I’d heard the news about Hazel through the grapevine that is the hockey house. Apparently, she and Mickey’s feline buddy, Mr. Tittles, are expecting kittens soon. The image of Blue as a proud cat grandpa is actually pretty adorable, but I can’t think about that now because he is annoying the crap out of me, and I need to remind myself that I can’t stand him. I pluck a dirty sock from the pile before he can toss it into the correct bin because this is my freaking job. “What do I have to say or do to get you to understand that I don’t need anyone’s help? And if I did decide to lean on someone, you’d be last on the list.”
“Really?” he asks, stroking that damn mustache that has no right being as sexy as it is. “The last person?”
“Without question,” I answer, tossing a sweaty shirt into the bin with more force than is necessary. “I didn’t need your help with that box, and I don’t need your help with anything else.”
“But you do need help?” Blue drops the last piece of dirty laundry onto the pile before taking a step back and folding hisarms over his chest. There’s nothing intimidating in his pose. It’s more like he’s throwing down a challenge and stepping away to wait and see if I’ll take the bait.
And damn him, I do. He’s needling me and I know it, but god, this man gets under my skin more than anyone I’ve ever fucking met, so instead of taking the high road, I dive right into the fray. “So what if I do need help? What business is it of yours if I need a little assistance when it comes to making myself climax? I’m not ashamed to admit it,” I say, taking power in acknowledging a fact we both know as I take a step closer to him, invading his personal space and not caring at all. Our bodies are practically touching, and I could probably count his eyelashes if I wanted to. I don’t, of course. What I want is for Blue to understand that I am perfectly self-sufficient. That’s what has me squaring my shoulders and issuing a ridiculous challenge. “Maybe I’ll even head to Jock Block tonight and ask for fucking volunteers.”
“Like fuck you will,” Blue says, closing the paper-thin distance between us. His eyes are blazing and when all their intensity is focused on me, my pulse quickens. He runs one hand through his perfectly tousled hair, then lets it linger at the back of his neck for a second, like he’s massaging the tense muscles there. I’m not the only one who’s affected by our proximity. Yes, I know I drive him just as crazy as he drives me, but there’s a fire behind all our bickering, and it’s one I need to put out, fast. I take in a deep fortifying breath, but all that does is fill my nose with the scent that is uniquely him. Unable to stop myself, I take one more deep breath and it has the same effect, so I channel every ounce of my annoyance and throw it right in his face.
“What? You’re going to stop me? I don’t think so. I don’t answer to you. I don’t answer to anyone.” I stay right where I am, my shoulders back, my fists clenched. I can feel the blood coursing through my veins right now because no one in the entire universe gets me worked up the way Blue does. No,not like that. Okay, yes. Also like that. My body is practically vibrating when I stand this close to him. The room is suddenly too warm, but that’s probably just my traitorous libido sending a signal to my brain that I’m overheated and the only possible way to cool down is to strip all my clothes off. I hate that he has this effect on me. I hate that his blue eyes look at me as though they can see right past all my bullshit. I hate that I’m wasting time arguing with him when I could be busy getting my work done. Or busy getting done by my nemesis.
Dammit. My stupid sex drive—that only seems to make an appearance when he’s in my general vicinity—is starting to piss me off. Channeling that annoyance, I lay into Blue one more time, hoping like hell that he gets the message. “If I want to walk into the LAX house looking for company tonight, I damn well will. If I want someone to get me off or watch as I do it myself, I can. If I want to ride some guy’s cock or dry hump him until I’m so worked up that I can't form a coherent sentence, what the hell does that have to do with you?”
“It has everything to do with me, Liza. Every. Fucking. Thing.“
Before I can correct him, or call him crazy, or repeat my directive for him to go the hell home, I feel his hand wrap around my waist to steady me. His touch is electric, but it’s also the calm, firm presence I need. I spend every waking minute being strong, moving forward, and getting shit done, and it’s exhausting. That’s the only reason I can give for the way my body melts into his. I’m fully pressed against him, letting his body bear my weight as I grip onto his shoulders. I don’t know what’s happening right now. Maybe that box did fall down on me, causing some sort of brain fog. Maybe I passed out and this is all a hazy, sexy dream. If that’s the case, I plan to enjoy the hell out of it before I come to.
Real me would never latch onto Blue like he’s a lifeline, or trace the dips and ridges of his broad chest with the tip of my finger, or gasp when his lips brush against my temple, or when his hand cups the back of my neck. But dream me does. I fucking revel in it. It’s crazy. I can’t stand the man, but the way he’s looking at me right now has me questioning everything I ever believed in.
I’m not sure what we’re doing, but I should stop whatever it is. I should step away right now and let the universe right itself. But when my brain sends the message, my body ignores it. Instead of peeling myself away from the wall of sex that is Blue Halliday, I hold on tighter, and spread my legs a little wider so I’m straddling his thigh.Straddling. His. Thigh.I don’t know what parallel universe I’ve strayed into that has me riding Blue’s corded thigh muscles like I’m training for the rodeo circuit, but I don’t want to leave. I like it here. I like the way he’s holding me, the feel of his one hand on my waist, and the other tracing the underside of my breast, the way he grinds against me, the dirty words he’s whispering. It's all too perfect. It’s too much. It’s unfair that one embrace is on a fast track to becoming the hottest sexual experience of my life, but it’s true, and that’s wild because I can’t stand this asshole, and I’m technically at work and none of this should be happening, but I don’t want any of it to stop.
“You good?” he asks, and I can feel the soft warmth of his breath against my neck.
I pull back just enough to look at him. “I don’t even need an orgasm right now,” I blurt, because apparently no part of my body is listening to my brain anymore. “Not for the study at least,” I say, trying to recover. “That’s on tomorrow’s to-do list. Oh my god, I need to stop talking.”
Blue’s grin tells me he likes the words that are tumbling out of my mouth. “Even if you don’t technicallyneedone untiltomorrow, Liza,” he says, his voice low and so damn sexy, “do you want one?”
He asks like it’s that easy. Like he can just make it happen. Like we actually get along, and that me humping his leg in the equipment room is a totally normal occurrence.
My eyes find his as I press my body against the firm muscles of his leg, desperately seeking more friction. “If I say yes, what are you going to do? Just snap your fingers and magically make me come undone?”
“I’ve never tried the snapping method,” he says, tightening his grip on my waist like he wants to ease this ache between my legs as much as I do. “Jesus,” he mutters as I gasp at the increased contact. “Think you can come like this, Liza?”
“No,” I answer, but it comes out on a keening cry because holy shit this feels so damn good. “You know I can’t. You read my?—”
Blue tips my chin up so I have to face him. “I only read a few lines, until I realized what I was reading. And what I saw then and what I’m seeing now are two very different things. You look so damn hot rubbing yourself against me. I can hear your breaths getting ragged, and I bet if I touched you right now, if I put my fingers right here,” he says, rocking his body into mine, “you’d be soaking wet. So tell me what you want, Liza. You want to ride me just like this until it feels so good you can’t stand it? Or do you want me to?—”
Before he can utter the words, I tug at the waistband of my leggings just enough so that there’s no confusion about what I want to happen next. “Here. Touch me here,” I say, hoping it doesn’t sound too much like I’m begging, but, dammit, I am.
Blue’s right hand caresses my breast before trailing down my body. He visibly swallows as his thumb traces the bare flesh just above the lacy edge of my panties. He’s taking his time, but I’m impatient, so I pull the fabric away from my body, grantinghim entrance. And, oh, holy night, it feels so good. His touch is gentle, but sure as he glides his fingers over the soft patch of hair covering my mound. With ease that comes from practice I don’t even want to think about, he traces the seam of my lips before slipping the pads of two fingers against my pussy.
I’m breathless at the contact, but so is he.
“Sweet goddamn hell,” he mumbles, his eyes shuttering closed as his jaw tightens. “So fucking perfect.”
I don’t even let the words register because I’m sure they’re automatic for him at this point in foreplay. If even half the rumors are true, Blue is way more experienced than I am, but instead of dwelling on the irrational jealousy that thought inspires, I’m going to turn my mind off and let my body feel all the sensations right now.
His fingers are alternating between pumping into me and gliding over the sensitive bundle of nerves at my core. I’m so wet for him that I should probably be mortified, but I can’t muster up any embarrassment. My body is only registering pleasure right now. Blue’s mouth is on my neck, raining kisses on my skin while his hand is working me over, inching me closer and closer to the peak. I’ve got my hands in his hair, tugging at the strands because the things he’s doing to my body are overwhelming in the best way possible.
“That’s it,” he croons. “Fuck, you’re gripping my fingers so tight. Let me make you feel good, Liza. Let me make you come so hard you forget that today’s not even orgasm day.”
I know he’s teasing me. I can feel the curve of his smile against my skin, but I don’t respond with a sassy quip. For once, I do as Blue says. I relax my body. I give in to the feel of his talented fingers as they stroke me at just the right pace, in just the right way. With my guard down, I surrender to his touch and when it feels like light explodes behind my eyes, I let myself experience every wave of pleasure as it crashes over me. I don’thold back when my climax hits me. I feel each sensation and I can’t help myself from crying out as my body rocks onto his over and over.
Minutes later, I'm sated and limp, but somehow energized. When I blink my eyes open, Blue’s still here, still holding me, still smiling like he knows a secret code that no one else has ever cracked.
And that’s because he does.
