Be Ours: A Valentine's Day Romance Read online

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  But being here is helping. So is coffee. So is the memory of kissing both of my gorgeous, hunky, older rescuers last night.

  As if on cue, I see a shape suddenly jog over the dunes. I peer at it. I’m scared at first, but then I realize it’s Tanner. I blush. It’s Tanner looking really, really good.

  He’s in just a pair of well-fitted swimming shorts. He’s also carrying a surfboard under his arm, and he’s dripping wet. I watch him through the window as he jogs over to the house. He clicks the surfboard into a rack on the side of the porch and then climbs the stairs. The door swings wide and he shuffles in.

  “Hi.”

  “Fuck!” He shouts and whirls at the sound of my voice. He smiles a little when he sees me. But then his shadowed frown comes back. “Didn’t know you were up.”

  “I just woke up.” I smile bashfully. “Thanks for the coffee.”

  “No problem.”

  He yawns and rubs his face. He honestly looks exhausted.

  “Did you…” I worry my lip. “Sleep okay?”

  “Not really,” he says flatly. “I slept out on the dunes.”

  I stare at him. “Seriously?”

  He shrugs.

  “Why?”

  He shrugs again and walks over to the coffee machine.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Tanner! I thought that was the guest room I was in! I’d have slept on the fucking couch if I knew I was—”

  “You didn’t put me out, Cora,” he growls gently. “That is the guest room. I’ve got my own. I just…” he frowns. “I had to get…I had to get out of the house.”

  It feels an awful lot like he was going to say “away from you”. His haggard eyes certainly say it. He starts to pour coffee, but then stops. His muscled shoulders slump, and he sighs.

  “You know what, I might actually go sleep for a bit.” He turns to look at me. His eyes wash over me, and I tremble. Even tired and haggard looking, he still looks like he wants to eat me whole.

  “The front door is locked, alarm is on. No one is—”

  “I’m not scared,” I whisper. “Not here.”

  Tanner nods. He smiles a hint of a smile and then yawns again. It makes me giggle.

  “Go sleep. I’ll be fine, honestly.”

  “Cora…” he frowns. “Last night…”

  I blush. But when I see him yawn again, I shake it off. “Go sleep, Tanner. It’s fine, really.”

  He nods. “I’ll be up soon.” He puts the coffee back down and shuffles down the hall around the corner. I mull around the bright kitchen with my coffee. Then I start to explore.

  I poke around the house while I sip from my mug. Okay maybe the right word is “snooping,” but it’s innocent enough. I’m just curious about the man who’s house I literally slept in last night, I guess. I find pictures of a younger looking Tanner with another man, both in tan camouflage next to a Humvee. I see the “U.S. Marine Corp” insignias on their chests. In other pictures, he’s in a cop uniform alongside a man who is clearly a younger Bishop. Their arms are around each other’s shoulders.

  I look through some of the other rooms, making my way through the house. Eventually, I get to yet another door. I twist the brushed steel knob, and I push the door open without thinking. Instantly, I gasp.

  Shit. It’s not some random room. I’ve managed to stumble into the master bedroom.

  Tanner is in his bed, asleep and shirtless. And holy hell, the man is ripped. I saw it before in the kitchen. But maybe it’s the light in here hitting him just right. The grooved muscles of his bare chest and abs point like arrows down to where the sheets bunch around his chiseled waist.

  But while all of that is hot and makes me tingle, it’s not why I gasp. That would be because of what I see below his waist. Namely, the huge, thick tent in the soft white sheets.

  My jaw drops, and I stare at the enormous bulge. I’m inexperienced, but I’m not naïve—I know what I’m looking at, even if I can’t quite believe that it’s real. I know what I felt last night. Again, it’s not like I have a ton of experience. But I know that what I felt was huge.

  Seeing that hugeness, however, is another story. I mean holy shit. My pulse races. My mouth hangs open as I simply stare at the thick erection bulging his sheets.

  And right then is when I hear the sound of a throat being cleared. My eyes dart up to his. I almost jump out of my fucking skin when I realize he’s awake; awake and staring right at me staring at him.

  “Morning. Again.”

  I gasp sharply, literally jumping back. “Sorry!” I blurt, my face bright red and my heart racing.

  Tanner shakes his head sleepily. I start to pray that maybe, just maybe, he just saw me standing there, not specifically where I was looking. Just standing in his bedroom doorway while he sleeps, like a creep, is one thing. Standing in his bedroom doorway like a creep and staring at his erection like a thirsty psychopath is so much worse.

  “No, it’s fine,” he grunts. He stretches, and I swallow as I see his muscles ripple. But that freaking erection is still there. It’s like he doesn’t realize it at all.

  “Was I out long? I only meant to nap for a little bit.”

  I blush. I use every ounce of my willpower to look him in the eye, and not at his morning wood.

  “I woke you up. Sorry, I didn’t realize this was the master bedroom.”

  He grins. “Snooping, are we?”

  I blush deeply. “No! No, I…”

  He chuckles. “It’s fine, Cora. And don’t worry. I need to wake up. I was up late and…”

  My eyes lose the battle. It’s only for a second, but they dip down to below his waist before snapping back to his eyes. Tanner slowly looks down and grunts.

  “Shit, sorry.”

  My face goes bright red as he grabs a pillow. He clears his throat as he uses it to cover the tent in his sheets.

  “I mean, it’s only fair,” I blurt, trying to lighten the mood and make it a joke. “You did see me last night.”

  He grins, and my blush grows deeper.

  “You saw way more of me, I think,” I say quietly, feeling my skin throb.

  Tanner slowly grins wider. “Yeah, I did,” he growls.

  I blush somehow even deeper, biting my lip.

  “Sorry,” I blurt, turning to leave. “I shouldn’t have just—”

  “It’s you, you know,” he growls quietly.

  I pause in the doorway and take a breath. I slowly turn to look back at him and see that his jaw is clenched.

  “What?”

  He frowns. “Nothing. Forget I said shit,” he growls. “I—”

  “No, what did you say?” I ask hesitantly.

  He frowns and takes a slow breath. “I said it’s because of you,” he grunts quietly. He glances down at pillow. “I was dreaming of you, and I don’t know why.”

  My entire body shivers and tingles. My core tightens, and my thighs squeeze together as my heart skips.

  “Sorry,” he growls. “I shouldn’t say shit like that.” His frown deepens. “Look, I’ll be out in a second, Cora.”

  I don’t know what words to say. All I know is, it feels like my very skin is on fire, and there’s this hunger inside of me that makes me crave him more than anything I’ve ever wanted. But I nod and step out of the room, closing the door behind me.

  I walk back to the kitchen and stand at the counter. My fingers twist, and my pulse hammers in my ears. And I have no idea what I should be doing or saying or even thinking right now.

  A second later though, Tanner comes into the big open concept kitchen in a t-shirt and basketball shorts. We lock eyes for a second, and he smiles a thin, hungry smile. But we don’t say a word as he steps past me and pours himself a mug of coffee.

  He turns and leans against the counter. He faces me doing the same against the kitchen island. We’re looking at each other, not saying anything. But it’s like I can feel the electricity in the room. It’s like the very air is crackling with it. It’s like the s
pace around us is so thick with tension that I can barely breathe.

  I feels like I’m waiting for the whole thing to crack and shatter around us. And then finally, Tanner’s jaw clenches. He growls loudly.

  “Fuck,” he snarls. He half-slams his mug down. Suddenly he’s striding across the distance between us. He crashes into me, and I moan as his lips bruised against mine.

  He growls into my mouth. His hands are all over me at once. But I’m loving every damn second of it, and my hands are returning every touch in turn. He cups my jaw and kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before. He reaches down and suddenly yanks my shirt up and off. I gasp and moan. My nipples are hard and electric. My pulse is thrumming. He tears his own shirt off and grinds into me. I moan as my nipples drag across his bare muscles.

  Tanner kisses me deeply and slides his hands to my hips. He grips me tight and suddenly lifts me up into the air. I moan and kiss him back hungrily. His tongue slips into my mouth, and I tease it with mine.

  He sets my ass down on the kitchen island counter. His mouth slides down my jaw to my neck. I gasp as he sucks the soft skin there. His fingers slide into the waist of the boxers of his I’m wearing. They tease over my skin. But then slowly, he starts to peel them down. God help me, I let him, eagerly.

  I raise my hips, letting him pull the last shred of clothing from my bare body. They fall to the floor. Tanner growls as his eyes sweep over me. It’s like he’s devouring me whole with a single look, and I melt under that fierce gaze.

  “Fuck, baby,” he groans. He slides between my legs. His muscled hips push them apart. And again, I let him. I spread them wide for him as he moves between them and starts to kiss me deeply.

  His mouth slides down my neck again, but this time he keeps going lower. His lips wrap around one pink nipple. He sucks, making me whimper in pleasure. He kisses down my stomach and then down between my legs.

  I moan in anticipation. I can feel his warm breath teasing my wet pussy, and I tremble.

  “Tanner…” I gasp.

  “Fuck, Cora,” he groans. He leans close, and suddenly I feel him. His tongue slides over my little pussy, and I gasp in pleasure.

  “Oh God!” I cry out. My fingernails rake over the marble countertop. My knees quiver and threaten to clench shut around his head. His tongue pushes up through my lips and over my clit, making me squeal in pleasure.

  It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s like he knows every single spot on my body and every way they need to be touched or licked. His hands are all over me—pushing my legs apart, teasing the backs of my thighs, and sliding up to cup my tits.

  His tongue swirls in slow circles around my clit, driving me insane. Then he teases lower to plunge it between my lips as I gasp in pleasure. I cling to his hair and the counter. My body trembles and my knees shake. My hips push shamelessly, wanting more of him. Tanner just groans and licks my pussy until I’m gasping.

  My head is spinning. It feels like the whole world is spinning. Then suddenly, I open my eyes and look up. My whole body jolts.

  Oh my God. There, standing in the doorway and staring right at me, is Bishop.

  At first, I think he looks furious. But then, I realize it might be something else. It’s tense and fierce. But it might not be anger. My face goes bright red. I open my mouth to say something as I reach down to push Tanner away. But Bishop looks right at me, and he slowly shakes his head.

  “I—”

  He shakes his head again, and it’s as if he’s saying, “don’t stop.”

  I don’t. I don’t push Tanner away. He doesn’t realize Bishop is there, either. He grips my thighs tightly and shoves them wide apart. I’m bare-assed on the counter. My legs are spread wide open with a man about to make me scream with his tongue on my pussy. And the whole time, his friend is staring right at me.

  Tanner’s tongue dances over my clit and then goes lower. He drags it down through my lips, and then goes even lower. I squeal when he swirls it over my tight asshole. My body erupts in pleasure. I look up at Bishop, locking eyes with the gruff older man as his friend makes me moan.

  It feels so dirty. It feels completely slutty and reckless. But as I stare at Bishop staring at me, I only know one thing: I’m about to come, and I’m about to come hard.

  “Oh… God…” I gasp

  Bishop’s jaw is clenched. His hand drops to his pants. It cups the enormous bulge there. He starts to stroke his erection in his pants with his eyes sweeping over me.

  “Oh fuck!” I moan.

  Tanner’s tongue curls around my clit. He sucks it between his lips and I start to tremble. He growls and sucks my clit hard. My eyes lock with Bishop as he stokes his huge erection through his pants. Suddenly, I can’t hold on any longer. I choke on the moan, my body wrenches, and I start to come hard.

  I thrash on the counter in ecstasy. My eyes squeeze shut as I orgasm wildly. I collapse onto the counter, and then into Tanner’s arms as he stands to hold me tight. My eyes slowly open. I chance a glance over my shoulder. But Bishop is gone.

  Suddenly, the doorbell rings.

  “Fuck,” Tanner grunts. He turns to look at a screen near the fridge. I follow his gaze, and sure enough, there’s Bishop outside. As if he didn’t just come in and see me like that.

  “Bishop,” Tanner mutters. He looks at me. I blush at my nakedness in his arms.

  “Look, I won’t say—”

  “That’s not what I meant,” he growls quietly, his eyes burning into mine. “You’re not my secret, Cora.”

  He kisses me softly. I melt against him.

  “I want to yell to the fucking world that you’re mine,” he groans, kissing me harder.

  “Well, get the door and we’ll make it official,” I tease.

  He chuckles. “With you like this? Bishop would pounce on you.”

  I shiver. Because God help me, fuck does that sounds hot. I almost want to tell him to do it anyway. But instead, I blush and curl into his arms.

  “Maybe I should get dressed.”

  Tanner is still wearing his gym shorts, but they’re obscenely tented with his throbbing cock. I giggle and reach down for my shirt. I pull it on and reach down to pull the shorts back up. The front door suddenly swings open and Bishop storms in. I gasp and yank the shorts up behind the counter as the big man strides into the kitchen. He glares right at the shirtless Tanner. I tremble.

  “Am I interrupting anything?” he growls thickly.

  “I—I was just going to take a shower,” I blurt. I turn and rush out of the kitchen, my face burning.

  But it’s not out of embarrassment. Well, maybe it’s a little out of embarrassment. But mostly, it’s out of desire. Because I think I’ve just realized I want them both. And I’m not quite sure what to do with that…

  9

  Tanner

  “Fuck, knock much?” I growl. My pulse is still like thunder in my ears. My cock is still ridiculously hard and tenting my shorts. But the biggest one is, I can still taste Cora’s sweet, soft pussy all over my tongue.

  I glare at the man who’s just shattered the moment. But he glares right back at me.

  “I rang the doorbell,” he says dryly.

  “Typically, you wait until the homeowner answers,” I spit back. His eyes harden, and I swallow. “What?”

  “Nothing man, just seeing what’s up,” Bishop tosses back. But his jaw is clenched tight, and his voice is curiously icy.

  “Look, last night—”

  “What I walked in on last night wasn’t good, Tanner,” he growls.

  I look away, my mind whirling. “I know.”

  “And what did I just walk in on here?”

  “Nothing,” I mutter quickly, shrugging. I turn back, and I realize he’s staring right at me. Fuck, what did he walk in on? As in, what did he see? Because he’s looking at me with some pretty accusing eyes.

  “Nothing,” I grunt.

  His eyes narrow. “Why do I doubt that.”

  “Doubt whatever you want,
” I mutter. “You’re seeing things that aren’t there.”

  “I’m a cop, Tanner. My literal job is to see the things I’m not supposed to see.”

  “Look, you want some fucking coffee or—”

  “You into that girl?” I swallow, and I shrug noncommittally. Bishop smiles thinly. “So, it won’t bother you to know I wasn’t bullshitting you last night.”

  My blood turns to ice. My jaw grinds. “Excuse me?” I snarl. I slam my coffee mug down and step closer to him.

  Bishop’s mouth thins. “You heard me. I kissed her last night, too.”

  My jaw clenches hard, my teeth grinding. I see red clouding my vision, and I snarl. Bishop just grins.

  “Ha ha,” I hiss. “Hilarious. Keeps smiling.”

  His mouth does keep smiling, but his eyes sure as hell aren’t.

  “I’m not joking.”

  My hands close to fists, and I can hear my pulse thudding in my ears.

  “What are you hinting at,” I hiss dangerously.

  “Nothing,” Bishop growls. “I’m flat out telling you that I kissed Cora last night.”

  The room swims, and I can feel my teeth grinding. “No, you didn’t.”

  “I did,” he growls. “And you did a fuck of a lot more than that just now, didn’t you, Tanner?”

  “Did you make detective since I’ve been gone?” I snap.

  “Doesn’t take a badge to see that your chin is glistening with pussy,” he snaps angrily. “Or that you’re standing here fucking shirtless with a tent in your goddamn shorts.”

  I growl deep in my chest. “Watch it.”

  “Or what? Is she ‘yours’ now?” Bishop hisses dangerously.

  “And if she is?” I snarl

  “You’re losing yourself, Tanner. This is bigger than both of us wanting her!”

  We both freeze, staring at each other and blinking.

  “Say that again,” I growl.

  “You heard me.”

  “You want her too?”