Hidden (Broken Man Book 1) Read online

  Shit. My cock hardens and lengthens, making it uncomfortable to walk. I close the distance between her cottage and mine quickly, and then shut myself inside.

  My dick is still aching, longing for release. I can’t stop thinking about Tia, and then immediately feeling guilty for letting my mind go there. For letting myself think I deserve to have anything else but what I’ve made for myself.

  With a huff, I stalk to the bathroom, yank off my clothes, and turn the shower on full blast. The water is ice cold, but I make myself step inside anyway.

  I yelp when it hits my body. But it does the trick. My erection vanishes completely and I can only think about the cold.

  Well…almost.

  CHAPTER 4

  ___________________

  TIA

  I’m pretty sure my desperate vibes rubbed off on Andy. The instant I touched him, he bolted. Maybe he really is seeing someone and he felt guilty.

  Or maybe, I tell myself, he’s just not interested.

  It’s a blow to my ego. A small one, sure, but still a blow.

  I’d hoped at the very least we could flirt a little and I could still feel like I have a little game.

  But evidently a hot summer fling isn’t in the cards.

  I spend the next few days painting. I paint trees and the lake and, yeah, a hot, shirtless guy hanging clothes on a drying line outside his house.

  But damn, if I’m not getting any, I at least have to let my creative juices flow. Even though there are other juices I’d much rather be letting flow right now.

  I roll my eyes at myself and set down my paintbrush. I’m sick. Truly sick.

  It’s because I haven’t been around people in a few days, that’s all. I’ll just take a walk down to the lake, socialize with someone a little or buy some strawberries from their local market, and then get myself back together.

  I have to pass Andy’s place, but I’ll make it quick.

  But once I reach his cabin, there’s no trace of him. And when I come back, he’s not there either. And for the next few days, I only catch quick glimpses of him, but don’t even have the chance to say hi.

  Yep, he’s avoiding me.

  Fine. I can move on, too.

  The next day, however, when I take my walk into town, he’s standing on the porch. I lift my chin and keep walking, determined to ignore him. But I can feel his eyes on me.

  Finally, I stop and turn. “You have a staring problem?”

  His lips quirk, making me even angrier. “You’re nice to look at.”

  “That was a lame line.” I put my hands on my hips. “Unless that was an apology.”

  “For what?”

  “Ignoring me. Hiding from me. Basically making it seem like I have some sort of disease.”

  His jaw shifts, but there’s a vulnerability on his face I haven’t seen before. I drop my arms and walk to the bottom steps of his porch.

  “Okay, sorry, that was a little harsh,” I say. “But you’re giving me whiplash.”

  To my surprise, he walks down the steps and stands level with me at the bottom. “I know. It wasn’t intentional at first, but then after it got awkward, I figured it was for the best. I’m…not used to socializing with people. And you’re not like regular people. It caught me off guard.”

  “I’m not like regular people?” I ask.

  He shoves a hand through his hair. “I mean, you come on strong. You were flirting with me, weren’t you?”

  I fold my arms. “Depends.”

  “On what?”

  “Are you good flirting material? Are you married or with someone?”

  He shakes his head. “No.”

  “Then, yes, I was flirting with you.” At least now I don’t feel like an idiot for going after a man who’s attached. “It clearly didn’t work, though.”

  He swallows and then takes a step closer so our shoes are touching. “It worked. Too well. That’s the problem.”

  “Problem? I—”

  He cuts off my words with a kiss. His arms band around me, tighter than steel, and mold me to his body. Every inch of it is hard, including his cock, which presses into my abdomen, longing to be set free.

  A flash of fire shoots through me, straight between my legs. I clutch the back of his head to hold his mouth to mine, plunging my tongue between his lips.

  He groans and his hand tightens on my hip. It sends another thrill through me.

  Then he steps back, breathless. “Tia.”

  I blink, still reeling from the kiss. Still feeling his hands all over me, and the hard line of his body against mine. His dick pressing hard into my belly.

  It’s the most erotic moment I’ve had in a long time, and it was over in a split second. We both stare at each other for a long moment before Andy speaks.

  “That…” He swallows and tries again. “There’s proof that your flirting really was working.”

  “Okay.” I’m not sure what else to say.

  He holds up a hand facing me, as if to say, Just stay right there. “It worked and I…I just need some time.”

  Time? My mouth drops open when he walks back up his steps to his front door. He vanishes inside without a word.

  I stay at the bottom of his steps a long time, not sure if he’s coming back. But he’s left me confused all over again and I know one thing for sure.

  Andy might be sexy as hell, but I need to stay far, far away from him.

  CHAPTER 5

  ___________________

  ANDY

  It took a few hours to come to peace with what I did. Practically attacking Tia in my front yard. But when I finally took a moment to think about it, I realized my wife would have wanted me to move on.

  I might not know Tia well, but I deserve to let loose once in a while. And that means I need to make Tia mine.

  That evening, I grab a bottle of red wine from my pantry and walk to her cottage. The front door is open, and I can hear soft music through the screen. She’s home.

  Which means I can apologize and then see if I haven’t scared her off completely. Who am I kidding? I want more than that. I want her body beneath mine, her breathless words in my ear, her gasp when she comes long and hard.

  I knock on her screen door and wait. When she appears, barefoot in cutoff shorts, I get hard again at the simple sight of her.

  But then her face closes off. She folds her arms. “What?”

  I clear my throat. “Can I come in?”

  “Come in? Seriously? We can’t even stand in your front yard without making a mess of things and you want to come in my house? When I barely know you?”

  True. “Can you come out here, then? And I’ll explain?”

  She narrows her eyes. “Explain what?”

  “Why I’m acting like a jackass, okay?” I grit my teeth. Stubborn. I definitely don’t miss that about women. “Damn it, Tia. What the hell was I supposed to do with you standing there looking at me like that? I moved out here to get away from people—the world—and then you come along and I can’t help myself.”

  Her lips curve. “You can’t help yourself? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you’re fucking hot and I wanted you, but I come with a lot of baggage and that was getting in my way.”

  She blinks, and then smiles. “Well, I did say I like when people say how they really feel.”

  She pushes the screen door so I can come in. My gaze goes to the easel in the middle of the room, and then the smudge of paint on her cheek.

  “Damn it,” I say. The creative types just turn me on even more.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. I…” I walk to her kitchen and find a bottle of wine already open. “Wine?”

  She nods. “Sure. Andy?”

  I fill two glasses and then turn. It’s the first time she’s said my name, and it sounds so good on her lips. “Yeah?”

  “If you walk out on me this time, no more chances.”

  “I’m not leaving until this is resolved.”

 
And hopefully that means we’ll end up in her bed, relaxed and free of the sexual tension brewing between us.

  She leans against the counter and sips her wine, watching me as I figure out what to say. I don’t want to get into details, but I want her to understand why this is hard.

  “I lost my wife a few years ago and it killed me,” I tell her. “I moved here to get away from the memory of that. But mostly just so I never had to deal with anything like that again.”

  She moves a few inches closer so her arm brushes mine. “I’m really sorry.”

  “It is what it is. But you came along and fucked it all up,” I joke, giving her a smile. “It’s easy to stay neutral if you don’t engage with people. But you…you’re so full of life, it’s kind of hard to avoid you.”

  She grins. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “It was meant as one. Anyway, all that to say, I wanted to stay away from you but it didn’t work.” I swallow and let my eyes drop to her lips. “It still isn’t working.”

  “I know how you feel.” She sets her wine aside and tips her chin so she can look up at me. “I don’t want to stay away from you.”

  I set my wine glass next to hers and then yank her to me. I hear her gasp and it turns me on. As I lock my mouth on hers, I spin her around so her back is against the cabinet and my body is pressed against hers.

  “I want you, Tia,” I say, kissing her cheek, then her jaw and her neck. “Tell me what you want.”

  “I want you to fuck me. Right here, right now.”

  My dick twitches as I slide my hand under her shirt.

  Exactly what I had in mind.

  CHAPTER 6

  ___________________

  TIA

  It’s like a dam burst. One minute Andy’s playing it cool. Serious. And the next, he’s on fire. He uses his hands and tongue, body moving against mine like he’s been starved for attention for years.

  And maybe that’s the truth.

  He hikes me up so I’m sitting on the counter, and then pulls off my shirt. His breath hitches at the lacy bra underneath. I might be a homebody, but I like my underwear fancy.

  “Shit. You’re so fucking beautiful,” he says roughly.

  I reward him by scooting forward and wrapping my legs around him to hold him close. I nibble at his lower lip, turned on when he groans.

  He grips my ponytail and tugs my head back so he can ravage my mouth. He slides his tongue in and out, leaving me wanting more, while his other hand squeezes my breast. He pulls the cups of my bra down so my nipple springs free.

  While his head lowers, tongue swirling around the taut peak, I reach between us to run my hands under his shirt. His pecks are rock hard, every inch of him toned. The perfect specimen.

  I slide my hand down his abdomen, and then lower, to palm his erection. It strains against his jeans, and the sheer size of it has me wanting to get his pants of ASAP so I can see if what I feel is what I’ll see.

  He hisses at the contact. “Damn it, Tia. You’re going to make me come if you keep doing that.”

  “So easy?” I murmur, my lips curving.

  “It’s been a while,” he says gruffly.

  Which inspires me even more. I rub his dick through his jeans, amazed when it seems to grow even larger. Andy grasps my wrist and pulls my hand away, only to kiss my knuckles one by one.

  “I need you,” I tell him, body straining toward his.

  He grits his teeth. I know he’s having trouble taking it slow, and so am I. It’s been a while for me, too, and all I want is to feel his body against mine. To touch and taste.

  “Fuck it,” he says.

  He hikes me up, making sure my legs are secure around his waist, and walks to the single bedroom around the corner. The covers on the bed are still mussed from this morning, but he doesn’t seem to care or even notice. He releases my legs so my body slides down his until I’m touching the floor again.

  Then he puts his mouth on mine once more. His tongue massages mine, our breaths mingling in the dim room. He tastes like wine and smells like soap. He feels like heaven.

  This time he lets me undo his jeans, and they fall to the floor. He has mine off just as quickly, and then he dips a hand into my underwear almost hesitantly. When he feels my slit, his eyes close briefly.

  “You’re so wet,” he says.

  “So ready for you.”

  He curves one finger inside of me and slides it along my opening. My legs almost buckle at how good it feels. And when he reaches my clit, the jolt it gives me makes me gasp.

  “I could make you come like this,” he murmurs.

  I’ve no doubt he could. His hands are like magic, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he has a lot of recent experience with driving women crazy.

  He kneels to pull down my underwear, and after a moment, his face is level with my pussy. I exhale when he presses a kiss on the inside of one thigh. Then does the same thing with the other. When his tongue touches my center, I grip his shoulders, hanging on for what I know is coming.

  He takes his time, licking me from the bottom up. Dipping his tongue inside and then swirling it around my clit until my knees wobble again.

  “You smell good,” Andy says in the darkness.

  “Oh, God.” It’s all I can manage. My body is already heating, almost ready to explode. “Please—wait—I can’t—”

  He rises, pulling off his jeans and his boxers as he does. My gaze is riveted on his cock. It’s larger than I expected, curved to his abdomen and hard as a rock. As I reach out to squeeze it, he unlatches my bra so we’re completely naked.

  Andy nudges me back on the bed. I lay on the cool sheets, completely exposed and completely turned on. His body is warm when it covers mine, and it feels like bliss to have his bare skin against my bare skin.

  “I don’t think I can wait,” Andy says, breath warm on my cheek.

  “Then don’t.”

  I spread my legs wider as he adjusts. His dick presses against my opening, and I can’t help but lift my hips to encourage him to penetrate me.

  Andy leans down and gives me a long lingering kiss before he plunges inside of me.

  CHAPTER 7

  ___________________

  ANDY

  Tia is snug and hot, her pussy clenching around me tighter than a fist. I hiss out a breath of pleasure.

  “Fuck. You feel so good.”

  I can see she feels the same way. Her lips are parted and her body arches up to meet mine, to push me even deeper inside of her.

  I miss this—miss the closeness of a woman, the feel of her gentle hands on me, the tight squeeze of her legs around my hips, making it hard to control myself.

  There’s no more waiting. I have to have her right now.

  I swivel my hips, picking up a nice rhythm that has her moaning in ecstasy.

  “Yes,” she says in a breathy voice. “Just like that.”

  It keeps me going, keeps the momentum up, though I can feel the explosion coming. It builds and builds until I’m barely hanging on. I can tell Tia’s close, too, but I can’t come until she does. Until we’re both so close to the edge neither of us can stand it.

  Wedging my hand between us, I rub my thumb on her clit, going in circles while her breath catches and her whole body tightens. And when her limbs tense, I thrust deep inside of her a few more times until she cries out.

  The orgasm overcomes her and I let myself go. It hits me hard—probably because it’s been so long. The feeling is ecstasy, my body exploding with adrenaline and the shock of pure pleasure. I make myself plunge into her a few more times to keep the orgasm going for both of us.

  Her fingernails claw at my back for a long moment until we both can’t take it anymore. I collapse on top of her, my breath matching hers. Quick and out of control.

  “Andy,” she gasps.

  I grunt.

  “Are you still alive?”

  I chuckle. “Barely. You?”

  “Just hanging on.”

 
; We lay like that for what feels like hours. When I realize how uncomfortable she probably is, I pull out of her and roll to the side. I already miss the feel of her underneath me.

  Tia turns on her side. She props her head on her hand and smiles at me. “Feel better?”

  “Yes.” It’s true. I feel like I could take a nap and do that all over again. But I definitely feel better. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to have a round two.”

  “Really?”

  I look at her more closely. Tia is a confident woman, but I understand that need for validation. I’ve been there before.

  I touch her cheek just briefly. “Really. I’m glad I came over.”

  “Me too.” She stands, looking far too full of energy considering what we just did. “Want to stay for dinner?”

  “Yes.” No hesitations.

  She flashes a smile. “I’m going to take a shower. Then I’ll find us some food.”

  I listen as she walks to the bathroom, think about how I ended up here. Where I was yesterday, and last week, and the months and months before. And decide I don’t want to be that person right now.

  Standing, I almost trip on her jeans as I get my feet under me. I hear the water come on and some of my energy returns. I could use a good shower, too. And maybe another glimpse of Tia’s naked body.

  Something about her draws me to her, makes me want to change the life I used to have.

  No better time to start than now.

  I step into the bathroom and see her silhouette. I thought I didn’t have it in me, but I was wrong. My dick responds immediately. I go hard just at the idea of seeing her naked again.

  “Are you there?” she asks.

  “Yes.”

  She peeks her head out of the shower. Her eyes drop to my cock and she grins. “Round two already?”

  “Afraid so.”

  With a laugh, she curls one finger, beckoning me, and I step into the shower with her. I kiss her hard, shoving her wet hair off her shoulder to get access to her neck. She’s already sudsy and slippery.