Red Hot Winter Page 6

  August

  “Try it,” she huffs, holding up the suspiciously dark and hard cookie.

  “Pass,” I grunt.

  She rolls her eyes. “It’s good.”

  I watch in amusement as she bites into the cookie and crunches loudly. It’s burnt to shit, but she’s been trying her hand at baking on her winter break. So far, she sucks.

  “Tastes good, hmm?” I tease.

  “Fabulous,” she lies. “You’re really missing out.”

  “Did you chip a tooth?”

  She flips me off. “No, asshole, it’s not that hard.”

  My brows lift as I prowl over to her and pin her against the kitchen counter, my hips pressing against her. “I beg to differ. It seems pretty damn hard to me.”

  “Eat my cookie and then you can eat me,” she challenges, a wicked smirk on her lips.

  “You’re evil.”

  She shrugs. “The cookie tastes good,” she murmurs, licking away some crumbs. “But I taste better.”

  I shove the damn cookie in my mouth, my eyes burning into hers. It tastes better than her last batch and nobody dies unlike the last time when I thought I would. I call that improvement. As soon as I swallow down the last of it, I attack her throat with my teeth.

  “Stop!” she yells, swatting at me. “We have that New Year’s party tonight at your firm. Do not leave hickies on me, August Miller!”

  “That’s what makeup is for, baby. I’m marking what’s mine.”

  “I want to make a good impression,” she whines but then tilts her head to the side to offer her sweet, pale throat to me.

  I suck on her lovely flesh. “You will in that hot-as-fuck dress you bought. No one will be looking at your neck.”

  She moans. “It is pretty hot.”

  “Red hot, Winter. You’ll give every old man in that place an erection. Who needs Viagra when you have a sexy woman with perfect tits in a tight, slinky dress?”

  “You’re disgusting,” she groans but spreads her legs when I lift her.

  “You’re disgusting for liking someone so disgusting.”

  She pulls away so she can make sure I get the full effect of her eye roll. I laugh as I attack her neck again, grinding against her, wishing we weren’t wearing so many clothes. Now that she’s safely on the pill, I fill her up with lots of cum to make up for time lost.

  She calls me a caveman.

  I call her mine.

  Our mouths meet for another kiss when someone bangs on the front door. I release Winter and frown.

  “You expecting anyone?” I ask.

  Callie’s off with Landon and she doesn’t knock.

  “No. Were you?”

  “Nope.” I peck her lips and then release her. “Stay here. I’ll be right back to finish this.”

  She grins at me and I burn that smile into my brain for later when I’m lying in the dark with that gorgeous girl wrapped around me, always dreaming of her. The person bangs on the door again and I scowl. I hate visitors. I flip the lock and swing the door open. I’m stunned silent as I gape into her brown eyes. But these brown eyes belong to him. The one who betrayed me.

  Tony Burke.

  My hands curl into fists and I glower at him. “Leave.”

  His jaw clenches and he looks past me, trying to peer into my condo. “Where is she? Where is my daughter?” he demands. He starts past me, but I block the doorway.

  “She’s been gone for weeks,” I bite out icily. “Weeks and you’ve just now decided to come see if she’s okay?” Emailing me or sending his cunt wife to my office to do his dirty work isn’t good enough.

  Shame flickers in his eyes. “I just want to talk to her.”

  The fire that used to burn inside me whenever I had to see this fuck’s face is no longer raging inside of me. It would feel good, sure, to crush him with the fact I’m sleeping with his daughter. I’d love to see the infuriated way his eyes flare as he realizes I fucked him back.

  But then I think of her.

  It would cause unnecessary heartache and stress for Winter. I watched for weeks leading up to winter break as she slaved over her books, studying her ass off. Once her break started, she began to relax and let loose. The poor girl has been stressed beyond belief. I’ll be damned if I bring more strife her way.

  “No,” I say. “Leave.”

  “But she’s my little girl,” he rasps out pathetically. I see it in his eyes. He knows I’m not just fucking her, I’m loving her. I’m taking care of her in a way he’ll never be able to. In a way he gave up when he sent her away.

  “She’s not little anymore. She’s a brilliant, strong woman. If she wants to talk to you, she’ll come to you. I’ll tell her you stopped by.” I start to close the door, but he stops it with his foot.

  Her voice rings out as she sings loudly to “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band. My girl loves her classic rock. That voice of hers won’t be winning any American Idol shows, but it wins my heart every goddamn time.

  “Tell her I’m sorry.” He swallows. “And, for what it’s worth, thanks for taking care of her.”

  “I always will.” With those words, I shut the door in his face. I lock it and then prowl after my woman. She’s standing at the oven, pulling out a new batch of cookies. These aren’t burnt. I love how tenacious she is about everything in life. Eager to master it all. Even something as simple as cooking.

  “Time to get ready,” I rumble as I step behind her once she’s closed the oven.

  She rubs her ass against my cock through my sweats as she uses a spatula to put the cookies on a plate. “Ready for what?”

  I hug her from behind and bury my nose in her hair. “For more.”

  “More of us?”

  “I’m greedy,” I tell her, my voice husky with need.

  She pushes me back with her butt and then grabs my hand. “Lead the way.”

  With a grin, I pounce on her and throw her tiny ass over my shoulder.

  “August!” she bellows, slapping my ass. “Put me down!”

  “Never, baby.”

  I stalk through the condo and carry her to our room we now share. Like she’s a sack of potatoes, I toss her on the bed, loving the mean scowl she gives me. It doesn’t scare me away. It makes me fucking laugh. She shoots me the bird as I peel off my T-shirt. Her anger bleeds away when I push down my sweats and grip my dick.

  She watches the way I stroke myself with heated interest.

  “Like what you see, hmmm?”

  “It’s okay,” she says, feigning boredom.

  “Little liar.” I edge closer to the bed. “Take your clothes off, woman. I’m not waiting to have you. Hope your needy pussy is nice and juicy because I’m about to fuck you whether you’re ready or not.”

  Her gaze darkens. “Hmm,” she purrs as she slides her hand into her shorts. “Maybe I’d just prefer to pleasure myself. I’m an expert now.”

  My cock seeps with pre-cum. This girl is such a fucking tease sometimes. I love that about her. Keeps me on my damn toes.

  “Like you’re an expert baker?” I taunt.

  She shoves her shorts down and kicks them at me. Her small hand moves under her black panties. Goddamn, she drives me wild.

  “Shirt. Off.”

  Her smile is wicked, but this time she obeys without argument. Those damn black panties are all that remains between us.

  “Get over here,” I demand.

  She laughs. “Make me.”

  Her squeal is music to my ears when I grip her ankle and drag her to the end of the bed. I flip her on her stomach, then quickly snatch her wrist. Twisting her arm, I pin it against her back and the other one is still inside her panties.

  “Touch that pussy, baby. Get it nice and creamy for my cock.”

  “You say the grossest things that somehow sound hot,” she complains.

  I chuckle as I grab her panties, pulling them aside. Her fingers peep between her legs as she massages her clit. So fucking hot. With my free hand, I grip my dick and push i
t into her tight, wet cunt.

  “August,” she whimpers.

  “Yeah, Winter?”

  “Come inside me. Give me a baby,” she begs. Dirty fucking girl. We both know we’re not going to do anything like get pregnant until she’s done with college, but she loves to role play.

  “Push your ass up,” I demand. “Make me believe you deserve my cum.”

  She moans and attempts to get her ass higher. I fuck her hard and unrelenting. I slap her ass, loving the way her pussy swallows my cock whenever I spank her.

  “I don’t think you deserve it,” I hiss out. “I’m going to jerk off all over your perfect, bouncy ass. Waste all that fucking cum on your pretty pale skin.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she bellows. “You’re going to fill me up, dammit. I want to have your cum running down my thighs until the clock strikes midnight and you kiss me into next year.”

  I groan in pleasure. “You always have to win, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she croons. “Oh, God.”

  Her pussy clenches and I lose control. My dick spurts out its release deep inside her needy body. I love not having to pull out. The heat of my orgasm floods her cunt, satisfying the male beast inside of me. I love to fucking claim her this way. Releasing her hand, I fall against her, nuzzling my nose against her hair.

  This girl is mine and she’s not ever going anywhere.

  Winter

  I stare at the text on my phone and try not to burst into tears.

  Dad: I’m so sorry, sweetie. Please talk to me.

  I’m only a week into the spring semester, no longer stuck in the happy, stress-free bubble of August’s condo. No, I’m back to school. Back to life. Back to reality. Coach’s class is killing me and now I have Dad trying to make amends.

  My fingers hover over the screen. The little girl in me wants to sob and fling herself into her father’s arms so he’ll make it all better. The woman in me, though, is angry.

  Instead of replying to him, I text August.

  Me: He says he’s sorry.

  He doesn’t respond right away and I wonder if he’s in court. I’ve just tuned back into Coach Long’s lecture when my phone buzzes.

  August: I bet he is.

  Me: I’m angry but…

  August: He’s still your dad.

  Me: Yeah.

  August: Well, the offer to kick his ass always stands.

  I choke on a laugh that has Coach whipping his angry glare my way.

  “This is correct or incorrect, Miss Burke?” he barks out, his eyes narrowed as he points to the problem on the board.

  Skimming my gaze over his calculations, I quickly reply. “The solution is correct because the four rational roots found are zeros of the result.”

  Someone snorts nearby.

  When he goes back to droning on, I reply back to August.

  Me: My knight in shining armor.

  August: You mean your knight in a shiny, cherry red and chrome Jaguar F-Type.

  I barely bite back a giggle.

  Me: Midlife crisis much?

  My phone buzzes again and I expect it to be August. It’s a number I don’t recognize, though.

  Unknown Number: It’s Jenna. I got a phone for Christmas.

  I turn in my seat to see the sad girl Jenna giving me a small smile. Once I’ve saved her name into my phone, I reply back.

  Me: About damn time. I’m Winter…but you already know that because Coach yells it enough times.

  Jenna: Ha…yep. This class is so hard!

  Me: Coach’s butt is harder. Seriously, you could bounce chalk off dat ass.

  She sniggers but thankfully he’s too busy droning on to notice.

  Jenna: It is a pretty hard looking butt. I still think his class is harder.

  Me: You think he’s bad for a teacher…I heard he’s even worse as a coach.

  Jenna: Oh, God. I would die. I’ve seen kids running up and down the bleachers.

  Coach whips around and starts yelling at a boy who’s whispering to a girl beside him. I give Jenna wide eyes and she has to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing. When he looks our way, we both play it cool. Eventually, the bell rings and we’re saved from Satan’s torment.

  “Don’t be a stranger,” I tell Jenna as I shove my book into my bag and then shoulder it. “If you need a study partner or just someone to talk to, I’m here.”

  A smile tugs at her lips. “Thank you. See you around.”

  She hurries out of the class and I make my way into the hall. I’m walking toward my locker when someone calls my name.

  Callie.

  We’ve texted about silly things but haven’t spoken much in a couple of weeks. She’s wearing a frown and I cringe, knowing that eventually she’s going to confront me about what happened with her mom that day at the mall. I got a free pass during the holidays because she spent nearly all her time with her boyfriend, Landon, but now that school is back in, she’s going to say something.

  “Will you talk to her?” she asks, her brows furrowing.

  Jackie? Fuck no.

  “Your mom—”

  “Not Mom,” she exclaims in exasperation. “It’s Lauren.”

  I frown at her. Lauren is quiet and keeps to herself. I don’t know that I’ve actually ever spoken to Landon’s sister before. “Me?”

  She nods. “She’s mad at Landon, which means she’s mad at me by default. But…” She purses her lips and looks over her shoulder. “She’s not doing so well. Landon doesn’t want just anyone in there with her. Please, Winter. You owe me.”

  I owe her for fucking her dad.

  Uggghhh.

  “Right, sure. Where is she?”

  She waves me to follow her into the bathroom. Landon’s worried stare meets mine when I round the corner. His shoulder is leaned against the door as he attempts to talk to Lauren.

  “She’s sick. Like sick sick,” he whispers as I approach. “I want her to go home so Dad can take her to the doctor. She’s been getting worse the past few weeks.” Then he raises his voice so she can hear. “She keeps ignoring things, but this isn’t something that will simply go away.”

  The way he talks to her annoys the hell out of me.

  “Tell Callie to text me your number. I’ll let you know how she is later. I think you two should get to class. Let me see if I can talk to her,” I tell them.

  He nods at me before taking Callie’s hand. She mouths a “thank you” at me. I rap my knuckle on the metal door.

  “Lauren?”

  Silence.

  “They’re gone. Let me in.”

  The bell rings for the next class and it’s then I hear the metal scrap as she unlocks the door. She’s sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, her long blond hair hanging around her face as she stares at the floor.

  “You okay?”

  “Just nauseous.”

  “Pregnant?” I ask, frowning.

  She lifts her chin and her brown eyes bore into me. “Kind of have to do the deed for that to happen.” Her expression turns sour and tears well in her eyes. “That definitely hasn’t happened. Ever.”

  I let out a sigh and walk over to the sink where I get a few paper towels wet. When I make my way back over to her, I brush her sweaty hair off to the side and lay the cold, wet paper against the back of her neck. “Okay, virgin girl. What’s wrong?”

  She snorts. “Virgin girl?”

  “We haven’t exactly been formally introduced before.”

  “Lauren is fine.”

  “Lauren is not fine,” I say as I squat in front of her. “Lauren is sick, hiding from her brother and his girlfriend, and missing class. From what I can tell, Lauren is not fine at all.”

  “I’m nauseous because I have a blinding migraine,” she grumbles.

  “Why don’t you go home?”

  Her brows furrow. “Because Dad will make me go to the doctor.”

  “That’s what people do when they’re sick—”

  “I’m not sick,” she h
isses, her tone defensive.

  I study her for a moment. Dark circles under eyes. Pale skin. The heavy way she breathes. She’s definitely not well.

  “Not sick. Got it.” I stand and pat her back. “Period pains are a bitch.”

  “Period pains?” She looks up at me in confusion.

  “When I want people to leave me the hell alone, I tell them I’m having period pains and they need to go away.” I hold up my hand before she can speak. “I know the truth, so you can’t use it on me. But Principal Renner? He’ll cringe the moment we start talking about periods. I’ll get us out of here and take you home.”

  “Thank you,” she murmurs.

  “But promise me something.”

  “Okay.”

  “If it gets worse, go to the doctor. Whatever it is that’s going on isn’t going to go away on sheer will alone. You might need medicine.”

  She touches a silver heart on her necklace and a tear races down her cheek. “Medicine doesn’t fix everything. Some things are unfixable.”

  I frown at her. “What is this unfixable thing? And how do you know it’s not fixable unless you’ve tried?”

  Her lip wobbles. “I know enough. I know what these things do. They take until they can’t take any longer. Denial means it can’t take anything from me.”

  Rather than telling her denial is a bad idea, I simply offer her my hand. “You can’t hide from the inevitable.”

  “Right now I can.”

  Stubborn girl.

  “Okay,” I say with a huff. “Fine. Hide. For now, let’s go freak out Renner. I can’t wait to see his face when I tell him you’re clotting and have made a horrible mess of your panties.”

  She giggles and I feel tons better.

  Lauren is going to be okay.

  At least I hope so.

  As I try to focus on what Coach Long is saying, I can’t help but think about Lauren. Yesterday, when I drove her home from school, I tried to pull information out of her about what was going on with her. That girl is stubborn as hell, though. I’ll have to ask Callie to keep an eye on her.

  Coach bends down to pick up his chalk he’s dropped, showing everyone his fine ass today, and I peek back at Jenna to waggle my eyebrows at her. She’s frowning hard but cracks a smile at my antics. My fingers fly over my phone as I text her.