by Cathryn Fox
“If you want to keep mixing, I can do all the work,” he says.
He turns me toward the counter, and nestles in behind me. His big hands slip under my T-shirt and cup my breasts. I arch into his touch. “I’m…not sure that’s possible.”
“Sure it is,” he says. “Just keep stirring, I’ll just be back here having my way with you.”
I grab the wooden spoon as he unhooks my bra. “Is this even sanitary?” I say with a laugh, even though I don’t really care. Maybe I will buy something at Benny’s. Honest to God, I’m insatiable around Tyler. I want everything he has to give.
Everything he’s not willing to give.
I shut down that thought as he chuckles against my neck and the sound vibrates all the way to my sex. His mouth leaves my flesh as he drops to his knees and the next thing I know, he’s dragging my pants down my legs. I lift my legs to help him out, and a fine shiver goes through me when his hot breath curls around my thighs.
His rough hands slide up my legs, parting them a little. He reaches my outer thighs, and slides his hands inward until they’re inches from my aching clit.
“How’s the cake coming?”
“Not,” I say. The only thing that’s going to be coming is me. I try to stir, try to read the instructions, but they blur before my eyes as arousal grips me hard. “Ty,” I murmurer as he shifts between my legs, his back to the counter, his mouth on my sex. Holy hot. I glance down, and move my hips to rub my sex against his face. He growls and I swear to God, I have never done anything hotter.
He slides his tongue along the length of me, and my legs tremble. I try to concentrate on the cake, toss a bit of baking powder in. Damn was that the right amount? I really don’t know, but how’s a girl to bake when a man is gifting her with his tongue, doing magic between her legs like it was his God-given mission in life?
I groan and he inserts a finger as he takes my clit between his teeth, nibbling until pain and pleasure mingle—until the four walls close in on me, nothing mattering but this man between my legs and what he’s doing to both my body and my heart.
He works his thick finger inside me, and I toss the bowl to the side and claw at the counter. My breathing grows rough, heavy pants that sends the flour on the counter into the air.
“Tyler,” I cry out, the dual pleasure centered between my legs taking me higher and higher.
“That’s it, Haven,” he says, his voice a low, rough murmur. “Come all over my face.”
I move my hips harder, and I buck against the blade of his tongue as he fucks me with his finger. This time I’m controlling the pace and rhythm, grinding on his mouth and finger as he holds completely still for me. Pleasure centers between my legs, and the world fades to black as I let go, my hot cum spilling all over his fingers and face.
I gasp for breath and he stays between my legs, not moving as I ride out each hard wave of bliss. When did I become so free and open, just taking what I want? I don’t know but I sure do love how Tyler brings that out in me.
My body stops spasming, and Tyler slides out from between my legs. He climbs to his feet, his hands all over my body. “I’m going to put my cock in you now,” he murmurs into my ear. The hiss of his zipper sends heat down my spine, and his hands go behind my neck, easing me onto the counter. Through my T-shirt, my nipples score the countertop as he positions his cock at my opening, and in one fast thrust, slams into me, driving me harder against the counter.
I gasp and as I reach for the other edge of the island, trying to find purchase as he fucks me, I knock the entire carton of eggs onto the floor. They smash, but that doesn’t slow either of us down. He pounds into me. Hard fast thrusts, like something inside him broke, like he can’t get deep enough. I steal a fast glance at him over my shoulder, and my heart speeds up as intense green eyes meet mine. He’s beautiful. The most beautiful man I’d ever set eyes on. My gaze leaves his to take in the clench of his jaw, the rippling of his muscles. He fucks me like he wants more, needs…something.
My body jerks as he changes the rhythm, long, agonizing slow strokes, where he pulls almost all the way out, only to drive back in again, his crown hitting my cervix and arousing me all over again. That’s when I get it. He wants me to come with him. I reach down, and put my hand over my clit.
“Fuck yeah,” he growls as I stroke myself and arch a bit more to get him in just a little deeper. “Haven…” I barely recognize his feral voice as I offer every part of me up to him, heart and soul, even though it’s only my body he’s after.
He plunges in and out of my hot, wet pussy, driving the air from my lungs in a whoosh and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love the way he fills me, the way he holds nothing back. A hard shudder moves through me, matching his perfect rhythm as his cock hits places so deep I’m sure I’ve died and gone to heaven. Delirious with need to orgasm again, I roll my hips and rear back to meet each brutally perfect thrust. I close my eyes and just like that I come again, a glorious rush of heat that covers his pumping cock.
“Haven.” His voice is a deep, raspy growl as he stills deep inside of me.
“Yes, I feel you.”
Pleasure rolls through me as he fills me with his hot cum, and my body shakes, almost violently as he pulses and throbs high in my sex. There is no doubt that Tyler has left his mark on me and in me, and I want that. I want all I can get from this man before I leave, and leave I must. As much as I like Blue Bay, this isn’t where I belong, and I can’t forget Tyler is just lending his family to me. This is pretend—he’s not talking long term and I don’t know if that’s something I could do even if I wanted. One thing I do know however, is if I’m not careful when I leave here, it might be without my heart.
Ty lightly touches my shoulder, and I shudder as he trails his hand down my back. He leans over me and presses kisses to my back. “I think we ruined all the eggs,” he says and for some reason, and I have no idea why, I burst out laughing. I guess it’s better than crying. He laughs with me and adds, “But the good thing is, I was fast, and can run to the store to get you more.”
His cock slides from my body, and he exhales sharply. “Stay put.”
“Can’t move anyway.” I take a deep breath, and realize I must look a mess with flour in my hair and on my face. Don’t even get me started on my clothes. I chuckle, because I really don’t care. My world is so superficial, and one always has to look their best or risk the worst pictures ever landing on the front page. With Ty, I can be dressed in a sack, with food all over my face and he’d still want me. Is that because he’s a guy, or because he might see this, us as something more. “Rubber knees,” I add.
He gives my backside a little squeeze and his laugh curls around me as he dashes to the bathroom. He comes back with a cloth to wash me up, and the gesture tugs at my heart, far too tightly. I cough to hide the mess of emotions pinging around inside me. Tyler finishes cleaning me, and slowly lifts me until I’m standing upright. He has a huge smile on his face as he spins me to face him.
“My God, Haven, you are gorgeous,” he says as he smooths down my hair and brushes the flour from my face. I smile up at him as he grabs my panties and hands them to me. I tug them on, and shimmy into my pants, and stand back as he zippers himself back up.
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
“I think you might need to get out of these clothes.”
“So soon?” I tease, as I glance downward to take in his cock. “Or do you need a minute?”
“Funny girl.” His eyes narrow in on me as he places his hands on my face. “I kind of feel bad for distracting you.” He glances at the mess on the counter. “You really wanted to make a homemade dessert and I think we blew it.”
“I didn’t blow anything,” I say with a chuckle, suddenly giddy again. He laughs and I put my hand on his chest, loving his strong heartbeat beneath my palm. “I think we can still do this, though.” I wink at him. “You know, since you were fast and all.”
“Hey, don’t go spreading that around town.
Reputation, remember.”
“You don’t want the girls to think you’re fast?” The sudden thoughts of him with other girls doesn’t sit well with me, but he can sleep with whoever he wants. Sure, we’re doing the monogamous thing while I’m here, but then he’s free to bed whomever he wants, and judging from the girls who stare at him, he could keep his bed warm with a different woman for a month straight.
He wraps his arms around me, and drops a tender kiss onto my mouth. So tender, it feels like this is about a whole lot more than sex. “No, and I’m not normally that fast. It’s your fault.”
“Oh, you’re blaming your insufficiencies on me now, are you?”
“Insufficiencies?”
I laugh. “Kidding. Let’s check the eggs, maybe two survived.”
He holds me a moment longer, like he’s not ready to let go, then glances at the clock. “I can run to the store if they’re not. It’s the least I can do.” He gives me a sheepish look, and I put my hand on his face.
“The least,” I tease.
He steps away and crouches. Strong hands that just pleasured me thoroughly sort through the broken shells. “Three survived, somehow.”
“Perfect,” I say and turn the tap on to wash my hands.
“I’ll get this mess cleaned up if you want to keep going.” He grabs paper towels and begins soaking up the eggs.
I pick up the plastic bowl. “I have to start over. I don’t think I put the right amouth of baking powder in. I was kind of distracted, in the best possible way, of course.”
“We can still do Benny’s.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve been invited to barbecues?”
“A lot.”
“No. Never. It’s always fancy cocktails and fancy dinners at fancy restaurants.”
“Ah, sorry you have to slum it here.”
I laugh. “Are you kidding me? I love it, which is why I want to be a good guest and bring something special. Maybe I’ll get invited back.”
“I’m sure you will.”
He goes to work on cleaning the eggs, and I dump the bowl of flour and start again. As he cleans, I glance at him. I hadn’t meant to grow close to him, and I probably shouldn’t get in any deeper, but I can’t help but want to know more, everything, about him.
“Ty.”
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever been serious with a woman?” His head lifts and eyes that carry a measure of hurt meet mine. Dammit, I must have hit a sore spot. “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business. You don’t have to tell me.”
He climbs to his feet, and dumps the shells into the garbage. “No,” he says. “I’ve never been serious. I was always on the road, and fighting was my life. Hard to have a wife and family with that kind of lifestyle.”
“True. My brother is still living that kind of life.”
“You?” he asks and peels off more paper towel. “I mean, we can’t always believe what we read in the papers right?”
“I’ve been in relationships, and I thought things with my last boyfriend were serious.” I give a very unladylike snort. “Until I learned he was sleeping with a couple other women. I like that you’re a one-woman kind of guy.”
“I’m not a cheater.” He bends and wipes up the rest of the mess and I take that moment to admire his wide back and broad shoulders.
“That’s music to any woman’s ears.”
He stands and dumps the waste into the trash. “Was he your co-star?”
I cringe as he washes his hands. “I don’t just date co-stars you know.”
He turns back to me, “I know, you can’t believe everything. I mean, have you seen the shit written about me?”
“I have, and I might have believed it, until I met the real you. I like the real you, Ty.”
“I like the real you too, Haven.”
I smile at that. He’s been helping me discover the real me, and I think she’s a pretty great person.
“To answer your question, Brett was a co-star and one of the girls he was sleeping with had a hatred for me, and sold some very intimate pictures of Brett and me to the press.” I shake my head, disgusted at the level some people will stoop to. “Revenge and quick cash. I hope it was all worth it for her.”
His eyes narrow. “You don’t think she could be the one behind the letters?”
“My first reaction to that is no. She fell off the grid, and she got what she wanted, right? But I guess anything is possible.”
“Probably a long shot then.”
I measure the baking powder and dump a teaspoon into the bowl. “Now that you’re here in Blue Bay, do you think about that? I mean I saw you with Devon, and Jesse, and you were great. Summer said you didn’t want kids, but you’re so good with them.”
“I do like kids. I just don’t want to mess them up.”
“I don’t think you would.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, and for what it’s worth, I think you’d be a great mother. My nephews already love you. They’ll miss you when you leave, you know,” he says, and I turn when I hear something odd in his voice, something that sounds like he’s asking a question, rather than making a statement.
His eyes meet mine and my heart leaps in my chest. My God, is he feeling me out, trying to see if I’m leaving here? And when he says the kids will miss me, is it possible he really means he’ll miss me? Is there more going on here, or am I just being a stupid romantic again, seeing things that aren’t there and confusing sex with love?
18
Tyler
We pull up in front of Jamie and Kylee’s place, and Haven carefully reaches for the door with one hand as she balances the chocolate cake in the other. It might not look like the world’s prettiest chocolate cake, but I’m betting it tastes good, since Haven poured her heart and soul into it.
“You got it?” I ask.
“Got it,” she says, and beams at me, so proud of her accomplishments.
“Shit, stay put,” I say when I spot a news van pulling up behind us. Haven glances over her shoulder. I reach for the door handle and she stops me.
“I know you don’t like dealing with them anymore than I do. Let’s just go inside and ignore them. We’re supposed to be a couple anyway, right?” She offers me a smile but it’s a bit shaky.
“They’ll make shit up, Haven.” She goes quiet for a moment, thoughtful. “Give me a second, I’ll go talk to them,” I say.
“Okay,” she agrees, rather reluctantly.
I slide from the car and make my way to the news van. The driver rolls down his window. “Well, if it isn’t Tyler Owens,” he says.
“What do you want?”
He glances out the window. “Are you with Haven Roberts?”
I lean into him, an intimidation factor. “Who I’m with is none of your business. Don’t make me prove that the hard way.” His smile falters. “Look, I’m just going to my brother’s for a barbecue.” As much as I hate the media and the way they distort everything, I realize the guy is just trying to do his job. “How about this. Leave me alone, and maybe I can get you a pass onto the set or something?”
He pulls a card from his pocket and hands it to me. “Thanks, man.”
I glance at Haven, and catch her eyes in the rearview mirror as I put the card into my pocket. “Now take off.”
I back up as he leaves and when he’s out of my line of vision, I walk to the passenger side door and open it. “Taken care of,” I say.
“Thank you.” Balancing the cake, she carefully exits the car, and I put my hand on the small of her back. “Did you take his card?”
“Yeah,” is all I say. I don’t want to bother her with the details, or worry her. I’ll talk to Mason tomorrow about the media. I wasn’t a total prick to the guy, so hopefully he’ll do a nice spin.
She nods like she doesn’t really understand why I’d do that, and I go silent as the ocean breeze catches the hem of her summery dress, lifting it to expose her sleek legs. Her gaze leaves mine, and the lines around her
frowning mouth smooth out as she takes in my brother’s place.
“Wow, so gorgeous,” she says. “Right on the beach. What a dream house.”
“You’d like a place on the beach?”
“I prefer the cabin. I like the privacy, and I like having you all to myself out there.”
I grin as we enter without knocking; no one ever expects me to knock. We step inside and I give more thought to turning the cabin into my permanent place. Maybe it really is time one of us puts the old place to use. Only problem is, I want to put it to use with Haven.
“We’re here,” I say in my outdoor voice and Kylee comes racing around the corner, her finger to her lip. “Oops, sorry,” I say with a grin as she cocks her head, listening for Jesse’s cries.
“Whew,” she says, and points a finger at me. “You’re lucky. We just got the boys down. They’re both super cranky and if you wake one of them, you’re on duty.”
I give her a salute. “On it.”
“I baked,” Haven says in a low voice and holds the cake out.
Kylee’s eyes go wide. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.” She gives a casual shrug. “I wanted to.”
“Come on out back, Summer and Sean are already here.”
“Who else is coming?” I ask.
“Just us, when the other Owens boys get steady girlfriends, they’ll get an invite too. Until then, they don’t get Jamie’s awesome barbecue.”
“All the more reason to stay single,” I whisper and nudge Haven.
Kylee turns around. “I heard that.”
“I’m kidding. Jamie is a master chef.”
Outside we find Jamie at the barbecue and Sean and Summer sitting at the table, my brother nursing a beer, as Summer drinks what looks like lemonade.
“Hey so good to see you,” Summer stands—okay, more like moans and groans as she pushes to her feet—and gives Haven a hug.
