Moments In Time: A Collection of Short Fiction (44 page)

I couldn’t just walk over to Cord and the redhead and make her mine. Make her mine? What the hell? I wanted this woman bad, but I needed to take it slow. Get in her good graces and pull her away from my good buddy Cord. Was I gonna cock block him? You bet your ass I was. This redhead was mine, he could go find his ex, Lisbeth and spend the night with her.

Those eyes. Damn. They were mesmerizing. The most enchanting shade of green I’ve ever seen. When our eyes met, I couldn’t look away, but then all of a sudden the punk bodyguard I saw walk in with them grabbed me by the back of the neck and squeezed. Quickly, I grabbed his hand and roughly slammed it into his side.

“Can I help you with something, punk?” I asked getting right in his face.

“She’s mine. Back the hell off,” he spat in my face.

“Yours, huh? Doesn’t look that way to me, buddy. She seems to be getting pretty close with my friend Cord.”

“Mine. Stay the hell away,” he said as he turned and stormed passed the redhead and into the bathroom.

I saw the look on her face. One of the traits my adoring dad had instilled in me was the ability to read people by their facial expressions, vocal inflections, and body language. It had become a talent of mine. She felt bad about the punk. Something about their relationship was bothering her, but no matter what it was she definitely wasn’t leaving with him tonight. You could tell by the look on her face that she had no intentions of that happening. Good news for me…really shitty news for the punk.

Walking over to the bar, I tried to pick up on the conversation between Cord and my redhead.

I took a pull off my beer as I sat down at the bar a couple of barstools away from my redhead.

“Okay, now back to your quest this evening. Just a big penis. That’s all you’re lookin’ for?” Cord asked.

I spit my beer all over the bar and then grinned. I would have no problem fulfilling that quest.

“So my friend Sadie grew up here,” the redhead said.

“Oh yeah, I’ve known Sadie’s family for years. Her brother Sean is a bit of a live wire. I’ve had to help him out of a few scuffles.”

“Oh, do you work in law enforcement?” she asked.

Cord laughed a big ole belly laugh. “No, sweetheart. Definitely not. I’m an attorney.”

“Really?” she asked excitedly.

“That’s not the reaction I usually get, but yes. I work for a practice out of Dallas, but I have a small office here.”

“I’m going to be an attorney,” she said with all of the excitement leaving her voice. “Well, I hope to be. I’ve taken the BAR exam and I’m up for an internship back home. So I hope to be an attorney soon.”

Cord leaned in toward her and tucked a long red curl behind her ear. Then he ran his hand along her jaw line. He whispered to where I could barely hear him, “I think you’ll make an excellent attorney, Ember.”

Ember.

What a unique name. It fit her perfectly. I couldn’t wait to scream it when I exploded deep inside her later tonight.

I needed to get Cord the hell away from her.

“What are you looking for tonight, sweetheart? Really? A night of fun or some drinks, a kiss on the cheek, and a ride home?” Cord asked.

I could see the blush fill her cheeks. “Honestly? Sadie informed me that all I needed was a night with a hot cowboy, and as much as I hate to admit this, I think she’s right. I need to relax. Do you want to be the guy to…?”

This was not gonna happen. Cord was not getting my redhead. I stood up and took the two steps over to her and fell onto her…literally, softly pushing her into the bar. We were nose to nose. I stopped her midsentence. Those amazing green eyes were sparkling and staring into mine.

“Howdy, ma’am. How are you doin’ on this fine evenin’?” I drawled. The accent was strong, but I could tell by the little smile escaping her lips that it was working.

“Hey, man. What the hell?” Cord asked.

“Sorry to intrude, but I was askin’ the lady here a question.”

Turning toward Cord I winked at him and he said, “You know what, Ember it looks like you might’ve just found exactly what you were lookin’ for tonight.” Then he walked over to Cade and Suzanna.

“Name’s Mase. Nice to meet ya’ ma’am,” I said with a tip of my big ass hat.

“Ember.” She was flustered. I was making her that way and I was thoroughly enjoying it.

Reaching down I took her hand in mine and placed a soft kiss on the top of her hand. “Pleasure’s all mine, Ember.”

As I thought to myself…
But don’t worry I’ll make sure the evening is very pleasurable for you too, baby.

Ember

This didn’t happen in the real world, did it? Did this super sexy, hot as hell, true blue cowboy literally just fall into my lap?

Mase was so easy to talk to, and it definitely didn’t hurt that he had the sexiest southern accent ever. It was like each word oozed out in this hot, buttery concoction that I just wanted to lick up before it ran down his chin never to be seen again.

Yep, I wanted to lick him. All over. Repeatedly.

We’d been sitting at the bar for what seemed like hours, drinking and talking. He did a lot of listening too, which was really unexpected and very nice. When I spoke to him his eyes didn’t leave mine and I was pretty sure I could quiz him on what we talked about tonight and he wouldn’t miss an answer. Of course we didn’t go into a lot of personal details. We talked about likes and dislikes and fun stuff, not the deep nitty gritty. That wasn’t stuff you talked about with a guy you planned on spending just one night with.

We didn’t talk about occupations or future goals, and that was really nice. It took a lot of the pressure off.

Sean never took his eyes off of us. I felt really bad for doing this to him, but it had to be done, right?

As he walked up to the bar to order another beer, he brushed along my shoulder. Leaning in he whispered in my ear, “Do what you need to do. You’re mine forever, but if you want to do this, he can have you tonight.”

That statement shocked the shit out of me.
Mine forever?
Sean was serious about this, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t gonna have some fun tonight too.

One of the chicks playing pool sashayed over and wrapped her arm around his waist. I heard her ask, “Wanna fuck?”

Then Sean chuckled and said, “You bet your sweet little ass I do.” He grabbed her ass and said, “Come take my mind off my problems, little lady.” And then they were gone. Heading off to the bathroom for what I could only assume was a quickie.

Mase had seen the whole scene and I could only assume he would have questions for me. So I decided it was a great time to change the subject.

“Wanna play a game?” I asked.

“Why sure. Sounds like fun, darlin’,” Mase said as he slid his hand across the bar and took mine in his. Squeezing lightly, he asked, “What kinda game you got in mind?”

“It’s called ‘Favorites’. I’ll ask a favorite of yours and then we’ll both answer and then you can ask a favorite of mine and so on and so forth.”

With his other hand he gently stroked my cheek with his index finger. “I’d be more than happy to play any game you want, sweetheart,” he whispered.

My breath caught and I said at super speed, “Favorite movie?”

He chuckled, grabbed his beer and took a drink. “Brokeback Mountain?”

His eyes met mine and we both started cracking up.

“Really? That’s your favorite movie?”

“Hell no, but it made you smile didn’t it?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but I can’t seem to keep this smile off my face while I’m talking to you.”

He looked away and cleared his throat. Looking back at me, he said, “I’m glad I can bring a smile to that beautiful face of yours, Ember.”

“So?”

“So what?” he asked.

“Movie? What’s your favorite?” I asked.

“Promise you won’t laugh?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die,” I said as I crossed my heart with my fingers.

“Dirty Dancing. There I said it. Let the laughin’ commence.”

“That’s your favorite movie?” I asked with what I could only imagine was a shocked as hell look on my face.

“I feel like I should probably explain. My mom loved that movie. She used to watch it all the time when she was sick. That was some of my most favorite times of my life. Just lying in bed with my momma watching Johnny dance his way across the screen. And it didn’t hurt that Baby had a nice rack either,” he smiled.

“When she was sick?” I asked.

“Yeah, she passed when I was thirteen.” He sniffled and I could tell he was trying hard to hold back a tear.

It was time to get back to fun Mase. I didn’t want to make him sad. “It’s my favorite movie too. I bet I’ve seen it a million times.”

A sly grin emerged as he said, “Okay, my turn, darlin’. Favorite sexual position?”

“Wow. Seriously, cowboy? That’s your question?”

“You said I could ask anything,” he said as he leaned in and ran his nose along my jaw. “I need to know what’ll make your kitty purr, darlin’. And I will be makin’ her purr for me real soon.” I felt his warm breath along my neck as he gently nibbled on my earlobe and then ran his tongue along the edge of my ear. A spark shot up my spine and down to my girly parts.

Before I could stop myself, I pulled him closer and whispered in his ear, “Reverse cowgirl. You up for a ride, cowboy?”

He sat back on his barstool and I noticed he was breathing as erratically as I was. “Why the hell are we still in this bar and not back at my place?”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” I stood up and grabbed my purse from the bar. “Time for you to fulfill my quest, cowboy.”

Mase

Cord and I exchanged a glance across the bar that told him he needed to find somewhere else to sleep tonight.

While we were making our way out of the bar and out to my car I slowly wrapped my arm around her shoulder and I felt her shiver. “Are you cold, darlin’?”

She looked up at me through her long lashes and the light from the streetlight made her green eyes look like crystals sparkling in the sun. “Not at all. I feel like my blood is boiling, I want you so bad, Mase.”

I couldn’t take it another fucking second. I had to taste those luscious plump lips that had been taunting me for hours. I’d listened intently to everything she had to say all night. I couldn’t tear myself away actually. She was amazing, and I knew those lips were going to taste even better than they looked.

Placing my hands on her shoulders I gently pressed her up against the wall right outside the door that led into the bar. One hand went to her back, while the other slid up her side, slightly caressing her breast and earning a small moan from her. My hand continued upward until I placed it on her neck and gently squeezed before slipping it into her hair and tugging so that her lips were even closer to mine. I felt her breath hitch and that was it. This kiss was going to rock my fucking world.

I eased my mouth down to hers and took her bottom lip between my teeth, nibbling softly. I tried to go slow, but she was having no part of that. Shocking the crap out of me, she grabbed my ass and pulled me hard against her and then slammed her lips against mine. Her tongue was in my mouth and her hands were scratching up and down my back while I was trying to get my bearings, and quickly realizing there wasn’t time for that. Ember wanted, or was it needed, this as much as I did and there was no way I wasn’t going to give it to her. Tonight was all about this…sex. Sex between two consenting adults who needed to get the hell out of their own heads for a while and just be somebody else. I was going to be her cowboy and she was going to be my dream. Seemed like a fair trade to me.

As she pulled away from me, her eyes were closed and her chest was heaving just like mine. That had been one of the hottest kisses I’d ever experienced.

“I think we oughta get in the car, darlin’,” I moaned, still trying to catch my breath. I took her hand in mine and started us out toward my car.

“Pretty nice car for a cowboy,” she said with a smirk.

“What are ya sayin’ hon’, a cowboy can’t have a hot as fuck car?”

“I guess I was expecting a…”

“A horse?” I asked with a grin.

“Point taken, cowboy. Now get me to your house and fuck me senseless, okay?”

I slammed the door and slid my ass across the hood of the car. The smile on her face was priceless. As I fell into the driver’s seat, I said, “You don’t gotta tell me twice. Let’s get my girl home for a fuckin’ she won’t ever forget.”

“Amen to that, cowboy.”

Ember

That kiss. Holy hell. That. Fucking. Kiss.

Legendary.

Seriously.

Of course I practically attacked him, but damn it felt good.

It was really weird, but I wasn’t nervous at all. When we walked out of the bar, I shot Sadie a look that told her I wouldn’t be coming home tonight and that my quest would be fulfilled. She nodded in understanding and then I had the kiss to end all kisses up against the hard brick wall of a shady little dive bar.