Crave (Talon Security #1) (11 page)

She could handle Theo at least, and that was saying a lot.

Sid turned to me, leaning close to murmur in my ear, “You okay out here for a little bit while I go meet with the guys?”

I nodded, setting Trixie on the ground and making myself comfortable in one of the leather chairs near Sarah’s desk.

Sid dipped low, placing a chaste kiss on my mouth before sauntering back toward the conference room.

“Things happen fast around here.” Sarah laughed as I sat blushing profusely.

“You could say that,” I replied. “But really, this has been in the making between us for a while. It’s weird how I see it so clearly now but I couldn’t before.”

She nodded. “Life’s funny that way sometimes. You look good together.”

I smiled. “Thanks. It’s still really new and all feels a bit like a dream,” I admitted, surprised I’d shared that with her.

“Isn’t everything good like that?” She sighed wistfully.

“Maybe,” I allowed cautiously. I was still slightly scared to believe this could really be my something good.

Christ, I sounded like Mary Poppins.

“Do you want a coffee? I’m about to brew a fresh pot.”

“Sure, thanks.” I nodded, scooping Trixie into my lap.

After a cup of coffee and a nice conversation with Sarah, Sid emerged. “Ready?” he asked with a lifted brow.

I nodded, standing up and gathering my things. Sid picked up Trixie, patiently waiting for me to pack my purse up.

“She’s really taken to the two of you,” Sarah commented, watching Trixie thoughtfully.

“Is that surprising?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “Dogs are all different, but a lot of times Chihuahuas are really loyal to their owners and indifferent to other people. She looks like she’s known the two of you her whole life.”

Interesting.

“Are we ready?” I asked, looking around me to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind.

I almost always did.

“I’m ready.” Sid nodded. “See you later, Sarah.” He offered her a chin lift as he took my hand.

“Bye, Sarah,” I chimed in with a wave. “Bye, Trav!” I hollered toward the back.

“Call you later!” he hollered back.

“You still want to go to the shop?” Sid asked me as we walked toward his truck.

“Yeah,” I replied.

I watched him scan our surroundings, always vigilant, before we climbed in.

Caden’s tattoo shop, Sacred Heart, was just across town. When we pulled up in front, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the Sid and Sam relationship roadshow. We left Trixie in the truck with the windows cracked; we didn’t plan on staying long.

The buzz of a tattoo gun and the low murmur of voices met my ears when we walked in.

“Cade!” Sid shouted toward the back of the shop. Caden had hired a shop girl part-time who scheduled appointments and greeted customers, but obviously, she’d left for the day.

“Hey, bro, just wrapping this up. I’ll be out in a sec,” Cade’s voice called back.

I contented myself looking through a binder of Cade’s work. The fact that people came in off the street and picked something random from a book to be put on their body forever always baffled me.

Sid wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck. “You thinking about getting some work done?” His mouth on my skin and warm body enveloping me was making it hard to form a coherent response.

I bit my lip, thinking. “I don’t have anything planned. I’m just not averse to getting something. What about you?”

“I’ll probably get more work done at some point,” he replied, stooping so that his chin was resting on my shoulder, his arms wrapped firmly around my waist.

My phone dinged with a text and he released me. “Piper,” I explained, reading her text as Caden emerged with a perky blonde in tow.

I lost the battle not to roll my eyes while fighting the lurch in my belly.

As if on cue, the blonde set her sights on Sid. “Hey, you,” she purred with far too much familiarity for my liking. “Where have you been hiding?”

Sid’s posture was stiff as he shot a quick glance to me before meeting her attempt at a seductive gaze. “Been busy.”

Her head cocked to the side as she studied me intently. “I know you—how do I know you?” she seemed to ask herself.

“We used to live together. She’s also one of my best friends,” Caden explained with a quick eye roll behind her back for my benefit.

“She’s also my girl.” Sid’s deep authoritative voice cut through the air like a knife.

Caden’s jaw dropped as the blonde’s expression soured.

Her eyes cut to me. “Nice to meet you,” she said stiffly, pulling her purse further up her shoulder. “Gotta run. Thanks, Cade.”

“See ya.” He waved dismissively as she made her way toward the door.

“Pleasant girl,” I commented dryly, watching as she walked down the sidewalk and out of sight.

Caden grinned, his eyes dancing between the two of us. “So you two finally went and made it official, huh?”

Sid slung an arm around me, grinning with a youthful joy I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen in him. “Yep.”

“Just please don’t break up.” Caden groaned dramatically, clasping his hands in prayer. “It’ll be even more awkward than watching you pretend you’re just friends for the past, well, forever.”

I snorted. “Yes, Cade, we’ll make sure we plan for your comfort wherever possible.”

“That’s all I ask,” he answered serenely.

Sid reached over and socked him in the shoulder. “You and Danny want to come up and hang out tomorrow? That place has amazing acoustics. We could play.”

Caden cocked a brow at his brother. “Oh, so you’re staying up there now, huh?”

Suddenly the walls became very interesting to me as I felt myself blush.

“For the time being,” Sid answered.

Caden looked at both of us, nodding thoughtfully. “Well, I don’t know about hauling my drum kit up there, but I wouldn’t turn down a home-cooked meal.”

I laughed. “Is that all you need me for?”

His expression grew uncharacteristically serious, though he threw in a casual shrug. “All right. I miss you and your spaghetti.”

With Caden, that was about as far as his sentiment went, and I’d take it.

“I just made you spaghetti.” I grinned.

He shrugged. “Well, it’s really good spaghetti, what do you want me to say?”

Sid turned to me, humor lighting his eyes. “It is really good.”

I groaned. “Fine. I’ll make spaghetti tomorrow night.”

“We’ll be there. Do I get garlic bread again?” Caden asked.

Sid’s brows lifted as he looked at me. “You made garlic bread?”

I threw up my hands. “Fine, and garlic bread. Again.”

****

“Want to take a swim?” Sid surprised me by asking as we finished dinner.

I’d always been comfortable in my own skin, but there was something about parading in front of Sid in a bikini that made me feel a little bit shy. “Um, sure,” I agreed, somewhat reluctantly.

He cocked his head to the side. He’d sensed my hesitation, and I could see him debating whether or not to address it.

“I’ll meet you out there,” I said abruptly, before he could say anything. I brought my plate to the sink and headed to my room to change.

“The black one, you think?” I asked Trixie as she sat on my bed watching me. Sid’s stuff was still upstairs, and I appreciated the few minutes to collect myself. We’d spent nearly every moment together and the sexual tension between us had been like a slow burn all day. I felt wound up and yet exhausted at the same time. “Maybe the white one?” I deliberated, holding them both up for inspection.

When I’d packed my suits I hadn’t anticipated having company—especially not the Sid kind of company.

I padded outside with a towel wrapped firmly around me. Sid was already in the pool, watching my approach with blatant interest.

With more confidence than I actually felt, I dropped the towel. The black bikini Trixie hadn’t helped pick out left little to the imagination.

“Fuck.” He groaned, his gaze hooded as he licked his lips. “Come here.”

His guttural command sent a thrill through me as I stepped into the surprisingly warm water. I moved down to the second step, the water lapping at my knees.

In two short strokes, he was below me, clasping my waist and pulling me all the way in.

I shrieked, wrapping my arms around his neck. His face was inches from mine, his look so intent it stopped me short. “I was coming in,” I protested with a small smile.

“Not fast enough.” He shook his head before taking my mouth in a searing kiss. His large hands clasped the backs of my thighs, hoisting me so that I wrapped my legs around his waist. The feel of his erection against my core had me gasping, desperate for more. His tongue licked into my mouth, taking what he wanted without hesitation or apology.

I rolled my hips, shocked that I was so close already. It had always been relatively hard for me to get there, but with Sid, it felt like all he had to do was look at me.

His hand moved between us, slipping inside my bikini bottoms.

“Please,” I whimpered when his fingers began a teasing stroke. “I’m so close,” I breathed.

“Love the way you light up for me, babe,” he growled. “Like a living spark.”

“Only with you,” I admitted on a groan. “Oh, God, Sid.” I threw my head back as my orgasm washed over me.

He held me tightly as I shuddered in his arms. I lifted my head to look in his eyes. “I want to taste you. Please, Sid, I have to,” I added, licking my lips. My hands went to his swim trunks, pulling them low as I clasped him firmly in my hand. He was hard and thick and I was starving for him. “Sit on the edge,” I commanded, gesturing to the side of the pool.

Relieved when he did as I asked, I moved in between his legs, taking a long delicious lick before pulling him deep.

His deep groans spurred me on as I took him with a fervor that was new to me. “Sam, baby, I’m gonna come.” He groaned, trying to pull back.

I looked up at him and pulled him deeper in response, taking everything he had with relish.

After one last leisurely lick, I pulled away with a mischievous smile.

“Holy hell,” he panted, his chest heaving and gaze hooded. He slipped back into the water, taking me in his arms. We stood that way for many long moments as I listened to the pounding of his heart begin to slow.

I shivered slightly.

“Let’s get in the hot tub,” he suggested, pulling me in that direction. He sat me in between his legs as the warm bubbles swirled around us. “How did I resist you all this time?” he murmured in my ear as I lay against his chest.

I shrugged, unsure what to say.

“What was the look earlier?” he prodded gently, delivering a soft kiss to my neck that made my skin tingle in response.

“What look?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“You looked… I don’t know, shy or something when I asked you to go swimming.”

There was no good reason I was standoffish with people. No childhood trauma or bad relationship. I’d just always been a bit reserved when it came to feelings or sharing any part of myself. I knew Sid would challenge me, and though it wasn’t comfortable for me, I wanted to try.

“I just remember the girls you used to go for. They were so different from me,” I replied, glad he couldn’t see the wince that came along with my statement.

“Ah,” he murmured thoughtfully, his fingers tracing absently over my collarbone. “How do you mean?”

“Ugh, I don’t know. Can we not talk about this?” I pleaded.

“I didn’t like that look on your face, so I think we should.”

Well, shit.

“I don’t know!” I threw up my hands in exasperation. “They were tall, skinny, brunette. I’m short, blonde, and I know I’m not fat or anything, but skinny isn’t necessarily the right adjective,” I explained dryly.

His fingers stopped moving and I didn’t imagine his posture stiffening. “Christ, Sam, do you not see how fucking gorgeous you are? Of course I picked girls who were different than you. I didn’t want to be reminded of what I couldn’t have.”

My heart swelled at his words.

He sat me up, guiding me to turn so I was looking at him. “Sweetheart, you’re a walking wet dream. Every time we went out, I had to stop myself from physically fending every dick off within a mile radius. There were the times when I wasn’t able to stop myself.”

I remembered those times well.

His hands moved to my ass, squeezing as his eyes heated. “I can’t tell you how many nights I lay awake fantasizing about you, about this body. And you bet your ass now that you’re mine I won’t be restraining myself from fending off any asshole who attempts to breathe the same air as you.”

I stared at him in wide-eyed shock, my breath hitching in response to his intensity.

“Okay?” he demanded.

“Okay,” I replied breathlessly as he moved me to straddle his lap, taking my mouth in a scorching kiss.

He broke away, his mouth a breath from my ear. “I’m all in, Sam,” his deep voice said with a certainty that settled something deep inside me.

I swallowed back the fear, feeling as though I was on the edge of a beautiful precipice, and managed a small nod.

He squeezed me tighter, drawing me closer into the body so new to me and yet so familiar. I realized that if I was going out on an edge, he was the only person I’d want to cling to.