by Lori Foster
“We are?” Both surprised and cautiously optimistic, Sadie asked, “What’s that mean?”
“It means we’ll figure out a day each month that works for us. Next time, we’ll grab food out, too.” Getting into that idea, she added, “Maybe we could also shop? Please tell me you like to shop?”
Sadie gave her a wide grin. “Maybe. What would we buy?”
“Anything we want! A cute top, or adorable sandals, or even stuff for your hair.” She turned to Autumn and said, “Finally, you’re off the hook.” In an aside, she muttered to Sadie, “Autumn is not a fun shopper.”
Autumn cleared her throat. “That all sounds wonderful, but do you think you should get Tash’s input on it?”
Sadie jumped in. “Can we, Dad? Please? I think I’ll like shopping with Ember.”
“Guaranteed,” Ember said, giving her another hug.
Amazing. Autumn and Ember had just taken an awkward, unpleasant memory of Deb’s thoughtlessness and self-absorption, and turned it into a gift.
For that alone, he could easily love both sisters. In more ways than he could count, they’d accepted Sadie and made her feel part of a very special bond. Girl time. A novel concept, but his little tomboy seemed thrilled with the idea, and that left him happy from the inside out.
Thrilled by the sheer joy and ripe anticipation on Sadie’s face, he said, “I think it’s a terrific idea, but I can’t let you pay for—”
“Of course you can,” Ember insisted. “It’s my treat, after all. Besides, giving me a shopping and salon buddy is a present to me. Or haven’t you ever noticed that my sis is not a girly-girl?”
“I’ve noticed she’s perfect.”
Autumn blushed, Ember grinned and Sadie asked, “Am I a girly-girl?”
“You’re the best possible mix,” Autumn promised, covering her embarrassment. “Someone who enjoys reading to Tracy the cow and playing on a pirate ship swing set, but also has cuteness down to a fine art.”
It was another half hour before they finished their spaghetti and salad and Ember announced it was time for her and Sadie to be on their way.
Right before they left, Ember pulled a small bag from her purse and set it on the kitchen counter. “A very small gift that you may not need,” she said to Autumn, her eyebrows bobbing. “But better safe than sorry.”
When Autumn sputtered, Tash wondered what was in the bag, but didn’t ask. He took a few minutes to lift Sadie up in a big hug, telling her, “Have fun, okay?”
She cupped his face in her little hands. “You have fun, too, ’kay?”
Ember burst out laughing...and yeah, he had an inkling of the plans for the rest of the day, especially with how Autumn busied herself at the stove.
Ember gave him a long look, then slanted her gaze to her sister’s back as she stood at the counter putting the leftover sauce into a bowl. When she looked back at him again, she said, “We’ll be gone a couple of hours, but I’ll text Autumn when we’re on our way back.”
To warn them? Sisters, he was finding, were handy to have around. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”
Ember took Sadie’s hand and as they headed out the door, she called Pavlov to her, saying, “I’ll leave him with Mom and Dad.”
Autumn groaned, but rushed forward to wave. “Enjoy yourselves, but don’t you dare get Mom asking questions!”
Whatever Ember said in reply, he didn’t hear.
However, he did hear Autumn lock the door.
The loud “click” affected him like a warm touch, making it damn hard to breath.
Just making it...hard.
To keep from pressing her, he gathered the plates from the table.
Autumn finally stepped away from the door. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” He looked her over, making note of her nervous smile, her bright eyes and quickened breathing. “The sooner we get done, the sooner we can enjoy our time alone.”
At first she was silent, then she unglued her feet and got to work. “You’re right. We are alone, and I don’t want to waste a single second.”
Chapter Thirteen
Autumn knew it was ridiculous to be so nervous, but she’d never before instigated a seduction, most definitely not with her buttinsky sister laying heavy hints and innuendos to ensure the man knew he was being seduced.
Embarrassed heat continued to burn her cheeks...maybe along with a little excitement.
Or a lot of excitement. Whatever.
Her face was red.
Trying to pretend she hadn’t just set him up, she rushed through storing the remaining food while Tash loaded everything into the dishwasher.
The silence was killer, weighing heavily on her until she thought she might burst, but she had no idea what to say. Instead, she thought about things, what she wanted to do, what she’d probably say...how he’d hopefully react.
Once they’d finished, she leaned back against the counter and tried not to look aroused. A tall order considering the chaos happening under her clothes. Like tightening nipples, tingling stomach. Warmth and sensation and...all good things.
Things she hadn’t felt in far too long.
Actually, some things she’d never felt. She almost felt guilty that she’d never wanted Chuck this much. But then, Chuck hadn’t deserved her, so there.
“Well. That’s that.” She ran her tongue over suddenly dry lips. “Thanks for helping.”
With his gaze locked on hers, Tash slowly closed the distance between them...and sent her heartbeat into a flurry. “I’m happy for Sadie to have her first salon treatment, and happier still to be alone with you.” He cupped her face in her hands, his concentrated expression incredibly stirring. “Not that I’ll pressure you, I swear. I know how you feel about things. But I’m thinking maybe you’re not quite so committed to the whole ice cream—”
“I set this up,” she blurted, then winced. But seriously, she had about two seconds remaining on her patience, and then she’d be jumping his bones.
Or bone.
Whatever.
“You set up...us being alone?” He looked and sounded pleased by that confession.
She nodded, but clarified, “It was Ember’s idea, and Mike seconded it, so—”
“Mike?” Confusion tweaked his brows.
She gestured to the table where they’d had dinner. “To get you alone. Mike swore you’d be onboard.”
“Mike is a smart guy.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “But I wanted to. It wasn’t just their idea.”
A fire lit in his eyes and he drew her into his body, his gaze so probing, so intense, she almost felt naked. “Tell me why.”
If you’re wrong Mike, I’ll make you sorry. “Erm, well...” Spit it out, Autumn. “Ice cream isn’t cutting it anymore. Not since meeting you again.”
There. The rushed words were out, sort of hanging between them and—
Suddenly Tash’s mouth was on hers, hungry and hot. Whoa. Mentally, she applauded Mike. That ice-cream comment had really turned the trick.
And, oh, man, was this better than any dessert, the way his firm lips moved over hers, how his tongue teased and incited, the taste and heat of him... Way, way better.
He kissed his way to her neck, finding places that curled her toes and flipped her stomach. Softly, against her skin, he asked, “This is your way of saying you want me?”
She nodded, then gulped out, “Yes,” while running her hands over his hard shoulders. “Definitely yes.” Something occurred to her and she added, “But Ember really is excited about sharing time with Sadie—”
His mouth sealed over hers again, stealing her breath and her thoughts.
“I could tell,” he murmured. “But how about we don’t talk of daughters or sisters?”
“Good idea,” she agreed. “Except...” Stepping him back enough
that she could reach the little bag Ember had left for her on the counter, she peeked inside. Cleared her throat. Peeked at him. Cleared her throat again. “I don’t suppose you had these?” She flashed the bag open for him to see inside.
Three condoms.
He grinned. “I like the way Ember thinks, but yes, I had one.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Now if only we had a little more time.”
“One,” she repeated, considering it. With three in the bag, one didn’t seem adequate, but he was right, of course. They had limited time and she wanted to get on with it.
She took his hand and, still holding the bag in the other, led him down the hall toward her bedroom.
Now that the time had come, she sort of wished she had bought new panties. Something pretty. Something exciting.
His hand moved over her rump and she caught her breath.
Okay, she told herself, just stop it. You are who you are, sensible clothes and comfortable panties and nervousness all rolled into one. And he likes you. Don’t screw it up with reservations.
After they entered her room, she put the bag of condoms on the nightstand and pushed the door shut. With a second thought, she locked it, too. As she went to the blinds and closed them, Tash said nothing.
“I, um... I haven’t done this. Here, I mean.” Why hadn’t she thought about her mother and father being so close? And what if Pavlov decided to come back? He’d slip right through his doggy door and then what?
“Autumn.”
She locked eyes with Tash. “Hmm?”
He pulled off his shirt, tossed it aside, stepped close and whispered, “Your turn.” Then he kissed her, not giving her a chance to do anything or think of a reply.
Good thing, because she was pretty sure she couldn’t just whip off her top as casually as he had. But then she felt his hands sliding under her shirt, urging it upward, and he broke the kiss just long enough to tug it over her head.
Why, oh, why hadn’t she at least bought a prettier bra?
Oh, but hey. He wasn’t looking at her bra. Nope, he was back to kissing her again, his hands moving over her exposed skin, trailing up her spine—the back clasp of her bra opened, the cups loosened—and then he looked.
Seeing his face, Autumn knew he didn’t give a flip about her sturdy, supportive, plain beige bra. The man was all about getting the bra off her with no thought to how it looked.
“Christ, you’re beautiful.”
There, see? Who needed sexy underwear? She wrestled her arms out of the straps and let it drop to the floor, thrilled with how his gaze moved over her in minute detail, followed by the touch of his hands.
And then his mouth.
A groan tore through her, especially when he licked one nipple, then drew it deep.
Locking her fingers in his hair, she wondered how she had gone so long without this.
“I want to eat you up,” he whispered, and did just that, putting wet love bites over her skin, up to her shoulder, that sensitive spot where her shoulder met her neck, and then to her ear. So good.
Emboldened by him, she trailed her fingers over his naked shoulders, too—love the shoulders—and down his chest. Sparse chest hair teased her palms before she found smooth, warm skin over his abdomen, and finally her fingers found the snap to his jeans.
“Not to rush you,” she whispered, barely able to talk with his mouth on her, teasing and inflaming, “but we have limited time, and four condoms, and I’ve been a really long time without, so—”
Again his kiss cut her off, but this time his mouth devoured hers, hungry and hot, while he made quick work of relieving her of her jeans.
It was sort of magical. Yes, she stepped out when necessary, but he did all the work and made it appear seamless. Poof. Pants gone.
Oh! Poof, panties leaving also. Huh.
“You,” she accused, “have had some practice.”
“You,” he whispered against her breast, “are so damn sexy, I can’t wait.”
She tried to reciprocate by “poofing” away his pants, but it turned into a struggle so he stepped back to do it for her.
Her own private little striptease. Nice.
Naked, she stood there and avidly watched him toe off his sneakers then push down his jeans and boxers at the same time.
Oh, be still my heart. Talk about sexy.
He wasn’t bulky like a body builder, but strength showed in every lean line of his body. His erection jutted out, proof that he was every bit as excited as she was.
Or at least close.
He waited, giving her time to look him over, until she said, “You look exactly as I always imagined. Maybe even better.”
With a slow, provocative grin, he asked, “You imagined me naked?”
“Oh, yeah.” What sane woman hadn’t? “I’ve been mentally stripping you since way back in high school.” She heaved a long, happy sigh. “Having you here is far better than thinking about it, though.”
“For me, too.” More kissing, this time with their naked bodies touching, until he led her to the bed.
She paused to rip away the coverlet, surprised at herself when it went halfway across the room.
Her lips twitched. “Enthusiasm?”
“I’m right there with you,” he said as he took them both down to the mattress.
At first she worried for the time, but as he touched her she forgot all about it. He lingered over her breasts, not in a greedy let’s-get-the-show-on-the-road way, but more like he took enjoyment from touching and kissing her.
She got lost in a haze of lust and love, and even while so affected, she knew it was special, something she’d never experienced before. “Tash?”
He pressed a finger into her, making her body bow with pleasure. “I wanted you to come first,” he said low, his voice rough as gravel. “Now, I’m not sure I can wait.”
“Don’t,” she said, almost panting, wanting—needing—him inside her. “Don’t wait.” A tiny worry squirreled around in her brain: what if they got interrupted? What if this didn’t happen?
It had to. She wouldn’t survive an interruption at this point. She deserved this, right? Damn right, she did.
Going for a proactive attitude, she grabbed the bag, dug out a condom and handed it to him. “Showtime.”
His smile was slow and sexy as he rolled to his back. “Good thing my ego is healthy or I might be intimidated with expectations.”
She rolled to her side to watch as he donned the protection. Fascinating. “You’ve already exceeded all expectations, but let’s not start slacking now. No pressure, just...keep the pace.”
This time he outright laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” He moved over her, kneeing her legs apart, and settled against her.
Her heartbeat pounded double-time and a rush of heat narrowed her vision to only him.
“You’re beautiful, Autumn.” He kissed her lightly, and sank in.
She caught her breath...and let it out in a low moan of incredible pleasure.
Watching her, he began to move, his gaze incendiary, his nostrils flaring, his jaw tight.
It felt incredibly intimate, and sent words of love to catch in her throat. That wouldn’t be fair, though, especially since she understood his circumstances. This, what they did now, was because of attraction and mutual respect. She’d be an adult about it, accepting it on face value instead of making it into something it wasn’t.
And really, how could she think at all right now when her entire body felt alive? Desperation, probably, because she loved him. She wanted this, and she wanted more. So much more.
For now, though, she’d take what she could get and make it enough. Tomorrow would take care of itself.
Clutching his shoulders, she met his rhythm and felt tension coiling, tighter, sweeter, with each deep thrust. Amazing how in tune they were, everything so natural, so ri
ght.
With a growl, Tash gathered her closer, one arm under her hips, the other braced on the mattress beside her head. She loved looking at him, seeing the color slash his cheekbones, the heaviness of his eyes, the quickening of his breath.
It amazed her how the pleasure spiraled out of control. Orgasms had never been an easy accomplishment for her, but Tash moved as she needed him to, adjusted when she did, and all of sudden a tsunami of sensation rolled over her, putting her head back, tearing a cry from deep inside her. It seemed to last forever, draining her utterly, then slowly ebbed and flowed as it began to fade.
She lazily opened her eyes to see Tash still watching her, his jaw flexing, his shoulders rock-hard, until with one final thrust that buried him deep, he groaned out his own release.
A few minutes later, with Tash resting over her, his breath on her temple, she whispered, “Wow.”
She felt his smile. “Yeah.”
“I’m...” Gobsmacked. Floored. “Overwhelmed.” Who knew sex could be that astounding? She did...now. And she knew she’d never be the same.
He leaned up suddenly and looked toward her clock. “Not too overwhelmed, I hope. We have more than an hour left.”
Yup, her jaw loosened, but he looked serious. Heck, he looked determined. And turned-on again.
She drew a shaky breath, nodded and whispered, “Yay for me.”
Laughing, Tash moved to her side and tucked her in close. “Autumn Somerset, in every way imaginable, you thrill me.”
* * *
She’d rung him out.
Nothing about Autumn should ever surprise him, and yet she had. Again. How was it a woman who came off so reserved could be so incredibly open and adventurous during sex? Yes, he’d most definitely planned to enjoy himself—after all, this was Autumn and he’d been drawn to her from the moment he saw her on his walkway talking to his daughter.
