As quickly as she could, she dried her hair and finger-combed it before she put it back into her familiar braid and realized she didn’t have anything to hold it with. Able held out his hand and she gladly took it, holding the tail of her braid in the other. Erin felt light and happy as they padded back to the bedroom, and reluctantly let his hand go so she could dig a rubber band out of the pocket of her jeans to secure the ends of her hair.

“We’ve never talked about birth control.” Abel’s voice brought her back to reality in a rush. He raked his fingers through his hair. “I should have taken care of it, and I’m sorry for that. It was up to me to protect you.”

“I’m on the pill,” she confessed. “The doctor put me on it several years ago to help regulate my period.” Erin was embarrassed to be discussing this even though she knew it was necessary.

“I promise that I’m healthy. I’ve never forgotten to use a condom before in my life.” He sounded aggravated with himself, and in a perverse way, she was pleased that she could make a man as self-contained as him lose all control. She knew she’d feel very different if she hadn’t been on the pill, but since birth control wasn’t an issue, she decided to enjoy herself.

Erin tugged on her clothes and watched Abel as he hauled on his jeans. When they were both dressed, she walked up to him, went up on her toes, and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry about it, everything is fine.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive,” she answered. A glance at the clock told her that she was out of time. If she hurried, she’d get home the same time as Jackson. He was getting soup and sandwiches for lunch if he wanted to eat at all.

Chapter Four

Abel kept his hand on the small of her back as they walked down the stairs. “How did you get in the house and how did you know I was here?”

Erin’s smile was genuine and her eyes were alight with mischief. “Now you know that the entire town knows you’re back. After all, you did stop for groceries this morning.”

Abel chuckled and was surprised by the sound. He had all but forgotten how to laugh, but had done so several times since discovering Erin in his bed this morning. “I’d forgotten how fast the local grapevine works.”

“Anyway, Jackson told me you were back. He got it from Jed, the mailman, who got it from his wife, Alma at the Stop and Shop.”

“I get the picture.” Abel interrupted her. “But did you come here just to seduce me? Not that I minded,” he added, letting his hand fall lower so he could squeeze her luscious ass.

His body was primed and ready to go again, but his conscience was reasserting itself. It didn’t matter that Erin had climbed in bed with him. He was the older and more experienced of the two of them, and he’d taken advantage of her. Yes, she was an adult, but she’d lived a sheltered life and was one of his best friend’s baby sister.

“Why, I brought you a welcome-home present.” She batted her eyelashes coyly. “I know you like apple pie.”

That explained the cinnamon smell from his dream. “But how did you get in?”

“We’ve got a key. Who do you think takes care of this place while you’re gone?”

Erin’s words struck him. He’d never thought about that in all the years he’d been gone. Whenever he’d stopped back for a visit the house was always clean and smelled fresh, something he’d always taken it for granted. The thought that she’d kept his home ready and waiting for him moved him deeply. “I’m sorry.” The phrase was totally inadequate to express how he was feeling. “Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure.” Quickly she brushed aside his praise. “I liked your mother, and couldn’t bear to see her home fall into disarray. It’s her pie recipe I used.” Erin bit her lip and bounced on her toes, looking for all the world like a child who needed approval.

Abel stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and drew her into his arms. Leaning down, he traced the soft contours of his lips with his tongue. He knew he couldn’t let this go any further, but damn it, it had been way too long since he’d taken such pleasure from having a woman’s body next to his.

The soft mounds of her breasts were flattened against his chest as Erin kissed him with abandon. The woman didn’t seem to have any protective instincts, giving herself to him totally. She made little sounds of pleasure as he stroked her tongue with his. Her hands clutched at him, her nails digging hard into his shoulders.

Moving slightly, he grabbed her behind with one hand and tugged her close to him. One of Erin’s hands slid from his shoulders and cupped his rigid cock through the stiff denim of his jeans. Abel tore his mouth away from hers and he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. The smell of her arousal was driving him mad. She was ready and willing, ripe for the taking. And his.

So lost was he in his own desires, that he almost came in his pants when she wrapped her arms around his neck and hoisted both her legs around him, locking her ankles behind him. She pushed her mound against his cock, moaning as she pleasured herself. The sight of Erin, totally abandoning herself to the passion that sizzled between them snapped his tenuous control.

Blind with need, he shoved her against the wall and tugged at the top of her overalls, pulling the straps down over her arms. She struggled to help him, releasing her hold on him long enough for him to push up her soft cotton shirt and sports bra to expose her breasts. Small, but perfectly proportioned, the pert nipples were like ripe strawberries just waiting to be plucked. He’d always been partial to strawberries.

Plumping her breasts with his hands, he bent his head, nibbling and tasting her lush flesh. Her skin was salty and sweet, and her soft moans of pleasure filled the air as she continued to grind her pussy against his cock. Even between their layers of clothing he was unbelievably aroused.

Abel could feel the sweat rolling down between his shoulder blades as he struggled to regain a thread of control. It took an effort, but he kept reminding himself to be careful with her, but she wasn’t making it easy. Erin tugged eagerly at his clothing, and he pulled back long enough to tear his own shirt over his head and toss it on the floor.

Slowly, he covered her torso with his chest as he lowered his mouth to hers. The rasp of her nipples against his chest and his cock against her hot pussy was incredible. Needing even more, he devoured her mouth, plundering the dark, moist cavern. Their bodies touched everywhere, but it still wasn’t enough.

The hand on her bottom squeezed tight for a moment before sliding along the cleft of her jeans. He could tell that she was wet and ready for him as even the fabric was damp. “You’re ready for me again, aren’t you, baby?”

“Yes,” she groaned and ground her hips hard against his cock.

“Come for me,” he coaxed her. He needed to pleasure her. Wanted her pleasure. “You can do it,” he encouraged. His fingers rubbed hard against the crotch of her jeans even as he nibbled his way down her jawline and bit lightly on her neck.

“Abel…” she cried just as her body convulsed. He could feel her pulsing against his crotch and he ground his teeth and prayed he wouldn’t come in his pants. With her head tilted back in the throes of her pleasure, she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. She held nothing back from him.

Holding her tight, he cradled her in his arms until she finally stopped shivering. Sighing, she went boneless in his embrace and her legs slid down his sides until her feet were touching the ground again. Levering himself away from her, he gazed at her, pleased by the smile that played across her lips. “I’m not going to apologize for that.”

“I’d be angry with you if you did.” Snuggling closer to him, her hand grazed the front of his jeans and he grabbed her hand in an iron grip before moving it away.

“That’s not a good idea.” He was riding the razor’s edge at the moment and the last thing he wanted to do was disgrace himself. Erin had him hotter than a teenage boy with his first girl.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Squirming against him, she rubbed her bare breasts across his chest.

Abel pulled away from her and stood there totally bewitched by the erotic picture before him. With her back against the wall, her legs spread, her breasts bare, and her lips rosy, she was every man’s wet dream. He wanted nothing more than to heft her over his shoulder, carry her back upstairs to his bed and keep her there for at least three days. He raked his hands through his hair and over his face, trying to regain his composure.

Erin continued to stand there and smile at him. Finally in an act of self-preservation he reached out and tugged her bra and shirt down to cover her tempting breasts. “Enough, Erin.”

Shooting him a look of irritation, she pulled her overall straps back over her shoulders and tucked her shirt back in. Abel waited until she was finished pulling herself back together. God, she looked good enough to eat. He shook his head at his wayward thoughts and allowed his nose to lead him towards the kitchen. “Come on,” he growled as unfulfilled lust roared through him. “I’ve got to taste that pie.” He really wanted to eat her pussy, but pie would have to do.


Erin followed Abel to the kitchen. It was either that or be left behind. What she really wanted to do was drag him back to the comfortable bed upstairs and demand he make love to her again. But that was impossible. One didn’t drag a man of his size anywhere.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he strode towards the kitchen. That man looked great coming and going. Right now, she was enjoying watching the way his tight butt filled out his jeans. It looked good enough to take a bite out of. Look what that magazine had done to her. She’d had more lustful thoughts today than she had in the last seven years combined. Maybe, she was just long overdue for some fun.

Abel looked even better than she remembered, and her memory was excellent. The faded denim of his jeans were molded to the muscles in his thighs and cupped the large bulge in the front, displaying it to perfection. His waist was thick due to his size, but there wasn’t an inch of flab on him. Erin was just glad that he hadn’t felt the need to put his shirt back on. The muscles of his back and arms looked like they were sculpted out of bronze.

Sighing, she wished he’d turn around again just so she could ogle his washboard stomach again. She knew she was being disgraceful. After all, she had two strong, muscular brothers not much smaller than Abel. A great male body shouldn’t have her panting after him like this. But there was just something about Abel that called to her as a woman and made her glad to be one.

He stood beside the counter for a moment and just closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of the pie. The sheer look of pleasure on his face made every moment of making it and baking it well worth it. Hurrying past him, she opened a cupboard and took down a plate. Tugging open the drawer next to him, she pulled out a fork and knife. Abel hadn’t moved a muscle. He was still standing there with his head tilted back and his eyes closed, breathing deeply.

It occurred to her then, that Abel was tired. Not a regular tired, but a deep down to your soul exhausted. She didn’t know how she knew, only that she did. This was a man at the end of his rope, mentally and physically. What he needed was some old-fashioned TLC, and she was just the woman to provide it. Biting her lip, she reminded herself that this thing with him had to be a summer fling. He wouldn’t be around much longer than that, and if she let her heart get involved she was asking for a world of hurt.

Reaching in front of him, she snagged the pie plate and dragged it in front of her. Wielding her knife with skill, she cut a huge slab of pie. Actually, it was more like a quarter of the pie. She slid the fork underneath it and scooped it onto the plate. He still hadn’t moved.

“Abel.” She laid her hand on his forearm and could feel the muscle jump under her palm. “Come sit down and eat.”

It seemed to take an effort on his part, but he opened his eyes, rolled his shoulders, and allowed himself to be led to the table. When he was seated, she popped the plate of pie in front of him and handed him a fork. “Eat.”

He gave her a glance from under his heavy eyelids that warned her that he wouldn’t always obey her orders. But she didn’t care as long as he ate. “Do you want something to drink?” She knew she was hovering, but she couldn’t help herself.