by Lori Foster
“Royce,” she whispered on a shuddering breath.
Suddenly they were both busy, him stripping away her bra and panties, her attacking the zipper on his jeans.
Again, he took over. It was that or risk injury, a thought that pushed him even more. Joy wanted him, probably not as much as he wanted her, but close. It was there in the heat of her mouth on his skin, the broken way she breathed.
He kicked off his shoes and shucked his jeans and boxers in record time. For a single heartbeat they looked at each other, and what he saw in her gaze, the same sharp hunger he felt, had him reaching for her, then tumbling with her to the bed.
He kissed her hard, each of his hands filled with her breasts, his erection burning against her belly.
Protection. Belatedly, it sank into his head and he levered up to his forearms. Her eyes were heavy, her lips wet and her hair tumbled around his pillow. Damn, he didn’t want to leave her, not even for a second, but... “I need to get a rubber.”
She licked puffy lips, swollen from his kiss. “I brought some, but I forgot my purse in the other room.”
God love her. “You bought rubbers,” he repeated, a little awed that someone so sweet, so sexy, could also be so practical.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“No, I’m—” Loving you. Shit. He shook his head.
“What?” she whispered, her hand to his jaw.
True, he loved things about her, but it couldn’t go any farther than that. He wouldn’t let it.
“You impress me, that’s all.” Another kiss, because he couldn’t resist her mouth. “Thank you, but I have it covered.”
He left her long enough to snag the box from the closet. He fished out a condom and tossed the rest of the box on Chaos’s pillow.
“You bought them, too?”
He grinned, wondering if she’d gotten hers from the same small, family-run pharmacy. If so, he imagined a little speculation going around.
“As soon as I knew I wanted you. Seriously, I wasn’t making assumptions, but neither would I ever take chances.”
She tucked back her hair. “So that whole box...is for me?”
Deadpan, teasing, he said, “I don’t think we’ll use them all today.”
She grinned. “Well, if we do, I also have a box, but I only brought three with me.”
Three? She had more faith in his stamina than he did.
Joy watched him intently as he ripped the packet open with his teeth, then rolled it on.
The short interruption returned a modicum of control to him, so when he came back down beside her, he took the time to touch her again, to leisurely lick her nipples until she squirmed.
He trapped her legs with one of his own, and then drifted his fingers up the inside of her knee, along the warm velvet length of her thigh.
Just as he reached the slick softness between her legs, she arched her back, silently asking for more. Drawing in her nipple, he caught it with his teeth and lightly tugged...as he pressed the tip of his finger into her.
Wet. And so damned hot.
Tight, too, tight enough to make him ache.
He worked his finger deeper, loving the rough groan she gave, the impatient shifting of her hips. To make it easier on her, he slid his finger out, and worked two back in, stretching her a little, preparing her, all while reveling in the new rush of wetness.
“Now,” she demanded, suddenly tangling her fingers in his hair and drawing his mouth up to hers. “Right now.”
Not a problem. Royce kneed her slender thighs apart and settled into the cradle of her body. As her legs went around him, he positioned himself, and entered her with one firm, steady thrust.
Her head back, her eyes staring into his, Joy gasped...and the gasp turned into a vibrating moan of pleasure.
Thank God. Knowing he wouldn’t last, Royce braced on one elbow and concentrated on her, on what she needed, how she reacted to what he did, if she liked it easier.
Or harder.
Her hair tangled around her and she strained against him, matching the roll of his hips, reaching desperately for a climax.
Scooping his free arm under her hips, he levered her up so he could go deeper, so that with each thrust and withdraw he slid against her clit—and it was enough.
Her teeth clenched and her eyes squeezed tight.
The climax came on her so quickly it stunned him. Her pleasure was raw and real, and so fucking hot he felt his own release gathering in unstoppable force.
She clenched around him, her hold on him tight.
And perfect.
Tucking his face into her throat, he struggled to hold back until he felt her begin to soften, the tension easing from her limbs.
And then he let himself go, one hand clasping her ass to keep the contact just there, driving hard and fast while looking at her, her bouncing breasts, yes, but also her face, her slight smile, those amazing green eyes and the complete satisfaction in her expression.
He put his head back and gave in with a guttural growl as he pumped into her. It had been so long since he’d felt this bone-melting pleasure.
Actually, he was pretty sure he’d never felt anything like this.
Great sex, yes. But...more. So much more.
Dodging the thought of that, Royce rested against her a moment, both of them spent, both struggling for breath.
“Wow,” she whispered again, making him smile.
Smiling, he moved to his side. For a heartbeat they were separated and he didn’t like it, so he slung an exhausted arm around her and dragged her close.
She snuggled in, draping one slim leg over his and resting a hand over his heartbeat. Long before him, she recovered and began toying with his chest hair. Normally that might have tickled, but at the moment he wasn’t feeling much.
Except satisfaction.
Maybe a little confusion.
With a bit of alarm creeping in.
If he had any sense, if he was half as dedicated to his plans as he professed, he’d be running as fast as he could. Instead, he put a kiss to the top of her head and wondered where they went from here.
He had jackola to offer a woman like her. A struggling business under rehab? He had faith in the drive-in, but since he’d bought it just as the season was closing, he wouldn’t be able to measure its success until the spring. His house was in desperate need of repairs. Eventually it’d be nice, but now? He ran a hand over his face, knowing it was underwhelming at best.
His bank account was strained from his mother’s illness, and he’d recently taken in a troubled pooch who wouldn’t let him out of his sight, and enjoyed eating shoes.
A man his age should have had more to recommend him.
Almost as if she’d read his thoughts, Joy opened her hand over his sweaty shoulder. “That was pretty amazing.”
Right. Good sex. That was enough to build on, right? Did he want to build more? He wasn’t yet sure.
Not yet opening his eyes, still trying to reground himself, he teased, “Braggart.”
Laughing, she lightly swatted his chest...and went back to exploring him. “I meant you. Or maybe us.” She nuzzled her nose to his throat. “Together.”
His cock stirred. So did his heart.
He couldn’t deny it, this wasn’t just great sex.
It could be more...if he let it.
And if Joy wanted it.
He got one eye open. “Are you hinting that we should do this again?”
“Would you be up for it?”
The slow smile crept in on him. “Joy Lee, is that a double entendre?”
She quirked a supercilious brow. “Yes?”
This playful mood of hers could be his undoing. She made it too damn easy to be comfortable with her—before sex, during and after. If he said that to her, she might see it as an insult.
She couldn’t know that comfort had long been missing in his life.
Yes, she turned him on, more than any other woman he’d known, and if it was just the chemistry, he could get past that. Explore it, enjoy it and move on.
It’d be a hell of a lot harder to dismiss everything else she made him feel.
Taking her to her back, he said, “For your information, I’m half-up already, and—” leaning around her, he glanced at the clock “—we have plenty of time yet.”
“Plus we have all those condoms.” Grinning, she looped her arms around his neck. “So my vote is that we make the most of it. Who knows when we’ll get a chance to be alone like this again?”
It was a strange thing to be turned on, wary and regretful all at once. Here he was thinking about the future, and she wasn’t even sure they’d have a next time.
He wanted her. Again. Now and tomorrow, too.
But even if he managed to remember that he was supposed to get his act together, to reestablish who he was and what he wanted before committing to anyone else, after today she might not think it was worth the trouble to align their schedules.
Then what?
She didn’t exactly sound ready to jump through hoops for him. Who knows when we’ll get a chance to be alone like this again?
She could make it happen. They could make it happen—if it mattered enough. But did it?
God knew Joy had more than her fair share of responsibilities already, one of them a five-year-old boy who she would never shortchange.
So where did that leave him?
“Royce?” She turned somber, concerned, as she traced a fingertip over his chin. “Is something wrong?”
He didn’t know how to answer that, so instead he kissed her, thoroughly and lazily, enjoying the way she curled into him, how she wanted him.
For now, that’d have to be enough.
“I need to get rid of the spent condom,” he said against her lips before sitting up. “And I heard your stomach growl. Think I can convince you to eat before you have your way with me again?”
Green eyes glimmering, she smiled. “Depends. Can we eat here in bed?”
With the dog hair? If she didn’t mind, he didn’t, either. “I’ll be back in three. Stay naked.”
Stretching out, she said, “I will if you do.”
To Royce, to a man who’d mapped out his future with specific details, that sounded like one hell of a plan.
Chapter Eight
It surprised Daron how much fun he had. Sure, he always knew he liked kids and animals, but it was different enjoying them with Maris.
How had he overlooked her maternal streak?
The endless cookies, the quick effort to serve—not only her guests but her friends... Actually, anyone and everyone who came within her realm. Maris lived to make others comfortable.
Did anyone do the same for her?
He wouldn’t exactly call her a homebody. Overall, he’d describe her as goal-oriented, a planner and sharp businessperson who understood how to continually advance her own personal agenda, whatever that might be.
Financial security, sure. But it was more than that. She’d taken Summer’s End from a place to get a few necessities or a cup of coffee, to the central hangout for everyone who worked at or visited the park.
It frustrated Daron that Maris’s mantra was all about hard work.
Back to work.
Stuff to get done.
Things to do.
Work.
She always sang the same refrain.
Yet yesterday, during major lulls in business, she’d joined in during his not-so-successful attempts at showing the dog a few commands.
Chaos was aptly named because the frisky little pooch couldn’t seem to focus on any one thing for more than a heartbeat. The puppy raced, full speed, from Jack to Daron, occasionally tripping over his own feet, playfully tugging at shoelaces, demanding attention, turning circles, chasing his tail, attacking a rogue leaf that dared blow past him, barking at the shoreline and so on.
The little dude seemed hell-bent on soaking up as much attention as he could, while he could get it. It’d take time, patience and consistency to train the dog, and it’d be easier after a long walk that wore him down a little.
But during his efforts to accomplish that, Daron had heard Maris laugh. Repeatedly. Like, real laughs. Robust and rich. Free-spirited.
Damn, it was sexy.
She was sexy.
Clever, too, because once Royce and Joy showed up, both of them pretty damn mellow and smiling, Maris closed up shop and left with them, thwarting Daron’s plan to see her alone.
He’d wanted to get another kiss—actually, he wanted much more than a kiss, but he liked to keep his expectations reasonable.
Regardless of how she’d ended the night, he’d had a great time.
Chaos had, too. The dog had finally worn down a little right before Royce returned. Royce might not have known the fun they had, given the way the pup carried on when reunited. Clearly, Chaos loved Royce, and once he saw him, he remembered it, going berserk with happiness, his barks high-pitched, fast and frantic.
Until Royce cuddled the squirming little furball up close and spoke softly to him. Then finally Chaos had quieted down.
Maybe Chaos thought he’d been abandoned. Again.
He was a heartbreaker for sure.
Much like Maris.
One way or another, Daron knew he’d get the dog to trust him enough for basic training.
And as for Maris...well, if she just trusted enough to give him another kiss, he’d count it as a win.
For now.
* * *
Poking her head around the camp store door the next morning, Joy spotted Maris behind the counter, a cup of steaming coffee held in both hands close to her face. Eyes closed, she inhaled the steam.
“Knock, knock.”
Cocking one eye open, Maris saw her and quickly took a big gulp. “Come in and tell me everything!”
Broom in hand, Joy moved the doorstop out to keep the door open. “I refuse to sit and gab when I know you have a routine. So I’m going to pitch in—” it was the only thing she could think of to show Maris how much she appreciated her “—and we can talk while we both stay busy.”
Maris eyed her, eyed her coffee cup and asked, “Do I look like I’m busy?”
“I know you.” Joy began sweeping away the fallen leaves from the stoop. “You might slow down long enough to inhale that coffee, but it’ll be a short-lived pause. Once I get these leaves cleared up, I’ll get them in the trash and then you can tell me what to do inside.”
Maris laughed. “Got it all planned out, huh?”
Putting her nose in the air, Joy teased, “You’re not the only hard worker.”
“Fine. Knock yourself out. But at least give me the big scoop. How’d it go last night?”
Joy couldn’t hold back the smile that felt like it came from the inside out. She’d never really had anyone to talk to about stuff like...well, anything, really. But definitely not sex.
Since she hadn’t had sex in forever, that one was easy to skip. But even back when she had been sexually active, there’d been no one close enough to share with.
She wanted to dish now. She wanted to somehow explain everything Royce had made her feel, but was that done between grown women? She didn’t know.
“Uh-oh,” Maris said. “Are you hesitating because he let you down?”
“No! Definitely not.” In fact, the opposite was true. Royce had exceeded her wildest expectations.
“My God, you’re blushing!” Maris said. “Stop teasing and tell me, did you get lucky or not?”
Laughing, Joy gave up on her uncertainty. If there was a standard decorum on the issue, Maris clearly didn’t follow it, or care about it. “Oh, indeed I did
. Very, very lucky.” Grinning, Joy lowered her voice when she admitted, “Three times!”
Maris gave a long whistle. “Three?”
“Well, three for me, two for him.”
Laughing, Maris hurried around the counter and grabbed her up for a big hug, even danced around with her in a circle, then she thrust her back the length of her arms. “He was good?”
“Oh, Maris.” Leaning her weight on the broom, Joy sighed. “He was absolutely perfect. Honest to God, I didn’t even know it could be that...”
“Orgasmic?”
“Yes.” He’d pushed her over the edge three times. It didn’t get much more orgasmic than that.
“Explosive?”
So explosive. Joy happily nodded.
“Made your toes tingle, huh?”
The giddy laugh erupted. “He made everything tingle.”
Maris grinned with her. “And how about you? Did you rock his world?”
Ugh, a sobering thought. Joy covered her face with one hand. “Sad to say, I have no idea.”
“Are you telling me he was a quiet comer?”
“What?” Quickly Joy peered around to make sure no one else was around to hear that. Her face went hot when she said, “I don’t mean that at all. He, ah, he...”
“Got his?”
Joy hadn’t laughed this much in forever. “Yes, he did. And he seemed really satisfied. But what do I know? I haven’t been with anyone since I got pregnant with Jack.”
Maris whistled again, this time with surprise.
Joy gave her a playful shove. “How about you? When was the last time you—?”
“You know those triple chocolate cookies I make?”
Unsure what that had to do with anything, Joy nodded. “What about them?”
“I call them ‘chocolate orgasms,’ because that’s as close as I’ve gotten in forever.”
Joy started snickering, and when Maris joined her, the humor escalated and they ended up roaring together like two loons.
Coop poked his head in the door, said, “Um...never mind,” and started to leave again.
“Wait!” Wiping her eyes, Maris called him back. “What did you need? Coffee? Danish?”
