by Tia Louise
I lift the lid of the container to show him the small biscuits. This morning I put on a silky red wrap-dress, but I left my hair hanging down in dark chocolate waves around my shoulders. I’ve noticed Chad seems to dig a more natural look, so I smoothed some coconut gloss on my lips and went with mascara and powder.
His eyes stay on me. “You look good enough to eat.”
“Hmm…” My eyes slide to the side. “Something for later, perhaps?”
He leans against the side of the building, that sexy smile firmly in place. “Seems like I promised to use my handcuffs on you.”
Lowering the lid, I act casual, not like his words are making my panties wet. “You might need to work on keeping those promises.”
“Maybe I can work on it tonight.”
“I have an hour lunch break at noon.”
“Is that so?” Our bodies have somehow drifted closer together with only the plastic box between us.
“Yep.”
Whiskey eyes hold mine, and he’s leaning closer. I feel pretty sure I’m about to get one of those toe-curling kisses when Emberly sticks her head out the door. “Tabby! André just called about the scones!”
“Oh, shit.” I straighten. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
“I know where you live.”
Giggling, I trot the rest of the way to Betty Pepper’s pack and save, running inside to deliver the goods.
“Café au lait.” André has my usual morning order waiting for me.
“And one hundred scones for you!” I hand over the plastic container, and his eyes go wide.
“A hundred?”
That makes me laugh. “Just kidding! It’s only like twenty or thirty.”
He looks inside the bin. “That’s still a lot.”
“I told her she made too many.” I grin up at him, and he gives me the squint eye.
“What’s going on with you? You haven’t been this perky in the morning since that idiot Travis left town.”
“Travis who?” I widen my eyes as if I don’t know what in the world he’s talking about.
André crosses his arms, sizing me up. “This have something to do with Deputy Tucker’s truck parked outside your house all night.”
My eyebrows rise, and I take a sip of coffee. “Mmm… Perfect. Have a great day!” I prance to the door without another word.
He only laughs, and my stomach is fizzy and bubbly thinking about bumping into Chad just now, almost kissing him, our potential nooner.
Emberly’s pulling the last batch of scones from the oven when I return to the store. “I’ll let these cool then box up half and take them to André when I run Coco to preschool.”
“Here,” I open my laptop and logon to the Oceanside Village website I designed as my class final. “I’ll put an update on the main page and do a little email blast about ‘Emberly’s famous British scones.’ That might help to move some freight.”
“Famously inauthentic,” she quips. “Speaking of, how’s the travel site going?”
“Soft launch on Wednesday.” An additional flutter is in my stomach at that announcement. “Just a few final tweaks and it’s ready.”
“You seem really peppy today.” She puts a hand on her hip and studies me. “And you’re glowing. What’s going on?”
“Just happy.” I do my best to look innocent as I add the update on the website. “I’ve been making a list of where I want to go on my personal around the world adventure. It’s probably that.”
I give my best friend a quick glance, and I can see she’s not convinced. With a shrug, she returns to drying the baking supplies. “What’s on your list?”
“New stuff since we last talked.” Shifting in my seat, I think about the new additions. “I found this island in Croatia called Vis that looks amazing.”
“Ooo,” she coos, leaning a hip against the counter. “I want to see it.”
“Let me finish this.”
“Where else?” She walks across the room to put the glass bowl on its stand under the mixer.
“The Taj Mahal…”
“Wait… I thought you’d crossed India off the list?”
I think back to when Emberly was my original partner in seeing the world. “They do have that human rights problem.” My lips twist. “If you were still going with me, I guess we’d skip it.”
“Are you trying to say it’s safer for you to go there alone?” Her brow furrows, and she grabs a smaller plastic bin and puts half the scones inside.
“I don’t know.” I am not about to say Chad wants to go with me. I’m not even a hundred percent sure how I feel about that. Everything with Chad is moving so fast. It could flame out as fast as it started. Instead, I just say, “It was fun planning with you.”
She smiles. “I wish I could go, but having Coco kind of nixed that idea for a while.”
“Yeah…” I think about my internal debate last night and the conundrum of having a family and going through with my plan. “Kids change everything.”
“Not just that, I’m building my business, taking classes… I can’t leave before this bakery gets up and running. Not to mention it’s eating all my money fixing up the upstairs so Coco and I can live there.”
Emberly inherited this old storefront when her aunt died, and she’s spent every dollar and every day painting and scrubbing and cleaning out so she can live upstairs, over the shop.
I hit save on the business website, then pull up the email alert tool. “Did you know they think Madagascar is where Eden used to be?”
“Is it a nudist colony?”
I start to laugh. “I swear, our brains are just alike.”
“What’s a nudist colony?” Coco hops back into the room.
“Something to learn about when you’re older.” Emberly grabs the plastic bin. “Come on. Time for school.”
Our little kangaroo’s shoulders slump, and she groans. “I want to stay and eat more cake.”
Sliding off my stool, I grab a napkin and wrap up one of the fresh scones from the tray. Then I slip it into a Ziploc and tuck it in her backpack when Emberly isn’t looking.
“For later,” I whisper, kissing her cute little nose.
She hugs me, and the two of them head out the door. I look up at the clock, wondering how I’m going to get through three more hours without climbing the walls.
The email alert is sent in a few clicks. I putter around the shop a little while, arranging and rearranging the ingredients, making sure the orders are organized, and checking our supplies.
Finally, with an hour left, I jot a note to Emberly that I’m running errands and will be back after lunch.
Sixteen
Tabby
It’s straight up noon when the knock comes on my door. My heart thuds in my chest, and I run to open it, catching my breath when our eyes meet.
“Hey, beautiful.” Chad’s low voice sends a zing right to my core, and I pull him inside quickly.
He’s on me at once, cupping my face in his hands and kissing me hard, forcing my lips apart and plunging his tongue into my mouth. I let out a little whimper. He’s so demanding and aggressive.
“I’ve been going crazy all day thinking about your tight, wet pussy,” he groans against my skin. “Don’t tease me like that again.”
My stomach flips at his dirty mouth. “Stop bossing me around.”
“I’ll boss you around.” Stepping back, he unfastens the top two buttons of his uniform shirt before pulling it over his head, leaving his thick brown hair a sexy mess. His white undershirt is next, until he’s standing in front of me, heaving muscles and raw sex wearing only his boots and pants.
I pull the tie on my wrap dress, ready to be naked immediately and all over that. It falls open, exposing the black lace bra and thong I’m wearing. I’m about to reach around and unclasp it when he catches my hand.
“Not yet.” Pulling my body against his chest, he scans my small house. “I’ve been thinking about this for months.”
“Months?�
� I lean forward, running my nose along the side of his neck, inhaling his scent, slipping out my tongue to taste his salty skin. “We haven’t been together that long.”
“You think I wasn’t watching your sexy ass?” He backs me toward the bedroom. “I wanted to do this standing up. I guess the bed will have to do.”
Out come the handcuffs, and my heart beats so fast. “I’ve never been handcuffed before.”
His brown eyes darken. “I’ll have to make it memorable.”
“We don’t have much time.”
“It doesn’t take long to have you screaming my name.”
“So arrogant.” But it’s true… Bring out the snake!
Holding my waist, he helps me scoot up the bed on my back, then taking both my hands, he puts the handcuffs around one of the iron rods in my headboard before loosely locking them around my wrists. They’re cold metal and a little uncomfortable, but I’m distracted by him stepping back from the bed and slowly unfastening his pants.
I’m completely at his mercy, handcuffed to the headboard in only my bra and panties, and I’m nervous and thrilled at the same time.
I roll onto my side, and the way my hands are tied presses my breasts together. His eyes don’t leave them as he shoves his pants down and off, allowing that massive erection to spring free.
A little whimper escapes from my throat, and I instinctively rub my thighs together as he grasps his cock, tugging it slowly and moving his hand over the tip.
“So fucking sexy,” he hisses. “Are you wet for me?”
“Yes.” I answer fast. I’m burning up inside, wondering what he’s about to do next.
He tosses a condom on the bed beside me before stepping forward and hooking his thumbs in the sides of my thong. Pulling it slowly down my legs, his eyes trace their path until he stands back again, leaving me bare. He watches me squirm a moment before dropping to his knees and wrapping my thighs around his upper arms.
“Look at you.” His eyes are on my pussy, and it’s electric and a little embarrassing.
“What are you… Oh!” My eyes flutter shut when he covers me with his mouth and starts to lick and suck hungrily.
He kisses my outer lips, my inner thigh, then goes right back to my core, sliding his tongue up and down and over my clit, using just the right amount of pressure, again and again.
Holy shit… It’s my mantra with this man. I can’t believe how crazy he makes me.
Instinctively, I jerk against the cuffs. I want to thread my fingers through his hair. His beard scrapes my inner thighs, and I jump, moaning. His teeth lightly touch me, and my breath disappears. My legs go rigid with orgasm, as if I’ve been struck by lightning.
“Chad…” I struggle to catch my breath. My body shudders, and with every pass of his tongue, an irresistible jolt grabs my stomach. “Stop… You have to stop… It’s too much.”
He grins up at me, moving his mouth to my stomach, circling his tongue around my navel. “Cute little navel,” he murmurs, scuffing my hyper sensitive skin with his beard. “Now I want to see that mermaid.”
I’m breathing so hard, I can only nod.
“How are you feeling?” I’m on my side, and he’s behind me, nudging my legs apart with his knee as he tears open the condom.
His erection is a steel rod against my ass, and I know what’s coming. “Good… so good.”
“Ready to feel better?” He catches my hips and with one firm thrust, he’s balls-deep inside, stretching me so wide, I cry out.
This time, he doesn’t hesitate. He continues pumping, holding my hips and fucking me hard. The pressure, the friction, oh, God, it’s so good until…
The handcuffs jerk against the bed, pinching and rubbing my wrists. All at once, they tighten so fast, the pain is unbearable.
“Chad,” I gasp. “The cuffs… Stop… They’re hurting me.”
He pauses, slowing down, and waiting for a second. He’s breathing hard, and I know he’s on the edge. Still, he holds the condom, slipping out and fumbling for the keys in his pants.
“Shit.” He unlocks them and frees my hands, cradling them in his, inspecting the damage. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
I look at my wrists. Bright red marks stripe across them right at the bones, and they feel slightly numb. “It happened so fast… It wasn’t like that before.”
His brow furrows, and he kisses the marks, wrapping his large hands around them. “I’m sorry. The skin isn’t broken, but it’ll probably bruise.”
Taking my hands from his, I lift them to his neck. His erection is against my thigh, and I kiss his lips softly, taking a little nip between words. “Can we finish?”
“You sure you want to?”
Reaching back, I unfasten my bra and smile. “You can’t go back to work like this.”
He finally stops frowning and gives me a little smile, cupping my breast. Raking my fingernails across his cheeks, I pull his face to mine and we kiss gently, mouths opening, tongues finding each other. They curl and caress, and it only takes a few passes for us to heat up again. It always happens when we kiss.
My arms are around his neck, and he scoops me off the bed, standing and carrying me to the wall. My legs are around his waist as he puts my back against it and sinks deep into my core once more, moving his hips, thrusting in and out so deep my thighs begin to quiver.
Closing my eyes, I lean my head back, riding this crazy wave. He moves my hips in time to give him the deepest penetration. I hold his broad shoulders, gripping them as I grind my hips, when I feel his fingers tracing my crack, moving between my cheeks and…
“Oh!” I gasp when his finger sinks into my ass.
My eyes go wide, but he whispers, “Shh…”
Covering my mouth with his, he plunges his tongue inside as his finger works that little hole, in and out, rocking me into him as he thrusts faster, more feverish.
All the sensations, the position, his kiss, his finger, take me higher. My orgasm builds, and I’m lost in a haze when it breaks, flying through space, calling out his name.
He holds me steady, bracing me with his legs, as he pulses. His mouth is right at my ear, and I love the sound of his moans, his deep groans, his swears, as he comes. It’s amazing, and so unexpected.
His chest is against my breasts, the fine scattering of hair tickling my nipples. We’re breathing fast when he kisses my jaw, giving it a little nibble. “I’m going to be late getting back to work.”
My eyes go to the clock. “It’s one.”
“Shit.” He kisses me fast, grabbing the condom as he pulls out, lowering me to my feet.
He moves fast, tying off the condom, and dashing over to his discarded pants, his boots. Then it hits me.
“You cleaned up this morning.”
He frowns, stepping into his boots and tying them. I go to where he’s standing, placing my hand on his bare back, sliding it up to his shoulder as I kiss his cheek. “My little trash can was empty.”
“Of course, I did.” He stands, gives me a quick kiss on the mouth, then leaves me naked in my bedroom.
I follow him into the living room, watching as he pulls on the undershirt then his uniform shirt, jamming it into his pants. “I might see you again this afternoon, depending on what Robbie needs me to do.”
Stepping back, I get one more rough kiss, and he’s out the door, smoothing his hair and jogging around the corner. I didn’t even think about the cruiser. He must’ve parked it down at the church.
“Dirty Deputy Tucker,” I muse, thinking about all those nosey church folks. “Aren’t you something?”
My legs are weak, my insides deliciously aching and ravaged. Echoes of his presence linger in both my holes. My body feels like someone thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m pretty sure he did. I know I did.
Still, they’ll call me the bad influence.
Chad says I’m just getting to know him better.
I wonder who’s right.
Emberly’s squinting at a diagram when I get bac
k to the shop a few minutes later.
I took a quick shower, smoothed my hair, and did my best to cover the red marks on my wrists with body makeup. Every time I move, I’m reminded Chad was here… Andy was there, finger was there. It heats me right up again.
“Getting some work done?” she asks without even looking up.
“Umm… Sort of.” I don’t want to lie to my best friend, but I seriously can’t tell Emberly what I did for lunch… What Chad ate for lunch.
Not yet.
She’d be cool with it, of course, but telling Emberly makes everything so real somehow. I have to sort out my feelings first, make sure this isn’t some ultra-hot Nine and a Half Weeks kind of thing.
The thought of Chad eating food off my naked body makes me flush.
“Why are you blushing?” Emberly straightens, frowning at me. “What have you done?”
Dude, I’m so busted. “What are you talking about?”
“Were you looking at porn instead of building the website?”
“I would never do that!” I pretend to be offended, but the whole reason she said it is because I told her I did it sometimes after Travis left.
“Okay…” She narrows her eyes at me before returning to her book.
I walk over to where she’s standing, pulling out a stool beside her.
“Working on something new for André?” I keep waiting for her to mention Chad’s truck being at my house last night, but she hasn’t. Has she somehow missed the hot gossip of the day?
“Hm? Oh, no—I think we’re set for now. I barely even had a chance to say hi before I had to get Coco to school.”
I guess that explains it… “What are you looking at?”
“Daisy came by a little while ago. Looks like I’ll get to try out my new skills sooner rather than later. She ordered a birthday cake for Melody—”
“Oh, yeah. I meant to tell you I bumped into her on Saturday, and she mentioned it.”
Emberly’s chin drops, and she straightens. “You talked to Daisy?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’ve avoided her like the plague ever since that idiot drove out of here on the piece of crap motorcycle he rode in on leaving both of you devastated and hurt.”
