CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WITH A FULL-FLEDGED boner straining his jeans, Rowdy watched her strip off her insubstantial jacket. She needed a coat, damn it. Something warmer, weatherproof... It wasn’t his concern.
Avery hung it over the rail at the landing, then bent to remove her shoes and socks. She placed them beneath the jacket. Barefoot, her bottom lip caught in her teeth, she straightened and turned toward him.
Rowdy couldn’t help it. Lured by an unspoken promise, enthralled by possibilities, he sat forward. When her small, trembling hands went to the waistband of her jeans, he sucked in his breath and held it.
She opened the snap, pulled down the zipper and worked to get the wet denim down her slender legs. She stepped out and straightened, wearing no more than a clinging T-shirt and tiny beige panties.
Rowdy set the glasses aside, but he didn’t leave the couch.
Holding the jeans in front of her, she asked, “Could I use your dryer?”
He wanted to see her walking across the room, wanted to see her ass in that little bit of material she called underwear. He worked his jaw, then muttered, “Help yourself.”
She held the railing on the steps, walking carefully, shaking all over. Icy rivulets of rainwater dripped down her narrow back, tracking over the curve of her ass and soaking into her panties; her small bare feet made no sound on the cold floor. In the kitchen, she opened the stack dryer and bent to put the jeans inside.
Biting off a groan, Rowdy stiffened—all over. Apparently he could be manipulated with sex, after all.
“Rowdy?”
He stood, but stayed by the couch, a safe distance from her dangerous appeal.
She pulled the shirt away from her body. “This is wet, too.”
There went the last piece of his imagined control. Grinding lust roughened his voice when he whispered, “Take it off.”
After the briefest hesitation, Avery nodded, caught the hem and peeled it up and over her head.
He’d fucked his way through a miserable upbringing, using sex to counter the ravages of poverty and abuse. He used it still to rid his mind of plaguing memories. But now, with Avery, the need that consumed him had nothing to do with any of that—and everything to do with her.
She half turned toward him, her eyes big with both uncertainty and resolve, her slender body bare except for a bra and panties that left little to the imagination.
His jeans felt too restrictive, and without looking away from her, he readjusted himself.
When he made no move toward her, she drew in a shuddering breath, blinked back tears and turned to put the shirt in the dryer with her jeans. Arms around herself, shoulders hunched and knees together, she gave him a defiant stare.
Yeah, he was a goner.
Only Avery could muster up that particular attitude while standing naked and vulnerable, cold and wet.
More than a little predatory, Rowdy stalked toward her, taut from head to toe. He stopped right in front of her, close enough to breathe in the scent of her wet skin and hair, mixed with the sweeter perfume of her excitement.
Her hair hung over her shoulders, partially hiding her breasts from him. With an exaggerated lack of haste, his movements methodical, he used both hands to move her hair back so he could see her nipples.
Her bra was as wet as the T-shirt had been, made of the same material as her miniscule panties. She shivered, her skin prickling and her nipples drawn tight.
With the back of one knuckle, he teased over her right breast.
Her breath caught. “Rowdy?”
“It’s wet.” He dropped his hand, his gaze clashing with hers. Very softly, he ordered, “Take it off.”
When she reached behind herself for the clasp, he cupped both breasts, teasing her stiffened nipples with his thumbs. She paused.
“Go on,” Rowdy told her.
Fumbling, breathing faster, she tried to hurry, and finally the bra loosened. He stripped it down her arms and tossed it into the dryer, then went back to toying with her nipples.
“I...I need to change your bandages, too, while I’m here.”
“Maybe later.” He liked that catch in her voice, how sensitive her nipples were and how quickly she reacted to his touch. He touched the waistband of her panties. “Let’s see if I can get these wet, too.”
She put hands against his chest. “Rowdy, wait.”
Fuck. Stepping back again, he crossed his arms and tried to prepare himself for whatever she had to say. He’d known, of course, that she hadn’t just come for sex. Avery wasn’t made that way. She had enough pride for three men and enough backbone to stand up to bad temper.
But he’d hoped that maybe, just maybe, she’d come because she...cared.
Hardening his heart, he waited without comment.
Shivering again, Avery stared up at him, her blue eyes pleading. “I...I need to tell you two things.”
He was as ready as he could be. Eyeing her breasts, he said, “You have my attention.”
She shook her head. “No, not yet.” Her tongue licked over her bottom lip, and she stroked his chest suggestively. “After.”
He straightened. Maybe he’d underestimated her intent after all. Stepping closer, he slid his hand over her waist. Her skin was chilled, damp, and he wanted to warm her. He wanted to protect her. Make love to her.
Cherish her.
But he couldn’t. Not yet.
Eyes narrowed, he asked, “You want sex?”
“God, Rowdy, you know I do.” She tried to burrow closer. “But I have a few conditions.”
His lust didn’t cool, but his heart turned to ice. “I don’t think so, babe. You don’t get conditions.” He looked her over, so petite but shapely, so fucking sexy. He made himself say the words: “It’s all or nothing.”
She nodded, but said, “It’s just that I...” Her voice trailed off.
“You just what? Want to manipulate me?” Never would he let that happen, not even for Avery. “You have an agenda, honey? Is that it?”
Sadness weighed down her shoulders, but that damned determination remained in spades. “I want to protect you.”
What a laugh. “From who? You?” So far, she’d been by far the biggest danger he’d ever faced.
“No.” She licked her lips again, leaving them damp, sharpening his urge to feel that soft mouth on his, on his body. “You don’t know everything about me.”
“No kidding.” The way she’d used him had blindsided him because he’d thought her above that type of shit. He’d thought her genuine and caring and honest.
“I...I’ll tell you, but you have to promise me you won’t change your mind.”
More demands? “About what?”
“Wanting me, this.” She gestured helplessly. “Having sex.”
And there was the biggest joke of all. “I’m not about to turn down easy sex.” He couldn’t. He needed her too much. “If you stay,” he said by way of an answer, “you’ll definitely be under me.”
She slowly inhaled, then said the unexpected. “I left my old life behind because someone...someone tried to hurt me.”
Ice ran through his blood. In a voice so faint he barely heard it himself, he whispered, “How?”
She rushed through the explanation, her hands open on his chest, sort of clinging. “I was almost raped.”
He took that one on the chin, staggered by the rage that exploded. He would easily kill anyone who dared—
“Almost, Rowdy. It didn’t happen.” She petted him, soothing, ripe with concern. “But I had to leave. No one...no one really believed me when I told them.”
Leveled, Rowdy searched her face and knew without a single doubt that she was telling him the truth. Everything he’d just been thinking faded behind the red mist of rage. “I believe you.” Avery might’ve thrown him for a few loops, but she wouldn’t make up something like that.
She wilted against him, tears of gratitude hanging on her lashes. “Thank you.”
He rubbed her upper arms. “Give me a name.”
“I don’t want you involved.” He opened his mouth, but she said, “No, Rowdy! I mean it. It’s not your problem.”
“Like hell.”
She went on as if he hadn’t spoken. “But that’s why I wanted you there with me when I went back home. That’s why I bragged about your ability.”
Stunned, he said, “Your folks didn’t believe you? That’s who you meant?” Son of a bitch. And here he’d been thinking they were such nice people. It didn’t matter if he told Pepper he’d been attacked by an alien. She would believe him and back him up, no questions asked. That was family.
And here he’d been sort of envying Avery....
She touched his collarbone, then his shoulder. “They know him. He’s a reputable man, by all appearances a very good person. They thought I was exaggerating. And he had a story all ready about how we’d argued, how I’d overreacted.”
Hearing the hurt she still carried amplified his fury. Through his teeth, his muscles knotting, Rowdy asked, “Fisher?”
Those damn tears swam in her eyes again. “I don’t want you to do anything, Rowdy. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
“You’ll see him again.” Her mother’s medical condition dictated that she’d be around the bastard because he had a feeling Fisher would take every opportunity to close in on her.
“Yes, but now I know to be more careful. Now I know to avoid being alone with him.”
Using his thumb, he brushed a tear from her cheek. “He’s a threat, honey, and threats are best dealt with head-on.”
“I don’t want to be another burden!”
Crazy Avery. It wouldn’t hurt her to show some faith. “Trust me, babe, dealing with Fisher won’t be a hardship.” He already looked forward to it.
“He’s not what you think. He’s not a dumb thug like Darrell. He has power and resources and—”
“He’s scum, and I’ve met every kind there is.” He thought that would reassure her, but she threw her arms around his neck, her trim little body up flush against his. Her skin was still chilly. He needed to get her wrapped up and warm. “Avery...”
She tucked her face in by his chest. “The other thing I wanted to tell you?”
There was more? He sighed while stroking her back. “Let’s hear it.”
Her breath came faster. The seconds ticked by while Rowdy resisted the urge to palm her behind, to kiss her.
Very slowly, Avery disengaged. She kept her hands on his shoulders but tipped her face back so she could see him. She looked devastated, worried and full of remorse, and that worried him.
He’d kill Fisher, he decided. He’d rip him apart. He’d—
Avery put her small hand to his jaw. “I love you.”
* * *
TO BE ON the safe side, Cannon hung around for a few minutes. If Rowdy proved to be more bullheaded than he imagined, he didn’t want Avery out in the storm alone.
He was already soaked, so what did a little more rain matter?
After twenty minutes, though, he decided it was safe to leave. He realized he was grinning, but what the hell? It was kind of funny to see a guy like Rowdy Yates struggling over an itty-bitty thing like Avery Mullins. As a couple, they amused him a lot.
They also made him grateful that he wasn’t caught in that damned emotional trap.
Women were all well and good. Hell, he adored women. Respected them, too. But he had a lot of plans that had nothing to do with getting involved in a relationship.
He spent his mornings working out and training. Before getting hired on at the bar, he’d used the rest of his free time playing vigilante, clearing out some of the scum from his neighborhood. It really pissed him off that so many areas had gone downhill, run by lowlifes and losers who wanted to blame everyone but themselves for not stepping up.
After meeting Rowdy and taking his measure, he’d decided a bar would be a good place to get the lowdown on criminal activity. So far, he was right.
What he hadn’t expected was Rowdy’s own little mystery, with strangers hanging around, Avery getting upsetting phone calls and a whole wealth of drama to go along with the cryptic happenings.
He’d help where he could, of course. With any luck, Rowdy would settle things with Avery tonight. But even if he did, Cannon still planned to stick around, to stay alert and to be available—if needed.
* * *
AVERY HELD HER breath as Rowdy stood there, staring at her in stark surprise. Please, please, please don’t tell me to leave.
Eyes darkening, he stared at her so long and hard that she thought about running.
She held her breath, so hopeful it hurt.
And then he scooped her up and his mouth was on hers as he strode to the bed. Avery held on, thrilled that he wasn’t sending her away but fearful of him hurting his back.
As he lowered her to the bed, coming down on top of her, she freed her mouth to say, “Rowdy—”
Ruthlessly he kissed her again, his hands holding her head, his tongue exploring her mouth as he kneed her legs apart.
Giving up, she kissed him back and carefully wound her legs around his thighs.
His mouth left hers to put a hot, openmouthed kiss to her throat, her shoulder. He bit her lightly, making her tingle all over, then licked the spot, there and lower, down to her nipple.
When he sucked her in, she arched her back on a wave of red-hot pleasure.
He groaned, switched to the other breast and teased, licking her, tugging gently with his teeth, suckling softly.
She squirmed under the carnal onslaught. “Rowdy, take off your jeans.”
Without answering, he slid farther down, leaving a damp trail of kisses along her ribs, over her belly, her hip bone. He nuzzled against her, breathing deeply, groaning again.
Avery lay there, letting him do as he pleased, loving it all.
Loving him.
He sat up and hooked his hands in her panties, dragging them down and off. His chest labored as he lightly touched his fingers to her sex. “So pretty.” He looked up at her breasts, reached a hand there to cuddle her while still touching between her legs.
It was so intimate, so personal, she turned her face away. But that wouldn’t do, not when she so enjoyed looking at Rowdy. He was waiting for her to look at him, and as soon as she did, he parted her, his fingers exploring.
“Already wet and hot.” He pushed two fingers into her, his gaze hard, going darker with her gasp. “Nice and tight, too.”
The pleasure coiled, and she tipped her head back, arching again.
On his knees beside her, Rowdy touched her breasts even while fingering her, and all the while, he watched her in absorbed fascination.
“I want you to come for me, Avery, like this.” He brought his thumb up to her clitoris, touching her with a tantalizing rhythm. “Once I get inside you, I’m not going to last.”
What he said and how he said it turned her on as much as what he did to her.
She got her eyes open and stared at him. “Please kiss me.”
He looked at his hand between her legs. “Here?”
Oh, God. She swallowed and held her arms out to him. “Rowdy.”
Half smiling, he leaned down and lightly brushed his mouth over hers. “Tell you what,” he said, then sealed his mouth over hers in a hot, tongue-twining kiss that left her breathless. When he lifted his head again, he murmured against her mouth, “There’s that kiss.”
Muscles already quivering in a rising climax, Avery stared at him, suspended in anticipation of what he’d do.
He touched his mouth to her throat. “And this kiss.”
Next his hot breath teased her breast right before he drew on her nipple in a soft leisurely suckle that ended with a lick. “And that one.”
He worked his way downward again, and with each kiss the pleasure sharpened until she was gasping.
“And now...here,” Rowdy whispered, lightly kissing her where she was most sensitive, priming her before he closed his mouth around her and drove her wild with the rough stroke of his tongue.
There was no holding back, no conscious thought of guarding his injured back. All she could do was cry out as the climax swelled inside her. Flattening one hand on her abdomen to keep her still, Rowdy pushed her, moving his fingers in her, his tongue on her.
She fisted the sheets to anchor herself until finally the orgasm began to fade.
Rowdy groaned, holding her close a moment before rushing to his feet and shedding his jeans.
Breathing hard, her heart drumming furiously, Avery watched him through a fog of satisfaction, how he hurriedly rolled on a condom in record time.
He stepped back to the bed, hooked his arms under her legs and pulled her to the edge of the mattress. “Sorry,” he murmured, his face set with some dark emotion. He positioned himself, then used her wetness to glide against her.
With all her nerve endings still tingling, the sensation was too acute and she tried to pull back. Impossible with the way Rowdy held her.
Watching her intently, he leaned in and slowly thrust in. She groaned and drew tight around him.
“So good,” Rowdy murmured, straining against her as he buried himself and then went still with an obvious effort.
“Rowdy,” Avery whispered, loving him so much. She touched his shoulders, down over his chest hair. He was rock solid all over, now more so with his arousal. She loved the contrast of his solid muscles and soft chest hair. “You don’t need to wait,” she promised him. “I’m ready, and I want this. I want you.”
His jaw locked, shoulders tensed and gaze burning... “Fuck.” He broke, driving into her hard and fast, keeping her legs high, pressing them out and back until he was going so deep Avery felt another climax building.
She continued to watch his face, seeing everything he felt, which made her feel it, as well. He pressed closer to kiss her, and that was incredibly hot, too. This time when she came, it took her by surprise. Instead of building, it hit her like a tsunami, racking her body and emptying her mind of all thought but the pleasure.
Having Rowdy inside her, filling her up and rocking her with that slick friction, made it almost too intense to bear. He put his forehead to hers and growled as he joined her with his own powerful release.
Avery held on to him as his big body slowly relaxed over her. He kissed her oh-so-gently this time, carefully untangling her legs from his arms, easing them down. But he didn’t relax. Already he explored her again, stroking, fondling.
A little amazed, Avery said, “Rowdy?”
“I need about twenty minutes.” He lifted his head to look at her. His gaze went over her hair and though he didn’t smile, she saw something in his eyes, something lighter than the usual emotion there.
“Twenty minutes?”
“Yeah. To recoup.” He blew out a breath and moved to the side of her, staying up on an elbow so he could look her over in more detail. “This little body of yours is even sexier than I’d imagined.”
She had no idea what to say, but she was starting to feel... Well, not so much flattered. Maybe...less inhibited?
Rowdy was just so bold, so raw about his sexuality. The appreciative way he studied her let her know he liked what he saw.
He put his hand on her stomach, his thumb dipping in her navel. As if he talked about the weather, he said, “I want to roll you over and take you from behind so I can get a better look at that sweet ass.”
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“That’d be fine for my back, so don’t worry about it, okay? In fact, I can’t even feel my back right now. So why don’t you forget about it, too?”
“I...”
“I want you just to feel, Avery.” He drifted his hand down between her legs. “I like this, by the way.”
She lifted her brows. “This?”
He smiled. “A true redhead.” Leaning over, he kissed her breast. “And these soft pink nipples...all put together you make such a hot package.”
Never had she been complimented on anything so ridiculous. She didn’t know what to say, but tried a lame, “Thank you.”
He smiled lazily. “You’re welcome.”
She didn’t want to bring up Fisher, but she had no idea if his change in mood meant he forgave her. She tried a roundabout question. “May I spend the night?”
“Since I’ll be fucking you for hours, yeah. You should stay.”
She scowled at how he worded things, but that made Rowdy laugh.
“Oh, no, you don’t, lady. Don’t get all prim on me now.” He cupped a hand over her jaw, amused and not bothering to hide it. “You damn near stopped my heart, skinning down to those see-through panties and sashaying across the room like it was nothing.”
“I don’t sashay.” She’d been so nervous—and so cold—it had taken considerable concentration just to get one foot in front of the other.
“All this,” he said, running his fingers over her still-damp hair, “playing peekaboo with the good parts.” He gave a low growl of appreciation. “You are the sexiest little package I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“The things you say.” He sounded like he meant it, which left her warm with pleasure. No one had ever showered her with outrageous compliments, especially not on anything so private.
She’d dated, of course, but men did not beat her door down in pursuit. In comparison to how the women flocked to Rowdy, she was in the minor league.
“It’s true,” he said. “You have a sinful little body made for fun.”
“You’re the only man I know who ever thought so.”
Only after the teasing words were out did Avery realize it was the wrong thing to say, because it reminded him of Fisher and the secret she’d shared.
As if it had never gone, Rowdy’s regular, hard-edged demeanor fell back into place. Shadows filled his eyes and anger tightened his muscles.
He didn’t move away from her, didn’t stop stroking her so gently, but everything...changed.
“I guess that brings us back to Fisher, doesn’t it?”
She shook her head, but Rowdy sat up. “Shower first, I guess.” He removed the condom as if he didn’t have one very fascinated lady watching. “I’ll find you another shirt to wear while you turn on the dryer.”
Grateful for the reprieve, brief as it might be, Avery sat up and pushed her hair away from her face. “Could I just go ahead and wash everything?”
“Do whatever you want.” He looked her over again, then shook his head. “Make yourself at home.” Going to the dresser he found a T-shirt—this time white—and tossed it to her.
As she tugged it on, he asked, “Hungry?”
Now that he mentioned it... “A little.”
His attention lingered on her legs. “Can you wait for an hour?”
She had planned to be sleeping in an hour, but she shrugged. “I guess. Why?”
He caught her hand and pulled her forward. “Because I’ve changed my mind. Fisher can wait.” His hands went to her backside, palming her under the T-shirt. “Right now, this is more important.”
“What—”
Lifting her up, he kissed away her protest.
The man definitely knew how to use his mouth—in many ways.
He seemed to take a lot of pleasure in her hair, too, tangling his hands in it, bringing it over her shoulders to rest over her breasts. He stripped the T-shirt right back off her.
Avery thought he’d rush her, and after coming twice, she wasn’t sure she could keep up. But if that’s what Rowdy wanted and needed, she was more than happy to accommodate him.
What a joke.
By the time he bent her over the bed and slowly entered her, she was wild for him, demanding that he hurry.
Holding her hips, he said, “Rise up on your arms, honey.”
She struggled to her forearms.
“Nice.” He stroked her waist. “Arch your back a little—that’s it.” He groaned, nuzzling against her nape, giving her a hickey or two.
He said near her ear, “I like it this way,” in a voice dark with arousal. “I can get to you easier.”
She found out exactly what he meant when he slipped one hand between her legs, the other up to a breast.
The way his fingers toyed with her, she was on the edge of release in minutes. “Rowdy...”
“Not yet, babe.”
She moaned and pressed back into him. He tightened, so she did it again, rocking against him, clenching her muscles.
“Avery,” he growled in warning.
“Soon as I can get you on your back,” she promised, “it’s going to be my turn—”
“Damn it.” He went still for a second, trying to prolong things.
Needing him now, Avery encouraged him, squeezing around him, moving.
He straightened, clasped her waist and gave in with a harsh groan.
This release was just as incredible, going on longer, easing away more slowly. She relished every second, languid from expending so much energy, numb from head to toe. She collapsed to the bed with a moan, Rowdy sprawled over her.
If he’d left the decision to her, she’d have dozed off just like that, warmed by his natural heat, cocooned by his big body. But he stayed with her for only five minutes before groaning and manfully pulling away.
“I need that shower more now than ever.”
Avery made a sound of agreement, but didn’t bother opening her eyes or moving.
She sensed Rowdy walking away, heard the shower start, and then he was back, scooping her up again. He kissed her forehead tenderly and said, “I’ll wash you if you can stay on your feet.”
The smile came sleepily. “No.” She put her nose in his neck and sighed. “I’ll take off your bandages and wash your back.”
“Appreciate it.”
“But we have to make it quick,” she admonished.
“No problem. I figure we need to eat and then catch a nap before I can have you again anyway.”
Her groan ended on a laugh. The man was insatiable.
How much luckier could a woman get?