Remembrance: A Contemporary Erotic Romance (Iris Series Book 4)

by Lynn, Rebecca

  He had an erection. Luke had an erection. For her.

  Since the moment his lips had first touched hers, she couldn’t think. She could only feel. His hands in her hair, his mouth on hers, his hard body rubbing into her soft one.

  Her own hands moved to his waist as he continued consuming her mouth and she reached around to rub them up his back, feeling his hard muscles underneath his coat. She leaned forward to press her breasts into his lower chest. More sounds escaped as the kiss turned even more demanding, his mouth now claiming hers, animalistic and hard, while one of his hands now stroked her chin and neck. She couldn’t tell where her breath began or his took over.

  And just like that, it was done. He pulled back and gripped her hair harder so she was paying attention. The sexual fog cleared slightly from her gaze as her eyes met his.

  “You’ll remember this when you go out with Weston or Gastaldi.” A smug smile tugged at his lips. “Who do you think you’ll be thinking of if they kiss you? Who will you be thinking of, Janie?”

  She tried to calm her breath and regain control to get the upper hand, so she reached up and patted his cheek. “Them, of course.” She gave him a cute smile.

  His grip didn’t let up. “I think we both know who will be on your mind.”

  “You’re a conceited ass.”

  His smile grew. “Yes, I am. And if they kiss you, there won’t be any comparison, trust me. After all, there is a reason why I’m such a chick magnet.”

  She tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go. She put on an innocent look and said in a patronizing tone, “I promise that when I make out with Eric or Miguel, or anyone else over the next two weeks, I’ll think of you at some point, Lukey.”

  He gripped her hair tighter and she almost yelped. “It seems to me that I’m getting the short end of the stick on this deal we have going.” He dropped his voice to a whisper and his eyes to her lips. “Considering all these men you get to make out with, not to mention how much satisfaction you got last night.”

  She was so completely aroused. Her heart was racing, her breathing heavy. She wanted him to the point of pain. “You agreed to the rules, Luke,” she said, her voice sounding husky as he still had his hands in her hair tilting her head back. “You poor baby. Did you not get any satisfaction after you left? I thought you had a pretty good imagination.”

  His eyes appeared to strip her where she stood. “I was plenty satisfied with my imagination. It was fucking hot. It just would’ve been a lot more enjoyable if I’d had company.”

  “Gee. I’m so sorry you couldn’t fuck Vanessa.”

  He smiled and licked his lips, then murmured, “Vanessa’s not the only redhead I can think about, sweetheart.”

  Silence passed between them and Janie finally looked at his mouth. He was killing her with all of his innuendo. In a moment of bravery, she whispered casually, “Well, then. I won’t keep you from your imagination any longer this evening. But before you go, you might as well do something useful and unzip this thing for me. It’s too hard to do by myself and I need a shower, then bed.”

  He processed what she’d said for just a moment, his eyes turning a deep navy blue before he released his hands from her hair and shifted even closer to her. She stood her ground watching his wolf like eyes. He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around slowly, allowing his hands to skim over her arms. He placed her hands on the counter and leaned his hips and very hard erection into her ass.

  He ran his hand up her back and gripped her hair firmly at the base of her skull where he fisted it once. Then he released it and pushed it over one shoulder. She nearly collapsed in a puddle, with her skin prickly all over, her chest rising and falling with each deep breath. He muttered something in Spanish.

  “What was that?” Janie asked quietly with a smile.

  He gripped her hair gently then leaned down and said slowly into her ear, with emphasis so she caught every syllable, “I’m not telling. You should’ve paid more attention when I tutored you.”

  She smiled and in a husky voice said, “Rest assured, Luke, that if you ever tutor me again, I’ll definitely pay more attention.”

  “Hm. I’ll make sure of it,” he murmured confidently, unzipping her dress one inch at a time until he reached the bottom.

  In a moment of courage, she pushed her ass back into him. She heard his intake of breath and felt him move away from her. She took two steps to the side and let the front of her dress fall forward, down her arms and to the waist revealing her naked back to him. Without turning to him, she walked toward her bedroom showing him her bare back and probably the top of her thong. A smile played on her lips. “You better get outta here, Lukey. I wouldn’t want to give you an eyeful.” She gave him one last look over her shoulder before entering the bedroom area, hiding herself from him. His look had been priceless. “Thanks for the ride,” she yelled.

  She heard him swear and then chuckle before her front door slid shut.

  Chapter 11

  “Shh, no screaming, Janie,” Luke murmured. “You need to fight it. Don’t give in,” he teased with a whisper. He sat on the edge of her bed in lounge pants and no shirt, holding her foot in his hands. While he kneaded at the pressure points that would most assuredly guarantee her a phenomenally big O, he leaned down to let his lips skim over the arch of her foot.

  “Luke,” she said, letting out a low breathy whimper.

  He took his lips and gave her an open mouthed kiss right where his fingers had been and then bit down softly only to then suck the flesh on her foot gently into his mouth. Her sex was drenched, her body a mass of quivers, and sweat clung to her skin.

  Naked on the bed, a sheet loosely covering her, he stroked his hand up her body until he pulled, and slowly moved the linens down her torso revealing her breasts to him. The sheet skated lightly over her nipples igniting little explosions under the skin. She whimpered at the sensation just as the cool air hit her hot flesh.

  He was no longer looking in her eyes, but was focused on her breasts. They tightened and tingled, her nipples burning for him to touch her.

  “Quiero sus pezones en mi boca. Entonces los voy a chupar hasta que esté pidiendo.”

  She arched up off the bed when he put his mouth on her foot again.

  “What are you saying to me?” she moaned. “I never know what you’re saying to me.” His finger found that spot below her big toe and she began gulping for air, squirming. “Luke, I need,” she gasped.

  “I know what you need, Janie. You need me to put my hands on you. Put my tongue on you. Suck your gorgeous nipples into my mouth. Make you beg.”

  She shot up out of bed, breathing as if she’d just run a marathon, her call box blaring in the background. She tried to shake off the remnants of the dream, but her body was primed and ready to go. She needed to climax or she’d go crazy.

  The call box went off again. She looked at the time. 10am. She fell onto her pillow and moaned. Who the hell was bugging her on a Sunday morning after the biggest event of her career? She stumbled out of bed and jogged to the call box.

  “Yeah, hello? Who is it?”

  “Excuse me. The button says this is The Local Yokel? I’m looking for Janie Callahan.”

  Shit, did she have a food delivery that she’d forgotten about? “Yes?”

  “I have a delivery for you.”

  “Who from?” She couldn’t think what vendor it could be.

  “Um, it’s flowers, ma’am. I’m not sure who they’re from, actually.”

  “Flowers?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She buzzed him in and ran to get a robe since she was only in a nightie. She tried not to get too excited, but wondering who they were from made her more so. When she got back to the door, she slid it open and accepted the bouquet of calla lilies the color of an autumnal sunset. They took her breath away and she quickly gave the delivery boy a tip then closed the door. Her hand went to her chest then to her lips and she sat on her sofa, tearing open the
card.

  A business card from an expensive well known spa in the City fell out of the envelope as she looked at the hand written card in which it had been encased. It was written in Spanish which immediately made her heart flutter. At the bottom in English it said, Time for another tutoring lesson. I’m glad Google translate wasn’t around twelve years ago…you never would have needed me. Now that it’s available to you, figure it out.

  She was beaming, her cheeks sore from smiling so hard. He used to say the phrase ‘figure it out’ to her all of the time when he was tutoring her in high school Spanish. You know how to conjugate the verb, baby girl. Just figure it out.

  She ran to her phone and her Google translate app, then typed in word for word from Luke’s note. She could understand some of the words and thought she caught the gist of it before the sentences were translated before her eyes, but just in case, she looked at the English on her screen:

  To a fiery redhead who deserves a good massage after last night. Since you have a hard time accepting gifts, consider the spa treatment hazard pay for your job. The flowers, on the other hand, are a personal gift from me. They’re elegant, soft, and reminded me of you…and you will accept them or my feelings will be hurt.

  -Luke

  P.S. Kenneth will be there at 11 to take you to the spa. Another gift awaits you in the limo.

  She put her hands to her flushed cheeks, still smiling and giggling now like an idiot. A spa day. She clasped the note to her chest and let out an eek of pleasure. She never treated herself to that kind of thing and couldn’t wait to have her entire body rubbed down. Clapping her hands with delight, she ran to the bathroom to get ready.

  Just before 11, her callbox went off again. She ran to it and pressed the button. “I’ll be right there, Kenneth,” she chirped happily.

  “Excuse me. I’m looking for Janie Callahan? The owner of The Local Yokel?” a disembodied male voice asked.

  Geez, what is this?

  “Yes, that’s me.”

  “I have a flower delivery for her?”

  “Um…okay. Come on up.” She buzzed him in and slid open the door, wondering who else could be sending her flowers in addition to Luke. The delivery boy came up the stairs holding a bouquet of wild flowers, looking at her a little strangely since she was now laughing at the events of the morning.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking them and handing him a tip. After she closed the door she opened the card.

  …Wild flowers for the woman who made me wild within mere seconds of seeing her. Have dinner with me tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at seven. Say yes. We’ll talk tomorrow morning about details.

  -Eric Weston

  Holy shit. Her heart pounded. He was a persistent bugger, wasn’t he? The line about being wild was a little cheesy, but his confidence was certainly attractive if not a little pushy. She was absolutely going to take him up on his offer. Anything she could do to speed Luke along in his realizations, she was game for. And somehow, she didn’t think Eric would mind.

  Hmm, decisions, decisions. What was a girl to do when so many were throwing themselves at her, she thought dryly. She quickly put the flowers in a vase and made it back just in time to answer Kenneth’s buzz on the call box. Once she’d locked up, she ran down the stairs into the snow that was still coming down, to see what awaited her in the limo.

  “Hi Kenneth,” she said happily as he stood at the car door.

  “Good morning, Miss Callahan. Are you ready to be pampered today?” he smiled at her.

  “Yes,” she squealed like a little girl. “I can’t remember the last time I went to a spa. Thanks so much for the ride.”

  “My pleasure,” he chuckled and opened the door for her.

  Janie climbed in and gasped, squealing some more. There in the car sat all of the girls: Emily, Ryann, Ayanna, Tiffany, even Catherine. “You’re all coming?! Ahh! I’m so excited!” she laughed.

  They all laughed with her, all of them talking at once taking turns explaining how the day had come about with them joining her for the spa day. Apparently, Luke had been in cahoots all week with the other guys, letting them know of his idea. Tiffany’s appointment was a birthday gift from her twin, and Ayanna’s and Catherine’s were as a thank you from him, as well, for the holiday party.

  The men were having their own guys’ day out, meeting for brunch first, then playing some basketball at a local college gym with another group of guys.

  Janie settled back into the plush leather seat, sighing with contentment.

  “So, we’re all dying to know how last night went! After the food was served, that is. Ayanna and Catherine filled us in on the dinner part already,” Ryann said with excitement.

  “I made a ton of connections. Yan,” Janie said, turning to her soon-to-be partner, “I handed out all of the business cards. We need to talk about how we’re going to address all of the incoming business.”

  “We will,” she said, reaching her hand out and squeezing Janie’s hand. “We can talk about that later. Tell us how the other stuff went last night.” She gave an eyebrow wiggle.

  Janie sighed and leaned back against the seat with a smile.

  They all laughed and Tiffany said, “Oh, my.”

  Janie looked at all of them and decided not to hold back. “I kissed Luke last night.”

  There was a beat of silence then the car erupted into screams. The car lurched slightly and Kenneth’s voice came over the speaker. “Everything alright back there?”

  “Yes, Kenneth. Sorry!” Janie said during bouts of laughter. “We’re all just a little punchy this morning.”

  “Just checking,” he said with humor in his voice.

  Once he was gone from the discussion, Ryann, who was blushing red finally removed her hands from her cheeks and yelled, “What happened?”

  “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this,” Tiffany was babbling then singing. “Janie and Luke sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…”

  Janie pushed her over in her seat then said, “Well, first I met this guy when I came out of the kitchen and he totally came on to me. Asked me out, sent me flowers this morning –”

  “What?!” Ayanna interrupted. “This was before Luke found you?”

  Janie nodded with a giggle.

  “That’s so funny because he texted me last night after you’d left the kitchen and wanted to know how much longer you’d be getting ready. I texted him back and said you’d left five minutes earlier and that you were already out there,” Ayanna laughed. “So this guy found you in those five minutes before Luke?”

  Janie nodded again with a laugh.

  “Priceless.”

  “He sent you flowers already? Who is he?” Ryann asked.

  “I don’t know. Some guy named Eric Weston?” She looked around at all of them, then shrugged.

  “Weston? As in Weston Watches?” Tiffany asked. “Hold on,” she said grabbing her phone and Googling him. “If he was at the party, it might be him. They’re part of GSoul.” Apparently something appeared on the phone that looked yummy, because Tiffany made an appreciative sound, raised an eyebrow and looked up. “Not too shabby. Meet Eric Weston of Weston Watches, everyone.”

  She held it up to Janie to confirm and when Janie said, “Yup, that’s him,” all of the girls leaned over to see his picture.

  “Ooh, he’s cute,” Catherine cooed. “He sent you flowers already? He works fast!”

  “He was definitely persistent. He asked me out right in front of Luke.”

  They all cackled and Tiffany laughed, “Holy shit. I wish I could’ve seen that. Tell us!”

  Janie spent the next couple of minutes telling them of the moment with Eric and Luke, and then about the flowers and card that had come moments before they had arrived.

  “What are you gonna do?” Emily asked.

  “Well,” Janie said with humor, “Luke and I, we kind of have an agreement. After the wine tasting he joked about how he needed to make his own list for finding the right woman.” />
  “Did he?” Tiffany asked, delighted.

  Janie nodded and continued. “And so we agreed that I could date other men until he’ll be hand delivering me my dream man on Christmas.”

  “He’s letting you date other men until then?” Tiffany was frowning and looking a little confused.

  Janie cleared her throat. “Well, there are two conditions.”

  “Which are?” Tiffany smiled.

  “I have to tell Luke if I’m going on a date, and I’m not allowed to have sex with whomever I go on the date with.”

  Loud guffaws ensued.

  “Janie, he’s totally keeping you all to himself,” Ryann said. “He’s going to use this list that you guys have come up with as an excuse to keep you single.”

  “And are you thinking of going out with Eric Weston?” Tiffany asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh, this is going to get good,” Luke’s sister smiled.

  “I told Luke I was going to keep my options open until he found me my man. I think I’m going to have dinner with Eric tomorrow night. He asked on the card with the flowers.”

  “You absolutely should! And I’m glad you’re not sleeping with him. I’ve been there, done that. Casual sex is not a good road to go down,” said Ayanna. “Besides, you’re better than that.”

  “Luke already told me he was a player. I’m only going to have dinner with him. Nothing more.” Then she whined. “I’m just trying to get Luke to make a move already. I mean, he made a move last night, but I mean a real move.”

  “What do you mean he made a move last night?” Tiffany asked.

  Janie made eye contact with all of the girls, biting her lip and blushing. “He kissed me when he dropped me off last night.” She flopped back against the car seat and sighed. “Sorry, Tiff, but it was so hot.”

  “Holy shit.” Tiffany threw her hands up. “Something is definitely going to happen between you guys. He wouldn’t have done it if his mind wasn’t moving in that direction.”