So in Love

by Darcy Burke

  “No.” He stared at her, feasting on the sultry tilt of her eyes, the sculpt of her cheekbones, the lush curve of her lips. He’d missed her, and he’d worked hard to hide that fact back at his loft. Now he didn’t care.

  She stared back, her features impassive. “Why are you here?”

  He fished her phone out of his coat pocket. “You left this at my loft.”

  “Oh.” Her gaze flicked to the phone in his hand. She seemed neither surprised nor grateful. Did she even know she’d left it behind? Pale pink spiked her cheeks. “I didn’t realize I didn’t have it.”

  That answered that, then. And that surprised him. She was quite attached to her phone because of her job. “I probably pissed you off so much that you didn’t notice.”

  Her eyes locked with his. “Not really. I’m sorry about Adam. I didn’t think about how that would look.”

  “Nor should you have. We didn’t have any sort of commitment.”

  “No, but you’re right about not doing this with multiple people—and I haven’t.”

  “Me neither.” He couldn’t look away from her. He didn’t want to look away from her. “And here’s the thing, I don’t want to.” He knew his filter was about to fail, and he didn’t care. “I shouldn’t say this, but I need to. I love spending time with you. I missed you when you were gone. I… I could very easily develop feelings for you. If I haven’t already.”

  He thought about what Sara had said to him last week, that he’d get married and have kids someday, and how he’d brushed her off. Suddenly that didn’t seem like such a ridiculous idea.

  “Don’t say that,” she said, sounding scared. “There are a ton of reasons we shouldn’t be together.”

  He fought the urge to smile. “Name one.”

  She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Our ages. I’m too old. Or you’re too young. Both.”

  He went straight past merely smiling and laughed. “That’s absurd.”

  “We have almost nothing in common.”

  “Also absurd—I seem to recall both of us liking sex, particularly with each other.” He made a sound like a game show buzzer. “Next.”

  She pouted and the set of her lips was so sexy, he had to try very hard not to kiss her. “I hate small towns. Jamie, I don’t even live here.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “I know for a fact you keep a coat here, so that’s clearly up for debate.” The wind stirred, reminding him that he was standing outside in thirty-seven-degree weather. He shivered.

  She unfolded her arms and grabbed him by the jacket, pulling him inside. He barely cleared the door before she slammed it closed and pushed him against it. Then she did what he’d been dying to—she kissed him.

  Her mouth was warm and soft and so damned sweet. He clasped his arms around her and held her tight. Those feelings he was pretty sure he felt swirled inside him, sparking a desire that surpassed anything he’d experienced. He wanted her. He needed her.

  She unzipped his coat and pushed it open. He came away from the door and shrugged the garment from his shoulders. Cupping her face, he kissed her again. Instead of their usual electric connection that seemed to set off a frenzy of lust, this was more controlled, more deliberate. He wanted to savor every moment.

  He licked along her lips, slowly stroking his tongue into her mouth with measured precision. She met him, her movements steady and sure, mimicking his. Did she feel the same, that this was somehow different?

  He didn’t want to know. If this was just an illusion, he wanted to bask in it, even if it was only for tonight.

  She slipped her hands up under the hem of his shirt, her bare palms flattening against his lower back. Her hips came forward, seeking his. His cock was already hard and eager for her, but he meant to take his time. Yes, savor was the word he wanted tonight.

  He pulled back, softly ending the kiss while running his thumbs along her jawline. “Bedroom?”

  Her gaze was steady and clear, her pupils large in the dim light. He became peripherally aware of his surroundings—they stood in a small entry area that opened into a large great room. Directly behind her was a kitchen with an island and a cozy eating area.

  “This way,” she murmured, taking his hand and leading him left down a short corridor. There were three doors—one on either side and one at the end that led to a darkened bathroom.

  She veered right, and they walked into what had to be the master bedroom. It was furnished with a king-size bed, and there was a doorway into what was probably another bathroom.

  She turned toward him and ran her hand up his chest to curl it around his neck. Leaning into him, she kissed him again. He was overwhelmed—in the best way—with the taste and smell of Crystal.

  Her hands came down his back and burrowed under his shirt again. She found the hem on each side and pushed the garment up. He helped, tugging it off over his head.

  She splayed her hands across his chest and sighed. “I will never get tired of this view.”

  That inferred that she intended to look at it for quite some time. He liked that.

  She kissed his neck, her lips and tongue gliding over his flesh, stirring his already intense desire to greater heights. He reached up under her sweater and unfastened her bra.

  She pulled back to whip her sweater off and shake out of her bra. Her breasts swayed with her movements, tempting him. Incapable of resisting, he cupped them, his fingers and thumbs teasing her nipples.

  A sexy gasp escaped her lips just before she kissed him again. Jamie found the button to her skinny jeans and quickly had them unfastened. As he started to push them down over her hips, she backed off again.

  “Hang on,” she said, going to the bed where she perched on the edge and unzipped her booties. She gave him a seductive, hungry look. “Get your condom ready.”

  He reached for his back pocket—where his wallet would be if he were wearing jeans. Only he wasn’t wearing jeans and he didn’t have his fucking wallet.

  Son of a bitch.

  “Uh. I left my wallet at home. I wasn’t thinking.” He’d been too intent on just getting to her.

  She kicked her shoes aside and tossed her socks—which she’d just pulled off—nearby. “Well, that’s a problem. I have condoms at my house. And contrary to what you might think, this isn’t my house. I’ve also never had a guy here before.”

  Something else he liked. A lot. He tried not to think about the condoms at her house. Jealously wasn’t very attractive. Nevertheless, he couldn’t shake that feeling when he thought of her with other men.

  “I could drive home, I guess,” he offered, albeit half-heartedly.

  “Just because I’ve never had a guy here doesn’t mean there hasn’t been one. Alaina and Evan have had other guests. Let’s check the bathrooms. I’ll take the master, you take the one in the hallway.”

  He barely nodded before pivoting and dashing back to the corridor where he took a sharp right and went into the bathroom. Flipping the light switch, he blinked as the room was illuminated. He scanned the space—there was a single sink with a bank of drawers. He opened them in quick succession. Empty. Next, he checked the cabinet beneath the sink. Cleaning supplies, a blow dryer, and a toilet plunger.

  Fuckity fuck fuck.

  Circling back to the bedroom, he mentally crossed his fingers that Crystal had found a condom. Her furrowed brow and narrowed eyes as she exited the master bath gave him his answer: no.

  He bent to retrieve his shirt. “I’ll drive home real quick.”

  “Did you check the nightstands?” She was already at the closest one, opening the top of two drawers.

  “No.” Hope bloomed in his chest as he stalked around the bed and checked the other nightstand. The top drawer had a USB cord and a penny. His anticipation began to fade again as he opened the bottom drawer and saw that it was empty. Before he could slam it shut, something dark stuck in the corner caught his eye. He reached in and grabbed it. “Ah-ha! Victory!” He danced back around the bed, gr
inning. “Stuck in the back of the drawer between the bottom and the side. Nearly missed it.”

  She took it from him and studied the wrapper. “Does it have an expiration date?”

  “I didn’t check.”

  She nodded once. “Here it is. It’s still good.”

  “Excellent.” He stepped toward her, relieved he didn’t have to go back out into the frigid winter night. “Expiration dates are very important.”

  “They are.” She didn’t meet his gaze, and something about the way she said those two simple words made him take notice.

  “Bad experience?” he asked, half kidding.

  “Yes, actually.” She looked him in the eye then, almost daring him to question her further, but then she shimmied out of her jeans and underwear—he only got a glimpse but could tell this was another stunning new-to-him pair. She’d yet to repeat any, just like he’d asked.

  Despite being distracted by her gorgeous nude body, he longed to know more about the bad experience. But then she climbed on the bed and crooked her finger, and he was lost to her seduction.

  Jamie threw off his pants and briefs and followed her into the bed. She lay back, and he stretched out next to her, his mouth going directly to her breast. She arched up off the bed with a throaty moan. Whatever the bad experience was, he would banish it from her mind.

  While he worked one breast with his mouth, he teased the other with his fingers, pulling and tweaking the nipple until it hardened. She moved with him, her body writhing, and she tangled her fingers into his hair. He slid his hand down her abdomen, tracing a slow and steady path past her navel until he found the heat at her center. She was already wet, but he’d make her wetter.

  He thumbed her clit, gently at first, drawing soft cries from her mouth as she rotated her hips on the bed. He lifted his mouth from her breast and focused his attention between her legs. With one hand, he stroked her folds, teasing her with a light touch and barely penetrating her flesh.

  To further torture her, he leaned down and licked her, gliding his tongue over her entrance. She bucked up, and he couldn’t help but smile as her hand pressed insistently on his head. Never one to disappoint, he sucked and tongued her, using his hands to massage her clit and press her thighs apart.

  She opened for him, lifting her ass off the bed and fucking his mouth. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced.

  “Jamie, please. I need you now.”

  She was so close. He could feel her muscles tensing around him. She tugged at his hair and dug her nails into his neck. “Jamie.”

  He thrust his fingers into her, eliciting a sharp, pleasure-filled cry from her lips. He looked up at her. “What do you want?”

  “You. Inside me.”

  His lips spread into a lazy smile. “I am, sweetheart.”

  She caressed his cheek as she looked at him, the storm in her eyes momentarily calm. “No, I want your cock.” She handed him the condom.

  He climbed over her leg and knelt between her thighs. Opening the condom carefully, he unrolled it over his shaft. The entire time he looked at her, their gazes locked in some sort of silent communication. Except he wasn’t sure what she was saying beyond that she wanted him. He wanted her too. More than he’d ever wanted anyone.

  He stroked her again, and her eyes briefly closed. Then he guided his cock to her entrance and slowly slid inside. They stared at each other once more until he was fully seated inside her.

  He braced his hand beside her head and leaned down. “Better?”

  “Perfect.”

  He kissed her softly as he began to move. He went achingly slow, withdrawing by infinitesimal degrees and thrusting back in with measured deliberation. She stroked her hands along his back, her fingertips gently massaging from his shoulders to his ass. Her legs curled around his waist; her heels pressed against the tops of his thighs.

  He brushed her hair back from her face and cupped the back of her head as he picked up the pace—but just a bit.

  “You’re killing me here,” she said softly.

  “Only one condom. I have to make this count.”

  She smiled, and it lit up the room. “You’re doing a fine job of that.”

  “Oh good.” He swooped his lips down over hers and explored her mouth with the same exacting purpose he was employing with his cock.

  Suddenly his orgasm started to build—he went from zero, well not zero, to sixty in nothing flat. He began to move faster, his hips snapping into hers. She met him, thrust for thrust.

  He ripped his mouth from hers. “Come with me, Crystal.”

  She cried out as her muscles tightened around him. Her legs squeezed him, and she dug her nails into his back.

  With a deep, final stroke, he yelled her name. Once, twice, more times than he could count. He came hard, closing his eyes and abandoning himself to the dark oblivion. An eternity later, he eased his weight to the side but didn’t leave her completely.

  She kissed his cheek and ran her hand through his hair over and over. He could fall asleep so easily, but he forced himself up and went to the bathroom to get rid of the condom.

  When he went back to the bed, she was under the covers and had folded them back for him in invitation. They often dozed together afterward, but not always. That she wanted him to stay filled him with joy.

  He slipped beneath the comforter and pulled it up as he snuggled against her. She turned, pressing her back against his chest and nuzzling her ass into his groin.

  He groaned. “Careful. There aren’t any more condoms.”

  “That’s right, so you’re just going to have to check yourself.”

  He heard the smile in her voice and kissed her temple. Sliding his arm over her, he found her hand and linked his fingers with hers.

  “So, that bad experience,” she said, her voice soft and vulnerable. “I had this boyfriend in high school. Turns out his condom supply was completely expired. I ended up pregnant.”

  There was pain in her tone, and something else. Self-recrimination maybe.

  He wasn’t entirely sure what to say but didn’t want to bombard her with questions. That she trusted him to share this was incredibly humbling. “That must’ve been tough.”

  “Yeah. I didn’t know what to do. Alaina had already left for LA when I found out. I was absolutely lost without her, panicked. But then I miscarried, and I was so relieved. I was also pretty upset. What a dichotomy, huh?” She paused for a moment. “My boyfriend liked drugs— coke, ecstasy, and later heroin. I tried the coke and the ecstasy.” Her fingers clutched his, squeezing as she recounted her story. “I would’ve done the heroin if Alaina hadn’t invited me to come stay with her in LA. My mom basically told me I had to go or she’d kick me out. So I went.” She lightened her grip on his hand and stroked her thumb over his. “Alaina saved my life.”

  “Sounds like your mom had a hand in it too.”

  “You’re right, she did.”

  He kissed her cheek, his lips lingering against her satiny flesh. “I’m glad you told me.”

  She rolled to her back and looked up at him. “I’ve never told anyone about the pregnancy—other than Alaina. And my worthless ex, of course.” She shook her head and averted her gaze. “I try really hard not to think about it. That stupid condom brought it back up.”

  She blinked, and he wondered if she was about to cry. He kissed her cheek again. “Shh. I’m sorry. I hope you don’t regret sharing that with me. I’m quite humbled that you would.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you.” She yawned. “I’m going to go turn out the lights.”

  “No, I’ll take care of it. You still want me to stay?”

  She nodded.

  Later, after she was sound asleep in his arms he thought of when he’d first arrived, how he’d told her he could develop feelings for her. Too late—they were already there. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to fall head over heels in love.

  So in love.

  11

  Crystal strolled into her
meeting with Darryl wearing a faint smile and humming a song in her head. He was waiting for her in the conference room, also smiling.

  “Good morning. Did you have a nice weekend?” he asked.

  “I did, thanks.” She realized she meant it wholeheartedly. She’d spent a fantastic weekend with Jamie. They’d gone to the zoo up in Portland with Alaina, Evan, and Alexa and then Jamie had taken her to Huber’s for dinner so that she could experience the fabulous Spanish coffee demonstration for herself. She’d tried to convince him to let her spring for a fancy hotel room downtown, but he’d insisted on driving her home to his loft where they’d slept until nearly noon on Sunday. Okay, there’d been more than sleeping, but probably best not to think of that just now.

  She and Darryl had work to do! “So tell me what you’ve got,” she said, taking a seat at the table.

  “I think I found the mother lode—at least with regard to your Dorinda story.”

  “Oh wow, that’s great.” Especially since Crystal hadn’t achieved much—any, really—success with her cold-calling Fosters in the Syracuse area. She’d exhausted Syracuse proper and some of the surrounding areas and was beginning to lose hope, so this was spectacular news.

  “In searching newspapers in upstate New York, I found something published in 1918.” He opened his trusty file folder and handed her a photocopy of an old article. “Go ahead and read it.”

  The piece was several paragraphs. She forced herself to carefully read every word and not skim as she was tempted to get to the punch line. Bad habit from reading too many scripts.

  It was written by someone with seemingly no relation to the Fosters—the byline was Henrietta Wilcox. That a woman had authored the story was amazing.

  The story told of a young woman from a poor family outside Syracuse who, seeing no potential in her current surroundings, went West in 1878 with her brother to find their fortunes. A family friend had settled a town in rural Oregon and encouraged them to come.

  Crystal looked up at Darryl. “This is so cool—it’s like finding that puzzle piece that fell under the table.”