10
LEE
I stroll out the back door of my best friend Tucker’s house. We just finished watching the Georgia/Alabama game. With the game over, the party is starting to make its way outside. He's got a bonfire area, as well as a small pond on his land.
I head for the bonfire pile. I might be a firefighter and get paid to put fires out, but lighting shit on fire is just as fun as putting those fires out. Firefighters are nothing but pyro enthusiasts in disguise.
"You coming?" I shout at Tucker. He's standing in the back doorway with Lindsay, the only woman I've known him to get tripped up over.
"Hold your horses, we're coming," Lindsay calls out to me as she turns into Tucker. I wave them off and keep heading toward the fire pile. I don’t give it long before they’re a couple, especially with how he held her close during the game.
I open the bottle of lighter fluid, making my way around the pile as I soak the wood in the liquid. I want this fire to be big tonight. There's not much better than sitting around a fire after dark on a crisp fall evening. Add in a few beautiful women, some music, a drink or two, and good conversation, and it's my ideal night off.
I get the fire going, making sure it isn't going to jump from the pile; I don’t need to light anything else in Tucker's backyard on fire. He'd kill me if that happened. He’s worked hard to make this land his home over the last few years, making it a place that he can call home with his daughter, and if my suspicions are correct, maybe even Lindsay in the future.
"Hey," I hear a sweet voice call out from behind me. Turning, I see it is Allison. We've been “seeing” each other for the last week. I'm not the kind of guy looking to settle down, or the looking for forever kind of guy. I like to fuck, and I'm not shy about that fact. There’s something about this woman, though, she has a pull that draws me closer. Has ever since we were kids.
"Hey, sweetheart. You made it," I drawl, emphasizing my southern accent.
"Yeah, football isn't really my thing," she says, scrunching her nose up.
"I know." I smirk as I slip a finger through the belt loop on her skintight jeans and pull her closer until she's inches away from me. "How was your day?" I ask, sliding my hand around her hip and holding her close. I suck in a breath, taking in her sweet shampoo or perfume and enjoying it a hell of a lot better than the lighter fluid I just sprayed over the fire pit.
"Good, just a lazy Saturday."
"Nothing wrong with that; you deserve to take some time for yourself," I tell her, brushing some loose strands of hair back and tucking them behind her ear. "Want something to eat or drink? I think there's still plenty of food."
"I ate before I came, but I'll take a beer if there's an extra one around."
"Of course, make yourself comfortable around the fire, and I'll be right back." I release Allison as I step back and take off for the deck. I snag two beers from one of the coolers and jog my way back.
I find her sitting on one of the logs, the flicker of the fire lighting up her features as the sun has now set. I hear music strike up from the deck; Tucker must have turned on his outside system. I sit on the log next to Allison, popping the top of both beers and handing her one. We clink bottles before taking our first sips.
"Thanks," Allison says, her head resting against my shoulder as we both sit facing the fire.
"Anytime," I tell her, taking another swig of my beer. "What's on your mind? You seem a little quiet tonight.”
"Nothing, just been a busy week, and I'm exhausted. I almost didn't come tonight, but I knew if I didn't at least show up for a few minutes, Lindsay would be mad."
"I'm glad you're here," I tell her as I wrap an arm around her shoulder and hold her against me. I might say I don't want more with someone, but Allison has had me thinking otherwise lately. The quick fuck, or night rolling in the sheets and then her sneaking out come morning is starting to get old.
Lindsay makes her way over and sits down next to us. She straddles the log, facing us rather than the fire.
"Did you finish painting today?" Lindsay asks Allison. She pops her head off my shoulder and shifts to mirror Lindsay on the log.
"I didn't even attempt to. I just bummed around. Curled up with a good book and read for a few hours. The only productive thing I did today was clean my bathroom, then took a long-ass bath and finished my book."
"Sounds like the perfect day. Maybe I can come over later this week and help you finish up with the painting," Lindsay offers.
"I'll take you up on that," Allison says before tipping her head back and taking a long drink from her beer bottle. I follow suit and shift so that I'm straddling the log, my legs going around Allison's. I slip a hand along her waist, my fingertips finding bare skin where her shirt has ridden up. It's been a few nights since we were last together, and I find myself itching to get her back to my place and these clothes stripped off both of us.
I sit back, allowing the two women to have their own conversation, adding things now and again. I look around, the crowd has thinned out as the evening has gone on. Tucker finally joins us, and he slides in behind Lindsay on the log, mirroring my stance. The way he was all over Lindsay tonight makes me think that things are brewing between the two of them, and it's just a matter of time before he'll be a taken man.
"Ready to get out of here?" I ask Allison when there's a lull in the conversation.
"Sure," she agrees, a yawn hitting her.
I stand up, then offer her my hand to help her up. I might be a one-night stand kind of guy, but I'm still a goddamn southern gentleman who has manners and knows how to use them.
I lead Allison out to my truck and realize that Tucker is also escorting Lindsay to her car. "Night, guys," I call out to Lindsay and Tucker as I go to open the passenger door of my truck for Allison.
"I'll just follow you so that I have my car," Allison says, stepping up into my space. She drops a kiss on my cheek, then steps around me and heads for her car. I quickly close the door, then jog over to her car so that I can open the door for her. Those manners are coming out again.
"See you in a few," she says, sliding into the driver’s seat. I wait until she's clicked the seat belt across her body before I let the door close. As soon as it is secure, I jog back over to my truck and follow her out of the driveway and down the road to my place.
11
ALLISON
I pull into Lee's driveway. This routine is becoming second nature. I don't know why he insists he doesn't do anything more than friends with benefits. He's such an amazing guy, one that I've known for my entire life and have crushed on for years. If he'd just give things a try, I know we could be more, but he's been firm in his position of no strings. No forever. No labels. So, for now, I deal with it.
"I've wanted to strip you out of these clothes since I laid eyes on you tonight," Lee growls in my ear as we make it through his garage door. As soon as the door snicks shut, he pushes me up against it, and his lips land on mine. I let my hands roam over his ripped torso, up and over his strong, broad shoulders, until my fingers slide into the long strands of hair at the nape of his neck. I revel at the way he moans as my fingernails scrape against his scalp as he does naughty things to my mouth with his own. "Fuck," he growls against my lips. "I love it when you do that," he says before lifting me up.