Rush (Eligible Receivers #3)

Chapter Nineteen

“If I ask again, are you still going to blow smoke up my ass and tell me there’s nothing going on between you and my sister?” Oz asked, after joining Linc, who sat at the bar, nursing a beer.

With eyes trained on their topic of conversation while she and Emerson played a game of darts—badly, he might add—Linc fessed up. “Are you going to kick my ass if I tell you there is?”

Linc heard a sigh and looked over at the guy who he hoped was still his friend. “Naw, man—not that you don’t deserve it,” Oz made sure to tack on, “But, hell, I saw it coming from a mile away.”

That got Linc’s attention. He’d thought he’d hid his feelings well. He raised a brow. “You did?”

“Why do you think I keep asking? You’re my best friend. Hell yeah, I knew. I also know that fake relationship bullshit was just a front to hide how you really felt. You could keep Nora close without having to admit anything.”

Linc was surprised how spot-on Oz’s observations were. He didn’t give the guy enough credit.

“She makes me happy,” Linc confessed.

Oz slapped him on the shoulder. “A good woman will do that.”

“And you would know.”

“Yeah, man, I know that first hand.”

Just then, Nora looked over her shoulder and upon spying Linc, gave him a big grin along with a finger wave.

Linc smiled back, lifting his chin.

Oz’s hand, which still rested on his shoulder, tightened into a firm grip. “But just so we’re clear, an ass kicking is still in your future if you hurt her.”

“If I’m stupid enough to let her get away, I’d deserve one.”

“Glad we’re on the same page.” Oz gave his shoulder one last slap before taking the last sip of the beer he held. Then he set it on the bartop and swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Come on, let’s go join our women and kick their asses at darts.”

“That won’t be hard.”

And just like that, any residual tension was gone when he heard Oz’s deep belly laugh.

***

When they got home Nora made a beeline straight for the fridge while Linc set her packages down on the table. “You made out like a bandit tonight.”

“Your friends were all very generous.” She grabbed a bottle of water, cracked it open, and downed half its contents in one go.

“How many of those apple martini things did you have?” Though not swaying or giggling, Linc wanted to be sure she wasn’t drunk before he enacted his plan on how to end their evening.

“Only one. Sadly, I can’t use intoxication as an excuse for why you kicked my ass at darts. That pitiful display was pure natural talent.”

Chuckling, he pulled her into his arms. His lips met hers, lingering, before asking, “It’s a nice night out. What do you say to a midnight swim?”

“If it comes with more kisses like that one, I’m game.”

“Oh, it does.” Because he couldn’t resist, he gave her one more soft kiss to prove his point and then took her hand and walked her toward the living room.

She stopped him as they passed the stairs. “Wait. Aren’t we going to change into our suits?”

“Not for the kind of swim I have in mind. You ever been skinny dipping?”

“Not since I was three.” She paused, looking like she wanted to say something else but didn’t.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He stepped closer to her, his hand cupping her face. “You can ask me anything. I’ll always be honest.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. My mom always told me, don’t ask questions you might not like the answers to.”

Guessing what she wanted to know, he said, “If you’re wondering if I’ve ever been skinny dipping with a woman, the answer is no. This will be a new experience for me too.”

Tipping her head back, she smiled up at him. “I like that answer.”

She followed him into the mild night air where the only sound was the soft chirping of crickets in the distance. His swimming pool had been custom built by a local company, complete with rock features and attached overflow spa. He walked over to that now, flipping the switch to start the jets and warm the water.

He turned back to Nora, his eyes greedily devouring her as she started stripping, tossing her top then her jeans onto the concrete. He stalked toward her, peeling off his own shirt and tossing it to the side. Her eyes raked over his chest, a sly smile forming on her lips, and fuck him if his jeans didn’t grow uncomfortably tight. With a growl, he reached for her, pulling her close and grinding himself into her belly as he captured her lips for a kiss.

As his eyes had earlier, his mouth devoured her now. He reached between them, unsnapping his jeans, pulling down the zipper to give his dick some much needed relief.

“Take off your bra and panties,” he murmured against her lips before taking a step back to kick off his shoes and peel out of his jeans. Then, with no warning, he gathered her into his arms and jumped into the pool, her scream cutting off short when their heads hit the water.

She came up sputtering. He came up grinning.

Her hands found his shoulders as his feet found purchase on the pool floor.

“That was a dirty trick.” Her legs wrapped around him as she let go of him with one hand to swipe the water from her face.

The head of his cock brushed her ass and he stifled a groan. Her pussy was right there and his for the taking.

He took.

Spearing her with his fingers, his thumb found her clit and her head fell back. “Tell me I’m forgiven.”

“You’re forgiven,” she panted as she squirmed against his fingers.

“I’m gonna make you come.”

He received a breathless, “Yes, please,” as he dipped his head, capturing a nipple between his teeth and sucking it into his mouth.

Her soft moans and whimpers joined the song of the crickets, creating a symphony for his ears and building to a crescendo, ending in a shout of ecstasy. She went limp in his arms and he nibbled up her neck to her lips, capturing them for a kiss.

Then suddenly she slipped away, laughing as she splashed him in the face before quickly swimming toward the overflow spa. Surprised, he was a few seconds slow on the uptake but was soon in hot pursuit and even managed to grab her ankle before it slipped through his fingers, causing her to laugh even more.

“You think you’re funny?” he asked once he had her trapped within the confines of the spa, his smile belying the accusation of his words.

“As funny as you think you are.”

His dick liked her flippant tone, throbbing and begging to get inside her wet heat. He captured her smile with his mouth, parted her thighs and sank himself in to the hilt. His neck snapped back and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as pure sensation surged through his body, his cock at the epicenter.

He grabbed fistfuls of her ass, his going taut as he pumped in and out. Fuck she was so tight and felt so fucking good, it was like he’d died and gone to heaven. Unexpected emotion welled in his chest, clogging his throat. Then with one last thrust, he planted himself deep as his orgasm hit and he emptied himself inside her.

Spent, he fell back on the bench seat, bringing Nora with him so she straddled his lap. A feeling of languid intoxication weighed his limbs, but he wasn’t drunk on alcohol, he was drunk on Nora. He ran listless fingers through her hair until they encountered her nape where he pulled her forward for a kiss. Their tongues collided and she started moving over him, his semi perking back to attention as she rode his cock, her pussy milking it for all it was worth.

Tits bouncing at eye level, he couldn’t resist cupping them, burying his face in them and fuck, he didn’t think it possible, but he was on the verge of coming again.

An earth-shattering explosion rocked him and he grabbed hold of her hips, thrusting up to meet her downward plunge.

She collapsed against his chest and his arms came around her holding her close. They were both breathing heavy.

After a full minute, her warm breath tickled his chest as she breathed out, “Wow.”

Even after that full minute, he still didn’t have the brain function to reply with anything more intelligent than, “Fuck yeah.”

He’d had sex. Lots of sex. But nowhere in those times had anything ever come close to what he’d just experienced with Nora.

Brushing a wet lock of hair from her cheek, he gently tucked it behind her ear. “We better get out before we both fall asleep.”

“It wouldn’t be so bad sleeping here. It’s comfortable.” Her words were slurred, a dead giveaway of just how tired she was.

“If we don’t get out, I can’t give you your present.”

Her head popped up from his chest. “You got me a present?”

“Of course.”

“What is it?” She was bright eyed now.

“I’m not going to tell you. We need to get out so I can give it to you.”

She stood from his lap, water sluicing off her body as she got out, his eyes zeroing in on her ass. It was a fucking fine ass.

“Come on,” she said impatiently, wrapping herself with a towel.

Hiding a smile at her excitement, he climbed out and got a towel from the lounger, wrapping it around his waist.

“Can you grab our shoes?” She already had their clothes clutched in her arms.

They made their way upstairs and deposited their load.

“Do you think we should shower first?”

Her eyes practically rolled into her head. “You’re kidding, right?”

Of course, he was joking. Walking over to the nightstand, he pulled open the drawer and took out the small, wrapped package, holding it out.

She pounced on it, jumping up to sit crossed legged on the bed. “I’m so excited.

A case of unexpected nerves took root in his gut as he watched her untie the white ribbon and pull off the lid of the light-blue box. What if she didn’t like it? When giving gifts in the past, he’d never given much thought whether the recipient had liked it or not. And honestly, he never cared. But with Nora, the anticipation of her reaction was killing him. He wanted her to love it.

Her gasp brought his attention to her face. Her hand flew up, covering her mouth and tears welled in her eyes as she stared down at the diamond inlaid dancing ballerina pendant hanging from a white-gold chain.

“Oh, Linc, it’s absolutely beautiful.”

“Do you like it? I remembered the story about you wanting to be a ballet dancer.”

Her gaze flew to his, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I love it. Thank you.” She looked back down at the pendant, her finger gingerly tracing over the pink-diamond encrusted tutu the dancer wore before she pulled it from the box. “Will you help me put it on?”

He sat down behind her on the bed, lifting the necklace from her fingers. He moved her hair aside, draping it over her shoulder. The tiny clasp was difficult for him to maneuver with his large fingers, but he finally got it hooked around her neck.

He kissed her bare shoulder. “Happy birthday, baby.”

She turned until she sat facing him. “Thank you for making it special.”

He stared into her eyes, as lush a green as the forest floor speckled with sunlight and knew every day with her would always be special.