Naked Love Read online

  Carter smiled, his eyes not looking quite as tired as Mace had first thought. “I wanted to eat dinner with Roxie before I came. I hope that’s okay. Between her deadlines coming up and my workers calling in thanks to that flu going around, we haven’t been able to eat together most nights this week. But I figured I’d come and hang out for a beer at least.”

  “See? You’re being the good husband,” Landon put in. “Us single men over here were forced to eat hot wings that will probably cause heartburn later tonight, but you got good food with your wife. Sounds like the perfect night.”

  Mace grinned over his beer, and Carter rolled his eyes and explained how neither of them could cook but were learning. “One day, we’ll have something better than tuna casserole—the stovetop kind, we’re not up to baking it yet.” Ryan poured Carter a drink since they’d ordered a pitcher instead of going micro-brew that night. Only Landon had money to spare this month since the rest of them were in the middle of life changes that required them to be slightly more frugal.

  “That’s love, though. Eating crappy food you make together.” Mace lifted his beer up in a toast as he said it, and the others joined in.

  Carter rolled his eyes but sipped his beer. “Roxie will end up being a better cook than me, I think. She’s determined.” There was something else in his voice, but Mace couldn’t figure out what it was, and since it wasn’t his business, he didn’t press.

  “Addi’s a pretty decent cook, and we all know Thea’s a damned fine baker and chef. And I think Shep holds his own, too. Seems the talent didn’t trickle down.” Mace reached for a wing, slapping Ryan’s hand away when the other man tried to filch one from his side. He liked Ryan, considered him a friend, but no one got between him and his wings.

  Carter narrowed his eyes at Mace and sipped his beer. “Seems you’ve been spending a lot of time with my new sister, Adrienne, from what I can see.”

  Ryan coughed, his grin widening while Landon looked between the three of them, brows raised.

  “You and your Addi?” Landon asked, his voice sounding a little too intrigued.

  Mace set his drink down and looked at all of the men he called his friends. “She’s my best friend.” Not a lie. Not quite the truth either. But neither of them were ready for the world to know what they were. And the more important aspect of that was that they didn’t actually know what they were to each other yet. Because, for all they praised themselves on talking about their relationship as it was and how they were going to make sure neither of them ever got hurt, he knew they both had their heads in the sand when it came to definitions and feelings.

  And maybe, just maybe, that’s how they were supposed to make things work for them. At least, for now.

  “Yeah? And?” Carter winked as he said it before setting down his beer. He hadn’t had more than a few sips, and Mace wondered if the man was going to finish it. All of them were sharing one large pitcher since they all had to drive home, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. “Don’t tell us, it’s fine. But you should know, I saw the sparks between the two of you when I dropped by the shop. And I have a feeling if Roxie and Thea are in the same room as the two of you soon, they’ll figure it out.”

  “If Shep wasn’t so focused on the shop and his family, he’d figure it out, too,” Ryan put in. “The two of you going off to the storage room together and coming out all red-faced and mussed sort of tipped me off. Just saying.”

  Landon threw his head back and laughed, the others following suit as Mace didn’t confirm or deny what his friends were saying. After all, it wasn’t as if he had to. They already knew. Mace had a feeling the cat would officially be out of the bag with the rest of his and Addi’s family soon if his friends had anything to do with it—at least by the way they were acting.

  Thankfully, the conversation moved onto the Broncos and their slim chances for making the playoffs, and soon, they were stuffed full of wings and mostly water now since they’d finished their one or two beers each.

  They said their goodbyes, and because Mace was a glutton for punishment or perhaps because he was addicted to the one woman he shouldn’t be, he found himself taking an earlier turn than the one to his house and soon sat parked in front of Adrienne’s home. He’d called his sister so he could talk to Daisy before she went to bed, and she said the two of them were camping in Sienna’s bedroom, complete with a pillow and blanket fort. His sister had told him to have fun, and had teased him about seeing his woman. He didn’t think she knew exactly who his woman was, but he was going to take this time he had.

  He hadn’t texted or called ahead, and because she usually parked inside her garage, he had no clue if she was actually home or not. This was probably stupid of him, but then again, he was good at making idiotic decisions recently.

  He turned off his engine, but before he could get out and walk up to her door, hoping she was home, his phone beeped, signaling that he had a text message.

  Addi: Creeper much?

  He grinned, shaking his head as he replied.

  Mace: If you know I’m out here, then you’re the one creeping on me through the window like in that old movie with the birds.

  Addi: The window movie is not the same as the bird movie, dork.

  Mace: I’m woefully inept when it comes to classics, it seems. Can I come in and watch some?

  Addi: …

  Mace: What?

  Addi: That’s the worst line ever. But come inside, and I’ll make you come.

  Addi: I, uh, mean something eloquent and ladylike that doesn’t sound like I’m thinking about your dick.

  Addi: Because I am.

  Addi: I mean, I’m not.

  Addi: I mean, just get in here and let me play with your dick.

  Mace’s laugh filled the cab of his truck, and he shook his head, stuffed his phone into his pocket, and headed out into the cold. He locked the truck behind him and hadn’t even raised his fist to knock on the door before she had it open and her arms around his neck.

  “Hey there, sailor,” she teased. He reached down to cup her ass and lifted her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he walked into her house, using his foot to close the door behind them.

  “You know I get seasick,” he said, turning so he could lock the door before carrying her into the living room.

  “Then I’ll be gentle.” She kissed him then, and he growled, needing her taste more than he needed air.

  “It’s okay that I’m here, then? That I didn’t call?” He didn’t want to cross any lines and knew they both needed their own spaces.

  She bit his jaw and grinned, her eyes bright. “You never had to before you saw me naked. You don’t have to now. Did you have fun with the guys?”

  He kissed her behind the ear, loving the way she pressed into him, practically purring in his hold. “Yeah. But Ryan and Carter figured out we’re doing our thing, and that means Landon knows. Not sure how long we’re going to be able to keep it away from everyone else.”

  She pulled back, blinking quickly. “I figured Ryan, but Carter?”

  “He saw us looking at each other like we wanted to rip each other’s clothes off and brought it up tonight.”

  “Well, then. I guess…I guess we just keep doing our thing and don’t lie.” She was so still in his arms, he had a feeling if he didn’t say the right thing, he’d screw everything up.

  “Sounds good to me, Addi. Now, since I’m not as young as I used to be, I’m going to have to set you down on the edge of this couch so I can fuck you hard in a bit. Okay?”

  She laughed, doing exactly what he’d wanted her to do, and wiggled from his hold so he could set her down. “Why don’t we go into the bedroom? I have that nice, soft mattress. When you’re done pounding me into it, I’ll let you lay down and relax while I finish you off.” She reached between them, rubbing his cock through his jeans, forcing a groan from him. “I really miss your dick.”

  “You say the sweetest things, Addi.” He leaned down and kissed her, know
ing they were far more than friends at this point, though they wouldn’t say it aloud. “The sweetest things.”

  He followed her into the bedroom and stripped off his jacket so he could lay it on the chair she had by the door. Then he took off his shoes and smiled as she leaned against the end of her bed, watching his movements.

  “See something you like?” he asked, his fingers on the bottom edge of his Henley.

  She tilted her head as if studying him. “Maybe.”

  He grinned and slid his shirt up and over his head. “Maybe you’d like it more if I’m closer to you. Say, on top of you as I fuck you into oblivion?”

  “Now you’re saying the sweetest things.”

  He couldn’t hold back any longer. He had to kiss her, had to have his hands on her. They stripped each other out of the rest of their clothes, their bodies coming together as they arched into one another during the kiss. They only let their mouths part to catch their breaths or kiss and lick down each other’s bodies. Even then, he knew he had to rein it in, or he’d blow right there on her stomach like a damned teenager instead of the man he was.

  Mace licked down her chest, taking one nipple into his mouth and sucking while rolling the other between his fingers. He felt, more than saw, her head drop, and her hair slide down her back, touching the tips of his fingers as he held her so he could take more of her into his mouth. He nibbled her skin, enjoying the way she shivered at his touch before he went to her other breast. He licked and sucked and molded each in his hands. Soon, her nipples were bright red like cherries and so sensitive that she made little noises when he blew on them.

  “Mace, I can’t take much more.”

  He moved up and kissed her on the lips, her now sore nipples pressing into his chest. “Then let me make you come.”

  “I want to make you come, too.” She reached between them and cupped his balls, then slid her fingers over his length. He groaned and moved away, a little too close to coming just by sucking on her breasts.

  “I need to have my face between your legs in the next thirty seconds, or I’m going to go back to your breasts and make you squirm.”

  She grinned at him, and he knew she was about to tell him something very naughty and probably something he would totally agree to. “Why don’t we do both at the same time? I’ll ride your face if you let me suck your dick.”

  “You come up with the best ideas, Addi.” His dick twitched, and he picked her up by her ass and tossed her onto the bed. She bounced and laughed. He’d never thought he could have this much fun during sex. Of course, he hadn’t been having sex with his best friend before.

  Mace lay on his back, and Addi moved so she could straddle his shoulders. Her wet and hot cunt hovered over his face, and he couldn’t help but reach out and grab her ass cheeks to move her down so he could lap her up.

  She let out a moan and spread her legs slightly wider so he could have more and take his fill. Then he let out a groan of his own as she practically swallowed him whole. The tip of his cock bumped the back of her throat, and she gave him a hum that went straight to his balls. She stayed there for a moment, moving her throat slightly so it squeezed his dick, and he crossed his eyes before she moved back and let go of him with a wet, sucking noise.

  “I’m going to come in about five seconds if you keep being so damn good at that.”

  She wiggled her hips, and he squeezed her ass harder so she would stop. “Then get to work on eating me out and making me come, and then you’ll be so focused on how I taste and feel that you’ll last just a little bit longer, old man.”

  He slapped one cheek hard before running his hand over the new red mark to help ease the sting.

  “Bad.”

  She tossed her hair over her shoulder and winked. “So?” Then she was sucking him again, and he moaned before going back to her pussy. He licked and sucked around her opening, using one finger to play with her clit. She tasted so fucking good that he was pretty sure he’d be addicted to her cunt if he weren’t careful. He kept up his ministrations until, finally, her sheath clamped around his two fingers and she came on his face. He was so close to coming as well that he had to pull her off him and slide out from underneath her so he wouldn’t lose control too quickly.

  He had her on her back in the next instant, one leg up by her ears and the other below him as he teased her entrance.

  “Shit. Condom.”

  “We already talked about this. We are both clean, and I’m on birth control. Now get in me, or I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands. Again. Because I know how to make myself c—”

  She didn’t get to finish that statement because he speared into her so hard that he was pretty sure his teeth rattled. He waited a moment for her to adjust to his size and then started pounding into her as if there were no tomorrow. Her hips lifted, meeting him thrust for thrust as her hands roamed all over his body as if she couldn’t stop touching him.

  Knowing he was approaching the point of no return again, he twisted them so she rode him. He cupped her breasts and watched her roll her hips, her body fully seated on his. She was so damn magnificent, he knew he would never get enough of her or the way she came for him. There was nothing better than watching her take control of her sexuality and pull every single orgasm from him.

  He reached up and tugged her close so he could capture her lips. Soon, they were both shattering together, their bodies sweat-slick and limp in each other’s arms afterwards. She’d wrung him out and had taken every drop of him. And while he knew he needed to move and clean her up, he couldn’t help but feel a small bit of wicked satisfaction that she was full-up with him.

  He was a sick bastard.

  He knew he needed to get ahold of those thoughts because he also knew this wasn’t permanent. They weren’t going to ruin their friendship, especially with thoughts like the ones he had.

  He held her close, helping her descend from her high, and promised himself that come the morning, he’d get his head on straight. Because he couldn’t—wouldn’t—hurt her, no matter how much he liked her draped on top of him.

  He couldn’t.

  11

  Livvy slammed into Adrienne’s legs, and it took all her power not to fall on her butt thanks to her niece’s exuberance.

  “You’re here!” Livvy screamed, jumping up and down while still holding onto Adrienne.

  Adrienne couldn’t help but smile and reach down so she could lift the three-year-old into her arms. “Hey, baby girl. I am here.”

  She kissed Livvy’s cheek and held her close. She was so in love with her niece and knew she would forever be grateful that Shep and Shea had decided to move up to Colorado Springs. While she knew her brother had done well down in New Orleans and that’s how he’d met Shea to begin with, having her family all in one area made everything so much better.

  Livvy kissed her on her cheek then on her forehead and chin before wiggling down so she could run to another adult and lavish them with kisses and hugs, as well. She’d been shy at first when she first got to know the Montgomerys, but clearly, that wasn’t the case anymore.

  “As Livvy announced, you made it,” Katherine Montgomery said as she walked up to Adrienne. Her mother was gorgeous and totally didn’t look her age. Since she’d had the same color hair as Adrienne for years before she started having to dye it thanks to the silver strands, Adrienne hoped she looked like her mother when she was her age.

  Adrienne sank into her mother’s hug and sighed. “Yeah, I did. Mace and Ryan are holding down the shop so Shep and I could come and be Montgomerys for the afternoon instead of stressing.”

  Her mother patted her cheek. “You wouldn’t be a Montgomery if you didn’t stress over something.”

  Adrienne rolled her eyes before leaning into her mother’s hold. “I did learn from you and Dad, didn’t I?”

  Her mom laughed before going to help Livvy with something on the other side of the room. The Montgomerys tried to have a family dinner at least once a month. With her b
rother coming back home, their dinners had been occurring more often than usual—something she enjoyed even if it was harder to hide some things from them when she needed to. And before the wedding, there had been a lot more get-togethers—for at least the women of the family. Roxie hadn’t wanted a huge wedding, but she’d had the small, intimate ceremony of her dreams. At least, that’s what Adrienne thought.

  Roxie and Carter were off on one side of the room, deep in conversation. The couple went from smiling to frowning at one another often enough that Adrienne had no idea what they could be talking about. But she noticed the way Carter brushed a piece of hair from Roxie’s face and smiled down at her as if she were the only person in the world he ever wanted to look at or be with. He was so in love with her sister that Adrienne had to hold back tears when she looked at him as he gazed the way he did at Roxie. She really hoped the couple had decades of loving looks and time together. It was almost enough to make her wonder if she could find love for herself. Of course, she was afraid that she was well on her way to falling when she truly had no business doing so.

  Thea stood with Shea, laughing about whatever was on their minds. For some reason, the two had hit it off immediately and become fast friends. Even though Thea already had a best friend in Molly, her sister had opened her arms for Shea without balking. For some reason, Adrienne had figured her sister-in-law would have become faster friends with Roxie since the two shared occupations. But in terms of personalities, Thea and Shea had much more in common than just the similar spellings of their names.

  Her dad, William, and Shep manned the grill even as snow began to fall on the frigid afternoon. And while every single woman—minus Livvy—in the room knew how to grill, as well, her father had decided the deck was his domain. He had taught his daughters how to use the Char-Broil for when they had a grill at their own homes, but her dad was very particular about who he let touch his sacred, roaring flames. However, Adrienne had a feeling that Carter would be joining the man at the grill soon. Her father loved the other man like a son, and would probably open his arms to allow Carter near his precious baby grill.