Joshua Healy (Mitchell Healy Book 10) (4 page)

“I can’t. I don’t sleep around.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“Yes you are,” I say as I lightly shove him away. “You’re taunting me, and I’m not having it. I just broke up with my boyfriend.”

He puts his hands in the air. “Okay. I get it. You’re not interested, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up. Say the word and I’ll take you places you ain’t never been before.”

The sentence sends chills over my entire body. Is it bad that I’m picturing it; that I’m actually wondering if he can live up to his promises? “What word are you looking for?” I tease.

He approaches me again, making me wish I would have finished a second beer. “It’s a simple yes. Say the word and I’ll make you forget. There’s just one problem if you do agree to it.”

“What?” I curiously ask.

“You might like it so much that you want it to happen again.”

“You’re that good?” I imply while an air-filled laugh escapes me.

“Yeah. Yeah, I really am.”

Chapter 5

Joshua

I have her undivided attention. She’s biting down on her lip, thinking about everything I’m telling her. The idea of being able to forget her troubles for a time is appealing to anyone in her situation. I’m not pushing the idea, but simply feeding her enough to keep the curiosity going. If I’m anything, it’s loyal. I enjoy the company of a woman a little too much, but I also like feeling needed. Truth be told, I’m the only family member who doesn’t have someone to call my own. I’m not saying I want to get strapped down to one person, but it would be nice to have a beautiful woman by side when I want companionship. She may not be in the market, but it won’t stop me from offering.

“I’ve never had a one night stand.”

“Neither have I.” I can sense she doesn’t believe me. “I’m serious. It’s always been at least three nights, most more than that.”

She opens her mouth to respond, but words don’t come out. This pleases me. I’ve rendered her speechless. What I’ve also managed to do is keep her from crying for over an hour now. She’s entertained, which is a start. This one isn’t going to be easy, but now that I’ve started, I refuse to give up. She needs me just as much as I want to give it to her. She just needs to admit it to herself. “I’ve never been around someone so sure of themselves.”

“Turn off, or turn on?”

Her lips part, but it takes her a few seconds to actually answer. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Want to wager something?”

I have her intrigued. Her right brow cocks as she looks at me inquisitively for a moment. “A wager? For what? My innocence? You’re crazy if you think I’ll fall for that. No bet in the world could convince me to sleep with someone the first night after meeting him.”

She’s funny when she’s nervous. I get a kick out of seeing how far I can take my taunting. “The wager is minimal in the large spectrum of things. It’s just a kiss.”

“A kiss,” she chokes as she repeats it.

“Yeah.” I stroke her cheek again. “A friendly kiss.”

She’s shaking her head, but I can already tell she’s considering. “No way.”

“Come on. Are you afraid you’ll like it? You scared you might want another, or possibly something else?”

“Yeah right,” she argues. “You’re too full of yourself. I think you need a reality check. Not every woman falls for your fake charm.”

“Honey, there ain’t a damn thing fake about me.”

“I’m not your honey,” she states.

I take her by the chin and force her to look at me. Those blue eyes are tainted from her tears. “You think I’m sexy, don’t ya?”

“I’m not answering that,” she exclaims with a straight face.

I’m finding it difficult to keep my composure. The more she fights, the harder I’m going to try. “I want that kiss.”

“I’m not giving it to you.”

“What if I lean forward and take it?”

“You might get slapped,” she warns.

“Might? That means there’s a chance you could like it, right?”

“A slim one at that.”

I inch forward. “This isn’t how I wanted it to happen.” I keep going, watching as her eyes begin to slowly close. She’s giving in, her heart too broken to deny attention.

My bottom lip courses over hers. I’m precise and gentle, making sure her hand isn’t coming up to knock me sideways. When she doesn’t move I proceed, sucking her lower lip in between mine. I graze them both again, sliding my tongue out to test the waters, then I back away and wait for a response.”

Her lids flutter open and we’re right back to staring at each other. “Wasn’t so bad was it?”

She wipes it away, as if it erases what happened. “Not terrible.”

“And?” I expect a reaction.

“And what? It wasn’t spectacular or anything.”

That’s when I take matters into my own hands and let her have it. My lips crash into hers. My tongue intrudes until hers is there, warm and welcoming. I feel hands coming up my chest and pull her closer. She’s getting into it. Her eyes are closed, and we’re starting to get a rhythm between us. About thirty seconds later she’s pulling away out of breath. I’m turned on at the idea of getting my way. She’s sexy, her soft skin a reminder of how long it’s been since I’ve shared my bed with a woman. Maybe I’m lonely, possibly a bit desperate. I’m going to extremes to convince someone who probably should run in the opposite direction from me. I want her, and I’m going to have her, maybe not tonight, but somewhere in the near future. I’m going to make her forget all about that Shaun guy. She’ll thank me later.

“And now?” I request.

She shrugs. “I may need another go to compare.”

The next kiss is nothing like the first two. She initiates it, and I’m silently celebrating my success. I knew I could get to her. Desperate or not, I have her exactly where I want her.

This time she pulls away with confidence. “This won’t change me.”

I kiss her once before responding, “Keep telling yourself that.” Then I’m right back to loving on those puffy lips again.

Our heated make out session leaves me anxious for more, but I know there’s a line I’m not about to cross. I can’t have her hating me in the morning. I’m too proud to take advantage of woman like that. She’s messed up in the head at the moment, so I’d rather her simmer with temptation than regret.

We’re sitting close on one of the couches, a movie playing on the small flat screen television in front of us, but I don’t think either of us are paying attention. I can’t stop kissing her. She feels good in my arms, her tiny frame fitting easily in my hold. The fruity smell of her shampoo makes my mouth water as I nuzzle my tongue over her earlobe. She’s slow to make a move on me. Her hands travel up and down my chest until she gets the nerve to lift the fabric over my head. Then I watch as she takes in my bare chest, her fingernails tracing over the sculpted muscles I’ve always seemed to have. “Wow.”

I chuckle against her cheek. “I get that a lot.”

She snickers as our lips meet. “I don’t doubt it.”

When I play with the buttons at the front of her shirt, I hear her take in a deep breath letting me know I have to slow down again. We take one step forward and then wait an hour for the next move. “Sorry,” I manage, even though I’m not.

“It’s okay. I didn’t see this happening. I can’t believe I’m here with you, at your family ranch. Growing up, all the girls talked about the Mitchell and Healy boys. It’s a little terrifying for me, especially given my circumstance for coming here.” She closes her eyes and seems to be struggling. “I don’t want to want you, Josh. Does that even make sense? I know I shouldn’t do this.”

“Is it taking the pain away?”

She bites down on her bottom lip while thinking about it. “So far, but I’m thinking we may need to break out the hard liquor before I start freaking out again.”

I pull the bottle of whiskey from the brown bag and hand it to her. “You can take the first shot.”

“Out of the bottle?” She questions.

“Yeah. We’re rednecks. We don’t need a glass to do shots. Take as much as you can and pass it over. When the bottle is gone we’ve had our limit.”

“I can’t drink that much. A few beers and I’m shitfaced. I’ve never had whiskey.”

I’m amused by this, because I know exactly what will happen after a few guzzles. “You sure you’re up for this? Before you know it we’ll be waking up naked.”

She smirks, as if to doubt it’s capability of making her do things she normally wouldn’t. “Yeah right.”

“Okay.” I toss up my hands. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. I’ve had my fair share of next day regrets from tearing into a bottle like this one.”

“You can’t scare me. I know when to stop.”

“Then have at it.”

She takes one sip and I watch her face curl. Tamsyn gags, but manages to keep the burning liquor down. “Oh my god, that’s terrible.”

“Nah, it takes a while to get used to.” I grab the bottle and take the level of the alcohol down a few inches before handing it back to her. “We still going?”

She jerks it away and takes a bigger drink of it, having less affect as she swallows. I do another extra large shot, knowing I’m good as long as we stop soon. I don’t want to get to where I can’t stop myself. I’d never want to get out of control.

Tamsyn carries the bottle over to the couch across from me. She crosses her legs and sips at the whiskey again. “What do you look for in a woman?”

Her question is out of nowhere, but I oblige with an answer. “I like strong women. I prefer ones that aren’t easy, because I enjoy the challenge.”

“Blondes or brunettes?”

“Either.”

“What about boobs? Big or small?”

“I enjoy a hand full, but it doesn’t matter either way.”

She adjusts the way she’s sitting, and actually looks down at her own chest like she’s measuring her cup size. I chuckle to myself and decide to start asking my own questions. “What about you? What do you look for in a man?”

“I haven’t been looking in a long time. I don’t know. I want him to have a job, or at least know what he wants to do and be working toward it. I like to be pampered, but not spoiled. I don’t want my man to feel like I depend on him. He has to be tall. I’d prefer him to be handsome, but if he has a great personality I could possibly date someone just average looking.”

“Hair color?” I ask.

“Dark, I guess.”

“Eyes.”

Tamsyn giggles. She’s starting to get a buzz already. This is going to be fun. “Green,” she teases.

“I see where this is going.”

“Oh really,” she expresses. “Where?”

“Someplace you’ve said we weren’t going to go.”

“Don’t be so sure, cowboy. I’m a hard one to crack.”

“Maybe you should slow down on the booze,” I say as I reach for it. She moves it away and takes a bigger shot. I watch air bubbles take the place of where the bourbon once was. “When you start stripping, don’t blame me.”

Tamsyn stands and approaches me. She brings her hand up to touch my jawline and I fasten my hand over her wrist to halt her. “The moment I saw you in those heels I imagined bending you over and having my way. Don’t test me. I’m struggling to keep my hands to myself. I haven’t seen someone as sexy as you in a long damn time, but I can’t fuck you tonight, not when you’re intoxicated.”

She’s almost sad. “Really?”

I lift her chin with my free hand. “Woman, don’t think for a second it’s not going to happen. You have my attention.” I point to my hard cock, trying to burst from beneath my jeans. “It’s just, I’m used to being selfish, and sometimes an asshole, but you deserve better. I won’t take advantage of your vulnerability.”

“For someone who says he doesn’t want a girlfriend, you sure are working hard to impress me.”

“I’m being realistic.”

She frees her hand and runs it over my mouth, causing my lips to part. Upon sitting, she kisses me with her eyes staring into mine. “What if I change my mind? What if I want to use you?”

I grab her hands and put them in her lap. “It’s getting late.”

“So now you want to take me home? Is this how you work? You get me going and then give me the cold shoulder?”

“The only thing cold I want, is a fucking shower. You don’t know how hard it is to deny myself the delight of taking what I want from you.”

She begins unbuttoning her blouse, and the second I see the lace fabric of her bra I start rethinking my decision. She knows she has my attention now. “I changed my mind, Josh. I think a one-night stand is exactly what I need to feel better. If Shaun can screw around on me, then I deserve to have a little fun too, right?”

She has a point.

I stop her again, but indulge in the smoothness of the skin between her supple breasts as I speak. “You’re talking out of your ass and you know it. It’s the liquor.”

She shakes her head. “No. You’re right. I want you. I’d be a fool to pass up this opportunity. You’re the sexiest piece of Carolina ass I’ve ever set eyes on. We’re both adults, right? Would it be so wrong to let it happen? Two people with a strong attraction? This could be your only chance with me.”

“Don’t do that. I wouldn’t have regrets, because I know I’d have another chance.”