Under Construction: A Blue Collar Alpha Romance Read online

  “Look at how perky those sweet little nipples are for me,” he whispered, blowing warm breath from his mouth over the needy little nubs, causing them to harden painfully, the outlines obvious through my soft cotton tank.

  His hand slipped beneath the waistband of my shorts, and I instantly thought I should be stopping him.

  Why the hell wasn’t I stopping him?

  I squirmed, running my hands over his carved shoulder blades. His thumb made contact with the outside of my underwear, directly over the hot little bud I’d been frantically working earlier, and a soft sigh tumbled out of my mouth.

  “That’s it, little bird. Let me hear those sexy little grunts now.”

  I clamped down on my lips, instantly self-conscious, but the desire pooling in my belly was much too strong to ignore for long.

  “No, no. Don’t get quiet on me now.” His lips pressed against my ear. “You wanted me to hear the show, didn’t you? Sing, little bird.” His thumb applied more pressure to the bud of my clit, and then, with one swift grunt, he was shoving my cotton panties aside and making contact with my skin.

  Warm, rough fingers meeting hot, aching, wet flesh.

  “Oh God…”

  “There she goes again,” he whispered, pulling my head to his and swallowing the little grunts that were peeling past my lips. His hand worked swiftly between my legs, arousal pooling and dampening my thighs, his tongue thrusting past my lips. Another hand threaded in my tangle of curls, pulled at my hair as he pressed his lips to mine so fiercely I knew that they’d be swollen in the morning.

  Evidence of where he’d been.

  I secretly hoped they would.

  “Bet this little pussy tastes even better than it smells.” His filthy, unfiltered words wrapped around my ears, causing a spring to come uncoiled and shoot through every muscle of my body. I arched and rocked, riding my orgasm on his palm as I came harder and quicker than I ever had.

  My knees softened to gelatin, my eyelids suddenly too heavy to hold their own weight. I clutched at Stone’s shoulders, heaving as I breathed in the air at his neck. The sexy, spicy, earthy scent of him.

  “Oh God.”

  “Mm…you’re welcome.” I heard the cocky tone of his voice. The way his lips curved up as he peered down at me only confirmed it.

  Fucking Stone.

  The neighbor from hell with the body of a Greek god and fingers so talented he could have told me he’d created the Sistine Chapel himself and I would have believed him.

  How could I share a wall with him without thinking about his hand down my pants?

  “Stone, I need to get to sleep, I think--”

  “Got it, gorgeous.” He caught my chin between his thumb and finger, planting a hungry kiss on my lips before backing away. “Have a good night.”

  The way his mouth curved up in that charming, rogue-ish, sort of maddening grin was the closest thing to swooning at a man’s feet I’d ever been. What was this hold he had on me? Or more accurately, my body?

  I crossed my arms, feeling a little uncomfortable, which was odd, considering how far he’d been already.

  “Night, Stone.”

  “See ya, little bird.” He swung the door closed behind him, before swinging it open again and ducking his head in. “Don’t forget to lock this door behind me.”

  I grinned, feeling warmth pool in my belly. “Goodnight, Stone.”

  I pushed the door closed behind him, sliding the deadlock in place. I turned and let my body sink into the door, a unstoppable grin pulling at my cheeks.

  Fucking Stone.

  Chapter 4

  Stone

  I woke the following morning with a hard-on from hell and a set of blue balls bigger than the entire state of Colorado. I grunted as I heaved out of bed, my head foggy, not from lack of sleep, but lack of quality sleep. Even after I’d closed my eyes she’d been on my mind last night, and I still hadn’t caught her goddamn name.

  I flipped on the water for the shower, cringing as the cool drops hit my heated skin, raining in rivulets down the solid muscle of my stomach. I fisted my cock in hand, leaning my forehead against the wall as I pumped long and slow, thoughts of her circling in my head.

  The way she’d tipped her head last night when my fingers had slid against her sweet cunt.

  The soft little mewls as she worked her hips back and forth against my hand.

  The scent of her pussy, so hot and wet just for me.

  Her lips…sweet motherfucking heaven, her lips, soft and full, made to be wrapped around my cock.

  I groaned as hot jets of cum spilled from my dick, my muscles quaking with the overwhelming release.

  I hadn’t come like that in so long.

  Maybe forever.

  I released my cock, finally feeling a little less tense, until I heard her own shower kick on through the wall.

  Damn these paper-thin walls. I was going to go insane listening to her every waking step. Imagining her walking around that apartment in her tiny little shorts. The cheeks of her ass just barely visible. The way her tank top pulled across her huge, gorgeous tits.

  And then I got hard again.

  Damn.

  No woman had ever affected me quite like this. I had to know her name, had to find a way to spend more time with her.

  A plan formed in my head and I quickly washed my body and hair, rinsing and stepping out of the shower to get ready. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I glanced in the shower, thinking I’d skip the morning shave and leave a little stubble. Better to please her with when I finally sank my head between those sweet thighs.

  Oh yes, I had big plans for the sexy neighbor next door. She just didn’t know it yet.

  I would leave my place just as she was leaving hers in the morning. I could hear her every step, so I’d turn into a stalker for a while, but I could deal with that if it meant getting her in my hands again.

  I had no idea what time she got home at night though, but based on the fact that she wore scrubs, she was some sort of nurse. I figured if I was home by seven that night I’d have a good chance of hearing when she came in, and then we could get this party started.

  I shoved my legs through a clean pair of work jeans, then tossed on the nearest clean white T-shirt I could find.

  I inhaled a bowl of cereal while hovering at my front door.

  Was she leaving?

  I strained to listen, my grin turning up when I finally heard her door swing open.

  “Sleep well, little bird?”

  Her pretty face whipped around, nailing me with her eyes then frowning. “Don’t call me that.”

  “Sounds like a rough night. You looked pretty happy when I left though.” I stepped closer, moving a tendril of hair from her forehead.

  “Stop.” Her eyes slammed closed, her knees swaying. “Look, last night was a very freak accident.”

  My laugh filled our small hallway. “Maybe for one of us. It was very intentional on my part.” I breathed the last words into her neck.

  “Stone—” Her tiny little palms spread across my hard chest, and I nearly dropped to my knees right there, yanked her pants down, and sank my tongue into her hot body.

  “What’s your name, little bird?” I clasped her hand, pulling her body to me until our chests were crushed together. Running my nose along the edge of her hair, I inhaled the soft scent of her shampoo. Delicious. “Tell me what I can call you.”

  “Stone, I shouldn’t have even let you in last night. I’m too busy; you seem terribly busy yourself…” She paused, eyes catching mine. “I don’t think either one of us has time for—”

  “I’ve got all the time in the world for you, little bird. Now tell me your name before I kiss it out of you.”

  Her eyes widened, her tempting lips pursing. “I’d rather not.”

  “And I’d rather you hadn’t held that little vibrating excuse for pleasure right next to my head while I was in bed last night, but that ship’s sailed and now here we are. You and me, right now. Give
me your name.”

  “And what happens if I don’t?” She tipped her chin up, gaze challenging.

  “I’ll find out for myself.”

  She arched one eyebrow, shaking her head and pushing away from me. “I don’t have time for this, Stone.”

  “I’ll see you later then!” I called, grinning as I watched her walk away. The sexy swing of her hips told me they were begging for my hands, and my cock jumped, desperate to be inside, buried at home.

  My little bird turned when she reached the top of the stairs, throwing one last sassy look my way and descending.

  I vowed to learn every single last thing there was to learn about her. Nothing could stop me when I’d found my mission, and she was one beautiful mission.

  Chapter 5

  Paige

  I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting patiently for the red light to change. It was lunchtime, and I was running out to the local deli to pick up sandwiches for everyone at the clinic. This was a place we came often, and today was my day to treat, which I was eager to do.

  We’d seen a few patients this morning, a sweet retriever with arthritis and a dachshund that was under the weather—all in all an easy morning, which was good considering the way Stone had left my stomach spinning last night. Sure, I’d gotten a lot of sleep last night, actually, the best sleep of my life thanks to the orgasm he’d given me.

  I groaned, accelerating when the light turned green, and I flipped on my blinker for the deli. The road was a mess, midday traffic jammed up because of a construction crew working on one lane of the road. I could have walked the few blocks here, but I hadn’t even been paying attention when I’d pulled into work this morning. I’d had other, much more pressing thoughts running through my head. Tall, rugged, sexy thoughts.

  I narrowed my eyes as I passed a familiar expanse of broad shoulder. The way the faded jeans hung off the hips. A flash of a dark, stubbled and steel-cut jawline.

  He turned, one corded arm lifting with the hem of his damp white t-shirt as he swiped at his forehead.

  Oh Jesus.

  Oh God.

  It was him.

  Stone!

  My stomach fell, my only instinct to punch the gas and get the hell out of here. And I would have, if I wasn’t already waiting in the turning lane with a dozen other cars whooshing by me on all sides.

  I groaned, taking the hit and pulling into the parking lot when I had a free minute. Perhaps I could get in and out without him even noticing me. I could just keep my head down and look the other way if—

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  Oh shit.

  I glanced out my window, not at all surprised to find his cocky, arrogant smile looking down at me.

  Stubbornly, I shook my head, refusing to roll down the window. Like a petulant damn child I sat there, a prisoner in my car under his intense scrutiny.

  “Ugh.” I finally put my car into park, gathering my purse and glancing at him through the window, shooing him to back up. I was coming out.

  “Fancy seeing you here.”

  “Shut up,” I hissed, pushing the bag over my shoulder and walking past him.

  Don’t look, don’t smell, and certainly don’t touch. All of these things would do me in. I’d melt into a foolish puddle right there on the sidewalk between his feet.

  “Let me buy you lunch.” He followed me into the deli.

  “Not a chance.” The door chimed as we stepped in, and I greeted Lisa behind the counter. “Three Italians, a chicken parm, and two roast beef. Thanks, Lisa.”

  “Whoa, eyes bigger than your stomach much?” He chuckled beside me.

  I finally turned, leveling him with my eyes. “It’s for work.”

  “I know. I was just messin’ with you, Paige.”

  My jaw dropped. “Wait, how did you…?”

  “Dr. Paige Brennan. Saw you pull into the clinic this morning while I was prepping the site for roadwork. Quick search on my phone told me you are, in fact, Paige Brennan, D.V.M. May want to rethink company photos on the website. Anyone can find you, little bird.”

  “Stone,” I huffed, feeling all of a sudden vulnerable to this man, and not for the first time. I’d been pretty vulnerable under his hands last night, too, but that time I’d liked it. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Doing what? I happen to be working on the same street as your veterinary clinic. No harm, no foul.”

  “Right.”

  “You don’t believe me?” He held up his hands, a charming grin spiking his cheeks.

  “Not for a second.”

  “Now what reason have I ever given you to distrust me?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, the fact that you hunted me down like a crazy person. Or maybe the fact that you have a girlfriend you’ve been banging against my bedroom wall. One whom you shamelessly cheated with, considering what you did to me, which as I told you this morning, is not happening ever again.”

  “Wait, wait, wait, girlfriend?” His eyebrow arched with genuine confusion.

  “I’ve heard you, a lot.” I crossed my arms, trying to stay quiet so Lisa couldn’t overhear us. She didn’t need to know about my apparently sordid personal life.

  “No girlfriend here, little bird.” He stepped closer, catching my elbow in his palms and smiling down at me. “Apparently those walls are pretty thin. Didn’t realize I had someone listening in when I’m watching porn at night.”

  I nearly choked on my tongue. “P-porn? You’ve been watching porn at night? In bed? Like almost every night?!” Realization suddenly dawned, the fact that it always seemed to be short and sweet, never any voices afterwards.

  “I’m an active guy.” His grin crooked to one side in that sexy, irritating way that made my stomach roll.

  So Stone wasn’t a total manwhore. He was a pornwhore.

  I tilted my head, considering the new set of facts. Was I less bothered that his hands had been on me now that I knew he wasn’t doing another girl?

  Sure. I guess. Maybe. A lot.

  “And what if I said I didn’t need porn last night? I came so hard in my own hand to thoughts of you on your knees for me, sinking my thick co—”

  “Order up, Paige!” Lisa called, cutting Stone off and saving me from the nasty, vile words that made me want to do exactly what he was describing, drop to my knees and sink his cock down my throat. Pleasing this man, making him shake and shudder and bringing him to his knees sounded like the most erotic thing I’d ever see.

  “Thank you,” I murmured to Lisa, sliding her my credit card as she rang me up.

  Stone waited quietly by my side, his chest grazing my back and reminding me of just how sexual he was. He nodded sweetly at Lisa, opening the door of the deli, letting me out first before following.

  “It’s true you know. No woman has ever had the effect you have on me.” He hummed as I passed.

  “Stone, that really doesn’t change anything.”

  “Wrong, little bird. It changes everything.” He opened the door to my car, waiting for me to slide in. “So I’ll see you later?”

  “No, definitely not.” At this rate I’d have to run home and dig through my couch cushions to find that little black bullet if I was going to relieve the aching hum between my thighs.

  “Have a good day at work, Paige.”

  I squeezed my thighs together fiercely to try to relieve the pressure building with every damn word out of his mouth. “Bye, Stone.”

  I pulled the car door closed before he could ruin my day any more.

  He shook his head, waving one last time as I backed out of the space and hit the gas, eager to get the hell out of his line of sight and as far away from him as I could.

  At least until tonight.

  I groaned, thinking I’d have to buy a giant box of batteries if I was going to make it through this banter-y, sexy, infuriating whatever it was he was doing.

  Fucking Stone.

  Chapter 6

  Stone

  I sat in my truck, fingers tapping on
the steering wheel as a Hank Jr. song played on the radio. Seeing the fire in my little bird earlier had fueled my own fire to a scorching blaze. The ways her eyes flicked up and down my body, the way her pupils dilated and her thighs shifted…I know damn well I had an effect on her. The fact that she tried to deny it only turned me on more.

  I straightened on my seat, watching her little red car pull in and whip into a spot. I grinned, thinking I’d scored big time today when I’d spotted her pulling into work while I was setting up construction cones across the street. What were the chances that we were working on the same street? Our town was small, but I had a feeling there was a little more to it. The way my gut tightened, my heart pounded like a jackhammer when she was in front of me meant something.

  It seemed like only a matter of time before we were destined to run into each other again. I just hadn’t expected it to be so easy to find her name. And she was a vet. An animal lover, even fucking sweeter.

  Paige, my Paige, crawled out of the car, a stack of books in hand. I launched out of my truck, striding across the few spaces separating us.

  “Homework tonight?” I heaved the stack of books in my arms.

  Her lips twitched then her eyes averted and she nodded. “Studying up for a few surgeries I have next week.” She slammed the door and stepped up onto the sidewalk.

  “Thanks for carrying them.” She nodded at the heavy medical books.

  “Not a problem. I was thinking we could get some takeout. Netflix and chill?”

  Her cheeks bloomed a shade of deep pink as she shook her head. “I know what that means, ya know.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Netflix and chill. I know it’s code for sex.” She rolled her eyes, pulling open the door to our building.

  “No way!” I laughed, shocked she’d come right out and said it.

  “And I don’t believe for a minute that you didn’t know it.” We climbed the stairs, my eyes falling to the sweet heart-shaped ass right in front of my eyes.

  “I swear, little bird, had no idea. You’ve officially corrupted my virgin ears.”