His gaze narrowed slightly as her cell rang.
She smiled at the name on the screen. “’Sup, Helter Skelter? Give me a sec, okay?” Turning the phone slightly, she focused back on a now scowling Tuck. “Tell Steve thirty minutes. Thanks.”
“How are you?” she asked into the phone. “I just left you a few hours ago.” She walked to the kitchen. “Surely you couldn’t miss me already.”
Her apartment door slammed a bit harder than necessary and she grinned. Josh ‘Helter Skelter’ Jones was a Recon Marine who served with Sam and the two of them had hit it off right away. She talked to him the entire time she made breakfast, ending the call when a sharp knock preceded Tuck and Steve’s entrance.
“Perfect timing.”
Unfortunately, Tuck had put on a shirt. He remained quiet through the meal, which worked. His voice did
things
to her, so it was just as well he didn’t participate much in the conversation.
Steve left shortly after he finished, having to get to work. Tuck remained. He sat on the arm of her couch and braced against the back.
“Who’s this Helter Skelter?”
She wiped down the table. “Marine who was at the wedding.”
“And you gave him your number?”
She paused and stared at him “Why the interest?”
Hope he can’t see the jig I’m dancing on the inside.
“Just trying to look out for you.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
Tuck grunted and began playing toss with one of her throw pillows from the couch.
“How long have we known each other?”
“Going on two years, why?” He stopped and looked at her.
“Just wondering if I’d needed looking after in that time?”
“No.”
She raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Okay then.”
He made another noise, very similar to a grunt. “Point taken.” He stood. “I’m off to work as well. See you later.”
“See ya.” She watched him leave and when the door shut behind him, she lowered her head. “God. He’s hell on my libido.”
She gave herself a few before she got back to cleaning. Tuck… She shook her head.
Nope, it’s not a good idea. It’s just not.
Ariel had just finished when the door popped back open and Tuck’s dark head ducked in again.
“I forgot.” He pointed at her. “Got us tickets to the baseball game. You in?”
“Absolutely!” She loved baseball. “What time?”
“Let’s leave about five. That way we can watch some of the pre-game stuff.”
“I’ll be ready.”
His wink sent tremors through her. “See you then.”
And just like that, he was gone.
“I should really spend the day in bed with my vibrator just so I can have the edge taken off.” She chuckled. If only. If
only
that would work.
* * * *
Pierce ‘Tuck’ Carter watched his friend and neighbour from his periphery as they rode the bus to the game at Nelson Wolff Stadium. It wasn’t uncommon for them to ride on VIA Metropolitan Transit—they didn’t have to worry about parking or drinking at the game that way. While there wasn’t a major league baseball team in their city, they enjoyed watching the San Antonio Missions, a minor league team.
Ariel had her dark brown hair in a ponytail and drawn through the back of her baseball cap—a Missions hat. She also proudly displayed a black Missions shirt. Her long, toned legs poured out from a cock-hardening pair of light grey shorts.
He’d had fantasies about those legs. Wet dreams, which ended in him needing to wash his sheets. He longed to have her legs wrapped around him. Waist. Neck. Ears. All. Any.
The rest of her was to die for as well. Ariel was fit and active, something he liked. He wasn’t the sort who stayed inside a lot. He preferred to be outdoors.
A scowl crossed his face at the thought of that call she’d got earlier in her apartment. That look of joy on her face had been like a dagger to his heart. Then he’d grown pissed.
No man should make her smile like that.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, nudging him with her shoulder. “Were you supposed to be with blondie tonight?”
She says it so casually, as if it doesn’t bother her in the least.
He shook his head and glanced at her. Her eyes sparkled with trouble and he nearly leaned in and kissed her.
“No way.”
“One you needed to have get lost, ASAP?”
“Clingy,” he admitted. “Was talking about our next date even before she rolled out of my bed.”
“Shouldn’t bring them home. Supposed to go to their place.”
He took her hand and stared at the back of it. Her skin was smooth and supple. Spinning her black tungsten band with the laser engraved Celtic design that graced her index finger, he asked, “Is that what you do?”
“Pretty much,” she replied easily.
He didn’t like her response but he was glad she didn’t pull away from his touch. She wore a few rings like that, all black bands with designs on them. Both hands, some on her thumbs.
“You know, you could always tell them it was time to leave if you have a problem with that whole cuddling thing after.”
“Don’t you think that would be rude?”
“No worse than you avoiding their calls and trying to pretend you don’t see them when you meet out in public a few weeks later. Not to mention trying to get them out of your apartment in the morning. Daisy seemed pretty content there.” She took her hand back.
He smirked at the way she drew out Daisy’s name. Leaning close, he inhaled her scent. Lilacs. That’s what she smelt of. Like when a huge bunch of lilac trees and bushes are in full bloom and the scent is in the air, surrounding you and teasing your senses.
“See, it’s comments like that which have me thinking you’re jealous.”
Her laugh was light and cheerful. “Good thing you’re not arrogant or anything.”
He rolled his eyes and dropped his arm around her shoulder, glaring at the two men sitting across from them who stared at her.
“You’d know, babe,” he said louder, so his words would reach those two. “You know I am well deserving of my arrogance—at least that’s what you scream at night.”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “All that and more, sweetie. All that and more.”
His cock snapped to attention as she pressed her lithe body into him. Lord, he was ready to take her right there. To hell with that law about doing such things in public view. The bus slowed and he stood before helping her to her feet.
Ariel was still laughing as they got off the bus. “I’m beginning to think you just like scaring some men.”
There was no need to comment. She had it right. He couldn’t explain why he felt possessive when it came to her. It’s how it was. Not that it appeared to bother her for the most part.
He stared down at the top of her head. She reached his shoulder and he knew she would be perfect against him in bed. Steve had told him repeatedly not to ruin the easy relationship they had with her as a neighbour. At first he’d thought Steve had been interested in her in a sexual way, but his roommate had assured him that wasn’t the case. He just liked her and didn’t want there to be tension when it got messed up.
After producing the tickets at the gate, they walked in and headed for their seats. The ballpark was mostly empty, part of why they’d come so early. They both enjoyed watching batting practice.
“Nice seats,” she said as she slipped into hers.
“Got them from a client who said he couldn’t make the game.”
“How’s the construction biz going? Or coming, rather?”
“We’re staying busy so it’s nice. I think we’re about to get another client—boss was saying it was something big. Who knows.” He propped his feet up on the back of the chair before him. “How about you? Work going okay?”
That was the one thing they didn’t talk much about. She was fairly tight-lipped on what she did—he knew she dealt with security but that was it. Only recently had she taken to letting them in her apartment with just an ‘It’s open.’ Took her a while to just walk into their place as well. But they’d been neighbours for nearly two years now and looked after each other. Wasn’t that difficult, they occupied the only two apartments on their floor.
“Keeps me hopping. I’m sure I’ll have a lot to catch up on tomorrow. But I refused to miss Roxi’s wedding.”
That comment reminded him again of the man who’d called her. “Right, the Marine.”
“The Marine? Who…oh, are you talking about Helter Skelter? Yes, Recon Marine to be exact.” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows.
He grunted and shook his head. “I need a beer, want anything?”
“Beer and nachos.”
Tuck got to his feet and walked off. Sure, it was great she didn’t mind eating in front of him, he liked that. But he despised the light in her expression when she spoke about Marines.
He got some food for them and their drinks. She was sitting there, head bobbing to the music that played through the stadium as the Missions finished up their BP—batting practice.
“Gonna get up and dance?” he asked with a grin.
“I don’t know. I just may.” She sat up a bit more and reached for the stuff he handed her. “Thanks.”
The game was exciting and close up to the end, when the Missions finally pulled off the ‘W’ against the Corpus Christi Hooks. He stood alongside Ariel for the final three outs as she cheered on the pitcher to throw strikes. At the final recorded strike, she let out a huge cry and hugged him.
While it had happened previously at other games—it was how she was, she always hugged after a win—he revelled in each time she allowed this type of contact between them.
“Thank you so much for bringing me.”
“I can’t imagine Steve here.”
“No, he prefers his basketball. But at least you have someone to attend Spurs games with.”
“You should learn to like the sport.”
She snorted and stepped from his arms. “Not likely, so don’t hold your breath. Not something I enjoy watching. I’m good for most other sports, though.”
“Let’s get something to eat.”
“Food’s on me,” she said, gesturing for him to file out with the rest of the fans.
There was an image he could live with. Chocolate sauce, honey, butterscotch. Oh, definitely he could see any of those—or all—dripped all over her body as she lay there waiting for him to lick it off every single inch…
“Great,” he managed to choke out.
He manoeuvred her in front of him as they exited then went to the bus stop. It was a short ride later before they were seated at a table in a bar and grill. She had a rum and Coke while he had another beer. Chatter was light and flowed easily between them. He truly enjoyed spending time with her—unusual, if he wanted to think about it. Most of the time he hung with men, slept with women. But her, he liked hanging with.
Doesn’t stop me from wanting to sleep with her, that’s for sure.
They were on one of the last buses as they made their way back to their apartment. As they entered, he steered her away from the stairs. “Let’s take the elevator.”
“I always take the stairs,” she uttered, her words nearly slurred.
They were both buzzed.
“Not tonight, babe.” He pressed the button and they waited for the car to arrive.
Facing him, Ariel licked her lips. “I may not ever have the courage to do this again, Tuck Carter. So I’m going to do it now.”
“What’s that?” he asked, staring down into her medium brown eyes.
She did it again—licked her full, plump lips—almost distracting him. “I have to tell you something.”
The elevator arrived and they got on. He engaged the button for their floor. “What’d you have to tell me, Ariel?”
She waggled her finger in his direction. “You, Tuck Carter.”
He grinned at her. “You’ve already said that bit.”
“Oh.” Her lips pursed briefly. “Just so’s you know, I go through so many batteries because of you, it’s not even funny. And just once, I want to know what it’s like to kiss you.”
Her proclamation stunned him and he stood frozen to the spot. Didn’t matter, Ariel was strong and jerked him to her, plastering her lips to his. A rumble rolled up from his chest and all sense flew out of the window as he gathered her up in his arms and intensified the kiss. Her taste, incredible. Her curves against him, sinful.
In the back of his mind, he knew they’d just crossed some kind of line. Right here, right now. He didn’t give a damn. All that mattered was she was wrapped around him like a lover, like
she
should be. He’d face the consequences later.
Chapter Two
Ariel stirred slightly when her internal clock went off. Lord, she was sore. There wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t ache. Not in a bad way but in one she’d not expected.
She could smell him around her. Tuck. The scent of his body and soap filled her nose and she didn’t bother opening her eyes. Every morning waking from her dreams of him, the moment she lifted her lids was when reality came crashing back in. She didn’t want that.
I feel like I’ve gone rounds in the sparring ring at Basic. What the heck did I do last night? We went to the game then out to a bar.
Realising she couldn’t ignore her screaming bladder any longer, she cracked open her eyes, unsure if she’d remembered to draw her shades last night before she stumbled to bed. Her breath caught in her throat as she found herself staring at walls, eggshell in hue. The shelves on them held books and a few things she knew weren’t in her room.
Panic reached out its arms and gave her a large hug, welcoming her into the fold. Where the hell was she? And what was she doing thinking about Tuck if she’d gone home with someone else? The body behind her shifted and a hard physique rubbed against her. Sparks of longing flitted to life within and she had to clamp down on her lips to keep the moan from slipping free.
Turning slowly, she peered over her shoulder to see whose bed she was in. If she’d thought her previous panic had been bad, seeing Tuck’s face right there in slumber kicked it into hyper drive.
Oh my God. Holy fuckin’ shit. I’m in bed with Tuck? I’m in bed with Tuck!
He slumbered on, unaware of her dilemma. His thick lashes rested upon his bronzed skin. Was it possible for someone to look better sleeping? She wasn’t sure, but he might be able to.