Midnight Craving (Contemporary Romance)

by Kimberly Ivey

  Now he was beginning to regret his decision to leave in the morning. How could he walk away from Mira in her time of need, and particularly after making love to her so sweetly? What had transpired between them on the beach hadn’t been an accident. Nor had it just been sex. The idea that he might be falling in love with her had occurred to him more than once in the past few days.

  He opened a dialogue. “How long will Jocelyn’s children stay with you?”

  She lifted her foot from the water and propped it on the side of the tub. “The last time was three months. This time who knows?”

  He eyed her delicate toes, her nails a shade of soft blush, and wondered what reaction she’d have if he suckled them. “Do they have a father?”

  Mira snorted. “Oh, I’m sure they have fathers—half of whom are either dead, in prison, or lying in a back alley at this moment with a hypodermic sticking out of their arm.”

  “I apologize. I did not intend to pry into your family’s personal matters.”

  “You’re not prying. This is my life, Armand. These children are the only family I have left.” She inclined her cheek to him. “When I became pregnant, my father, who was a minister here on Annabelle Island pretty much disowned me for shaming him in the eyes of his church. My mother had died from breast cancer the year before, and Joceyn’s addictions drove him to the edge of insanity. He resigned as minister of the Holy Life Church and moved away. He sent me a Christmas card once, and only once, over the past fifteen years. My grandmother Ada was my saving grace. She never judged me or Jocelyn, only loved us unconditionally.”

  “She sounds like a very special woman. I’d love to meet her.”

  Mira sighed. “She died eight years ago.”

  “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

  She waved a hand. “This house—everything in it—was her legacy to me. Apparently she didn’t think I was such a screw up. She trusted me to take care of the Inn after she passed. I nursed her to the very end of her days.” She inclined her cheek to him and he nuzzled her temple, so soft, and delicate.” Have you ever been married, Armand? Had children?”

  “No, no ex-wives and no children. I’m afraid it’s too late for me to be a father.”

  She turned around, settling her knees between his thighs once again and placed her palms on his shoulders. Sudsy water cascaded off her lovely breasts.

  “Nonsense. You’re what . . . in your mid forties?”

  He cleared his throat. “I’ll have you know madam that I am precisely forty two years young.”

  She nibbled at her lower lip. “Oops. Sorry about that. I suppose guys are as sensitive about their ages as women.”

  “Do I look old?”

  She shook her head. “No. Did I imply such a thing?”

  “You accused me of being older than I am. That pretty much implicates you.” He winked.

  She submerged a bath sponge, then sat back opposite him and tossed it at his head but it missed and sailed past, splatting on the floor. “If you’re old, then I’m old.”

  “Let me guess. Twenty eight.”

  She grinned. Yeah right. About four ago. I knew there was a reason I liked you so much.”

  He pulled her against him, nuzzled his face against her wet breasts as his hands kneaded her buttocks. He loved the way she melted against him, the way her firm little butt cheeks felt beneath his palms.

  “Mira, once we’ve soaked the sand from our bodies, I’m going to take you to bed and make love to you all night long,” he whispered against her wet skin. “I’m going to fulfill your every wicked fantasy.”

  A sexy blush tinged her face and throat. Armand watched her pupils dilate, noted how her breasts, still soapy from the bath rose and fell with each shallow breath.

  She licked her lips, sending a twinge through his cock.

  “And how do you know what my fantasies are?” she asked, her voice husky.

  He flashed a wicked smile. “Because I make my living writing about women’s fantasies, my dear lady.”

  Armand rose from the tub, enjoying the way her eyes caressed his body. He grabbed two towels, tucked one under his arm and held the other open for her, enveloping her in it when she stepped out. This sexy woman had no idea what delights lay in store for the evening. Earlier in the day when he’d zipped into town for the roses, he’d made a quick stop at an adult shop called Tatiana’s Treasures. There, he’d picked up a few items to make this evening with Mira memorable. Edible lotions. Toys and assorted other delights. He hoped she wouldn’t be offended by his exotic purchases.

  Moments later in the bedroom Mira lay back among the petal-strewn pillows like a beautiful goddess made especially for him. He lifted one long stemmed rose bud, then slunk toward her over the foot of the bed like a jaguar. She bit down on her lip and giggled, much to his delight. He caressed her cheek with the soft red tip of the flower.

  “No one’s ever given me roses before,” she commented.

  Armand’s heart dipped at her sad confession. Bloody hell. If she were his woman he’d give her a rose every day of her life!

  Drawing the bud downward over her throat, he delicately brushed it over one pretty pink nipple. She arched her back and gasped at the feather soft contact.

  He chuckled. “I assume you find that pleasurable?”

  She nodded, and he thought he detected a slight tremble of her lip. Tears sprang into her eyes.

  “No, do not be cry, my love,” he whispered as he gathered her into his arms. “What have I done to upset you?”

  A sob escaped her. “You’ve done nothing. It’s…this moment….it’s so…beautiful and romantic. I’ve never…been treated like this before. I’ve only had….one man and he….Well, let’s just say it was never like this.”

  Good God, her past lover must have been an ogre! “You might have only lain with one man, Mira, but when morning comes, my dear lady, you’ll damned well know you’ve been pleasured by a real one.”

  Reaching into the bedside drawer, he brought out one of the special items he’d tucked away for this evening. Stimulating lubricant for starters.

  She blinked. “Um, is that what I…”

  “For your comfort and pleasure,” he assured her.

  Her eyes went wide as he continued to lay a few items on the bed between them. Fur-lined handcuffs with a matching, velvet padded paddle. He flashed her a devilish grin as he slowly produced the next item, enjoying the faint blush that crept across her cheeks and throat.

  “A purple vibrator?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Moderately sized, my lady.”

  Chocolate covered cherry flavored condoms followed. An icing pen for writing edible, flavored love notes on a lover’s body.

  “Please don’t be cross with me.” He watched her facial expressions for signs that he’d overstepped any boundaries.

  “I’m not cross ” She smiled demurely. “I’m just…Wow. I’ve never actually seen some of these kinds of things and….this is really very interesting stuff.”

  He wiggled a brow. “Oh, you have no idea how interesting.”

  Armand quickly lit a fire, then dimmed the lights in the room. He drew a comforter from, the bed and spread it before the hearth, then brought the votive candles from the bath and set them around the edges of the blanket. Last, he gathered his special stash of assorted erotic treats and dumped them on the edge of the blanket.

  Mira joined him.

  They lay on their sides, Mira’s petite body spooned against his. He watched the orange flames leap and dance in the hearth as he skimmed his palm up and down her hip and arm.

  “Warmer now?” he asked.

  “Much,” she said, turning onto her back to gaze up at him. “Thank you for making tonight so romantic.”

  “And just think…we haven’t even begun.” Armand bent to kiss her, tasting her, his tongue mating and tangling with hers. Her delicate arms went around his neck, her soft sighs captured by his mouth as he reached between them and parted her with his fingers.
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  “I want to be inside you so badly that I ache,” he murmured against her lips.

  “Then make love to me.”

  Her words coursed through his veins like a wild fire. With a growl, Armand rose over her, insinuated his hips between her thighs. It was all he could do to keep from ramming into her like a lusty stag. His body trembled in anticipation as he pressed slowly inside her.

  She was still too tight—even after he stopped to apply a generous amount of the stimulating lube. Damn it. He didn’t want to hurt her.

  He willed himself to slow down, rocking gently, pressing deeper and deeper, enjoying the beautiful look of surrender on her face as her body accepted him by degrees. He paused, still not inside all the way. He pushed hard and she sucked in a sharp breath.

  “I’m sorry, Mira. I’m a large man and it’s obvious that ….”

  Oh hell, this wasn’t working out very well. He began to thrust gently again, nudging a bit deeper with each movement. Although he felt her body relax, she was still too tense to fully take him. Perhaps with a bit more foreplay.

  “Would you care to sample one of the delightful items on the bedside table?” he asked, gauging her expression for signs of revulsion, finding none.

  Her eyes were wide. “Um…sure..” She glanced over at the items. “Which one would you recommend first?”

  Armand forgot to breathe. First? Good heavens, was she planning to sample them all. Tonight? He cleared his throat. “Well, this one might be interesting,” he said, reaching for the small purple dildo.

  The device slid into her easily and enjoyably if the look of sweet surrender on her face was any indication. He pleasured her for a few moments until she began clawing at the bedcovers beneath her, her hips bucking upward. Oh, blast it! He could not watch her enjoy the fake phallus a moment longer.

  “Onto your hands and knees,” he said and tossed the dildo aside. “It might be easier this first time if I take you from behind.”

  A look of apprehension crossed her face, but she obeyed his command.

  His breath caught as his eyes surveyed her pretty backside, the sensual flare of her hips, the soft, smooth flesh of her buttocks. It would be easier on her in this, the original sexual position of man. Primal and earthy. Closing his eyes, he savored the feel of her body as he slid in easily. Her vaginal muscles contracted around him, gloving him like wet silk.

  He thrust gently, deeply, enjoying the way her shapely buttocks rocked back and forth as he slowly pumped deep inside her. She began to rock back, meeting the slow, smooth rhythm he’d set, giving as much back as he was giving her.

  “Yes, that’s it. Do you like this?”

  She moaned what sounded like a yes, then began to rock backward at a frenzied pace.

  So she wanted her loving to be a bit more passionate, did she?

  Their bodies slapped together in perfect rhythm. Mira clutched clutched a pillow and cried out when she climaxed. Armand shut his eyes and stilled, savoring the precise moment his life force burst forth to pulse deep within her womb.

  Resting his hands on her hips, he sought to regain his equilibrium as her body continued to convulse around his and his brain spun out into a thousand dimensions. There was freedom in knowing he could not impregnate her, but also an intense feeling of regret. If he ever decided to marry, he would want a woman like Mira Reece.

  No, he wanted Mira Reece.

  After a moment when he could think clearly and his eyes would focus, he withdrew. Mira collapsed on her tummy and he eased down beside her, smoothed his hand down the length of her spine, pausing to caress one soft, shapely buttock. She gazed over at him, a sated smile on her face. The revelation of what had just happened hit him full force.

  He had fallen in love with her. They had made love.

  She turned onto her side to face him. “Armand? Is everything all right?”

  He smiled and closed his eyes as he sank back into the pillow. “Exquisite.”

  Damn it all to bloody hell. He was in love for the first time in his life.

  “Aunt Mee Mee. Joseph Junior’s diaper leaked on your bed.”

  Mira forced open one bleary eye and attempted to focus on the blonde child who stood at the end of the bed. Katie.

  And she immediately realized she wasn’t in her own bed, but still in Armand’s! And from the fair amount of bright sunlight that shone through the curtains, it was morning.

  Panicked, she turned to look at Armand whose vital parts were covered with the sheet. Thankfully, their adult toys had been safely tucked away as well.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, Mira sat up and drew the comforter beneath her chin as the child gave a semi-toothless jack-o-lantern grin, her twinkling blue eyes glancing to Armand every so often. Now this was embarrassing. Her seven year old niece had discovered her naked in one of her boarder’s beds.

  “The sheets are really wet,” Katie continued. “I think he needs a bath now. He stinks like poo.”

  Mira drew a blanket over Armand, then tugged the sheet free and wrapped it around herself.

  “Katie, go back to my room and wait with Joseph Junior. I’ll get dressed and meet you there.”

  The child looked over at Armand.

  “Are you two getting married?”

  “Yes,” came Armand’s muffled voice from the pillow.

  Mira looked toward Armand who remained face down in a pillow, then at Katie. “No, we are not getting married, Katie.”

  Armand’s tousled head popped up and he glanced over at her, one bleary eye open and one eye closed. “Who goes there at this ungodly hour? If that you little Katydid?”

  Katie giggled at the nickname he’d given her.

  “It’s nine in the morning, Armand,” Mira said, delivering a saucy smack with her palm to his rump. “Run along Katie and let Aunt Mee Mee get dressed.”

  “And uncle Arm Arm, too,” Armand muttered.

  The child covered her mouth to suppress a smile, then raced from the room.

  Mira located her clothes from the night before and quickly dressed. “Uncle Arm-Arm?” she inquired as she wriggled into her t-shirt. “Don’t you think you’re being a bit premature? You have a flight to catch this morning.”

  “Screw the bloody flight back to L.A. I’m staying on at the Inn.”

  Mira’s heart soared for a moment, then it took a nose dive. Why was he staying?

  “What about your book?” she asked.

  “Not to worry. I shall finish as planned.”

  “The house will be too noisy with the children underfoot.”

  “I’ll write at night when they’re asleep. He rolled onto his back and looked at her. “That is, if we sleep,” he added with a lazy grin.

  Mira’s face warmed as she recalled the erotic pleasures Armand had introduced her to last night—a playful, but gentle spanking with the fur lined paddle, a bit of light bondage and a sensual tickling of Armand with a feather bouquet. Parts of her body were sore from their last vigorous workout, but it was a wonderful, sated feeling. She had no regrets, no shame. She and Armand had made love two more times—a feat she still couldn’t grasp.

  His physical stamina and sexual prowess was magnificent. Too bad she’d been summoned to change a wet diaper. She might have asked Armand were up to a pre-breakfast round of shower sex. Dash that thought. Four hungry children—half of whom probably sported pissy morning underwear—demanded her full attention now.

  “I’ll go downstairs and take care of Joseph Junior’s crisis, then I’ll meet you in the kitchen for breakfast.”

  Armand threw off the sheet and Mira sucked in a breath at the massive erection that greeted her eyes.

  “Armand!” she admonished, then quickly shut the door. “It’s huge!”

  “Calm yourself, ye lusty wench,” he said in his best pirate brogue. His dark eyes glittered with mischief as he rose from the bed. “A mere a piss hard, my lady—one I’ll remedy in a bit.” He reached for his pants and shook them out. Mira continued her appraisal of
his body.

  “How do you feel this morning? Tender in places?” he asked

  Mira bit down on her lip. “I’m fine.”

  He hesitated. “I would love nothing more than to divest you of your clothes and ravish you for breakfast.”

  Mira laughed.

  “But you must tend the children. I’ll dress and help you make their breakfast. And tonight, we’ll ….” He wiggled a brow. “You know exactly what we’ll do tonight.”

  Yes, she did. “A repeat performance?”

  “Plus more,” he added.

  A delicious shiver coursed through her. “I can’t wait.”

  She headed for the door, her body still on fire for this handsome, sensual man. She turned and paused in time to watch Armand pull his jeans over his long, muscular legs and sun bronzed buttocks. Was she dreaming all this? Had the magic of last night’s lovemaking been real? She’d never experienced so much pleasure.

  “Armand?”

  He acknowledged her.

  “You’re not a figment of my imagination are you?”

  His brow lifted. “You mean as in a fairy tale?”

  She nodded.

  “No. I am very much real.”

  “Good,” she said. “Because I’m not ready for this story to end yet.”

  Armand washed his face, brushed his teeth and gathered his hair back into a sleek, short pony tail. God, but last night was magnificent. The little vixen had pleasured him beyond his wildest imaginings. She’d been uninhibited, allowing him to explore and enjoy her body in ways her former lover obviously hadn’t. He could still taste her on his lips, smell her on his skin. Oh, what delights he’d show her tonight!

  He pulled on a fresh shirt and hurried downstairs in time to find breakfast in progress.

  “Cold cereal?” he boomed out, prompting squeals and giggles from the children when they saw him pull a silly face. “What a ghastly thought. No, no, no,” he said, heading straight to the refrigerator. “It’s green eggs and ham day with alphabet letter pancakes.”

  The children cheered.

  “I like ham,” Devin piped up.