There had been an instant attraction between the two, but as far as Sun knew, neither had acted upon it.
“No, Sunbeam. She’s all kinds of gorgeous, but …”
“But you gave your heart to someone else.”
“You might say that.”
“When?”
He lifted a shoulder. “You’ve been gone a long time.”
“Wait, it’s not really my mother is it?”
He laughed. “No, though I have to admit, if not for your father, I would’ve proposed to that woman years ago.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“When did you get a bacon tattoo?”
He glanced down. On the left side of his impressive abs sat two slices of bacon. “Told you. You’ve been gone a long time.”
“You got a bacon tattoo and didn’t tell me?”
“’Parently.”
“It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.”
“I’m like a wild stallion, Sunburn.”
She tried not to snort. She failed. After taking one more sip, she put her glass on the nightstand, and scooted down beneath the covers.
He did the same, turning to face her. “It’s really too bad.”
“What is?”
“That you’re missing out. I could’ve made the heavens open up and the angels sing.”
“You’re that good, huh?”
“I would’ve made you question everything you know about the S-word.”
“Syphilis?”
“You’d never be the same again.”
A languorous sigh escaped him as the Sandman lured her closer and closer to oblivion. It had been a long two days. Then again, who was she kidding? It had been a long four months, and she didn’t know what she would’ve done without Quincy by her side. “I am in love with you, you know.”
He ran the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’m in love with you, too, Sunburn. In so many ways.” He leaned forward and kissed her again, his mouth warm and pliant against hers.
When he leaned back, she grinned at him. “Kissing you is like kissing my brother.”
One sexy corner of his mouth lifted playfully. “You don’t have a brother.”
“Which makes it even weirder.”
“Yeah, well you drooled in the car while you were sleeping.”
“Shit,” she said even though she already knew. “Was that the deal-breaker?”
He laughed softly, his eyes drifting shut. “Honey, if my standards were that high, I would never date at all.”
“Who is she?” she asked him one last time before letting the darkness overtake her. She thought she heard a name whispered on his breath but couldn’t be certain.
She dreamed of rain. It pelted the metal around them, but they were safe inside. The space was cramped, but she didn’t care. That just meant he had to be that much closer to her.
Hands caressed her back. Slid over her ass. Cupped her breasts. Hands she’d wanted to be caressed by for so long she could hardly believe it was actually happening.
Sitting astride him, she leaned back and gazed into the whiskey-colored irises of Levi Ravinder. So exquisitely real. But he was younger. She was younger. They took refuge from the downpour inside his old truck. Where some would see a pile of junk, she saw a classic. It fit him perfectly. The sensual shape. The warm colors. The growl it made when he’d cruised into the parking lot that night at school. He’d graduated already, but he’d come back for the big game, and Sun’s world toppled all over again.
Lightning flashed bright and hot to reveal his heavy-lidded gaze as it slid over her. She sat straddled atop his lap and he pulled her down to him. Pressed her mouth to his. Pushed his fingers between her legs.
She’d never felt anything like it. Heat flooded her nether regions like a tidal wave of molten lava. It pooled in her abdomen and throbbed with a sensation so exquisite, she bit her lip to keep from gasping aloud. Then his hands were at the waistband of her jeans. The button. The zipper.
Cool air rushed over her when he peeled them off only to be replaced by the warmth of his palms. Long fingers spread her apart and pressed inside, and that familiar pressure formed in the distance. Each time he brushed his thumb over her clit, the pressure grew, coming closer and closer. He bent his head and drew a nipple into his mouth.
A knock sounded on the window. She tried to look, but he kissed her again. Pushed deeper. Rubbed faster. She sucked in his warm breath, and he laid her back on the seat, parting her legs with the expanse of his shoulders. Then his tongue, like liquid fire, slid over her clit. She grabbed handfuls of hair, unable to keep the climax from rocketing toward her.
The knock sounded again.
“Mom?”
Sun jerked awake and regretted it instantly. Pain exploded in her head, making her dizzy and nauseous. The bed dipped as her daughter sat beside her. Sun scooted back to give her more room, only to run into something beneath the covers. Something large and warm snored softly beside her, and since she didn’t own a dog, she could only guess who was still in her bed.
She fought the urge to slam a hand over her face. Instead, she fluffed up her bedspread to camouflage the lump, pried open her eyes, and looked up into the adorable, angelic face of her child.
“You’re going to be late for work,” Auri said, still in her pajamas. “But if you have a minute, can I talk to you?”
“Of course,” Sun croaked.
“When did you learn Klingon?” the child asked. Hilarious. Then she giggled and the sound burst inside the cavernous recesses of Sun’s mind like a claymore.
Sun raised a finger to her lips and patted the tiny creature’s face.
Auri giggled again. “Here.” She led Sun’s hand to something cool and round. A glass.
Sun pushed it away until she heard two plops and a fizz. God bless her.
“When will you learn not to mix red and white?” the little minx asked her.
“How do you know—”
“Can we talk girl to girl?”
Sun struggled onto an elbow and took a sip of the bubbly liquid. Then she remembered once again who was under the covers with her and the adrenaline rush churned her stomach.
She had to be cool. Maybe her one-and-only offspring couldn’t make out the huge lump in her bed. He was on his stomach, so he was semi-flat against the mattress.
“How did you know you were pregnant?”
Sun’s lids flew open and a loud gasp echoed in the room.
Auri laughed so hard she fell back on the bed beside Sun.
“Aurora Dawn,” Sun croaked. “You are evil.”
“Duh. I inherited my evil ways from you.” Then, as nonchalantly as if Auri were reaching over to pluck a grape off a vine, she lifted the covers and peered at Sun’s bedmate.
“Hi, Quincy,” she said.
Sun saw a set of long fingers wave from under the blanket. “Hey, bean sprout. This isn’t what it looks like.”
Auri tilted her head in doubt and leveled a calculating gaze on her mom. “I think now would be a good time to remind you what a great kid I am. And how I would never judge you for sleeping with your best friend.”
“I didn’t,” Sun said.
“We didn’t,” Quincy concurred.