Up in Flames (Crash and Burn, Book Two) (A Military Romance) Read Online Free Page A

belief when I see him lose that controlling edge, his thrusts becoming staggered and uneven. “I need to come. Please.”
    “There’s nothing hotter than watching you beg for me, kitten,” he pants. His body becomes one tense line and he freezes for a moment, then says, with his fingers flicking, “Come. Now. Come for me, right fucking now.”
    I explode.
    It’s like my whole body comes. The orgasm vibrates out of every cell, from my pussy to my nipples to my limbs, and I scream, arch off the bed, head thrust back on the pillow. And then Cole yells and drops his mouth down to my throat, biting the skin as he pours his seed into the condom. We’re locked together, unable to move as pleasure rips through us.
    It takes me a while to draw a steady breath, and even longer for my limbs to unwind and loosen so I can move again. I shift so my legs are back down once more, and Cole withdraws from me with a low groan. He disposes of the condom in a tissue and dumps it in the garbage, then moves back by my side in a flash, curling my damp, sated body to his. His breath puffs the small hairs on the side of my face.
    My eyes draw closed of their own volition. I can’t think. My brain is blessedly silent for once. So I give in to the quiet, the peaceful aftermath of that amazing orgasm, and fall into sleep.

Three

Cole
    T he lunch crowd at Mickey’s Pub is easing as the clock inches closer to two. I take advantage of the lull and wipe down tables, sweep the floor. It’s hard to fight back the shit-eating grin that has lived on my face since I arrived here at eleven.
    Lauren. In my bed. Screaming my name, underneath me, legs spread wide and body racked with orgasms. We had sex twice last night. I almost didn’t want to shower so I could keep the smell of her on my skin.
    “You’re in a good mood,” Xander says to me as he hands a single customer at the bar a Guinness, complete with a perfect foam head. The guy grunts a thanks and chugs.
    “It’s a nice day out,” I reply with a casual shrug. Part of me wants to open up and tell him what’s going on. The other part of me wants to keep this close to my chest. Not jinx anything.
    “Sure it is.” Xander works on straightening up behind the bar, and the only sound in the room is the soft music in the background and the couple in the corner, talking loudly over their beers.
    I finish sweeping the floor. When I’m satisfied with the cleanliness of the room, I put the broom away and work on restocking the bar. A few trips lugging beer, filling the ice cooler, chopping more limes and lemons keeps me occupied.
    Xander works his way toward me. “So seriously, you’re not going to talk about why you look like you won the lottery? If you get any more smug, I might have to make you clean the toilets.”
    I take my time straightening the liquor bottles. If I’m going to make this thing with Lauren real, I’m going to have to start talking to someone about how I feel. My brother’s a good a place to start as any, I suppose. I’ve spent seventeen years keeping my love for her locked in my heart. Too afraid to tell anyone how strongly I feel about her.
    Time to stop that bullshit. The new me doesn’t live like that anymore. Instead of turning away from things that scare me, I embrace them, control them. That weak version of me has been long gone.
    “Lauren stayed over with me last night,” I find myself saying.
    Xander is washing dirty glasses behind the counter. “Ah, so you guys got to hang out. Awesome.” As he’s spraying clean water into the cup, he pauses. Looks at me, his eyes narrowing. “Wait. Do you mean…she stayed over with you? Or she stayed over with you?”
    My smile is answer enough.
    He puts the cup down on a dishtowel and slaps me on the back. “Holy shit. ’Bout time, you asswipe. How long have you been in love with her? A dozen years or so?”
    “Something like that,” I reply. He’s off on the number, but it’s clear he knows it’s been a while