Free Burning Up by Anne Marsh

of her ass, tracing the line between her cheeks to dip between them. She jumped, then froze, mesmerized by the delicious heat unfurling right there, between her thighs, where he teased the edge of her panties. Then he tucked one finger against the denim seam and stroked. A little, delicate, knowing brush of his finger.
    â€œJack,” she whispered. Before she could think, she leaned forward. Giving him more access. His finger teased, petted. Slid forward to explore.
    â€œYou tell me you don’t want this,” he growled. His finger found her swollen clit beneath the denim and pressed, and that sharp burst of pleasure, so sweet, so hot and unexpected, had her sitting there on his lap waiting to see what he’d do next. Pleasure pulsed through her in short, hard beats. She shouldn’t do this. Not on the porch. This wasn’t like her.
    â€œYou want me to pet you right here, baby, until you come? Because,” he said, his voice rough with desire, “I’d love to do that for you.” His finger slid beneath the edge of the denim shorts, over the thin cotton of her panties. “I think you want me just fine.”
    â€œAnd if you don’t, you just come on over here,” a familiar voice teased. Oh, God. She scrambled off Jack’s lap, and this time he let her go, as if he knew there were boundaries she wouldn’t cross. Things she wasn’t ready to accept, no matter how decadent the pleasure. Rio was watching them. Rio, Jack’s playful, golden brother. The man was all liquid grace and sensual curiosity, and she’d heard things about him. About Jack, too. The hooded look on Jack’s face warned her that those rumors might be more fact than fiction.
    Rio winked at her, as if he hadn’t just found her wrapped around his brother, with his brother’s hand touching her intimately. “Jack here is going to leave you alone if that’s what you want, sweetheart.”
    Arousal warred with embarrassment, and she stared at him, unsure what to say. He just smiled devilishly. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Lily. The view was just fine from over here.”
    â€œRio . . .” Jack’s warning growl came from behind her.
    She hadn’t paid attention to the dull throb of a motorcycle pulling into her driveway. When Jack had her in his arms, that was how crazed he made her. Fighting a blush, she looked over at Rio, astride that damned Harley. No one had ever mistaken the Donovan brothers for choirboys. Someone—a female someone—straddled the back of that cycle, looking for all the world like she’d ride one or all the brothers the same way. Rio’s friend was all long, jeans-clad legs beneath a short white T-shirt baring a perfectly tanned stomach. As Lily watched, the woman pulled off her black helmet, shaking free a long mane of hair. Whoever she was—and a new face in Strong was a novelty—the violet shadows beneath her eyes, her slightly slumberous look, said loud and clear that this woman hadn’t been to bed yet. Or, Lily corrected herself self-mockingly, hadn’t done any sleeping. Next to her, Lily felt boring and plain-Jane.
    Rio got off the bike and sauntered over, and the look in his dark eyes was pure mischief. He was enjoying this early-morning get-together a little too much.
    â€œWhy are you here, Rio?” Lily asked bluntly.
    The laughter went right out of Rio’s eyes, and she knew she wasn’t going to like what was coming next.
    â€œI took a little ride up the road, along the ridge.” He indicated the edges of her field with a hand. “Like we discussed, Jack.”
    â€œWait a minute.” She frowned. “I don’t recall being part of this conversation, Jack .”
    He shot her a dry look. “But you do remember our talking about the job I have to do here, right? Because this is part of that keeping-you-safe deal we have. Argue with me later if that’s what