My Favorite Mistake: A Tahoe Nights Story

by Karen Erickson

  Clara laughed and slapped her husband on the butt. “You ate two so you need this walk more than anyone. You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

  Tyler rounded up the end, shaking his head in amusement at the pleasant banter. A breeze hit him, strong and warm, carrying with it the scent of pine. The lake before them shimmered bright blue as the sun reflected upon the gentle waves. It was a fine Sunday morning, one he never wanted to forget.

  He could only hope Julie would be agreeable to his suggestion later. That he would make once the Lancasters had left, since Clara declared they’d head back home later this afternoon.

  He needed to get his emotions off his chest, tell Julie how he felt. He wanted to ask her if she wanted their relationship to become more serious, couldn’t allow her to return to Sacramento so she could forget him.

  Now he just needed to get up the guts to actually ask her.

  He had a feeling it might be harder than he thought.

  Chapter Seven

  Julie thought her parents would never leave. She was downright antsy by the time they walked out onto the porch, hugging their goodbyes and her mother offering sweet whispered words about Tyler. How much she liked him, how much her father liked him and she had both their full approval.

  She’d hugged them both, practically pushed them off the porch toward their car and then slammed the door behind them, turning the lock so that it gave a satisfying click.

  “You are one impatient woman,” Tyler murmured when she launched herself upon him. His arms slid about her waist and pulled her close. Already she felt his growing erection rub against her.

  “So are you by the feel of things.” She ground against him, earning a soft groan from him.

  “Hey, this is all your fault. You touched me. That’s all it takes,” he admitted, leaning down to give her a lingering kiss. “I had a good time with your parents by the way.”

  “It was nice, huh?” She meant it. After pushing them away for so long it felt good to relax and actually hang out with them. They were fun people, easy to get along with and she didn’t give them enough credit.

  It took good ol’ Tyler Nichols to make her realize such a fact. Amazing.

  But she really didn’t want to talk about her parents anymore. She’d rather focus on Tyler. Fiddling with the neckline of his T-shirt, she snuggled close to him, noticing how well they fit together. She had to leave soon. It was already mid-afternoon, and her father had tried to gently encourage her to follow him back to Sacramento. She’d refused, wanting to spend at least one more stolen hour with Tyler before she returned home.

  Returned back to reality.

  She shuddered. Didn’t want to return to her life, her job. It would all be so empty without Tyler.

  God.

  “Hey.” He cupped her cheek, his palm warm, his fingers streaking along her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

  “I…” She didn’t know how to approach him with this, didn’t know how to blurt it out and just say it. She was a successful business owner who had no problem asking for what she wanted in her day-to-day life.

  And yet she couldn’t ask for this. The one thing she wanted more than anything.

  A real, solid chance with Tyler.

  “I want you,” she finally whispered when he hadn’t said a word. She looked up, met his blazing blue gaze, and she saw it all. Passion and want, tumultuous emotions he probably didn’t know how to express either. Maybe, just maybe he felt the same way. He’d certainly been attentive the entire weekend. He’d been eager too, just as eager as she, maybe even more so.

  There was something between them. If she would just be a realist, she could admit it. More than just a lusty weekend between old friends, this had potential. This had the chance to be something real.

  First, she wanted to be with him. Experience him one more time without any emotional hang-ups or worry that he might reject her or turn her away.

  “I want you too.” His touch became firmer, his fingers drifting down her cheek, along her jaw, across her lower lip. She parted her lips, her tongue darting out to lick his lingering finger and he groaned.

  “Take me, Tyler,” she murmured, her hands tugging at his T-shirt. “Please.”

  He whipped it off for her, tossing it over his shoulder. “You don’t need to ask twice.”

  Their mouths crashed upon each other, lips fused, tongues dancing, hands wandering all over each other’s bodies. She didn’t need much foreplay—the entire weekend had been foreplay and she was constantly aroused. Right now she just needed him. Buried deep inside her, filling her, making her feel complete.

  Such a cliché but so, so appropriate for the moment.

  Clothes fell off their bodies with practiced ease until they both stood in a naked embrace. He held her breasts in his hands, his thumbs straining up to flick across her nipples and her knees weakened at the delicious ache his touch roused. He barely had to touch her and he brought her close to orgasm within seconds. It was that easy between them. That good.

  “Come on, babe.” He grabbed her ass and hitched her up. She wrapped her legs about his waist as he carried her over to the couch. “I can’t stand this much longer.”

  She knew the feeling. Her entire body trembled from wanting him, and he collapsed onto the couch, her sitting astride him, their faces so close. She carefully took off his glasses and set them on the end table. He smiled at her, the look on his face so tender, so sweet she almost burst into tears at the sudden emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.

  “Sssh.” He pushed the hair away from her face. As if he knew what she was feeling, how scary it was. “You’re beautiful.”

  His words touched her deep and she touched him as well, her fingers drifting across the strong firm line of his jaw. “So are you.”

  They kissed, this one not as carnal but just as arousing. No, this was a sweet meeting of lips, a slow, almost torturous tangle of tongues. She gasped into his mouth, the corner of her eyes prickled with tears, and she leaned into him. Needing his strength, wanting him to absorb her and keep her forever.

  His hands smoothed up and down her back, comforting her and sending sparks of sensation over her body at the same time. His cock rose between them, hard and seeking and damn it, she realized they didn’t have a condom.

  Withdrawing from him, she swallowed hard, her accelerated breaths making it difficult for her to get the words out. “We—need a…”

  “Condom,” he finished for her. He pointed toward the end table. “Open the little drawer.”

  Julie bent to her left and tugged on the drawer pull to find two condom packets nestled within. Casting him a suspicious glance, she pulled one out and waved it at him. “Secret stash for all of your weekend rendezvous with various women?”

  Jealousy rose within her, ugly and unwanted but there just the same. She was being foolish. She had no claim on this man, and she certainly shouldn’t be jealous over any of his previous encounters with other women. It was none of her business what he did prior to being with her.

  The thought of him being with another woman after her was just too upsetting to even consider.

  He started to laugh, caught one look at the expression on her face and he immediately stopped. “I snuck those in earlier when no one was in the room. I sprinkled a few throughout the house, to be honest. I wasn’t sure where we’d be when we could finally be together.”

  Her heart actually expanded. She felt it. It welcomed him right on in and then closed up tight. As if never wanting to let him go. “Really?”

  Tyler nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. “Really.”

  “Oh, Tyler.” She kissed him, allowed all of her emotion, her caring, oh God, her love for him flow straight into him. From her lips to his, she gave him everything she had. And he took it. Eagerly.

  He grabbed the condom from her fingers and tore open the package, his mouth still attached to hers. Slipped the condom on with fumbling fingers, they brushed against her belly, her wet pussy an
d she ground against him. Couldn’t wait for him to be inside her.

  “Hurry,” she whispered against his mouth just before he plunged deep, stealing the very breath from her. She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t think. All she could do was feel.

  Feel him.

  Tyler.

  His hands wrapped tight about her hips, Tyler steadied her, slamming deep just as she came down hard. Not an inch separated them, they were completely and totally fused together, and he closed his eyes, bent his head so it rested on the back of the couch.

  She just felt so damn good. Once she started to move, to grind those sweet hips down upon his body, driving his cock even deeper, he thought he’d explode. Explode into a million little pieces until there was nothing left, she was doing such a number on him.

  Julie tilted her head, her hair spilling over him, brushing against his skin and driving him wild. Her mouth was close to his ear, he heard her panting breaths, felt her lips move against his ear lobe, and he shuddered in anticipation.

  “I love how you feel inside me,” she whispered just as she began to ride. She lifted herself completely upright, tiny hands settling upon his shoulders, her body moving up and down his cock, her knees braced on the couch cushion, resting on either side of his hips.

  “I love how you feel, wrapped tight around my cock,” he muttered, his hands upon her waist, eyes zeroed in on where they were joined. His cock glistened with her juices as he thrust in and out, the sight of their joining nearly undoing him. Fuck, it was beautiful. Mesmerizing.

  She moaned at his words, at the way he sent himself a little deeper, hell he didn’t know. He wanted to drive her out of her mind, much like she drove him out of his. He wanted to make her lose herself. Lose herself to him, to what they created when they were together. An overwhelming spark of emotion, it threatened to take him under at any second.

  And damn, how much he wanted to be taken under. As long as she was by his side.

  “I’m going to come,” she panted, working atop him, her body grinding against his. “Don’t stop, just like that, Tyler. Please. Please. Please.”

  He continued his rhythm, not wanting to break it, wanting to give her what she so desperately sought. Her head was tossed back, eyes tightly closed, hair cascading down her back. A fucking gorgeous vision of a woman just about to come all over his cock and he surged deep within her, wanting to give her everything he had.

  “Tyler.” She shuddered, her entire body taken over as she strained above him. Her hands squeezed his shoulders so hard it almost hurt and her inner walls clenched tight around his cock, pulsing and throbbing until he couldn’t stand it any longer.

  He exploded. He’d only been inside her for minutes and he’d lost control. Was coming like a damn fool when he’d wanted to savor her. Linger over her for as long as she allowed him to before she needed to get home.

  But it was too late.

  Julie collapsed on top of him in an exhausted heap, her hot, damp breath radiating against his throat. She snuggled close, her arms circling tight about his neck. Clinging to him as if she never wanted to let him go.

  “I don’t want to go home,” she mumbled, her voice muffled against his neck.

  “I don’t either.” He smoothed his hands up and down her back, loving the feel of her smooth, satiny soft skin.

  She lifted her head to stare at him, eyes wide, lips swollen from his kisses. He actually saw her lower lip tremble, and he wondered at that. “Are you serious?”

  His brows furrowed. “Yeah, I’m serious. I’ve had an…amazing time with you this weekend, Julie. I don’t want it to end.”

  Studying him, she nibbled on her lower lip, looking very, very nervous. “It doesn’t have to end. Not if we don’t want it to.”

  They were silent for a moment, the words heavy between them. Hope grabbed hold of his heart and squeezed tight. She was saying exactly what he wanted to hear. Now he just needed to repeat it right back to her.

  “I don’t want it to end,” he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. He cleared his throat. “I want to be with you, Jules. I don’t want just a weekend.”

  “What do you want, Tyler?” Anticipation and nerves rang in her voice and he touched her again, stroked her back, wanting to calm her.

  “I want you. And me. Together.” He kissed her, felt her lips quiver beneath his. “If it has to be a long distance relationship at first then that’s what it’ll be. I’ll come to you, you’ll come to me, on the weekends, whatever. We can make this work. I know we can.”

  A tremulous smile curled her lips and she swiped at the corner of her eye as if she brushed away a tear. “Oh, Tyler.”

  He watched her, but she didn’t say anything else. He gave her shoulders a little shake. She was starting to scare the hell out of him, and he wasn’t one to scare easy. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

  “I want this. The two of us together. A long distance relationship will be hard, but I believe we can do it.” She smiled at him.

  “I know we can do it.” He kissed her again, unable to stop himself. “You know, I’ve always wanted to open another store. I wonder if I could find a location somewhere in the Sacramento area.”

  Her mouth dropped open, and she gave a little slap to his chest. “You’re joking.”

  “I’m dead serious. I need to do some marketing research first but…yeah.” And he was serous. This was perfect. He could eventually open another store, be closer to Julie.

  It was everything he wanted.

  Her smile grew, and she slowly shook her head. “I think that sounds wonderful. I think all of this is too good to true.”

  “Believe it, baby.” He nuzzled the side of her face, dropped a kiss at the top of her cheek. “It’s happening.”

  “Tyler…” She breathed deep, as if she could breathe him in. “You’re too good for me.”

  “You’re perfect for me. We’re perfect for each other.”

  Withdrawing from him, she stared deep into his eyes, as if she could look into his very soul. “Are you sure we’re not being stupid? Moving too fast? I mean, this was just one weekend together. It might not all be…”

  “Real? This, what we share, is definitely real.” He pulled her close, not wanting to lose contact with her. She was starting to be too rational, and there was no room for rational in this situation. For once, rather than think it through like he usually did, he wanted to just go with his gut. “We’re not moving too fast. When things feel right, then they’re going to be right. I know this won’t be perfect, but I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty damn good.”

  “You know what, Tyler?” Hope lit within him at the sound of her voice, and he kissed her temple, his lips lingering upon her soft skin. The fragrance of her hair enticed him beyond reason, and he closed his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion for this woman. “I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty damn good too.”

  He never had a doubt.

  About the Author

  After leaving the crazy working world to become a stay at home mom, Karen realized she needed to get crackin’ and pursue her lifelong dream of being a published writer. A busy mother of three, she fits her precious writing time in between chasing her children, hanging out with her wonderful husband and pretending she has a maid. She lives in California.

  To learn more about Karen Erickson, please visit www.karenwritesromance.com. You can also send an email to Karen at http://karenwritesromance.com/contact.

  Look for these titles by Karen Erickson

  Now Available:

  Spontaneous

  Fortune’s Deception

  Fortune’s Chance

  Fortune’s Promise

  Jessie’s Girl

  Forbidden

  Tangled

  Under My Umbrella

  Coming Soon:

  Baby, Don’t Lose My Number

  It’ll take more than a fire hose to cool down this attraction…

  Under My Umbrella

  © 2010 Karen Ericks
on

  Fated, Book 1

  Rain, rain, go away. That’s Jenna’s mantra as she suffers through yet another rain-soaked walk home from work. At least the tight butt of the guy walking in front of her offers some distraction. When he turns around and asks to share her umbrella, she realizes his front view is as smokin’ as the back. What better way to get up close and personal with the object of her ogling?

  Brett noticed his hot little neighbor weeks ago, but until now hadn’t worked up the nerve—or found the opportunity—to approach her. Too many hours at the fire station has left him longing for something more out of life. Like the company of a sweet, sexy woman. Maybe, if he’s lucky, kindling a relationship.

  Jenna surprises herself again when she offers to let him dry off in her apartment. One minute he’s toweling off his hair, the next their chemistry explodes in the hottest sex either of them have ever experienced. And suddenly they’re both wondering if he’s the match to her tinder, or if it’s too much, too fast…

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Under My Umbrella:

  Brett stood the moment he saw Jenna enter the restaurant, taking a few short steps to reach her since he waited in the lobby. He took her hands, unable to stop from planting a soft kiss to her upturned lips, and she smiled when they parted.

  “Glad to see you too, stranger,” she murmured.

  The area was packed with people waiting for a table since the restaurant had been open only a few short months and seemed popular. One of his buddies at the station had told him about the place, raved on how good the food was. A steakhouse that also specialized in seafood, he figured it covered a broad range to satisfy both himself and Jenna.

  “You look…” His voice trailed off as he eyed her up and down. Her hair was loose, silky brown waves tumbled just past her shoulders, and she wore some sort of clingy black dress that did amazing things to her already bangin’ body.