Love on Fire (Stars Book 2) Read online

  But what would happen when he left? Would I be worse off than I was before?

  “That’s it?” he asked. “That’s all you’re giving me?”

  “I’m happy,” I blurted. “We’re having a great time, and he makes me happy.” That was the best way to describe what I was feeling. It was laid-back and simple, and he seemed like a loyal and honest man. He understood I’d been hurt so badly in the past that he would never do anything to put me in that kind of pain again. So he was honest with me every single day, which was a nice cushion for my heart.

  “Good. That’s what a man should do—make his woman happy.” There was no haunting warning about the pain I would feel at the end. Kyle was nothing but supportive, and it seemed so genuine that I believed he meant those words.

  “What about you?”

  “I’m seeing someone.”

  “Like, you saw them last night and you’ll never see them again? Or seeing, seeing someone?”

  “The second. Her name is Lizzie.”

  “Say what?” I blurted. “You have a girlfriend?”

  “Yeah. I wouldn’t call it that, but pretty much.”

  “Where did you meet her? What is she like?”

  “She’s a pole dancing instructor at her own studio.”

  “Whoa…that’s so cool.”

  “She’s super-fit.” He carried his driver to the tee box and set down his ball. “I think she might be in better shape than me.”

  “I highly doubt it.”

  He smiled. “She’s cool, mellow. She likes beer, so we have a lot in common.”

  “Is drinking beer your only hobby?”

  “It’s my favorite hobby.” He lined up the shot then swung his club hard, hitting the ball and driving it far over the fairway. It landed on the green, thirty feet away from the hole.

  “Wow, good shot.”

  He stepped away so I had room to take my own shot. “So, when am I going to meet her?”

  “How about tomorrow night? She’s been eager to meet you guys.”

  “Sure. I’m free.” I lined up the shot and hit the ball hard. It flew across the fairway then landed several feet behind his, but it was in a better spot to make it into the hole. “Maybe she could give me some pole dancing lessons.”

  “I’m sure Neil would love that.”

  “I’m not very graceful. I’d probably just fall on my ass.”

  “You’re sexy no matter what you do, Char. Even at your worst.”

  14

  Neil

  I pulled the t-shirt over my head, glanced at my appearance in the mirror, and then walked away. I’d never been the kind of guy who liked to wear collared shirts or anything fancy. My closet was lined with short-sleeved t-shirts and occasionally long sleeves for the cold winters. “So, where are we going for dinner?”

  Charlotte wore light-colored jeans with fake holes in the material. A loose-fitting pink sweater was on top, making her look like a piece of cotton candy—curvy and sweet. With her hair in slight curls and pink earrings in her lobes, she looked like an executive for Lisa Frank. “We’re going out to that burger joint with Stacy, Vic, Kyle, and his girlfriend.”

  I turned around, an eyebrow raised. “Kyle has a girlfriend?”

  “I know… I was surprised too.” A brown leather purse hung over her shoulder, and she rifled through it to grab her phone. She stood near the doorway with her hair pulled over one shoulder, her eyes on the contents of her purse. “But that’s the truth. Seems to like her.”

  I was glad he finally got over Charlotte. She’d turned him down, so he needed to move on with someone else. I’d never been jealous of the guy because Charlotte chose me over him, but I noticed the way he stared at her a little too long sometimes, noticed the way his text messages would pop up on her screen all times of the day. I knew they were just really good friends…but I suspected their friendship was based on longing rather than true camaraderie. “That’s great. What’s she like?”

  “Don’t know. Haven’t met her. The only thing Kyle told me was she’s a pole dancing instructor.”

  “Wow…she sounds like a keeper.”

  She chuckled. “I guess she’s super-fit and they do stuff together…like hiking and hitting the gym.”

  “Maybe you should sign up for a class…” I waggled my eyebrows.

  “Never in a million years, Neil.”

  “Why not? There’s nothing wrong with it.”

  “I know that. But you have to have super upper body strength to pull that off. Strippers don’t get the credit they deserve. They do the hardest workout in the world, and they look sexy at the same time…pretty impressive.”

  “Baby, you’re strong too.” As time passed, I started to call her baby more. It used to be an affectionate nickname I tossed out to lovers once in a while, but now the nickname started to fit her like a second skin. I said it more often than using her actual name.

  “Not that strong.”

  “That’s why you take the class first. When you’re ready, you’ll hit the strip clubs as the main star.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  “Ohhhh yeah.”

  She rolled her eyes again and walked out.

  I followed behind her. “Maybe I can watch you guys practice.”

  “In your dreams, Neil. Actually, not even then.”

  We sat in an enormous booth and ordered a round of beers to start off the night. Charlotte got a couple orders of onions rings to start off for appetizers, but the girls devoured those so fast, Vic and I barely got a few bites.

  Kyle walked in minutes later, a blonde on his arm. “Shit, Charlotte ate the appetizers already?”

  “Maybe if you were on time, you would have gotten a few,” Charlotte teased back.

  “I doubt it.” Kyle smiled then introduced his girlfriend. “You guys, this is Lizzie.” With his arm around her waist, he guided her to the edge of the booth so she could sit down. “Lizzie, this is the crew. That’s Vic and his wife Stacy, and that’s Charlotte and—”

  “Oh my god, you’re Neil Crimson.” She pointed her finger at me, her eyes wide with recognition. “You didn’t tell me you were friends with freakin’ Neil Crimson.” She turned back to Kyle, her eyes full of accusation.

  “Well, I guess I just see him as Neil.” Kyle scooted beside her.

  Now I would be asked a million questions about my job, and the entire conversation would revolve around that for the evening. But if she wanted to make a good impression on everyone, she should limit the excitement.

  Charlotte started talking to her right away, probably to control the conversation and keep it away from me. “When Kyle first mentioned you, he was very proud that you were a pole dancing instructor.”

  Her shoulders sagged slightly like she was embarrassed we already knew that. “I know…he’s a bit obsessed about it.”

  “Isn’t it the best job in the world?” Kyle asked. “I love watching her practice…and what comes after.”

  “Oh my god, TMI.” Lizzie nudged him in the side.

  “I’m trying to get Charlotte to take one of your classes,” I said. But I had a feeling it wasn’t going to happen.

  “Why?” Lizzie asked, having no clue about our relationship.

  “I’m his girlfriend,” Charlotte explained. “Neil is just as obsessed with your career as Kyle is.”

  “It’s the best job ever,” Kyle said. “Look how strong she is. Show them your guns, baby.”

  Now she looked even more embarrassed. “Anyway… What about you guys? I know you work at the lab because Kyle told me that’s how you met.”

  I doubt she knew they’d slept together.

  “I’m a lawyer,” Vic volunteered. “My wife works in public administration. But she’s quitting soon so we can start our family.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful,” Lizzie said. She turned to me. “And I know what you do…obviously.”

  You and everyone else.

  She kept staring
at me. “Didn’t you just go on a mission—”

  “So, where’s your studio?” Charlotte asked, interrupting Lizzie before she could finish the question.

  She didn’t mind the interruption and rolled with it. “It’s actually just a few blocks from here.”

  Charlotte understood I hated to discuss my work, because my work as an astronaut seemed to be my entire identity to people. They were star-struck and crazed, so they asked me a million questions about that. It got exhausting after a while, which was why I was reluctant to meet new people unless it was a woman I might screw.

  “I would totally sign up for a class if I weren’t pregnant,” Stacy said.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Vic asked. “You can ride a pole. You aren’t that far along.”

  “I’m three months pregnant, Vic,” she said, looking him straight in the face. “I’m showing through my clothes.”

  “So?” he pressed. “It’d be sexy to see you dancing on a pole.”

  “While I’m pregnant?” she asked incredulously.

  “Damn right,” Vic said. “I’d stuff wads of cash in your panties, but hopefully you wouldn’t have anything on for me to stuff it into.”

  “Aww, that’s sweet,” Lizzie said. “True love right there.”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I don’t think love has anything to do with it. I think Vic is just hard up for his wife. All lust.”

  Vic shrugged. “Good point. Not romantic at all.”

  “I think it’s romantic anytime a man wants to fuck his wife,” Charlotte said. “And only her.” She looked down into her beer and took a drink, like she was remembering the way her old marriage burned up in flames. Her eyes lost their light just a little bit, like the pain still haunted her.

  Charlotte was the type of person that didn’t deserve to feel an ounce of pain. I wished I could erase her thoughts, make her only think happy things. My arm hooked around her waist, and I leaned in to kiss her, because it was the only weapon in my arsenal that I had. It was the only tool I could use to make her feel better.

  She kissed me back, her lips slightly confused by the unexpected affection. But she kissed me anyway…not caring about all the people watching.

  Kyle and Charlotte went to the bathroom, because they were always together anywhere they went, so the rest of us stayed at the table. Lizzie was alone without Kyle, so she was visibly a little uncomfortable by the situation.

  “You’re the only girlfriend Kyle has ever had,” Stacy said. “So you must be special.”

  Vic had had a lot to drink that night, three beers entirely on his own. He held his liquor well, but his eyes seemed to be drooping just a bit. Work was stressful, even if he pretended otherwise. He shook it off most of the time, but now that he’d picked up a big case, his nerves were rattled. “I never thought I’d seen Kyle with someone. But maybe he finally moved on after Charlotte.”

  I didn’t think twice about what he said, because I assumed Kyle had told Lizzie about his past. He probably mentioned he fucked his best friend a year ago, and he might have even mentioned he tried to be with her in the past.

  But judging from the shocked look on her face, Lizzie had no idea.

  Stacy did her best to smooth things over. “Good one,” Stacy said as she forced out a laugh. “Like Kyle could ever have feelings for someone…that guy is stone-cold.” She turned back to Lizzie. “We’re so excited that Kyle has brought you into our lives. Char and I could always use another girlfriend.”

  Lizzie nodded and forced a smile, but it was obvious a storm was raging inside her. She was confused, overwhelmed, and probably embarrassed that we all knew something she didn’t. I felt bad for her, and Kyle should have mentioned his relationship with Charlotte if he wanted Lizzie for the long haul.

  When Lizzie wasn’t looking, Stacy gave Vic an annoyed look.

  Vic shrugged then drank his beer again.

  Charlotte slid into the booth beside me, oblivious to the stare she was getting from Lizzie.

  Then Kyle returned to Lizzie’s side, his arm moving around her shoulders. “I have an idea. How about you give lessons to both Stacy and Char? I’m sure it’ll make the guys happy.”

  “Thrilled, actually,” Vic added.

  “Sure,” Lizzie said. “And I’m sure it’ll help you the most…”

  When we got to Charlotte’s place, we let Torpedo into the backyard so he could sniff around and do his business. We sat on the couch and turned on the TV, winding down before bed.

  She grabbed two glasses of water and put them on the coffee table. “I liked Lizzie. She’s pretty, easy-going, successful… She’s perfect for Kyle. I’d always imagined him ending up with someone like that. You know, fit like him.”

  “Yeah, I liked her too.” I considered telling her what had happened, but she was clearly happy imagining Kyle with a nice girl. And it would make her feel terrible if she knew she was the reason they hit turbulence. So I kept my mouth shut. “Are you gonna take up her offer for some lessons?”

  “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Even if I did, how would you watch me?”

  “At the strip club.”

  “No way in hell am I stripping in a club.” She sat beside me on the couch, cuddling close to my side with her legs over my thighs. “You would want a bunch of guys watching me undress and spin around on a metal pole?”

  I shrugged. “In my fantasy, I’m the only guy there.”

  “Well, we can’t rent out a whole place, and I’m not putting a pole in my house.”

  “Then I’ll watch you practice.”

  “That’s not gonna happen either. I’d be terrible.”

  “Practice makes perfect, right?”

  She turned her body toward me so our mouths were close together. “How about I just strip and forget the pole?”

  “You have my attention.”

  She got off the couch then played a slow song with a strong beat from her phone.

  I sat up straight and rubbed my hands together. “Wow…this is really happening.”

  “It’s the only way to get you to shut up about this pole dancing bullshit.” She rocked her hips from side to side, flipped her hair, and then pulled her pink sweater over her head. Now she was just in her lacy white bra, her fair skin so appetizing. She turned around, shook her ass, and then reached to unclasp the back of her bra.

  She was actually pretty good at this stripping thing.

  She unfastened it and turned around, letting the material roll down her arms as her perfect tits came on display. When the bra got to her hands, she tossed it at me, letting it land in my lap, right over where my hard dick sat.

  My arms rested across the back of the couch, and I imagined fucking her as more clothes fell to the floor. My eyes roamed over her curves and gorgeous skin, appreciating all of her so much. I’d been with beautiful women, all different and unique, but there was no one like Charlotte.

  She unbuttoned her jeans and then shook her ass as she got the material over her curves. Slowly they slid down to her thighs before she turned around and bent over all the way to get them off. She did the same with her panties.

  Jesus.

  I got a perfect view of her sexy little cunt, the precisely shaved area before it led to her asshole between her cheeks. She arched her back as she stood straight up, her perfect body visible from head to toe. Her long hair stretched down her back, stopping at the place where the band of her bra sat across her torso. It was a stunning sight, a woman in all her glory.

  And I got to fuck her.

  Lucky me.

  She turned around and propped her hand on one hip. “How was that?”

  I couldn’t even spit out a sentence because she left me speechless.

  “Silence…that’s a good sign.” She moved to her to her knees in front of me, scooting between my thighs, buck naked. Her small fingers reached for the waistband of my jeans and unbuttoned the top.
>
  I watched her, feeling a rush of arousal in my veins.

  She got the zipper down and yanked on my jeans, grabbing my boxers along the way.

  I lifted my hips immediately, letting her slide my bottoms off to my thighs. My cock emerged, covered in pulsing veins with a faint twitch of excitement. My crown was swollen with anticipation, eager to slide into her perfect little slit and feel that wet warmth. Watching her strip down to her bare skin was so sexy, the way she showed so much confidence. She was an innately shy person, but when she was comfortable, she could do so much.

  I was so eager to feel her on top of me, I almost grabbed her and pulled her onto my lap.

  She separated her knees and slowly lowered her body onto mine, her ass resting on my thighs. Her legs were wide open, so her pussy was directly on top of me. Wet, warm, perfect…fucking perfect. Her nipples lightly pressed against my chest as she came close to me, her hair falling around her face in the sexiest way. She watched me, her plump lips slightly parted in anticipation for my kiss.

  “I’ve seen a lot of beautiful things out there…” My palm brushed over her cheek as my fingers dug into her hair. “I’ve seen the northern lights while I was on a spacewalk outside the ISS. I’ve seen Africa in the rainy season, seen the brown grass turn to a beautiful shade of green. I’ve seen every crater on the moon, seen the dark side of the moon. But you, by far, are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  It took her a moment to absorb what I said, to feel my words sink deep inside her chest. Her eyes softened, and her lips parted a little more, like she needed more air for her aching lungs. As my fingers moved toward her mouth, she pressed a kiss to my thumb, her eyes still locked on me.

  My cock was hard against her entrance, the length covered in the desire that dripped from her body. Nothing sexier than having a beautiful woman on your lap, feeling her ass cheeks pressed against the muscles of your legs. I’d never said anything romantic in my life to anyone, especially something like that, but the words tumbled out as I looked at her. They were so easy to say, so easy to get out while looking into her beautiful eyes. The only time I blanketed a moment with compliments was to get laid. But with Charlotte, I already was getting laid every night. I said those words just to say them, because that’s the way I felt.