Five Alarm Lust by Elise Whyles (reading cloud ebooks .TXT) 📗

“Good.” Jack’s quick grin lightened her mood as she followed him to his truck. Secured on the seat, she glanced at him as he slid in and closed the door. “We’ll head over and have something to eat, but I promised a buddy of mine I’d stop by and have a drink first. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Do you want me to drive?”

“Maybe later.” Jack pulled her against him with a chuckle. “You’ll love Luke. He was supposed to go up to the tower about a month back, but he had to wait for his partner to finish up some work. He just came down for a couple of days, something about a personal matter. I think it had more to do with his ex than anything happening at the station.”

“What does he do?”

“He works for the forestry service. I worried about him taking this assignment. He’s just gone through a bad break and he needs some downtime to heal.”

“Oh, his girlfriend left him?”

Jack cleared his throat, a faint flush darkening his face. “No, his boyfriend.”

“Oh.” Gillian frowned. “Is he going to mind you bringing me? I’d love to meet him, but he might object to you bringing a girl…”

“Why on earth would he mind me bringing a girl? Trust me, the man may be gay, but Luke’s going to love you. Just don’t mention color schemes. He’s obsessed with them.”

With a laugh at the image, Gillian leaned against his shoulder, almost looking forward to meeting his friend. Twenty minutes later they pulled up in front of a small, green house. A green truck with white writing sat in the driveway next to a motorcycle.

Lights blazed across the manicured lawn. Solar lights lit the walkway to the front door. Jack turned the truck off just as the front door opened. Gillian gasped in surprise. The man standing in the doorway had to be six feet tall. Short blond hair curled over his forehead.

He waved at them from the porch. “Well, looks like we’ve been spotted. I told him it was going to be a short visit. He’s dying to meet the woman who’s got me tied in knots.” Jack held his hand out and then pulled Gillian from the driver’s side. Fingers locked, they strolled up the walkway.

“Jack, how’s it going? I didn’t think you were going to stop by.” Deep, rich, his voice rolled across the evening air.

“I told you I would.” Jack chuckled. “One drink. Gillian and I have plans for the evening and sitting around here drinking your beer ain’t going to feed her.”

“Well, hell.” Luke pouted. “Drink and run. Goodness. This must be Gillian.” He looked her up and down. “I’m Luke, by the way.”

“Gillian.”

“Nice to meet you. So would you like a beer? Or tea?”

“Um, coffee, if you have it.”

“I sure have. Come on in. Are you hungry, I can certainly throw something on for you?”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to—”

“Luke.” Jack smacked him on the arm, a brow raised. “We’re not here to eat.”

“Now, Jack. I’m not going to let your girlfriend faint due to starvation.” Luke tucked his hand through her arm and tugged. Leaving Jack behind them, Luke all but dragged her into the kitchen.

“Have a seat.” Luke ushered her into a chair and pulled out three cups. “So Jack tells me you’re into dinosaurs.”

“Among other things. I’ve got some time left on my degree, unless I go for my doctorate. I’d have more if I was in a classroom, but since I’ve already done all the class work I’m on my practicum.”

“They do that?”

“Only when the student can recite the entire list of books word for word.” Gillian smiled. “My dad used to teach at the university, so the Dean was willing to allow me a bit of leeway.”

“What else are you studying?”

“I haven’t decided. I teach history already, and I’m not much into learning something I don’t like. Might take on English Literature.”

“She developed a program to teach kids about history and dinosaurs.” Jack pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Gillian’s pretty incredible.”

Her cheeks burning at his praise, she ducked her head. It wasn’t amazing, she wasn’t remarkable, and pretty soon Jack would realize the truth in that. “It was just a simple program, nothing to write home about.”

“Still, you organized it and the school is using it.” Jack gave her a soft hug. “So, you mentioned something about a beer, Luke?”

Grateful for the change in topic, Gillian studied the counter, her fingers wrapping around the coffee mug. She sat in silence, thoughts a tangled jumble of emotions going in every direction. Half listening to the conversation between Jack and Luke, she watched them with a smile. The open, happy grin on Jack’s face as he lounged in his chair warmed her heart. She shivered with each brush of his fingers on the back of her hand, the slow sweep of them up her arm. Easing closer, she bit back a sigh at the tingle skipping across her flesh. Her breath caught when he wrapped her in a hug, his fingers tucked beneath the curve of one breast, his thumb making a lazy sweep of the globe. Each movement echoed in the coil of arousal in the pit of her stomach that settled between her legs. She crossed her legs and adjusted herself in the chair, her thighs pressing close together to rub against her throbbing clit.

“So when are you headed back up to the tower?”

“In a week.” Luke leaned against the counter, his ankles crossed. “Wish it were the end of the season already.”

“Trouble?” Jack lifted his beer to his lips and took a slow sip.

“Not the kind you mean.” Luke rubbed a hand down his jaw, his nails scratching at the short stubble. “My new partner is a dish, and I’m finding myself more and more attracted to him. I told you about Sean, didn’t I?”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Gillian glanced between the two men. “I mean you’re getting over your break-up. He must be a