Blaze (Big D Escort Service Book 2) Read online

  “No, Janie, please.” He closed the door and locked it behind him. “Please, no. Don’t give up on me. I can make this work. I’ll quit Big Dick tomorrow. I’ll pull out money to keep us afloat until I figure something out. Please don’t leave me.”

  A crease formed between her shapely brows. Her beautiful face dropped. “What?”

  “I saw the painting in your art room at Colton’s. I can’t let you leave. Please.”

  “But…” The board of paints lowered. “You need to take care of your mom.”

  “I will. I will take care of her. I’ll make her see reason. It’s my name on her trailer. I’ll sell it. Get her to move to this apartment complex. And I’ll figure out who’s supplying her and turn them in to the cops. Please don’t give up on me. I’ll make this work somehow. Janie, I love you. You’re it for me. You’re all I want. I’ll marry you tomorrow if you’ll let me. And boy, will this be embarrassing if you don’t feel the same way.”

  A tear ran down her cheek. Unlike normally, she didn’t reach up to wipe it away. “I do feel the same. I love you too. I have since I first met you; I just didn’t know it. It took painting for me to really feel it.”

  Just like that self-portrait of her had cracked everything open for him.

  He smiled and rushed at her, swooping her up into his arms. The board of paints plastered his shirt sleeve before peeling off and falling to the ground. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. He fell into it. Into her.

  He turned her toward the bedroom, but she wiggled in his arms. “No. We can’t have sex yet. Then we’ll be in the bedroom all night, and I won’t get to paint you.”

  “Paint me tomorrow.”

  “You might be really angry with me tomorrow. No, we have to do this tonight. I have the whole thing set up. C’mon, please?”

  He lowered her slowly, running his hands along her bare skin. “Why would I be angry with you?”

  “Because I could make a monk punch someone. Come on, let’s play.” She ran her hands down his chest before grabbing the hem and lifting it back up. She pulled it over his head and arms, smearing some paint on him in the process. She yanked at his fly, sending a jolt of fire through his middle. Down went his boxers, freeing his erection. “Hmm. I want to suck it.”

  “I would say not fair, but I’ll refrain.” He ran his fingers through her hair and worked at her ponytail, freeing it. Her dirty-blond tresses tumbled down over her shoulders.

  Looking up at him with a smile, she licked his tip. He groaned, wanting to push her head forward and plunge his dick into her mouth.

  “Nope.” She backed off, her smile turning wicked. “Not yet.” She rose, running a hand up his thigh and to his stomach. “How should I paint you?” She scanned the paint on his arm. A thoughtful expression stole over her face.

  “Should I sit on the couch?”

  She shrugged and picked up the paint board lying facedown on the carpet. “Whatever you want. That will probably stain. Crap.”

  “How much was the deposit?”

  “I’m not sure. Madison said to pay her back when I could, or when I move.”

  “Carpet steamers can do wonders.”

  “One would hope.” She went about setting up her paints again as he looked around. There weren’t many options where he could hang out while she did this. The couch was as good as any.

  “Can I wipe this paint off? I don’t want to get it on the couch.” He paused before heading to the bathroom.

  “Yup.” She took away her stool and cracked her neck, facing the canvas. Then her body just sorta…settled. Liquid and sensual and completely lost in whatever she was doing.

  He didn’t move to the bathroom. Couldn’t. All he could do was stand there, watching the gentle sway of her hips and the practiced movement of her hand. The paintbrush moved over the canvas, leaving a line of color in its wake, smooth and sure. Confidence radiated from her, but also a sweet form of vulnerability that flooded him with the desire to protect her at all costs.

  His hands glided over her hips before he knew he’d moved. His hard length prodded her.

  She angled her head back as her brush moved, a smile gracing her lips. He kissed up her neck and sucked in her fevered skin. “I love you, Janie. You are a goddess. Even more so when you paint.”

  “Make love to me, Dave,” she whispered, the paintbrush still moving. It didn’t look like she’d sketched anything beforehand. The picture in her mind was materializing on the canvas, even while she was distracted.

  He cupped a breast and stooped, aligning himself. Hands now on her shoulders, he bent her over gently before slowly pushing forward, parting her folds. Only then did the paintbrush lower. She moaned, long and low, sitting back to impale herself more.

  “I never get over how good that feels.” She bent to set down her tools, and he pulled back on her hips as he thrust again, getting in as deep as he could. Loving the feel of her tightness around his cock.

  “Me either. I don’t want anyone else, Janie. I just want you.” He pulled out and turned her around before pulling her close again. She flung a leg over his hip, and he lifted her up, making her throw the other leg around him as well. He slid into her hot wetness.

  She closed her eyes and sighed. “Ditto.”

  “Very romantic,” he said, sinking to the floor. He laid her on her back before pumping into her.

  “I’m a master linguist in these situations.” She arched like a cat stretching in the sun, tilting her hips up. “Fuck me like the world was ending, baby.”

  Yes, she was a master linguist in these situations, because a shock of passion stole through him. He lowered over her, delighting in her hard nipples rubbing against his chest. He kissed her, plunging his tongue into her mouth as he plunged his cock into her wetness.

  She moaned and wrapped her legs around him again, this time even tighter. He threaded his hands between her fingers and lifted her arms over her head.

  “Hmm, Dave,” she mewed.

  The living room filled with frantic breathing. The pressure built. His balls tightened as he moved, letting go like he had in the bathroom. Surrendering to her again.

  Pleasure crashed down onto him, trying to pull him under, but he resisted—his gut clenching, his body tensing.

  Her moans increased in volume. “Yes, Dave!” she shouted, shaking with release under him. But he wasn’t through yet. He wanted more from her. He wanted to make sure she never forgot the effect he had on her body. He would mark her with pleasure, claiming her as his own.

  He pumped harder. Strived for more. His body wound up, uncomfortably tight. But still he thrust, holding on to her hands for dear life.

  She shuddered again, calling his name.

  “No more,” she begged, arching back. A moan revealed her delight, belying her pleas. “Oh Dave, no. Ohh…” She shook again, her mouth rounding in a silent scream.

  Their bodies slick, he moved over her. Within her. He dominated her, pushing her pleasure higher as he finally succumbed to his own. Unbearable now, he let his mind blank and pounded into her.

  “I’m coming!” she shouted.

  He blasted apart. Pleasure crashed through him. Drowned him. He emptied into her as the sensations rolled through his body.

  “Hmm, Dave,” she said, rubbing his back and shivering. “That was incredible. I love you.”

  His kiss was languid as his body continued to move. He needed more. He needed to forestall her painting, because he was far from done.

  Twenty-Eight

  The next evening, Janie gingerly sat on the stool at Colton’s house. She had to have the talk with her best friend. She had no idea how it would go.

  “So,” Janie said as Madison opened the fridge.

  Madison held up a sparkling water and a beer, and said, “Or mixed drinks?”

  “Sparkling water. I don’t know if I’ll have to drive out of here quickly. Dave hasn’t texted me since he went to see his mother this afternoon. I’m pretty sure that’s
a bad sign. Oh, and hey, I’m in love with him and have been screwing him for a little while. No biggie.”

  She usually sprang information on Madison. It made things go so much faster.

  As expected, Madison paused in pouring the sparkling water. She finished one glass, then returned the other glass to the cabinet and put away the water. A different glass came out, followed by the vodka and a container of orange juice.

  “That’s bad news, then?” Janie asked.

  “Protection?”

  “Just birth control. We had a brief discussion.”

  “Right.” Madison drew the word out. The vodka diluted the orange juice quite a bit.

  “So that’s really bad news, I take it.”

  “Real love?”

  “Yes. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else. It is all consuming in the best way possible.”

  Madison dropped in a couple ice cubes and leaned back against the counter to sip her drink. The sparkling water was forgotten. “And you aren’t going to get over it?”

  “We’ll see. Dave said he loved me too. He said it first.” She briefly told her friend about him busting into the apartment the night before.

  Madison’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. “Wow. I didn’t expect that. And he said all that about his mom?”

  “Yes. But, like…that was before he knew that I had threatened his mom eight ways from Sunday.”

  “You’re the one that I got that saying from. It’s wrong, you know.”

  “Why would you assume I care?”

  “Good point. My bad. Anyway, so before you threatened the neighbor, then trekked into the ghetto to see your mom so you could threaten Dave’s mom, he wanted to change his life for you?” Madison took a sip, watching Janie over the rim of her glass.

  “Yes, okay. My excitement was premature, fine. But maybe his mom didn’t say anything?”

  “He hasn’t texted you since he met with her, right?”

  “Yes, but maybe she shut him down, daring me to make good on my promise, and he’s stressing?” Janie grimaced as anger rose. “She better not have. I will totally haunt the shit out of her.”

  “You can’t haunt your boyfriend’s mom. In no situation does that actually work out.”

  Janie sagged against the island, then straightened up again. Her nipples were tender from all the attention they’d gotten last night. They didn’t need to meet any hard surfaces. “So we’re in a wait and see situation. Wait and see if he curses me. Or reports me. Or any number of things I didn’t totally think through when I snuck into a rehab center and threatened to stalk an old woman.”

  “Among other things.”

  “You’re not helping. What if he decides not to help me with the paintings?” A wave of worry washed over Janie. “He is so incredibly good at the business side. So incredibly good. I had no idea.”

  “The guys won’t let you flounder, regardless of whether Dave wants to kill you or not.”

  “I guess, but Dave was getting sex for his help.”

  “Dave gets plenty of sex. That wasn’t the reason he was doing it. But yeah, the whole mother situation might strain things a wee bit.”

  “I still love him.” Janie pointed at her sparkling water. “Can you bring that to me, please? I don’t want to get up.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he fulfilled his promise and showed me that anal could feel good and very naughty at the same time. The problem is, day two should really be called ground zero, because my shit is sore.”

  “Literally.”

  “Ew. No, not literally.” She grimaced. “Fine, literally. But seriously, what do you have against Dave? Are you withholding some horrible information about his past?”

  “No. You’ve seen all his baggage. Hell, you’ve threatened his baggage—”

  “I really wish you’d leave that alone.”

  “—but Dave thinks big. Sometimes he bites off more than he can chew. I’m worried that he’ll do that with you. That he won’t be able to get his life together like he says, and you’ll pay the price. Assuming he doesn’t want to kill you after talking to his mom, of course.”

  “I’d be crushed at that point regardless.”

  “True. You’re an idiot.”

  “Yes.” The doorbell rang. Butterflies filled Janie’s stomach. “Oh God, I hope that is someone trying to sell you a new roof.”

  Madison came back and shook her head. “But possibly equally bad news,” she whispered.

  “Why, who is it?”

  Ethan strolled in wearing a flowing red Hawaiian shirt and aquamarine hipster jeans. The combination should not have worked in a million years, but he somehow looked sexy as hell. The man could ride the Crazy Car all day long.

  “Hey,” Janie said. “Can you do me a favor and grab the water on the counter over there?”

  Ethan paused in sitting on the stool next to her. He switched gears and sauntered over.

  “You didn’t ask Janie why she couldn’t get it herself.” Madison grinned at her.

  “I just assumed she was lazy.” Ethan set the glass in front of her and took a seat. “But now that you ask, I assume it is something else.”

  “It’s nothing. I mean, that is why, yes. Lazy.” Janie took a sip, shooting Madison a look of death. “So how’d today go?”

  “Great and weird.”

  “Elaborate, please.”

  “Do you want the great news, or the weird news first?”

  “Great?”

  “I could really use a sandwich.” Ethan hopped off the stool. “Well, the great news is that we found a place. It is perfect. Perfect size, perfect state of disrepair, and low cost. It’s in worse shape than the one we were originally thinking about. I’m excited. I think your work will really shine.”

  “And the weird news?” Madison asked.

  “Dave barely said two words more than was necessary all day. As soon as he closed the deal to rent the space, he asked me to take him to his car. I haven’t heard from him since.”

  Jane gulped. That wasn’t good.

  “Did you ask him what was wrong?” Madison asked.

  Ethan dropped a package of lunch meat onto the counter. “No.”

  She flicked her eyes upward before looking at Janie.

  “Has he been like that before?” Janie asked.

  The doorbell rang again. Madison left to answer it, and this time she shook her head as she came back in. “Just Noah.”

  “Is Dave here?” Noah asked as he walked into the kitchen.

  “No. I was telling the girls that I haven’t talked to him since we closed on a rental.” Ethan held up two types of cheeses and looked back and forth between them.

  “You closed on a rental?” Noah took a stool at the island. “Where is it?”

  “Why are you looking for Dave?” Janie asked, her stomach twisting.

  “Oh. He texted me.” Noah took out his phone and looked at the screen. “Asked me to meet him here.”

  The door opened and closed. Madison started forward, but she didn’t get far before Colton waltzed in, all power and brawn and wide shoulders. He didn’t stroll like Ethan tended to do. “Dave here?”

  The doorbell rang, and Janie clasped her hands together. “I don’t like this. Someone should probably tell Dave that I’m here.”

  “He knows you’re here.” Colton took an apple out of the fruit bowl on the counter. “I texted him.”

  Janie’s stomach flipped. “When?”

  “An hour or so ago, when Maddie said you’d maybe be here for dinner if you guys didn’t get in a fight. I figured Janie wouldn’t run out on the possibility of getting fed, no matter what the situation.”

  “You know me so well, Lionel.” The doorbell rang again. “Let’s pretend we’re not here. Maybe he’ll go kill someone else instead of me.”

  “Do you think he knows about you threatening his mom?” Noah asked quietly. The humor drained from everyone’s faces. They all knew, after all. The only person Janie hadn’t been t
ransparent with was Dave himself. Which would probably turn out to be her gravest offense in the end, but they’d all agreed that he shouldn’t know. Not at first, anyway. He probably wouldn’t have agreed with her tactics.

  Ethan repeated the information about the warehouse rental.

  “Great, you found one?” Colton clapped Ethan on the back. “Where?”

  “You guys, that is not important right now. Is someone going to get the door?” Janie shifted, and then winced.

  “Ah. You got popped in the pooper, huh?” Ethan nodded like he knew her pain. Being that he wasn’t into guys, she had to wonder. “You’ll just have to ride out the day after, sadly. Small dicks are a better bet for the back door.”

  “Wow. You are literally the strangest man ever,” Janie said, not daring to shift again.

  “Yeah.” He went back to his sandwich. “Women really seem to dig it.”

  “I’ll get it.” Noah slid off his stool. “Run if I say so.”

  “Ten-four,” Janie muttered.

  Dave walked in with an easy saunter. A tight white shirt hugged his spectacular torso, and stressed jeans molded to his incredible lower half. His shoulders swung freely, like he didn’t have a care in the world, but his tight eyes and thinned mouth told another story.

  He didn’t glance at Janie as he walked in, or at anyone really, except for a slight nod at Colton. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and popped the top, taking a swig in the ensuing silence.

  “Well? What’s on your mind?” Ethan held his newly constructed sandwich in one hand, waiting to take a bite. “The suspense is a killer.”

  “I spoke to my mom today,” Dave began, looking at the floor. “She mentioned some…troubling things.”

  Janie’s heart crawled up into her throat.

  “When I went to the trailer park to check on her place, I heard about a few situations that were…even more troubling.”

  A few? Noah mouthed at her.

  She grimaced, wondering if the thugs from her mom’s complex had acted on her gentle nudge.

  “I’m going to come out and ask bluntly,” Dave went on, “and I’d prefer an honest response. Did you all know that Janie went to the Hutchinsons’ house—my mom’s neighbors—and then to visit my mom?”