Lip Lock: Country Fever, Book 2 (13 page)

Drake and Brant’s conversation floated along a stream of ease, moving from talk of advanced math to school dances without a hitch. Hayley sat back and polished off her donut, her body filled with rich goodies and her heart brimming with sweetness.

With Drake safely delivered to his friend’s house, Hayley guided the lumbering pickup truck onto the highway. Casper was a relatively short drive away, but the reason for her drive there still irked her. The small hardware store in Reedy no longer carried the brand of stain she needed in a certain rich, oak color. The big store in Casper would certainly have it, but the drive time cut into the precious hours she could be working.

Sanding the washstand had been trickier than she’d expected. After a few strokes of the medium-grit sandpaper over the turned legs, some pieces of wood had actually chunked off. Letting the piece molder in the barn hadn’t done the wood any favors.

Hayley had used wood filler to re-sculpt the legs, and now they were as perfect as the day they were created. She just needed the stain to complete her project. She was ahead of schedule, which meant she’d possibly be able to call Brant by the end of the week.

No. Can’t do that
.

The gray ribbon of road extended before her, vanishing into a pinprick on the horizon. Her shoulders relaxed. After sanding and painting all day, she was grateful for a break from the dust and fumes. It wasn’t often she found herself alone and doing her favorite thing—driving. When alone in the car, she was given the opportunity to reflect upon her life in a positive way. Answers to problems jumped into her mind unbidden, and she was able to see the big picture in a world cluttered by problems.

She’d even had a chance to run home and change before heading into the city. Out of her strained jeans and t-shirt, she felt a hundred percent improved in a red cotton sundress, sandals and a stack of bangle bracelets. Her hair was still in wild disarray, blowing around with the air currents coming from the open windows—the country hick’s air conditioning.

Leaning against the vinyl seat, she gripped the wheel and sang along with the radio. She never had enough downtime, but who did?

Brant? He seemed to come find her no matter how busy he should be with his practice. Memories of their night together slammed her full force, and she could nearly feel him moving above her, within her. Hell, he’d even flipped her face down, hooked an arm under her belly and dragged her ass to his waiting cock. Sliding into her pussy from behind had given her two orgasms.

Her sex pulsated with need now. She cast a glance at her handbag on the seat beside her, where her cell was buried. One press of a button and she could hear his voice. And smooth-talker he was. Out of bed, his demands enflamed her and gave her a strange sense of security. In bed…whoooeeee.

She wiggled, body surging to life. But a bigger problem stood between them now. She didn’t want to be the reason he lost patients. Besides that, she owed the man rent.

Releasing a long sigh, she jammed her sandal into the gas pedal. The faster she got this stain, the sooner she’d collect her cash. She’d already handed Steve a hundred bucks toward rent. He’d given her a narrow look, but she’d promised him the rest by the end of the week.

“Okay, but this isn’t a pay-as-you go arrangement, Ms. Graff.”

Minutes later, she bumped into the parking lot of the home improvement center, grabbed her purse and headed inside. The huge area swallowed her. She stopped dead in the main aisle, looking right and left. Where the hell did they keep the paint supplies?

Finally, she got her bearings and headed toward the part of the store she needed. Choosing stain took two seconds—she knew exactly what she wanted. But getting to the checkout was more difficult, because suddenly a big, male body blocked the aisle. In fact, he blocked out the entire world.

“Brant,” she said breathlessly, pressing a hand to her suddenly pounding heart.

“Thought you had an away game tonight.” His brow was drawn and the first strains of thunder boomed in his voice.

“Uh…”

He took a step closer, making it more difficult for her to expand her lungs. “Are you seeing someone else?”

“Brant, no, I’m just—”

“Tell me if you are. I won’t be played.”

Her heartstrings strummed at the pain in his voice. She searched his eyes and saw the light of hurt mixed with anger.

“Please, listen. I—” How to tell him she wished more than anything to be with him, in the throes of ecstasy with him? She drew a hitching breath and set the stain back onto the shelf. No better way than to show him.

She threw herself at him.

He caught her easily, not even wobbling beneath her assault. Wrapping both arms around her, he exhaled hard, ruffling her hair.

She stretched onto tiptoe, curled a hand around his nape and drew his head down.

Passion exploded in one swift kiss. There was no warm-up nibbling or crushing of lips. This was deep, tongue-dueling and soul-binding. His velvety tongue stroked hers with fervor, and she returned his kiss stroke for stroke.

Her panties grew wet with wanting, head spinning from Brant’s flavors and scent. She lost herself for a long minute, drifting in thoughts of making this work, of having this man in her life every day.

The rattle of a shopping cart passed the end of the aisle, and they snapped apart. An amused expression transformed Brant’s handsome features into those of a god. Had there ever been someone as appealing to her as this man?

That answer came too quickly. Kent.

She extracted herself from Brant’s arms, but he reeled her right back in. Not close, but flush. Not a breath of air between them.

“Oh, no. You’re not getting away from me. I’m putting you into my car and kidnapping you.”

“But I have my truck!”

“I’ll bring you back to your truck…eventually.” A devilish grin quirked up the corner of his mouth.

The sight of that smile chiseled away her resistance. What was she going to do? She’d just made the first move and backing out wasn’t an option now.

He wrapped his fingers lightly around her wrist, creating a bracelet, a bond that she didn’t want to break.

“Okay,” she heard herself say. “I just need to make this purchase.”

He refused to let her carry the stain, but he stacked the small cans and carried them effortlessly on a big palm. At the checkout, she prayed that her bank account had enough funds to pay for the stain. She hadn’t checked the balance for a while, and she had withdrawn the hundred dollars for Steve.

Practically dancing from foot to foot as the transaction processed, she felt Brant’s heavy stare. Did he detect that she was living on much less than a shoestring?

He grabbed two big bags of sunflower seeds and a four candy bars and set them on the counter.

“Dinner?” Hayley asked.

“No, it’s for Drake. He has a game soon and every guy needs sunflower seeds and candy bars to power up while in the dugout.” He peeled off some bills. To the cashier, he said, “It’s all together.”

“Brant—”

“It’s all together,” he said firmly.

Her face warmed but her heart seared. Damn him for wheedling his way into their lives and knowing exactly what they needed. The transaction made, he turned to her.

“Ready?” she asked to cover her discomposure and the heat in her face.

He dipped his mouth to her ear. “I’m going to show you just how ready I am,” he whispered, removing the shopping bag from her hand and propelling her toward the enormous exit doors with a hand on her spine.

The tip of his finger played over the uppermost section of the seam of her ass—a promise of what was to come. Warmth infused her, spreading rapid-fire through her belly and soaking her sex.

“I’ll just put this into my truck.” Why was he here anyway? Following her? The thought gave her a thrill, low in her belly, but one higher in her chest.

“No. I’m not taking any chances that you’ll escape.” He sounded only half-joking as he steered her in the opposite direction of her truck. He popped the trunk of a cherry-red Mustang and set the stain inside.

She gaped at him. How many vehicles did he have? Before she could ask, he opened the door for her and waited until she climbed in.

The interior smelled like him—leather and man with a hint of toothpaste. With nerves jangling, she waited for him to slip into the driver’s seat.

He closed the door and turned to her at once. “Why did you lie about the game?”

“I… Well, I didn’t think you’d believe me if I told you I was working for two nights in a row.”

A muscle fluttered in his jaw. “All right, but there’s always going to be honesty between us, Hayley. Which is why I’d like to talk about the other night when I…you know…slapped your ass during foreplay.”

Her body tightened, preparing itself for another of those stinging caresses. When she tried to speak, her mouth was cotton. “Wh-what about it?”

For a minute, he stared at his hands and said nothing. Her heart went out to him. What was he trying to say about that slap?

“I’m sorry for it, Hayley. I shouldn’t have—”

“Well, it was unexpected, but I…liked it.” Warmth climbed her face and a fine sheen of perspiration broke out on her hairline.

He jerked his head up, hope warring on his face with some other emotion she couldn’t pinpoint. “You did? Like it?”

She couldn’t stop herself from squirming. “Yes, Brant. It heightened an awareness in me.”

“God…” He scrubbed a big hand over his face. “An awareness. For me too.” With one swift movement, he grabbed her by the upper arms and yanked her into his lap. Slamming his lips over hers, he completely extinguished any resistance she might have offered.

His erection probed her ass, reminding her of all the things they could share in bed. Or in a car.

She withdrew from the kiss, and he towed her right back by biting her lower lip. She squeaked at the sharp nip, and he smoothed it with his hot tongue, over and over, until she fought to keep from wriggling against him.

His hands were all over her, weighing her breasts, squeezing her waist, circling her knees where they fell over his leg. When she thought she’d die from the building pressure, he deposited her on the seat once more.

Without a word, he started the car and backed out.

“Where are we going?”

He gave her a dark look, his blue eyes flashing. “Somewhere private.”

She experienced an uncontrollable twitch as sensation rocked her. She’d been wrong—this fire hadn’t burned out. If anything, it was only growing hotter. But in the end, would it scorch them both?

Brant pinned her to the seat with a big hand on her thigh. “What’s the stain for?”

“A washstand I’m doing on the side.”
Which I should be working on right now instead of thinking about wrapping my legs around you.

Silence crackled between them. He guided the Mustang onto a road leading away from Casper and even away from Reedy, into the twisty wilds of Wyoming.

Finally, he spoke. “See? That wasn’t hard at all. You told me something about your life. Though I feel like I just performed an hour-long extraction.”

She grinned at his analogy, unable to stop the excitement from clobbering her over the head. She was really with him, on their way to a private place, where he’d probably have his way with her again and again.

Covering his fingers, she stroked the light hair on the backs of his knuckles. From across the small space, his gaze smoldered. The fading light glinted on his cheeks and jaw, revealing a five-o’clock shadow. She longed to touch the coarse hairs, to know the feel on her sensitive flesh.

Goose bumps broke out all over her shoulders and arms, making her nipples pinch hard.

Brant’s look turned carnal. He stomped on the gas. Landscape whizzed by—scrubby trees, golden-tipped grasses. A few minutes outside of town, he turned off the side road and onto what appeared to be an ATV trail. Need spiked in her.

By the time he brought the car to a halt, her pussy was already contracting with desire.

Wasting no time, Brant dove for her. Hauling her over the console again, he slid a hand up her inner thigh, right to her soaking heat.

“Jesus, Hayley,” he growled, sucking on the sweet spot on her throat until she squirmed. He probed the crotch of her panties, thick fingers applying pressure, pushing the silk right into her channel.

When he eased his finger out, her hips followed, seeking more. In one swift movement, he jerked the door open and fell outside with her. The cool breeze kissed her hot face as he hoisted her onto the warm hood, legs splayed around him.

She angled her body back, bringing her neediest spot against his arousal. Each steely inch set her on fire. Gasping, she clung to his neck, finding his lips, drowning in his taste.

His thick, dark hair was silky beneath her fingers. She threaded them through the mass, plowing furrows while he hooked his fingers in the elastic holding up her panties and edged them down her thighs.

She sucked in a harsh breath as the air kissed her freshly-shaven mound. That morning she’d taken up the razor at last, determined that if she got another chance to feel Brant’s mouth on her, she’d have a feminine playground for his tongue to romp through.