Vick Read online

  “Dawdle.” She repeats. “That’s a funny word.”

  I can’t help but smile at her. Fully woman, yet so playful. I love it. “On the count of three?”

  Chloe nods. “One…two…”

  “Three.” We throw open our doors, and quickly make our way to my truck. Chloe’s squeal echoes over the rain and I rush to her side, making sure she gets into the truck first before making my way over to the driver’s side. Once we’re both inside and soaked to the bone, neither of us can stop laughing.

  “How’s my hair?” She asks, cracking herself up.

  I want to tell her that she looks beautiful. That her smile lights up my soul. That I haven’t had this much fun with a woman in years, if ever. Instead, I pull down the visor mirror and Chloe gasps.

  “Wow.” She leans in closer to her own reflection, wiping away the mascara smudged under her eyes.

  I shake the rain from my hair and start my truck. Wow is right. And the craziest part of all is that somewhere deep inside, Chloe knew something like this was going to happen.

  4

  Chloe

  If I thought Vick looked good dry, it’s nothing compared to what he looks like soaking wet. The whole drive over I sneak peeks at him. His arms flexing through his wet t-shirt as he drives up a small hill—the car only skidding once, thank God—and pulls into a gigantic double driveway. My visibility may be limited with the storm, but there’s no mistaking the size of Vick’s house.

  “Are you kidding? I didn’t even know this was here.”

  We pull into the garage.“I like my privacy.”

  Tiny droplets of water drip from his chestnut hair into the neck of his shirt. My tongue trails across my lips thinking about how it would taste to lick it right off of him. “Besides, it’s close enough to town, and feels like a world away.”

  Once we’re both out of the truck, Vick’s around to my side faster than I expect. Maybe he was going to open the door for me. Maybe I should’ve let him. I shake the thought from my head. It’s not like this is a date!

  The wind shakes the trees outside the garage. “I’m not sure where the donut is. Why don’t you go inside and dry off while I look for it.” His hand finds my lower back before I can answer, and I realize that it wasn’t a question. We enter at the other end of the massive garage and my jaw nearly hits the floor.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” The entire house looks like something out of an architecture magazine. “This place is glorious.”

  I slip off my shoes, leaving them by the door. “My friend Ford designed it. He’s got a gift, man.”

  “You can say that twice.” I start to step into the window-lined great room, complete with a fireplace and an open concept kitchen that would make a professional chef cry tears of joy, but stop myself when I feel a drip of wetness tickle my shoulder. I look back at Vick, and his tiger eyes are staring into me.

  “I’ll grab you a towel.” He brushes against me as he passes, sending a wave of heat through my core. And if that wasn’t enough, he gently lifts his wet t-shirt over his head as he walks out of sight, showing off his broad, toned back in the process.

  I dramatically lean my shoulder against the wall and let out a breath in a private moment. This man keeps getting better and better. And this house? Clearly the rumors about him coming from money must be true.

  Vick rounds the corner and hands me a fluffy white towel and a set of clean, dry clothes. He’s stripped off his jeans and replaced them with athletic shorts. With his shirt still nowhere to be found, my eyes burn holes into his strong, massive chest. I’m doing myself a favor. His treasure trail of light brown hair trickles down past his six pack heading straight into the seam of those shorts. Dear Lord.

  “Thank you.” My throat constricts, but I get the words out.

  “The bathroom’s down the hall. I’m going to run outside and get the donut. Then, we’ll have some wine.”

  “Music to my ears.” I manage a smile before wringing my hair with the towel and tiptoeing in the direction of the bathroom. I close the door behind me and press myself up against it. “What the hell is happening?” I suppress a giggle by slapping my hand across my mouth.

  Thunder rumbles outside as I take all of my clothes off, dry myself down, and slip on the clothes Vick gave me. I have to roll the boxer shorts up twice for them to stay on my hips. A black and white Vick’s Auto Body t-shirt completes the look. Add that to my frizzy mane and raccoon eyes and you’d wonder why I’m not Instagram’s next big influencer.

  A squeeze to the ends of my hair is the best I can do. I take a deep breath and head into the living room with a definite kick in my step. In the time I was in the bathroom, Vick built a fire in the fireplace. The crisp crackling scent of burning wood melts my shoulders down my back. Talk about relaxing. I love thunderstorms when I’m not caught in them. This is nothing short of ideal.

  Being here with Vick is the cherry on the sundae. My nipples stiffen in his shirt, and I rub my palms against them, begging them to go down before he gets back inside. And as if on cue…

  “I found one.” He says from the kitchen.

  “Augh!” I gasp, my hands darting around my waist. “I didn’t see you there.” I clear my throat, heat rising to my cheeks. “You work fast.”

  Not fast enough to find a shirt, though. His eyes dart up and down my body, taking in my oversized wardrobe. His wardrobe. “When the storm lets up, we’ll figure out next steps.” I nod, in no rush to leave this gorgeous house and even more gorgeous man. “In the meantime, let me throw on a dry shirt, and we can pick out a bottle.”

  I give a curt nod and watch him walk back down the hall. Who is this guy? A mountain man mechanic with a wine cellar and a multi-million dollar home. Have I died and gone to heaven?

  The tires in my brain screech.

  Just because I’m here doesn’t mean he likes me. He could just be doing me a favor. Being a Good Samaritan and helping out a neighbor. I don’t want to get my hopes up and I don’t want to let my burning desire for him to throw me on that sofa and taste every inch of my body get out of hand.

  Too late.

  Besides, something tells me—at least for tonight—we’re going to have some fun. I don’t know how long I stand there when Vick reappears in a sensible white V-neck t-shirt that hugs his muscles as hard and tight as the wet t-shirt he’s replaced. “Shall we?”

  “Lead the way.”

  We head down the cellar stairs, thunder rumbling overhead. If I didn’t trust my instincts, I’d be scared that he was leading me to my death. But the calm that surrounds me when I’m around Vick cannot be denied.

  With my thoughts on overdrive, I accidentally almost miss the last step and stumble forward. Vick turns and catches me by my waist. I let out an awkward laugh, but when I look up into his sparkling eyes, he’s not smiling. He’s looking at me like I’m his next meal.

  I sure hope so.

  5

  Vick

  I can’t believe how adorable Chloe looks in my clothes. The amber glow of the fire lights her face as she sips her vintage Bordeaux. I threw together a cheese plate, so I’ve got most of my bases covered. Except something’s been on my mind since she got here.

  “What?” Chloe cocks a brow, again reading my mind.

  “That. How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Pick up on shit.”

  Chloe giggles, covering her mouth with her hand. If she were any sexier I’d die. “I don’t know? I just feel things.”

  A quick silence passes between us. I’m dying to know more, but I don’t want to pry. “Is it just like a woman’s intuition?” Chloe sets her wine glass down, top teeth devouring her bottom lip. “Do you not like talking about it?”

  “It’s not that I don’t like talking about it.” Chloe crosses her thick legs underneath her. Her smooth, tanned skin begs to be touched. “It’s just when I was little, I always got made fun of. Not that it’s their fault, really. Small, blue-collar town mental
ity doesn’t always leave room for people like me.”

  “Is that why you’re here?” I sip my red wine, my complete attention on the curvy beauty baring her soul in front of me. “In Wild County, I mean.”

  “Yeah. I lived in the city for a while, but I needed to be around nature. It helps me listen to myself. Honestly, that’s why most people choose the country environment. Our instincts are easier to understand when there’s not as much noise.”

  “I don’t have instincts.”

  “What? Of course you do. Everyone does.”

  “Well, if I do they suck.”

  Chloe refills my glass. “Care to elaborate?”

  “Only if you go first.”

  Chloe’s blue eyes narrow on me. She lets out a long breath. “Kids made fun of me and called me weird. Hell, adults made fun of me and called me weird. All because I knew things that I couldn’t quite explain. As a kid it tore me up, being different and crazy.” She uses her fingers to make air quotes. “But the older I got the more I realized I’m just meant to listen to myself. When I do, good things happen.”

  “Like your tire blowing out.” I roll my eyes. “I’m so sorry I didn’t catch that when you came to the garage.”

  “Vick.” Her fingers graze my arm as I lift my glass. “You couldn’t have caught it. I hit something. It’s not your fault.” Dammit this woman is perfect. By the time this night is over, I’m going to make her mine. She belongs by my side. “Your turn.”

  “My turn, what?”

  “No, no, no, no! Do not play coy with me Vick Tucker. What the fuck are you doing out here in Wild County with a house like this, a wine cellar like that, and a modest garage like the one you own.”

  Now it’s my turn to let out a long exhale. “I grew up in the city. My parents are socialites. My dad’s a Fortune 500 businessman and I’ve always been expected to follow in their footsteps.”

  “So why didn’t you?” Chloe presses the glass to her full bottom lip.

  “Because I couldn’t take it anymore. Being around that scene. My parents spent my entire childhood beating my own instincts out of me so that I could fall in line and do whatever it was they wanted of me. Go to the right school. Get the right job. Marry the right woman.” Chloe’s face falls ever so slightly.

  “So you ran away from it all?”

  I have to smile. “I’ve never been married.”

  “See.” Chloe’s megawatt smile lights up her face. “You just read my mind.”

  “I’ve always been good with cars. My driver taught me how to fix them up when we’d vacation in the summers and my parents would go out to their fancy parties.”

  “Driver? Wow.”

  “Working on cars is the only time I ever feel in touch with that instinct. The one thing my parents couldn’t wrestle out of me. I trust myself. Except for predicting tire blowouts.” Chloe giggles at my rotten joke. “I feel awful about that.”

  “Vick, if the tire wouldn’t have blown.” She sets down her glass and peers up at me through her long lashes. “I wouldn’t be here right now.” Chloe’s glistening lower lip summons me toward her. I set down the glass and lean forward.

  “Ever had any premonitions about me?” I reach for her hand. She lets me take it.

  She covers her mouth with her fingers when she laughs. Even against the glow of the fire, I can tell she’s blushing. “Maybe.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Oh, God.” She whispers, her eyes squeezed tight. The last thing I mean to do is make her uncomfortable, but this woman’s an enigma, a code I’m dying to crack. But right now, there’s only one thing I can think about.

  I pull her hand away from her mouth and press my lips against hers, warm and soft. She opens her lips and I slide my tongue against hers. She tastes sweet like wine and I can’t get enough. Her hands move to my chest as I press her closer, our tongues intertwined.

  “I’ve wanted you since the minute I saw you setting up your shop.” I moan into her mouth.

  “I feel the same.” Her soft, playful kisses tickle the sides of my lips. “It’s like all of this was supposed to happen, Vick. Some call it coincidence. I call it fate.”

  As much as I don’t believe in fate, I can’t deny that this whole experience is uncanny. I kiss her again, deeper. Lightning flashes through the wall of windows. And with a loud snap! The power blows.

  The fire continues crackling, its light the only thing illuminating the room. I brush a strand of hair away from Chloe’s face, unable to control the rapid stiffening of my cock. I lay her down gently and roll on top of her. A small gasp escapes her lips.

  “What do you think about signs now?” She whispers into my mouth between soft kisses.

  My hardness presses against her mound. “If that’s not a sign, Chloe, then I don’t know what is.”

  6

  Chloe

  Vick’s strong body pins me down in front of the fire, his mouth ravaging my own. Without panties on beneath my borrowed boxers, I’m certain my juices are already running down my legs. Right now I don’t care. My fingers dip along the grooves of Vick’s muscular arms, and without a second thought I wrap my legs around his thick waist pressing his excitement closer to my center, grinding the right spot against him.

  “You’re so beautiful.” His hot breath against my neck sends shivers straight through me. “I want you so much, Chloe.” Vick’s fingers find the hem of my t-shirt, and I sit up, allowing him to pull it over my head. I’m not going to be the only one getting naked though, so I pull Vick’s shirt off of him, revealing that incredible, ripped torso I’d previewed earlier. My nipples swell to attention. Vick’s skillful mouth engulfs my aching peak as he lays me back down.

  My fingers fist the back of his hair while he plants a trail of hot kisses down my stomach. A long stream of cool air escapes my mouth. I raise my hips, allowing Vick to slide the boxer shorts over my ass. He tosses them to the side and positions himself further down between my legs. It’s been so long since anyone’s done this. My tummy’s hot with nerves and anticipation.

  “You’re so wet,” he says, running one finger along my slick entrance. A small gasp escapes me as he eases one finger into me. The fire casts a heavenly glow against his well-defined back, and I can’t help but suppress a giggle. The Tarot card I drew for him was right.

  My knees fall open as he saws in and out of me. “It’s been a while.” I bite my lip, hoping his finger will loosen me up. Something tells me, as big as he is I bet he’s packing some serious heat underneath those shorts.

  “That’s okay. We’ll ease into it. If that’s what you want.”

  I lift my head and peer down at this God-like mountain man with his head between my legs. The look in his eyes, passion and honest concern. My entire body turns to melted lava. This is the kind of man I could really love.

  “It’s what I want.” I whisper. Vick smiles and his eyes narrow before he lowers his head, and trails his tongue along my slit. Goosebumps erupt up and down my legs as he sucks on my throbbing bud, still gently sawing his finger in and out of me.

  “I love the way you taste.” Vick moans, planting kisses along my inner thighs, his finger deep inside of me tapping my secret spot. My body seizes as desire takes hold.

  “Shit.” My hips jolt forward and electric warmth explodes from deep inside. Vick laps up every bit of me, sucking and rubbing me senseless as I come all over his face. When I finally subside, breathless and weary, Vick kisses his way back up my stomach until he presses his lips against mine. Tasting myself on him, I part my mouth, giving him deeper access.

  “That was amazing.” I say pushing him up a bit, and gripping his hard length through his shorts. “Get these off.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Vick moves quickly, helping me pull the shorts down over his hips. He springs to life. His glistening tip bobs against his stomach. I crab walk up onto my elbows, unable to avert my eyes from his massive shaft.

  My gaze meets his. “Go sit on the couch.”

  A yelp
escapes my mouth as Vick scoops me off the floor like I weigh nothing. “Since when do you get to call the shots?” He leaves me breathless, carrying me to the couch while kissing me silly. Our mouths fit perfectly. Once we’re in front of the sofa, he sets me down on my feet, pulling me close, unable to unhinge his body from mine.

  I push him away from me, and press him onto the sofa by his sculpted shoulders. He looks massive on the soft, cozy sofa. Taking his length in his hand and giving it a stroke, his eyes dance up and down my body. “Just let me look at you for a moment.” He strokes himself as he takes me in.

  At first I’m a little self conscious. I’m not a gym girl, I don’t diet, and if I want a brownie I’ll fucking eat it. But the way he looks at me, lower lip tucked between his teeth while he pumps himself, it’s a short lived emotion. This man wants me. And goddammit, I want him back.

  I straddle the giant man, straining my hips a bit in the process. “Move your legs closer together,” I whisper, rising on my knees so that I can position myself on top of him. “I have protection.” His hands find my breasts, kneading and pinching my peaks between his fingers.

  “No need, I’m on the pill.” I wrap my hand around his hardness and guide him slowly inside of me. White hot lights appear before my eyes as he stretches me back into shape. It hurts so good, and it’s hard to be patient. The sooner I can adjust to him, the sooner I can enjoy this. I grit my teeth and slide down his length.

  “You okay, baby?”

  With pinched eyes, I give a curt nod, thens slide down enough that the invisible barrier between pain and pleasure breaks. Wetness erupts and I glide up Vick’s thrusting hardness.

  “Holy fuck that feels good.” Vick moans. Now his eyes are pinched, and a sense of power washes over me. I press my palms against his marble hard pecs and let my hips do the work, finding the exact spot I need. His hands wrap around my waist as I grind against him.