Valentine’s Brawl Read online

  Valentine’s Brawl

  by

  Marteeka Karland

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.

  Valentine’s Brawl © 2013 Marteeka Karland

  Editor: Katriena Knights

  Cover Art: Marteeka Karland

  Books are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.

  Contents

  Chapter One. 4

  Chapter Two. 11

  Chapter Three. 17

  Chapter One

  “This cannot be happening. Not three years in a row.” Audra Wethington wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere and just die. Either that or pull out the biggest baseball bat she could find and knock some sense into the three men currently beating the hell out of one another. Life used to be so simple.

  “Well, look at it this way,” suggested Dedra Gooden, her best friend and owner of the bar the guys were currently trashing. “How many women can honestly say they have three guys after them on Valentine’s Day? I mean, seriously. They’re all totally into you.”

  Audra gave her friend a “you’ve-got-to-be-kidding” look before grabbing her purse. “I’m outta here. Want me to call the cops for you?”

  “Na,” Dedra said as she hefted a shotgun from behind the bar. “I got this covered.” As if this kind of thing happened every day, Dedra aimed the gun at the ceiling and pulled the trigger. The roar was deafening, and debris rained down on the scattering crowd, but it had the desired effect. “Just so you guys know, I’ve got a running tab on each of you and I will collect enough money to pay for damages. Including the hole in the ceiling. Do we understand each other?”

  “Ah, hell, Dedra,” the tall, skinny man with a huge Stetson hat whined. He’d been the first man Audra had danced with that night. “Cut a guy a break. It wasn’t even me or Jed’s fault.” Audra wanted to crumple into a heap in the corner in humiliation. “It was Nelson over there. Jed was just takin’ a dance with the lady when the bastard came out of nowhere.”

  The “bastard” in question took a menacing step forward, apparently taking objection to the term “bastard” being applied to him. Audra had danced with Trent Nelson next, then Jed. Trent hadn’t been too partial to her dancing with anyone else. Had Audra been any kind of a nice girl, she’d have been completely horrified, mortified, and all kinds of other “fieds.” But Trent Nelson had been her secret obsession for most of her adult life. Sure, he’d had a few beers, but the possessive way he’d swept her into his arms had thrilled her to her toes.

  “Call me a bastard one more time, Frank...” Trent loomed over the much smaller man. His large, muscular frame easily twice the size of Frank’s lean form.

  As expected, Frank shrank back from Trent, quickly putting the table and several bystanders between him and a pissed-off-looking cowboy. It might have been comical if not for the shotgun-wielding Dedra lowering her gun ever so slightly, ready to defend her property with deadly force. She might act nonchalant, but everyone in the bar knew she meant business.

  “That’ll do, you guys.” She jerked her head toward the door, indicating they should leave. Frank and Jed cut a cold trail, not looking back to see if anyone followed. Obviously, they just wanted out of there.

  Trent was another story. His eyes met Audra’s across the bar and pinned her. Audra had the thrilling sensation of being stalked, absurd as it was. The man wasn’t used to being challenged, and he’d obviously taken her dancing with other men as a challenge.

  He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Snapping a credit card on the counter, he glanced at Dedra. “Put it on my tab, Dee. I’ll take care of it all.”

  “You going to start any more trouble?” The question and Dedra’s tone of voice were mild enough, but the deadly glint in her eyes told Audra Trent Nelson was walking on thin ice. The look in Trent’s eyes as he glanced back at Dedra told Audra he didn’t give a damn.

  “I don’t plan on it.”

  Dedra snorted, but put the double-barreled shotgun away. “You never do.”

  He sat next to Audra at the bar, never taking his eyes from her. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  “I was just leaving,” she said primly, reaching for her purse and pulling out her keys. “You’ve managed to give me a roaring headache.”

  He caught her hand as she started to get up, bringing it to the warmth of his lips. “I’d hate to think you left on my account. Let me buy you a drink and dance with you. I promise I’ll behave.”

  She almost told him to piss off, but her mouth just wouldn’t form the words. With a sigh, she freed her hand from his and dropped her keys back in her purse. “Fine. But one more incident and I’m outta here.”

  His smile curled her toes. It wasn’t grateful or brilliant or any of the other adjectives that normally applied to smiles. More like a predator who’d just captured his prey, only the prey didn’t know it yet. There was a sensual curve to his mouth that beckoned her, made her want to feel those lush lips against hers. If she dwelled on it long, she’d most likely throw herself at him, and that just wouldn’t do at all.

  Trent nodded to the bartender, who refilled Audra’s Captain and Coke. She took it gratefully, needing a little courage to hold her own with Trent. Besides, maybe if she dulled her senses a little he wouldn’t be so...potent. He must have sensed her intentions, however, because when she would have gestured for another, he took her hand and pulled her to the dance floor.

  “Dance with me, Audra.” Trent’s voice was the stuff dreams were made of. Wet dreams, that is. Deep, with just the perfect amount of gruffness to melt her insides. Audra tried to pull away, but he held her fast, sweeping her into his arms whether or not she wanted him to.

  And damn, but he smelled good! Had she thought the alcohol would dull her senses? If anything, it made her hyper aware of him, his scent, the texture of his skin, the way his work-roughened hands snagged on the silk of her dress--all of it conspired against her to leave her in a needy puddle of goo at Trent Nelson’s feet.

  “Careful, little lady,” he murmured against her ear. “Needy whimpers like that might lead a man to think you were interested in pastimes other than dancing.”

  She looked up at him, the masculine perfection of his face even more stunning when he grinned at her in amusement. But his eyes... Oh, those beautiful, blue-green eyes! His eyes were practically glowing, the same need reflected in them she was sure shone in hers.

  “You’re imagining things,” she managed, her throat so dry she could barely croak the words through her parched lips.

  He lowered his head, his lips barely grazing hers. “Am I? Then why are you in my arms when you were leaving not five minutes ago?”

  Goose bumps erupted over her skin, causing a little shiver to race through her. Good question. Honestly, the man was lethal to women. She’d known that the first time she’d gone willingly into his arms to dance that evening. Why had she allowed it to happen a second time? Especially after his blatant show of Alpha Male. That had been just pure asshole on his part. Why was she here in his arms again?

  “Well,” she managed, not moving away from him, but rather melting into him just a lit
tle. If she was going to live dangerously, might as well go all the way. “I didn’t have anything better to do. Besides, you seemed to have scared off all my other dance partners.”

  “Damned straight,” he muttered, pulling her closer as they swayed to the slow, country ballad. Audra felt every muscle under his clothing. That hard body of his wasn’t just for show. This was a man who worked and worked hard.

  He might be the wealthiest man in this part of Kentucky, but he’d earned every penny of it with his own two hands. Audra had watched him grow from gangly teenager to full-blown, adult man. They’d gone to high school together -- him graduating two years ahead of her -- and later attended the same college. Trent had gone on scholarships and hard work. Audra had relied on her parents and student loans to supplement her scholarships. He’d majored in agriculture and business, she in accounting and business. When they were done, they’d both opened their own businesses in the same town where they’d gone to school.

  Now, Audra was one of the most sought-out accountants in town while Trent raised most of the locally grown beef, as well as supplying many supermarkets and grocery stores in the surrounding areas. Hard work, sweat, tears, and a whole lot of business sense had led him to more money than he could ever spend in a lifetime. Audra had her own money, but she was no way in the same league as Trent Nelson. But, oh, if she were... Well. She’d give the man a run for his money.

  “Don’t you have other women to pester besides me?” She asked the question as indifferently as she could, but something inside her stilled, waiting for his answer. Did she really want the answer to that?

  He paused in the act of swaying to the music, looking as if she’d just grown another head. “Why would you think that?”

  Everything in her screeched at her not to touch that one. This was dangerous ground she didn’t really want to cross. Dancing with the man was one thing. Getting into a discussion about women and what every eligible woman -- and many not so eligible women -- in town wanted to do to him was so not a topic of conversation she wanted to engage in. Unfortunately, Audra was just tipsy enough not to be able to keep her big mouth shut.

  “Well, considering you’ve had every blonde bimbo in town hanging off you at one time or other, I’d imagine you’d have plenty to occupy your time instead of tormenting me. I mean, it’s Valentine’s Day, for crying out loud!”

  He simply looked at her a moment before that maddening grin of his split his face. “Why, Audra Wethington. I do believe you’re jealous.”

  That hit a little too close to the mark. Her crush on him was something she had never been able to shake. Any sane woman would have kneed him in the balls and marched out the front door. Unfortunately, no one had ever accused Audra of being sane. She merely lifted an eyebrow.

  “I doubt jealousy would do me much good. I’m not blonde, and I’m not a bimbo.”

  “Certainly not. You’re far too classy to be a bimbo. As to the blonde thing, I like my women like I like my coffee. Strong and dark. I need a woman who can take all I need to give her and then take what she needs in return.” He stroked her cheek, his eyes filled with greedy need. “I find a women like you more to my liking. All that dark skin and hair... and so intelligent. The few classes we had together in college, I tried everything to get you to notice me.”

  “If you mean the time you burned all my class notes, I definitely noticed.”

  He shrugged but kept her close, swaying to the music once again. “It got you to my apartment for a study date, didn’t it?”

  “You’re a pig, Trent Nelson.” She didn’t really mean it, but it seemed necessary to say it.

  He just chuckled and pulled her closer, pressing her against his hard frame. The thick bulge mashed so pleasantly against her belly promised wonderful delights if she dared to take them. Did she?

  The music continued to encourage the slow dancing. Before long, Audra found herself simply sighing and winding her arms around his neck. She hadn’t consumed much alcohol, and she was certain the buzz had been wearing off, but one whiff of Trent’s unique, musky, male scent and her head was spinning all over again. What would it be like to belong with him? If they were a couple dancing a Valentine’s dance?

  What kind of lover would he be? Would he be slow and gentle? No. Trent was many things, but suave and tender didn’t seem to fit him. Not that he couldn’t be gentle or that he wouldn’t be a giving lover, but he was the kind of man to sweep a woman off her feet and conquer her. Damned if that didn’t make her horny.

  Audra lifted her head to look at him. The harsh angles of his face held a kind of forbidden, masculine beauty she didn’t want to resist. Trent Nelson wasn’t hers, yet, but she had the feeling he could be. Given her curse with Valentine’s Day, she wasn’t sure it was such a good idea. Then, before she could think about it any further, he bent his head and captured her lips with his.

  In that moment, everything dropped away. Nothing mattered. Not the crowd around them, not the band playing the sultry music. Nothing but Trent and his kiss.

  His lips possessed her, just like she knew he would. He coaxed her into submission rather than taking her by storm like she’d expected him to. Tenderly, seductively, he kissed her, his tongue licking the seam of her lips, asking for entrance. She let him in willingly, uncaring if it was the place or time, only knowing she wanted this. Only this.

  As quickly it began, Trent ended the kiss. That was when Audra noticed the band had stopped and everyone was clapping and leaving the dance floor. He curled his hand around her upper arm and guided her toward the bar where she’d left her purse with Dedra.

  The other woman had her belongings out and handed them to her as they passed. Trent paused only long enough to tell her to charge everything to him. Audra made eye contact with Dedra only briefly. She swore the other woman wore a satisfied smirk on her face.

  Chapter Two

  No way in hell Trent was letting this opportunity pass. Audra was so his! And about fucking time too. He’d had it bad for the sexy, curvy woman since high school, but dating a black woman in a small Southern town hadn’t been the best idea at the time. He hadn’t been concerned with himself, but he hadn’t wanted to cause Audra grief.

  Now that they were all grown up with their own businesses and had established themselves independently, he couldn’t really give a flying fuck. As far as he was concerned, this had been a long time coming.

  “Where are we going?” She sounded as breathless as he felt. Thankfully, she wasn’t resisting, simply trying her best to keep up with his longer strides. Trent did his best to slow down, but he was hanging on by a thread. He needed to get to his house so he could prove to her once and for all he was her man.

  “My home,” he growled. Damn, he sounded gruff. He hoped it wouldn’t send her scampering away from him. Not that he’d let her.

  “Didn’t you drive? How far is it?”

  “I never drive when I go to Dedra’s. I like to have a few beers with the guys and couldn’t drive home, anyway. Besides, it’s only a couple of blocks away.”

  She skidded to a halt, pulling him into the little alcove of a deserted storefront. “I can’t wait that long.” Her voice was a husky whisper as she pulled him down to her for a heated kiss.

  At the first touch of her lips, Trent lost all good sense. He had been prepared for their explosive chemistry on the dance floor, but this was something altogether different. He whirled her around so her back was against the wall, her body sandwiched between it and him. Blocking her from any curious onlookers, Trent kissed her with all the pent-up lust and need inside him, sweeping inside her mouth to take command of her. His hands found their way underneath her shirt until he skimmed the silky-soft flesh of her belly. Electricity seemed to arch between them, feeding their need. His need.

  For her part, Audra clung to him, kissing him back. Obviously, the chemistry wasn’t one-sided, but how far would she go? He wanted everything. Would she be willing to give it to him?

  “Tell me what yo
u want, Audra.” His voice was rough, but it was all he was capable of at the moment. The fierce firestorm inside him threatened to explode into a raging inferno that might just damn him to the pits of hell. If she so much as hinted she’d be willing, he wouldn’t have the least problem taking her right there against the wall. Crude though it might be.

  “I want you,” she whimpered. “Buried inside me. Christ, Trent, I need you!”

  Her admission almost brought him to his knees. His previous thought came back to bite him in the ass because he could actually have her right there. In the little alcove of the storefront. On the sidewalk where anyone passing by could see.

  He spun her around to face the store window. Their reflections shown dimly in an ethereal image. Damn, but she was beautiful! Her cheeks flushed slightly under all that coffee-and-cream skin, her lips puffy from his kisses, her eyelids drooping slightly in her passion. He wanted to keep that look on her face forever.

  Trent rested one hand on the window, providing a little cover for her while the other skimmed up her thigh under the short leather skirt she wore. It wasn’t long before he encountered the lace of her underwear riding high on her hip. With quick, deft movements, he slid the garment down her legs for her to step out of. When she would have bent to retrieve them, he stopped her, snagging them himself and stuffing them in his pocket.

  “Do you want me bad enough to let me fuck you right here?” He was right beside her ear, his body blocking any view from the street.

  She didn’t hesitate before replying, “God, yes, Trent! Yes!”

  Had he been a lesser man, Trent might have creamed himself right there. One thing he’d learned about Audra during college was she never said anything she didn’t mean. She’d let him take her there on the street if he wanted. He definitely wanted.

  With a groan of frustration, he tugged her skirt back over her hips and took her hand. “Come on before I take you up on that offer.”