Bare It All (15 page)

Instead, he toed off his shoes, saying, “I’m not modest, you
know.” He bent to remove his socks. “There’s no reason to frown.”

“I’m concentrating.”

On his dick, yeah, he knew that. Hell, he felt her hot gaze all
but penetrating his slacks. Reese teased her, saying, “They didn’t dub me ‘Bare
it all Bareden’ without reason.”

“So, get to the baring part.”

“Such impatience.” And damn it, he started to feel a little
unnerved by her intense scrutiny. He’d never done a striptease. Before Alice,
sex had been a natural progression, without all the fanfare and discussion. A
kiss, a touch, clothes gone, penetration, completion.

Now, with her, it felt like so much more. Important.
Special.

Somewhat uncomfortable with that thought, he removed his wallet
and cell phone to put on the nightstand, then shucked off his slacks, taking his
boxers off at the same time.

Nipples tight and knees locked, she parted her lips on a sharp
breath. “Oh, my.”

Reese started to lift his arms, to make some silly comment
about giving her what she wanted, but she turned suddenly and scampered up to
the center of the bed. His heart nearly stopped over that particular view.

Going to her back, Alice held out her arms. “Enough foreplay. I
need you.”

Foreplay hadn’t factored in. He wanted to explore every inch of
her because every inch was so enticing. But Reese found himself taking the two
big steps needed to reach her. In the back of his mind, he reminded himself to
not forget the condom.

But everywhere else, with every other fiber of his being, he
immersed himself in Alice’s unique sensuality, her scent and taste and her
beautiful, slender body.

Half covering her, locking his teeth at the feel of her breasts
cushioning his chest, Reese stroked down to her hip. “No rushing, Alice. I need
to know you’re ready.”

“I am.” She clutched at his shoulders. “I promise.”

“How about I see for myself?”

He kissed her lips, her cheek, moving his hand over to her
lower belly. She kept her thighs tightly pressed together, her eyes wide on his
face, watching him.

“Open your legs for me.”

Her nails stung his shoulders—but after a few seconds, she
eased her hold...and spread her legs.

Reese teased her ear with damp kisses. “Nice, Alice. Thank
you.”

She held her breath while he slowly trailed his fingertips
down, over her pubic hair, lower.

“Breathe, honey.”

“Can’t.” She tightened everywhere, waiting.

Slipping a single finger over her, Reese parted her, touched
deeper until he found her wet and hot. Pushing in, he whispered against her jaw,
“What about now?”

She gasped in a breath, then let it out on a moan.

“That’s it.” Small and tight, she clamped around him—and got
wetter. His erection strained against her thigh; he hurt with wanting her. But
more than his own pleasure, he wanted hers.

First. Complete. A done deal.

He withdrew, pressed in again, gauging his moves by the
raggedness of her breathing. Nuzzling his way down to her breasts, he asked,
“What about another finger?” and as he drew in her nipple, he pushed in a second
finger, filling her, loving her reaction.

Groaning deep in her throat, she lifted her hips and let her
knees fall apart. He sucked harder, nipped carefully with his teeth and brought
his thumb up to touch her clitoris.

“Oh, God.” She moved with him, her head back, eyes closed.
“Reese. That’s... I’m...”

It was a wonderful thing to render Alice Appleton
speechless.

Keeping up the rhythm of his thumb, Reese moved to her other
breast, drawing on her easily, gently, curling his tongue around her. Her scent
intensified; the sweetness of her skin and hair, the hotter musk of her
arousal.

“This,” he told Alice, moving his tongue over her nipple,
“would feel even better between your legs.”

Taking him by surprise, she arched up, her mouth open on a
silent cry, her eyes squeezed tight. Locking her hands in his hair, she held him
there, her hips writhing, her wetness bathing his fingers as she came.

It was so hot, so unexpected that Reese knew he was a goner.
The second she uncoiled and her tension seeped away, he sat up and grabbed for
his wallet. Hands shaking, he opened a condom and rolled it on.

But when he looked back at Alice, he caught her dazed smile,
and he had to kiss her again. Then once more. “You are incredible.”

“I am limp.”

He carried her hand down to his cock, wrapped her fingers
around him. Heat washed over him. “Limp is okay,” he promised in a low growl,
“as long as you’re still with me.”

“I’m very much with you,” she purred back, stroking him once,
twice. Her thumb brushed up and over him, and he shuddered clean down to his
toes.

Pulling her hand away again, he moved over her. “Next time,” he
promised her roughly, “I’ll be a little less voracious.” He settled between her
legs, using a knee to open her even more.

“I hope not.” Holding his face, looking into his eyes, she
wrapped her legs around him.

He saw so much emotion in her gaze, both wonder and excitement,
that it should have made him uneasy.

It didn’t, not with Alice.

“You like me a little lost, is that it?” He positioned himself,
her creamy wetness bathing the head. Hot. Slippery. How the hell could he still
form a coherent thought?

“I think,” Alice whispered, going serious, “that I like you any
way I can have you.”

That did it. He kissed her hard—and thrust in.

It was a tight fit. Always. But with Alice being so small and
delicate...he thought he might die from the exquisite pleasure of her squeezing
around him.

She’d gone still beneath him, breath suspended, her nails again
leaving half-moons in his shoulders.

He knew she needed a minute—a minute he didn’t have. He braced
on his forearms, jaw clenched, shoulders bunching as he fought for control.
Tension squeezed around him like a vise, and he knew he’d break at any
second.

“Reese?”

Her tiny voice pained him; he held himself as immobile as he
could, but no way could he reply.

Her puffing breaths met his lips. She shifted a little,
probably trying to accommodate him but only inciting him more.

It felt as if lust boiled inside him, churning, rising.

“Reese?” she whispered again, this time with a question. He
heard her swallow, felt her deliberately ease. She let out a long, broken
breath.
“Reese.”

Well, now, that sounded different.

He met her dark, smoldering gaze, saw her face flushed with
need—and realized that she was with him after all.

He withdrew slowly, watching her, fascinated with her
shuddering reaction. He knew he stretched her, that as he slowly sank back in
she felt a measure of discomfort.

It was there in her halting breath. In the way she arched and
tensed. How her lips parted and her thighs strained against him.

But he saw the rising pleasure, too.

God, she was amazing.

Keeping the rhythm slow but steady, he kissed her jaw, the
corner of her mouth. With one hand, he reached beneath her hips, positioning her
just enough that each penetration stroked along her clitoris—making her wetter,
hotter.

Anticipation showed in her heavy-lidded gaze as she touched his
shoulders, his chest—and finally locked eyes with him.

Wondering if he’d ever tire of having Alice watch him in just
that way, he drove deeper, rocking them both, wringing a small cry from her.

He went still deep inside her. “Okay?”

She licked her lips and nodded. “Again...ah...”

Reese felt her pulsing around him.

“Again, please.”

The break in her voice told him that she was close to another
climax, and suddenly he wanted that more than he wanted his own release. Leaning
into her, Reese moved harder, faster, heat pouring off him, her scent and her
escalating cries filling his head.

Suddenly she clenched, her slim body bowing hard on a deep,
throaty groan.

Reese could literally feel her tighten around his cock, feel
the milking spasms of her climax. The sounds she made, raw and real and
exciting, pushed him right over the edge.

He gathered her close, put his face in her neck and ground out
his own release.

* * *

A
N
INDETERMINATE
AMOUNT
of time later, Reese
awoke, aware of Cash snuffling against the bottom of the closed door. Still
sluggish both in body and mind, he lifted his head and looked at Alice.

She rested on the bed beside him, not curled close as was
usually the case with women, but sprawled out, exhausted, limp.

Naked head to toe.

The covers completely off the bed.

Tumbled around her face, resembling a halo, her soft brown hair
reflected the muted light of sundown through the open window.

But sweet as she might be, Alice was far from angelic.

Thank God.

Now without that haze of blinding lust, Reese studied her body.
Slim, pale. Intrinsically female.

Her nipples were the same soft pink as her lips.

And thinking of lips...he sat up carefully so as not to disturb
her, soaking up the sight of her, her belly, her thighs—and between them.

So damn pretty.

Again he noted the scrape and bruise on her knee. Had she
fallen? He didn’t wonder about it long, not when she had that leg bent, showing
him everything.

Using just his fingertips, Reese touched the soft triangle of
hair. Much more of that and he’d be on her again.

Instead, he transferred the touch to her pale belly, teased
over a sharp hip bone, along a rounded hip.

Alice stirred, mumbled an incoherent sound and turned to her
side away from him.

Why, thank you, Alice.

She had a great ass. Later, when he didn’t have Cash at the
door, he would spend more time on that curvy little tush.

On
all
of her.

The more Reese studied her, the more he liked what he saw. The
more special she seemed.

At thirty, he’d seen plenty of naked women, some with truly
remarkable bodies, some beyond beautiful, all of them sexy.

None of them compared.

He couldn’t pinpoint what it was about Alice that set her
apart. It wasn’t just her trim body or sincere face, her nurturing nature or
cautious approach. It was...everything. Every inch of her, every facet of her
character.

Cash whined, urging Reese from the bed. He didn’t want Alice to
wake just yet. In fact, it astounded him that she slept on. He knew her to be
ultra-aware. The fact that he could sneak around the room without disturbing her
must mean she trusted him, at least a little.

He wanted her to trust him a lot.

Grabbing up his wallet and cell phone from the nightstand, his
boxers and slacks from the floor, he eased the door open, using his knee to keep
Cash from bounding in.

“Shhh,” he whispered to the dog. “You’re okay. We didn’t leave
you.”

Cash leaped and twisted and woofed a few times, as if he’d been
days without a visitor instead of a few hours.

It remained a challenge, reassuring the dog after finding him
abandoned in a sealed box in the middle of the road.

“Love your enthusiasm, boy. And the fact that I don’t see any
puddles. Give me a second, and I’ll take you out.”

Cash amped up the excitement over that idea, so much so that he
made it nearly impossible for Reese to pull on his slacks.

Clearly, the dog enjoyed being outdoors. Perhaps it was time
for him to consider a house instead of the apartment. He could afford it. The
apartment was just easier, or at least it had been up until he’d rescued
Cash.

The dog deserved room to run, maybe in a big backyard. He’d
have to give it some thought.

In nothing more than his slacks, Reese snuck out the front door
with Cash on a leash. Though it wasn’t entirely nightfall yet, security lights
flickered on over the parking lot. Reese strode out to the requisite tree,
propped a bare shoulder against the bark and gave Cash enough leash to do his
business. While he watched the dog sniff an imaginary trail, his thoughts
wandered to Alice.

He’d meant to ask her about her day, to find out if she and
Pepper had gone shooting or if—with any luck—they’d stuck to shopping. He’d
planned on dinner, conversation, a little necking to ease her into
things....

Alice had sidelined those plans easily enough.

The second he’d walked through the door, he’d known something
was up. Amazing how she could remain so secretive about some things but didn’t
even try to hide her attraction to him.

She’d seemed almost frantic to have him.

And he’d loved it.

Once she awoke he’d fix her dinner, shower with her and then
take her right back to bed for a slower, more thorough taste. It didn’t matter
that he’d buried himself inside her not that long ago. Already he burned with
need, especially knowing she remained in the bed, so relaxed—and so naked.

Yeah, once she awoke, the last thing he’d want to do was talk
about shopping.

With that decision made, Reese pulled out his cell phone.
Better to get the deets from Rowdy so he could concentrate on more important
things with Alice.

Namely, her sudden decision to move their relationship into
scorching-hot intimacy. He didn’t know why she’d suddenly lost inhibition and
caution, but he was more than grateful.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

T
HE
FOOD
SUCKED
. Another thing he’d address once he got all the legalities
out of the way. Not that he’d expected much from the bar, at least not in the
way of food.

Leaving the dry crust of the meager sandwich on his plate,
Rowdy finished off a pickle, the last chip and turned on the stool, elbows back
on the bar, to peruse the room. Right now, it wasn’t that busy. But he knew,
despite the lack of ambience and finer amenities, they’d soon have a crowd that
would stay ’til closing.

Hard-core drinkers liked a dive as much as, sometimes more
than, an upscale joint.

Once he took over, he’d keep it casual, Rowdy thought. At
fifteen-hundred square feet, the building had enough room to add a few things,
like billiards and a jukebox, especially once he got rid of the pole dancing.
He’d offer the ladies, all three of them part-time, full-time positions instead.
Once fixed up, the parking area would be big enough for eighteen cars. The
adjoining parking lot, with another twenty spots, had proposed a reasonable
agreement for usage.

He planned to offer affordable drinks with a limited but fresh
menu. A variety of sandwiches, maybe chili, a soup of the day, fries.

Few came for the food.

But if he opened earlier in the day, that could change. And why
not? He’d already looked into the liquor license. Might as well ensure he had a
food permit, as well.

First he’d have to pass the background check that came with the
liquor license. The idea of someone poking around in his private life, even in a
cursory way, sent itchy alarms down his neck. He had nothing to hide—nothing,
that is, that should prevent him from keeping the license.

Rather than continue stewing on things he couldn’t change,
Rowdy searched the room until he spotted Avery. Far as distractions went, she
was perfect. He watched her and knew she made a point of not looking at him.

Too bad.

He didn’t want to go home alone. Not tonight.

Some nights were just like that.

Restlessness gnawed on him, amplified by old memories. He
needed to be busy, but right now he had nothing more to do. Unfortunately, doing
nothing alone was not the same as doing nothing with someone.

Anyone.

But preferably Avery.

She strode past him on her way to the kitchen. Rowdy stopped
her with a hand on her arm. And just that, such an impersonal touch, sparked a
fire inside him. He stayed silent, enjoying the feel of her smooth warm
skin.

The skin of her...arm. God, he needed to get laid.

Pausing, she looked at his hand, then up to his face. “How was
your sandwich?”

“Stale bread.”

“I’m not surprised. Our so-called cook doesn’t know his butt
from a biscuit.” She leaned closer. “He’s not all that conscientious about
cleaning either.” The whispered words sent her breath warm across his ear.

A shudder ran over him. He couldn’t wait to feel her breath in
other, more interesting places. “When I take over, that’ll change.”

She leaned away to scrutinize him. “So you’re serious about
that?”

“Already have it in the works.” As long as he passed the
background check. “I’m serious about you being the bartender, too.”

She chewed the corner of her mouth, considering him, then
surprised him by dragging him away from the bar and toward a corner table.

He went willingly, curious what she’d do, what she had to
say.

With privacy assured, she turned to face him. “In most places,
the bartender is the most coveted job. So why me?”

Suspicion? He supposed she had reason. “You’re competent.”

“You barely know me.”

But I want you.
Rowdy shook his
head. “I’m a good judge of character.” And she had character in spades.
“Bartending isn’t easy. Other than the financial management, it’s the most
important job, so don’t think I’m doing you a huge favor.”

“I’m aware.” She held up a hand and ticked off points on her
fingers. “You stand for hours on end. You get hit on in rapid succession, with
the pushiest, most determined men also being the most inebriated. Drugs are
rampant behind the bar. You have to have a great memory. You—”

He put a finger to her mouth—and somehow felt the touch in his
dick.

Thinking of her mouth and his dick at the same time left him
muddled. He had it bad.

Shaking his head, Rowdy tried to clear the lust. “Back up to
the drugs.”

Somewhat dazed, her plump lips still pressed to his finger, she
stared up at him.

Maybe now would be a good time to kiss her again. Keeping her
gaze locked with his, he eased closer.

Suddenly she blinked hard, drew two breaths and took a step
back so that his hand fell away. “You didn’t know?”

A lost opportunity. He never should have hesitated.

“About the drugs?” Sure, he suspected. Drugs were a problem
everywhere, in every bar. But specifically here? He didn’t doubt it. “Enlighten
me.”

Instead, she pursed her mouth. “I don’t think so. You aren’t
the owner yet, and I don’t want to cause a firestorm and then get stuck in the
middle of it.”

“See, this is why you’ll make a great bartender. You’re
circumspect.”

“I’m not an idiot,” she corrected.

Rowdy eyed her sedate clothing and approved. “As to getting hit
on, I doubt most bartenders have to worry about that.” Avery, with her petite
figure and that sweet face, would have her hands full fending off the drunks.
“It’s nice that you dress in a way to discourage the hopeful.”

“You included?”

He ignored that. Damn it, he was hopeful. “And I assume you can
learn the job?”

“Already know it inside and out.”

Fascinating. “I take it you’ve worked as a bartender
before?”

“Last job, yep. And I tried to get the job here, but instead I
ended up the barback.”

“Barback?”

“You know, the one who stocks the bar, keeps the ice bin
filled, cuts up the fruit and garnishes, cleans the glasses....”

“I know what it is.” But it surprised him that she’d been hired
for the position.

“For this place,” she added, “the barback also needed to supply
protection for the bartender.” She lifted her shoulders. “I fell short in that
category, so within three days I was told I had to waitress, which for the
others also includes dancing that stupid pole. I refused that part, but I’m more
competent than the others, so it’s allowed.”

Disbelief slammed into Rowdy. Someone had expected her to play
bodyguard? Asinine. “What happened?”

“Which part?”

He growled his frustration. “The part where you fell short as
protection.” He already knew Avery wouldn’t be caught sliding around on a pole
for the delectation of drunks.

She hesitated some more. “How do I know this won’t go any
farther?”

“You can have my word, if that counts for anything.”

For what felt like a lifetime, she studied his face. Rowdy
resisted the urge to narrow his eyes in irritation. He was many things, most of
them shady as shit.

But he wasn’t a liar.

Finally she nodded. “The drugs I mentioned? Well, some big
guy—I think probably a supplier—came in on my third night, and he was really
furious about something. Looked like he’d already gone up against a Mack truck,
and he had his sights set on Dougie.”

“That’s the bartender here now, right?” Rowdy was familiar with
the wiry, hyper guy usually serving up drinks. He had dark, thick hair held in a
stubby ponytail, and sported a stud in one ear. Despite the foulness of the bar
and the sketchy clientele, he smiled a lot.

“None other.”

“Someone came after him?”

“With a switchblade.” Avery shuddered. “And I was supposed to
look out for him.”

The constriction of rage and concern had Rowdy straightening to
his full height. “Some dumb fuck actually expected
you
to go up against a blade?”

The language filled her blue eyes with censure. “Obviously I’m
not physically equipped for a conflict like that.”

“You’re not equipped for a conflict with a pillow!” She was
small and soft and—

Cutting off his observation, she said, “So I called 911.” Her
mouth flattened. “
Big
mistake.”

The concern continued to throb inside him. “You didn’t get
hurt?”

“I almost got fired!”

From this dive? Big frickin’ deal. Might’ve been doing her a
favor. Except then he wouldn’t have met her, and now, having met her, he
needed
to have her. “I take it cops are
unwelcome.”

“Very much so—because of the drugs as much as anything else.”
She rubbed at her temples. “Dougie didn’t get hurt too much. A cut on his arm
that required some stitches. Once I yelled that the cops were coming, the guy
took off.”

“Thank God.” If the dude had turned his rage on Avery instead,
they might not be here talking now. “Does he still come around?”

“The knife wielder? No. Disappeared.” She gave him another
look. “You should really find out more about the inner workings here before you
tie yourself to this place. I have a feeling that once you stop the drugs...”
She fumbled midsentence, staring at him with those big blue eyes the color of
the sky. “That is...you would put a halt to that, wouldn’t you?”

A tendril of her silky red hair drew his fingers. He toyed with
it.

He wanted to toy with her. In bed.

“Count on it.” He would run a legit business even if it killed
him. He didn’t particularly want to give the cops a reason to hang around
either.

Avery slumped in relief. “Then I’m glad you plan to take over.
And if you want me to bartend, count me in. I’d be more than happy to quit my
second job.”

“Second job?”

“You didn’t think I supported myself working here, did
you?”

There was a lot he didn’t know about Avery Mullins—but he
wanted to find out.

“I’m better than Dougie, and more honest, so I’ll expect a
raise over what he makes. But I don’t need a barback, so you’d still be
ahead.”

He’d be protecting her, so he shrugged an agreement.

“You’re going to cause a ruckus, you know. There are a lot of
regulars who get their supply from Dougie. They won’t like being cut off.”

Rowdy wondered if the drugs covered more than the recreational
variety but didn’t want to entangle Avery further. “I’ll take care of it.”

She smiled, and her happiness stroked over him.

Still fingering that loose curl, Rowdy stepped closer, lowered
his voice intimately. “Why don’t you come back to my place after work?” Wasn’t
much of a place, but it had a bed, so...

Her eyes widened. As if she only then realized that he had her
hair wrapped around his finger, she frantically freed herself. “Sorry, no.”

Rowdy fought back the expanding discontent. “Tomorrow?” Knowing
what she’d say, he asked, “Day after?”

“I can’t, Rowdy. I’m sorry.”

Okay, time for straight talk. It was that kind of night, the
kind where heading home alone wasn’t an option.

The kind where lousy memories crawled in and refused to
quiet—unless he found a way to block them. So far, sex worked the best.

He stepped around Avery, cutting off her escape, and then
casually—without threat—corralled her into the corner. “I’m taking someone home
with me tonight.”

She made a face at his confidence. “So cocky.”

“I like it when you talk dirty.”

Swatting at him, she said, “You assume it’ll be that easy for
you, huh?”

“With you? No. With another woman?” He shrugged. “But I’d
prefer it be you.”

Something flashed over her features, something like
indignation, disbelief. Maybe sorrow.

She lifted her chin. “And if it’s not me?”

He wouldn’t lie to her. “Then it
will
be someone else.”

Anger tinged with hurt narrowed her eyes. “Go on, then.”

When she hurriedly ducked away, Rowdy let her leave. He felt
the loss even as he tried to deny it.

Screw it.

Eventually he’d win her over. He’d uncover her reasons for
refusing, and he’d figure out a way around her objections.

In the meantime, he eyed his other options. A slinky brunette
caught his attention. Her slow smile and approving once-over issued a sensual
invitation.

Yeah, it was a hell of a thing, but he was male through and
through. He wanted Avery, would have been happiest with her company—but he
wasn’t immune to a raunchy sexual offer. Not if it’d get him through the
night.

He started to move toward the woman when his cell phone rang.
He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the number.

Reese.

Blowing out a breath, Rowdy put his needs on hold and accepted
the call. “Hey, Reese.”

“Rowdy. How’d it go today?”

Shit, shit, shit. Obviously Alice hadn’t come clean yet. If she
had, Reese wouldn’t sound so congenial. Had Reese been delayed, or had Alice
balked at sharing? “You’re with Alice now?”

“At the apartment, yes.”

Feeling his way, Rowdy asked, “What did she tell you?”

Reese let a beat of silence pass. “We didn’t do much talking
before she...fell asleep.”

Asleep, huh? He checked his watch and saw that it wasn’t that
late yet. Interesting. So the duty of a recap would fall to Rowdy.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned away from the brunette
and moved to a quiet booth where no one could overhear him. “It’d be good if you
were sitting down.”

Grim resolve sounded in Reese’s tone. “I’m outside with
Cash.”

Away from Alice. Maybe that would be better. Reese would have a
minute to collect himself before he confronted her. Alice personified
frustration, but she had tender feelings. Rowdy wouldn’t want to see her hurt by
angry words. “I suggest you brace yourself. It’s not good.”

A low curse, and then: “Tell me.”