Slade Read online

  She finally turned, her eyes burning with a bevy of emotions. Defiance, confusion, pleasure.

  “Drop the act, Dillon. I can smell your cunt—you want me more than you’ve ever wanted anyone.”

  “You’re so full of yourself.” She slipped the straps of her nightie up. “You should go.” She leveled me with her eyes.

  “Not so fast. We’re eating first. Put something on.”

  She huffed. “Shouldn’t I eat naked?” She rolled her eyes.

  “I don’t want to be any harder than I already am through lunch. Anyway, we’re going out.” I tossed the wooden spoon back in the dish dryer.

  “What? I thought–”

  “I want to take you out. Show everyone that you’re mine—this body, this smart mouth, this sweet pussy, all mine.”

  “I hate you,” she seethed.

  A hearty guffaw deep from my belly filled her small kitchen. “Get dressed, ya slut.” I grinned and swatted her on the ass as she hustled out of the kitchen and down the short hallway.

  “You’ve got to level with me, Slade,” she said a few minutes later. We’d walked a few yards down a weed-ridden path to the shoreline, a small, four-legged furball trailing behind us the entire way.

  “‘Bout what?” I murmured as I plopped myself on a large rock and dug through a carton of Chinese food.

  “This whole…whatever you have going…” she said as I passed her a carton of noodles. The kitten curled up against her hip, basking on the sun-warmed granite.

  “Taking what I want?” I winked at her before taking a bite. “Eat.” I nodded to the full carton of noodles she held in her hand.

  She twisted her chopsticks through the starchy concoction. “I’ve known you my whole life practically, and you’ve never…you’re always so…”

  “A lot of people have known me my whole life. We all have secrets, right?”

  “Seriously with the evasive thing.” She shifted away from me and turned to look out at the gently lapping water at our feet as she stroked the kitten absentmindedly.

  “Ok. There are a lot of things that people in this town don’t know about me for very strategic reasons.” I kept much of my life a secret from small-town ears, but I knew I’d have to give Dillon a piece of me, a good faith offering in the hopes that she’d open up in return.

  “Gonna tell me?” She bumped her shoulder against mine.

  “If you’re lucky, I’d like to show you.”

  “Oh? Care to elaborate?”

  “Well, it’s a bit hard to explain…and I don’t want to run you off.”

  “Me, run? Never.” She finally twirled her chopsticks in the food and took a big bite.

  “Good girl.” I nodded and took another bite of my own.

  “And what’s with the ‘good girl’ shit? So annoying.”

  “Makes your pussy wet, doesn’t it?” My eyes darted from the pussy between her thighs to the one sleeping peacefully against her leg.

  “Slade, oh my god. Who are you?” She burst into a fit of laughter.

  “The guy that’s going to open your eyes to a whole other side of pleasure. Give you my trust and take yours in return. Make you cum so hard you lose your mind. My lips around your clit, you riding my face—I think about it every night, baby.”

  “I just…don’t even have words. And here I thought we were out for a nice lunch.”

  “Look, as far as everyone in this town knows, I’m the guy next door. Slade Thomas, all-American football player and all that.”

  “You aren’t those things?” She arched one full eyebrow. I loved that she was so natural. Not over-plucked or made-up. Just…Dillon. Take it or leave it. Trashy mouth and all.

  “I am those things, but I’m more. Very few people see that side of me.”

  “So this is kinky stuff we’re talking about, right?”

  “You could say that.” I laughed.

  “So what’s the kinkiest you’ve done?”

  “I…don’t think that’s something I can answer. Like I said before, it’s really more something you have to witness.”

  “So what if I don’t do kinky?”

  “Ah, you do kinky, babe.” I shot her a confident grin.

  “You’re so full of shit. You’ve never even dated anyone, what makes you think you know my pussy so well?”

  “That a challenge?”

  “Come on.” She shook her head before taking a drink of water.

  “You just threw down, beautiful. You work next weekend?”

  “Yeah. I work every weekend.”

  “Get it off.”

  “No.”

  “Wild’s your boss, I’ll talk to him.”

  “Slade, no. Seriously.”

  “Just give me one night. No more questions. Let me show you for once, eyes open this time.” I tapped her temple. I’d kept this part of my life under wraps, I’d learned that it wasn’t for everyone, but I’d slipped with Dillon a few times, and to my dick’s pleasure, she’d seemed into it.

  She heaved a sigh. “Fine. One night. But…” She was twirling her noodles mindlessly again.

  “You’re safe with me.” I gathered her in a one-armed hug and tousled the hair on top of her head.

  “Did you just give me a noogie, Slade Thomas?!”

  “Believe I did.” I loosened her from my grip. She set her carton on the granite beside her and threw a punch square in my side. “Dillon! Fuck!” I laughed and winced simultaneously.“Okay, no noogies. Noogies are a hard limit, got it.”

  “Oh my god, all this BDSM talk, what are you Christian Grey now?”

  “Ah, please. No red room here. I’ve got an entire club.” I winked at her.

  “I don’t think your head could get any bigger.” She shook her head.

  “It’s painfully hard at the moment, wanna give it a go?”

  “You are…incredible.” She smiled. “And you have yet to back up the swagger.” She bit her full lip, a sign that she was teasing me. And that her pussy was wet.

  “You’re a dick tease.” I wrapped a fist into her long hair and tugged. She winced before her lids fell over lust-darkened eyes. “Don’t fuck with me, Dillon. I like sparring with you, but when it comes to sex, I don’t fuck around. I take, you give, and get off in the process. Multiple times. Always multiple times.” I pressed a kiss to her pale pink lips. She melted in my hands, her body slumping and curling around me. My fist tightened in her hair as I pulled away centimeters. “These lips are gonna undo me.” I traced the delicate bow with the tip of one finger.

  “Will you give me a hint?” she murmured in a drowsy timbre.

  “Next weekend, beautiful. Next weekend. Now eat up, I like having a little something to grasp onto when I sink inside you.”

  “You’re killing me.” She shook her head before picking up her carton and eating again.

  “And you love it.” I bumped against her shoulder and then turned back to the water. Sucking in a deep breath of humid ocean air, I felt good. Really fucking good. And hard.

  So hard I didn’t think I could wait until next weekend to get inside her.

  I was a lot of things, but above all I must be a man with a death wish, because itching to get inside Dillon again may very well kill me.

  “I can’t get next weekend off.” Dillon pouted when I approached her at the bar Thursday night.

  “What? Why?”

  “No one to cover, and he doesn’t want to leave Kat alone. She’s ready to pop any time.”

  I ran a palm over my stubbled jaw. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “It’s not a big deal.”

  “It is to me. He here?” I looked around the nearly vacant bar room.

  “He just left for the marina.” She nodded at another customer that’d just sat down. My eyes cut to him. Older, little rough around the edges, his dark eyes soaking her up, taking in the curves of her body.

  “No more tight shirts at work.”

  “What?” Her eyes scrunched in confusion.

  “He’
s eye fucking you. I don’t want other guys eye fucking you.”

  “Gets me good tips.” She grinned and leaned over the bar to give me a view of her deep cleavage.

  “Fuck, Dillon.” I grunted as my dick pulsed in my pants. It’d been more than a week since I’d had her and it was driving me to distraction. The only thing keeping me going was the thought of being with her this weekend in the ways I’d been dreaming about.

  “Don’t make me tell you again…” I fingered the hem of her shirt.

  “I’ll wear what I want. Low cut shirts make me money. Does this mean you wouldn’t have approved of me being a stripper?” A devilish smile lifted one side of her mouth.

  “You’re aggravating.”

  “Back at ya, buddy.” She stuck out her tongue before walking down the bar to the new customer.

  “Fucker,” I growled under my breath, just hoping it was loud enough for him to hear. “I’ll be over tonight after you get off. Wear that nightie you had on the other day,” I shouted down the bar to her. Her mouth popped open and fire raced through her bright, blue eyes.

  Ha. Take that. Girl was mine. I hit him with a cocky smile before heading out the doors in search of my best friend.

  The early spring air nipped at my arms as I took long strides across the street to the marina. The docks bustled with fisherman readying their vessels for the start of fishing season.

  I nodded to a few before I spotted the shock of dark hair that belonged to my best friend. He worked at sanding down a sailboat, deep in thought.

  “Hey, man,” I stopped at the end of the dock and called.

  “What’s up?” Wild, never a man of many words, set the handheld sander down and wiped his hands on his jeans before coming down the dock to me.

  “Dillon needs Saturday night off.”

  “I told her she can have it if she finds someone to cover.”

  “She can’t find anyone,” I replied.

  “Nothing I can do about it.”

  “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  “Oh yeah? What you got planned?” His blue eyes danced with amusement. He knew.

  “Taking her to Portland.”

  “Ah…one of those kind of things.”

  “Exactly. So she needs the night off.”

  “Well, I don’t know what to tell you.” He shrugged and crossed his arms.

  “There’s no one to cover? Not even your lazy ass?”

  “Ah, fucker. You know I would, but Kat could pop any day now…”

  “You’re right around the corner. If there’s a problem you can get back in less than five.”

  “Ugh,” he grunted and ran a hand through his hair.

  “Seriously, one night. I know it’s a lot to ask. I know the twins could make an appearance any day, but a few hours isn’t going to hurt.”

  “Fuck. Only for you, man, I swear to god, only for you.”

  “Please, I’ve seen how growly Kat’s been. You need the break.” I winked.

  “You have no idea. She’s asleep by nine and up half a dozen times through the night. She’s not getting sleep…I’m not getting sleep.”

  “So there ya go, take a break for a few hours. Be with the people, socialize. Let Kat sleep and cook those kids before they get here and ruin every night of your sleep.” I grinned.

  “Fine. Don’t ask again though. Next time she needs to find someone else.”

  “Right. Once those kids are here you’re going to be begging for a goddamn night off to work the bar.”

  His laugh filled the cool air between us. “I’m sure that’s exactly what will happen. Kat may even take up some hours and leave me home with the little shits.”

  “If they’re anything like you, you’re gonna have your hands full, bro.” He socked me in the arm before a chuckle fell from his lips.

  “Hey, seriously, thanks. Dillon’s been tough.”

  “She’s a tough girl.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been working on her.”

  “Think she’ll be into it?”

  “I know she’ll be into it.” A cocky grin lit my lips. “Thanks a lot.” I hit him on the shoulder. “Get back to that little hobby of yours.” I always shit on him for the boat refinishing. He didn’t need the money, but he liked to do it.

  “Fuck off.” He hollered behind me.

  “Thanks!” I called over my shoulder before heading across the park to enter the bar.

  “Babe!” I called across the room. Every head turned. Dillon’s eyes met mine in a sexy glower. She hated the name-calling, which was exactly the reason I did it. “Your Saturday night has suddenly freed up. I’ll pick you up at four, wear something short.”

  Dillon’s berry red lips popped open. Aw fuck, I was in so much trouble. My dick grew harder just thinking of it.

  Sweet Jesus, this would be good. I made a mental note to goad her the entire drive down to Portland to get her primed and ready for what I had planned. It was gonna be a fan-fucking-tastic weekend.

  “So our first real date, got something sweet planned?” She slid into my truck in a tight, white shirt that showed entirely too much cleavage for public and a short, leather mini skirt. My fingers itched to trail up her thigh and find out what she wore underneath.

  “When I said ‘short’ you took it to heart, huh?” I let my eyes peruse her dewy skin.

  “I like to follow instructions.”

  “Since when?” I put the truck in gear and pulled out of the driveway.

  “So tell me, where are we going?”

  “Portland.”

  “What?!” Her voice pierced the interior of my truck. I shrugged without answering. “We’re driving there and back tonight?”

  “Nah, we’ll stay at my place.”

  “Your place? You have a place in Portland?”

  “I do,” I answered as I merged onto the highway.

  “But…how did I not know this?”

  “Told you, lots of things people don’t know about me.”

  “Well, aren’t you just a man of many surprises?”

  “You have no idea.” I flashed her a cocky smile.

  “Well, I don’t have a change of clothes or anything.”

  “Don’t need clothes. You’ll be naked for most of it.” When I got no response I turned to find her eyes wide and staring.

  “I don’t even know who I’m with right now. Should I be worried? Are you going to haul me off to some backwoods cabin and chop me up in little pieces?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s not really my kink. You’ll see.”

  “I swear, you’re more impossible by the day.”

  “Embrace the unexpected, baby. I need you flexible, in both mind and body.” I tapped a finger high on her thigh. She adjusted in the seat and spread her legs a tad. “Want me to finger fuck you right now, driving down the highway?”

  “Mmm…” she whimpered and slid back in her seat.

  “Drive by cars, my hand up your skirt, sliding through your pussy, your moans in my ear as we pass vehicles, thinking they could see you getting off riding my hand. That what you want?”

  “Mm, yeah…” The words escaped in a rush of breath.

  “Good girl.” My finger eased higher up her leg to meet between her thighs. “God damn, Dillon, no panties?”

  “I didn’t want any barriers.” Her voice hit a throaty octave that had my dick throbbing for release.

  “I like sweet-and-sexy Dillon. I get you wet and you melt into a puddle of sweet submission.”

  “Mmm…” she groaned as her eyelids fluttered closed. I worked my fingers through her damp lips, swirling around her clit before slowing and easing my fingers back down her thighs to land at her knee.

  I waited.

  “What are you doing?” Her eyes opened and confusion settled.

  “You’re not getting off. Not until later. I want you ready and waiting.”

  “Ugh. You’re a bastard!”

  “And sassy Dillon is back.” I laughed and rubbed
small circles on her kneecap as I turned my eyes back to the road and hit the gas pedal. I needed to be with her in Portland. Like yesterday.

  “That was amazing,” Dillon rubbed her belly under her shirt. I huffed. Like she had any belly to speak of. She was all soft dips and curves, the perfect shape to mold into my body at night.

  My dick ached.

  I’d been hard as a fucking rock all through dinner.

  “Glad you’re fortified.” I ran a palm down her arm and felt goosebumps trail in my wake. “You look beautiful.” I nudged at her ear with my lips. A full body shiver rolled through her. “Ready for tonight?”

  “Mmm, yeah.” A breathy whisper fell past her lips, eyes dancing with each of my breaths that washed across her sensitive skin.

  “Good.” I placed a palm at the hollow of her back and then slid down further to land at the top of her ass as I led her to my truck. She climbed in and we headed for the other side of town.

  She scrunched her nose up a few minutes later when we pulled up to the front door of my building. “Isn’t this where Ridge lives?”

  “Yep.”

  “He’s not coming tonight, is he?”

  “Nope, got me to yourself.” I placed a kiss on her knuckles before sliding out of my side and running around to open her door. Her eyebrows arched but she took my hand and slid out anyway.

  “Won’t need it ‘til tomorrow afternoon.” I tossed the valet my keys and passed him a twenty in tip.

  “Are we staying in?”

  “Nope. Just have to run upstairs for a minute.” The elevator doors opened to a familiar face.

  “Hey man, what’s up?” I nodded at Ridge, my best friend’s brother, as he stepped out of the elevator looking hurried and disheveled.

  “Hey,” he grumbled, hardly sparing me a glance, his eyes locked on my arm around Dillon’s waist. Words like sadness and regret came to mind as I watched his blue eyes darken.

  “Hi, Ridge.” The soft tone of her voice beside me lit my nerve endings on fire.