Authors: Kate Pearce
Raw Desire (5 page)
Rob paused to consider. After he'd punched Jackson in the face, they'd ended up apologizing to each other and eventually had resumed their old relationship. But what if Jackson now wanted Ally all for himself?
Rob found himself retracing his steps and knocking on Jackson's door.
“Yeah?”
He went in and shut the door. Jackson looked up from the report he was reading.
“What's up?”
“When I talked about us both having Ally”âRob paused and Jackson groanedâ“I should've asked you if you wanted her just for yourself.”
“Jeez, Rob. You're making it sound like a done deal. She's her own person. You're not fucking God. Don't you have to talk to Ally about this first?”
Rob set his jaw. “I'm just trying to make sure we're clear with each other.” He hesitated. “Do you want me to butt out?”
“Like Ally would agree to that?”
“Hell, you're the person she turned to when I let her down.” God, it was hard to say that, and impossible to look at Jackson.
“Rob.” Jackson sounded incredibly gentle. “If Ally wants us both, I'm more than okay with it. After the way I fucked up, it's more than I ever imagined having a shot at. But it's her decision, buddy, and let's get real hereâshe's unlikely to want to shack up with anyone in this town, especially you and me.”
Rob nodded and turned to leave. For some reason, speaking at that point was not an option. With a sense that his life was getting way too complicated, Rob walked the short distance across town to Lauren's diner and went in the back to the kitchen.
Lauren was leaning against a countertop, eating an egg sandwich, her face flushed, her blond hair escaping the confines of her regulation hat. She was about a foot shorter than Rob and a lot curvier than Ally. He loved her to bits and she knew it.
Her gorgeous smile flashed out. “Rob? What's up?”
He removed his sunglasses. “Can't I just stop in to see my lovely sister without a reason?”
She finished off her sandwich and washed it down with a gulp of soda. “Now I'm really worried. What do you want?”
“A favor.” He took up a position opposite her, trying to keep his expression relaxed and friendly. “For an old friend.”
Her smile disappeared. “What old friend?”
“Someone you used to be best buddies with.”
“Ally Kendal?”
“So you know she's back?”
“Everyone knows she's back.” Lauren pursed her lips. “What I want to know is what it has to do with you.”
Rob glanced around, but everyone else in the small kitchen appeared to be occupied. “She needs a job.”
“So?”
“I was hoping you had an opening.”
“Even if I did, why would I give it to her?”
“As a favor to me?”
Lauren's brown eyes flashed fire. “Ally dumped you. Why the hell would I want to help her?”
He met her furious gaze. “Because I need her to stay around for a while.”
“So you can what? Make things right with her?”
Rob thought quickly. “No, so that I can clear up something that's been bothering me about Susan's death.”
“Susan Evans?” Lauren studied him for a long moment. “Like I believe that.”
“It's part of the reason. Ally was there that night, and no one got to talk to her. She might have evidence that will help me solve the case.”
“The case was solved, Rob. Susan committed suicide.” Lauren turned on her heel and headed into the tiny cramped back office. Rob followed her and waited until she swung around to face him. “I still don't believe you.”
“I can't help that. But Ally really does need a job.” He met her gaze. “Hell, I never ask you for anything, sis. Will you do this for me?”
She folded her arms over her chest. “That bitch hurt you, Rob. She almost destroyed you.”
He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. I've gotten over her.”
“Don't lie to me. Sure, you date lots of women, but you've never allowed any of them to get close. I know because they come and complain to me about it all the time.”
“
Okay.
Part of me wants to have it out with her, make her tell me why the fuck she did what she did.”
Okay.
Part of me wants to have it out with her, make her tell me why the fuck she did what she did.”
She nodded slowly. “I'd like to hear Ally try and explain herself as well. I'll give her a job. I need a new busboy since Joe left.”
Rob frowned and stood up. “If you're going to treat her like shit, I'll go and find someone else to ask.”
“I'll treat her the same as any other new employee. I swear.”
Rob considered her carefully. “You promise?”
Lauren smiled way too brightly. “Sure.”
He wasn't convinced, but what else could he do? If Ally hated the job, she'd quit soon enough. “Now, how am I going to get Ally to find out about the job without telling her?”
“Easy, put a flyer in her mailbox. She'll assume everyone got one with their junk mail and she'll come over.”
“You are a genius.”
Lauren sat down at her desk and typed away on her computer. “I already had something drafted for the ad, so here you go.” The printer rumbled into action, and she leaned across to retrieve the single sheet from the mouth of the printer and handed it to Rob.
The paper smelled like fried chicken, but Rob was okay with that. He'd gotten used to his sister smelling the same way since she'd taken over the diner three years earlier. “Thanks, doll.”
She grimaced at him. “I'm not going out of my way to be nice to her, and if she gives me any trouble, she's out, just like anyone else.”
“Totally.” Rob hesitated. “But give her a chance, Lauren, won't you?”
“God, Rob, what does that woman have to do to you to make you stop caring about her?”
“I don'tâ”
“Yeah, right, don't even try that crap with me.” Lauren got up and headed back to the kitchen. “I'll let you know if she takes the job, okay?”
“And you won't tell her it was my idea?”
“Of course not! I don't want her getting ideas about you again, do I? Although that's probably why she's back here anyway.”
Rob smiled down at her and resisted the impulse to smooth a hand over her obviously raised hackles. “That's not the impression I got. She came back to sort out her mother's stuff.”
Lauren grabbed a clean apron and tied it around her waist. “That place is a dump. I wonder why she just didn't send some of her âpeople' down to sort it all out for her.”
“I guess she doesn't have âpeople' anymore.” And that was another mystery. What had happened to make her return?
“Good. She deserves to have to come and face us and sort out all that crap.”
“As I said, I'm quite looking forward to hearing her side of the story.”
Lauren wagged a finger under his nose. “You keep away from her. She's trouble.”
Rob could only nod, knowing he'd already gone too far along that particular road to ever find the courage to turn back. All he could do was go forward, sort out his personal shit, and hope Ally did the same.
“I'll see you tomorrow, Lauren.”
“Sure. Now let me start on lunch.” She paused and brandished an onion at him. “Do you want a sandwich?”
He declined and headed back to the station. Ever since their parents had retired to Florida, she'd tried to feed him and take care of him, and she was younger than him. Did everyone think he needed to be babied because of what had happened between him and Ally? It was an interesting thought and one of many Ally's return had stirred in his brain.
Rob took out the flyer Lauren had given him and approached Jeff Stevens, who was manning the desk. “On your way home, can you do me a favor and stick this in the Kendals' mailbox near your street?”
Jeff didn't bother to look up but held out his hand. “Sure.”
Luckily Jeff was new to the area and had no idea of the past scandal, which suited Rob just fine. “Thanks.”
Rob returned to his office and shut the door. He sighed as he viewed the pile of paperwork cluttering up his inbox. So much for the computer age; he was still stuck in paper world. He considered the problem with Ally's truck and wondered exactly how Jackson had left it.
Tomorrow evening, he'd take a trip by Ally's house and see how things were. His body stirred at the thought of seeing her again, even as he tried to suppress it. She had already reeled him in without even trying, and he was determined not to be caught out. But this time he'd be trying damned hard not to direct their relationship. It was way past time for some honest conversation.
5
A
lly dumped the load of trash from her mailbox on the kitchen table and sorted through it. At least the newspapers would come in handy for the floors and for packing up her mom's stuff. The coupons she would also keepâa habit she'd gotten into when she'd first had to learn to live within a miniscule budget. She sat down and sorted through the rest of the stuff. There was nothing from her bank, which was good, but there was a redirected postcard from her old rehab buddy Dave, who'd ended up backpacking across the country.
lly dumped the load of trash from her mailbox on the kitchen table and sorted through it. At least the newspapers would come in handy for the floors and for packing up her mom's stuff. The coupons she would also keepâa habit she'd gotten into when she'd first had to learn to live within a miniscule budget. She sat down and sorted through the rest of the stuff. There was nothing from her bank, which was good, but there was a redirected postcard from her old rehab buddy Dave, who'd ended up backpacking across the country.
She smiled as she read his two-line comment. He seemed fine and so free. So unlike the zombified cokehead she'd first met at the Caring Heart Rehab Center.
She found a pair of scissors and carefully cut coupons, pausing to read the local news and scan the meager job section as she worked. A flyer caught her attention, and she pulled it from the pile and smoothed it out. The local diner was looking for help. Ally's heart gave a little jump. Who owned the diner now? Hopefully someone who'd moved into town after she'd left and had no idea who she was. She'd present herself there early tomorrow morning and hope for the best. It wouldn't be the first time she'd washed dishes or put out the trash to earn a few bucks.
A tap on the back door made her turn around and peer at the all-too-familiar shape of Rob outlined in the glass. She tidied up the coupons and folded the job ad before putting them all away in the nearest drawer. It was only then that she crossed to the door and opened it a crack.
“Rob?”
“Ally. Can I come in?”
“Is it police business?”
“Not really. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
She let the door swing wide and walked back to the kitchen table. “I'm doing fine.”
His smile was slow to come. “I'm glad to hear it.” He hesitated, one hand still on the door. “I'm off duty.”
“I guessed that.”
“Why?”
“Because you came around the back so that no one would see you. I bet you parked two blocks away too.”
“You said you didn't want any gossip, Ally.”
“And you do?” Ally squared up to him. “No one in this town wants you anywhere near me.”
“I'm not responsible for what the town wants or thinks. I'm an adult.”
“Who's quite happy to mess around with me on the quiet?”
He came closer. “You don't have to be quiet for me, honey. I like it when you scream.”
Ally suppressed a shiver as the tone of his voice deepened. “Does everything have to be about sex?”
“Between you and me? I guess so.” He took the chair opposite her. “So how about that?”
“About what?”
“The sex.”
“Is that why you're here?”
“Of course.”
She sighed. “I don't know, Rob. You . . . confuse me and I don't need that right now.”
“What's confusing?”
She took a deep breath and met his intent blue gaze. “I've spent a long time trying to sort my head out. I've learned a lot about myself, and I'm a better and stronger person.” She grimaced. “I'm not trying to go all Oprah on you, but I really am.”
“And what does that have to do with sex?”
“Because . . .” She paused. “God, Rob, you
know.
”
know.
”
He sat back and studied her. “That's one of the reasons why you ran away, isn't it? I scared you.”
She shook her head. “You were always intense about sex. What I've got to try and understand is what
I
want, and that still isn't clear.”
I
want, and that still isn't clear.”
“Now you're just confusing me.”
She clasped her hands together tightly on the table. “Do you know why I quit modeling?”
“I didn't know that you'd quit it completely. I kind of assumed you'd been working overseas or something.”
“No, I had to quit.”
He studied her face. “Because you were getting too old?”
“Very funny. Thanks for the confidence boost, but I quit before I was pushed.” She forced herself to meet his skeptical gaze. “I had a severe addiction to alcohol and drugs, and I checked myself into rehab.”
His blue eyes widened. “I don't remember reading about that in the tabloids.”
“That's because I got out before I totally disgraced myself. There were a couple of close calls that my agency and publicist managed to keep out of the press. Jackson probably knows the details from when he worked in New York.” She bit down on her lip. “I lived with an addict, Rob. I knew the signs, and I really didn't want to become my mother.”
“That was a pretty brave thing to do,” he said softly.
“It didn't seem so at the time. It was the death knell of my career, because it meant I defaulted on a lot of long-term contracts and modeling assignments. I kept trying to put it off, but eventually I knew if I didn't take care of myself, I'd end up dead.”
“So you did the smart thing.” He reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Not that I'm surprised. You've always been braver than you realized.”
“Running away wasn't very brave.” She looked down at his hand holding hers. “That was stupid and I hurt you.”
He nodded, his expression stark.
She took a deep breath. “I still don't think having sex is the best way to make it up to you, though.” God that was a lie. The thought of having sex with him again made her squirm.
He frowned. “But shouldn't it be up to me to decide the best way you can make amends?”
She regarded him warily. “I suppose that's one way of looking at it.”
“Do you like having sex with me?”
“I'm not sure.” Another lie. Would he see through it? A quiver of anticipation ran through her.
“So why can't we just have sex?”
“Because nothing is ever that simple, is it?”
“It can be.”
“But that's the whole point, Rob. I can't just âlet' you take over my sex life.”
“Yeah, you can.” He let go of her hands and stood up, suddenly filling the small kitchen. She waited as he pushed back his chair and came around the table to her. His fingers slid under her chin, and he raised her head until he could fit his mouth over hers. His kiss was dark, needy, and totally possessive, and she loved it, felt her whole body turn liquid with longing.
His other hand slid around her waist, and he drew her to her feet. She moaned as he continued to devour her mouth, nipping at her lips, his tongue thrusting deep. When he drew back, she was panting and couldn't look away.
“Don't overcomplicate everything. You want it, and you want me. That's it, honey. You can definitely make amends and I'll definitely let you.”
His hand slid under her thin T-shirt, and his palm flattened on her back, pushing her even closer into his embrace. She could feel the beat of his heart, his harsh breathing, and the hot press of his erection.
“Suck my cock, Ally.”
“Rob . . .”
He just looked at her, and she found herself sinking to her knees. He shoved down his pants and presented her with the sight of his thick, heavy shaft, already wet and straining toward her. “Suck me, Ally.”
The note of command did it, and she leaned forward obediently to swallow his cock down. He groaned his appreciation, his hips rocking into her, adding to the friction, to the need, making her take all of him and at his pace and direction. No one else had ever taken control of her like this. No one had ever dared.
After Rob, she'd picked her boyfriends very carefully and ultimately found them deeply unsatisfying. Was that why this was so deeply rewarding? To be on her knees, her head held in Rob's firm grasp, her mouth full of his thrusting, demanding cock.
He gasped her name and thrust even harder, holding her chained to his rhythm until his final push emptied his come way down her throat in long, pulsing waves. She shivered as he slowly released his grip on her and helped her to her feet.
“Are you wet for me now?”
She could only nod and lick her lips, tasting him all over again. He backed her up against the nearest chair and guided her down onto it. She didn't stop him from stripping off her shorts and panties and spreading her thighs wide. With a soft sound, he went down on his knees and licked her sex, his tongue lingering and gliding through her already-wet and swollen folds, his fingers following the path of his tongue to create their own magic.
She gasped as he pushed three fingers deep, his thumb flicking at her clit as she writhed under him. His radio crackled to life, and she felt him curse against her flesh. While he fumbled for the radio, he kept his fingers embedded inside her.
“Yeah.” He sounded remarkably calm. “Ally's.”
He put the radio on the table and returned his attention to her, used his mouth and fingers on her until she had to climax.
When she eventually opened her eyes, she saw he'd taken the chair opposite her again, his skin flushed, his lazy blue gaze full of sensual satisfaction. Ally struggled to match his composure. “Who were you talking to?”
“Jackson.”
“He was checking up on you?”
His smile was brief. “He's like that.”
“I know, but . . .”
“He wants me to keep away from you.”
Ally stared at Rob. “Because he doesn't want you to get hurt, right?”
“No, because he wants me to give you a chance to sort out your shit and get out of here without my input.”
“It's a bit late for that, isn't it?”
“Yeah.” Rob looked down at his unzipped pants. “I'd better go or he'll turn up here.”
Ally imagined Jackson busting in on her and Rob having sex. “I wonder what he'd do if he did?”
His smile died to be replaced by something far more intimate. “You'd probably like it if he joined in, wouldn't you? I seem to remember that was always one of your favorite fantasies.”
Ally felt her skin heating. “The reality wasn't quite as exciting as I'd always pictured it.”
“You mean when I found you and Jackson in bed?” Rob sighed. “Hell, if Susan hadn't been there screaming abuse at you both, I'm not sure what I would've done.”
“I think you expressed yourself quite adequately when you told me to get out of your life.”
Pain and something that looked like regret flickered in his direct blue gaze. “I was a complete fucking idiot.”
Ally raised her eyebrows. “I thought I was supposed to be the one apologizing.”
His heated gaze slid over her flushed face and her thin T-shirt. “Honey, I'm not stopping you from âapologizing.' ”
Sometimes it was both a blessing and a curse that Rob knew her so well. She raised her chin and gave him back his stare. “After what happened last time, Jackson would probably be scared to come near me anyway.”
Rob smiled. “You'd be surprised what Jackson wants. Can't you picture it? You bent over this table right now, me fucking you and Jackson's cock filling your mouth. You'd love that, honey, wouldn't you?”
Ally could only stare at him as he kissed her again, his taste her taste, his breath mingling with her own. He whispered against her lips, “Shall I call him, Ally? I'll do it if you want me to.”
Ally pushed him away and retreated to the other side of the table. “Do you remember that bit about âcomplicated,' Rob? Don't you think adding Jackson to the mix would make it even worse?”
He straightened up his clothing, retrieved his belt, and buckled it low around his hips like a gunslinger. “It sure would make it interesting. But if it got some animation into Jackson's face, I'd be happy to go along with it.”
Ally picked up her sweater and wrapped it over her shoulders. “He does seem different somehow. He was always kind of quiet, but now . . .”
“He's closed off completely.”
“Yeah.” For a moment their eyes met, and Ally was thrust back into the past when they'd all worried about each other and tried to deal with all the stresses of being teenagers.
Rob took a key out of his pocket and laid it on the table. “This is for the back door of my house. When you're ready, come and see me.” He retrieved his cap and headed for the back door. “We're not finished here, and it's not complicated at all. We both want sex. What could be simpler than that?”
Ally bit her lip. “But the kind of sex you want, Rob, isn't simple at all.”
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