Page 28 of Big Red

Red sighs and looks at the ceiling. “Babe, I’ll tell you my name, but don’t expect me to answer you if you use it.”

“Why not?”

“I hate my name. I haven’t been called my given name in over a decade.”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I stand on my tip toes and kiss his chin. “It can’t be that bad.”

“Clifford.”

“Huh?” I frown.

“That’s my name.” He looks away in embarrassment.

I try. I really, really try not to laugh, but this is a battle I’m not strong enough to win. Burying my face in his chest, my shoulders shake as I try my darnedest to keep my giggles inside.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, kitten.” He tries to pull away, but I tighten my arms around his neck.

“I’m sooorryy,” I whine. “It just took me off guard. Wait… Is that why?—”

“Yes, those bastards named me Big Red as a reference to Clifford the Big Red Dog!” he growls.

I’m losing the battle all over again as laughter rips through me. Red tries to pull away again. “I promise no more laughing.” I press my thumb and forefinger together, dragging them across my lips.

“Give me a kiss and make me feel better.”

I lift my head, and he brings his lips down on me. The kiss starts off slowly but quickly heats up. When his tongue enters my mouth, I have to tighten my legs together. I feel like I’m going to burst at any moment. This man has the power to take me go from zero to a hundred in seconds.

He pulls a moan out of me when he thrusts his fingers into my hair, slightly pulling it. My hands find their way to his chest as he devours me right there in his kitchen.

Red dips his body while planting both hands on my ass, preparing to lift me when one of the kids snores loud enough to break the lustful trance we are in. I pull away from Red, panting. His eyes are locked on me, and I know if I stay here any longer, this is going to go somewhere I’m not quite sure I’m ready for. Clearing my throat, I smooth my clothes down. “U-uh, I think I should head home. It’s pretty late.”

Red reluctantly nods. “I’ll walk you home.”

“But the kids ar?—”

“Are sleeping. It’s a two-minute walk. Come on.”

I grab my purse and follow him out. We walk in silence. I can feel every time he looks my way. I’m too turned on and stunned by what just happened in his kitchen to meet his gaze. As we approach Viper and Cara’s home, a consistent thud against one of their windows can be heard, along with moaning and groaning. As we get closer, we get an earful of their late-night antics.

“Stop playing with me, Cara. Arch that fuckin’ back,” Viper grunts, followed by a loud smack.

“Ooohhh. Fuck me, baby,” Cara cries.

My eyes widen to the size of saucers.

Oh. My. God.

Viper laughs, followed by another loud smack. “Look at you. Already coming. You couldn’t wait for me to fill you up, could you?”

I quicken my pace, trying to walk as fast as possible. Red booms with laughter. “You don’t seem the least bit shocked at what we just heard,” I tell him.

“That’s because this isn’t my first time hearing those two.”

My eyebrows raise to my hairline. “No?”

Red shakes his head, shrugging his shoulders. “When those two first got together, we would hear them morning, noon, and night.”

My mouth forms an “O” as we approach my porch. I make a move to the stairs, but Red swiftly turns me around, pulling my body to his. “No goodnight kiss, kitten?”

---