by C. D. Gorri
“I’m not thin, you know,” still nothing, “Fine, I’m fat! Okay?” she hissed at him. Damn the man for making her spell it out! And she had such high hopes too…
Her face was burning, and she bit her lip wishing she could take back the last few minutes of their time together.
Leya had never felt such a powerful attraction to a man before, and she had to ruin it with her idiotic confession. He wasn’t blind, he could see what she looked like! And yet he still asked you to dinner.
As she mulled over whether or not to bolt for the door, he placed his large hand over hers and leaned forward dwarfing the small round table where they were seated. She had no choice but to look at him as it seemed he wasn’t going to release her hand until she did.
Oh boy, might as well get this over with, she thought before looking him squarely in the eyes. She’d been friend-zoned often enough to read the signs.
He was definitely about to tell her she was a great gal and didn’t need to worry about her weight with him. Yadda yadda. She swallowed her disappointment and sat facing him.
If only he wasn’t so good to look at. Oh well. As if reading her thoughts, he dropped his gaze and boldly swept his eyes over the mounds of flesh that were revealed in the snug top of the dress she wore.
Leya felt hot all over from that stare. His brown eyes darkened to almost black as his stare seemed to penetrate the tabletop, the dress, anything that was in the way.
It was as if he was looking at her naked. An idea that she found she didn’t quite mind. Well, that’s certainly different.
“Leya, I don’t know who’s been feeding you that line of garbage and, believe me when I say I would gladly pound every single one of them to a bloody pulp if you’d like, but first things first,” his voice was gravelly and deep.
She could hardly keep up with what he was saying, especially, when his thumb was running over the top of her hand in slow seductive circles that made her want to drool. Spit it out, buddy, before I embarrass myself!
“You look exactly the way a woman should look. Baby, you are incredible,” his voice went even deeper as he traced every visible line of her body with those molten eyes of his.
Leya released the breath she’d been holding. Her entire body seemed to sizzle with awareness. Small trembles danced along her skin under the heat of his penetrating gaze. Did he mean it?
He sure looked like he did. He didn’t release her hand, not even when the waiter came and left their menus on the table. She hardly noticed, captivated by what he’d said, what he was still saying with his eyes and that wicked thumb of his.
He wants me. Me! She felt hot all over at the realization, powerful and indescribably sexy for the first time in her life. Desire flared between them. No doubt, her entire body was turning beet red under her clothes.
Even her breasts seemed to warm and swell at his words. He moved his thumb to the soft side of her wrist, and Leya’s lips parted. When had a touch, any touch, never mind one as innocent as this one, caused such delicious friction inside of her?
She waited as he leaned even closer to her. Okay, not friend-zoned, but what now, she thought. Marcus looked as if he was about to say something, but the waiter interrupted them.
He leaned back in his chair, but not before lifting her hand to his mouth and kissing her fingertips. He lifted the menu and spoke. His voice a deep rumble that sent shivers down her spine.
“Do you mind if I go ahead?”
“With what?” She sounded breathless, but she didn’t care. No one had ever looked at her or talked to her quite like that.
“With ordering, for the two of us?”
“Oh, sure, that’s fine,” she smiled.
It was old-fashioned, but Leya kind of liked it. Besides, there wasn’t a dish she’d met that she didn’t like. She sat back and listened as this gorgeous stranger proceeded to order for them both. Well, she quickly learned he had good taste in food at least.
He ordered a chilled seafood tower that promised exquisite delicacies such as raw oysters, clams, boiled shrimp, crab legs, and lobster claws. Next, they were to sample some of the hotel’s famous conch chowder, followed by broiled Chilean sea bass served with a creamy spinach risotto on the side.
Then he finished the order with two chocolate soufflés with vanilla sauce for dessert. He had to order those ahead since the kitchen needed time to prepare them.
“Wow,” she said.
“What? Did you want something else?”
“Um, no, I think even I might have trouble putting all that away!”
“Whatever you don’t want, I’ll finish, I have quite the appetite,” his barely veiled innuendo sent a wave of heat right to her belly and lower.
The mood lightened a touch when the first dishes arrived. They laughed and talked throughout the entire meal. She loved the way he served her himself, shooing the waiter away when he would have done the job.
It was as if he took pride in filling her plate and when she was uncertain if she liked something, he lifted the fork to her lips himself to allow her to decide before he served her more.
“This is incredible,” she said as he poured her some more of the delicious dry white wine he’d ordered.
“Yeah, I love seafood, and it’s impeccable here,” he popped a shrimp into his mouth, and she squirmed as he licked the tips of his finger, smiling at her the whole time.
“So, uh, do you travel a lot?”
“Sometimes. Lately, yes.”
“For work?” She asked, curious about him.
“Yes. This is kind of a working vacation. But what about you?”
“I was an administrative assistant for a PR firm in New York, but, uh, I just quit my job actually.”
“Really? Why?”
“Well, it’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Tell me, anyway, Leya,” he seemed genuinely interested, and she’d yet to get it off her chest.
She could trust him, she decided. It was fast and crazy, but she really felt she could. That settled, she went ahead with her tale.
“So, I very stupidly had a small crush on my boss,” the small growl from the other side of the table had her eyes shooting up, but the sound quit before she could question it, “anyway, he turned out to be an enormous jerk,” she noticed him tense, but he didn’t interrupt her.
She continued, and before they were finished eating, she’d told him the entire story. Even the embarrassing bits.
“Not to be a dick or anything, but I’m glad.”
“That my boss was an asshat?”
Confusion warred with anger over his blunt statement. Why would he be glad someone had treated her so shitty?
“Hell yeah, I am glad, Leya. If he’d been half a man, kind to you, or nice in any way, then you wouldn’t be sitting here with me. Of course, I’d happily kick the shit out of him for insulting you that way.”
Happiness welled up inside of her at his admission. He seemed to feel pretty strongly for having just met her. That was good. It meant whatever magic was making her feel this way, wasn’t one-sided.
How long does it take to fall for someone anyway? Fall in like, not love. Too soon for love.
“That’s a good answer, Marcus,” he returned her smile.
“So, I’ve decided to make this vacation a series of new experiences for myself. The first thing I did was dump my suitcase and buy new clothes. You might have noticed the way I looked when I first arrived-”
“Not to sound like a jerk, but I noticed you-”
“Oh no, in the green-couch outfit? It was hideous!” She hid her face and grimaced when he gently tugged her hands down.
“Not that I’m complaining about that sexy dress you have on, because fuck yes, it looks a damn sight better than that green outfit, but the truth is Leya, the way you dress isn’t as important as who you are.”
OMG. New panties needed at table five! Heat pooled in her belly and travelled to her core. He was absolutely perfect. The things he said! The way he looked
. How he made her feel. My oh my, maybe, just maybe…
“I guess I always dressed according to what fit me. It’s not easy being a plus size in a size zero world.”
“I don’t know from sizes. I just know you look amazing. You should wear what makes you feel good about yourself.”
“Even if it leaves some parts of me exposed?” She blushed as she looked down at the ample cleavage on display and noted the way his eyes riveted to that exact spot and his lips parted.
“Honey, covering any part of you up is a goddamned crime.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Marcus, it makes what I’m about to ask you a little easier.”
“What’s that?”
“First, you should know I’m almost twenty-seven years old.”
“Okay-”
“I’m not done yet. I’ve been waiting my whole life for something special to happen. I admit, I thought about having a vacation romance on the plane over.”
“Yeah?” he swallowed, she followed the small movement with her eyes, continuing before she ran out of courage.
“I’m through waiting.”
“Uh huh.”
“Twenty-seven and virtually untouched.”
“Wait, you mean you’re a virgin?”
“Yep.”
“How is that possible?”
“Not for lack of trying,” she laughed and felt her cheeks heat up.
“Excuse me?” He coughed into his napkin and she continued before she lost her nerve.
“In high school, there was Steven. He was shy and cute, and the one time we got into some heavy petting his mother walked in, and you can guess what came next.”
“Poor Steven.” She couldn’t be sure, but she swore Marcus’ eyes glowed when he said that.
He looked as if he wanted to tear poor Steven’s head off. She took a sip of her wine and lifted an eyebrow. He nodded, and she went on.
“Then, in college, I tutored Judd, a football player with a habit of well, being early to the party, if you catch my drift.”
“That’s too bad for Judd.”
She tilted her head to the side and nodded. He seemed tense. But he nodded again despite looking as if he wanted to say, fuck off Steven and Judd.
“After Judd, was Thomas, a music major. He started off as nice and attentive, but I later discovered he had some strange ideas about women. Let’s just say I told him to take a hike before we even got to third base.”
“Poor Thomas,” his voice got even deeper.
“A few dates here and there in the years that followed were not promising. Then there was Gary, who I told you all about.”
“Oh yeah, Gary. I’d love to meet him in a dark alley.”
“Anyway,” she laughed, “now I have a problem.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m tired of waiting. I want to make something special happen.”
Marcus swallowed again, and Leya bit her lip. What the hell? You waited long enough already. Much longer than any of her old friends from school or anyone at her former job.
This vacation was supposed to be her turn to run wild before starting her new life. She got the wardrobe, onto the next experience.
“What are you saying?” He asked in that deep, sexy voice of his. The one that made goosebumps break out all over her body.
Oh, but the man definitely had a voice. A dark, deep timbre that made her mouth water and her core ache.
“What I am saying Marcus, is that I want to make that something special happen with you.”
“Check please!”
Chapter 6
Marcus stood up abruptly. He grasped Leya’s hand, signed for the check and practically ran out of the restaurant. Holy fuck!
The shy little woman he bumped into earlier that day had nothing on the vixen he’d been trying so desperately not to drool over all through dinner.
Her laughter drifted up to his ears like music as he tugged her along the corridor barely able to hide his desperation.
Before the elevator doors closed, he had her back pressed against the wall. Fuck yeah. He’d been dying to get his hands on her lush curves ever since he’d laid eyes on her.
The feel of her warm body, soft and pliant, submissive, underneath the hardness of his, made him tremble like a boy. Slow down. He ordered his Bear to be still.
The beast pushed against his skin. He wanted to claim his mate. Marcus growled as he rubbed his hands over her arms and then to her face. He brought his head down and rested his forehead against hers, barely able to breathe for wanting her.
Still, he needed to give her this one chance to say no. His Bear bellowed, but Marcus ignored him. It would be her choice or not at all. That made the Bear go quiet, but he felt his anxiety. It mirrored his human half’s.
“Leya, if you were only speaking in hypotheticals you better say so now,” his voice was gruff as he insinuated himself between her thighs and held her firmly by the waist.
“Oh, no, Marcus-”
“Huh?” he wanted to roar, but then she smiled and pulled him closer.
“I meant it, I want you,” she licked her lips and pressed her body against his in an erotic invitation that was almost as mesmerizing as the slow smile that curled the corner of her pretty little mouth.
Blood thundered in his veins, and his heart pounded in his chest. Holy fuck, she wants me. His bear roared in triumph.
Marcus lowered his lips to hers. Finding his mate was something he expected to take a long time, a tepid experience at best, but as her lips shyly responded to the soft pressure of his, he felt a rush of passion so strong it was like a fucking tsunami. Mine.
Marcus wanted to be inside of her. He wanted to cover her in his scent, embed his teeth into her shoulder. Mark her.
He wanted to bring her to his den, in his bed, and not let her get up until she was too weak to stand. Instinct and hunger almost got the best of him, but reality dawned as she whimpered in his arms. His mate was a normal and a virgin. He had to go slow.
She’d need time to get used to the idea of being a Bear Shifter’s mate. Time that his Bear had no desire to give her. Mine! Now!
“Marcus, please” she whispered and bit his bottom lip when he stopped kissing her.
He groaned and deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue between her two plump lips. He wanted to take his time, to cherish, but his body had other ideas. And so, did she.
He delved his tongue into her warm mouth and took what she offered. She was so damn sweet. Like the tupelo honey, she smelled of. He was going out of his mind.
And his little mate answered his every demand with some of her own. Virgin or not, she was sensual and seductive. He wanted to give her everything he had.
Marcus wrapped her up in his arms and pressed her to him. The hardened nubs of her breasts rubbed his chest. He couldn’t wait to taste them.
What was it she’d said about herself, that she was fat! Fat? Fuck no! His woman was perfect. Her body was a study in femininity.
She was soft and strong with dips and valleys that would require long hours to explore thoroughly. And he intended to begin as soon as possible.
He traced her soft and gently rounded stomach with his fingertips, then circled her tiny waist with his hands. Next, he ran his palms over the womanly flare of her hips and back around to knead her luscious ass.
He growled deep in his throat as he continued to probe and explore her mouth in the confines of the elevator. Squeezing her plump globes, he hauled her off her feet causing her to whimper and moan.
Marcus’ Bear pushed against his skin. He gripped her waist, deepening the kiss. Her shapely legs were long with thick thighs, just the way he liked them. They ended in dainty feet with her red painted toes peeking through strappy, high-heeled sandals.
Oh yeah, his Leya in those sandals with nothing else on, her delicious legs wrapped around his waist or hiked up over his shoulders. The hardness in his shorts throbbed and he wondered if he’d even make it to the room.
&
nbsp; She pressed closer to him, her small hands tangling in his hair as she pushed her breasts against his chest. Damn, if she wiggled one more time, he just might embarrass himself!
Like Judd the stud? Fuck no! His Leya was going to experience some satisfaction before he went at her like some fucking horny teenager!
He ran his hands up her rib cage until they rested just under her breasts. Heat from her body seeped into him, and he could hardly wait to lower his head and get his mouth around one pert nipple. At the sound of her frustrated moan, he slowed his kiss.
Not yet, baby, he thought. Nibbling and teasing her plump lips, he slowed down until he was doing nothing more than rubbing her lips with the softest of touches.
She followed him with her mouth, wanting more, wanting him, and it made more than his head swell.
“Look at me, baby,” Marcus stared as her lust glazed eyes slowly opened.
He made sure she was watching as he cupped both her fabulous breasts in his hands. His Leya’s eyes widened as sensation registered and her swollen lips parted on a moan.
Marcus growled out loud then and seized her mouth like a pirate plundering the richest of treasures. She tasted of the wine they shared at dinner and something sweeter, headier, that made him groan.
“Oh God,” she moaned as his hands travelled south. He cupped her throbbing sex over her clothes. Heat seeped into his skin.
Her panties were thin and damp and more than anything he wanted to rip them off. Roarrr. She dropped her head, allowing him access to her long neck and that soft dip just below her collarbone. He grazed her flesh with his teeth, tracing the hollow with his tongue.
She whimpered as he lifted the hem of her dress. He rubbed her mound with the heel of his hand. Loving the tremble that coursed through her body.
She made a deep, mewling sound. Marcus groaned in response. He wanted to make a meal of her right there.
The ding of the elevator sounded, and the doors opened. He swung her up into his arms. Thank God, the hall was empty. He hated the idea of anyone else seeing her like this. All soft and unguarded. And his.
