted like lovers. Several pillows were scattered near the headboard.
He lowered her onto the mattress. She stared up at him, her hair as out of control as her heartbeat. Her lips were slightly parted. She slowly brought them together, licked them. She saw his body tense, as if she’d licked him.
Vulnerability lay with her, as he stood beside the bed. This wasn’t high school anymore. She had an eye for visual composition. Balance and bone structure. Musculature. Landon was flawlessly handsome. She experienced a moment of panic. He belonged with a woman as equally attractive. Someone fit and feminine. With perfect teeth and soft skin. Not someone like her, who refused braces, and had no beauty regimen. Who binged on junk food, and believed chewing was an exercise.
He sensed her insecurity. Laid it to rest. “Don’t question how I feel about you, Eden. I have no words. It’s all in here.” He touched his heart.
She melted. Let the night unfold. The pull between them was poignant and strong, man to woman, and brought heat to her belly. She felt suddenly warm all over. Her breasts were heavy. The sexual ache between her thighs made her restless. She couldn’t catch her breath. He hadn’t even touched her.
Landon did the unexpected. His eyes darkened as he slowly stripped down. “I’m far from perfect, sweetheart,” he said. “I have scars.”
He showed them to her. One by one, as he took off his clothes. A show designed just for her. Off came his T-shirt, and he pointed to a laser thin line at his shoulder. “Rotator cuff surgery.” Didn’t detract from his appearance one single bit. She was far more interested in his sculpted chest.
“Appendix removed,” he went on to say. Again, no more than a hint of a scar on his abdomen. She’d never seen a stomach so flat.
He unsnapped, unzipped his jeans. Dropped them. He stood in navy boxer briefs. He filled them out nicely. “Cleats to the calf,” he continued. “An Atlanta Brave slid into me instead of the base.” Barely a mark, yet she’d appreciated the tour of his body.
He lowered his boxers. His sex was impressive. She stared openly. He climbed on to the bed. The mattress dipped, as he stretched out beside her. Her hands itched to touch him. But he caught her wrists, stopped her. “Let me get a look at you first.”
She wanted to close her eyes while he undressed her, yet remained brave. She watched his features for reaction, waiting for a narrowing of his eyes, a scrunch of his nose, his frown. Instead his eyes heated, his nostrils flared, and an appreciative smile curved his lips as he moved his hand beneath the hem of her cotton T-shirt and lazily dragged it up her chest. She lifted her shoulders, and he slipped it over her head. Next came her lacy bra. It was on; it was off. Her head again found the pillow, and her hair fanned her flushed face.
He moved his hand over her breast. Firm, round, and perfectly plump. Smooth and soft, and more than a handful. He liked the feel of her. She had freckles on her chest. And her skin was pale.
He wanted her out of her jeans, and took them off. Followed by her thong. Her waist was narrow. Her hips, perfectly shaped. The shaved, smooth skin between her legs made his heart slam; his dick throb. Misbehave. No other woman had ever stolen every thought from his head and made him forget to breathe. Eden was doing that to him now.
He wanted inside her. Bad. He managed to hold back, but just barely. He was twice her weight in muscle, and was easily twice as strong. Rising on his knees, he settled over her with a gentleness that made her stomach go soft. He hugged her to him, and buried his face in her hair. Then bit her earlobe, dragging his teeth along the plump flesh. She tensed under him, and her thighs pressed against his hips. He kissed her neck, felt the beat of her heart on his lips. Then lowered his mouth to hers.
“Are you on birth control?” he asked. “Or do I need a condom?”
“We’re safe.”
Landon tasted her further. He kissed her longer, deeper. Satisfying his craving for her. They explored each other with thoroughness. Each learned what the other person liked. Her heat wrapped around him. She absorbed his own warmth.
She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back. She lifted her legs, offering herself, shifting until she was right where he needed her to be. Their bodies merged, molding together without any awkward motions or hesitations. They fit together as if they were created for each other.
Sensation hit him, which he hadn’t expected. A sense of oneness settled in his soul. Eden was the woman he’d searched for all his life. The thought was clear. Powerful. He was overwhelmed by feelings for her that would never leave him. He needed to know if she felt the same.
He broke their kiss, and she blinked, her gaze heavy-lidded and lost in him. He saw her longing reflected in her dark blue eyes. The depth of her desire. Her commitment. She cared for him. Possibly even loved him. He was suddenly grateful. He silently counted his blessings.
“Land?” she questioned him. Her lips were swollen, well-kissed. Her chest rose and fell. Her nipples were fully puckered. Her pubic muscles clenched around him. “Is everything okay?”
His answer came in the slow rock of his hips. Followed by a rhythmic pace that heightened their pleasure. He whispered, coaxed her, driving her higher.
They were both suddenly there.
Both stiffening.
Both shattering.
Both boneless. Mindless. Replete.
He collapsed on her. Managed not to crush her.
Their breathing was heavy in the stillness.
Exhaustion had them moving slowly as they cleaned up. They could’ve lingered in the shower while Land gave Eden good loofa, but she wanted to ease back into bed, and sleep for an hour. He allowed her the luxury. Before he took her again.
He slipped back into his clothes, took the dogs outside, and was surprised that Obie stayed close to him. The beagle walked tentatively back into the house, while Ruby ran for the stairs. The dachsie already knew her way around. She was here to stay.
Land was glad that Eden had taken his idea of adoption and run with it. They both loved dogs. Another bond between them. He made sure Obie and Ruby were situated before returning to bed. Ruby lay with her chin on Obie’s front paws.
Stripping down, he slid in beside Eden. She turned to face him, full on. He nuzzled his jaw against the top of her head. Kissed her brow. The warmth of her breath blew against his neck.
He felt comfortable with this woman. Compatible. He was at a crossroads in his life. At the end of the day, he’d chosen to come home to her. He had only to convince her to be there for him.