When they finally collapsed and passed out, Karla had no idea, but the fragrant aroma of brewing coffee teased her sleepy eyelids awake. She stretched, her muscles begging to stay still just a while longer. The best part of waking up was the fact that she could still feel Mitch in her pussy.And she relished it.She had to admit, she had wild nights before, sexual exploits and brazen adventures, but none with someone who wanted more from her. She rolled over, running her hand over Mitch's empty pillow. He didn't just want between her legs, he wanted… All of her.But could she give him what he asked for?She forced herself out of bed and into the bathroom, washing her face and brushing her teeth with her finger. Noise from the kitchen enticed her and she slipped on one of his old T-shirts she found lying in a corner and headed for the coffee. Mitch stood in the kitchen, wearing a pair of faded jeans, which hung low on his hips. He stirred scrambled eggs in a bowl, his hand gripping the
"I don't believe it," Aimee said from behind her. "You're actually up and cooking breakfast? I even heard you come in early last night. Are you sure you're my sister?"Karla flipped the bacon over. She stood in front of the stove, wearing nothing but a long T-shirt she stole from some guy whose name she couldn't even remember, staring at the sizzling strips in the frying pan. She left work last night as soon as she could get out of there and went straight to bed. Paul seemed happy to get her out the door, her sour mood affecting customers. He probably thought it was still about him, but it wasn't. It was about her. "Just felt like being up, that's all."Karla heard the chair slide around the table and Aimee sat down. "What? No after party? No last call booty hookup?" Aimee asked.Karla gave a soft laugh. "I don't think people talk that way.""But you knew what I meant. So, what happened last night?""Nothing. Last night was boring and normal.""What are you not telling me?"Karla sighe
Mitch wiped his hands on an old rag as he stepped away from the Dodge Dakota. He still couldn't figure out why the damn thing wasn't running and it drove him crazy. He hated not being able to figure out how to make something tick.It was the same frustration he had with Karla. He blew out a deep breath. He just didn't get it. She used sex like currency; she was unfaithful to everyone she met, so why was she getting her panties in a wad over him sleeping with Sandy when Karla and he didn't have any real type of relationship? At least, not at the time. That woman could drive him fricking nuts.Which is why he couldn't just let her go. She wasn't a challenge or a game or a distraction. She was the one who could give him what he's always craved. Someone who was as twisted as himself, who enjoyed sex as much as he did, but not the sex everyone else wanted. No, they both needed it to be out of control, sizzling, free… Twisted. Now he just needed to figure out how to get her to talk to him ag
"Boy, you look miserable."Karla glanced up from stacking glasses to see Charlie leaning against the bar, his fingers intertwined as he studied her. "Not tonight, Charlie.""Um, I didn't say anything except you look miserable. It was an observation of concern."She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure.""Ignore her," Sean said, as he slid behind the bar. "She's been like that ever since she got here. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." He shot Karla a mischievous grin as he winked at her. "Or woke up alone. That's enough to sour anyone's mood. You could always wake up in my bed.""If I wake up alone," Karla said, "it's because it's what I chose. And you're fun to tease, but… Now let it go.""See what I mean?" Sean slid a bottle of Jack Daniels under the bar along with a fresh bottle of Malibu Rum. "Has grumpy butt taken your order yet?"Charlie shook his head. "Nope, just offered me a warm, inviting welcome to Sand Dune.""And you stayed?" Sean asked with a chuckle."What can I say? I
Karla glanced at the clock behind the bar. Thirty more minutes. The slowest half hour of the entire night. Sean was busy wiping down the tables, with only a few people hanging on to their Thursday night buzz. Karla just wanted everyone to go home.Aimee stayed long enough to have two drinks and a slow dance with Clint and then left for home. Or Clint's. These days, Karla never knew where her sister would wake up. Of course, that didn't mean Karla wasn't happy for Aimee; she was. It was just different for her sister, even though Karla knew it was what Aimee wanted all her life—a safe relationship. Yet, Karla wasn't so sure how safe it was with Clint's ex-wife hovering around. It seemed both Harper girls had their relationship conundrums.By the time last call sounded, Karla was done with the evening. Sean locked the back room, tables were cleaned, dishes washed, and money counted. As soon as the clock hands struck that magical hour, she was ready to go. She should have waited.As she st
She stood outside his door, an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach as she ran a hand down the leg of her shorts. Sandy and she talked for two hours at Denny's last night, munching bacon, sipping coffee, and giggling over Mitch Greenway. Karla actually giggled. Sandy just kept repeating over and over how surprised she was that someone actually snagged Karla Harper's attention in more than just a passing fashion. Or at least, without having something Karla wanted. Sandy was quite aware of Karla's viewpoint on men and relationships. The fact that Karla even contemplated surrendering her control boggled Sandy's mind. "I won't lie to you," Sandy said. "I hung around because I just knew you would give him the brush off. He's not happy being in the passenger seat of a relationship. He steers, and I just never saw you taking your hands off the wheel long enough to see where he'd take you.""To be honest, it surprised me, too. I've never been jealous before. I didn't like it."Sandy gave a
Once free, she moved to retrieve her clothes, but he stopped her. "Oh no. You were eager to get rid of them; you can eat naked." He grinned at her, noticing her gaze going to the open window by the breakfast table. "It'll be a great view inside and out."She sighed as she made her way over to the table and sat down, the morning sun caressing her flesh through the window. They were on the second floor, so the odds of anyone really seeing her were slim, but still, it made her nervous—and wet—just thinking about it.Mitch waited until she sat down, and then took the chair opposite hers. She had to admit, the food smelled and looked delicious, her stomach growling a bit as the aroma hit her senses. She was hungrier than she wanted to admit.As he slid into his chair, he gestured for her to eat as he picked up his own fork. "So, anything in your conversation with Sandy I'd be interested to hear?"She toyed with her eggs, thinking over his question. How much did she really want him to know a
"Just remember when you fuck him, though, that you're mine." It didn't matter that they had sex afterward, didn't matter that they talked about work and her mother with Paul and Sandy and a host of other things; the only sentence that kept replaying in her mind was that one. Just remember when you fuck him, though, that you're mine. Mitch didn't say don't have sex with Brad or in case you do sleep with him. No. He said when. It was a given in his mind and he wasn't even upset about it. There was no jealousy. No pouting. No manipulation of getting her to promise she wouldn't do it. Just that she still belonged to him while it happened and afterward. You're mine. His.She questioned him about it, challenging him. "Getting a little possessive, aren't you?"He just smiled. "Karla, I don't want to possess you; I want to own you. And I will."You're mine. I want to own you. I will own you. The words kept repeating over and over and over in her mind. She couldn't even function at work that ni
They were the last ones to arrive at the park, the others already choosing a spot and Marvin Asher firing up the grill. Karla wore a skirt that actually covered everything it should and had her breasts tucked conservatively out of sight. Aimee was shocked but glad. Clint's parents would get to know all about her sister soon enough. Aimee didn't need the first meeting to be a shocker for them.Abby ran to the Ashers first, giving them each a hug and squealing when her grandfather picked her up and threatened to throw her in the air. Then, to Aimee's surprise and delight, the little girl ran to Aimee's mother and hugged her as well. She offered the others a quick hello and then darted for the playground, Clint's mother following just to keep a nervous eye on her. Paul and Mitch stood beside the picnic table, Karla clinging to Mitch's side, as Aimee's mother sat in front of them, all talking and laughing. Aimee stood still a moment, soaking in this perfect scene. They were one big happy f
Aimee stretched, her arms extending out to her side only to come up short as her hand hit another body. Rolling over, she gently ran a hand over Clint's face, a smile dancing across her own. The Saturday morning light peeked through his curtains, calling them to rise and shine, but Aimee ignored it, as she had tried to do every morning since Monday night. Every night she fell asleep beside him, and every morning she woke up wrapped around him, her arms exploring his naked chest. No matter how tired they were when they went to bed, the two of them decided, for Abby's sake, they'd make sure they wore pajamas before falling asleep. A young girl still had moments of nightmares, after all, and needed her Daddy in the middle of the night. Monday night everything changed. Bonnie was no longer his wife. Oh, he still had to stand before the judge next week and make it official, but for all intents and purposes, it was a done deal. Nothing stood in the way of their happiness now.She ran a fing
When the kiss broke, he grinned down at her. "Just tell me we can do some more photo shoots."She laughed again, harder, freer. "Clint Asher, I'll do whatever you want. All you have to do is name it." She kissed him again, this time softer, with less urgency, but just as much passion.When the kiss was over, she slid back into her seat, scooping up her wine glass as she did. "So tell me about today."He did, sharing with her how Bonnie wasn't planning on signing the papers in the beginning. First, he told her Bonnie's revelation of a need for family and why she returned. Then, he explained how he convinced her how signing the papers was the only way for the two of them to get on with their lives, that she could be the best mother to Abby she could be, but she would never again be his wife. He told Bonnie that she needed to respect Aimee and make the transition as smooth as possible. They were Abby's parents, but they would never be friends.When he finished, Aimee told him about Bonnie
The night dragged on, and Aimee could not shake her nervousness. Clint had asked her over to join them for dinner but still had not said anything about what he felt they needed to discuss. He hadn't even mentioned his meeting with Bonnie that afternoon, which made Aimee keep quiet about how the woman visited her. No need to bring up the subject if he was going to end it with her.Abby was a bundle of energy, bouncing on the couch and wanting to dominate the attention. After growing bored with that, she dragged Aimee to her room and played tea, while her father cooked dinner and music played from the front room. As Aimee played dolls with Abby, she wondered if the girl knew the extent of everything that was happening in the lives of the adults around her or if she was blissfully oblivious. For the little girl's sake, she hoped it was the latter."Dinner's ready," Clint called from the front room. Aimee had to admit he sounded happy since she arrived, not as if he was ready to send her o
A knock came at the door. Aimee glanced over her shoulder but didn't move to answer it. If it was Clint, she wanted to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible.Whoever it was knocked again. Karla stepped out of the hallway, glanced at Aimee, and then moved to answer the door. "You worry too much," Karla said over her shoulder.Aimee turned back to the ocean, the curling waves matching the churning in her stomach. She knew she was being dramatic, but she couldn't stop herself. She hated defeat."What the hell are you doing here?" Karla's voice snapped Aimee's attention around. Expecting to see Clint standing there, she was stunned when she noticed Bonnie, the woman ramrod straight, her neck stiff, and one white-knuckled hand gripping her purse strap close to her shoulder. Aimee could feel the confusion furrowing her brow, her eyes squinting, as if trying to make sure she saw what she actually saw. "Bonnie?""Again I ask, what are you doing here?" Karla stood in front of the oth
Something went wrong. While Aimee had no idea what that something was, she knew it had to be about Clint's divorce. Why else would he text her saying they needed to talk right after meeting with Bonnie? The waves barreled onto the shore, breaking upon the sand and rearranging the Atlantic Coast, just as Clint's text rearranged her security, sending her spinning in the riptide of the unknown. She stared at the white foam as the ocean sucked it back out into the deeper waters, reclaiming it as its own. Had Bonnie succeeded in the same thing with Clint? Had she won the fight and taken her husband back? Once again regaining her happy little family?She closed her eyes against the onslaught of scenarios that pummeled her mind, her head screaming against the intrusion. With everything she could muster, she tried to fight the battle within her, giving Clint the assurance he wanted that she believed him when he told her he would be here forever. Yet, it wasn't her experience. Men said whatev
Clint pulled into the local Starbucks, deciding it was the safest place to meet Bonnie to get her to sign the divorce papers. Hopefully, the opportunity for her to respond negatively would be greatly reduced by the public meeting. He had no doubt that meeting her in private would lead to her doing something detrimental to the proceeding. He just wanted to get her to sign the divorce papers and get the whole thing over with, so he could get on with the rest of his life, get on with his relationship with Aimee.He sighed. Hopefully, get Aimee to calm down and return to normal. It wasn't that all the adventures she came up with weren't hot as hell. They were, and he wouldn't mind doing them, but not if she only did them to compete with Bonnie. He wanted Aimee to be Aimee, the woman he fell in love with, the woman who sat on the couch with him and Abby and watched Disney movies, the woman who jumped into a flour fight in the kitchen, giggling and tossing the white powder everywhere. He did
Aimee stretched, her body screaming its protest at her, hating the fact that morning was already here, and she needed to rise and shine. Only one part of that would be possible until after coffee. She rolled over, her gaze drifting to the sliding glass doors at the east of her bedroom. The morning sun coaxed her, urging her to call into work and take the day off, to make a day of it at the beach, the sun's rays kissing her flesh. She grinned, scrunching down into her covers, her mind drifting to Clint's lips on hers, the passion in each one of his kisses, warming her insides like the sun would warm her outside. If she was going to call out of work, she wanted to spend the day in bed with Clint.Once they left his workshop, he went to pick up Abby and then met her at Charlie's for dinner. Abby was a chatty little girl, while she drew on her kid's menu, excited about being out with them. It was even pleasant to sit at a table, Clint's arm stretched across as he held her hand, Abby bounci
They spent the next hour moving things around in his workshop, setting up a photo shoot of the furniture he intended on selling, and making each piece look enticing. Aimee threw herself into the task at hand, examining the shadows cast by the lighting inside the workshop and making a small studio spot off to the side with nothing in the background, using some of his dark dropcloths as background drops. Clint helped her move things around, happy to be the manual labor to her vision for his photos.Outside, night started to fall, casting darker shadows on the ground as lamp posts popped on, offering only a slimmer of light to illuminate the world. Aimee finished taking her pictures: rocking chairs, tables, even a dresser Clint had crafted himself. They teased, laughing at each other when Aimee wasn't so focused on what she was doing. This was her passion, taking pictures, and she could get lost in the process for hours, inspecting angles and lighting, zooming in and out, carefully select