The Ex File (Behind the Blue Line Series Book 1) (7 page)

Her moan broke the kiss.

“I’ve missed this,” he rasped as his other hand moved to her panties. He groaned as she ground her ass against him as his fingers sought and found her most intimate flesh. “You make me so fucking crazy.”

She tugged his hair again, twisting so that she could whisper in his ear. “Show me.”

Sean licked the side of her neck, and then marched them both to the edge of the bed. “Oh, I’ll show you, sweetheart.” He pushed her down to her hands and knees, and then stripped her panties down her legs, leaving them tangled around one foot. His palm was hot on the small of her back as she heard him fight with his jeans. His zipper wasn’t nearly as accommodating as hers had been. He waited until Ellie looked over her shoulder, and even in the darkness, she could feel the surge of meeting his smoldering gaze. “Is this what you want?”

The hand on her back moved over her ass and between her legs, finding her more than ready for whatever he had planned. God, he made her legs shake and it was all she could do not to writhe in anticipation. “Oh yes, oh hell yes.”

He moved between her legs, grabbing her hips and positioning himself just right, and then stopped, leaving her squirming in his grasp. He waited until she whimpered, and then said on a dark chuckle, “Then beg me.”

And she did.

The sunlight was a relentless barrage on Sean’s face as it pierced through the gap in the drapes. It was more effective than any alarm clock, really. But as soon as he opened his eyes, he was startled by his surroundings. Blinding white walls with deep pink and orange curtains, beige carpet, deep pink and orange patterned comforter over him, guitar on a stand in one corner, and a plush fuchsia lounge chair with a book in it in the other corner, she didn’t even have any socks on the floor or anything that wasn’t thrown there in the last few hours. It was a room that was showroom clean and practically screamed happy and comfortable.

He hadn’t had a chance to take all this in last night, because he was infinitely more focused on his bedmate. They hadn’t even bothered to turn on the lights before the clothes started hitting the floor. God, Ellie was amazing, he mused as he shoved his bangs out of his face. So open with him, so adventurous, she brought out a side in him that even he didn’t know was there.

The woman in question shifted under the covers, taking a good deal of the blankets with her. Sean curled up behind her both for warmth and for more nefarious reasons. Brushing the mass of curly black hair back from her neck, he pressed a tiny kiss to the spot just below her ear. When she didn’t react, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her even closer before brushing another kiss across her shoulder.

She moaned and stretched against him, tangling her legs with his, but didn’t awaken. He loved the feel of her, the warm softness of her skin that smelled like peaches, the way her curves fit against him just right. He could feel himself getting turned on just laying next to her. Trailing his hand down her side to the curve of her hip, he enjoyed the shiver that coursed through her as she reacted to his touch.

“So damn responsive...”

Ellie turned over with her eyes closed and ran her fingers through his hair before running her fingers over his stubble, his lips, down to his chest. “And good morning to you, too.”

His fingertips traced her hairline, to her ear, down her neck, her collarbone. He nuzzled her neck as he teased her nipple. “Sorry I woke you.”

Her body rose into his touch on a breathy sigh. “No, you’re not. Don’t lie.”

She pushed on his shoulder until he rolled to his back, taking her with him. “Okay, maybe not
too
sorry.”

Her grin was downright wicked. “I didn’t think so.” Ellie rose to her knees and reached for the open box of condoms on the nightstand. She suited him up with a speed that befit an urgent need they both shared. Bracing her hands on his chest as she moved into position, she dug her nails in right at the critical moment, sending him surging up into her deeply.

“Fuck,” he breathed as he bucked underneath her, feeling her body tighten around him as she changed positions. When she leaned back, he had the best view in the world, watching his hardness slide into and out of her, her breasts bouncing with every thrust and counter thrust. Sean reached up and pinched her nipple, making her hiss in pleasure as she continued to ride him. His other hand busied itself with her clit, his thumb rubbing in gentle circles that made her gasp and tense up around him.

It was the ultimate aphrodisiac for him, hearing her call out his name as she rocketed over the edge, her tight inner channel taking him with her as her body clenched around his cock. When she collapsed from exertion on his chest, she was practically purring in contentment.

After a moment, she folded her fingers underneath her chin and stared up at him from his sternum. Her dark eyes were full of affection and more than a touch of silliness.  “I think,” she said with a serious face that he could see she really had to work for, “that definitely qualifies as a good morning.”

He laughed. Deeply, rumblingly, so much so that she slid off his chest and to the side. Like she’d tapped a hidden vein of joy and it was just spilling out everywhere. It only lasted for a moment, and then he wrapped both arms around her to cradle her close. “I’m glad you approve,” he said, and kissed her nose. A man could get used to waking up like this.

They lay like that for a few minutes, and then Ellie sat up and swung her legs off the side of the bed. “I’m gonna go catch a quick shower.”

Sean nodded. “Okay, I gotta head home and take care of Guinness.”

Her eyes widened at the mention of his dog. “Poor baby! He’s probably got his legs crossed and everything! I’ll be right back.” She streaked out of the room and into the adjoining bathroom. He hadn’t noticed that either last night, but again, he’d been somewhat preoccupied. The sounds of water on the tile filled his consciousness and he gave serious consideration to joining her in the shower, but figured that would only make them later to take care of Guinness. He set about gathering his clothes from last night, conveniently left in a pile next to the bed.

Ellie dashed out of the bathroom to the closet, her bright blue towel barely hanging on for the ride. “Two minutes,” she huffed as she ran past him, two fingers out and the other hand holding up her towel. Sean just shook his head and laughed as he tied his shoes. She reappeared a moment later looking fresh and adorable in a Cure t-shirt and a pair of jeans shorts. How did he ever miss how great her legs were? “My shoes are downstairs, let’s go.”

He followed her downstairs admiring her riot of black curls that seemed to beg for his fingers. She stopped by the coat closet by the front door and grabbed a pair of dressy-looking sandals and her purse. She turned to face him. “You good? The dog’s not gonna walk himself.”

Laughing, he pulled her in for a quick kiss and held the door for her. “After you.” It was a little over ten minutes from her front door to his, a happy little detail he noticed over their conversations of pets and breakfast. They both seemed to be a little giddy, a little gun-shy, considering the last time they’d awakened together.

Guinness’s normal exuberance was enhanced by his desperate need to visit the foliage, and Ellie walked through the living room and let him outside first thing. Then she stepped out herself, examining his herb garden and his pride and joy, a rosebush he’d rescued off the clearance rack at the home improvement store. He’d named it Rita, but Ellie didn’t need to know that.

When the lanky dog bounded back in the door, she followed him, kicking off her shoes in deference to his light carpeting. “Amazing garden.”

He grinned, pleased that she’d noticed. “Thanks, it keeps me off the streets.”

She pursed her lips in a wry grin. “Considering it’s your job that puts you there…”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He waved off her sarcasm. “I’m gonna take a shower and then make us some omelets. Sound good?”

Ellie took a seat at his dining room table, and Guinness wasted no time positioning himself for some serious ear rubs. “Sure, if it’s not a lot of trouble.”

He barked a laugh and swooped down for a quick kiss on his way to the stairwell. “Get in the fridge and find what you want to have on your omelet. Back in five.”

* * *

Guinness was in no hurry for her to stop petting him, and followed her into the kitchen when she went to check the fridge. For a guy, Sean kept his fridge surprisingly well-stocked. Yes, there were the requisite take out containers and a couple IPA sixers, but there were eggs, vegetables, cheese that didn’t look like it’d been rescued from some university science lab.

By the time he came downstairs, still towel-drying his hair, she’d taken out the ingredients and located a professional looking skillet. “Hey! I was planning on cooking for you!”

“You still can, I was just trying to be helpful since five minutes means something different here than it does at my place.” She shrugged with an unrepentant grin, enjoying the image of his shirtless chest still damp from the shower, with her tiny little finger marks on his pecs. And the things he did to a pair of jeans. Ellie shook her head to collect her thoughts. Now that she’d had him, it seemed like that was all she ever wanted.

“Sorry. I always lose track of time in the shower.” Sean tossed the towel over his shoulder and got out a cutting board. The quick work he made of the veggies was impressive, and his speed and skill with a knife were equally so. He winked at her when he caught her watching him.

She giggled, though her eyes never left his hands. “Nice. I take it the knife and sword thing is more than a hobby?”

“Eh, my dad collected them when I was little. It was one thing that was stable from base to base. All over Germany, Arizona, Guam, the collection grew and me with it. It reminds me of him, of us before Mom...” He shook his head, dismissing whatever thought was on his mind. “The skill came later.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke, his hands moving efficiently to deposit the veggies and cheese in the eggs sizzling on the stove. It was the lack of eye contact, his way of removing himself from the conversation. He was still talking, but it didn’t touch him. He almost never talked about how or where he grew up, and though curious, she knew better than to ask him why.

“Where do you keep your plates?” At the quick grin he flashed her while busy at the stove, she knew the change in subject had been most welcome. The conversation between the stove and the table was much less fraught, and they both seemed to relax into an easy rhythm. She set the table, he served the food, she got the glasses, he poured the OJ, it worked out well.

Ellie couldn’t find words effusive enough to praise the omelet, so she settled for an enthusiastic hum. The man, in addition to being sex on a stick, could cook. Beautifully fluffy omelets and perfect bacon.
What the hell was going on in her life that every man she knew made perfect bacon?

Sean jerked forward with a cough, apparently trying to contain a laugh. It took a moment for him to settle down enough to swallow his food, but he did, and followed it with half a glass of juice. “I’m glad you enjoy the bacon.”

Shit.
“That was out loud, wasn’t it?” She felt the fingers of heat creeping up her face, and knew in a moment her whole head would be tomato colored. He pressed is lips together to keep from laughing and just nodded. “Fantastic,” she replied on a sulk.

He picked up her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers before digging back into his plate. Small gestures, looks, little by little, he was breaking down the wall she’d built to keep herself in the now, to know this was just temporary. To not let herself get torn to shreds like she’d been last time.

“So I’m probably having dinner this week with Pia,” he started, never once looking up from his plate.

Now it was her turn to choke on her food. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and sat very straight, trying to convince herself she’d somehow misheard him and he hadn’t gone completely insane. “I’m sorry?”

He set his silverware on the side of the plate, and eyed hers like he might try to take it before continuing the conversation. “We were supposed to meet last week, but I got hung up at work.”

“Sounds like you dodged a bullet, there,” she remarked lightly as she picked up her fork to continue eating. Regardless of the violence she felt bubbling up inside her, she was determined to keep that to herself.

He shrugged and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Kinda. Anyway, we rescheduled for this week.”

As much as she tried to ignore it, her appetite had passed away suddenly at the initial mention of Pia’s name. Rather than fight it, she gently placed her napkin over her plate and folded her hands to keep them from acting out. “And you’re telling me this because…?”

Sean pushed back from the table, and grabbed his plate. “I don’t know, I just,” he looked at hers with a raised eyebrow and she nodded, “I was hoping…” he trailed off as he went into the kitchen.

She followed him in and leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb. “You were hoping…?”

He deposited the remains of their breakfast in Guinness’s bowl and the plates in the sink. He braced his hands on the counter and dropped his head forward. “I was hoping you’d go with me.”

She’d been right with her first assessment. He’d gone insane, irretrievably so. “Okay, and why were you hoping I’d go?”

He sighed and turned around to lean against the sink, arms crossed over his bare chest. It was distracting. “She didn’t get the point when I told her I’d moved on and I was thinking—”

“That I’d be your visual aid?” She really wasn’t trying to mock him, but damn, she could think of at least eleven body parts she’d like amputated before she sat down to a meal with that woman.

He dropped his head forward, his hair falling into his face and obscuring his expression, but when he looked up again, he had a rueful smile. “When you put it that way…”

“Yeah, not a good idea.” That was the gentlest way to respond, the string of expletives that leapt to her tongue were more aggressive than she wanted to be right then. Instead, she crossed the room and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. “You know she’s crazy, right?”

“‘Crazy’ is a strong word,” he hedged as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Not nearly as strong as the one I was going to say.” She tried to temper her words with a grin, but she couldn’t be emphatic enough on this point. “I’m not comfortable with her knowing about us. You can tell her you’re with someone, but not me.”

He narrowed his eyes in a look of confusion and more than a little hurt. “Are you ashamed of being with me?”