Brazen (5 page)

Standing in the dugout with Trent while they waited for the rest of the softball team to arrive, Adam blurted out, “Okay, that’s it. I want her.”

Trent balanced his baseball bat on his toes and angled his head to see him, a knowing grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, pal. I could have told you that.”

“I mean it, Trent. I really want her,” he admitted.

Trent paused for a moment, as though considering his next words carefully, then all humor left his face when he questioned, “I thought you said you wouldn’t go for it with her because of your ridiculous belief that you’re no better than your old man.”

“I know, but she makes me want to try,” Adam confessed as he tore off his T-shirt to pull on his jersey. It wasn’t a decision he’d made lightly, and he’d spent the last two days doing some serious soul searching before coming to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, Madame M’s prediction was fate’s way of telling him he could—with Josie at his side—change his ways. “She really, really makes me want to try to break the pattern.”

“It’s all in your head, you know,” Trent scoffed. “There is no pattern. I’ve been telling you that for years.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, and you’ve also been telling me that when the right girl comes along I’ll know it, and I won’t even want to look at another woman.”

Trent offered him a smug smile. “Feel free to tell me I was right all along then.”

“Would a
fuck off
suffice?” Adam plunked himself onto the bench and ran his hands through his hair.

Trent laughed. “Jesus, Adam. I’ve never seen you like this before. What the hell happened between Saturday and tonight?”

Adam took a moment to think about Josie, sweet, sexy, naughty Josie. Earlier that morning, when he was out for a jog, he’d run past her place, but when he heard a low moan coming from her open window, it stopped him in his tracks. At first he thought she was in there with some other guy, and the jealousy he felt rose sure and swift. It was that jealousy that spoke volumes and had him realizing just how much she meant to him. Then, when he realized she was alone and it became clear that she was masturbating, he damn near knocked down her front door to join her. Instead he bolted down a side street, and spent the next few hours thinking things over as he jogged long and hard, until he was late for work. He’d only just made it to the fire station and showered when she showed up with her class.

“So…what the hell happened between Saturday night and now?” Trent asked again, pulling his thoughts back.

“A lot.”

“Want to elaborate?”

“No.”

“Well if you want her so bad, then what the hell are you doing hanging out here with me? Go get her.”

“That’s just it. We had a great time Saturday night, but then today at the station and tonight at the fair she’s all but ignored me.”

“Well, well, isn’t that a twist of fate?” Trent took a practice swing of his bat. “The one time you really want a girl and she doesn’t want you back.”

The mention of fate had Adam thinking of Madame M’s prediction. Maybe the woman really was on to something. Maybe he really was meant to be with Josie and maybe he really could be a one-woman kind of guy. Because in the span of a couple of days, Josie had turned his world upside down and sure as hell made him want to try.

“You’re not helping me, pal.”

Trent gave him a sly grin. “Okay, so everyone knows your reputation with the ladies, right?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Maybe you just need to show Josie that you’ve changed your ways. Maybe then she’ll see you as something more than a good time at the back of the fire truck.”

Taken aback, Adam cringed and asked, “So you know then?”

“Well, that was just an educated guess,” he said, grinning. “How could I not have come to that conclusion? You two both disappeared after our demonstration, and you haven’t stopped smiling for two days.”

“And she’s been ignoring me for just as long.” Well that wasn’t entirely true. He’d spent Sunday at the station, while she was with her friends at the fair, which meant he hadn’t been able to hook up with her. But Monday morning during the school tour, he’d felt her pull away from him.

Trent shrugged, and whacked his bat against his runners, knocking the dirt from the spikes. “So do something about it.”

Just then Reece McGrath joined them in the dugout. “Do something about what?” he asked.

“Our man here’s got it bad,” Trent said.

“Oh yeah, and who might he have it bad for?”

“Sweet little Josie Wells,” Trent announced.

“Oh really?” Reece paused and said, “I guess I can see that. She really is a nice girl.” Rolling one shoulder, he added, “Hard to believe that she’s still single.”

“Uh, I’m right here, guys.”

Trent looked at Adam. “What’s hard to believe is that this dumb-ass took so long to realize what I’ve always known.”

Reece said, “Well, from what Tabby told me, a few months back the psychic gave Josie the initials of the guy she is going to marry, and I hate to break it to you, pal, but they weren’t yours.” He glanced at Trent. “I guess that’s probably why she’s still single. She’s waiting for her Mr. Right to come along.”

“Do you really believe in that psychic shit?” Trent asked as the two began a debate on the merits of Madame M.

At the mention of Madame M and her prediction for Josie, an uneasy feeling moved into Adam’s stomach. Okay, so maybe the crazy woman didn’t know what she was talking about after all, because he’d be damned if he’d give up on Josie now. Not since he’d spent the last two days agonizing over her, and had come to the conclusion that so long as she was at his side, he could and would break the Collins curse.

Not only did he want to do it for Josie, he wanted to do it for Jacob. It was about time someone in the Collins family took responsibility for their actions. Jacob deserved to have a better role model, and up until now Adam had been doing a piss-poor job of that.

Before he could consider it further, the team showed up and Adam put his concerns away for the time being. He joined the team on the field and blinked under the bright lights, wondering if Josie was in the stands. Unable to see past the glare, he stepped up to bat.

Three hours later, after winning the softball game against the neighboring town, Adam showered and made his way back to the fairgrounds. It was late, and since it was a work night, things were shutting down early. As the temperature dropped, he jammed his hands into his jeans and walked around in search of Josie, but she was nowhere to be found. No doubt she was at home preparing her agenda for her class tomorrow.

The thoughts of living such a normal life, of crawling into bed early with someone you loved, someone who loved you back, had his heart clenching. Adam never thought he could have those things, but goddammit, it sure didn’t mean he hadn’t spent years wanting them.

Deciding to make his way to Hauk’s haunted bar, he cut down a side street and walked along the water, but when he heard a loud noise up on Dresden’s Bluff, and saw a spark in the air, he cursed under his breath.

How many times had he warned those teens about the dangers of fireworks?

Passing by the bar, he made his way to the bluff to read the riot act to the irresponsible youth who should have been at home asleep and not out causing trouble. After all, it was a school night.

He hurried up the bluff, but when he found Errol at the top, jumping around because he’d singed his fingertips, Adam cursed and looked at the pack of firecrackers on the ground. “Errol, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Like a school kid caught with his fingers in the cookie jar, Errol glared at him in surprise. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“What do you think I’m doing here?” Adam grabbed the old man’s hand to examine it and blew a relieved breath to find it was nothing more than a light surface burn. Next time, however, he might not be so lucky. “You’re going to get yourself killed one of these days.” He reached into his pocket. “I’m calling Trent.”

“No, don’t do that, lad. Was just out having me some fun. No harm. No foul.”

Adam shook his head. “I think you need to find another hobby.”

“Well, y’all put a stop to my meddling, so I have to find something fun to do.”

When Adam saw real sadness come over Errol’s face, it reminded him that after the man’s wife, Margaret, passed away, Errol was alone in that big old house of his. Then it had him thinking of his own grandma. Errol and Delilah had been friends for years and maybe it was time someone opened their eyes to the fact that they’d be great companions for one another. Maybe it was time someone used Errol’s meddling tricks on him.

“Errol…” he began.

“Okay, I’m leaving, I’m leaving. Don’t get your panties in a twist, boy.”

Adam laughed and drew the night air into his lungs, thinking he might just hang out on the bluff a little longer. It would do him good to get his head on straight and think about his best approach with Josie. But when he noticed Errol favoring one leg, he said, “You want me to walk you home?”

“Come on, boy, I ain’t no invalid. I can make my own way home. And I might just pick up some rum on the way. I suppose ya got something to say about that too?” Before Adam could respond, he added, “You just stay put and make sure all those sparks are out. Make yourself useful for a change.”

Twirling his cane, Errol began whistling as he made his way down the hill and Adam looked skyward, wondering what the hell he was going to do with the cranky old guy. After a few minutes Errol’s whistling grew faint, and once he disappeared into the dark, Adam stood on the bluff and looked out over the town. But when his gaze zeroed in on Josie’s bungalow, and he spotted her unlocking her front door and entering her foyer, his heart began to race, thinking about what he’d heard her doing in her bedroom earlier that morning.

He watched the lights flick on inside her small house, and when he watched her grab something out of her closet and disappear into another room, he suddenly felt like it wasn’t such a coincidence that he was standing on the bluff, at the exact same time she was arriving home.

Speaking of meddling…

Was Errol up to his old tricks again? Had he led Adam there on purpose, knowing he would spot Josie arriving home? Still not convinced that the three granddads weren’t involved in pairing Reece and Tabby as well as Vic and Hauk, Adam considered this turn of events longer. But as he tossed it around in his mind, the more convinced he was that Errol couldn’t have known the precise time Josie would arrive home. Christ, maybe all these new emotions were just making him paranoid.

He was about to gather the firecrackers and head back to Hauk’s when a movement inside her bedroom gained his attention. Peering into the dark, he could see her moving around, and from the way her hair hung down her back he’d hazarded a guess that she’d just showered. Through the gap in her curtain, he watched her climb into bed and grab a book, but in no time at all she’d abandoned the book and sank lower into her sheets.

She writhed around, and when her lamp flicked off, Adam swallowed. Because if she was doing what he thought she was doing, he was going to lose it and lose it hard.

His body vibrated and his thickening cock urged him to join her before he went up in a burst of flames. Barely able to think straight, he hurried down the bluff and headed straight for her walkway. Working to regulate his breathing, he rapped on her door. He waited a long time for her to answer, and when she finally pulled her door open, and he caught sight of the gorgeous woman before him, he knew his world would never be the same again. His throat tightened as expressive blue eyes looked up at him, and the pink flush on her cheek—a flush that spoke volumes—combined with the soft white robe draped over her naked body, told him she had been doing precisely what he suspected.

With his mouth salivating, his fingers itching and his body quivering with raw need, he decided to go for broke. Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Adam cleared his throat and asked, “Need a hand?”

Josie was shocked to find Adam standing outside her door, and she was even more rattled, not to mention turned on, to discover that he seemed to know what she was doing before he’d arrived. She wasn’t sure how. All she knew was that he was offering a hand.

And oh, what amazing hands he had!

A girl would have to be crazy to turn down such a scintillating offer. Then again, hadn’t she just lectured herself on staying away from him? Wasn’t turning down his offer the logical thing to do?

But as he stood there awaiting a response, his expression tender and hot, it wasn’t logic calling the shots. Oh no. It was the furthest thing from logic urging her to drop her robe and invite him in.

It was obvious that she wanted him. There was no denying that. And she was pretty damn certain there was nothing she could do to fight her traitorous libido, especially after seeing him on the ball field tonight. God, he looked so hard and sexy when he swung the bat and ran the bases, that it had just about done her in, and it certainly had her thinking about him while she touched herself tonight. And now, seeing him there, an intent look on his handsome face as his glance moved over her curves, had her resolve melting and body beckoning his touch. Suddenly every reason she had for staying away from him seemed so insignificant.

“Adam,” she managed to get out as she reached for him, her acceptance of his offer clear in her actions. When he stepped into her, closing the door behind him, sexual energy like she’d never before felt zinged between them and nearly took her breath away.

Everything in the way he looked at her was deeply intimate and she hungered for him in ways that scared her. Okay, so he might not be the man of her future, but from the heat in his eyes when they locked on hers, to the way her body trembled with anticipation, she knew he was the man of her present. She’d have to figure out a way to deal with her emotions later, because right now she needed him like she’d never needed another.

“Josie,” he said, the raw ache of lust in his voice teasing all her senses as he pushed her up against the wall. “You’re so beautiful.”

He grabbed her hands and braced them above her head, and Josie’s heart hammered, her excitement mounting as he took control of their play. His knee slipped between her legs to widen them and the scent of her arousal reached her nostrils.

“Tell me,” he questioned in a soft voice, “were you thinking of me?”

“Yes,” she admitted, knowing full well what he was talking about. Her admission seemed to do something to him, trigger a reaction from somewhere deep.

His lips crashed down on hers, and a low growl caught in his throat. His hands gripped her belt, and when he untangled it from her waist, her robe slid open to expose her naked body. Adam stepped back, taking his time to look at her partially bared flesh, her uncovered cleavage, the warm spot between her legs. He reached out and stroked her neck, then ran his hand the length of her body until he reached her pussy. As she watched him, she shivered under his touch and an erotic whimper escaped her lips.

“Show me,” he said.

She began to widen her robe, but he shook his head to stop her. When she gave him a confused look, his mouth curved enticingly. “Show me how you touch yourself.”

“Oh God,” she cried out, remembering how he seemed to know about her secret fetishes.

“Do it now, Josie.” The pleasure she heard in his voice excited her, and something in the way he encouraged her to embrace her naughty side warmed her from the inside out.

Their glances locked and her heart clenched, loving him for allowing her to play out her fantasies like this, loving that he cared about her needs. Wanting to make this as good for him as it was for her, she cupped her breasts, and noted the darkening of his eyes. She played with her nipples, then slowly dragged her hands down her contours, taking her time to tease him, wanting him as wild with desire as she was.

When she reached her pussy, she dipped into her liquid heat. She stroked her curls, which were damp with passion, then eased one finger inside herself.

“Fuck,” Adam murmured. He dragged his fingers through his hair, mussing it as his nostrils flared to pull in the scent of her arousal.

Longing moved through her, and she knew it had everything to do with the heated way he was watching her, not to mention the sexy, disheveled state he was in. Feeling bold and brazen, she arched her back and ran her fingers over her clit, and she could tell Adam’s composure was about to slip. A hard shudder raced through her as she toyed with her clit, taking herself higher and higher as he watched, hardly able to believe she was actually masturbating in front of this audience of one—albeit a sexy, captivated audience of one. In no time at all she could feel an orgasm pulling at her, and her breathing grew labored, erratic.

She began moving, pressing against her hand, seeking what her body needed, but before she could finish, Adam stepped up to her and pulled her hand away. When she opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her with a kiss and slipped her robe over her shoulders.

Standing there naked in front of the man who did the strangest things to her insides, her body hungered for him with an intensity that made her shake. He kissed her long and deep, and when he inched back, his voice was edgy, rough when he ordered, “Bedroom. Now.”

She pushed off the wall, but before she could make her way down the hall, he stepped up behind her. He kissed her bare shoulders, and the intimacy in the way he tenderly brushed his lips over her flesh had her heart tightening, but when he gave her a light slap on the ass, she gasped, her entire body going up in a burst of flames.

He pulled her tighter against his chest, his hands on her hips as he whispered into her ear, “You really are a very naughty girl, aren’t you?”

With that he tapped her ass again, and set her into motion. She hurried down the hall, Adam tight on her heels. When she entered the dimly lit room, Adam said, “Get on the bed and spread your legs for me.”

As her blood ignited, she climbed onto her mattress. When Adam walked in front of her window and she spotted the gap in the drapes, she knew in an instant he’d been watching her. That realization raised her passion to new heights and had her body quivering.

“Now show me your pussy,” Adam said as he tugged off his T-shirt. She slipped her hand between her legs and stroked herself as he removed his clothes, stopping to grab a condom out of his pocket before reaching for his zipper. He tossed it onto her nightstand and then unfastened his pants. When he released his hard-on, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She took her time to look at his magnificent cock, hard and ready to plunge inside her, and as she took in his impressive girth, not to mention the precome pearling on the swollen tip, her mouth watered for a taste.

“Nice,” she murmured, and wet her bottom lip.

He began to move toward her, mischief dancing in his eyes. He slid onto the bed beside her and pressed his mouth to hers. His lips travelled lower, skimming down her body, and before she realized what he was doing, he flipped her over.

“Such a beautiful, beautiful ass,” he said, rubbing his hands over her backside. He pressed his lips to her shoulder and then, catching her off guard, he gave her ass a good hard whack.

Blindsided by emotion as Adam tapped into her fetishes, she gasped and writhed against the mattress.

He pressed his mouth against her ear and whispered, “I love this side of you, Josie, and I love discovering all your wants and desires.”

When she heard raw passion in his voice, she knew she was in way over her head because she in turn wanted to discover everything about the man who was so sensitive to her needs, a man she was falling for. Hard and fast.

After another slap, he flipped her back over and settled himself over her body. “Let’s see what else you like,” he murmured, moving his mouth to the soft hollow of her neck.

As he trailed his lips over her body, his hands touching every inch of her naked flesh, she felt like she was drowning in emotion. Her breath caught in her throat when his mouth reached her pussy, and when he pulled her lips open and gave a long, slow lick, she knew she was well past the point of no return with Adam.

She couldn’t chalk her feelings up to love at first sight, considering she’d known Adam since she was a child. But it was only the last few days that she’d really gotten to know him on a deeper level, and what she saw in him had her wanting him to be a bigger part of her life—a part of her future.

He spent a long time between her legs, licking her and pushing deep with his fingers. Good God, the man knew just how to touch, when to apply pressure and when not to as he brought her closer and closer to the edge. Blood began flowing hot and heavy in her veins as his fingers glided over her pussy. Her toes curled as pressure began building, coming to a peak.

“Adam…” she cried out.

“I know, baby.” He settled his mouth on her pussy, and when his tongue pressed against her clit, she closed her eyes and gave herself over to the sensation. As his tongue did the most mind-shattering things to her body, she let go and instantly tumbled into orgasm.

Adam growled as she came in his mouth, and she reached down to touch him, to feel his flesh beneath her fingers as her body screamed to have him inside her.

Once her tremors subsided, he climbed up her body. Dark, intense eyes met hers and everything inside her reached out to him.

“Adam,” she said, her throat drying as she saw a bevy of emotions pass over his eyes.

“I want you to ride me, baby.” Josie didn’t miss the ache of longing in his voice or the need in his eyes when he added, “I want to watch you when you come for me.”

With that he flipped her over until she was on top of him. As she straddled him, he slipped on his condom, then gripped her hips and lifted her higher, until his shaft was poised at her opening. Their eyes met and powerful emotions passed between them as she lowered herself, taking him into her body to join them as one.

“Holy Jesus,” he cried out, and she watched the muscles along his jaw ripple as he clenched down. “You are so hot and tight.”

Never having felt so full, Josie whimpered with pleasure and began moving against him. He touched her so deep it sent ripples of pleasure straight to her core. As desire prowled inside her, she could feel color bloom high on her cheeks, her body breaking out in moisture. Her lids slipped shut as she concentrated on the pleasure.

“Look at me, sweetheart.”

She did as he requested, and as his eyes visually caressed her, she could feel another orgasm pulling at her. She moved harder, faster, riding him with wild abandon as she ground her clit on his pelvis. Feeling out of control, she bit back a breathy moan, her thoughts fragmenting as the world around her spun out of control.

“Jesus, Josie. Slow down or I’m going to lose it.” He gave her a small smack on the ass and her body trembled almost uncontrollably.

“I want you to lose it, Adam. Lose it with me.”

With that Adam groaned and powered his hips upward and her pulse raced, wanting them to come in unison.

“I’m…there,” she cried out, drawing a shaky breath, and she could hear the urgency and emotion in her voice.

He drove into her harder, and as he stabbed deep, he pressed a finger over her clit and before she knew it, before she could even scream his name, her body went up in a burst of flames and another powerful orgasm ripped through her.

“Oh God,” Adam roared as her juices ran over him. A second later he gripped her hips to still her as he released inside her. She squeezed her muscles tight, milking every last drop out of him before she leaned forward. After dropping a soft kiss on his hot mouth, she collapsed on his chest and stayed like that for a long time, until Adam pulled her down beside him.

When she looked at him, his warm smile was full of tenderness. He smoothed her hair from her face as she snuggled in next to him.

“That was amazing,” she whispered as he pulled her in tight and brushed his lips over her forehead. “You’re amazing.”

“Yes, yes I am,” he teased. Then he rolled into her and tipped her chin until they were eye to eye. All humor was gone from his eyes when he said, “What’s amazing is the two of us together, Josie.”

A riot of emotions tore through her, because he was right. They
were
amazing together. And she couldn’t deny how good it felt to be with him, how right it felt to be there in his arms, snuggling together after a beautiful night of lovemaking. The truth was, she’d never felt such fulfillment before—physical or emotional.

As she considered that longer, she thought about Madame M’s prediction. The psychic had to be wrong. She had to be. Because deep in her heart she believed Adam just might be the man for her. Everything in the way he touched her and pleasured her created a powerful bond between them, moving them well past casual acquaintances or bed partners.

She thought more about his playboy nature. From what she’d heard he’d spent Sunday night alone and tonight, well tonight he could have been with any woman he wanted, but instead he’d come looking for her. She’d seen the emotions in his eyes when she’d first opened the door, and when he made love to her with his mouth, his hands and his cock, she could feel him reaching out to her on another level.

There really was a lot more to this man than met the eye, and despite the fact that he played the field, and most townsfolk believed he was inflicted with the Collins curse, she’d seen the wanting in his eyes tonight. It was that wanting that told her he craved so much more.

As his glance moved over her face, her heart missed a beat and she knew it was well past time to get to know Adam better, to discover if this connection between them was the lasting kind—the kind that the two of them could build a future on.