by Marina Adair
Fuck the takeout.
* * *
Josephina’s whole body shook as she tried to open the front door of her house. She’d never felt so nervous or alive. Brett’s strong hand was resting at the small of her back, but he could have been deep inside of her from the way her body was reacting.
With his free hand, he took the keys and opened the door. Once inside she tugged him toward the staircase but he pulled her to a stop.
“What?”
Before he could answer, Boo’s head peeked over the back of the couch. The minute he spotted her his whole body started wiggling. Tail wagging so hard it moved his whole being, he trotted over.
Brett looked down. “I’m giving you two minutes to do your thing. After that I’m locking the door and you won’t get back in until morning.”
Boo let out a snort and then, snout in the air, made his way outside.
Brett shut the door and walked back toward her. Never stopping, never hesitating, he just walked right up into her space as if he belonged and took her mouth. His lips were amazing, full and skilled, all patience and finesse. He kissed her as though he couldn’t get enough, which worked for her, since she was pretty sure that this was the best kiss in the history of the world.
In fact, kissing Brett was like being reborn, like she was being kissed for the first time. It was needy and desperate and—magical.
Kind of like his thigh, which was currently tucked between hers, putting on the pressure and driving her right out of her mind. Nuclear-powered tingles exploded though her body and it was all she could do not to unbuckle his belt and drop his pants. Especially when his thigh shifted higher, pressing harder, creating a delicious friction.
Friction was good. Friction was freaking great. But she wanted more. So she went to work, leading her hand to the cause. Okay, both hands, since one palmed his ass to pull him closer, while the other slid around the front to his—oh, my.
“Aw, sugar,” Brett groaned, his head falling back. “You keep that up and it will be over in three seconds, and I want to do this right. In a bed. Taking my time. Loving you all night.”
That last part had her nipples going into party mode. But the bed? Was he serious? After weeks of foreplay there was no way she was going to make it upstairs. That he hadn’t attempted to move, except to push harder into her palm, told her that it would not take much to get him on board.
She gave a little squeeze. “Impatient, remember?”
Maybe it was more than a little squeeze, but he didn’t seem to mind. Nope, Brett’s eyes dilated and she knew it was game on, because he let out a relieved groan and all of his finesse and hard-won patience evaporated. His mouth took hers as hands slid up her thighs and under her dress, gripping her ass. Then he lifted. Her feet came off the ground, her heart fell to her toes, and Josephina felt sexy. Desirable. Wanted.
How long had it been since she had felt wanted? Too long to remember.
“Wrap your legs around me.”
Worked for her. She even let out a relieved gasp when her back came flush with the wall and her happy parts got up close and personal with his. Anticipation set her body on fire and her hands to work, tugging at his belt buckle. Brett’s hands were skilled, shoving her dress to her waist and running the tips of his fingers along the edge of her silk panties, then up the center, making her gasp.
“You’re soaked.”
“I have been all night,” she admitted, smiling when his belt clanked open.
“Then I have been neglecting my dately duties.”
If Josephina was having trouble getting his jeans unbuttoned before, she was helpless when he pushed her silk to the side and slid one finger in. When another joined the party, she knew without a doubt that this was the best first date ever.
Wanting him to feel the same, she gave up on his fly and slid her hand inside his jeans, sighing when she found him already hard. She stroked him, his body jerking at the contact, and his hands faltered, nearly dropping her. So of course she did it again. This time she didn’t have to scream for him to take her to the table.
Brett had figured out that part for himself, launching into action and moving them across the room at record speed.
She moaned when her bottom met a cold, hard surface. But it was a deep, needy moan that escaped when Brett nudged her thighs wider and settled between her legs. He was sheathed and ready, sinking into her before she could do more than tug her panties to the side.
And good God, time stopped. She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to breathe, afraid that if she did it would all be over. And it couldn’t be over. The feeling was just too amazing.
He was amazing.
“Brett,” she breathed, not sure how to explain what was happening. It was as though all of the emotions and expectations collided into a ball of hot need low in her belly.
“I know,” he groaned, placing a kiss in the curve of her neck. His hands tightened on her hips, pulling her toward him, until she felt full, complete.
Digging her heels into his lower back, she urged him even closer, with such force that they tipped back until she was flat on the table and he was flat against her. A great combination—that hard, male weight, pressing into her soft curves felt so good she couldn’t catch her breath. All of the fantasies she had built up over the past month couldn’t even compare to the real thing.
Not even bothering to brace his weight, Brett drove into her and she came hard and embarrassingly fast. No that it deterred him, since he continued pumping, creating hundreds of aftershocks before he quickly followed her over.
Still splayed across her, and buried deep inside, Brett pulled back. His hair sticking in every direction, his shirt missing the top few buttons, he looked as dazed as she felt.
With a contented sigh, Josephina turned her head, surprised to find Kenny staring down at her. In fact, her mind was so muddled that when Boo yipped to be let back in, Josephina found herself wondering why the hell they had waited so long. Sex with Brett was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
“You okay?” Brett whispered.
Josephina nodded, unsure if she had enough left in her to actually form a coherent word. And when she spoke her voice came out breathy. But she was breathy. “That was—”
Boo barked. Loud enough to wake the entire Sugar Lake neighborhood.
“Just the appetizer,” Brett whispered, slowly easing out of her. He helped her sit up and pressed a sweet kiss to the side of her neck.
With one last look, he discarded the condom and went to the door to open it. Boo sprang in, ears back, tail up. He was on high alert.
“Now go on,” Brett told Boo and pointed to the couch.
Boo walked over to the table and sat firmly under Josephina’s feet, which still hung lifeless off the end of the table. Too much bliss could do that to a girl.
“Sorry, buddy. Tonight she’s mine. We talked about this. You knew it was coming.”
With a resigned sigh, Boo gave Josephina one last big blink of the eyes, kind of like Brett had a moment ago, and tapped across the floor to curl up on the couch. He even turned his back as if giving them privacy.
Josephina couldn’t help but smile. “You had a talk with Boo?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve learned always to express my intent when there is another man in the house.” Brett tugged her to a stand and her dress back over her body.
“And what was the consensus?”
“That he’d have to start sharing.” Brett eased her against him, his hands moving deliciously up her spine.
“Boo’s not big on sharing.”
“Neither am I.” Josephina felt a slight tug and then her dress fell to the floor, leaving her in nothing but her Falcons-red panty set and matching pumps. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Ready for the second course, she reached behind to undo her bra.
Brett caught her hand. “Not yet. Now we take it slow, and that means I get to finally look at you. All of you.”
Josephina resisted
the urge to cover herself, but his gaze was so hungry and intense she wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. Not that she had time to figure it out. With an appreciative grunt, Brett scooped her up and headed for the staircase.
“What are you doing?”
“Sugar, I have waited weeks to see you like this. I’m going to take my time enjoying every inch of you. First with my hands.” He started up the stairs, firmly cupping her butt.
“Then with my mouth.” He ran his tongue over the lace edging of her bra, while he placed her on the mattress.
After delivering a well-placed, well-executed kiss that spanned from her breast all the way past her belly button and lower, he straightened and stood back, his eyes raking over her body. Neither of them moved or spoke. She watched him watching her, and the raw lust in his expression made her bold.
She pushed up on her elbow, moving so that one bra strap—whoops, how did that happen?—slid off her shoulder. “Then what?”
His eyes rose to meet hers and a slow, lethal smile curved at his lips. “Why don’t you slide off those panties and I’ll show you.”
Josephina reached behind her with one hand and then changed her mind. If he wanted a show, she would give him one. Her eyes never leaving his, she traced the lace trim with the tips of her fingers, slowly tugging down the fabric and letting her breasts spill over.
“I changed my mind,” Brett said, his voice thick and strained. “I want to be the one to undress you.”
Reaching behind with one arm, he pulled his shirt off. Next came his jeans, underwear included, exposing a tribal tattoo that started on his upper rib cage and ran the length of him, down to his hipbone and disappearing behind his back, where Josephina knew it stopped at the dimple above his butt. It also exposed the most incredible erection she had ever seen. She tried not to openly stare, but the man was gorgeous.
Before dropping his jeans to the floor, Brett reached into the back pocket and pulled out a strip of condoms. Holding it by two fingers he let the packet fall open, revealing a six-pack—minus one.
“Pretty cocky there, cowboy.”
“It’s called confident optimism.” Tossing the condoms on the bed next to her, he covered her body with his, and she sighed at how good it felt. Their naked skin touched, sticking in the summer heat, as he pressed her hands above her head and into the mattress. “And the cocky doesn’t start until portion three of the evening.”
She laughed and he kissed her, slowly and languidly, as he had all night, intending to enjoy every second of it—and every inch of her. He kissed the side of her mouth, nibbled on her lower lip, and dipped his tongue inside for a kiss that seemed to go on forever.
Her fingers, on a mission of their own, ran down his tattoo, tracing the slightly puckered lines all the way to his ass, then along his hip and around to the front. She couldn’t help it if in the process, the backs of her fingers grazed the tip of his erection. Twice.
“Jesus, Joie,” he said, rolling on his side to face her. “This time it’s going to last.”
With his rough hands, he traced her lips, her breasts, her every curve, leaving nothing unexplored. He was killing her, his fingers teasing up and around, mapping every inch of her from belly button to the tips of her toes. By the time he got back to her center, sliding his finger under the elastic of her panties, her body was so amped she was shaking.
At least she’d die a satisfied woman, she thought, when his fingers eased under the silk and then into her—and the wait was worth it. His calloused fingers against her achy skin felt so delicious her whole body clenched, pulling him deeper. He stroked her gently, slowly building the pressure, until the tension knotted in her stomach, in her every muscle—and she wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to hold back.
She was pretty sure she asked for more, but he ignored her, instead taking his sweet-ass time, nipping at the underside of her breasts until she was certain she was going to die. His tongue traced mindless patterns over the lace, making sure to cover every inch of her breast, except the nipple.
With an impatient moan, she arched up, trying to show him what she needed, and Brett smiled against her skin. And just when she thought he was going to take off her bra and move to the other breast, he covered her with his mouth, pulling so hard she felt it all the way to her core. He slid in another finger, and she felt the pressure intensify until he gave a gentle nip right as his thumb pressed down on the right spot and she exploded, crying out his name.
Body limp, nerves humming, Josephina opened her eyes to find Brett watching her. He wasn’t so laid-back or easygoing anymore. His face was tight and his body taut.
“Do you have any idea how gorgeous you look when you come?”
She slowly shook her head, amazed. Two orgasms. In one night. She didn’t even think that was possible. Not for her. She looked down and laughed. “I still have my underwear on.”
“Not for long.” He slid her panties down her legs, over her heels, and off, his hands exploring the entire way. Her bra came next. “The shoes stay on.”
“Only if we promise to skip over point two on your presentation and go straight to the third item on the list.”
Brett grinned. It was wicked and hot, and Josephina felt her body start to heat back up. “And that would be?”
Reminding herself that she was living life at full tilt, she explained, “I want you. Inside of me. I believe you said I could have it slow and long and all night.”
“Best item on the menu,” he drawled.
Tearing off a foil packet, he covered her body with his, and she felt him pressing at her entrance. Her patience gone and her body demanding release, Josephina rose up and took him in one hard thrust.
“Fuck,” he rasped, his fingers digging into her right hip.
When they could both breathe again, he withdrew and then sank back in, slow and easy, giving her exactly what she needed, until she forgot to be nervous. Forgot about his grandma and her parents and the stupid feud. Until all she could think about was him, and her, and this moment.
“Is this okay?” he whispered.
It was more than okay. It was amazing. And she hadn’t felt amazing in years. As if she were at home in her own body. As if being her were enough. So to show him just what he did to her, she tightened her thighs around him and Brett let out a low moan. “The lady requested slow and long, so I’m trying for slow and long. But, Christ, Joie, you aren’t making it easy.”
“I changed my mind. The lady wants it hard and fast,” she panted, surprised at her words, but inwardly proud. She was done living by everyone else’s rules, wanted to live life with no holds barred.
Josephina arched up off the mattress and circled her hips.
“Yes, ma’am,” Brett growled, and proceeded to do just that. He hooked a hand behind her knee and brought it up flush with her hips and drove in, going deep and hard and hitting places that she’d long ago passed off as myth.
He picked up the pace, pushing her pleasure well past amazing and into sudden meltdown. The familiar heat built, spreading out and curling her toes. Brett dropped his hand between their bodies, circling the right spot. With one slide of his finger, Joie exploded and everything inside her shook.
Brett gave a last thrust and she heard him moan out her name. Then he collapsed on top of her. Josephina’s leg fell to the side, her arms hung limp around his back as she lay there, silently listening to the pounding of her heart and their heavy breaths as they struggled to take in oxygen. Outside of opening her eyes, it was impossible to move. Not that she wanted to be anywhere but there, under this big mass of yummy man.
After a long moment, he rolled over, taking her with him. Brushing a strand of hair off her forehead, he planted a kiss on her temple. “You are amazing.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” she whispered, forcing herself to hold it together.
Those three simple words affected her far more that they should, because she couldn’t remember the last time someone had said so
mething so sweet to her. Not since Letty. And she wanted to curl into him and never let go, which was when Josephina knew she needed to lighten the mood before her heart did something stupid—like fall for a guy who was bound to leave.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Not so bad?” Brett cupped her face between his hands and brought her lips to his. “I guess I’d better get to work on raising your opinion of me.”
She held up the remainder of their condom strip. “You only have four swings. Think you’ll come in under par?”
“Sugar, I made three aces with two swings, and I still have part two in tonight’s itinerary to see to.” He trailed open-mouthed kisses down her chest to her belly, nipping at her hipbone. “Plus, if we run out, I got a box in my room. Costco-sized.”
Chapter 18
Josephina pulled her gold-sequined ball cap low on her head and tried to remind herself that this thing with Brett was temporary. But the more time she spent with him, the more she felt herself hope for something more.
He was charming and thoughtful and the best lover she’d ever had. But it wasn’t just the sex that had her heart spiraling out of control. It was how he could challenge her while never making her feel that she could disappoint him. He seemed to like her, quirks and all. And somehow managed to make her laugh in spite of her parents and the old biddies driving her insane.
The showdown at the Gravy Train was only one of the many ways Brett had tried to ease Josephina’s way into Sugar societal acceptance. And it was working. People were actually smiling at her when they went into town, asking her about Fairchild House, and offering their help on the Pucker Up and Drive. It was as if she was finally making a place in Sugar. The only thing about Brett that she didn’t like was that he was leaving in just a few weeks.
Looking up at all of the spectators in the stands, Josephina squared her shoulders and forced herself to focus. Surrounded by half the town of Sugar, she stood ankle deep in mud, wearing denim, camouflage, and a huge target on her back. With more than a dozen women, and the prize being Brett, Josephina knew it was about to get down and dirty. Especially when she saw Darleen from the bank, who had been so nice when she’d applied for the loan, look from Brett to Josephina, her vision tunneling in and turning hard.
