Fire Line

A neon glow bathed the Silver Spur in soft blues. The chaos of pool tables, a band, and the clink of glasses as two bartenders mixed drinks blended into a wall of sound.

My palms hit the edge of the polished oak bar as I found an open stool.

A blonde bartender glanced over, her eyes meeting mine for a moment before returning to her work. With practiced ease, she poured two fingers of Jack into a glass and slid it to a customer without looking up.

"Whadda ya want?" she hollered over the ruckus.

"Beer," I said. "Whatever's cold."

"Easy enough." She grabbed a bottle out of the ice chest and dropped it in front of me.

I debated paying cash or starting a tab. I didn't plan on sticking around long-just long enough to disassociate for a while.

But I did drive all the way out here . . . If I only drank one beer, it'd be the most expensive drink of my life.

A body pushed against mine and craned over the bar. "I need a towel."

"Ever heard of waiting your turn?" I muttered as I handed the bartender my card to start a tab.

The woman turned to me when the bartender disappeared, flashing a pair of split knuckles. "The last guy got it worse. You wanna be next, cowboy?"

The accent told me she wasn't from around here. Not even close. She said you wanna like a true New Yorker. It reminded me of my sister-in-law.

She was a pain in the ass too.

"Pipe down, slugger. Ain't nothing that serious."

The bartender gave the woman a handful of ice wrapped in a towel and asked, "Did you start it or finish it?"

The woman grabbed it and pressed the ball of ice to her knuckles. "Finished it."

The bartender waved her off. "Fine by me. Stay out of trouble."

Brown eyes flicked up and down, tracking from my boots to my beer, up my chest, then to my face. "See how fast that was? Now you can get back to drinking your shitty beer and looking broody."

I took a long pull from the bottle and drank her in with my eyes.

Her hair glowed under the neon signs like it was invisible ink under a black light. Onyx hair intertwined with snow-white streaks. Sleeves of tattoos covered both arms. She had a slice through her eyebrow and a stud dotting her nose.

She was hot. And unpredictable.

I scoffed to try to hide my smile. "You'd run into less trouble if your mouth didn't write checks your ass can't cash."

She let a caustic laugh slip. "You think I go around punching people? He had it coming."

"Sure, slugger. That's what they all say."

She shrugged. "He shoulda known better than to make a bet and refuse to pay up. If you're gonna be a loser, be an honorable one."

She had a point there.

"Tell you what." I pointed around the bar to the pool tables and dartboards. "Pick your poison. You win, and I'll buy your next drink."

Her mouth curved up into a devilish smile. "Sorry, cowboy. I play for money."

"Yeah?" I hooked a finger in the belt loop of her denim shorts and tugged her closer. "Well, I play for keeps."

"Not interested," slipped from her lips, but I caught the way her voice softened. The way her eyes flicked to my mouth. "I'm not from around here anyway."

"Neither am I."

"Pool. Hundred bucks says I'll beat you."

"Fifty."

"Seventy-five."

"Fine." I finished off my beer and pulled out my wallet, showing her the bills. "I'm good for it."

Something wicked lingered in her smile. "Rack 'em up, cowboy."

"What makes you think I'm a cowboy?" I slid my hand onto the small of her back and led her to an open pool table.

She let out a loud, raucous laugh. "You're one ma'am away from the big three."

I lifted an eyebrow as I arranged the balls into a triangle. "The big three?"

She counted off each point by lifting a finger. "Cowboy boots. Cowboy hat."

"So, what's the third?"

"You haven't called me ma'am."

I chuckled and handed her a cue. "Hate to break it to you, trouble. But this is Texas. You'll find all three just about everywhere."

She stole the cue I had chosen for myself out of my hand and shoved the one I had offered her back at me. "It's Lennon."

I trapped her against the table with one hand on the edge of the wood and my boots on the outside of her sneakers. "Either trouble suits you or it follows you. I'm thinking both."

Lennon smirked. "If you think flirting with me will help you win, you're wrong. But nice try."

I had been a gentleman until now. But since she called my hand, I wasn't going to hide my attraction. I dropped my gaze to the tits that filled the low scoop of her tank top. "Just leveling the playing field."

"I'll let you break. It's the least I can do considering you're about to be seventy-five bucks poorer."

The balls clattered as I took a shot at the triangle, managing to pocket one on the break. I took another shot and dropped two more in, clean as a whistle.

"You wanna rethink that bet?" I asked as I chalked my cue. "We should probably discuss what I want when I win."

"If you win, I'll pay you," Lennon said, sinking two more into the side pocket. "That's how this works."

I moved behind her, planting my hands on the edge of the table to cage her in. "I can think of something else I'd like when I win."

Lennon arched her back, teasing me with her ass. "You're thinking with your dick."

I brushed her long black-and-white hair to one shoulder, then leaned down until my chest pressed against her back.

"I don't know about you, but I'm playing to win." I trailed my fingers up and down the goose bumps that flooded her arms. "You cold, sweetheart?"

Her tongue darted out, swiping across her lips as she blinked to refocus. "Trust me, cowboy. There's nothing sweet about me."

I smoothed my hand down the curve of her back to her hip, skirting her ass. "That's alright. I don't have much of a sweet tooth." I wedged my leg between her thighs. "When I eat out, it's the main meal."

Lennon's shot went askew. She missed the ball she was aiming for and accidentally knocked one of mine into the corner pocket.

I chuckled as I backed away, searching for my shot. "Thanks for the freebie."

"Ass," she grumbled.

We went through the next few rounds in silence, both of us picking off balls with each turn. Teasing each other with sensual touches.

I took stock of the table and lined up for my next shot. If I made this one, it would tie us up. If I missed and she made hers, she'd win.

"What are you drinking, slugger?" I asked as I shifted to the other side of the table for a better angle.

She chalked up her cue like she didn't have a care in the world. "Water."

I made the shot, pocketed the ball, and tied us up. "Next drink is on me. It's the least I can do after kicking your ass."

Lennon faced me on the opposite side of the table, leaned over, and rested her arms on the edge.

Fuck.

The neck of her tank top was low and revealing. Her heavy tits hung behind the pocket I was trying to hit. "Come on, cowboy. Take your shot."

"It's CJ."

She flashed a full smile. "I didn't ask for your name."

I chuckled. "Figured you'd wanna remember who bested you."

The shot went wide.

Lennon clicked her tongue. "Pride always comes before a fall." And with that, she cleaned up the table, pocketing the eight ball.

"Best out of three," I said.

She came around to stand toe to toe with me and flipped her hair to one shoulder. "How about you pay up and stop being a sore loser?" She flexed her bruised knuckles. "You know how it ended for the last guy."

I smirked and tugged my wallet out of the back pocket of my jeans. "Yes, ma'am."

"And there's the big three. You cowboys are such gentlemen. Did it hurt to hold in the ma'am this long?"

I hooked my finger through Lennon's belt loop and pulled her flush against my body. The gasp that escaped her lips was divine.

Slowly, I slid the folded bills between her tits but didn't dare touch her skin. "I'm no gentleman."

Her eyes flicked down, watching my every move. "You sure about that?"

"Let me buy you a drink."

"Sounds like something a gentleman would say."

Goddamn. I liked her sass.

"Beer or liquor?"

"Whiskey. Neat."

"I'll be back."

She scoffed and pushed away from the pool table. "So you can slip something in my drink? I don't think so."

I cocked my head toward the bar. "Tell her to put it on my tab. I'll get us a table."

Lennon grinned. "You don't wanna go another round? Afraid I'll take all your money?"

I chuckled. "I know when I've met my match."

Lennon strutted off as I perched on a high stool. The table was on the outskirts of the bar, hidden in a shadow next to the darkened ring surrounding a mechanical bull.

Energy buzzed all around, but it felt like I was watching the actions of the crowd from another dimension.

Lennon turned. Her zebra-striped hair splayed as she clutched her drink and looked around.

I let out a sharp whistle and lifted my hand until she spotted me and came over.

"How's it feel to be seventy-five bucks richer?" I asked.

She smirked as she slid onto the stool beside me, so close that our legs were touching. "Pretty good. How'd it feel to lose after you tried so hard to distract me?"

I rested my hand on her thigh and gave it a squeeze. "Didn't mind so much."

Lennon took a sip. "Let me know whenever you want me to make your wallet a little lighter."

A drop of amber liquor fell from her lip, splashing onto her chest. I reached out and mopped it up with the pad of my thumb, then sucked off the taste. Her breath caught.

"You here alone?"

Her lips lingered on the rim of the glass. "I plead the fifth."

She didn't trust me. That was obvious. Not that I blamed her. Getting her drink straight from the bartender was smart. Not letting on if she had people here who would notice if she was missing was smarter. I respected that.

"Tell me something, then."

Her brow arched.

"Why'd you come here tonight?"

Another sip. Another bead of whiskey on the corner of her mouth. Another press of my thumb, this time against her lips. I wiped it away with my thumb and drank it.

She inched closer and spoke with a deep rasp. "To hustle some gullible cowboys out of their paychecks and have a little fun."

"And now that you've got your winnings, what are you gonna do for the fun part?"

"Who says winning isn't fun?" She took a long gulp, finishing off the glass. "Now, are you gonna get your own drink, kiss me, or keep acting like you don't know which one you want?"

That fucking mouth . . .

I cupped the back of her neck and slanted my mouth with hers, but I didn't kiss her. Instead, I sucked her lower lip between my teeth and nipped at it. "I'll let you lead this dance, trouble. You tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you like the gentleman you think I am."

The corners of her mouth turned up. "Take me into that back hallway and I'll tell you when to stop. I'm not opposed to giving you a ribbon for participation."

Chuckling, I yanked her from the stool and tugged her along the dim hallway. "Participation ribbon, my ass."

She held her glass as I shoved her against the rough brick wall. I slammed my mouth to hers and ran my tongue along the seam of her lips until she opened for me. Her body softened as she molded against me, letting me lead.

"You have good taste in liquor," I murmured as I sucked in a breath.

Lennon laughed. "Beats my taste in men."

"Is that so?" I worked my hand up the front of her tank top, then tugged on the neckline. "I'm more than happy to make up for whoever broke your heart."

Lennon pulled the cash out of her bra and stuffed it in her pocket. She tipped the rocks glass against her collarbone. The last rivulets of whiskey streamed down her breasts. "Lick it up, pretty boy."

I fisted her hair at the base of her neck and yanked her head back, opening her throat to me. "That's Daddy to you, trouble."

Chapter 2

Lennon

Fucking cowboys.

CJ latched on to my throat, nipping his way down to my cleavage. His cologne swirled around us as he left soft, sloppy kisses all over my tits.

A gasp burst from my lips. I hated sounding so needy and desperate, but it had been a while. And goddamn, he smelled good.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, almost knocking his hat off. He adjusted it with one hand as I clung to him.

"You shouldn't taste this good, trouble," he growled.

A calloused hand slid down my arm, scraping against my tattoos. Each touch sent a shiver down my spine.

"Whiskey and sass." CJ sank his teeth into the side of my breast. "Can't get enough of you."

His fingers curled around the edge of my bra and peeled it away. A satisfied smirk grew on his face. He brushed his thumb over my nipple, hovering on the barbell that glinted under the neon glow.

My gaze lingered on him as his tongue flicked, toying with the metal stud.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises?" He cupped my other breast and pressed his thumb over the fabric covering my nipple.

Sparks danced across my chest.

"Here too?" he asked, rubbing his thumb over the other piercing.

My head fell back on the brick. "Uh-huh."

"Is this your weakness, beautiful?" His eyes lifted to gauge my reaction as he uncovered my other breast and pinched both nipples. "Is that what gets you to stop fighting me?"

A soft laugh caught in my throat. "Who says I was fighting?"

CJ rolled the piercings between his fingers, and I nearly lost my footing. His muscular arm shot out, steadying me against his chest.

"I get the feeling a little pain doesn't bother you," he said as he skated his fingers up the sleeves of my tattoos. "Does it?"