Come Back To Me Read online

  Unknown: In favor of honesty. Both. I’m here, u r here. Y not?

  L: At least you’re honest. But I thought you only did one night? Doesn’t matter…I have to get back to work.

  Shoving the phone in her pocket, Lacey tried to remain focused the rest of the afternoon. Deep down though, her body was buzzing with the hope that Bryce wouldn’t take no for an answer, and that he’d show up at the bar again.

  As soon as she walked in the bar to start her shift, a few hours later – Tyler came trotting toward her with a smirk on his face. She was willing to bet she knew exactly why, too.

  “Oh good, you’re here,” Tyler shouted over the music. Pulling Lacey closer, he leaned in. “There’s a hottie at the end of the bar; he’s been here for a while now. A little broody, if you ask me, but he’s been waiting on you. If you want me to kick him out, I will.”

  Lacey looked down the bar and spotted Bryce right away. Guess he wasn’t going to take ‘no’ so easily.

  Bryce felt her walk in. The air sparked. Sure, that probably sounded stupid, but it was true. When he looked up, he caught the male bartender who had been serving him, with his arms around her. And she was fucking smiling at him.

  He took a deep breath and held tight to the half-empty beer bottle in front of him. He could fucking kill the twerp with his bare hands for touching what was his. Wasn’t that the pisser? She was supposed to be a one-time thing, but the first free minute he had, here he was. Wanting to see her again, to fuck her again.

  Lacey leaned over the bar. “Relax, he’s gay,” she whispered, pulling Bryce from his thoughts. He’d been so caught up in mentally destroying the other bartender that he hadn’t even noticed Lacey approach him.

  He noticed her now, though. The way she was leaning over had her tits nearly spilling out of her low-cut top. Damn, if that didn’t make Bryce’s cock stand at attention. Her voice though, it soothed him in a way nothing else could. The tension he’d been holding onto seemed to melt away.

  “You’re still wearing the wig,” Bryce commented.

  “I told you; I have my reasons. You promised not to mention it.”

  “Right, sorry.” He nodded in apology.

  “So, why are you here, exactly? I haven’t heard from you in almost a week.”

  She was feeling sassy. Little did she know, she’d pay for that later.

  “Thought I made myself clear. I wanted to see you.”

  “And fuck me.”

  “That too.” Bryce tipped his bottle toward her before taking a long gulp.

  “I thought you’d made yourself clear before, too. One night. No strings. No come backs. One would think if the game changed, you would have, oh I don’t know, had the decency to call?”

  She was pissed. He hadn’t expected her to be upset that he didn’t call. Maybe really, she wasn’t. Maybe she was just pissed that he assumed she’d be his piece of ass whenever he pleased, and none of the stuff in between. Slamming a fresh bottle of Miller Lite in front of him, causing the liquid to spew onto the counter, she cursed and stomped to the back room.

  Bryce was momentarily stunned, but the threatening glare that the other bartender sent his way did not go unnoticed. He grabbed a few napkins, cleaned up Lacey’s mess, and tossed them to the trash can behind the bar.

  Then he went after her.

  As he made his way down the hallway, he could see her in the stock room, moving things around, and marking things off a list. The overflow of noise from the bar made it hard for her to hear him approach; the minute the door clicked shut behind him, she jumped.

  “You can’t be back here,” she said, trying to sound convincing, but the desire in her voice told him that she wasn’t going to make him leave anytime soon. Turning her back to him again, she went back to checking over the inventory.

  “I think you’re a little confused.” Bryce pulled her flush against him and ran his hands up her body, cupping her breasts in his hands. “I want you. Nothing else changes. No strings attached.”

  “I told you. I don’t do one-night stands,” she responded, breathless, as she rubbed her ass against his hardness. “What happened was a fluke. I…felt sorry for you,” she mumbled as Bryce’s fingers found her nipples.

  “What did I tell you about lying, about denying yourself, Lacey?” He swatted her ass before spinning her around, and tilting her face so she’d have no choice but to look him in the eyes. “You said it yourself; you don’t have time for relationships. So, what I’m offering could be good for both of us.”

  She wanted what he was offering, no doubt about it. But could she risk losing her heart to a soldier? How long before she found herself wanting more of this man? He was clear; he wasn’t offering more.

  “Say yes, Lacey, and let me have you right here. Let me give you what you need, so you can go out there and finish your shift, before I have you again.”

  She could do this, just one more time. She knew he’d be deploying again soon. He told her that much the last time they were together. He’d leave, and she could go back to her normal life. There was no reason she couldn’t enjoy a little sexual satisfaction in the meantime.

  “Yes, Bryce, yes. Please.” Her words came out dripping with lust.

  His lips crashed against hers while one hand fumbled to undo his belt. Lacey hiked her skirt around her waist and readied herself for him. The crackle of the condom wrapper echoed in the dimly-lit room, and then his fingers slipped under her panties and found her clit.

  “You’re already wet for me.”

  “Ah,” was all Lacy could manage in response as Bryce slid his fingers inside her. “Fuck me, please,” she moaned. There was no time for foreplay, she didn’t need it with Bryce. Right now, she just needed him.

  Moving her panties to the side, he wasted no time sliding home. “Oh fuck,” he whispered, lifting her legs and wrapping them securely around his waist as he leaned her against the door.

  Bryce’s thrusts slammed her against the door over and over, as eager breathy moans escaped her lips.

  If Tyler caught her, she’d be mortified. The old Lacey would never dream of getting it on with a relative stranger in the storage room at the bar, but Bryce brought out a different side of her. A side that wanted to throw caution to the wind and have fun for as long as it lasted.

  “Lacey, fuck, I’m so close.” Bryce’s gruff voice was more than enough to bring her to the brink, but when he slid a hand between them and strummed her clit, she was done for.

  A string of mumbled curses flew from her mouth as her body exploded and her pussy clamped down on him. Bryce covered her mouth with his, muting her screams of pleasure. With a growl, Bryce pumped into her twice more before his body stilled, and Lacey could feel his cock twitch.

  “Goddamn, what you do to me.” He kissed her lips, gently this time. It was intimate, almost sweet even, and said something more than ‘one-night stand.’

  Lacey’s legs slowly reached the floor. She righted her skirt as Bryce tied off the condom and tucked himself away. Slowly, as her high disappeared, her common sense returned.

  “I’ve got to get back to work.”

  Bryce simply nodded. Lacey slipped out first, checking to see that the coast was clear before ducking into the ladies’ restroom to make sure she was still presentable. Bryce went to the men’s room to toss the condom before stepping outside for some fresh air.

  Thankfully, the bar was still fairly empty. Tyler was busy chatting with one of the regulars, and everyone seemed to be happy. The wink Tyler shot her, though, told her that she may not have been as discreet as she thought. She mouthed ‘sorry,’ which had Tyler excusing himself and making his way toward her.

  “Sorry for what? We all need to let loose every now and again,” he smirked.

  “Oh God.” Lacey’s face flushed crimson. “Tell me the whole bar didn’t hear.”

  “Just me, darlin’, when I came looking for you. It was obvious, with the door nearly vibrating off the hinges and the sounds that man of you
rs was making. I almost embarrassed myself,” he laughed.

  “He’s not mine,” was all Lacey could manage as she grabbed a towel and began wiping down the bar.

  “Whatever you say.” Tyler reached in the cooler and pulled out a beer. Twisting off the cap, he slid it across the bar top toward Bryce. “You might need another. This one is on the house.”

  Lacey’s head shot up; Bryce was now sitting right in front of her with his brow cocked.

  “That right?” Bryce grinned before taking a long pull of his beer.

  “Busted,” Lacey whispered as Tyler walked away.

  “Come back to my place with me tonight.”

  “Bryce, I can’t,” she sighed. “My grandmother. I can’t leave her alone overnight.”

  “Then invite me back to your place,” he said with a sly grin.

  Grabbing a bottle of water and taking a swig first, she replied, “No. I’m not inviting you back to my place to have wall-banging sex, with my grandmother in the same house.”

  “We won’t have sex. We can watch a movie or something,” Bryce shrugged.

  Lacey snorted. “Riiiight, no sex. You damn near attacked me a few minutes ago!”

  “And I could go again, but I can show restraint, Lacey.”

  “The answer is still no. No sleepovers. I won’t send Granny to an early grave. She is planning our wedding, by the way,” Lacey quipped. Take that! That should make Mr. ‘One Night Only’ shake in his boots.

  She watched as Bryce’s face paled a little and sweat lined his brow, but her victory was short-lived.

  “Be sure you get me the date, sweetheart. I’ll make sure I put in for the leave.”

  Throwing her hands up in defeat, Lacey mumbled, “I can’t win with you.”

  Bryce laughed, obviously pleased with himself. If the mention of marriage made him nervous, he didn’t let it show, much. In fact, he seemed to be reveling at her unease.

  She could keep pretending this wasn’t getting serious but Bryce’s conflicting messages made her even more confused.

  All I Ask—Adele

  Bryce ran his hand up and down her bare back as she let out a contented sigh and snuggled closer to his warm body.

  They’d spent the better part of the last week wrapped up in each other. Stealing moments alone together whenever they could. He’d made himself a staple at the bar on nights she worked, and convinced her to slip away for a quickie or two before going home on a few of those nights. Now she had snuck out early, before a shift at the bar, and was currently snuggled in Bryce’s hotel bed.

  “Tell me something about you, Bryce. You’re always so secretive.”

  His body stiffened momentarily before he blew out a breath. “Not a whole lot to tell that I haven’t already told you, sweetheart.”

  “How about we start with the easy stuff? I know you’re in the Army; you said you have been for years. So, how old are you?”

  “I’m thirty-six. How old are you?”

  “You’re thirty-six?” Lacey was eying him pensively.

  “Do you want to see my ID? Shouldn’t you have carded me? I know I look much younger,” he teased. “Now it’s your turn. This is where you tell me how old you are.”

  “Twenty-six,” she squeaked, holding her breath, waiting for his reaction.

  Bryce nodded. “Twenty-six?”

  “Y-yes.” She wrapped the sheet around her body and sat up, putting distance between them.

  “And you’re acting like it’s suddenly a problem because…?”

  “You don’t think I’m too young for you? That’s ten years, Bryce! What the hell could you want with someone my age?”

  “I thought I was pretty clear on what I wanted. And I don’t see a problem with the age difference; you’re not underage. Jesus Christ, we’re both adults, and it’s not like I’m asking you to marry me!” His voice rose in defense.

  “Oh, that’s right. I’m just a piece of ass until you deploy again. Then you’ll move on to the next one,” Lacey barely mumbled out.

  He could hear the hurt in her voice. Bryce rubbed his hands over his face. He knew the minute the words left his mouth that he’d stepped into a big pile of quick sand, with no way out.

  He could command a unit of men, shoot to kill without thinking twice, but when it came to women, he was fucking clueless until it was too late.

  Rising from the bed, Lacey started to grab her things. He watched as she slid her panties up her legs, she sighed.

  This whole thing was a mistake. She would never be anything more to Bryce, and she wasn’t wired to keep things casual. She should have trusted her gut and never gotten involved.

  “So, what now? You’re going to leave?” Bryce rose from the bed, and made his way to her.

  Lacey slid her arms through her shirt and paused - taking in his naked body in all its glory. The way his arms flexed as he held them on his hips; the way his thighs stretched as he moved toward her – like a lion, after his prey. His rock-hard cock bobbed with each step. Her body warmed with thoughts of the passion they shared, just moments before.

  Bryce reached for her unbuttoned shirt as he stalked closer, closing the distance between them. With a single flick of his hands, her shirt made its way back to the floor. “I’m far from done with you, Lacey. I don’t know what this is, but I do know I can’t get enough of you.”

  She moaned as he leaned in and kissed her neck. His fingers trailed down her shoulders and wrapped around her, releasing her bra that she haphazardly tossed on seconds before. Just like her shirt, her bra fell silently to the floor. Bryce continued a trail of kisses down her neck and across her chest, until he sucked one nipple firmly into his mouth. Satisfied that he had hardened it to its peak, he switched to the other side – making sure to show ample attention to both of her lush breasts.

  Lacey put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. “Stop.” She wrapped her hands over her chest, covering herself. “I can’t do this with you.”

  “Can’t, or won’t? Because you were just doing this with me.” He wrapped his arms around her again, his hands edging down her body and grabbing hold of her black lace panties. “Tell me to stop again. Say it, and everything stops right here. I’ll let you go.” His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, “Tell me to stop, Lacey. Last chance.”

  Goddamn the man. She couldn’t stop him. She wasn’t strong enough to push him away a second time, not with the way her body craved him. It was like she was caught under his spell.

  Without warning, she heard the fabric rip as Bryce tore it from her body. “On the bed, Lacey. On your knees, ass in the air,” he commanded.

  Shit. She could come just from his bossy tone. What was she doing? Wasn’t she supposed to be leaving? Now the only thing she wanted was his cock, buried deep inside her, again. She couldn’t help but obey his orders, positioning her body just as he instructed.

  He let out a hiss and Lacy felt the bed dip, then the heat from his body. His hand came down, swatting her ass and causing her to yelp. Her body responded more by writhing back, trying to find him.

  “That’s for trying to walk away,” he growled, as he rubbed the red print on her ass and worked his way down to her core. He found her drenched and ready for him. “You liked that, didn’t you?”

  Lacey whimpered, unable to form words. Bryce smacked her ass again, this time she screamed, “Yes!” He smiled to himself, relishing the fact that Lacey liked a little pain with her pleasure.

  “I call the shots, Lacey. I say when we are done,” he professed as he rubbed his hard cock between her thighs. “Are we clear?”

  Fuck. She hated him right now. Why was she so turned on by the things he would say and do? She was much stronger than this, and yet Bryce had found a way to bring her to her knees. Literally.

  “Lacey,” he warned.

  “Yes! Yes, we’re clear,” she panted, as he continued rubbing his cock against her, never quite slipping inside. “Please, Bryce,” she pleaded, arching her body back –
trying desperately to ease the ache he was causing.

  “Please what?” He continued teasing.

  “Fuck me. Bryce, I need you to fuck me! Please!”

  Bryce nudged the tip of his cock inside her. Feeling him so close, Lacey wiggled her hips backwards, taking more of him. One quick thrust from him and he was inside her.

  “God, yes!” Lacey sighed.

  Gathering her long blonde locks in his hand, Bryce tugged ever so gently, lifting her head so he could meet her lips for a kiss. He kept one hand tangled in her hair, and the other ran up and down her body, slipping around to her breast and caressing her as he pounded into her relentlessly. Every time he touched her, it just got hotter.

  He kept up his unyielding pace until he could feel the familiar tingle in his balls. Withdrawing from her body, Bryce flipped her onto her back and crawled back between her legs. “Lacey, touch yourself. Make yourself come for me, beautiful.”

  His voice was forceful, but the way he called her beautiful – the way his voice softened as the word fell from his lips – blurred all the lines. Trying not to analyze it any further, Lacey took heed to his command, moving her hand between their bodies and circling her clit. Her hips bucked as Bryce pushed his cock back inside her pussy.

  “Fuck, babe, that’s hot,” Bryce grunted, as he continued pumping into her. “I need you to come, Lacey. Come for me.”

  “I…I… oh fuck! Bryce!” Lacey gasped as her orgasm took over.

  Her body squeezed Bryce’s cock, pulling him to the brink. With a loud growl, he thrusted into her one final time as he exploded, his seed filling her to the brim with its warmth.

  “Fuck,” he whispered as he leaned down and met her lips.

  She could still feel his cock pulsing inside her as she tried to pull herself together.

  Bryce’s phone rang from the bedside table, pulling them both from their euphoria. “Shit, Lace, I gotta take this, babe.” He pulled out of her and hopped from the bed, then grabbed his phone. “Matheson.”