“Holy shit, that’s low!” It felt like I fell forever before I landed on the mattress.
“It’s a platform bed, Ab,” he said with a laugh, laying down next to me. “It doesn’t squeak like yours.”
“I’m not sure I want any more details about how you know that.”
His expression sobered. He brushed a lock of hair from my neck, then kissed the bare spot. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to bring up something like that.”
I shook my head. “I just don’t like thinking about you with anyone else.”
“I feel the same way. That’s part of why I hate seeing you with him. He never realized how precious you are. How much you should be cherished. He doesn’t deserve you.”
“He’s never going to have me again, Graham. We’re over.”
He nodded. “Can we stop talking about your ex-husband now?”
“Yes, please.”
“I think we’re both wearing too many clothes. What do you say we get rid of some of them?”
“Yes, please.”
He chuckled, then stood and stripped off his shorts and boxer briefs. He was so beautiful. Big and strong and amazing. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on him.
I sat up on the bed and found myself at the perfect height. Positioning myself on the edge of the bed, I took Graham into my mouth.
“Oh, God, Ab,” he groaned.
He was too big to fit all of him in my mouth so I used one hand too, stroking him opposite my mouth. His hands drifted into my hair, one hand tugging until I looked up at him. I nearly choked at the look in his eyes. A look I’d swear he could see in mine. A look that made me think he might be falling in love, too.
He let me stroke and suck him for a few minutes before he pulled me up. He lifted me into his arms, plunging his tongue deep into my mouth. I stood on the edge of the bed, my arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed me until neither of us could breathe.
He broke away from our kiss and pulled at my clothes. One hand lifted my shirt, the other tugged down my shorts. I took over removing my clothes as Graham covered himself with a condom. When he came back, he nipped at my skin, buried one hand between my thighs, and helped me lay back down.
His tongue circled my nipple before drawing it into his mouth. His fingers probed my entrance, teased my nub, and drove me wild. My hips bucked, my nipples puckered, my whole body ached for him. I wasn’t going to last long, and I didn’t want to. I needed him to love me with his body.
“Please, Graham,” I begged. “Please.”
He released my nipple and moved to the other one, not seeming to be in a rush at all. His fingers continued to toy with me, bringing me right up to the edge before he backed off and I begged again.
When he added a second finger, I couldn’t stop the orgasm that tore through me. My hips moved with his hand, taking another leap toward the edge before Graham backed off yet again.
“Please, Graham. I need to come again, please.”
I hated the whiney edge to my voice, but I couldn’t stop it. I needed him. Only Graham had ever made me feel that good. Had ever come close to it. He was toying with me, and I needed it to stop. I needed him.
“Let’s see what I can find down here,” he whispered against my skin as he kissed his way down my body. He paused to taste my belly button, and again to nip my thigh. I knew where he was going and prayed he’d stay there for a very long time.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his eyes meeting mine over my belly.
“Yes, please, Graham,” I moaned, barely getting the words out before his tongue swiped from one end of me to the other.
My hips flew off the bed, following his tongue. I groaned in frustration when he pulled back from me. My hips rested on the bed again when they realized more fun wasn’t there.
“Please.”
“Please what, Ab?”
“Please, Graham, make me come,” I begged.
When he licked me that time, he didn’t pull away. He circled his tongue around my nub and pressed in the center. His fingers worked from the inside, his tongue from the outside, and I didn’t last long. My hips moved on their own, needing him. Within seconds I was flying, screaming his name. I clamped my mouth shut at the last minute before I declared how I really felt.
My body was limp and worn out from his talented tongue, but I was ready for him when his erection brushed against me. His hands spread my thighs wide enough to accommodate him kneeling between them. He fisted himself and guided our bodies together.
As he always did, he eased himself into me slowly. The normal twinge of pain didn’t happen, making us both sigh in contentment when his body touched mine. He smiled down at me and said, “Hey.”
“Hey,” I whispered back.
“I missed you, Ab.”
I nodded, my throat closing up. “I missed you, too,” I whispered.
He paused, catching my mood shift. “It’s okay, babe, we’re good.” He leaned down and kissed me softly, sweetly. He started to move his hips while we were kissing. I wrapped my legs around his hips as far as they could go and moved with him.
He pulled away from our kiss on a rough moan. “Oh, God, Ab. You feel so good, honey.”
“So do you,” I breathed.
He pushed himself up on his hands, giving me a perfect view of his chest. I couldn’t stop myself from tracing the muscles there, tweaking his flat nipples. He groaned when I did and thrust harder and deeper into me. He hit my new favorite spot, sending me into a tailspin I didn’t want to get out of.
“Yes, Ab, let me feel you. Come for me again, sweetheart.”
He leaned down to kiss me again. As soon as our lips met I came, my body clenching his the same way my arms locked around his neck, holding him, using him, needing him to support me.
When the fog cleared, Graham was laying on top of me, his weight supported by his elbows. He smiled at me and kissed my lips. “Hey.”
I smiled. “Hey.”
“I’m glad you came over.”
I laughed softly. “Yeah, me too.”
“Can I talk you into staying?”
I nodded. “Probably. I get up early though so I can bake.”
“I can handle that as long as it means I get to keep you here all night long.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
Chapter 21
The next two days felt like perfection. Graham came in to SkinnyCakes every morning and I spent my nights at his house. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so happy or felt so fulfilled.
Between Bite Me! and a partial order my vendors were able to get me, I had enough stock to make everything for Saturday’s Kick-off The Summer Picnic. I had my recipes ready to go, my supplies all in order, and my time planned. As long as everything went according to plan, Friday I would finish what I’d started. With the fudge, pound cake, and cannoli shells already done, I was feeling good.
I was ready to head home for the night when Graham came to SkinnyCakes late Thursday to meet me. He did it the night before, followed me to Max’s apartment and waited while I packed a bag to take to his house.
“Hey babe,” he said when he made it up to the register. He leaned across the counter and kissed me. “How was your day?”
“It was good. Busy, but I finished what I hoped to get done today. I’m ready for the weekend.”
“Are you nervous?”
I nodded. “A little, but I’m excited too. The weather is supposed to be perfect.”
“Are you going to have enough time to get everything done?”
“Yep. Tomorrow is going to be a little crazy, but I think I can handle it. I might have a late night.”
“How late?”
“As late as it needs to be,” I said, putting the last of the banana cake on a plate for him. “Fudge is usually better a couple days later. Pound cake, too. The cannoli shells will be fine the way I have them packaged. I don’t have time to do much Saturday morning so everything else needs to be done tomorrow night.”
&nb
sp; “Is there anything else you can do tonight?”
I shook my head. “I’d rather not. I probably could, but it’ll push the freshness.”
“Do you need my help tomorrow?”
I flashed him a saucy grin. “I think you’ll be more of a distraction if you’re here.”
He laughed. “What about your display? Do you have everything you need?”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not sure. They’re providing tables for everything. I figure I’ll have all the desserts prepackaged for customers to just take what they order, but I don’t know exactly how I’ll display everything. I’ll figure it out when I get there.”
Graham nodded, but I could see the wheels spinning. “Don’t you dare,” I warned him.
“Dare what?” he asked, giving me a smile that was way too innocent.
“You know what, Graham. I already owe you too much.”
“You don’t owe me a thing, Ab.”
I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t win the fight. We’d had it too many times. Not that I was giving in either, but I knew he wasn’t going to let me pay him. I’d have to be sneaky about it.
“I have an idea. If I have time I’ll take care of it.”
“Graham-” Before I could argue, the phone rang. “Hold that thought,” I told him. I answered the phone and immediately wished I hadn’t.
“Abby,” Brett breathed. “I’m glad I caught you. I need you tomorrow.”
Irritation spiked through me. He knew what was going on. He knew. “I can’t.”
“Uh, yes, you can. And you will.”
“Um, no. I have too much to get ready for the picnic Saturday. I can’t help you.”
“And you know if you don’t help me, there won’t be a picnic for you.”
“There’s no way the mayor would cancel this late,” I argued. “You can’t do anything about it, Brett.”
I felt Graham stiffen behind me at the sound of Brett’s name. I didn’t turn to look at him. Things had been going well. I wasn’t going to let Brett almost ruin it again.
“I can and I will Abby. Do you really think they don’t have a back-up in place? You’re new. Unheard of. They don’t have any idea who you are. Why would they put their faith in you without making sure there was another option if you didn’t come through.”
“You’re lying,” I snarled at him, tears welling up in my throat, stinging my eyes. “That’s not true.”
“It is true,” he snapped back. “You don’t know how these things work, Abby. This is why you’re not a very good businesswoman. You don’t think things through. You aren’t prepared for what if’s.”
“You’re evil.”
He laughed. “I’m sure that’s not the worst thing you’ve ever called me. So, I’ll see you at eight tomorrow. Don’t be late. I’d hate to have to call the mayor’s office anyway and tell them you can’t make it on time.”
“Fuck you,” I snapped.
“I love you, too, sweetheart. See you in the morning.”
He hung up, leaving me holding the phone and knowing my dream was slipping away.
“What did he say?” Graham asked with barely controlled anger.
“He needs me to work tomorrow.”
“But you just said you have to get things done for the picnic tomorrow.”
“I know!” I snapped at Graham. “Do you think I like this? He told me they have a back-up for if I don’t come through. He threatened to call his buddy again.”
“Let me go kick his ass, Ab. If he’s in the hospital he won’t be able to threaten you again.”
I gave a half laugh, wishing it were that easy. “It won’t do any good. God, I hate this.”
“You’re not going.”
“Excuse me?”
“Listen, Ab, I’m not trying to run your life. I just want to help you. He’s bluffing. Call him on it. Don’t show up.”
I sighed. “I can’t take that chance, Graham. I won’t watch this opportunity slip through my fingers.”
“He’s the one controlling your life, Abby. You got so mad at me for telling you how I felt and you’re letting that son-of-a-bitch run your life. You’re letting him-”
“I’m not letting him do anything, Graham! He’s not giving me a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, Abby. Right now your choice is to bend over and take it from your ex or tell him to go fuck himself and grab your dreams by the balls. I don’t understand what the struggle is.”
“It’s not like that,” I snarled at him.
“Then what’s it like, Abby? Because from where I’m standing, that’s exactly what it’s like.”
“Fuck you, Graham. How dare you tell me that. How dare you accuse me of walking away from my dreams. I don’t want to see you right now.”
“Yeah,” he snarled, “I’m not sure I want to see you at all. I thought you were strong. I thought you were independent. I thought you were someone who would stand up for yourself. But you’re willing to bend over backward to keep that fucker happy. You’re willing to walk away from something you’ve been working your ass off for months to have. All because he says so.”
“Get out,” I said, quietly fierce. “Get the fuck out.”
“Gladly,” he snapped. He turned and left, not looking back as he slammed out of the cafe, got in his truck, and drove off.
Only then did I realize I’d just lost the man I loved. And I was pretty sure I’d lost him for good that time.
I knew spending all Friday working for Brett was going to destroy my chances at putting on a good show for Saturday’s picnic. Wyatt wanted everything I’d brought him at the last tasting, but I couldn’t do it. I needed to cut some of the options if I was going to get anything done.
Which really pissed me off.
I went into Brett’s office Friday morning wanting to staple his ass to the wall. He was charming and sweet and friendly, but all it did was grate on my nerves.
“How are you, Abby?”
“Pretty shitty, thanks to you.”
He gave me that smarmy smile. “You’ll come to realize none of this is my fault, Abby. I’m handing you a huge opportunity. If you can’t handle it, that’s not on me.”
“It is when you drag me away from it.”
He shrugged. “If you can get everything done that I need, you can go back to your little bakery and try to make it work. I’m just not sure you’re fast enough.”
“Fuck you, Brett.”
He grinned and walked away.
I wanted to chase him down and stab him with a pen.
I dropped into the chair and started working. I’d already pulled everything he needed for the case, but new information had apparently come up. I reviewed all his case files and put everything in order. I straightened up the desk and made sure whatever he needed would be easily accessible for him.
And I hated every fucking second of it.
I argued with Graham until we were swearing at each other and I threw him out. I was a horrible bitch to him. I had no problem telling him he couldn’t control my life, but with Brett I felt like a child all over again.
I picked up the phone and called Tara, hoping she could meet me for lunch.
“Dear God, tell me I can eat half your bakery for lunch today. I’m dying over here.”
Her voice made me smile. Just talking to her made me feel better. “I’m not there today.”
“What?” she yelled. “Where the hell are you? Didn’t you have a ton of baking to do today? What happened?”
“Brett happened.”
“Are you still letting him control you?”
I sighed. “It’s not like that.”
“Um, yeah, it is. He calls and you run. I get that you feel like you have no choice, but do you really want to call the mayor and tell him your ex was blackmailing you so you didn’t bake anything?”
“No,” I said, feeling as small as I sounded.
“Look, Abby, I get it. It’s hard to say no to Brett. He always had that power over you. I do
n’t know how he did it, but he could make you do anything. He still is even though he cheated on you and you’re now divorced.”
“Why do I let him do it?”
Tara laughed softly. “I wish I could answer for you. That’s why I like you and Graham together. You don’t take any shit from him. Of course, he doesn’t give you any either.”
“Yeah, well, we’re done too.”
“What? Why? Because of the marriage and kids thing?”
“No. It had nothing to do with that. When Brett called last night Graham told me not to work for him today.”
“He was right to tell you that.”
“I know,” I said with a sigh. “But it felt like he was trying to tell me what to do.”
“Well, someone should when you’re doing stupid shit like this. What happened that you think it’s over between you?”
I recounted the conversation with Graham and waited for Tara’s reaction.
“You’re such an idiot,” she murmured.
“Gee thanks.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. He wants you to succeed. Brett’s trying to make sure you fail. How is it going to look if you back out the day before the event? You’ll never get another function in this town. Those wedding cakes you always talked about baking one day? You can kiss them goodbye. Heck, you’ll be lucky if you can pay your rent in a few months. No one is going to support you if you don’t show up tomorrow with some amazing stuff.”
“How can I leave?”
“How can you not? Do you really think he has that kind of pull?”
“He says he does.”
“He also said he was going to love you forever and be faithful and true. You can’t trust anything he says.”
I sighed. “What do I do?”
“Well, first, call the mayor’s office and check with them.”
“But you just said he-”
“I don’t think he can get them to cancel you, but it’ll make you feel better to know for sure. Once you know the job is definitely yours, go tell Brett you’re leaving and take a picture of his face when you tell him to fuck off.”
I laughed. “I wish.”
“Why? Do it. There’s no reason for you to do everything for him anymore, Abby. It’s time for you to grow a set, then smash him in the face with them.”
Puffy & Precious Page 17
