All the Lies We Tell (Quarry Road #1)(75)

She twisted to look at him with a grim smile. “Eat a cookie. You’re too thin.”

His mother chucked him under the chin and pushed past him to go out the back door onto the porch. She reached behind her to close the door with a firm click. The flare of her lighter flashed a moment later.

Hefting the toolbox, he headed out through the front. It still jarred him, a little, to see the new houses lined up along the street. Dina Guttridge was pulling her van into her driveway as he crossed. He made sure to wave, letting her know he saw the way she was straining to catch a glimpse of him going into Alicia’s house.

“Ilya?”

“No, it’s me, Niko. Ilya is . . .” He paused, not sure why it was Dina’s business where Ilya was. “How are you tonight?”

“Cold. But at least they plowed the roads, am I right? Thank God. I was going to go crazy, stuck in the house for another day with this crew.” She opened the van’s sliding door to reveal the bags of groceries and car seats inside.

He couldn’t let her handle all that by herself. The kids, the bags, the slippery driveway. He set the toolbox on Alicia’s stoop and slogged through the snow over to the Guttridges’.

“Let me give you a hand.”

“Well, aren’t you nice?” Dina dimpled. “Thanks.”

“You get the kids. I’ll take care of this stuff.” He hefted two double handfuls of plastic grocery bags and set them inside the front door while Dina dealt with the kids.

“You want to come in for a minute?” She held the door open for the last load.

Niko shook his head. “Ah . . . thanks, but no. I have to get next door. I’m fixing Alicia’s faucet for her.”

It wasn’t any of Dina’s business, of course, but with Alicia’s fair warning about Dina’s interest in her neighbor’s business ringing in his ears, he wanted to make it clear what the purpose of his visit was. He could tell by the look on Dina’s face that she didn’t believe him, but he figured that would be the case even if it was the truth. He hopped down the couple of front porch steps and crossed the yards. She was still looking when he picked up the toolbox and gave her another wave.

“That woman has no shame,” Alicia said when he came inside.

Niko laughed. “No. Not too much. Thanks for the heads-up, or I’d probably be drinking a mug of hot cocoa right now and fending off her lustful advances.”

“You still have time. I’m sure she’ll still be up once she puts all those kids to bed.” Alicia gave him an arch look and crooked her finger over her shoulder as she led the way to the kitchen. “Just do me a favor and fix this leak first. It’s making me nuts.”

He settled the toolbox on the table and put his hands on his hips. “That’s it, huh? This is what it’s come down to?”

She’d been pulling a pair of mugs out of the cabinet but stopped to give him a look over her shoulder. “Hmm?”

“I’m only useful for fixing things?” He eased closer to her, moving up behind to nuzzle the back of her neck. She smelled so good it was all he could do not to get on his knees right there in front of her.

She didn’t turn, though her sigh told him she liked what he was doing. “I can think of a few things you’re good for. Anyway, you haven’t fixed the faucet yet . . .”

“Later.” Niko moved his hands over her belly and lower to find the heat between her legs. Brushing his lips down over her shoulder, he pressed his fingers against the denim.

Her response was to press her ass back against him, grinding. He was already hard. All it took around her was the simplest thing to get him that way.

“Promises, promises.” Her voice hitched as she put her hands flat on the countertop and leaned forward.

He unbuttoned and unzipped her, pushing her jeans over her hips. Down her thighs. She wore a pair of gigantic cotton panties beneath, and the sight stumped him for a moment.

Alicia laughed as he paused. “I thought you were coming over later. I didn’t shave my legs yet, either.”

“Oh, how fast the magic fades.” He cupped the perfect globes of her ass through the cotton, then ran his fingers down the backs of her thighs. “Prickly.”

“I’ll prickly you.” She started to turn, but he put a hand on her shoulder to keep her facing front.

His other hand slipped between her legs from behind, urging her to widen her stance. “I like it.”

“Mmm.” She bent forward again, pushing her ass into his touch. “You have a granny-panties fetish?”

“And a thing for Sasquatch, remember?” He laughed and ducked as she turned to swat him again. He grabbed her hands, holding her still even as she struggled. She quieted when he kissed the side of her mouth.

“You’re mean,” Alicia said, her voice breathy. “So mean to me . . .”

“Aww, baby, I don’t want to be mean. I wanna be nice to you.” He stroked over the white cotton, circling against her. He reveled in the sound of her moan. “Are you gonna let me?”

Her only answer was another moan as he tweaked the tight knot of sensitive flesh with his thumb and forefinger. When he eased her panties to the side, he found her already slick for him. He kissed her, letting his tongue slide in at the same slow, steady pace as his fingers. Then out. One, then another, until the heel of his hand could rub her at the same time.