by Jiffy Kate
“But,” I continue, feeling heat spread throughout my body with his stare and this new charge of electricity between us. “I would also like to show you.”
“Well, I really like the sound of that.”
Instead of Nathan taking control, he lets me lead, waiting for me… allowing me to set the pace.
Leaning forward on my tiptoes, I place a kiss on his rigid jaw, watching it twitch at my touch. It’s been too long since we’ve been this close. Nathan has brushed my cheek with an innocent kiss from time to time over the past few weeks, but we haven’t allowed it to progress from there. We’ve both been holding back, waiting for when the time felt right.
And it feels right.
Everything feels right.
“I love you,” I whisper against his skin, loving the feel of his stubble against my lips.
Nathan’s hands reach up and cup my face, tilting my head and letting his mouth hover over mine. “I love you.”
“I’ve missed this,” I confess, drinking in his scent that’s surrounding me and the feel of his hands on my skin.
“Show me,” he commands.
It’s just the motivation I need to let the world fall away, making this moment about me and Nathan—nothing more, nothing less.
He wants me.
And I want him.
There’s no pretense or expectation, just an intense need for one another.
Taking a step back, I slowly begin to unbutton his shirt, pulling it from his slacks and appreciating the masterpiece that is Nathan… and that he’s mine. I lean in and place a kiss on his chest, continuing down his torso until I reach the buckle of his belt.
When I look up at him, he’s watching me, being so patient.
Keeping my eyes on his, I take his belt off and then unbutton his slacks, letting the flaps fall to the side, exposing the definition of his bulge. My heart beats faster, anticipation building.
I know what I want, but I hesitate for a moment.
“Take what you want, Kadi,” he says, as if he can read my mind. “It’s yours. Take it.”
Swallowing hard, I loop my fingers in the waistband of his boxers and use them to pull his pants down, letting them pool at his feet. Once he’s freed, all I can do for a moment is stare as Nathan steps out of his pants and closer to me, bared and on display—waiting for me.
I’ve thought a lot about Nathan over the past month. I’ve thought about all the things I’ve missed, and being with him, like this is one of the things I’ve missed the most. Never in my life have I felt so free with someone. Free to be myself. Free to take the things I want. And right now, I want him. All of him.
As I kneel before him, his hands softly gather my hair and he piles it on the top of my head, giving him a perfect view. Licking my lips, I lean forward and place a kiss on his tip, and Nathan’s grip on my hair tightens.
Smiling to myself, I go in for more, licking his length before I open wide and take as much of him in my mouth as I can. As I swirl my tongue, he moans. Looking up, I find his head tilted back as he loses himself in pleasure—pleasure I'm giving him. It's a heady feeling, knowing I have this control.
“Kadi.” He utters my name like a prayer and I continue to earn his respect, bringing him to the brink of an orgasm. He stops me before he comes, pulling me up to my feet and then into his arms, carrying me to his bed.
The bed I’ve missed.
The bed I’ve dreamed of sleeping in nearly every night since we’ve been apart.
Nathan tries to lay me down, but I stop him with a hand to his chest.
“I’m not done,” I tell him.
He gives me an amused look before sitting down on the bed and leaning up against the headboard.
“By all means, continue.”
I let my eyes travel the length of his body for a moment, embracing the sexual power he’s given me. It’s not about dominating for control, it’s about the confidence he’s helped me find, not only in the bedroom but, in all areas of my life. I want to show him how he makes me feel and give him as much pleasure as he gives me.
Slowly, I remove my clothes, taking my time, and watch him as he watches me. He looks at me like he wants to devour me and I can’t wait to let him, but first I need to feel him inside me. I crawl up the bed, over his body, and straddle his lap. Placing my hands on his shoulders for leverage, I take him inside me, sliding down the length of his cock until we are completely joined. Circling my hips, I relish in the fullness, how complete I feel.
Nathan grabs my ass and pulls me closer. “Baby, you have me so close already. I really need you to move.”
His voice almost sounds desperate and I love that I affect him in this way.
I begin moving up and down, setting a steady rhythm.
And oh, my God, how is it possible to feel this good? How could I forget how amazing Nathan feels?
I thought I’d remember it for the rest of my life, but my memory failed me.
Nathan takes advantage of the position and cups my breasts before wrapping his lips around one nipple, then the other. His mouth is all over my skin—kissing and nipping—like he’s been starved for days and I’m his first meal.
My hands have a mind of their own, as they roam over his body—needing to touch every inch of him, desperate for more.
I’ve allowed myself to fantasize about this—us being together again, like this. I've always assumed our first time would be slow and sensual, but I was wrong. Instead, it’s passionate, sweaty, and needy—skin slapping skin while delicious moans and gasps escape our mouths. I’ve never experienced anything so erotic.
“Can I touch you?” Nathan asks, assuming I’m still taking the lead.
“Yes. Please, Nathan,” I say with a gasp as his thumb finds my clit. His other hand is still planted firm on my ass, guiding me, helping me move faster and harder.
“Fuck, Kadi, you feel so good. It’s even better than I remember.”
“I know, for me, too. I’m gonna come.” I try to warn him but my orgasm takes over and I cry out, pleasure surging throughout my body in waves.
Nathan wraps his arms around my shoulders, holding our bodies together, when he comes. My name leaves his mouth in short breaths, over and over, as he pulses inside me.
After we've regained our strength, he slides us down the bed, keeping our bodies close, his arms wrapped protectively around me. In the stillness and quiet, he whispers “I love you”.
I return it, with a kiss to his chest and the understanding that even if I lost all of this tomorrow, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Nathan is worth all the risks. He's worth the chance at a broken heart, but something deep inside says this is real. He’s it for me.
Epilogue
“I gotta run,” LuAnne calls out from the front of the shop. “I’ll turn the sign to closed and lock the door on my way out.”
“Thanks, Lu,” I holler back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yep, I’ll be here after the lunch rush. Will you be okay by yourself in the morning?”
“Yeah, I got it. No problem.”
“Later, honey.”
I listen for LuAnne to leave and the door to lock before I turn up the radio in the kitchen and get down to business. I’ve got five pies to bake for a restaurant down the street. LuAnne took the ones for the diner with her. When I decided to open this place, I thought I’d be depending on individuals for business. I had no idea that I’d end up doing so many large orders, but I’m not complaining.
Today marks the one month anniversary of Humble Pies and I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going.
I’m not gonna lie; it’s different. The traffic is nothing like the diner. I am starting to get regular customers who stop by for a slice of pie and a cup of coffee. There’s also the standing orders for whole pies from a few restaurants. LuAnne comes in to help me every day after she leaves the diner.
Mack let me borrow her for an entire week when I first opened, but after I got a routine down, it was
n’t so bad. I can handle it on my own, but I’m glad she comes to help me out. I might go crazy if I didn’t have someone to talk to throughout the day. I’m used to chatting with my customers and buzzing around the diner all day.
Now, it’s just me and my ovens and Dolly. Parton. Not the real one, but the one singing to me through my stereo.
She and I go way back and these days, she’s my constant companion, giving me background music to bake the days, and often nights, away.
“Ain’t that right, Dolly?”
Prepping my large, stainless steel counter, I smile to myself. I’ll never take this for granted—baking pies for a living. Sometimes, I feel like this can’t be my life. Sure, I still work hard and I’m not rolling in the dough. No pun intended. But I’m making it and everything in here is mine. I did this. And I get to come to work every day and do something I love, something that brings me peace and joy.
Humming to myself the opening lines of 9 to 5, I walk into the main part of the shop, checking the coffee pots. I pour myself the last bit as Dolly sings about a cup of ambition. “Don’t mind if I do, Dolly.”
Taking my lukewarm cup of coffee and performance on the road, I walk back into the kitchen and pop my mug into the microwave for a few seconds.
This might be my favorite time of day, just me and my big kitchen and all the pie ingredients I can handle. And Dolly. It’s pretty darn close to perfect, but perfection is overrated. However, it is my life, and that's all I’ve ever wanted.
Rolling out my first pie crust, I get busy with my list: two caramel apples, two dark chocolate cherry tarts, one lemon meringue, and three Table 10s. When I opened the shop, I knew I had to incorporate the diner and Nathan into the menu somehow. So, as a tribute to the table that made all of this possible and the man who believed in me, I created a pie that incorporated all of Nathan’s favorites. It’s a lemon blueberry tart and it’s been my number one seller, so far.
My favorite part of the song comes on and I sing loudly. Dolly always knows just how to put me in the mood to work. Have I mentioned I’m a horrible singer? I’m not even karaoke good, but I can’t help myself. 9 to 5 is my jam, it’s like the working girl’s anthem. “Sing it, Dolly.”
Swaying to the beat, I roll out my next pie crust. At the rate I’m going, I’ll have these pies whipped out in no time.
When the song fades out, slow clapping from the doorway startles me so bad I drop my rolling pin and it bangs loudly on the counter.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Nathan says apologetically, but he can’t hide his laugh. “Sorry. It’s just, you were so cute and I was so wrapped up in your stellar performance.”
“I thought you were going to call when you left the office,” I accuse, still holding my chest, willing my heart to get back inside and return to its regularly scheduled programming.
But that’s a lost cause, because Nathan is standing in the doorway of my kitchen and he’s already ditched the suit jacket and has his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows—sexy forearms on display, ready to work.
“I brought you something,” he says in that low, smooth voice that bends me, making me agreeable to anything he offers.
“Oh?” I ask, unable make coherent thoughts.
“Well, it’s your one-month anniversary,” he begins and I fight the smile forcing its way onto my face. A few months ago, I would’ve balked at the idea of Nathan buying me anything, but things are different now. We’re different. Somewhere between me leaving him in that hotel room and finding myself in Humble, I realized that it’s okay to be taken care of. It’s okay to be vulnerable and need help. Accepting Nathan and whatever he has to offer, doesn’t make me any less independent and self-reliant, if anything I’m stronger because of it. Together, we’re a force to be reckoned with.
“Uh huh,” I encourage, feeling the tiniest bit of anticipation. For my first day, he bought me the radio I listen to Dolly on every day, because I was starting to go stir crazy with the constant quiet. For my first week, he bought me this awesome sidewalk sign for me to display my flavors of the day on. So, I’m not gonna lie, I can’t wait to see what my one-month gift is.
He walks backwards, disappearing around the corner. When he steps back into the kitchen, he’s holding a manila envelope that reminds me of the one he sent me at the diner. The same envelope I carried around for almost two weeks before opening.
“I’m going to need you to be a little more prompt at opening this one than the last,” he teases, walking toward me.
I laugh and shake my head at the memory.
Taking the envelope, I open it but keep my eyes on Nathan. The smile on his face is all the gift I need. Like last time, I know there is nothing in here that can make me feel any different about him. I love him. So much. It wouldn’t matter if he was a beggar on the street or a multi-millionaire, I’d feel the same.
“A traditional anniversary gift for the first month is paper,” he begins as I reach inside the envelope. “And I know this is the anniversary of the shop and not our anniversary, but I needed some ideas. So, I went with it.”
Inside the envelop are a few sheets of paper. Once I see what they are, the smile on my face grows.
“You made me a logo?”
“Well, I know you wanted to wait and see how things went before you invested in branding, but I believe in you. You’re already a huge success. So, I decided you needed your own logo. And boxes… all sizes. They’ll be delivered on Monday.”
“My own boxes?”
“Yep,” he replies, pulling me to him by my apron. “They’re pink.”
“They’re pink and they have my logo?” The excitement is building. I know it might not seem like a big deal, but it is. I’ve secretly wanted my own boxes, but settled for plain white ones. Honestly, it doesn’t take much to make me happy, but this is over the top. He could’ve bought me a new rolling pin or soup from our new favorite restaurant down the street and I would’ve been thrilled, but a logo and boxes is next level.
“Thank you!” I squeal, unable to hide my level of excitement.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I jump on him, squeezing him so hard.
“I’m going to take that as a win,” he laughs, wrapping his arms around me to keep me from falling.
“It’s a win,” I tell him, pulling back to look him in the eyes. “You’re a win. How’d I get so lucky?”
“Well, you make great pie,” he says, setting me on the counter. “That’s really all I’ve been after all along.”
“Oh, really?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s that lemon pie of yours that I just can’t get enough.” His voice is dripping with seduction.
“Lemon pie, huh?” I ask, swallowing hard.
“I’m a sucker for your cherry, too,” he says, with his lips at my ear.
“It’s been getting rave reviews,” I reply, loving the deep groan I get in return from Nathan.
“Well, it’s officially off the menu.” He squeezes my back side and pulls me to him, forcefully. “I’m the only one who gets to have you.”
Now we’re talking.
Reaching up, I cup his face, soaking him in. With him by my side, I feel like I can conquer the world, but no matter what happens. I know I’ll be okay.
I lean in and kiss his lips, breathing him in, tasting him.
“You’ve got a little something here,” I murmur, brushing off some flour from his jaw. “And here,” I add, reaching over and dabbing some lemon pie filling on his lips, then licking it off.
“Two can play at that game,” he warns, dipping his finger in the bowl and then drawing a line from my lips to my breasts. Dropping his head, he runs his tongue along my skin and my legs squeeze together, looking for friction.
Before I know it, I’m laid back on the counter and Nathan is hovering over me, a look of unadulterated hunger in his eyes.
“I’m gonna marry you one of these days,” he declares, causing my heart to leap out of my chest.
“I’m
gonna hold you to it,” I promise.
I'll happily be his—his main course, his dessert, and everything in between—for the rest of my life.
About the Authors
Jiffy Kate is the joint pen name for Jiff Simpson and Jenny Kate Altman.
Jiff was born and raised in Louisiana. She’s now living in Texas with her two teenagers and two bulldogs, Georgia Rose and Jake. She spends her days enabling people’s LulaRoe addictions. Don’t worry, it’s not illegal.
Jenny Kate was born and raised in Oklahoma where she lives with her husband, teenager, and two high-maintenance Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Wrigley and Oliver. She’s a coffee-obsessed accounting assistant, who wishes she had an endless supply of money and vacation days.
Some people think they’ve been friends forever, but they’ve only known each other about six years. Kindred spirits and all that. After their first “date”, they knew it was fate. Five years ago, they started writing their first story and they haven’t stopped.
Their first published book, Finding Focus, was released in November 2015. Since then, they’ve published the second book of the Finding Focus Series, Chasing Castles, and a new adult romance, The Other One.
If you like a romance set in the south, then you’ll love their southern fried fiction with heart and soul.
You can find Jiffy Kate on most social media outlets:
Facebook – www.facebook.com/jiffykate
Twitter – www.twitter.com/jiffykatewrites
Instagram – www.instagram.com/jiffykatewrites
Goodreads - www.goodreads.com/jiffykate
Reader Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1715874732005911/
Other Books by Jiffy Kate
Finding Focus – https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Focus-Book
Chasing Castles – https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Castles
The Other One – https://www.amazon.com/Other-One
Jiffy Kate’s Amazon Page - https://www.amazon.com/Jiffy-Kate
