The Boy Next Door Read online

  Darcy leaned further back into the cushions and allowed her eyes to drift shut. Putting extra effort into it, she pushed Thomas MacAllister out of her mind and tried to rest, quite unsuccessfully. Thoughts raced—her upcoming interview, the unavoidable explanations she would have to give her parents about Richard, arranging for the shipment of her things. Finally, her thoughts slowed. She drifted happily between sleep and wakefulness until the sound of the terrace door opening made her sit up with a start. It was him.

  Mac grinned as he reached behind him to slide the door closed. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey back.” She returned the grin. “How’re you?”

  “Great. Mom said you were back in town. Just had to see for myself.”

  Darcy raised her arms in a small shrug and swung her feet to the floor. “Well, there ya go. You’ve seen me.”

  Mac chuckled and walked around the coffee table. Lowering himself to the sofa next to her, he commented, “You’ve been a stranger around here lately.”

  “I’ve been busy.” Don’t you sound defensive? Get a grip.

  “I’m sure you have. Which is why I’m wondering what you’re doing here a week early and without el creepo.”

  He never had liked her fiancé. “His name is Richard.”

  “Yeah, whatever. So what gives? Where is he?” He ran a finger up her bare arm, from wrist to just under the sleeve. She shivered as heat zipped through her body, burrowed in her belly.

  Whoa, what was that?

  “Not here.”

  Grasping her left hand, he stared pointedly at her bare ring finger.

  “We split up.” She pulled her hand back. “Happy?”

  “As a matter of fact…” He trailed off and leaned over to capture her lips with his.

  Okay, okay. Time out. What was going on here? This was her friend and he was…he was… Well, he was a damn fine kisser. His lips, firm and warm, teased and slid along hers. Then came his tongue. Hot and sweet, he coaxed her lips open to delve into her wetness. A whimper escaped her as she felt the muscles in her pussy contract and her breasts grow heavy, nipples puckering against the soft cotton of her shirt. Desperate to get closer, she wrapped her arms around his neck. The smell of freshly cut grass clung to him, mingling with his own spicy scent. The combination was intoxicating and Darcy felt her head swim.

  Mac shifted his weight and pushed her back into the cushions. He yanked her skirt up to her waist and placed a knee between her thighs, the pressure and movement causing the fabric of her panties to rub against her sensitive, swollen clit.

  Warmth swam in her belly and dove straight into her pussy, becoming hotter and wetter as she strained against his leg, thighs clamped down on either side. A moan vibrated in her throat. God, he felt so damned good.

  He slid his hands under her shirt and up her torso to cup her breasts. “No bra? You make this easy, Darc.”

  Pulling the cotton up, he lowered his head to take one of the rosy tips in his mouth. The gentle sucking and delicious sweep of his tongue against her hardened nipple caused her to cry out incoherently. God, she felt it in every inch of her body. The heat. The firm tug of desire. The slivers of pleasure burrowing hard and fast.

  Her hands tangled in his thick hair, fingers curling tightly, holding him fast against her chest. He chuckled and scraped his teeth along the erect peak.

  “Oh, Mac,” she gasped.

  His fingers replaced his tongue as he moved up to reclaim her mouth. Hands still fisted in his hair, Darcy tightened her grip, not wanting to let go for fear he would leave.

  He shifted his knee away from her. One of his hands slid down her quivering belly to rub against her damp panties. He pulled back slightly and stared in her eyes as he pulled the thin fabric down around her knees. His fingers returned to comb through the triangle of curls between her thighs. His gray eyes clouded over as he found her pulsating heat.

  “Christ, you’re wet. All hot and bothered, Darc?”

  Using his forefinger, he began to trace lazy circles around the sensitive nub. She squeezed her eyes shut in delicious agony. She tried to focus on drawing one breath in and letting it out, but every nerve in her body centered on Mac and what he was doing. The hell with oxygen. Who needed it? Her back arched and her hips circled furiously, urging him to hurry. She couldn’t wait any longer. Why was he going so slow? Lifting her eyelids, she sought his gaze again.

  A soft smile kissed his lips and his intense stare burned into her memory.

  “Go over,” he whispered, leaning over to trace her lips with the tip of his tongue.

  “I can’t,” she said, her voice a near sob as sensation after sensation pummeled her.

  “Oh, I think you can.”

  A whimper escaped as he pulled away a little, but soon moans slid from her lips as he rained kisses down her torso, her belly and along her inner thighs. His hands slid under her, cupped her ass and lifted slightly. He looked in her eyes as his tongue darted out and flicked across her clitoris. He leaned forward, captured the nub between his lips and sucked gently, rolling his tongue around it.

  Thinking was no longer an option. Darcy gripped the couch cushions below her and arched against his mouth, aching for more of the torment. His tongue and lips working her clit, he pulled one hand forward and rubbed a finger along her soft, wet pussy, entering her in a swift motion.

  Her breath came out in short cries as his warm breath fanned her clit.

  He paused to whisper, “That’s it, baby, come for me. Go over.”

  Her hips vaulted off the sofa. Her body exploded. Every muscle tensed in painful ecstasy. It intensified as he added another finger inside her, stroking and meeting the thrust of her hips. Her pussy began to contract around his fingers. Pleasure pounded her again and again as he continued to plunge his fingers deep within her core until a final tidal wave of heat swept through her.

  Unable to move, Darcy closed her eyes and focused again on her breathing. Mac laid his head against her inner thigh. His soft curls caressed the sensitive skin of her leg as his breath whispered across her pussy, wet from his mouth and her juices.

  A smile touched her mouth as she thought of the picture they made—her spread eagle on the couch, Mac lying between her legs with his face nearly in her crotch. They really should think of getting up before someone—

  “Darcy, honey, are you hungry?”

  Good God, her mother!

  Darcy sat straight up and reached down to push—

  Where the hell was he?

  She stood and spun around, looking for Mac. He was gone. What in the world was going on? Suddenly the sound of the lawn mower grabbed her attention. She darted to the door. There was Mac, pushing the mower across her parents’ yard.

  What just happened here? She was lying down and Mac came in…but Mac was still outside. Had she fallen asleep?

  “Darcy?”

  Her mother’s voice, growing more insistent, drifted down the stairs.

  “Yeah, Mom?”

  “Are you coming up for lunch?”

  “Yeah, I’m coming.”

  Darcy stumbled back to the couch and sank into the cushion.

  My God, it was all a dream!

  Chapter Three

  Mumbling thanks to her mother for the sandwich, she tried to eat, but her mind drifted to the couch downstairs. She’d never had a dream so vivid, so arousing. And it was about Mac.

  Sure, she found him attractive and had thought of possibilities through the years. But she had never considered acting on them. How was she going to look him in the eye again when her thoughts would be focused on his mouth, his lips, and oh God, his tongue?

  “Are you listening to me?”

  Darcy glanced up at her mother. “What?”

  “Aren’t you hungry? You’re just playing around with that sandwich. Do you want something else? I could heat something up for you.”

  Looking down at her plate, Darcy saw the bread of her sandwich broken up into little bits. “I guess I’m not really hungry
after all.”

  She stood with her plate in hand, dumped the mangled mess in the garbage and placed the dish in the sink before returning to her seat at the table. Grabbing the variety section of the newspaper from near her father’s elbow, she began to read.

  “What’re your plans tonight, dear?” her mother asked.

  “Oh, nothing much. Thought I’d just watch a movie.” She shrugged. “Maybe soak in the hot tub and read a book. I don’t know.”

  “It’s our card night. You could come with us. We’re going to Sue and David’s.”

  “Hmmm, not tonight. I want to get to bed early.” And playing poker or thirty-one with her parents and a bunch of their friends just didn’t tempt. “Maybe next time.”

  “Oh, there’s Thomas. He’s such a dear, doing the yard work for me. I better make him a sandwich.” The small woman hopped out of her chair just as Mac opened the door leading to the deck and walked in the kitchen.

  Darcy struggled not to drool. He had taken his shirt off sometime during his work, exposing his hard tanned torso. Sweat glistened through the sprinkling of hair on his chest and trailed down. She licked her lips and imagined licking him.

  “All done, Aunt Marie. Anything else you need?” He wiped his brow with his forearm. His T-shirt dangled from his fingers.

  “No, thank you. You just sit down, and I’ll make you some lunch.”

  “You don’t have to trouble, really, I—” Mac started.

  “Don’t argue! You took care of my yard, and I’ll take care of you a bit.”

  Mac cocked an eyebrow at Darcy as he pulled out a chair and sat. She just shrugged and pretended to go back to the paper in front of her. Looking at him through her lashes, she watched him chat with her father without following the conversation. His chest was more than a bit distracting. Couldn’t he at least have put his shirt back on? Of course, it wasn’t bothering anyone but her. She focused on one bead of sweat as it trailed down the tight muscles past the table’s edge, where her imagination had to take over.

  She’d love to run her hands down that wet chest to the waistband of his jeans. Unsnapping, unzipping until she could shove them down to release him into her waiting hands. Wrapping her fingers around his ridged cock, she’d take him in her mouth, taste him and give him the same exquisite pleasure he’d give her earlier.

  Oh my God, stop! Darcy gave herself a mental shake. She was sitting in the kitchen with her parents, for crying out loud. And he hadn’t given her anything earlier. It had been nothing but a dream. An incredibly hot and delightful dream, yes, but still a dream. He had no knowledge of it and she sat here licking her lips, thinking of ways to get it on with him.

  She forced her gaze from his chest and found herself staring into his warm gray eyes. Heat flowed into her cheeks and she sent up thanks that he couldn’t read thoughts. Though he had to be wondering why her face was aflame.

  Mac smiled at her and leaned in. “Hey, you.”

  Breathe. “Hey.”

  “How’ve you been? Mom said you weren’t due to arrive for a couple days.”

  With a shrug, she replied, “My schedule opened up, so I came early. Figured I could help setting things up, though your mom’s taken care of most of it.”

  “Oh, Sue has done so much. She is such a sweetie,” Darcy’s mom exclaimed.

  “She enjoys it,” Mac insisted before turning back to Darcy. “So, was Richard able to come early, too?”

  Fiddling with the gold chain around her neck, Darcy didn’t meet his eyes as she answered, “Nope, he was busy. Actually, he probably won’t be able to make it at all. Sorry, Mom and Dad.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he would be here if he could. Did he have something come up at work?” her mother questioned.

  Well, he had something come up. “Yup, that’s it. So you’re stuck with just me.” She sent a grin toward her dad.

  Winking back at her, he pretended to sound burdened. “Oh, I suppose we can deal with it, can’t we, Marie?”

  Her mother laughed. “I think we can. Thomas, are you going to be playing cards? The game is at your parents’ tonight.”

  “Nah, you guys are too good for me. I lose my money every time I play. Probably just gonna watch a little TV before hitting the hay.”

  “That’s what Darcy’s planning to do, too. You should come over here and then you won’t be lonely. That’s a good idea, isn’t it, hon?” Her mother looked at her expectantly.

  Her eyes darted between her parents and Mac, and she tried to come up with something intelligent to say.

  “I don’t want to impose on Darc. She probably wants some quiet time to sit and relax.” Mac smiled at her.

  “Don’t be silly, Thomas. Darcy could still have her peace and quiet with you sitting next to her on the couch. You aren’t some rowdy child, after all.” Her mother nodded. “That settles it. I’ll leave a cold supper in the fridge for you two.”

  “That okay with you?” Mac leaned over as her mother bustled out of the room. “Really?”

  “Yeah, it’s no prob,” she conceded with a sigh. “Do you want to rent something or find something on TV?”

  “I’m sure we can find something we like without having to go out.”

  Oh, she was fairly sure of that, too. Too bad he was only talking movies.

  After excusing herself, Darcy went downstairs to her bedroom and flopped on the bed with a sigh. Why hadn’t she just said no, she didn’t want company?

  ‘Cause you’re a wimp who can’t say no, that’s why. Now live with it.

  Those thoughts echoed in her mind several hours later as she stood staring at her reflection in the mirror after changing three times in five minutes. It was just a movie at home, not a night on the town.

  You look just fine. She assessed the dress she wore with a critical eye. It was a simple floral sundress that flowed down below her knees. She wore no bra. No need for one, she thought with a snort. Her lack of breasts had been a sore point all her life. Even more so in the last couple years with Richard. He couldn’t understand why she didn’t get a boob job since she could afford it. It wasn’t like she didn’t have them, for crying out loud. There was enough that you could tell she was a woman, anyway.

  Comforted with the thought that her boobs would still be perky years from now, she focused again on her appearance. She would wear this if she were alone for the night. With simplicity in mind, she’d done nothing more than pull her long auburn hair into a ponytail. There, she looked like a gal staying in for the night with no expectations of any kind.

  Choosing to forgo shoes, Darcy padded barefoot out of her room down the hall into the family room. Her parents had left an hour before and the house was cloaked in silence. No Mac yet. Maybe he’d decided not to come. Which would be fine with her. It was not disappointment curling sourly in her stomach. It was hunger, that was all. With that thought, she headed up to the kitchen to see what her mother had left behind.

  Quickly finding a plate piled with sandwiches, fruit and cheese, she pulled it and the bottle of red wine beside it out. She poured herself a glass and just began to sip when the doorbell sounded. It was him. Her stomach clenched with anticipation as she headed for the door.

  ———

  Mac stood on the doorstep and pressed the doorbell again. He felt like an idiot. Normally, he’d just walk in. Why did he feel compelled to ring the bell now? Because of how she looked at you. Desire had shone in her eyes earlier at her parents’ table. Her green eyes had been hazy with it. Lips slightly parted and her little pink tongue darting out to moisten them. He felt his cock harden at the memory. She’d never looked at him like that before, like something other than a friend. Or he hadn’t seen it anyway.

  It was ironic, really. His parents and hers had always pushed the two of them together. He and Darcy had thought it hilarious. Why would they ruin a great friendship with things like dating and sex?

  But then he began to think about dating and sex with Darcy. He hid it because he knew she’d be horrified.
Besides, by the time he had been ready to act on it, she was involved with the creep, Richard, which led to their engagement. There wasn’t much he could do then. He wasn’t going to break up a happy relationship.

  But she hadn’t seemed too happy when asked about Richard. He frowned. She looked miserable and angry. What was happening there? Did he dare probe that subject?

  Where was she? He put his hand up to depress the doorbell again when the door opened.

  “Hi,” Darcy said, breathlessly. “Come on in. How’re you doing?”

  “Good. I stopped by my parents’ before heading here. Took a little while to get away.” He rolled his eyes with a quick smile.

  “I can imagine. My mom’s wanted to do nothing but talk since I got home. I finally did escape a bit this afternoon. Come in the kitchen and we’ll get food and drinks before heading downstairs.”

  As he followed her, his gaze traveled down her body. He groaned inwardly as he watched her hips swaying beneath her dress. He continued downward over her firm ass to her bare calves and feet. He imagined running a hand down the length of one creamy calf and back up to her thighs. What kind of panties did she have on? Was she wearing any? He wanted to cup her ass and pull her against him. He shook his head in an attempt to dislodge the images. If he kept this up he’d be walking funny and have to explain to her why he had a hard-on.

  Her voice pulled him from his thoughts. He dragged his gaze back up and focused on her swinging ponytail.

  “Where are you living now?”

  “Same apartment downtown.”

  “The little one bedroom?” She grinned back at him. “I thought for sure you’d have moved into some place bigger by now. Maybe buy a house.”

  “No need.” He shrugged. “It suits me.”

  “What do you want to drink? A beer?”

  “Glass of wine’s just fine.” He gestured to the open bottle and full glass sitting beside it. “In fact, why don’t we just bring the whole bottle down?”