Vines (The Killers #1)

by Brynne Asher

“Addison,” I call as she reaches for her door. When she turns, I drag my eyes up from her ass to her eyes. “Nice dress.” Now I’ve pissed her off because she hitches a foot, putting a hand to her curvy hip. “No one calls me Addison. It’s ‘Addy.’” That surprises me. I expected the dress comment to piss her off, not her name. I give her a half grin, repeating, “We’ll see.”

He thanks the server before returning his attention to Addison, like he’s studying every feature of her face. It’s only because I’m a practiced hand that I don’t let my emotion show. But that fucking pisses me off.

My focus is on Addison, watching her speak, controlling the conversation. She’s doing this with small gestures, nothing exaggerated or overdone. But the way she uses her body when she talks, any man would gladly sit for hours listening to her just for the privilege of watching her move.

Then, as if my brain switched to slow motion, I watch her lightly swipe a piece of her thick dark hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. She looks across the table, her dark brown eyes lit with happiness as every feature on her fair-skinned face comes to life with a smile. Fuck.

This strange sensation is foreign, something I’ve never experienced. I can appreciate a hot woman, but my entire body seizing? I’m fighting the urge to charge across the room to get her away from him, when I don’t even know why he’s here.

I can’t take my eyes off Addison. Fuck. As Bev and Evan argue on about ghostly incidents, I watch a smile creep over her features. A real smile, not even like yesterday in my truck when I had her close. Not only does she smile, but she fucking glows, her entire being radiating joy. I see it ripen by the second. The woman is beautiful, there’s no doubt, but seeing her like this? It’s like nothing else I’ve ever witnessed.

“You can’t go to the White House barefoot. Put your shoes on, Addy,” Bev keeps on. Giving up, I step over to sit on the bench in the hall. I try and hurry with my shoes, but they’re both waiting and watching. After stumbling with the first, I jerk, surprised when Crew is all of a sudden crouched at my feet. I didn’t even hear him approach. He doesn’t say a word, but his big warm hands circle my ankle, making efficient and quick work of the delicate clasp. When he finishes, he doesn’t stand, but slides a hand up the back of my calf, giving me a light squeeze. When I look up, he’s got a smirk on his face. “We would’ve been here all night and missed the dinner.”

Silence engulfs us as the car comes to a stop at the entrance of the winery. There’s no traffic and I’m about to ask what’s wrong, when I feel a warm touch on my bare knee. I look down and the tips of his fingers are barely caressing my skin, making my eyes dart up in surprise.

He slowly pulls his hand away, once again leaving goosebumps in their wake. His voice comes out low when he utters, “Never carpooled with anyone more beautiful than you, Addison.”

A hint of a smile teases me, thinking might get the dimple, but I don’t. “No, I guess I should correct myself and say, I’ve never done anything with anyone more beautiful than you. Ever.”

“You’ll stay close to me tonight.” It’s a statement, not a question, and it confuses as much as surprises me. Especially following his sweet compliment, making me frown. “I’m sorry?” “Stay close to me,” he repeats. “Why?” My voice comes out stronger and even more baffled. His hand returns and this time his touch is firm, his big hand wrapping around the top of my knee, giving me a squeeze. “I want you close. You’ll stay at my side.” Again, a statement. And, sort of an order.

while trying not to think about how good he smelled or how I still had the itch to touch him, I gave in and started to ramble.

Finally, he reached over and touched the bare skin of my thigh again, making me jump. He gave me a squeeze, his warm hand searing into my skin reminding me of my itch to touch him, when he smiled warmly, but looked amused. “Addison, calm.”

With Addison at my side, I find myself wanting nothing more than to fall into some sort of normal with her. I’ve never had normal, whatever that is. She’s mesmerizing to look at, talk to, and be with.

If I could’ve held her hand there forever, I would’ve. It felt perfect, right over my heart where I didn’t even know I needed it. Fuck me, but I’ve had a hard time focusing all night because I’m thinking of ways to get her touch back and never lose it.

His lips land on mine like he’s kissed me a million times in the Red Room of the White House. His other arm encircles me, his hand is hot and searing on the bare skin of my back. My body is frantic—I can’t help but whimper. When I do, his tongue dips in and I taste him for the first time. He tastes like my Whitetail Cabernet mixed with something else all his own.

I tip my head for him, wanting more. He takes what I give, in a way he’s been fighting an itch, just like me. Our kiss intensifies when he drops his hand from my waist to my ass, gripping me over my dress. He kisses me fiercely, possessing me, and the moment. My body, which was chilled just moments ago, warms all over. He deepens our embrace, arching my back while holding me tight, letting his lips linger on mine.

Because his kiss wasn’t merely a kiss. Crew staked his claim, unrestrained, unable to hold back another second.

“Shh,” he tries to calm me when he turns my face to his. His eyes roam my features and I realize he’s not breathing hard at all while I’m practically hyperventilating. His voice, so different than just a few seconds ago, comes at me soft and soothing. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

I tense when he leans in, thinking he’s going to kiss me again, but he doesn’t. His freshly shaved, smooth face brushes my cheek, sending tingles down my spine. He steps forward, his firm body presses into mine. Inhaling deeply, he breathes into my ear, “I’m sorry I left you. I’ll never do it again. Ever.”

My eyes dart back at the sound of his voice. The jacket and tie are gone—his black shirt is rolled at the cuffs and unbuttoned at the collar. Where he was sweet and tender on my doorstep just minutes ago, he’s sharp as he stands in the entrance of my bedroom, looking anything but relaxed.

Her face is red, splotchy, and her eyes are swollen. Smeared makeup clouds her face. But even as she frowns at me, sitting here in my arms in her twisted and wrinkled dress, she’s beautiful.

With my hand in her hair, I pull her to me as I meet her, putting my mouth on hers. This time I kiss her slow. She tastes and feels like she did earlier—perfect—but salty from her tears.

I lean in to kiss her forehead, even though what I really want to do is roll her over, take her mouth and eventually her, proving I’ll protect her from anything.

Finally, I relax because I’ve felt the way she’s looked at me. I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed the hell out of it and I plan on enjoying more of it soon. As soon as I can. Letting my hand work its way from her lower back to her ass, I give her a squeeze, leaving my hand there.

“Thank you,” she says quickly into my neck before her voice turns soft. “For tonight. For everything.” “Always,” I promise.

On top of all that, for the first time in my life, I find myself having to work to stay focused. I’m always focused, but it slips when I’m around you.”

“I’m saying when that focus slips, I feel it everywhere. So yeah, you were safe with the sensors and the cameras alerting me of a threat, but you’re fucking crazy if you think I could’ve left you last night. Not after you cried in my arms and I saw the fear in your eyes. No way could I leave you.”

I thought I wanted you when I met you, but now I couldn’t stay away if you made me.

“I’m not a Peeping Tom. If I want to see you, I’ll work for it because when I see you for the first time, I plan on being there to touch you. I have no desire to see you over a camera. Starting now, I plan on working for it.”

Without a word or warning, I was pressed up against my refrigerator by Crew’s big strong body, his hands deep in my hair, and his mouth on mine. It was such a surprise, I almost forgot to breathe as he kissed me crazy. When he finally slowed, his hips pressed harder into my stomach when he murmured the same words as last night. “Missed you.” Holy shit. I would’ve fallen to the floor had I not been squished up against a kitchen appliance.

“Baby,” his voice softens even as he sounds frustrated. “You said yourself you liked me here, but I’ll bet your sweet ass I liked being here more than you liked having me here. It’s late and even though tomorrow’s Saturday, I’ve got a shitload to do. Now, come to bed. You look tired.”

“I’ve traveled for almost ten years with my work. Unless I’m visiting my mom or my brother, I’ve rarely slept in the same place for more than a few nights at a time. It’s become habit to sleep on the side by the door. Your door’s over there.” He tips his head toward the entrance of my room. “I sleep on that side. Simple.”

“What I know of you is on paper. Your family, where you’ve lived, things you buy. Anything that has a paper trail, I know. But you?” He presses his hips in between my legs, making my nipples harden. I pull in a breath when he continues on a whisper. “There’s a world of you I don’t know. I get to figure that out for myself. For now, you’re tired, I’m tired and when I do explore every bit of you, I want us to be rested. I want all of you and I don’t want you to be sleepy when I get it.”

“Never wanted something so much. Can’t stay away from you, can’t even get you out of my head. I’ve never had a shot at anything good, let alone someone like you.”

“I was going to wait ‘til your shit settled to make my move, but after you fell apart in my arms last night, I can’t be anywhere but here. I fought it, but I’m done. This feels right.

There, he gathers me up and kisses my forehead—something I’m learning is common for him. This is good for me, because I think I’m becoming addicted to it.

It’s eight-thirty, I don’t know the last time I slept this late. I’ve got a shitload to do, but I can’t make myself leave her. Unlike yesterday morning when I heard someone entering the house, today I get the opportunity to wake up with her. I’m not giving that up.

She whispers my name, and just like every time she does, I feel it deep in my chest. Pushed up on one arm hovering over her, I take a second to drink in her mostly bare body for the first time. I grasp her hip over her tiny panties and barely hear myself mutter, “Fuck, you made it all worth it.”

There’s nothing more for me to want. She’s everything.

“I want to be worth it,” I whisper. “Let me be that for you, but let me be it completely.”

I planned to tell her down the road, when things progressed. I wanted her in deep, where there was no way she could walk away from me.

“Fuck,” he mutters. His eyes finally meeting mine. “Didn’t think it was possible to want you more, but I do. Worth every fucking minute of ten years.”

“Worth every minute of ten years. Never thought I’d say this, but I’d do it all again if I knew you were waiting for me at the end.”

I get off seeing you come for me

“Then I’m lucky. Your body’s a minefield for me to play with. I’m gonna make you tell me what you want, how you want it, and then make you beg for it. We’ll start tonight when you sit on my face.”

Standing here with Addison in my arms, I take back what I said to her last night. She doesn’t make up for every minute of the last ten years. All that time it took to find my retribution? She’s worth every fucking second.

“But, Crew?” “Yeah?” “You really need to get rid of this wallpaper. It’s horrid.” For some reason, that makes me want to fuck her senseless on my desk even more.

I certainly don’t need any curiosity directed my way, especially from him, but I’m all in now. No fucking way is he calling her Abby. That’s mine.

He prefers my house to his, my bed to his, and my shower to his. Me? I just prefer him, anyway I can have him.