Trial by Fire (25 page)

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” Expression welcoming, he stuck out a hand. “Duane Moore.”

“Kat McKenna. A friend of Bentley’s, I presume?” She shook his offered hand quickly, then backed up a couple of steps to put more space between them. Some people really didn’t have a clue about maintaining a polite distance.

The man’s lips turned up, his eyes flashing in amusement. “You could say that. Mitchell and I go way back.”

Nothing unusual about that. Most of the guys here could say the same. “Do you work for the fire department or—”

The sliding glass door to the deck opened, and Clay stuck his head in. “Hey, darlin’! We’re thirsty out here!” A round of feminine giggles floated from the deck. Clay was making a halfhearted attempt to disentangle himself from one of the beauties.

Kat shot Mr. Moore an apologetic smile. “That’s my cue.” Hefting the carton of beer, she headed for the revelry once more, addressing the man over her shoulder. “Anyway, how do you know Bentley? Do you two work together?”

Silence. Stepping over the threshold onto the deck, she turned with a frown.

Duane Moore was gone.

“What’s the matter?” Clay took the beer from her grasp.

“Did you see the man I was just talking to?”

Clay glanced past her to the empty kitchen. “Didn’t really notice him. Why?”

“I was just speaking with him and now he’s gone!”

The cowboy shrugged. “Probably went to the men’s room. Or maybe he had to leave.”

“But . . . yeah, you’re right.” Shaking off the creeps, she sighed, dismissing Duane Moore altogether. “Since you’ve got the beer, I’m going to see if Howard needs help with the burgers.”

“Got it covered, sugar.” With a wink, he rejoined his new lady friends.

As the afternoon wore into evening, she had a great time. Well, except for an awkward introduction to Captain Sean Tanner, whose whiskey breath could be declared a lethal weapon. She didn’t miss how Eve’s attention strayed to Tanner the entire evening, not that he noticed. Now, there was a heartache waiting to happen. Run far away, Eve.

The burgers were juicy, Howard was attentive, his friends and his dad’s older acquaintances a lot of fun. At some point, she realized Grace had been absent for a while, and after scanning the yard, spotted her with Julian Salvatore. They were standing together in a pool of shadows on the far side of the deck, beyond the glow of the tiki torches. The station’s resident bad boy was putting on the moves with feral intensity, and getting nowhere fast.

Grace merely stood sipping her wine, one slender hip cocked in casual repose, listening to whatever crap he was spewing. Her body language had erected a barrier the poor man couldn’t hope to scale with the tallest firehouse ladder. Kat smirked. Drop-dead, mouthwatering edible or not, Julian wasn’t the first handsome slut puppy to get the royal smackdown. Wouldn’t be the last, either. She almost felt sorry for him.

Later, she and Howard got a kick out of watching Bentley grumble about how he’d specifically said for everyone not to bring presents, then tear into them like a child at Christmas. He made a point to say something nice about each one, even Kat’s modest gift card to Home Depot. A safe bet, since most guys she knew loved to pound on stuff.

A set of golf clubs given to him by Station Five were a hit, and she could tell how much their thoughtfulness meant to him. But what nearly toppled him was the envelope he opened last.

“From me,” Howard said, studying intently for his reaction.

Bentley tore into the simple white envelope, removed what appeared to be some folded paperwork. He grew still and quiet, swallowing hard. “Georgie, look . . .” He held up the papers and two tickets.

“Oh, Howard.” Georgie’s hand went over her mouth. “An Alaskan cruise! Seven days? Oh, honey . . .”

The crowd exclaimed over that one. Howard just lifted a shoulder, trying to act nonchalant. “I wanted to get a gift you guys could enjoy together. I figured you’ve been talking about this cruise for years, so why not? Oh, and I booked you for July, so Bentley’s got several months to square things at the office.”

Georgie flew into his arms, and Bentley managed to hug his son, as well, in the excitement. One of those all-time great moments that left the guests a bit teary-eyed, Kat included. How many guys would do that for their parents? God, what a man.

After cake, the party began to disperse. Zack took Sean’s keys and informed his woozy captain he was getting a lift home. The man didn’t argue, thank goodness. Grace walked over to the deck where Kat stood, Julian still attached to her side like a burr.

“Need a lift?” Kat eyed her sister, the real question hanging in the air between them.
Are you taking this gigolo home?

Grace smiled, looking flushed. “No, Julian has offered to drive me.” Pulling Kat into a hug, she whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry, he’s just dropping me off.”

They parted, and Kat sent Julian an icy smile. “Call me tonight when you’re locked in, sis.”

She laughed. “It’s already late, and I’m sure the big guy won’t appreciate the interruption. I’ll call you tomorrow. ”

Julian tried a charming grin. “Relax, your sister is safe with me. I have no desire for you to give the lieutenant a reason to kick my ass.”

Well, hell, what could she say to that? Her sister and Julian were both adults. Didn’t mean she had to like it, though.

After all the guests departed, Howard helped his folks load the presents in their car and saw them off with promises to Georgie to come by next week for pie—and to bring Kat. Warm fuzzies all around.

Lord, she was pooped, so Howard must be exhausted. He’d really gone all out to show everyone a super evening. In the backyard, she was bent over tossing a few stray plates and napkins into a black garbage bag when a hand cupped one butt cheek, fingers skimming the curve between her legs.

Howard’s voice rumbled low. Heavy with arousal. “Leave that. I’ll take care of all this tomorrow.”

The bag slipped from her grasp and she straightened, clean-up duty forgotten. Closing her eyes, she melted into him. “I thought you must be tired. . . .”

“Not too tired for this.” He nuzzled her neck, fingers straying underneath her shirt to caress her ribs. “Never for this.”

He pulled her flush with his body, his erection riding the small of her back through his loose shorts. Those wonderful roaming hands had her shirt yanked over her head and discarded in an instant. Found the clasp of her bra, freed her. Exposed her in a way she’d never been before. The chill night air licked her nipples like a ghostly tongue, hardening them to taut points.

“I want you out here, just like this.” His tone brooked no argument, laced with pure male dominance.

He squeezed her breasts, pinched her puckered nipples sharply enough to wrench a gasp from her lips. Pain and pleasure streaked to her sex, awakening the sweet tingle and throb of her clit. “We can’t. Someone might see!”

His laugh was quiet, dangerous. A man not to be denied. “What if they do?”

Oh, God! The idea of someone spying on them blew her mind. Made the place between her legs burn even more. “B-but it’s getting chilly.”

“I’ll warm you.”

Yeah, she was already about to combust! “Howard—”

“Shh. I’m going to fuck you, pretty baby. Right here under the stars, hard, fast, and deep, like you’ve never been fucked before.”

A shiver racked her from head to toe. She was his, and there had never really been a question that she would let him do exactly as he wanted with her.

Taking her hand, he led her onto the deck to the hot tub. Removing the padded cover, he pushed a button on the controls and set the jets on low before turning back to her. “Take off the rest.”

She slipped off her sandals, enjoying the feel of the smooth boards under her feet. Next she undid her capris, sliding them over her hips along with her lacy panties, hyperaware of his glittering gaze. Of being naked and vulnerable to his wishes, and loving the wickedness of what he had in store.

The patio light had been turned off, only three tiki torches left burning, and she realized he must’ve dimmed the lighting before pouncing on her. The low glow the torches cast over the deck only served to make the setting more intimate, the lust in his dark gaze more dangerous.

“Hmm. Let’s see about warming you up.” One corner of his delicious mouth kicked up. “Now get in the hot tub. Kneel on the seat over there, facing away from me, and brace your arms on the edge.”

Trembling with excitement, she did as told. Ahh, the hot water felt lovely on her chilled skin. She sighed in sheer bliss, enjoying the bubbles tickling her toes.

“Good, now spread those legs for me so I can see my prize. Wider, lean over a bit more . . . yeah, just like that, sweetheart. Jesus, I could come just looking at you.”

Oh, sweet heaven. She was totally exposed, a banquet for his feast. A rustle of clothing sounded from behind her as he undressed and joined her in the tub with a splash. Then his hands slid over her hips. One slipped down her rear, between her thighs. Skillful fingers rubbed the folds of her sex, swirling the dewy wetness. Readying her.

“Know what I plan on doing to you, baby? Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” she breathed. “However you need me.”

“Anything I want?”

“Anything, Howard.” She was going to die from the anticipation.

He lifted her rear higher, spreading her even wider. Breath fanning her eager flesh.

And he ended the wait for them both, claiming her with his mouth.

Kat’s complete surrender bolted through Howard like a million-volt shock. Making love vanilla style was wonderful, but his tastes had always leaned toward the wicked. Darker and more wild. He’d made it clear to her that he’d never been a monk when it came to sex, but she was an innocent, her prick of a former lover not withstanding. A novice.

Having her spread naked before him, ready and willing to give him total control over her luscious body, to let him fuck her right out in the open . . . Jesus Christ. Yeah, so he was a bit of an exhibitionist. Sue him. Janine had turned him on to the thrill of naughty sex in risky places that scorching night they met at his health club, and he’d loved the exhilaration of it. Ever since he’d sampled Kat’s sweetness at the park, watched her climax under his touch, he’d dreamed of this.

Settling himself lower in the steamy water and bracing his feet, he nudged her thighs farther apart. Little droplets winked on her creamy skin like diamonds. Her juicy slit gleamed, dripping for him before the show even got started. Her rich, womanly scent teased his nostrils, spiked his arousal. His cock demanded to be buried inside her, but not yet. Oh, no, he had other plans for her first.

Lightly, he nibbled her tender folds. Nipped and gave the sensitive skin just a hint of tongue. Making her want as much as he wanted. Her whimpers were precious music to his ears, and he rewarded her with long, slow licks. Back and forth along her slit, her spicy flavor bursting on his tongue. She arched her back with a moan, opened wider.

“So pretty,” he said, parting her with two fingers. His tongue slid between the soft lips, as far into her sheath as he could reach. Plunging in and out, he tongue-fucked her with relentless strokes. God, he loved the taste of a woman—this woman—craved the way she wriggled on his face, creaming as he ate her.

Kat’s groans of pleasure had his cock aching to take her. Soon. Fastening his mouth to her clit, he suckled her mindless. Lapped the tiny nub until she was gone, swept away to the place where she didn’t care what he did to her as long as he didn’t stop. He knew from the scent of her musk, the surrender of her body, shaking.
His.

“You’re mine, sweetheart. I’m going to take you somewhere you’ve never dreamed.”

“Yes, now!”

Need spiking to almost unbearable levels, he rose from the water to stand and better position himself behind her. Spreading her butt cheeks, he prepared to deliver on his promise. Using the lube coating his fingers, he rimmed her tight little hole. Without giving her time to emerge from the spell, he began to work his middle finger inside, past the resistant ring of muscle.

“Howard,” she cried, tensing. “I’ve never . . . I can’t—”

“You can,” he said softly. “You
will
.”

And, by God, she did. He worked her gently and she began to open for him, a flower too long without water. Hot, dying for sustenance no other man had ever given her. He pumped, adding a second finger. Stretching, preparing the tight channel.

“Oh, oh . . . more!” She leaned into his touch, head thrown back, damp white-blond hair tumbling over her shoulders. So damned sexy, ripe for him.

She was ready, and he couldn’t wait another second. Removing his fingers, he rubbed his wet cock along her sex, coating it with her juices. Satisfied that he’d done all he could to prepare her, he nudged the flared head to her forbidden entrance, barely able to speak.

“Relax your muscles, let yourself go.”

As he began to push inside, she cried out again, but not in pain. Her cry was one of sheer, unbridled ecstasy, and it shot straight to his aching balls. To his heart. Not all women could take a man this way, especially one his size.

But Kat’s curvy body was made for loving, any way he desired. Slow and tender, hard and naughty. She filled his hands, pillowed his throbbing length with softness. Never had he seen a more erotic sight than his shiny rod parting her willing flesh
there
. Sinking deeper, deeper as she writhed beneath him, taking . . . all of him.