Wicked All The Way (Wicked Lovers)

by Shayla Black

  His blood surged at that thought, and he settled supine between her legs, putting one on each shoulder. Jesus, she was more intoxicating than a fifth of scotch. His body hummed as he sucked her clit into his mouth and soaked in her little cries. She thrashed under his mouth and his hands, totally lost to passion. She was stunning. Her heart might be guarded, but her body was wide open. Caleb hoped like hell that Carlotta letting him touch her flesh meant that he was beginning to earn her trust. Maybe after this, he’d get behind her walls, too—and closer to that heart.

  “Caleb…” She arched as she panted his name. Her pussy gushed for him.

  Yes, she was getting close again. He reveled in the sound and feel of her surrender. His tongue slid up between her slick folds, settling for a long moment just under her clit. Then he gave her a firm stroke of the little bud, concentrating on the hard tip that peeked out. Her breathing grew choppier. She grabbed for him with frantic fingers. Looking up the soft curves of her body, he lifted his gaze to her face. Their stares locked. Her melted chocolate eyes on him felt like a jerk of his cock. Damn it to hell, he wanted inside this woman. He wanted to slide so deep, stay there, and show her that was where he belonged.

  Not once after Amanda had left him had he ever imagined making another woman his own. He hadn’t wanted to. Now… This one wasn’t getting away.

  “Come for me, baby.”

  Her breathing stopped. Her entire body tightened and stiffened. He drove two fingers in her pussy and quickly found her most sensitive spot, rubbing in slow, firm circles. She gasped with a long, shocked intake of air. That spot against his fingers softened. Then her clit turned to stone under his tongue. And she screamed.

  It was the hottest fucking sound he’d ever heard.

  Her flavor slid over his tongue. So damn sweet. God, did she have any idea that he was going to chase her around this house for the next three days, trying to get his mouth on her pussy? Probably not, but she’d figure it out fast.

  Shudders wracked her, crashing through her system over and over until her entire body relaxed. Now she was soft and sated. Now she would welcome him into her body.

  Now he was going to stake his claim.

  Caleb sat back on his knees and reached for his zipper. “You look so gorgeous laying there all flushed with your legs spread. Damn, baby…”

  “It is immodest.” She tried to sit up.

  Gently, he pushed her back down. “Modesty has no place in bed with us. There’s nothing polite about what I plan to do to you. And I want you to understand now that I don’t intend to settle for the parts of you that you want to show me or that you think are nice. Right now, I want to fuck you. Hard. Then later, I’m going to love you so gently. But you’re not going to hide or keep any part of your passion from me.”

  “Is this not just sex?”

  He gritted his teeth. Is that what she thought? Why would he risk upsetting her or the family dynamic to get laid? “No, it’s not. I’m going to show you what this is.”

  Caleb tore open the snap of his jeans. His zipper hissed in the veritable silence. Her stare singed him. As he shoved his pants and boxer-briefs down and took his cock in hand, her eyes widened. She gasped. He grinned.

  His phone rang.

  Closing his eyes, he stared at the ceiling. The ringtone was Hunter’s.

  With a snarled curse, he pulled the device from his pocket and answered it. “What?”

  “Wow, grouchy. And here I thought you’d be happy that I brought you some help. Kata got called into work for a few hours, so I dragged Deke and Tyler away from their cozy love nests. We should be there in less than five.”

  He opened his mouth to tell Hunter to go to hell for an hour, but Hunter had already hung up. Carlotta had apparently heard every word his son had said and gave a sharp sound of distress before hopping to her feet.

  “Carlotta…” God, he was ready to beg her. And after seeing her body, it seemed a shame to cover it up.

  Her hands fluttered. Panic held her eyes wide. She took one look at her ripped panties and her jaw dropped. Then she looked ready to kill him.

  Fuck, the mood was gone.

  Shoving his cock back in his jeans, he zipped up and stood. “This isn’t over, Lottie. For now, go to the bathroom, and I’ll bring you your suitcase. You can change there.”

  Palpable relief crossed her face. “Thank you.”

  She looked around for something to cover herself with, but he gathered her blouse, her skirt, her shoes, then pointed down the hall behind her with a grin. “Bathroom is that way.”

  Carlotta reached out for her clothes. Caleb shrugged and handed them to her. Even if she held them, she’d find it damn hard to cover her ass as she walked away. His smile widened.

  “I will dress here.”

  “The windows are wide open.”

  As if realizing that anyone could look in and see her naked, she jumped away from them with a squeal and clutched her clothes tighter to her chest. Shame to cover up such a fine view, but he’d make certain to see it again.

  “But if I walk down the hall naked, you will look at me.”

  “Damn straight. Get used to it, woman.”

  Carlotta tsked at him. “You are a wicked man.”

  “Oh, you have no idea. But I’ll make sure you find out soon.” He winked.

  She rolled her dark eyes, but he saw a ghost of a smile playing at her lips as she turned away.

  Caleb stared, watching as she made her way to the bathroom. She might have put a little extra sway into that sashay down the hall, but it confirmed what he knew. “Nice ass.”

  She darted into the bathroom and hid behind the door, then peeked around it and stuck her tongue out at him before slamming the door closed. He chuckled as he threw his shirt on over his head and fished the keys out of his pocket, happily plotting ways to kill his son.

  After retrieving her suitcase from the truck and carrying it down the hall, he knocked, and she opened the door a fraction to grab it. She said nothing, but her dark eyes danced with mischief, promised more sensual delights…and maybe a bit of retribution for making her walk to the bathroom naked under his watchful gaze. Caleb looked forward to that.

  She’d no more than shut herself in the bathroom again when someone pounded on the front door then opened it. With a whoop and stomping of feet, the solitude was broken.

  “Dad?” Hunter called.

  He dragged a hand over his hair, then took in a deep breath, reminding himself that responsible parents didn’t eat their young. “Coming out.”

  Making his way down the hall, he found Hunter, his son-in-law, Deke, and family friend Tyler all standing in the great room, taking up most of the space—and staring at Carlotta’s ripped panties on the floor.

  Fuck! He winced as he bent to pick them up and shove them in his pocket. “When she comes out of the bathroom, not a fucking word. Not a laugh. Not a glance. Not a raised brow. Nothing. Do you understand me?”

  “Tell me that isn’t…” Hunter’s jaw dropped. “You’re fucking my mother-in-law?”

  Caleb gritted his teeth. “I would have if you didn’t have such impeccable goddamn timing.”

  Beside Hunter, Deke burst out laughing. Tyler followed. Hunter just swore.

  “You told me to stop ogling her ass, so I did.”

  Hunter held up a hand. “I don’t want to know what else you did or might do to her ass. Just…stop there.”

  “I wasn’t in the mood to share. Trust me.” Caleb sighed.

  “What is she doing here?”

  “She’s decorating. I’ll fix shit, but color palettes and throw pillows…not my thing. Since you’ve ruined the getting busy I had in mind, why don’t you three go unload the truck. We’ve already been by the store and picked up most of the stuff we need to get started.”

  He tossed Deke the keys to his truck, and the big man caught them in one fist, then grinned. Tyler headed for the door with a chuckle.

  His son-in-law slapped Hunter on the back. �
��Look on the bright side, man. Happy mother-in-law can equal some serious peace in your house. She won’t be trying to run your show.”

  “She doesn’t anyway.”

  Deke shrugged. “If Carlotta is happy, Kata will be happy. That can only be good for you, dude.”

  Hunter hesitated. “True. It’s just a little weird. My dad and my mother-in-law…”

  “Get used to it,” Caleb growled.

  Rearing back, Hunter blinked at him. “Are you fucking serious?”

  “Back down, man.” Deke tried to soothe Hunter.

  “What? We don’t get to be as happy as you and Kata?”

  Hunter smiled wide. “It’s not that. I just never thought you or Carlotta would get serious about anyone ever again. I’m just shocked. But it’s a good shock.”

  Caleb let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Good. But if you didn’t like it, that was going to be tough shit for you.”

  Tyler laughed out loud from the door. “This is every bit as entertaining as watching a toddler put his toy trucks down the toilet.”

  Deke marched over to Tyler and punched him in the shoulder. “Damn it. Last time Seth came for a playdate with my boy, he taught little Cal to shove his toys down the john, too.”

  That only made Tyler laugh more. “Just spreading the love one crapper at a time.”

  “Lord, what am I getting myself into with this whole parenthood idea?” Hunter asked.

  “Your children will have lots of stellar influences.” Caleb gestured to Deke and Tyler.

  Suddenly, he sensed someone behind him and turned to find Carlotta in a soft pair of jeans and a red V-neck shirt that revealed enough hint of cleavage to fire his blood again.

  “Hello, everyone.”

  Deke looked down, repressing a smile. “Hi, ma’am.”

  Tyler wasn’t much more graceful, just more brazen as he waved. “Good day so far?”

  Caleb wanted to elbow the troublemaker.

  Hunter drew in a deep breath, then approached Carlotta with a gentle hug. “Thanks for your help with the house. I want to surprise Kata for Christmas.” Then his son gestured toward him. “Don’t let the big guy give you a hard time.”

  Carlotta just flushed. “What is first on our agenda?”

  #

  Two evenings later, Carlotta sighed with a smile. The entire house was looking largely transformed. With Tyler’s and Deke’s help, they had torn out the half wall in the foyer, removed all the old carpet, and peeled back the linoleum. Hunter had lent a hand until he had been forced to return to active duty, and Carlotta had seen the worry on her daughter’s face as she’d watched her husband walk out the door, not knowing if he would return again. But Kata was strong—and she’d buried herself in work since Hunter’s departure.

  Carlotta looked around the kids’ new house with a keen eye. Drywall had been repaired and the cracked window replaced. She had scrubbed the fireplace until the brick looked fresh. New paint had gone on every wall of the house under her watchful eye. The new carpet had gone in with the help of installers. The guys had laid the new hardwood floors and they gleamed in the space, adding new life and vibrancy. The cabinets were stacked in the kitchen and waiting for Deke and Tyler to return tomorrow to help. The fabricators would come measure for the countertops as soon as the cabinets were in place and had promised a quick turnaround. She had shopped earlier for new hardware for the kitchen cabinets, as well as the bathroom fixtures. Time had not been kind to the plastic faucets, and she had replaced them with something sturdier. Somewhere in the middle of everything, Caleb had found the time to mow the lawn, front and back.

  He was an amazing man, and she could not deny that she liked him more with every moment they spent together. They had not, however, had another moment alone since that breath-stealing moment he had nearly seduced her on the living room floor.

  Carlotta wished very much that Hunter and his friends had come just a bit later.

  Across the kitchen, Caleb had removed his shirt and opened the windows. The dusk was surprisingly warm. Sweat sheened across his body as he lifted the cabinets across the new floor and set them in their place, rearranging them until they fit in the space.

  “You okay, Lottie?” he asked.

  Now that they were finally alone again, she wondered what might happen.

  “Fine. I wish I did not have to go back to work tomorrow.”

  He snorted. “You’ll get more sleep at home than you’ve been getting with Mari and her two kids.”

  As much as Carlotta loved her older daughter and her family, she couldn’t deny that truth. She nodded. “Before I go, I would like to pick out the light fixtures so you can hang them. Oh, and the curtain rods.”

  He picked up a hammer from the floor and tossed it back in his toolbox. She gawked at every ripple of his body as he moved. So strong and male and… She sighed.

  Caleb turned to her with a very knowing, very sexy grin. “Something on your mind?”

  She hesitated. As much as she wanted to talk about what had nearly happened—or if she was honest, find out what the real deal would feel like—she merely smiled. No way would she let Caleb near her before she had showered. She smelled like paint and sweat and dirt. Not sexy.

  “Dinner?”

  With a nod, he stretched, reaching his big arms over his head. Carlotta nearly swallowed her tongue. She really did not want to go back to East Texas alone, without knowing what Caleb felt like against her, deep inside her. But ladies never brought up sex. She bit her lip.

  He just grinned at her. “Why don’t you shower here? You brought a change of clothes, right?” When she nodded, he smoothed a hand over her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. “Good. Get ready. I’ll finish the prep here and shower. We’ll grab some dinner and light fixtures, then come back and…talk.”

  Did he genuinely want to merely discuss things or was that code for sex? She had not dated in so long, and Caleb kept her tied up in so many knots, she was uncertain what to think.

  But she merely nodded and got herself beneath a hot spray of water. An hour later, she walked out of the master bathroom all put together again with some minimal makeup and her clean hair flowing free. She had splurged on a bit of perfume and hoped that it made him want to be near her.

  He stepped out of the bathroom down the hall, and a cloud of steam followed him. He looked beyond fine in a pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, some boots, and a sly grin.

  “You look good enough to eat,” he said in that low voice that seduced her.

  Carlotta felt heat climbing up her cheeks. “You do, too.”

  “Hmm, how fast can we find dinner and shop? I can think of something else I’d rather turn on besides light fixtures.”

  The blood rushed up her face faster, but she edged closer to him. “Very quickly, I hope.”

  He tipped her chin up so she met his gaze. “I’ve tried to go slow and give you space and time to think. I need you to tell me if you’re feeling afraid or worried.”

  “I am,” she admitted. “But not enough to stay away from you.”

  Caleb wrapped strong, hot hands around her face and looked like he wanted to take possession of her lips. Then he gritted his teeth and stepped back. “Nope. If I kiss you now, we’ll never make it out the door. We both need food.” He took her hand. “Let’s go.”

  She directed him to a small Italian place she had always loved. The wait was about an hour, so they put their name in and drove to the lighting store across the street. Keeping the tight budget in mind, she picked out new lighting for the kitchen, bathrooms, and dining room on sale. Caleb told the store owner he’d pick them up in the morning, then they headed back to the restaurant.

  The hostess seated them right away, and Caleb ordered a nice bottle of wine. The lighting was low, the booths tall, the ambiance intimate.

  He reached an arm around her and drew her closer. His very touch warmed her through and through—but his stare blistered her with need. She had not tho
ught of intimacy with a man in years. Now, she could hardly think of anything else—or anyone but him.

  The wine arrived, and the waiter poured them each a glass. She sipped hers with a little moan, then smiled at Caleb when his grip tightened around her. They quickly ordered before the waiter scampered off.

  “What do you see happening between us?” he asked suddenly in a low voice.

  Carlotta nearly choked. “Here is not the place to discuss that.”

  “That?” He raised a brow at her.

  “You know…” She had been unable to drag her stare from his rugged face just moments ago. Now she could not meet his gaze at all. “Sex.”

  “So the sex we haven’t had yet. That’s all you see happening between us?”

  “No. You may have guessed that I am not the sort of woman to sleep with a man without being serious or invested, and I know we have not discussed—”

  “I love you.”

  His declaration knocked the air out of her lungs. Carlotta gaped at him.

  He cursed under his breath. “I know blurting it isn’t the most romantic thing, and I should probably move more slowly and let you think about this more. But I’ve been thinking about you since the night Hunter first took you from your ex-husband and brought you to me. I’ve watched over you since. I’ve wanted you since. And with every time I saw you, I got to know the tender-hearted woman under your scars. Don’t tell me this is abrupt. I know how I feel.”

  Caleb wasn’t the sort of man to fall in love a great deal; that went without saying. And she had not loved a man since Eduardo. She was very fond of Caleb, wanted him desperately, respected and liked him… “I am afraid of love. It sounds silly, I know. I never loved Gordon, and yet he still hurt me very much. But loving someone gives them power.”

  He brushed a knuckle down her cheek. “Trusting someone and giving yourself to them can also free you from that fear.”

  Her thoughts scrambled. He was right. “I never considered it that way.”

  “I think it’s time you did, Lottie. I want to make you happy. But you have to let me try.”

  Her breath seized. She probably did love him, and that terrified part of her did not wish to admit it. But when her car had broken down in August, had she called the roadside assistance company she paid each year? No, she had called Caleb. Had she called an electrician when she had experienced problems with her circuit breaker? Or called a coworker to help her home after some outpatient surgery to help her ankle just before Halloween? In every case, she had leaned on Caleb, knowing full well that he would be there for her each and every time.