Breaking Away [Smoky Mountain Motorcycles] (Siren Publishing Classic) (2 page)

Willa laughed, watching her friend’s eyes drift close as she let her other senses absorb the scent coming off the dish. “The trick is to not deprive yourself. I find that if I let myself have a little treat every once in a while, I don’t go nuts.”

“Easier said than done,” Danny groused.

“I know, right? But then who do I have around that will care if I get fat?” Willa asked the last, and then laughed, trying to cover the longing in her voice.

“If you’d come out of the valley every once in a while and visit civilization, you might find someone, you know,” Danny’s teased, but there was a note of kindness in her voice. Willa knew her friend wasn’t fooled.

* * * *

Shouldering the door between the kitchen and dining room open, Willa turned with the tray of sandwiches on thick homemade bread and steaming bowls of butternut squash soup. She kept lunches simple, saving her fanciest meals for dinner. Taking in the scene in front of her, she came to an abrupt stop. Danny was holding a small leather bag filled with tools while her husband and the professor examined the wire and guts that used to be the large ceiling fan in her dining room.

“Wh–what the heck are you doing?” she stammered, not sure if she was mad or embarrassed. The fan had been giving her problems, swinging and making a soft
thump-swish
sound as it oscillated.

Danny smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I tried to stop them.”

Gabe merely shrugged. “It needed fixing.”

“Yes, but not by you, you’re my guest.” She’d worked hard to stand on her own two feet, and it was hard admitting she needed help.

“Well, you need a handyman around here,” Gabe pointed out in his deep no-nonsense voice.

Willa grimaced, knowing he was right, but until the inn started to make more of a profit, it was out of the question. Rather than admit that, she simply shrugged. “I’m working on it.”

“I was actually going to talk to you about that tonight,” Gabe said, though it was slightly garbled since he clasped the end of a screwdriver between his teeth. Transferring it back to his hand, he slid the last screw in place and lifted the fan assembly over his head. As he turned the last screw tight, he continued. “I have a friend who needs a place to crash for a few weeks. He was hurt working, and physically, he’s doing pretty good, but I don’t know…” He paused as if trying to figure out how to explain. “I think, if he could feel useful again, it would help his recovery. He’s a good guy. I can vouch for him, but you really don’t need me to. Jake’s an agent with the DEA, so he’s one of the good guys. He’s also a wiz at fixing just about anything.”

Stepping down, Gabe gave the fan’s chain a gentle tug, and it spun in smooth blessed silence.

Willa’s shoulders sagged. “I just can’t afford it right now,” she reluctantly admitted.

“See, that’s why this is such a win-win deal,” Danny chimed in. “You’d be doing us a favor. Like Gabe said, we’re kind of worried about Jake. He’s still on leave from the department, even though he’s been cleared physically. He just doesn’t seem to want to return to work.”

Dr. Snodgrass pushed his thick glasses up on his nose before adding his opinion. “Often, when a person’s been injured on the job, returning is very hard to do.”

“What exactly are we talking about?” This could work, Willa decided, almost afraid to hope. She just needed help for a few weeks to get the last of the repairs and upgrades done.

“He would work in exchange for room and board,” Gabe explained.

“You said he was hurt. Would he be physically up to the job? I wouldn’t want him hurt again.” She would never want anyone hurt, but the truth of the matter was she also couldn’t afford the additional medical bills. She had been forced to live practically since striking out on her own.

Danny shook her head. “No, he’s cleared by the doctors. He’ll always have a limp, but otherwise he’s perfectly healthy. We don’t want to say too much—it’s not our place—but he needs this. You’d be doing us a favor.”

Well, when they put it that way, how could she refuse? Willa smiled, daring to hope. This could be the answer to her prayers. “Then I would love to help your friend, and Lord knows I need someone around here.”

“Great.” Gabe grinned, and Willa shivered despite herself. Danny had told her the man could talk a person into anything, and she could see it. A sliver of envy coursed through her, immediately followed by guilt. He was her best friend’s husband. Still, what would it be like to have someone as darkly handsome as Gabe talking her into all the naughty things she’d only read about?

* * * *

Gabe slid his arm around his wife’s tiny waist, pulling her flush to him.

“Do you think it will work?” Danny asked, still worrying about Jake.

“If anyone can get Jake out of his depression, it’s Willa. He needs to feel needed and useful after what happened to his partner. And God knows Willa needs some help around here. I can’t keep fixing things on the sly. After catching me today, she’s going to be suspicious.”

Danny laughed. “You should have seen the expression on your face. You looked like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.”

“Laugh it up, woman. Don’t forget, you were supposed to keep her distracted. And I still owe you for speeding through those dangerous mountain curves,
again
!”

Danny shivered as his voice grew deeper. She loved this dark, sensual side of him. Of course, she couldn’t let on. “Shit!” She tried to step away, her hands automatically moving to cover her bottom.

“And now we’re adding a potty mouth?” he questioned, raising a dark brow.

Biting her lip, she stifled a groan. When he got that look, her panties flooded. She couldn’t help it. If she wasn’t careful, they’d wake the entire inn up. “Gabe, remember where we are.” She retreated another step, only to have him follow, like a tiger stalking its prey.

“I guess you’ll have to be quiet then, hmm.” She couldn’t help but notice that he’d skillfully maneuvered her toward the large chaise lounge that filled one corner of the Romance Suite. It was one of their favorite pieces of furniture in the entire room. “Come here, baby. I’m going to turn that gorgeous ass nice and pink for speeding, then I’ll show you what that naughty mouth is good for.”

Danny’s knees grew weak at the idea of being over his lap. Oh, she was twisted, but she loved every debauched moment of it. Still, couldn’t let it be too easy. “Oh, and you think you have what it takes to put my mouth to use?”

Stroking the thick ridge of his cock through his jeans, Gabe just gave her a wicked smile. “You know it, baby.”

* * * *

Willa double-checked the locks and turned the last light out before heading up the stairs. Her apartment was on the third floor of the old Victorian. A sound caught her ear as she walked past the Romance Suite.
No! I did not hear what I thought I heard?
But there it was again, the distinct sound of flesh smacking flesh, followed by a throaty female moan. Her mouth fell open, and heat rose in her cheeks. Good Lord, she felt like a deviant for eavesdropping, but she couldn’t seem to make her feet work. She’d never be able to look Danny and Gabe in the eye again, but oh my, the sounds seeping from their room were so sexy. She’d never dreamed that people did such things until Danny had shared a few books with her.

Her eyes widened as there was a slight shuffling sound, then the moan was deeper, distinctly male. Her hand flew to her mouth, to smother her own moan. Scared of the unfamiliar desire coursing through her, she ran, hoping they couldn’t hear the pounding of her heart. It sounded thunderously loud, even to her own ears.

Safely tucked away in her own room, she dove beneath the old quilt, burying her head in her pillow as she tried to calm herself. What was wrong with her? Danny and Gabe were her friends. Listening to them make love should not excite her.

But the images were coming. In her mind, a dark faceless man forced her to her knees before him. He’d be dangerous, unlike her late husband, the only lover she’d ever had. The only thing dangerous about Reggie had been his partying. Reggie would certainly never have forced her to suck his cock. He had a mistress for that.

No, her faceless lover would grab a fistful of her hair and make her swallow him down her throat, but he wouldn’t come, not yet. When she was ready to beg for it, he’d toss her onto the bed and spread her legs wide. Would he bury his face in her pussy or just shove himself inside her, balls deep?

Willa bit her lip as a whimper threatened to escape. The idea of a big, beastly man hovering over her, stretching her, fucking her was enough to make the juices coat her thighs. Unable to resist, she slid her hand inside her plain white panties, feeling the moisture soak her fingers. She found the throbbing knot of her clit, stroking it, sending electric desire shooting through her body. Closing her eyes, she pictured him, big, tattooed, and hovering over her. His weight would press her down into the mattress. He’d smell like leather and the wind after a rainstorm, all male. She’d feel deliciously helpless, completely taken. He’d ride her hard, making her scream.

Turning, she pressed her face into her pillow as her orgasm slammed into her. Her body shook as she arched off the bed. The walls of her pussy convulsed on emptiness.

Shivering, she came back down. Sweet Jesus! she silently cried. She’d never come like that before. Hell, she’d rarely come at all, usually only in the shower with her special showerhead. How could some faceless man give her more pleasure than her late husband had ever dreamed of?

Jake’s leg ached as he shifted gears. At least he could ride. For a while there, that had been touch and go. They hadn’t been sure how much damage the bullet had done to his leg, and no one could say for sure if he’d even walk again. He wasn’t ready to run any races yet, but it sure as hell felt good to be back out on his bike.

He took another corner, enjoying the feeling of being one with the powerful machine under him. The guilt was quickly there on the pleasure’s heals. Maggie had loved to ride, too. It wasn’t fair that he was able to hop on his bike and ride whenever he wanted when Maggie would never ride again. Maggie was in a pine box.

Distracted, he nearly ran off the road. The bike wobbled under him, and he nearly laid it down.
Fuck!
He pulled to the side of the road and forced several deep breaths into his shaking body.
Shit! Get your head together!
He cursed silently. He knew logically he wasn’t responsible for what had happened to his partner, but the guilt was always there, just below the surface. He’d failed her. Shaking his head, he forced his attention back to the road.

Where the hell was he going anyway? He’d memorized the directions, and he was familiar with the area. Taking another deep breath, he shifted the bike into first gear and eased back onto the road. The Mountain Escape Inn was just a few miles up the road.

* * * *

The bed-and-breakfast was picturesque, even to Jake’s cynical view. Tucked amongst a lush green backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, it was situated partially up the side of a hill. The view from the wraparound front porch must be astounding. As he drew closer, though, he could see what Gabe was talking about. The picturesque inn was showing its age.

He brought his bike to a halt on the gravel drive. Stretching his big body, he set his helmet aside. He peeled off his leather jacket, and stretched his broad shoulders. Physically he was probably in the best shape of his life. He’d spent hours in the gym, working out until he was numb to the guilt, however, mentally, not so much. He knew everyone was worried about him. He wished they’d just leave him be. He’d work through things in his own time. He had jumped at this chance to help a sweet old widow. It got him away from his well-meaning but smothering friends.

Keeping the job at hand in mind, he looked over the inn with a critical eye. The shutter on the far left window was loose, hanging slightly crooked. The driveway could use a good edging, but otherwise, the landscaping was beautiful. The flower beds were well kept and overflowing with blossoms. The tin roof could use a fresh coat of paint. Continuing around the side of the house, he eyed the small barn to the left of the main house. It appeared pretty solid, but could use a fresh coat of paint as well.

As he came around the back of the house, the deep rhythmic thump of music reached his ears. ZZ Top’s “Tush”
blared out of a tiny pair of pink speakers attached to an equally pink iPod. It took him a moment to notice the figure kneeling in the flower bed, but when he did, he stopped dead in his tracks. The most gorgeous round ass he’d ever had the pleasure of seeing bobbed back and forth to the deep sexy beat of the music.
Fuck!
Who was that? This was not a sweet little old lady as he’d been led to believe. He was going to kick Gabe’s ass.

She was on her hands and knees, weeding the lush flower bed, wearing a worn pair of cut-off jeans and pink tank top. She had hair as rich a shade of red as the roses she was carefully tending. He stood transfixed for a long moment just drinking in the sight. As ZZ Top sang about looking for some “Tush,” Jake wanted to tell them that he’d found a perfect example right here.

Something must have finally alerted her to his presence. Maybe the big shadow he cast? She froze and then spun, letting out a startled screech as she caught sight of him. Her deep-green eyes grew wide, and she tumbled back into the flower bed with a soft “umf.” Her breath heaved in fright, causing her breasts to juggle. His eyes glued to them for several seconds before returning to her face. He was a man, after all, and her nipples had hardened right before his eyes. He had the insane urge to suck those hard little points into his mouth, though that would have undoubtedly gotten him slapped, if not arrested. Still, something else flared in her eyes, and he noted the lush red of her hair set off her eyes to perfection. The fear was still there, but underneath he saw something else. Interest? No way!