Five Alarm Lust (13 page)

“Damn, you sure?”

“Yeah, you know the rules. We only get to visit for three hours. The guards might get a bit suspicious if we’re not careful.” Barbara rolled to tuck herself along the length of his body. “Besides, if I’m not home by five, Lenny’s going to be wondering and calling, and if those idiots at the prison answer we’re both screwed.”

“When will you be back?”

“For this? Or for a visit? I’ll be here on Saturday for the regular chat.” Barbara moaned as he tweaked a nipple. “I need you to do something for me though.”

“Sure, baby.” Mike lapped at her breast, his hand drifting between her legs again.

“Um, ooh yes.” Barbara breathed. She gasped when he rolled, pulling her into position, her knees spread open, her hands flat against the bed.

“What you need, baby, is a good fuck.” Mike ground against her, his cock sliding into the swollen folds. Barbara moaned and whimpered with each movement of his hips as he pounded into her. When he grunted and collapsed on her, she hid her smile in his shoulder.

“Mm, darling, you know I love it when we fuck. It’s always so good,” she whispered against his ear. “But I need you to find someone who’s due out soon. Someone with no sense of guilt. I have a job for them.”

“Doing what?” Mike panted, his tongue licking along her neck.

“I need a minor irritant removed. Along with the idiot she’s seeing.”

“Gillian’s seeing someone?” Mike pulled back, fury darkening his face into an ugly mask. “Who’s that slut seeing? She screwing him?”

Barbara hid her victorious smile and shrugged. “It would seem as such. I’m not sure if they’ve slept together yet, but it’s only a matter of time. If he finds out about the money, we’re both going to be doing without.”

“Give me a couple of weeks. I’ll see what I can do. I guess it’s time I call Gillian, let her know I haven’t forgotten her.”

“What a wonderful idea.” Barbara pressed a kiss to his lips. “Until then, you’d better have a shower, and I have to get out of here. After all, I am supposed to be your mother.”

“Yeah, sure.” Mike slapped her ass as she crawled from the bed. “Best fuck I’ve ever had. I’ll let you know what I find out when you come back for another visit,” Mike promised as he vanished into the bathroom.

Barbara smirked and wrapped a sheet around herself. Listening to the running water, she lit a cigarette and leaned back. Soon, very soon, she’d get what was hers and Gillian would burn in hell.

* * * *

Gillian smoothed her skirt down over her hips, locked the front door, and hurried down the steps. She could hear her phone ringing and paused, glancing at the door before shrugging it off. She’d wager a week’s salary it was her mother.

“Anxious, are we?” Jack’s warm breath stirred the hair at her nape.

“Looking forward to steak.” Gillian shuddered with arousal. Her breasts tightened beneath the pale blouse she wore. She’d come to love these dates. Jack was a great talker, and she’d discovered after a couple of weeks of dating that he loved dinosaurs almost as much as she did.

“Well then, I guess we’d better feed you.” His fingers drifted across her abdomen. They skittered over the buttons, dipping beneath to tease the flesh below. “I stopped off at the restaurant, looks pretty packed … so I was wondering if you’d mind if we had dinner at my place?”

Gillian tensed at the sudden, niggling doubt roaring to life within her before she ruthlessly squashed it. “Sure, uh, that’s fine.”

“Good.” Jack’s quick grin lightened her mood as she followed him to his truck. Secured on the seat, she glanced at him as he slid in and closed the door. “We’ll head over and have something to eat, but I promised a buddy of mine I’d stop by and have a drink first. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Do you want me to drive?”

“Maybe later.” Jack pulled her against him with a chuckle. “You’ll love Luke. He was supposed to go up to the tower about a month back, but he had to wait for his partner to finish up some work. He just came down for a couple of days, something about a personal matter. I think it had more to do with his ex than anything happening at the station.”

“What does he do?”

“He works for the forestry service. I worried about him taking this assignment. He’s just gone through a bad break and he needs some downtime to heal.”

“Oh, his girlfriend left him?”

Jack cleared his throat, a faint flush darkening his face. “No, his boyfriend.”

“Oh.” Gillian frowned. “Is he going to mind you bringing me? I’d love to meet him, but he might object to you bringing a girl…”

“Why on earth would he mind me bringing a girl? Trust me, the man may be gay, but Luke’s going to love you. Just don’t mention color schemes. He’s obsessed with them.”

With a laugh at the image, Gillian leaned against his shoulder, almost looking forward to meeting his friend. Twenty minutes later they pulled up in front of a small, green house. A green truck with white writing sat in the driveway next to a motorcycle.

Lights blazed across the manicured lawn. Solar lights lit the walkway to the front door. Jack turned the truck off just as the front door opened. Gillian gasped in surprise. The man standing in the doorway had to be six feet tall. Short blond hair curled over his forehead.

He waved at them from the porch. “Well, looks like we’ve been spotted. I told him it was going to be a short visit. He’s dying to meet the woman who’s got me tied in knots.” Jack held his hand out and then pulled Gillian from the driver’s side. Fingers locked, they strolled up the walkway.

“Jack, how’s it going? I didn’t think you were going to stop by.” Deep, rich, his voice rolled across the evening air.

“I told you I would.” Jack chuckled. “One drink. Gillian and I have plans for the evening and sitting around here drinking your beer ain’t going to feed her.”

“Well, hell.” Luke pouted. “Drink and run. Goodness. This must be Gillian.” He looked her up and down. “I’m Luke, by the way.”

“Gillian.”

“Nice to meet you. So would you like a beer? Or tea?”

“Um, coffee, if you have it.”

“I sure have. Come on in. Are you hungry, I can certainly throw something on for you?”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to—”

“Luke.” Jack smacked him on the arm, a brow raised. “We’re not here to eat.”

“Now, Jack. I’m not going to let your girlfriend faint due to starvation.” Luke tucked his hand through her arm and tugged. Leaving Jack behind them, Luke all but dragged her into the kitchen.

“Have a seat.” Luke ushered her into a chair and pulled out three cups. “So Jack tells me you’re into dinosaurs.”

“Among other things. I’ve got some time left on my degree, unless I go for my doctorate. I’d have more if I was in a classroom, but since I’ve already done all the class work I’m on my practicum.”

“They do that?”

“Only when the student can recite the entire list of books word for word.” Gillian smiled. “My dad used to teach at the university, so the Dean was willing to allow me a bit of leeway.”

“What else are you studying?”

“I haven’t decided. I teach history already, and I’m not much into learning something I don’t like. Might take on English Literature.”

“She developed a program to teach kids about history and dinosaurs.” Jack pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Gillian’s pretty incredible.”

Her cheeks burning at his praise, she ducked her head. It wasn’t amazing, she wasn’t remarkable, and pretty soon Jack would realize the truth in that. “It was just a simple program, nothing to write home about.”

“Still, you organized it and the school is using it.” Jack gave her a soft hug. “So, you mentioned something about a beer, Luke?”

Grateful for the change in topic, Gillian studied the counter, her fingers wrapping around the coffee mug. She sat in silence, thoughts a tangled jumble of emotions going in every direction. Half listening to the conversation between Jack and Luke, she watched them with a smile. The open, happy grin on Jack’s face as he lounged in his chair warmed her heart. She shivered with each brush of his fingers on the back of her hand, the slow sweep of them up her arm. Easing closer, she bit back a sigh at the tingle skipping across her flesh. Her breath caught when he wrapped her in a hug, his fingers tucked beneath the curve of one breast, his thumb making a lazy sweep of the globe. Each movement echoed in the coil of arousal in the pit of her stomach that settled between her legs. She crossed her legs and adjusted herself in the chair, her thighs pressing close together to rub against her throbbing clit.

“So when are you headed back up to the tower?”

“In a week.” Luke leaned against the counter, his ankles crossed. “Wish it were the end of the season already.”

“Trouble?” Jack lifted his beer to his lips and took a slow sip.

“Not the kind you mean.” Luke rubbed a hand down his jaw, his nails scratching at the short stubble. “My new partner is a dish, and I’m finding myself more and more attracted to him. I told you about Sean, didn’t I?”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Gillian glanced between the two men. “I mean you’re getting over your break-up. He must be a nice…”

Luke shot Jack a glance, a frown plucking on his brow before he shrugged. “A two-by-four has nothing on this guy.” Luke pouted. “Straighter than straight. Makes for a very uncomfortable situation. I, uh … I think he caught me in the shower.”

“It was bound to happen. What did he say?” Jack tensed, a low burning anger filling his eyes.

Gillian eased a few inches away from Jack at the tightening of his muscles, the drop in his voice.
What would cause the anger in his eyes? Surely nothing she’d…

“Nothing.” Luke shook his head. “See, this is what’s weird. He comes from a very strict background. He was raised that homosexuality was bad, but Sean doesn’t seem to hold that against me. He’s great. He’s got a great laugh, is funny, smart, knows more about birds than ten people, everything I could want. Except for the not being gay part. I hope he didn’t actually see me in the shower.”

“Why?” Gillian sipped at her coffee, her gaze darting between them.

“I was doing something better not seen by another man unless he’s gay.” Luke flushed bright red.

“I don’t…”

“He was masturbating,” Jack whispered in her ear. “Probably fantasizing about Sean.”

Gillian clapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes widening as her face burnt with mortification. “Oh, oh! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

Luke shot her a quick grin. “I’d say you’re more embarrassed than I am. What can I say, the man’s got a body any man or woman would want. The end of the season can’t come fast enough for me.”

“How much longer is the season?”

“October.” Jack shook his head. “Another six months.”

“Five months, four days, and about twelve hours.” Luke chuckled. “But who’s counting?”

“Which tower are you at?” Gilli struggled to remember which tower was close.

“I work out of Banff.”

“Um, isn’t Banff open year round?”

“Yep, but I’m only there for the summer. I specialize in land management. I’m up there to watch out for forest fires,” Luke explained. “Usually we go up and stay there until the season’s over, except this year I had to come back out for a personal emergency. I go back in a few days.”

“I can imagine the emergency.” Jack laughed. “Running from your partner.”

“Do you do tours?” Gillian pushed her glasses higher on her nose, ignoring Jack’s banter. “I have a couple of ideas if we could arrange things. I don’t think it would be an issue to get a bunch of—”

“You bring the kids up; I’ll show ’em around. Unless we’re busy with a crisis. Though for me they never seem to end.”

“We’re not talking shop, Luke. Nope, not a chance. Not tonight.” Jack pointed at Luke and stood. “I promised to feed Gilli, and I’m not going to sit here and let you hog her.”

“Well why don’t we go over to Don’s?” Luke straightened, a quick killer grin pushing away any shadows from his gaze. “They have some of the best food there. They’re not busy, never really are.”

“Luke, I don’t…” Jack started.

“Nope, I think Don’s is perfect.” Luke slapped the counter. “Right, Gilli? We’ll head over and order the biggest burger on the menu or maybe steak. Trust me, you don’t want him to cook for you. Last time he burnt my steak. It was so bad I couldn’t even eat it.”

Gillian laughed and followed Luke past a grinning Jack. Shuffled into her coat, they hurried to the truck. Casting Jack a quick glance, Gillian offered a slight smile and a raised brow as his hand slid down the curve of her back, over her ass, to the hem of her skirt. She shuddered, her body humming with his touch. She leaned into his embrace, willing him to forget food and Luke. His fingers traced over the black stockings for a moment before she climbed inside and settled on the cold bench seat.

She bit back a moan and prayed Luke wouldn’t notice her nipples erect beneath her bra and shirt. Hunching forward, she listened to the door slam as Luke settled on the bench seat next to her.

“I still think we should just head—”

“Jack, you’re my best friend, and it saddens me to say this, but you’re such a guy!” Luke gaped at him. “You’ve got a hot woman on your arm, the night is young, and you’re thinking of a Barbecue. Wait until I tell your mother.”

“Oh no, not that.” Jack laughed, his hand resting on Gillian’s knee. “She’d tell you she wanted to meet her and to quit poking fun at me.”

“Hmph, you better watch him.” Luke nodded at Jack, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. “He’s been known to listen to his mother.”

“Egad! How horrid.” Gillian giggled and then slapped her hand over her mouth. She berated herself for the old-fashioned words coming from her lips at Luke’s teasing. They’d think her an old-fashioned hick. She cast a glance through her eyelashes at Jack, folded her hands in her lap, and straightened.

“Gorgeous and got a great laugh.” Luke leaned forward. “You better keep her.”

“I’m trying.” Jack smiled down at Gillian as they pulled out of the driveway. “I’m trying.”

With a flush at the heat in his gaze, she shifted, her shoulder rubbing against him as they drove in near silence.

Her brow raised when they pulled into a parking lot. “This is Don’s?” She gaped at the aged wooden building. It looked more like someone’s home rather than a restaurant or bar. Gravel covered the ground in front of it and several cars were parked near the door. Beyond them a single motorcycle rested on its kickstand.