Eight Seconds (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 9

  “Oh, all right. I’ll remember that,” Danielle said as she rose from the table. Enough dinnertime fun.

  As she left the kitchen, Danielle opened her cell to check her message.

  Oh, also be sure to wear a low-cut shirt. You have nice breasts.

  Danielle went outside to sit on the porch swing and relax. The frogs sang their nocturnal songs from the pond while the fireflies began to make their appearance. Her mother’s cottage garden by the porch was filled with an assortment of colorful flowers that were haphazardly placed but looked beautiful anyway.

  The sweet scent of the honeysuckles growing over the fence wafted through the warm, humid air. This was heaven on earth.

  Too many hard decisions needed to be made, and soon. What had ever happened to the carefree days and warm summer nights full of adventure? What happened to shirking responsibility and letting go, jumping butt naked off bridges in the moonlight?

  It was a sobering reality that life was passing by quickly. No longer was she an irresponsible, young girl. Now she was a young woman with decisions that would affect the rest of her life, not to mention a fickle heart trying desperately to lead her toward more heartache.

  An hour went by in the relative quiet, excepting the frogs and crickets. It was peaceful, and her parents respectfully left her alone. They were the wonderful kind of parents that knew when to pry and offer help but also knew when to allow her to reflect and ponder in solitude.

  Danielle couldn’t help but allow her mind to recall J.C.’s touch at the tavern and how it sent quivers throughout her. His ability to drive her wild with a whisper in her ear was unimaginable. No one else had the ability to affect her that way. She recalled her vision of him running his large hands up her legs into regions untouched. Her breath caught in her chest as her hormones raced...again.

  The image of his muscular body naked, preparing to make good on his promise, brought her nipples to hard peaks. Envisioning J.C. made her shudder as her eyes raked down his wide chest toward his narrowing waist to his, oh, yes, to the cock she had wondered about for years. Oh, heaven help her, what would it feel like to stroke her fingers down his rigid shaft. How would he react? Would he gasp and purr, delight in her touch? Could she drive him as wild as easily as he could her? Would her warm breath in his ear make him erect in seconds?

  Danielle’s mind continued to play out her fantasy. Her fingers would glide down his rippled chest to his six-pack abs. How she would kiss every sumptuous inch of his body, gently lap at his dick until she drove him mad. Oh, god. Yes, she thought.

  Her body was tingling from head to toe, her panties wet with her desire. Every inch of skin sensed even the slightest breeze like it was on high alert. She was electrified, her body humming with sexual awareness. Wow, if only it could feel this way.

  When her cell phone beeped, Danielle bolted off the porch swing like a third-grader getting caught putting bugs in the teacher’s desk. Not only did she feel like she suddenly had an audience. She was also startled out of the most relaxing moment she had had in months, well, besides the shower over an hour ago. Damn technology anyway.

  Beep. Beep.

  Are you thinking about me? I’m thinking about you.

  Danielle exhaled softly as her hands trembled holding the phone. Nah, he couldn’t know, could he?

  No, I was watching reruns of Hee Haw, sorry.

  She was lying through her teeth, but it was funny. Always the jokester, that was Danielle. She hated being serious and on edge. She much preferred to cut up, oh, and aggravate Stacy.

  Beep. Beep.

  Hmm, that’s too bad. I’m totally worth thinking about.

  Yes, he was. The problem was he knew it. She couldn’t decide whether it was sexy as hell or highly annoying. Right now, it was highly annoying.

  Says who? A brainless cupcake?

  Cupcake was the pet name Danielle gave girls with less than high IQ’s that depended on looks and idiocy to get them through life, like the ones that giggled at stupid shit or were on the cheerleading squad screaming, “Go, team.”

  Maybe she was a little jealous of their type at times, but really, brains and looks were way better. Too bad she generally felt she only had the brains. Oh, well, she’d rather be smart any day.

  Beep. Beep.

  Meow, saucer of cream?

  Did you want something, or did you want to annoy me? Danielle texted back.

  J.C.’s response was quick.

  Yeah, I want something…I want to spread my body across yours. I want to drive you to scream out my name and, honey, believe me, it won’t be an eight-second ride.

  Oh, holy heaven. Danielle dropped her phone. “Shit.” She smoothed her hair back and gathered her thoughts. She was precariously straddling a fence. Soon she would hit the point of no return.

  Without a witty comeback, Danielle conceded the battle, not that she told J.C. so. She simply tucked her phone into her pocket and forced a pleasant smile on her face before entering the house with her body tingling…again.

  J.C. leaned back against his large mahogany headboard and laughed. With no response from Danielle forthcoming, he knew he had gotten to her. He might be a rude, cocky bastard, but she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Lucky for her, he wanted more than a quick roll in the hay. He was sure he would want her for the rest of his life.

  The victory was short lived as J.C. tried to rub down the hard-on he had given himself with his dirty thoughts. Down boy. The thought of another cold shower and self-gratification wasn’t appealing. He’d have to ride this one out.

  * * * *

  Later that night, Danielle’s phone rang and woke her. “Hello?” she croaked out as she blinked trying to focus on her clock by the bed. “Hi, Stacy, did you just get off work?” Danielle asked with a yawn.

  Stacy worked at a local drive-in for extra money, just as Danielle had a few years back. Their families were not poor by any means, but extra money for hot boots and trips to the salon never seemed to fit into the farm budget. What was a girl to do? These girls worked. It could be baling hay for neighbors or tossing slop at the local choke-and-puke. They did what they needed to.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re not up for a midnight swim, are ya?” Stacy asked.

  Danielle thought a moment. Her bed felt extremely comfy after being bounced around the tractor all day in the hot sun. On the other hand, she had stated she was going to have fun this summer. She had promised Stacy anyway.

  “Actually I am.” Girl time would be a surefire way to get her mind off what’s his name and her upcoming interview. “Stop by on your way out of town and pick me up.”

  “Awesome, that’s my girl.” Stacy shouted.

  Within minutes, Stacy pulled up in the drive. Danielle bounded out of the house with a smile on her face.

  “Hell yeah,” Danielle squealed as she jerked open Stacy’s truck door. The two were only heading a mile down the dirt road that passed Danielle’s parents’ house, but when they were younger, it had felt like a hundred.

  “I figured you’d rather sleep,” Stacy said as she kicked up rocks and dust on the dirt road.

  “Are you kidding?” Danielle said as she stuck her hand out the back glass to the cooler. “I’ve got to burn off some...some frustration.”

  “My frustration is a day away. Man, I hate being away from Will. I took a quick trip down the other day for a quickie. That wasn’t enough. God, I can’t wait until tomorrow,” Stacy shouted as she cranked up the radio.

  “You have completely fallen for him, haven’t ya?” Danielle asked. Stacy never kept her eyes on one guy for very long until now. Plus, she had noticed the starry-eyed look she’d given Will at the rodeo…she was in love with him.

  “Yeah, I have. Crazy, isn’t it? I have known him for years, but we just hit if off six months ago, and we have been inseparable since.”

  That was great for Stacy and bad for her. She wondered how she would feel if she and J.C. actually started a relationship. Would he bore of her after
a few weeks? J.C. had women knocking on the door wherever he traveled. Why would he settle for her? Crazy, stupid thoughts.

  Danielle wasn’t the hot, wanton type J.C. seemed to attract. Ugh. She needed new thoughts. She had to get him off her mind. With beer in hand, she cracked it open and sucked the foam that bubbled up. She couldn’t remember the last time she had drank so much in so few days. Lush, she thought. Oh, well, she was country, and this was how they had fun.

  Stacy stopped abruptly, causing dust to swirl around her truck. “We’re here.”

  Danielle coughed. “Remind me next time to roll up my window before you stop.” She waved the dust out of her face as she opened the door.

  “Beer me.” Stacy yelled as she got out of the truck. “Oh, I brought some towels, but no swimsuit.”

  Danielle laughed. “I didn’t wear a swimsuit either.”

  They sprinted out to the old bridge and shucked their clothes as they giggled. “Last one in runs to the truck for a refill,” Stacy shouted as she threw her panties down and climbed onto the wooded rail.

  “No way, sister,” Danielle yelled and quickly cleared the rail.

  The drop was only fifteen feet, but felt like a mile to the person falling. Danielle and Stacy squealed as they fell toward the water.

  With a big splash, neither could figure out who hit first as they surfaced at the same time.

  “I hit the water first,” Danielle shouted as she swam toward the edge of the river.

  “No way. I totally hit first,” Stacy sputtered as she tried to breathe and swim.

  “I’m older and smarter. I hit first,” Danielle teased. God, they sounded like fourteen-year-old girls. It was nice though to cut loose and be silly. Life had plenty of heartache and stress and work that would soon fill her day-to-day existence. She had to enjoy the simple things right now while she could.

  “You shit and fell in it, too,” Stacy yelled as they reached the shallow bank.

  They both giggled as they lay back on the sandy area of the bank. The moonlight was bright. A full moon loomed above. Gosh, it seemed so close. Danielle howled then Stacy joined in.

  “I hit first.” Stacy laughed.

  “Nuh-uh, I did,” Danielle jabbed back.

  “Rock, paper, scissors?” Stacy asked with a sly smile. She always won at that game.

  “No, how about we just go together? Then we can race again.” Danielle angled her head to look at Stacy.

  “Deal.”

  They walked back to the truck for another beer. Danielle opened the cooler as Stacy sang totally off-key behind her. Ah, the things they did together. They stood naked and cracked open another beer although their previous half-finished beers sat on the bridge.

  “Round two?” Stacy smiled.

  “Yeah, but let’s walk this time,” Danielle said, out of breath.

  At the bridge, they decided not to waste a good beer and stood chatting about how wonderful the weather was for their now annual skinny-dipping fest.

  Danielle chugged the last of her beer down and crunched the can calmly, so as to not give away her intentions. “Ah, that was great.”

  When Stacy turned up her beer, Danielle bailed off the bridge.

  “You cheater,” Stacy yelled, and threw her empty can down.

  Danielle surfaced laughing as Stacy jumped off the bridge and hit with a big splash. The water was cool, and it felt spectacular against her bare skin. She didn’t understand the difference or feeling between wearing a swimsuit and being naked, but it felt so wonderful to be in the nude.

  Stacy popped up, wiping her eyes. “Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater.”

  Danielle laughed and splashed Stacy. “Honey, there are no rules, so how could I cheat?”

  Stacy splashed back. “I don’t know, but I’m calling you a cheater anyway. I wasn’t finished with my beer.”

  Danielle relaxed and floated on her back and looked toward the moon. Yeah, this was great. Thank goodness the river was extremely slow moving so she could relax.

  Stacy swam up before Danielle noticed and dunked her quickly. Danielle came up gasping. “Oh, girl, you’ve done it now.”

  Danielle swam after Stacy giggling, splashing as she followed.

  Danielle made her way to the shoreline and collapsed in the small section of sand, out of breath. Stacy followed and crawled the last few feet and lay down beside Danielle.

  “Shit, this means I run for beer.” Stacy laughed.

  “Nah, we still have some left on the bridge, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Stacy breathlessly replied.

  “One more time?” Danielle asked, smiling. She could go forty more times if it were up to her. The adrenaline rush was exhilarating. But it was after midnight, and she had to move the bales out of the field before they left tomorrow.

  “You’re on,” Stacy said and bounded to her feet.

  They raced up the hill and out on the bridge, both jumping over the rail screaming. Two splashes later, they bubbled up laughing.

  “Tie,” Danielle gasped and wiped water out of her face.

  A spotlight came on, shined down toward them, and Danielle froze. Oh, not good. Surely it wasn’t the sheriff. Ah, shit, the sheriff was not one of her fans. That stemmed back to the great detergent caper in high school.

  “Who the hell is it?” Stacy whispered while treading water.

  “Hell if I know,” Danielle whispered back. The thrill of danger skidded through her abdomen.

  The sounds of male laughter—two guys by the sound of it—erupted from the bridge. Great, Danielle thought. Her clothes were on the bridge, more than likely right at their feet.

  A voice echoed out. “Say, ladies, what would panties be worth?”

  “Up yours,” Danielle yelled back.

  “Tsk-tsk. That isn’t very nice,” the voice replied while holding up her panties into the spotlight for her to see.

  “Who’s up there?” Stacy yelled.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” the voice called back.

  “It’s worth me not kicking the shit out of you when I get out of this river,” Danielle said sternly. Whoever it was knew them, and she was sure she knew them as well. But the echo disguised their voices.

  “I would love for you to come out of that river and do so. I would enjoy it immensely,” the voice taunted.

  “Who is it?” Stacy whispered again.

  Danielle looked at Stacy while making a silly face that said loud and clear, she didn’t know.

  Stacy started swimming toward the shore. She wasn’t modest like Danielle. Apparently she was going to confront whoever stood on that bridge with their panties in hand.

  Danielle reluctantly followed. Her dad might have smiled and laughed about her pulling this before, but if he knew an audience was here tonight, heaven help her.

  Stacy walked out of the water as confident as a runway model and began her climb up the bank. Danielle hesitated but decided to follow Stacy’s lead. Hell, she was breaking all her rules anyway.

  They walked to the truck and hit the cooler for some liquid courage before they continued on up the hill to the bridge.

  “Who the fuck is up there?” Stacy demanded in a low voice as she stumbled over some rocks.

  Danielle giggled in a hushed tone. It was actually quite funny all of a sudden. “Whoever it is knows us. I’m sure of it.”

  They walked on up the hill and onto the bridge. The spotlight kept them from seeing their admirers.

  “Jackass, shut off the spotlight and give us our clothes.” Danielle said with her hands on her hips, completely at ease all of a sudden with her nakedness.

  “Mmm, I’m so glad I didn’t miss this,” a voice purred.

  Danielle shrieked, “You ass.”

  Will walked in front of the spotlight J.C. was holding, “Sorry, Danielle, I have eyes for Stacy.”

  Stacy squealed and jumped into his arms while her legs wrapped around his waist. “I should let Danielle kick the shit out of you. You are bad, sooo
o bad.”

  “Where’s my welcome?” J.C. snickered. His hand trembled, but he tried to play it as cool as he could muster. Seeing Danielle standing there naked with her hands on her hips in defiance was…it was breathtaking.

  It was obvious she worked out. Her stomach was nice and tight, and her legs were slender and luscious and long. Mmm, and those perfect handfuls of breasts were plump and soft with erect nipples in a shade of rosy-pink. How much he wanted to suck them. His dick hardened immediately and sprung up in greeting. Ouch, again.

  Danielle stomped toward him and jerked her panties out of his hand. “Go to hell.”

  Danielle grabbed up her clothes at J.C.’s feet and stomped toward the truck.

  J.C. laughed. “Don’t hate, honey. Would it make you feel better if I told you that you have a smoking hot body?” he called out as she walked away.

  Danielle gave him the middle finger salute over her shoulder as she walked away.

  J.C. watched intently as the moonlight glimmered off her ass. Mmm. Her tiny waist complemented her backside that lightly jiggled as she stomped off. Wow, he wanted to tame the shrew all of a sudden. He could find a better outlet for her anger.

  Danielle reached the truck and slipped on her clothes. Rage boiled off her in waves. She didn’t know why she was so mad. It was in good fun. Whatever. The shock had sent her into a fury of heated nervousness and a state of pissed off she couldn’t control. She hopped into Stacy’s truck and started it as Stacy hollered from the bridge. Danielle ignored her and kicked up rocks against J.C.’s truck as she sped down the road.

  As she drove, she wondered why the whole mess caused her to erupt like it had. Maybe it was because she couldn’t see him behind the spotlight. Certainly there was a level of vulnerability on her part. Really, a man with a spotlight and her panties in his hand while she stood naked before him left her feeling somewhat helpless. Maybe it was a control issue. She had that problem. Whatever it was, she was on show, completely in the nude, and he’d laughed.

  A text beeped her out of her cooling stage. Before she picked up the phone, she knew who it was. Danielle stopped the truck and sighed when she opened her phone.