by Parker, Ali
“This is going to be fun,” Bart said, looking positively excited. “We might finally be able to get Jeremiah.”
“Get Jeremiah?” I asked, confused. “He just took a shot a couple of minutes ago for that comment he made.”
“Yeah, but he’s too damn good at pretending that he never makes any mistakes or puts his foot in it.” Tanner said, narrowing his eyes as a mischievous smile raised his lips. “Say, Steph. Has he ever—”
Jeremiah cut him off effortlessly. “No, he has never. And she won’t tell you anyway.”
“I won’t?” I nudged him, arching a brow.
The confidence in his eyes faltered for just a second before it was back. “No, you won’t. I’m sure it’s in a code somewhere. Thou shalt not cause thy boyfriend to be fined.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not in a code anywhere, dude,” Bart argued. “Now if you tried to use what she did while you guys were alone to dish out fines, I’m pretty sure that’s against a code somewhere.”
Just thinking about it made me blush. It would also make me paranoid about letting go around him. “It’s definitely against a code. Somewhere. For sure.”
Bart laughed and debated the ethics with Jeremiah of my being able to use stuff Jer did in private in fines while he couldn’t do the same. When Bart and Tanner started arguing about why it would be fair one way and not the other, I leaned over to whisper in Jeremiah’s ear.
“You know I would never tell them anything anyway, don’t you?”
He nodded, a soft smile touching his lips. “I know, I trust you.”
A song that was breaking the charts came on over the jukebox, and Tiana jumped up immediately, holding her hands out to me. “We have to go dance. I love this song.”
I took her hand with one of mine, the other still being firmly held by Jeremiah. “If you’re going to keep hold of that, you’re going to have to come dance. Unfortunately, it’s attached. I can’t leave it here for you.”
Jeremiah sighed as if he couldn’t imagine a fate worse than dancing but spun me into his arms as soon as he stood up. “I would love to dance with you. It’s been way too long. Plus, this time, I know you’re not going to run away from me after.”
He placed our entwined hands at the small of my back and led me to the dance floor off to one side of the bar as I nodded. “I’m definitely not running away this time.” I gave him a wink after I said it.
Squeezing my hand, he let go of it only long enough to walk backward onto the cramped dance floor and hold both hands out to me, making come-hither motions with his fingers. I’d forgotten how well the man could move and practically jumped into his arms as soon as his hips started swaying.
“Look over there,” he murmured, his lips moving my hair as he spoke. I turned my head in the direction he was looking to see Tiana had paired up dancing with Shawn, who also moved like a pro.
“Where did you guys learn to dance?” I asked, seriously surprised by their moves. Didn’t the bad boy party types never want to dance?
Jer pulled me back to him, keeping a firm grip very low on my back. “High school. The dance teacher was hot.”
I rolled my eyes and giggled, picturing the four men I knew now as high school boys drooling over a woman who would end up teaching them how to woo other women for the rest of time. Because honestly, no one could resist a sexy man who knew how to move his body. It was physically impossible not to react to that.
“Go figure,” I said, running my hands down the contours of his sides. “And how long did you take dance for?”
He shrugged, dipping me down low. “She was only there one term. We learned enough to quit after.”
“I’m sure,” I said, noticing Shawn and Tiana had moved into my line of sight. They were dancing as closely together as we were, which meant fitting a piece of paper between them would be difficult. “We should set them up on a date sometime.”
I loved that they were hitting it off. I got along with all of Jeremiah’s friends, but I had a softer spot for Shawn. I didn’t know if it was because we’d figured out where Jannie took Jeremiah together or because he’d had the balls to call me for help when his friend was in trouble, but I liked him.
Jeremiah spun me around so he could see them, then chuckled. “It’s a good idea, but we may not have to bother.”
“Why?” I asked.
He gripped my hip and twirled me out, away from him. As I spun, I caught sight of our two friends sharing a kiss. My heart melted and clenched tight with hope at the same time. I desperately wanted Tiana to find happiness, and it would be awesome if she found it with a guy like Shawn.
“Aww.” I flung my arms around Jer’s neck and allowed him to sway me in time with the music. “They’re adorable together.”
“You’re adorable,” Jer said, pressing hot kisses to my throat.
I relaxed into him, enjoying the good vibes all around us. We danced another few songs until my heels made my feet ache, and I was parched. “Do you want to go get a drink?”
“Yeah.”
When we got back to the table, Shawn and Tiana were still dancing. Tanner and Bart were at the bar, chatting to a pair of exceptionally pretty girls. Jeremiah and I sat by ourselves, talking and kissing.
“Have you spoken to your father yet?” I asked him when he told me Neil had been receiving messages from Jance for a couple of days.
He shook his head. “No, but I’ll call him shortly. I’ll give him another chance.”
“You’re going to take the high road. Good for you.”
“I just don’t want to have any regrets.”
Knotting my fingers into his hair, I pulled him to me to kiss him. “You’re a good man, you know?”
He smirked, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he planted another kiss on my lips. “I’m your man.”
I could live with that, too.
Chapter 68
JEREMIAH
Stephanie was asleep in my bed, her dark waves spread out across the stark white pillow and sheets beneath her. Her pale skin, dark hair and my snow-white sheets made for quite the contrast. Especially against the backdrop of the antique wooden bed frame stained so dark it was almost black and the gray accents in the room.
Light was streaming in through a crack in the blackout curtains, causing beams of sunlight to spill only here and there. I wasn’t much of a photographer, but I took a class once. This would’ve made for an epic picture. One I would’ve framed and put a huge print of in my office.
Provided that I was the only person allowed into my office since Steph also happened to be naked. My silk sheets were only partially covering her body, draped to accentuate the curve of her hip and her small waist. One nipple peeked out above the sheet, dusky pink and begging to be sucked on.
I admired her for a moment and let my thoughts take me away. The conversation with my father had been tough, but worth it. Working shit out with him gave me a peace I hadn’t expected to get. Shawn and Bart were next on my mind. The guys hadn’t answered me just yet on joining the company, but I knew they would. Certainly swelled inside of me. Life was good, and it was only going to get better.
I glanced back over at my girl and gently shook her awake. It was Saturday morning, and we had a lazy day planned, but I had a surprise for her and I couldn’t wait anymore.
We’d worked late last night, into the early hours of this morning. I was exhausted when we got to bed, as was my girl. However, about five seconds after watching each other change into pajamas we both seemed to get a second wind—which we proceeded to spend doing everything but sleeping in this very same bed.
Stephanie told me in no uncertain terms before she fell asleep that she would be sleeping in this morning. I opened the curtains, looking at the sun sitting high in the sky. She was going to love her surprise, I knew it. It was totally worth waking up for.
And since it was after noon, it didn’t count as sleeping in this morning anymore. The bed dipped as I sat down beside her, putting one hand on her
shoulder. “Steph? Angel, it’s time to wake up.”
She didn’t stir at first, but when I repeated it for the third time she groaned and rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. “Please don’t tell me it’s morning already.”
“It’s not morning.” I watched as her shoulders relaxed. “It’s afternoon.”
She rolled over and sat bolt upright in bed. Sleep clung to her eyes, but I saw her try to chase her away. “Crap. What’s the time? We should probably get to work.”
I handed her the cup of coffee I made for her as a peace offering for waking her. “It’s Saturday. We decided against working today, remember?”
She wrapped her fingers around the cup and blew onto the coffee, causing little ripples to form on the surface of the liquid. She adjusted herself and held the sheet up against her, “Thank god, I don’t think I can use my brain today.”
“It has been a long week,” I said, feeling in the back pocket of yesterday’s jeans I put on before I went to go make us coffee. A sheet of paper was folded neatly, tucked against my ass. “And there are going to be a lot more like it before things calm down again.”
“I know.” Her lips curved into a lazy smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I love every minute of building this company with you. I’m just going to love every minute of today too.”
I smirked. She was about to love today a whole lot more. “I got you something. I think it’ll help to get you through the coming months.”
“Is it a day planner?” she guessed, brightening at the thought. I resisted to pull her into my arms and kiss her. So many of the women I’d dated wanted and expected only the most expensive, most extravagant things from me.
Here was the one woman I would spend my entire fortune on, and she got excited over a day planner. Which made me wish I had one of those to give her too. “It’s not a day planner this time. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.” She tapped her finger against her chin, smiling again when she thought of something. “Is it a pair of those really comfy slippers we saw on sale yesterday? My feet would love you forever.”
“It’s not that either.”
Smiling, she tested her coffee and sipped it when she deemed it not too hot. “I give up. What did you get me to get me through the next few months?”
Her eyes widened, seeming alarmed as she lifted them to look out the door behind my shoulder. In a stage whisper that sounded like real panic to me, she said, “Please don’t tell me you got me an assistant. I told you I didn’t need one.”
“We’ll see about that, but no. I didn’t get you an assistant. We’re still alone here.”
She pretended to wipe sweat off her brow. “Close call. What did you get?”
Lifting my butt cheek, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the folded papers. Straightening them out, I handed them over to her. “This.”
She frowned when I first handed her the sheaf of paper with our booking on it. “Fiji?”
“Two tickets to Fiji and the booking confirmation of a private estate with its own stretch of beach,” I said proudly. Take that, day planner. “It’s just for the two of us. I thought we could use some downtime before things get too crazy with starting our company.”
Stephanie went completely still, her eyes widening as they lifted to mine and dropped back to the reservations in her hands. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Are you serious?”
“Of course, I am.” Maybe I should’ve checked with Tiana if Stephanie even liked the beach.
The next second, however, my unasked question was answered. Steph put her cup of coffee aside and then literally jumped on me like an excited Duracell bunny. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
She peppered my face and neck with kisses, punctuating them with words. “I’ve never been on a beach vacation before. I can’t believe you did this. You’re amazing. I can’t wait!”
Wrapping my arms around her, I nuzzled the soft skin of her shoulders and breathed in her musky, natural scent. “You should do whatever needs to be done to get ready. We leave in just a few days.”
I felt her curve her hands up toward herself behind my back. “Crap, my nails look shocking after opening all those moving boxes yesterday. And my toes look even worse. I’ll need to book a mani-pedi later and plead with the nail technician to forgive the sins I’ve committed by letting them get into such a state.”
Smiling, I felt the excitement radiating from her, and my heart clenched. Fuck the business. I should start a company solely dedicated to making her happy. I would do anything for this girl. “Why don’t you call Tiana and make any appointments you need for both of you. On me.”
She crawled into my lap and kissed my jaw. “Thank you. This is all just...”
“Exactly right,” I said.
She sighed, then sucked my earlobe into her mouth. “You’re going to spoil me.”
“That’s the general idea.” I groaned when she traced the shell of my ear with her tongue. “If you keep that up, you’re not getting to any nail technician, spa, or anywhere else today.”
“Good thing they’re open on Sundays.” She purred, pushing me down onto the bed. “Today was meant to be our lazy day, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
She kissed a path down my throat to my collarbone, her fingers tracing my abdomen. My muscles rippled under her touch. “There were a few things I planned to do on our lazy day. Everything else can wait.”
I liked the sound of that. My hands tunneled into her hair as she swirled her tongue around my nipple until the flat disk hardened. She sucked it into her mouth and dropped her hands to my hips, letting her fingers dip into the waistband of my jeans.
Since I was going commando, it didn’t take long before the tip of my dick was peeking out from below the fabric. Stephanie moaned and lowered her head, flicking her tongue over the head. “Item number one on today’s lazy day agenda, spend some time down here with my favorite cock in the world.”
“You’re its favorite person in the world,” I rasped when she undid my button and deftly pulled my jeans off. She kissed and licked and nipped at my thighs, her hands teasing me by getting dangerously close to where I wanted them before she took them away again. “Fuck, Steph.”
“Relax baby. I’ve got you.” She repeated the words I’d said to her so many times back to me. My cock lay heavily on my stomach, throbbing for her attention.
When she finally decided she’d tortured me enough, she wrapped one of her warm, small hands around the base and sucked me into her mouth, burying me all the way to the hilt. My hips arched, wanting more, deeper. She responded by closing her other hand over my balls, caressing them in turn between her fingers.
She worked me over until I was panting, my hands in her hair and on her shoulders. She stroked my hard shaft with a firm grip, keeping my cock between her lips. My skin became hotter, my balls heavy and aching.
I groaned loudly as she tongued my slit, flicking over it with just the right amount of pressure. My hips bucked, and I clutched the back of her head, fucking her mouth. Her hands and mouth drove me wild. I was getting so damn close.
Her tongue found my head and licked around it again. And again. Stephanie knew me well enough to know if she kept doing that, I was going to come.
She doubled her efforts, her full breasts bouncing as she took me into her mouth and released me almost all the way before her cheeks hollowed out and she sucked me back in again. “Jesus. Steph. Fuck. I’m gonna come.”
She didn’t stop until I hooked my hands under her shoulders and pulled her up before flipping her onto her back on the bed. Her eyes were wanting, her lids hooded. “Take me, Jer. Make love to me.”
I didn’t wait for her to ask twice. I couldn’t. Positioning myself between her legs, I thrust all the way into her with one long, hard movement. Stephanie moaned and gasped, writhing as I began pounding into her.
Knowing I wasn’t going to last long, I dipped my head to take one of her nipples into my mouth. At the same t
ime, I reached down between us and began circling her clit with the pad of my finger. Thankfully, I knew her trigger points as well as she did mine.
Her silky walls started clamping down on me almost immediately, sucking greedily at my cock. I gave it to her willingly, driving into her in a rhythm I knew pushed her to the edge as fast as it did me. Gritting my teeth, I knew I was nearing the point of no return.
“Come for me, Steph,” I urged her, needing to feel her let go before I did. Her back arched and her hips met mine with every thrust. As the circles I drew with my finger became smaller, I felt her start to tremble beneath me. “That’s right my angel, give it to me. I want it all.”
With a loud shout, she came undone. I followed almost immediately after, coating her with spurts of thick come as my toes curled and the base of my spine exploded in white-hot heat. Pleasure erupted in me, and I clung to Stephanie as I rode it out. The only person I ever wanted to cling to under any circumstances whatsoever.
Epilogue
Stephanie
Waves lapped at the shore a couple of yards in front of me. The sand was soft and silky between my toes, and the ocean the color it was in pictures. There weren’t big waves this time of year on this part of the island, only gentle swells that lifted you slightly off your feet if you were in them and put you right back down.
Condensation rolled from the cold drink in my hand, coating my fingers with water. I took a sip of the tangy cocktail, made with freshly squeezed juice and local rum. It was truly delicious. It tasted like sunshine and vacation and being young and in love. And also oranges.
I shifted on my lounger, adjusting the sleek black bikini I wore to make sure it was still covering my ass. Tiana and I went shopping the day before Jeremiah and I flew out here. As soon as she saw the bikini, she insisted it was made for me and convinced me to buy it.
It showed off my curves in a big way, but by the look in Jeremiah’s eyes when I put it on this morning, it looked as good as Tiana promised it did. It had thin straps that were sturdy enough to support a woman who actually had boobs, but they weren’t so wide so as to imitate the swimsuits my gran used to wear.
