The Neighbor (Enemies to Lovers Book 1) Read online

  “Uh…yes. All of those. Yes.”

  Which meant he was dangerous. Dangerous because he wasn’t attached to the redhead and dangerous because her body wouldn’t stop straining toward his. If she didn’t have an excuse to stay away, to dislike him, she was jumping head first into danger.

  “Your heart is beating so fucking fast,” he said.

  She realized his chest was touching hers and that his scent filled her nostrils, heady, woodsy with a hint of sweat. Had he just finished a show? Was that why his voice was a little gruffer than normal, a rough murmur that made her wet? That had her entire body throbbing with need.

  A sigh slipped out, and Cruise took it as an invitation. He slid his beer on the counter, simultaneously gripping her waist with his other hand and jerking her against him.

  His mouth locked on hers, tongue plunging inside and eliciting another moan. Her hands sought out his chest, fingers running up rock hard pecks. He gripped her wrists and then pinned her hands to the counter behind her, body flush against hers.

  “I want you,” he growled, his cock pressing into her hip.

  Her breath jerked in, and she reveled in the feel of her nipples smashed against his chest. Wished there weren’t any clothes between them.

  “Cruise…”

  His name on her lips was halfway between a plea and a caution. Her body said yes and her mind said no.

  He released her wrists and wound the fingers of his left hand through her hair. “Say you want me,” he whispered.

  Sensation rolled through her body when his fingers tightened. His other hand slid down her side, grazing her breast and then skimming her hip before sliding under the waistband of her flimsy shorts.

  “Say you want me,” he ordered again.

  His fingers brushed her abdomen and then moved inside her shorts. He rubbed the lips of her pussy through her underwear. “God, you’re so fucking wet. Say it.”

  Her body shook. She had to hold herself back, to force her hips not to press into his hand.

  “The blond,” she blurted before he completely erased her mind of logic.

  “What?”

  Jenna scooted out from between the counter and Cruise and nearly ran for the living room. She found her glass of wine and lifted it to her lips, taking a long swallow. “She’s over there all the time, too.”

  He frowned. “A groupie. One of our first big fans. I don’t—”

  “I’m sure there are others, too,” she continued, nearly tripping on his guitar when she walked around the coffee table to put more distance between them. “All sorts of women lined up at your door.”

  And at his shows. He probably had the choice of a different one every night.

  “What the hell?” he said. There was still evidence of his arousal pressing hard against his jeans. “You want me out of here, all you have to do it say it.”

  “It’s not—”

  “Yeah, we’ve got groupies. We’ve got women in the front row, barely dressed and hollering our names. We’ve got fans—and I’d be fucking pissed if we were this far into it and didn’t. I’m in a band, Jenna. What the hell do you expect?”

  He’d never said her name before. And she hadn’t expected irritation the first time the word fell from his lips—especially after what had just happened in the kitchen. When her body was still trembling from his hands and his words.

  Danger!

  “I can’t do this,” she said.

  He shoved a hand through his hair and glanced at the door. For a moment, she thought he was going to walk straight out and leave his guitar behind. Then he strode in her direction, shocked her by taking her wine glass and setting it aside, and then gripped her arms.

  “Do what?”

  “You—you’re with someone. I—I’ve been cheated on before. Trust me, I couldn’t do that to someone else. Or be a part of that.”

  He gritted his teeth and nearly spat at her. “Is that the kind of person you think I am? That I would cheat on someone with you? I stayed away because of the fucking pink polo, thinking you had a boyfriend, and then I find out you don’t and you—what? You think I’m a shitty person?”

  She opened her mouth, but he gave her a soft shake, making her shut it again.

  “I don’t cheat,” he bit out. “And if me practically making you come while you’re pinned to the kitchen counter isn’t the best indication of that, then we have nothing else to say to each other.”

  He released her without another word. He gathered his guitar case and yanked open the door, leaving her standing in the middle of her living room with her heart racing.

  She blinked and he was gone.

  Chapter 4

  ________________

  Cruise

  The club was chaos. He’d never seen this many people packed in here for a show.

  “We’re going to crush it tonight,” Maya said, sliding a velvet guitar strap over her shoulder.

  Her leather pants coated her legs like a second skin and ample cleavage showed off well-rounded breasts. Sure, they had history. But they were adults now. Business came first. And why the hell did that matter? It was a long time ago.

  But Jenna’s accusation still gnawed at him. He’d almost been unfaithful before—close enough to still feel guilty. Again, that was a long time ago. He hadn’t gone through with it and he never would. But he still couldn’t seem to get her words out of his head. She’d have pissed him off less if she’d kicked him in the balls.

  He didn’t take well to false accusations, and that one hit too close to home. He got a certain reputation hanging around the gaggle of rocker girls—not to mention his history of short-lived girlfriends. But that didn’t intrigue him anymore. Settling down with the right woman sounded a lot more appealing than hooking up with a new one every night.

  “You should unbutton your top button,” Maya advised.

  His other bandmate, Trey, looked over with an amused grin. “Gotta give the ladies what they want.”

  Cruise gritted his teeth. He’d given Jenna exactly what she wanted last night, and she knew it. Damn it all to hell. Why couldn’t he just let it go?

  With a flick of his wrist, he undid a few buttons and tossed a grin at the rest of his bandmates. “I hear you.”

  Focus. He had a job. And any other day, he found his job fun, so he needed to get back to that mindset.

  He heard the announcement out on stage and nodded his head in that direction. “Looks like that’s us.”

  They started off loud, playing off the crowd’s energy. He sang back-up vocals like this was his first show, and got lost in the lyrics. In the beat. In the mood.

  Maya nudged him with her arm as they came together at the mic and he smiled. They did play well together, and it was one of the best things he had going for him. By the time they’d gotten to the sixth song, he’d nearly forgotten about Jenna.

  And then, suddenly, she was there. Right in the front row, with a handful of other women.

  Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, picking up a glint of red from the stage lights. If possible, her shorts were even shorter than the ones she wore last night, and her breasts pressed against the material of the T-shirt she wore.

  Despite his prior irritation with her, he felt his lips twitch. The front of her T-shirt said #Groupie.

  His eyes locked with hers, and when she licked her lips, his cock jerked in his tight jeans. Damn that woman for distracting him again. And thank God she was here, eyes dark and smoky and staring straight at him.

  He had no idea why she’d come, but he couldn’t wait to find out.

  When they took a break, he jerked his head to the side of the stage, making sure she got the message before he walked straight behind the curtain and around the corner. A security guard stopped her and Cruise stepped in.

  “She’s cool, Joel. She’s with me.”

  Cruise grabbed her arm and hauled her to his dressing room in back, checking the time on his phone along the way. Jenna caught up to him in her tall heel
s and legs that looked a mile long.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked once they were inside.

  She leaned her back against the door and lifted her chin. “I came to apologize.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Jenna arched one brow and drew the word out like he was a child hard of hearing. “A-po-lo-gize.”

  “Yeah, I heard you the first time. Why?”

  She sighed and stepped away from the door. “Because you’re right. I made an assumption, and it was wrong. I should have just asked you outright.”

  He propped his hip on the corner of the couch. “You should have.”

  “As evidence of my apology, I purchased a ticket to get in here, which helps support your band. I had to do some asking around to even figure out where you were. And I saved you a beer. To pick up where we left off last night.”

  All his blood went straight to his groin. His dick strained against his jeans. “Damn it, Jenna. I’m off my game because of you.”

  She smiled, lips the color of cherries. “I’ll take that as your apology to me.”

  “My apology?”

  “For being an ass.” She moved closer. “For treating me like your annoying neighbor.”

  His hands itched to touch her. To grab her tiny waist and yank her against him, so her nipples puckered against his chest and her pussy grew wet with how bad she wanted him.

  “You were my annoying neighbor,” he said, voice husky.

  Another step closer and she rested her hands on his knees. Slowly, she pulled his legs apart and moved in. He felt her breath on his cheek, felt his balls tighten in anticipation.

  “What am I now?” she asked.

  “A woman, sexy as hell, making me die a little because I have to get back out there for the second set.”

  Her lips moved in a pout. “Right now?”

  He wasn’t sure who made the first move, but in an instant, they were tangled together. She shoved her hands under his shirt, dragging her nails across his abdomen. He groaned and spun her around so her back was against the wall. Her body strained against his, tits full and waiting for his hands.

  He wasn’t shocked to find her braless, but his brain short-circuited when her breathy words reached his ears.

  “I want you inside me. Now.”

  His dick ached for a release. “Tonight. After work.”

  “Work,” she murmured. Her hands grazed the front of his jeans. “Sounds like you don’t enjoy it.”

  “Right now, focusing on work is a chore. Once I’m finished and with you again, there’s no stopping. You’re going to come so hard you won’t be able to stand.”

  In response, she nibbled his ear. “Bring it on.”

  Chapter 5

  ________________

  Jenna

  Cruise’s sexy voice nearly killed her during the rest of their songs. By the end of the show, her panties were practically soaked. And when they finally reached her apartment, she could barely keep her hands off of him.

  There was only one dim lamp on inside the apartment, casting shadows across Cruise’s face. He set his guitar case by the couch and walked toward her.

  “I have your beer if you still want it,” she said.

  He shook his head. “I want you.”

  A shiver of anticipation rained down her body. God, she wanted him too. All over her. Under her. On top of her. In her.

  “Cruise,” she whispered.

  He stalked toward her, like a panther tracking its prey. “Say it again.”

  “Say what?”

  “My name. I like the way it sounds on your lips.” He reached out and gripped her chin to stare at her mouth.

  “Cruise,” she murmured.

  He jerked her to him, making her breath catch. Her body was flush with his, and she could feel every hard line, every sinewy muscle, the press of his cock against her hip.

  She moaned in approval and locked her arms around his neck. His breath was hot on her cheek, then her neck as he trailed his mouth across her skin. In one swift movement, he gripped her butt and hiked her up. She automatically wrapped her legs around his waist, fingers already fumbling at the buttons on his shirt.

  He walked to the hallway, glancing one way, then the other. She pointed to the bedroom before undoing his last button.

  “I need you naked,” he said, voice gruff. “Now.”

  When he reached the bed, he released her legs and her body slid the length of his. She let her fingers wander over his bare chest before running down to his abdomen. He hissed out a breath and then grabbed the hem of her thin T-shirt. He had it off in seconds and didn’t waste any time flicking open the button on her shorts.

  He nudged her back on the bed, and the cool comforter welcomed her. She reached for him but he only grinned and grabbed her wrists. He pinned them above her head with one hand, fingers strong. Firm.

  His other fingers did an expert dance down the side of her breast, her hip, and to her panties. When he dipped his hand inside, he released another breath. “You’re so wet for me already, Jenna.”

  Her back arched slightly when he slid his palm over her wet slit, brushing her sensitive clit. Before she could draw another breath, he plunged a finger inside of her. Then another, making her hips pump against him.

  “God, Cruise…”

  Those callused fingers worked every inch of her pussy, the evidence of her arousal leaking onto the bed. One more plunge and she cried out as the orgasm rocked her body, making fireworks spark behind her eyelids.

  “That’s it, come for me, Jenna,” Cruise murmured.

  He pulled her panties down and dropped them on the floor. He tossed the rest of his clothes there as well and stretched next to her, his long cock curved and thick. A drop of pre-cum glittered on the tip. She licked her bottom lip, imagining taking the length of him in her mouth, so deep she could feel him at the back of her throat.

  But before she could move, his hands were on her wrists again, shackling them to the bed. Her body bowed against his. “I need to feel you in me. I want to taste you.”

  The muscles in his shoulders and arms bulged as he held himself above her. “So greedy.”

  He rubbed the head of his cock along the slit of her pussy, spreading the moisture and making her squirm beneath him. He lowered his head to take one taut nipple between his teeth. A sharp pinch of arousal shot straight to her center. Her pussy ached to be filled and to feel the release again.

  God, she’d never been this aroused by any man before. She’d never wanted someone so bad—especially someone she’d been so irritated with a few days ago. His body was rock hard, a fucking statue of perfection and she wanted his damn cock in her already.

  “Come here,” she murmured.

  And he obeyed. Even though her wrists were still locked in his grip and her body was pliant under his, he obeyed. His dick slid inside of her, stretching her wide, filling her with heat.

  “You feel so good.” His eyes traveled down the length of her torso, lingering on her breasts before moving down to where their bodies joined together. “We fit, better than I thought.”

  He was right. It felt right, them coming together, his cock slick with the evidence of her arousal. She moved her hips against his, urged him to pump deep inside.

  Cruise released her wrists, freeing her to draw his mouth to hers. His tongue speared inside her mouth while his fingers gripped her hip. She panted as he pumped faster, and grabbed a handful of his ass.

  “Harder,” she said, breathless. “More. I want more—”

  His growl cut her off. She felt his hand press between them, jolted when his thumb brushed the top of her pussy, and rubbed the tiny nub.

  A few quick strokes and she shot over the edge again, shouting his name. Her body shook with waves of pleasure, rolling and rolling as Cruise slammed in and out of her. His fingers dug into her hip with one last plunge before he jerked against her. His cum filled her, spurting hot.

  “God,” he choked out, chin lowering as he fi
nished. “Thank God you came to the club tonight.”

  She stroked his chest. “Thank God you apologized.”

  He squeezed her hip, making her yelp, before rolling to the side with a laugh. She expected him to stand, maybe even to gather his clothes, but instead he scooted up on the bed and rested his head on a pillow. Her pillow.

  “It smells like you.”

  She blinked over at him, sated and curious. “What does?”

  “Everything. Your pillow, the comforter. The air. It’s all around me.”

  His words drew something from her, something soft, an emotion she hadn’t felt in a long time. She wasn’t used to pretty words or compliments. Wasn’t used to men who were hard and soft at the same time.

  He reached out. “Come here.”

  Her pussy was still wet when she crawled in his direction. His arm came around her and she pillowed her head against his chest. He drew the covers over them and ran his fingers through her hair. “I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”

  Surprised, moved, she curled her hand on his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeat and warmed by the heat of his hard body as she fell asleep.

  Chapter 6

  ________________

  Cruise

  He rolled to the side, the scent of her filling his nostrils. But when Cruise opened his eyes, Jenna wasn’t there. He noted she’d pulled the covers up on her side. She’d also picked up her clothes from the floor and put his on the dresser, folded nicely.

  Cruise smirked. Of course. Jenna Stanton had her shit together. But things had gotten pretty dirty last night, and that was the side of Jenna he was falling for. Or maybe he’d already fallen. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she moved in.

  When he heard the sound of the shower from her bathroom, he got up and walked in. She saw him before he could surprise her. At the sight of her naked body through the glass door, his cock grew hard immediately, his balls tightening.

  “Did I wake you?” she asked.

  “No.” He stepped inside the shower with her, the steam rising to meet him. “But I wish you would have.”