Reid's Deliverance (3 page)

His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

Stay the night.
No. A physical transaction, that’s what they both wanted. Lauren hugged herself and nodded. “Long day. Work was brutal. Loads of stress and it’s going to be that way tomorrow. I should get in bed right away. To sleep. Alone. I’m tired.”
Stop babbling like a head case.

A ghost of a smile lit up his face. “Then you should sleep. Alone.” Reid put on his shirt. He lifted the edges of the fabric and frowned at the missing buttons.

Her cheeks heated. “Sorry. I’ll pay for a new one.” She’d never been so worked up before that she’d ripped off a guy’s clothes.

He chuckled and raked his short hair. “I have more at home.”

His magical hands. So much for her fantasies. Now she could only imagine him caressing her from belly to thigh. Dreams of him bringing her to climax would haunt the night.

“What do you do?”

She cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”

“You mentioned work stressing you out. What do you do?”

“I’m a medical cosmetics rep. My clients are mainly plastic surgeons, med spas, and dermatologists. It’s not bad most of the time, but for the past few weeks, I’ve been slammed. Spring. Summer. Everyone and their sister show up for dermabrasions, laser treatments, and Botox shots. I can barely keep up with the orders.”

He raised a brow.

Shit
. Like he cared. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she shut up?

Reid’s dry chuckle deepened the cuts in his six-pack. “Yeah, demanding would drive me nuts, too. You can’t let it get to you.”

The same way he wasn’t getting to her? Massive fail. Hard body, sexy grin, and cock for days. If she slept with him on a regular basis, she wouldn’t give a damn about anything else.

Her sex clenched in remembrance of him feeding his thick, pulsing length into her. Disappointment set in as she clasped around air.

She squeezed her thighs together. No. Limits were important. Like her clients advised their patients, too much of a good thing could ruin the result.

“Well.” He sighed. “I’ll let you get some rest.”

One more kiss, that’s it. On the way to the door, she stopped and straightened the framed watercolor on the wall.

“Nice cabin.” He examined the picture. “Where is it?”

“Outside of Mazree, Georgia.” Her father enjoyed painting as a hobby. He’d captured the rustic feel of the log and brick home sitting on land in the middle of lush pines perfectly. Vacations there were the best part of summer. No need to bore him with family history.

“Looks like a spot I used to visit in Virginia near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was surrounded by acres of trees. The air was so fresh all I wanted to do was stand there and breathe.”

“That’s what it’s like up there. It’s close to a pond and lots of great hiking trails. One of them takes you to a clearing where there’s this gorgeous view of the mountains.”

His gaze met hers. “What else do you like about it?”

She couldn’t stop a smile. “Time slows. I don’t care about the clock. I sit under the stars and let the crickets chirp me to sleep. When the sun wakes me up, I’m excited to start another day.” It was the one place she was always happy. The vision of Mazree dispersed. Why was she telling him about her life? He needed to go.

“Do you still go there with your family or friends?”

“No. My parents split up. Dad’s invited me, but our schedules haven’t matched up.” And she didn’t feel comfortable joining him and his new wife. “As far as Celine and Ari, that will probably never happen. Celine is always too busy. Ari won’t go to a place with ‘take the first left at the old, covered bridge’ as part of the directions. She says it’s Hicksville.”

“That’s a shame.” Longing haunted his expression. “Looks like a relaxing place.”

“What about Virginia? Have you been there lately?”

“No. It was my grandfather’s place.” Sadness passed through his gaze. “It doesn’t exist anymore.”

Her heart squeezed. Was his story like hers? The first years after her parent’s divorce were agonizing. She loved Mazree, but it was never the same. She’d prayed so hard for her parents to love each other again.

“I should go.” He brushed a kiss over her temple.

At the last second, she turned and their lips met.

Move away.
End it now.
She placed her hands on his chest.

Reid stroked down her back and cupped her ass. He shifted his stance, nestling his hard thigh between her legs.

Her breathing picked up and intermingled with his, heating the small distance between their lips. The need to rub herself against him overwhelmed. The need for deepening pleasure consumed. Heady, sinful, so wrong, but oh, so right.

Reid guided her into the rhythm of a slow torturous grind. He swept the seam of her mouth, coaxing her into an unhurried kiss.

The downward glide of his fingertips mirrored the pace. Leisurely strokes around her nipple sent spirals of desire straight to her core. She moaned encouragement as he caressed down her belly. Anticipation left her breathless.

He’d filled her completely. Satisfied her like no other, and she yearned for more. Lauren widened her stance.

He stroked her clit between his fingers, and her world narrowed to his perfect touch. Right where she wanted him, needed him, moving in ways that intensified pleasure. Feathery brushes switched to small circles moving faster and harder. She canted her hips and matched the rhythm.

He nipped her throat. “That’s it, beautiful. Let me hear it. Come for me.”

As he ground his hardness against her hip, images branded of what would follow. Her knees turned to jelly and he held her up. As an orgasm chased her down, he slipped two fingers inside of her, prolonging it with erotic sensation she never wanted to end. She had no choice but to let go. Lauren surrendered into fiery bliss.

An insistent buzz woke Reid. He blinked, orienting himself to the bed and the dark room. Lauren lay sleeping in his arms.

Slowly, he slipped out from under the covers. His foot nudged his jeans. He snagged them from the floor, but the call went to voice mail before he could fish his cell from the pocket.
West.
Shit.

The drummer lacked a social life, but didn’t he believe in sleep? Whatever West wanted could wait.

He activated the flashlight app on his phone. As he dressed, the beam illuminated a white platform bed with matching bedside tables. Three lacquered frames with carvings of leaves hung on pale orange walls. Fresh, sleek, modern with the warmth of summer.

He hadn’t planned on literally sleeping with Lauren. Hell. He hadn’t planned on sticking around after the first time they’d had sex. In his book, sending him to clean up in the guest bathroom had signaled the festivities were over. He’d wanted more, so had Lauren, but she’d chosen to push him away at first. Once she’d changed her mind, he’d gone along. What guy wouldn’t? Lauren was beautiful. Just sex. She’d thrown him with that one. Usually he was the one to set the tone. Some jackass had probably screwed her over. He could tell she wasn’t the type who slept around. She was solid, grounded by what was important. Like her friends. And that place in Mazree, even though she’d denied it. He’d never spoken about his grandfather to anyone else besides Thane, but he’d felt led to say it. He’d give anything to see the place in Virginia again. She couldn’t take Mazree for granted.

Lauren stretched. “What time is it?” She turned on a brass lamp on the bedside table.

The warm glow of her skin, tousled hair, and lips swollen from his kisses stirred up lust.

“A little after five.”

“You can sleep in longer if you want.” She yawned and snuggled back under the sheet.

He willed his cock not to rise as he zipped his jeans. “You know as well as I do if I get back in bed, it won’t be for sleep.”

A dreamy smile softened her face. “I wouldn’t mind.”

Man, he hated this part. He sat down next her on the bed. He could tell her anything. Say whatever he wanted. The next phase into the future would wipe him from her memory, but he’d remember everything. What it felt like to be inside of her. How he’d gotten hard all over again watching her come apart in his arms. He’d recall the picture on the wall and wonder if she decided to visit the cabin again. The answer would remain a mystery. A seed of cold reality planted in his chest. Caring, wanting, that’s why it was a bad idea to ask personal questions or hook up with the same woman more than once. The lies. The memories. They took up too much headspace.

Beth had lied so easily. They’d started dating before he’d joined the army. He’d been crazy about her. The truth came out. She’d pretended to love him. None of her excuses made up for the deception.

Damn. Second time tonight he’d turned sentimental about his life before joining Dalir. It was definitely time to get out of there.

Lauren’s warmth prompted him to linger. Eyes closed, she released a sleepy sigh.

Reid whispered, “Goodbye, beautiful,” and switched off the light. On the way out the bedroom, his phone pinged in a text from West.

Need to talk to you. Now. Mission related.

He crept down the hallway. It was if the picture called to him. Forced him to stop.

Mazree. If he could, he’d phase her there. They’d spend the day hiking the trails. Enjoy the sun. Map out the stars and listen to those crickets she’d talked about. He’d help her remember why she should treasure the cabin as a part of her life. Yeah. Like he could. Dalir would lose his shit if he revealed the gift of manipulating time.

He smoothed the natural wood framing the watercolor. Hollowness opened in his gut. They would have had a good time, Reid thought as he closed her front door, walked to his truck, and drove away.

Reid arrived at The Song. He parked his black crew cab next to the only car in the parking lot, West’s black jeep. In his role as logistics expert, West didn’t go on missions. He managed their homes and finances and took care of the books at the nightclub. A long phase erased memories. Images, fingerprints, handwriting, and any DNA identifiers also disappeared. West allowed them to seamlessly merge back into life and start all over again.

West sat at the polished wood bar and sipped from a bottle of beer.

Reid dropped on the stool beside him. West drinking this early meant he was dealing with insomnia again. “You realize alcohol affects sleep.”

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” West rubbed light stubble on his usually shaved head. “You said to give Thane a rest and contact you instead if anything came up tonight.” He slid over a file. “Our next mission—a pandemic two years out.”

“How bad?”

West leaned over the counter and tossed his empty into the garbage. “Think fucked up times ten then multiply that by a hundred.”

Shit.
If people only knew how close assholes came to fucking up the world, they wouldn’t wait for second chances. Reid flipped the folder open. Lauren should take his advice and visit the cabin. Soon.

* * * *

The sun warmed Lauren’s face as she stretched in bed. She’d dreamed about Mazree and Reid. Waking up had ruined the best part—sex with him in front of the stone fireplace. She buried her face in the pillow. Subtle hints of his woodsy cologne inspired visions of snowcapped mountains and blue sky. Tangible, solid things that remained constant.

The doorbell chimed.

Only Ari would show up this early.

Lauren threw back the covers and put on her robe. She opened the door.

Fresh and summery in a pair of pink shorts and a white shirt, Ari breezed in and handed her a tall cardboard cup. “Good morning,” she sang out.

No one should walk around that cheerful. At least she’d brought coffee. “Let me guess—you’re here for smut chat.”

Ari plopped down on the tan couch. “Don’t leave out any details. I’m hoping reality exceeded my imagination.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little too soon for you to imagine the guy I just slept with naked?”

“Territorial. I like it.” Ari crossed her legs and grinned. “I haven’t seen you this way over anyone in a long time. That means the sex must have been really good.”

“It was good.” Lauren sat on the green ottoman and drank her mocha latte. “Too bad I won’t see him again.”

“Why not?”

“One, I’m on hiatus, remember?” And lucky for her, she was back on the wagon. She’d almost fallen for him. “Two, his phone went off at least three times. You know what that means—manwhore alert.”

Ari waved it off. “Oh please. It was probably one of his buddies calling for a bailout.”

“Which proves my point. Manwhores need bailouts, and they tend to travel in packs.” Dread sank into her belly. “Oh no. I hope it wasn’t Thane. Did Celine call you?”

“No, but I’m sure it wasn’t. I drove by her house on the way over. Your Mercedes wasn’t in the driveway. She’s not home yet. Yes!” Ari pumped a fist. “Our girl is back in the game.” She sobered. “Now, let’s get back to you.”

Aw, crap, here it comes.

“In my humble opinion, you should have thrown out signals instead of lying in bed playing ‘you screwed me senseless.’ How was he supposed to know you were interested?”

“I didn’t let him leave after the first time. How’s that for a clue? Not that it mattered. He’s not looking for anything long term.”

“Whoa, back up. The first time? This sounds interesting.” Ari sipped her coffee and settled back into the overstuffed cushions. Her feet dangled in high-heeled sandals, inches from the ground. “Okay, you two went wild the first time, and then he—” She motioned for the story to continue.

Leave it to Ari to focus on the smutty parts versus simple facts. Now that Celine was straightened out, she needed to find Ari a boyfriend. Lauren looped her hair into a twist. “If you’re asking if he had multiple erections and if I enjoyed them, the answer is yes.”

“I knew it! Built like a stallion.” Ari happy-danced in her seat. “You can’t ignore that. Not hooking up with him again is out of the question.”

Exasperation pushed out a breath. “Like I said, he’s not interested. Besides that, he’s got hell-no written all over him. And what about that lecture you gave me about focusing on meals and stimulating conversation?”