Burning Desire by Marie Harte

Chapter Fifteen

Tex showed up at Bree’s place at eleven with Bubbles by his side and his own tool kit at hand, determined to pay off his debt, no matter how pedestrian the challenge.

When she opened the door, her expression broke into a delighted grin. For Bubbles. “Hey, sweetie, come here. Oh, and come on in, Tex.”

Bubbles grinned and went right in, leaving Tex to fend for himself. He followed and closed the door behind him. “Why, thanks for the warm welcome, Bree.”

She snickered and knelt to give Bubbles a good pet. When she straightened, she looked him in the eye. “You fix my lawn mower, we’re even. And I promise not to tell anyone you cried when I beat you.”

“For fuck’s sake, it was a bug.”

“So you say.” She sniffed and turned to lead Bubbles outside into a perfect, late-June morning. She had a patio table and a few chairs accessorized with throw pillows and a matching umbrella. The small yard had enough space to keep Bubbles happy under the sun that drifted in and out of the clouds. Birds chirped and insects buzzed. It was like a movie set of what a summer day should feel like.

“Love those shorts,” he commented, his gaze on her shapely legs, trying to pretend her skimpy tank top didn’t showcase her breasts to perfection.

“I like yours too.” She gave him a heated once-over that predictably affected a certain part of him. “You’re so…athletic. And big.”

“Stop it, you little witch. It’s not fair. I’m hard and you can tell. Only way I know if you like me is if your nipples get hard. Which, thank God, they are.” He took a step in her direction, and she held up a hand.

“Stop right there, mister. Lawn mower first.”

“First?”

Her lips twitched. “No guarantee of anything, but maybe, just maybe, I’ll be so impressed with your work, I might have to offer a more substantial reward.”

“Shit. What else you need fixed? Your fridge? Car? Air conditioner? I’m your man.”

She blinked. “You can fix those?”

“Honey, I grew up on a ranch in Texas. My daddy didn’t believe in hiring folks when he had big, strapping sons to do ranch work.” He grinned. “Of course I can fix stuff.”

“So, you’re like a handyman, a fireman, and a hunk all rolled up into one human being?”

“Hunk. Yep. That’s me.”

“Hold on.” She closed her eyes, parted her lips, and made soft, breathy sounds.

He froze in place. She used that face when she climaxed.

“Bree?”

She wiped her expression and looked back at him. “Sorry. I just had a mini-orgasm. I’m good now. Get to work.” She petted Bubbles before moving to the caddy of yard tools near her garden. The dog looked from Bree to him and followed Bree outside.

Tex both laughed and cursed the woman under his breath then set out to fix her mower.

It took some doing, but he got it cleaned up and working again. Her garage retained heat, and the weather had warmed, which made him hot enough to take off his shirt, leaving him in athletic shorts and sandals. He’d also gotten grease all over his hands.

He turned to go inside and saw Bree watching him, her expression inscrutable.

“It’s fixed.”

“Can you show me?”

He nodded and wheeled the mower outside around the house to her backyard. He showed her the issue and started the lawn mower for her, then mowed a small strip, which showed how much she’d really needed it fixed. The grass around it looked impossibly high.

Bubbles hid in the house.

“Damn. Bubbles.” He left Bree to find the dog lying down in the living room, asleep. “So much for being afraid.”

“Stop it right there.”

He froze at the command in Bree’s voice.

“Your hands are dirty.”

“I was working with greasy parts.” He turned to see her crooking her finger at him.

“Come with me, cowboy.”

She had a look on her face he couldn’t read, but his body tightened up when he got a good look at her. Seeing Bree in shorts and a tank, now without a damn bra—he noticed—was like walking barefoot over hot coals to get to heaven. He’d do it and like it no matter how much it hurt.

He rose and followed her into the bathroom. “Shoot. I left my shirt in the garage.”

She put his hands in the sink, took some soap, and lathered his fingers and palms, standing so close, she had to see him poking into the washstand. And her hands… She was sliding her hands over his, tugging and stroking his fingers until he couldn’t contain his groan of pleasure.

“Bree, honey, I’m sorry, but you—” He froze when her hands ran over his shorts and down to cup his balls. He rinsed off and dried in hurry.

“I think you deserve a reward for such a good job.” She turned him so that his tailbone rested against the sink.

He stared down at her in awe. “Holy fuck, this is like every porn fantasy I’ve ever had. Except normally I’m the plumber, not the repair man.”

Her throaty laugh made him even harder. Then she let go of him to grab one of his hands and put it on her breast. He felt hard nipples, and the sight of her full breasts unencumbered by a bra really got his motor running.

“I’m hot. Are you hot?” she asked, running a hand down his chest and over his erection barely constrained by his shorts.

He had to clear his throat to answer. “Yeah.”

She guided his hands to the bottom of her tank top and lifted her arms.

He followed her unspoken request and removed her shirt, leaving her topless, clad only in silky, blue shorts.

But before he could take them off, she stepped out of her shorts wearing a white thong that barely covered her pussy. A fucking thong.

“Jesus, Bree.” Who the hell was this woman? And what had she done to his brain? Because he couldn’t think of one damn thing to say or do to make sense of the situation but fuck her until they couldn’t breathe.

“Oh, my hardworking handyman. I owe you a great, big tip.” She winked and licked her lips.

Sweat broke out on his brow, and he felt his body jerk toward her in anticipation of what she was selling.

She slowly moved to her knees.

“Motherfucker. I am just… I can’t… I need…you.”

She winked. “I know.” Then she reached for his shorts and briefs and tugged them down. His cock bobbed, thick and slick with need.

She blew a breath over his cockhead that had him shaking. He watched, his eyes narrowed, committing this to memory. Bree parted slick lips and put them over him.

Tex swore his eyes rolled back into his head, especially when her strong hands gripped his hips and held him still. Her mouth moved over him, taking him in, slowly, her talented tongue slithering over his rod with a finesse that had him swearing under his breath, praying he wouldn’t lose it so soon.

She pulled back and kissed him the tip of him. “You taste good, cowboy.”

“Bree,” he groaned. “You’re killin’ me.” He noticed her tight nipples, her breasts swaying as she leaned closer and kissed his dick again. She prodded his legs farther apart and cupped his balls, rubbing the hard knots.

Then she moaned and started sucking him, taking him in and out as she expertly worked him to orgasm in no time flat.

“Baby, I’m so close. I’m gonna come so fuckin’ hard.”

She only doubled down, taking him deeper. Tex couldn’t help pumping into her mouth, though he did his best to be still, not wanting to gag her when she was taking him to heaven by way of the express lane for sure.

Then she grazed his balls and ran her clever hands between his legs and sucked like a damn vacuum.

Tex shattered. He yelled out and came, emptying inside her as she swallowed him down. He saw bright colors and felt his legs shake, his knees—hell, his whole body—weak.

Bree just knelt there before him, his blond angel licking her lips as she glanced up at him and winked. Then she shocked him by taking his cock in hand and licking him clean, which caused another burst of seed to shoot out over her lips.

She licked it off, and he dragged her to her feet and kissed her, full of thanks and affection and something deeper he couldn’t yet name. He tasted himself on her lips and groaned at the sexy evidence of her care.

“You are the fucking best girlfriend in the world,” he muttered and could have kicked himself when she tensed. “Shit. I mean, well, you, I…”

Her slow smile relieved him. “Blew your brains clean out, huh?”

He laughed, simultaneously exhausted and energized, which made no sense. But then, nothing of this morning did. “Where did all that come from?” he asked in amazement.

And now she blushed. “Well, I—”

“Because I want more. And this time, I get to be the house-husband and you’re the sexy plumber. Now where can I unclog you, ma’am?”

***

Bree had never felt so turned on and sexy in her life. Watching Tex goggle over her, giving her 110 percent of his attention, and knowing she’d been in control of all of it had been as much her fantasy as his, apparently.

She’d always been partial to oral, though she couldn’t have said why. Bree thought it a part of intimacy that only belonged with a committed couple. And she’d wanted to share that with Tex.

His reaction made it all worth it. As did his immediate need to give her an orgasm as well. An unselfish lover, her cowboy.

“Bree, someday you have to give me a naked picture.”

“No way in hell.”

He laughed as he looked her over, his gaze smoldering though he remained half-hard, despite being spent.

“I know, but a guy can dream. You are the fucking prettiest, sexiest, just…the best. The fucking best. Sorry for swearing, but fuck. You destroyed me.” His accent had turned thick, his face ruddy with repletion. “And you’re gonna get rewarded, trust me.”

She winked. “I can’t wait.”

Tex couldn’t either, apparently, because he lifted her in his arms and walked them to her bedroom, then closed the door, setting her down gently. “Sorry. Can’t have Bubbles seeing this.”

She grinned.

He drew her into his body. The feel of his muscles against her breasts captivated her. As did his large hands on her ass.

“Those panties should be illegal. They make you look fuckable. And that on top of the way you already look is hell on a guy. Just sheer torture.”

“Oh?” She toyed with the nape of his neck, and he closed his eyes, as beautiful as he’d said he thought her to be.

Before she could kiss him again, however, he turned her around, controlling her movements with force. “Now, now. You’ve been a bad girl, haven’t you?” He took her hands and put them behind her back, holding on to her wrists with one hand, caught between her back and his front. She couldn’t move them, and she couldn’t see him either.

“Do you know what bad girls get?” he whispered and nipped at her ear.

Oh, wow. If he liked her on her knees, she had a feeling that having Tex act the dominating lover would outdo her performance.

“What?” she gasped as he used his other hand to play with her breasts and pinch her nipples. The small bite of pain was there and gone but fired up her libido as if setting her ablaze.

“They get fucked. Hard.”

“I like this.”

He smiled against her hair. “I thought you might. You bad, bad girl. Stay put.” He left her and returned with a small foil packet.

He took a firm grip on her hands behind her back once more, positioning himself behind her. Kissing her neck, her ear, and whispering naughty things he planned to do with her, he refused to let her move while fondling her. The forced restraint made her crazed with desire.

When he reached between her legs and grazed her sex, she jerked.

“Hmm. You don’t seem to be getting the message. You don’t move unless I let you. I think you need to be punished. Look at how wet you made my hand. Are you sorry?”

“Nope.”

He chuckled and ground against her ass, growing aroused again. She decided to help by stroking any part of him she could reach with her hands behind her back. And he let her, gliding into her palms and giving small thrusts to get himself nice and hard.

Then he shoved her forward, toward the bed. She stumbled, shocked at the sudden change of pace. She heard the packet rip and waited while he donned the condom.

He didn’t let her think about it. Instead, Tex muscled her to the floor and had her on her hands and knees. Instead of smacking her on the ass, which she waited for, tense, he stroked her flank and ran his hands over her hips while he nudged her knees wider.

“Time for the boss to fill you up, missy.”

“Oh, wow.” She tried to back into him and felt a light slap on her butt. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re not. You little hussy.” He chuckled. “Gotta ride the fight out of you, I guess.”

He slipped a finger inside her with ease, her body definitely ready to accept him.

Then he removed it and, without warning, plunged into her.

The force hit the exact spot she needed. Shocked into a climax, she cried out her pleasure while he plunged in and out, taking her to new heights. His hands clung to her shoulders, pulling her tight against him, his intrusion deep yet welcomed, and so incredibly wild.

Bree had never experienced anything like it, and she had no idea how to process such pleasure. Her body, so slick, easily accommodated his size, which only made him move faster, harder. He kept thrusting in and out, and she kept squeezing to keep him inside, clenching in ecstasy as he pistoned before finally groaning and jetting into her.

He held her tightly, their bodies as deeply joined as they could be.

“Bree. Fuck, baby. So good.” He rotated his hips and jerked, then swore as he withdrew. “Honey? You okay?”

“Yes. No.” She sighed, dreamy and panting as she hung her head, trying to come back to earth. “You wrecked me.”

“Back at ya.” He sounded excited. “Damn, Bree. Didn’t know you could drain me to the point of exhaustion.”

“Huh?”

“Exactly.” He groaned. “I need to ditch the rubber. Think we can shower?”

“Yes, please.”

He took care of the spent condom and helped her into the shower, and they hugged as they stood under the hot spray.

“Look, Bree, I gotta say…I have no words for what we just did.”

She opened her eyes and saw him looking concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, that’s what’s wrong.” He scowled. “You’re making me crazy, making me come so damn hard, I saw stars. Acting sexier than a woman has a right to be. I like you too much. Too soon. And now I sound like a fuckin’ moron.”

Bree watched in awe as Tex looked worried. Heck, he seemed almost nervous. “Tex?”

“I can’t do this.”

She didn’t like hearing that. “What?” She wondered if she’d disgusted him by being too needy or too into his domination. “Sorry, I—”

“Nope, I’m talkin’ now.” He had the audacity to cut her off.

Her empathy for his feelings took a dive.

“I thought maybe we could be fuckbuddies. Good friends at least.” The water ran over his face and body, and he looked both powerful and vulnerable. He cupped her chin and kissed her, the touch gentle, then firmer as his tongue pushed through and tangled with hers. He pulled back, breathing hard. “I’ve never felt like this with anyone. It’s sexual. It’s fuckin’ emotional, and I’m not all that great with that.”

She hugged him, and he hugged her back. Just the two of them alone together.

She’d never felt such a perfect moment in all her life.

“We should date,” he blurted.

She pulled back, now feeling her own nerves. “For how long? When do I get to be added to your list of exes?”

He flushed. “I can’t help I dated a lot. I never cheated, and I was always honest. I wanted that with you, to just fuck and be friends. At first. But the more I get to know you, the more I like you.” He looked adorably defenseless as he smiled at her, and she saw a little glimpse of the boy he must have been. “Yesterday was a blast. I mean, nonstop fun. I haven’t been on a date like that ever. Like, I didn’t have to be anything other than me to have a good time with you.” He sighed. “That sounds dumb. But it’s like I know you get me. And you like me, right?”

“I do like you.” She couldn’t help herself and ran her hands over his fine body. “It’s not just about your body either.”

“That’s what’s so great. You’re hotter than I am. I like more than just your body too.” He sounded so proud of that fact. Bree had to laugh with him. “I know this is probably all coming out wrong. Your dad is on your ass about not dating my kind of people. And you have a busy life with the photography.” He swallowed. “But, Bree, when we’re not together, it’s not the same.”

She felt the same way but hadn’t wanted to be the first to say it.

“I realize we’re new, and we just spent two weeks in each other’s pockets, but maybe we can keep going out. Just you and me doing fun stuff. Well, and fuckin’. Because, honey, you have rocked me so damn hard.” He grabbed the soap and lathered her up, paying a lot of attention to her breasts.

“What are you saying?” She ended on a gasp when he turned her around so he could soap up the rest of her. He followed the path of water with his mouth and soon had her back to the wall while he licked between her legs.

Bree should have been too tired to want more sex. Her body, unfortunately, hadn’t gotten the memo.

He pulled another orgasm out of her and smiled. “So, can we?”

“Huh? Sure. Yes. Whatever you want.”

It was only later that she realized he’d committed them to dating exclusively, and that he now had the right to secretly call her his girlfriend.

***

Tex spent the next few hours with Bree in a marathon of sexcapades. And wonder of wonders, she’d said they could forego protection. She was protected from pregnancy, and she trusted him with her safety. He’d never felt so good.

He had her in different positions. He dominated. Then she dominated. They played different roles, and he loved that she seemed up for anything. And that she blushed and confessed how much she’d loved going down on him.

It felt as if he’d won the lottery on life.

Poor Bubbles had to endure the indignity of listening to him groan, yell, and gasp Bree’s name as he continued to enjoy her delectable body.

He wondered if this starry, wondrous feeling he’d found was the same thing his older brothers had with their wives, that his daddy shared with his momma. And what it meant that the thought of not having Bree in his life didn’t make a lick of sense.

He didn’t want to leave her, but he didn’t want to overstay and have her kick him out. By dinnertime, he’d done enough sexing and cuddling to have exhausted him. With a kiss, he left and took Bubbles home for some rest. And rest he did. He slept through to the next morning, worn out and, to his astonishment, still satisfied.

He sent Bree a text with a few flower emojis, laughing when she sent him back a bunch of eggplants and hearts. He never would have imagined she’d be so sexual or so into playing games and making sex fun.

Bree this, Bree that. He couldn’t think of anything without remembering Bree’s smiling face and smiling along with her.

Even his run to the grocery store didn’t bother him, until he ran into Becky, an old flame, in the snack aisle. She’d been nice but clingy a year ago, and he’d ended things before they could get too uncomfortably close.

“Tex, hi.” She smiled and held open her arms.

He gave in to the hug she expected, keeping it brief. “Becky. Nice seeing you here.”

“God, it’s been a while.” She seemed happy, her brown eyes sharp, her dark-red hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her yoga pants and instructor shirt gave testament to the fact she continued to teach yoga. She sure had been flexible, that he recalled. As he studied her, he wondered why he’d ended things with her so soon. Probably because she’d been nice but nowhere near as funny or smart as Bree. Pretty, but not a woman he had trouble not touching or looking away from. Like many others he’d dated.

Huh. Must have been Bree that was different.

“You look terrific,” he said, hoping she hadn’t noticed him cataloging her assets and finding her lacking in any way.

“Thanks. You too. Still a firefighter?”

“Yeah, at the new station. What about you?” He waved at her getup. “Still teaching yoga at your studio?”

She nodded and shyly flashed him an engagement ring. “And I’m seeing someone wonderful.”

He gave her a sincere grin and hugged her, this time the one to initiate the embrace. “Damn, girl. That’s terrific! How’d you meet him?”

She gushed, as if having been dying to be asked. “He’s a trainer at an exclusive studio in Queen Anne. We ended up meeting through a mutual friend, a client, actually. And sparks flew.”

“I hope he knows what a lucky guy he is.”

She grinned. “If he doesn’t, I’ll swing by your station house and point you out. I mean, if you’re the caliber of my ex, he should count himself lucky.”

They made small talk for a few minutes before they left with grand smiles and waves. Tex wished Bree could have seen him, to know that not all of his ex-girlfriends threw water at him or called him names. He started to text her about the incident, then stopped. He knew it was a point of contention with her that he’d dated a lot. Not his fault, but he could see her point. He didn’t think he’d like it if he constantly saw or heard about fellas she’d dated.

With a sigh, he pocketed his phone and finished shopping. Then he headed home and enjoyed a bit of solitude. Though Bree had correctly guessed him to be an extrovert, every now and then he needed to recharge with some alone time. For fun, he lifted weights and went for a run. Then he took Bubbles on long walk, talking to her as they explored the neighborhood in the growing dark.

“Yep. Those are the people who do a lot of stuff they shouldn’t at night with the blinds up and the lights on. And that house has a cat that’s awful cute. Don’t think you’d like him much though.” He noticed she looked at him when he spoke, and though she did her business, nosing around, peeing everywhere she could, she didn’t tug at her leash or stop the walk. She just had minor periods of pausing.

“You’re the best dog, you know.”

She trotted, a sniff here, a sniff there.

“You’re a good listener, aren’t you?” When she gave him a soft woof then kept sniffing, he continued. “Bree likes me.” He smiled, feeling that connection deep inside. “She’s different, Bubbles. I mean, seeing Becky, comparing her to Bree, just showed me how great Bree is.”

He kept thinking that, but he meant it. Bree seemed to take him at face value. Though it was early in their relationship, he didn’t get the sense she wanted to change him. He hadn’t lied about his life. She knew he’d dated a lot and that he was in high demand. But hell, so was she. Successful, intelligent. She was a professional model turned professional photographer, and she’d nabbed a coveted City Arts Grant over several thousand applicants.

But she had issues if she let her father dictate who she could or couldn’t see. The problem being that the man had influence over Tex’s career, one that he’d already established meant the world to him. Oddly enough, despite being with him for only a short time, Bree had started to mean the world to him too.

Mack, though, had given him advice to think about. Best not to rush things and take his time. Perhaps the newness of their relationship made it seem so wonderful, as if Tex was stuck in the honeymoon phase. That would make sense.

Still, he didn’t think he’d ever been as gaga for any of his ex-girlfriends the way he was for Bree.

Perplexing.