Radclyffe - Firestorm

“I don’t think so, Chantal,” Jac said. “Really, I appreciate it, but—”

“Baby,” Chantal said laughing lightly, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’re not going to have a lot of choices around here. And trust me, neither Mallory or Emily is really your speed.”

Jac stiffened. “I’m sorry?”

“Come on, baby—with a reputation like yours, you need a woman who’s been around, and I bet I can show you things even you haven’t done before.”

“I don’t recall us meeting before, and you I’d remember.” Jac forced a playful tone. “So how do you know anything—”

Chantal waved her hand dismissively. “A face like yours is hard to hide. Hey, baby—really, it’s cool. I think I could really get off doing a celebrity.”

“Probably. But not tonight.” Jac’s guts turned to ice. Maybe she’d been fooling herself that she’d found a safe haven at Yellowrock. Maybe she’d never outlive her past or her birthright.

“Tell me you wouldn’t like a little TLC.” Chantal rolled her hips into Jac’s crotch.

Jac registered the pressure and the surge of sensation shooting through her pelvis and down her legs. Was that what she wanted? Someone to take her mind off what she shouldn’t want and couldn’t have? She wouldn’t mind not thinking, not guarding, not second-guessing everything and everyone for an hour or two. She’d never really been able to do that with anyone, except Mallory. Everything came back to Mallory. “I’m not fond of one-way streets, and I’m running on empty. I think I’m gonna have to take a rain check.”

Chantal pretended to pout and gave up all pretense of two-stepping. She wrapped both arms around Jac’s neck and cleaved to her, her mouth moving indolently against Jac’s neck. Jac just prayed for the song to end. She wasn’t made of stone, and Chantal was hot and wanting. She really needed to escape before she gave in and took Chantal up on her offer out of sheer fatigue.

Cooper tapped Jac on the shoulder. “Cut in, Russo?”

Jac could’ve kissed him, but damn it, her mother’s manners kicked in and she hesitated, glancing at Chantal. “Okay?”

Chantal shrugged and gave Cooper a hot smile. “Sure. Coop and I are old friends, aren’t we?”

“Not so old, gorgeous.” Cooper laughed and pulled Chantal into his arms.

Jac backed away and bumped into Ray. “Sorry.”

“No problem.” He tapped Mallory on the shoulder as she danced close by with Emily. “Cutting in.”

Mallory released Emily, and her eyes met Jac’s. “Guess we’ve been retired.”

The fire in Mallory’s gaze melted the ice in Jac’s belly. “Want to dance?”

Jac held her breath while she waited for Mallory to say no.

“Okay,” Mallory said softly, and Jac stopped breathing altogether. When Jac didn’t move, Mallory laughed. “Having second thoughts?”

“No,” Jac said quickly, sucking in a breath. She willed her feet to move and prayed she could remember what she was supposed to do.

Holding out her left hand, she slid her right arm around Mallory’s waist. Mallory moved close. Their bodies didn’t touch, but heat shimmered between them all the same. Jac licked her lips. “I guess I should warn you now, it’s my first time.”

Mallory laughed again, free and unburdened, and she was so incredibly beautiful Jac wanted to kiss her throat where the sound echoed.

“Thank you so much for telling me ahead of time.” Mallory leaned close and whispered, “I could lead if you need me to.”

“I’d like to try, but it’s up to you. I do know how to follow.”

“Why don’t you go ahead and we’ll see how you do.”

The music changed, slowed, and Jac found she could manage the waltz steps fine as long as she didn’t think too long about the way Mallory fit in her arms, the way her hair smelled like honeysuckle and sweet clover, the way Mallory’s fingers slid so easily between hers.

“Jac?” Mallory murmured, her cheek grazing Jac’s.

“Yeah?” Jac said, ordering herself not to look down at their feet.

“You’re shaking.”

“I’m terrified.”

“Do I scare you?”

Mallory’s breasts and belly and thighs glided over Jac’s, subtle and so, so sexy. Jac couldn’t think, lost track of the people moving around them, forgot her own name. “You have no idea.”

“You survived Chantal.” Mallory’s lips were so close to Jac’s ear, Jac could hear each breath, feel the warm exhalations trickle down her neck.

Jac swallowed back the plume of excitement that shot through her chest. “You could’ve warned me.”

“I didn’t want to make assumptions. She might have been exactly what you were looking for.”

“You know she isn’t, don’t you?” Jac spread her fingers over Mallory’s lower back but didn’t pull her closer.

“Jac,” Mallory said, her tone a warning even as she trailed her fingers across Jac’s shoulders and into the hair at the back of her neck. Her mouth skimmed Jac’s earlobe. “We have a rule I haven’t gotten around to telling you.”

“What’s that?” Jac forced herself not to tense. Here it comes. The escape clause, the exit, the line that couldn’t be crossed.

Mallory leaned back, the playfulness gone from her eyes. She was still so close their lips nearly touched. “What happens in Bear Creek stays in Bear Creek.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Jac wondered if Mallory was talking about herself or Chantal.

“Good. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

“Don’t worry, I understand the rules.” The song wound down and Mallory pulled away. Jac still had enough sense left to know wherever they were going, Mallory was leading. She let her go.

Chapter Eighteen

“Oh my God.” Gasping, Emily dropped into the seat beside Mallory, brushed damp hair back from her face with one hand, and reached for her beer with the other. “I don’t think I’ve danced as much in a year.”

“I’m sorry, I should have taken you out more often.” Mallory drained her own club soda. “I think I’ve let you spoil me with home-cooked meals and all your attention.”

“No complaints from me.” Emily leaned against Mallory’s shoulder and clasped her hand. “You’re a pleasure to spoil, and I’ve always liked quiet nights in. I’d forgotten what a great dancer you are, though.”

“Your dance card seemed to be pretty full tonight,” Mallory noted. Ray, then Anderson, and eventually Sarah had all danced with Emily. Mallory had declined several invitations and escaped to the sidelines. She enjoyed dancing, but after she’d almost lost her grip out there with Jac, she decided the safest place for her was with her ass in a chair. Jac was still on the floor, and Mallory studiously avoided looking for her. She still couldn’t believe she had come a breath away from kissing her. On the dance floor at Tommy’s. Could she possibly do anything more stupid? Well, yes—she could have invited Jac to spend the rest of the night with her at Big Sky Lodge, the only hotel in town. What happens in Bear Creek… God, she’d almost given in to the fist of want pounding away in her belly. Jac had made it pretty clear she was willing. And she smelled so good—mountain pine, clean and sharp—and her body was so tight and hot. Jac would be damn near irresistible under any circumstances, but add in her stubborn determination to excel and her touching honesty and her quiet humor and her gorgeous, intense eyes that looked right through the darkest shields… Oh, she was so, so tempting. Mallory rubbed her eyes, as if that would dispel the images that rippled through her mind like an endless stream of teasing caresses.

“You’re not having a very good time, are you?” Emily said softly.