Simmering Love (Slow Burn Book 3) Read online

  I push my hand a bit lower, testing the limit before I feel his hips shift. His shorts don’t hide much, and I can see how I’m affecting him. He wants this to happen, but I know he’ll try to stop me.

  “Pepper,” he says, a warning in his voice.

  Bingo.

  “Shh,” I say. “Let me take care of you. I want to.”

  His mouth opens, but I shake my head again. I push his shorts the rest of the way down, letting his dick pop free of the confining fabric, and I stare at it.

  “Everything okay?” Ben asks, his tone strained.

  “Yep, just inspecting the specimen.”

  God, why am I so awkward?

  “Does it meet your scientific approval?” Ben asks.

  I glance up to see his eyebrow raised and one side of his mouth quirked up. “It’s exquisite.”

  I look back down and wrap one hand around it, the softness surprising me since it looks so … well, hard. I touched it briefly the other night, putting the condom on, but now, I get to feel it and memorize it. I lower my head, and I hear Ben groan as my lips wrap around the tip. I brush my tongue across him, tasting his skin. I tilt so I can look at him, and he has his eyes closed, his head thrown back.

  He brings one hand up and pushes it through my hair, gripping lightly as I move down, taking him in further.

  “God,” he moans.

  I feel him tense every time I flick my tongue back and forth on the underside of the head. It seems all my research into the best blow job might pay off. I pull back, and he opens his eyes to look at me.

  “Tell me what you like,” I say, shyly dropping my eyes.

  Really? Now, you are shy?

  “I like anything you do.”

  “Okay, well, tell me if you don’t.”

  “Not possible.”

  I smile and fist him again, wrapping my hand around the base and feeling how hot his skin is. I bend back down, placing my mouth around him again, and go lower. The tip hits the back of my throat, and I pop back off, gagging slightly.

  “God,” I say, wiping my lips.

  Ben chuckles. “You don’t have to go all the way down. Here, put your lips around me, and I’ll do some of the work.”

  I nod and do as he said.

  His hips keep rhythm, making my head bob, meeting me every time I go down, and a groan punctuates each suck on the way back up. He’s careful not to go too far in, which I appreciate.

  I add a hand, twisting along the base of his cock as I continue to take him in and out of my mouth. This is probably the most erotic thing I’ve ever done.

  “Pepper,” Ben says, gritting his teeth.

  He tugs on my head, trying to pull me up, but I stay where I am, continuing to twist, suck, and lick. A human vacuum really. What I lack in experience, I make up for in enthusiasm.

  “Pep,” Ben says again, this time pulling hard.

  I stop to raise my head and look at him. He fists himself as he brings my head to his mouth, crushing his lips against mine. I feel something warm hit my hand, where it rests on his stomach. His tongue probes my lips, and I open, letting him push in, tasting me as he angles his head more. I groan as he pulls back, planting a light kiss on my nose before I open my eyes.

  “I wanted to finish you off,” I say, looking down to where his cum lies in lines across his halfway-bared stomach and shirt.

  “I’m sorry. I forgot to ask before, and it was all happening so fast.” He pulls his T-shirt off over his head and wipes himself off before popping his shorts back into place. He balls up the shirt and places it on the floor. “But believe me, that was fuckin’ sexy,” he says.

  I have to drag my eyes away from his torso to look at his face. “Thanks. I did a lot of research. But next time, I get to do everything.”

  I grin, and he starts to chuckle before he wraps his arm around me again, pulling my body against his. He captures me in a gentle kiss—once on my lips and then on each corner of my mouth—making the butterflies in my stomach start a riot. Ones that don’t calm down the rest of the evening as we lie on the couch together, watching TV and talking, content.

  26

  Ben

  I grunt and then mutter a curse under my breath since I’m trying to be quiet. I freeze when I feel Pepper shift beside me, and then I start to move again as her breathing evens out. Slowly, I pull the covers back, a grin curving my mouth up as I look at her in nothing but my T-shirt.

  Damn, it looks good on her.

  These last two weeks of finally being with Pepper has done me a world of good in raising my spirits while my ankle is healing, and I can’t imagine life without her now.

  I’ve been able to go out to some construction sites and supervise. The navigating my new work schedule is slow, but firefighting has been out of the question since I’m on crutches. I can’t go back until I’m one hundred percent again.

  I tentatively reach out and run my fingertips down one thigh that I’ve exposed, watching her skin flinch in reaction, and she shifts again.

  I still haven’t heard from Mark. The worry I felt has been replaced with anger because he hasn’t checked in. He called me and then left me to wonder. Finding him in the bathroom in a puddle of blood has been messing with my head. The department has been investigating the cause of the fire, and I’ve been following it closely, but there hasn’t been much word.

  I move further down and replace my hand with my mouth, laying a trail of kisses along her smooth skin before she finally murmurs something, letting me know she’s awake.

  “Again?” she asks in a sleepy voice, a light laugh accompanying the word.

  “I can’t get enough,” I say and then bury my nose in her stomach.

  If Pepper had it her way, she would hop on and ride me like a bull—her words, not mine. For now, we are making do with what we can, and it’s been wonderful.

  She scoots down a little and opens her legs, so I climb in between them while tracing a path along her stomach with my tongue. She squirms, and I rise, blowing a stream of cool air on the wet lines. I watch as the goose bumps erupt on her skin.

  “Come here,” she says, pulling on my arms.

  I slowly slide up her body, pushing with my good foot. I pull her T-shirt up, taking one erect nipple in my mouth and biting down softly before she laughs again.

  “I want a kiss.”

  “I want a taste of everything,” I say before moving to her other nipple, flattening my tongue on it and then running it up to her breast and neck before finally coming to rest my lips on her mouth. “You’re amazing,” I whisper against her, and she sighs.

  My phone ringing on the bedside table takes my attention, and I lean over slightly to see who it is.

  Ezra.

  “Hold on,” I say, pecking her nose with a kiss before sitting up and answering the call. “Hey,” I say, stretching my neck side to side.

  Pepper presses her front to me, kissing my shoulders, and I fight back the urge to groan.

  “Hey, man, there’s been some news. It looks like it was arson. Seeing as Mark and the other man were stuck in a bathroom, him injured and a dresser in front of the door, they think it’s a high probability that someone was trying to hurt them in the process. I’m sorry, man.”

  I let out a sigh, and Pepper stops kissing, just placing her cheek on the back of my neck and wrapping her arms around my torso.

  “They haven’t found the other guy yet?”

  “Nope, no word about him. Have you heard from Mark?”

  “No.” I reach back, squeezing Pepper’s knee. “I’ll let you know if I do.”

  “Sounds good. Hope your ankle is feeling better.”

  “Thanks, man. Talk to you later.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  I hang up the phone and drop my head a little.

  Arson.

  “Everything okay?” Pepper asks, her breath skating across my back, where she’s still pressed against me.

  “The report came back, indicating arson. They think Mark is c
onnected somehow with those who did it. I don’t like this. I hate worrying and not knowing where he is.”

  “I know, baby. Mark is a grown man though. You are not responsible for him, not anymore.”

  “I know.” I sigh, letting the silence hang in the air.

  “How’s your ankle feel today?” Pepper changes the subject, and I’m grateful.

  “Ankle? What ankle?” I say, turning and pressing my mouth to her forehead, nose, cheek, and the corner of her mouth.

  She giggles, and the sound rockets straight to my dick. I groan and drop my head to hers, eyes closed as I just breathe her in.

  “Hey, you okay?” she whispers, bringing one hand up to run her thumb along my cheek.

  “I’m perfect. I just want to stay here all day.”

  “I wish we could, but I have to go to school. Why don’t we get out later and do something fun? We spend way too much time in this apartment.”

  I nod against her head, and I can feel her face shift as she smiles.

  “Great. I—”

  I capture her mouth in mine again, cutting her off. Pulling away, I stare down at her for a beat, memorizing her face as she gazes up at me. I lightly push against her, watching her lie back on the bed, and then I move further down her body to finish what I started. I settle myself between her legs again and smile when her hands find my hair as she pushes herself up toward me.

  “Impatient?” I murmur along one thigh as I nip the sensitive skin.

  “You have no idea,” she says, bucking against me.

  I don’t make her wait any longer. Finding her clit with my thumb, I push down and dip my tongue between her folds in a languid lick, watching her eyes close and face relax as she relaxes her head back into the pillow. I continue to make lazy circles with my thumb while I lick. Bringing my other hand up, I push one finger into her. She gasps, and I smile against her pussy. I live for those little sounds, the moans and breaths that let me know exactly how I’m affecting her.

  She grips her fingers tighter into my hair, bringing her legs up around me and resting her heels on my back, digging in to lift herself higher.

  “So greedy.” I laugh.

  “Shut up and get back to work,” she says, moving higher.

  “Yes, ma’am.” I draw my finger out and push it back in. Pulling my thumb back, I suck her clit into my mouth and curve my finger up, knowing exactly what she likes after this past month of experimenting.

  “Oh God, yes. Right there,” she says, her face drawing up in concentration now when I glance at her. “Right there,” she whispers this time before pulling her head up and locking eyes with me as I feel her contract around my finger, her mouth parted in an O that always makes her look surprised.

  I don’t release her clit until her pussy stops contracting, and she drops her head back to the pillow, a satisfied smile on her face.

  “Again,” she demands.

  I chuckle. “What about school?”

  She groans, throwing a hand across her face. “I’m dropping out.”

  I snort, and she breaks out in a smile, grabbing the covers to pull over herself.

  “Get up,” I tell her, pulling down on the covers. “You’re going to smother me. I’m still down here.” I cock an eyebrow.

  “Wait, I need to take care of you,” she says, suddenly sitting up.

  “You can later. I don’t mind a little afternoon delight. You need to get ready.” I maneuver myself out from between her legs.

  “Fine,” she says with an eye roll before turning over to lay a soft kiss on my lips.

  She hops out of bed. Facing me, she slowly and seductively pulls her T-shirt up her body as she walks backward. Tossing it on top of me, she blows a kiss and then giggles as she runs into the hallway, her ass shaking and making me harder than I was before.

  This girl has ruined me.

  I lie in bed for as long as I can after Pepper leaves for school. I finally make myself get up to refill my water. I’m trying to drink slowly, so I don’t have to make many bathroom runs on crutches when there’s a loud knock on the door. I pause, confused about who would be coming to visit in the middle of the day. I’ve decided that someone has the wrong door when the knock comes even louder, and I hear someone talking.

  “Ben, open up. It’s me.” Mark’s voice rings out, and I flinch, but part of me feels relieved that he’s alive.

  This can’t be good.

  I hobble over to the door as quickly as I can and reach to unlock the dead bolt. Positioning myself to the side, I turn the knob and fling the door back, catching it with the bottom of my crutch to hold it in place. I’m surprised when it’s not only Mark standing there, but also two guys I would purposefully avoid if I ever met them on the street. And I’m not small.

  Mark shoots me an apologetic look mixed with a little bit of fear, and my stomach sinks. One of the large guys reaches out to push the door further open, and I pull my crutch back as the three of them step inside, the door slamming shut behind them with an ominous thud.

  “What’s going on?” I raise an eyebrow at Mark before letting my eyes shift to the two pro-wrestler-type men who have their arms crossed over their chests, looking like they want to sit on top of me until I can’t breathe.

  “Ben, I need help,” Mark says, his voice a little shaky, and I know my sinking feeling earlier was right. This isn’t a friendly visit. “I need some money.”

  “What happened to the money I just gave you? What happened to you? You just left the hospital with a head injury.” I glare at him, angry for being so careless.

  “The money is gone.” Mark fiddles with the hem of his shirt, not looking at me, his eyes darting around wildly. “How did you know about my head?”

  “I was the one who carried you out of the burning building.”

  One of the two guys narrows his eyes at me.

  “I-I didn’t know.” Mark shuffles one foot.

  “I know. You were unconscious. I tried to come see you at the hospital, but you had left.”

  “I had to,” he says, his eyes looking back toward the two men.

  I rein in my anger, realizing that this is something that should be talked about later.

  “How much do you owe now?” I sigh, looking between him and the two men who haven’t moved. Maybe they are his bodyguards. Here to protect him from me jumping on top of him and pummeling him into the ground.

  “Thirty thousand,” one guy answers in a gruff voice, and I see the color drain from Mark’s face.

  “You said twenty-five,” he squeaks out.

  Nope, not his bodyguards.

  “Was twenty-five, but the boss wants interest now. He’s tired of you not paying up.”

  Fuck, Mark. I run a hand over my face and look up, hoping that God will write the answer on the ceiling for me.

  When nothing appears, I lower my eyes and squint, brain continuing to tell me that I don’t have an answer. I know these guys won’t accept that.

  “How much time do you have?”

  “Time’s up,” the second guy says, voice even more gruff. It’s like these guys gargle rocks for their morning routine.

  Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  “What did you do?” I twist my body to glare at my brother, who has constantly been a thorn in my side.

  “I’m sorry, Ben. I’m sorry, okay? I just got in a little too deep on my debts. I promise I’ll be better after this. I just need your help one last time.”

  “That’s what you always say,” I spit out. “Can I have a week?” I ask to the henchmen, praying they will accept.

  They look at each other, talking low, and come to an agreement before turning back to us.

  “One week. No longer,” the first guy growls. “He stays with us.” He grabs the back of Mark’s collar, pushing him toward the door.

  A flash of light catches my eye, and I spot the pistol tucked into the back of the big guy’s shorts. My heart races as I scramble.

  “What if he stays here, with me? I’ll make
sure you get paid and that he doesn’t go anywhere.”

  The guy turns back to me. “He comes with us. You have one week.” He doesn’t have to say the rest.

  Or else.

  The guy glances around and walks to the shelf, picking up a few frames and looking at the pictures inside. He turns to me with one, holding it up as he cocks his head to the side.

  “Your girlfriend?” He points to Pepper, raising one eyebrow, a smile curling his top lip up to reveal a set of teeth that have seen better days.

  I swallow. “Nope.”

  “Don’t lie. You don’t want her to get hurt, do you?”

  What? Is this a shakedown?

  “Thirty thousand. One week. And don’t involve the cops.”

  I knew Mark was doing dumb shit, but I didn’t know how deep he was into this. I didn’t know what kind of people he was involved with. This is Mafia-type shit. He knows better than to mess with those kinds of people.

  Or does he?

  I nod, rooted in place as they leave, the door shutting as loudly as it did when they came in. It takes a few minutes for my heart to stop racing.

  Holy fuck, he had a gun.

  He had a gun. What is my life?

  Wait a minute.

  He threatened Pepper. He fuckin’ threatened Pepper. And he had a gun.

  I can feel my crutches shaking, and I realize that it’s my hands causing the movement. I quickly shuffle over to the table and pull out a chair, sitting down before I fall over.

  I’m so angry with Mark for getting us into this, but I’m also angry with myself for enabling him. I know he’s an adult, but I should have said no. It’s clear that he didn’t use the money I had given him to pay debts. He probably spent it on more gambling.

  I groan as an ache rolls over my leg. I want to punch something or someone for the predicament I’m in now. I have a week to come up with thirty thousand dollars, or who knows what will happen to Mark?

  At first, I thought the guys were just trying to act all big and bad and intimidate me. But guns? They mean business. And I’m now their business.