Sweeter Than Chocolate: Valentine's Day Anthology

by Gina Kincade

  And if she knew anything, Caroline would get her man if she wanted him. He’d be a fool to refuse her.

  Liv wandered out of the house and took the first step down into the atrium extension. The sign on the artfully drawn chalkboard read:

  Shifting Hearts Dating Agency App Launch

  The room had been made up in pink and red; the stunning table settings located around the ring of the room, absolutely beautiful. Her flowers in glass containers winked with candles and twinkle lights. Red napkins were folded into glassware. Silver accent plates with pink party favors were laid out waiting for their guests to arrive. For now, pink bows wrapped around the backs of white folding chairs arranged to face the front dais. Draped in white shears with twinkle lights and vines cascading down, it was a sight to behold. The ceiling was covered in textured white paint with more sheer white fabric drawn together in long, draped sheets, centered by a tastefully done chandelier.

  “Nice,” she breathed.

  “Thank you.”

  Liv swiveled on her heels. A gorgeous, dark haired woman smiled at her and held out her hand. “I’m Paige, part owner of Shifting Hearts. Thanks for helping out with the app launch party. Caroline said to look for you.”

  “Oh, you’re totally welcome. She should be around here somewhere.”

  Paige waved her hand toward the group clustered at the side of the room. “She’s fawning after Chef Patrick. I’m not worried about her.”

  “Worried?” Liv wasn’t sure what she meant.

  “You know, being a part of the app launch. Everyone here will get to participate and give us feedback on what works, and what doesn’t. That kind of thing.”

  Oh, really?

  “I should have known Caroline was up to something,” Liv said wryly.

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” The other woman looked alarmed.

  God, she’d never hear the end of it if she didn’t.

  “No. I’d be happy to. Just let me know what I need to do.”

  “We’ll get started in a few minutes. I just have to find my partner, Sylvia, and my brother, Rafe. He’s in charge of the app development. You haven’t seen a tall guy with dark hair running around, have you?” Paige eyeballed the partygoers that were starting to stream through the door.

  “Nope. I mean, there’s a lot of guys here and all.”

  “It’s fine.” She frowned. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon. I’ll catch you later.”

  “Sure.” Liv giggled. The woman had a lot on her mind, that much was obvious. She hoped, for her sake, that the launch went well.

  Wandering through the room, she noted the flowers were holding up nicely. Just as she started to turn around, she saw a door that led into what she thought might have been a bathroom. Giving the knob a twist, she found herself in a small outdoor porch between the two buildings. The door shut behind her and then automatically locked from the inside.

  “Well, crap.”

  Then, movement caught her eye and she found herself face to face with her dick head ex.

  Chapter Six

  “What are you doing here?” Brody frowned. His usual jeans and tee shirt had been replaced by a tux.

  “I’m here for the app launch party. What are you doing here? And in a tux, no less.” Liv crossed her arms in front of her chest.

  “I’m getting married.”

  So, it was true. Well, nothing like having it shoved in your face. Again. Her hands dropped to her sides and curled into fists.

  “You’re the wedding party next door.”

  Wow. She really should have read the names on the sign. How did she even miss running into them this morning when she was here setting up?

  “Yeah. And you need to get out of here before Stephanie or anyone else sees you.”

  Oh no, he did not. Would that she wasn’t a green witch and could actually hurl a curse or two. Man, that would have been fucking awesome right about now.

  Asshole.

  Liv drew her shoulders back and pressed her lips together. “I don’t think so, Brody. Not this time.”

  “Liv, I’m warning you.” He took a stop forward, his eyes narrowed into slits.

  She remembered that look well. It was the one right before he’d lashed out at her with his fists.

  “Warning her about what?” A clipped voice interjected. “She has just as much right to be here as you do.”

  Dr. Thomas Merton emerged from the shadows between the two buildings, his eyes luminous.

  “It’s my wedding and she’s not welcome.”

  Liv saw red. All the rage and feeling like a failure because she couldn’t hold her marriage together…couldn’t even protect her daughter from a creep like him, enveloped her like a tidal wave.

  “Not welcome? Really, Brody? You have the balls to say that to me after what you did?”

  Her rescuer raised an elegant eyebrow, but stepped closer as Brody shoved his finger in her face.

  “Get out of here, Liv. Or I’ll have you thrown out.”

  A low growl permeated the small space and it took her a moment to realize it was coming from the man beside her.

  He was a shifter. How had she not known?

  Because she hadn’t taken the time to. She didn’t even wonder about him being here. Caroline must have invited him, but for him to be here at this exact moment, she was more than a little grateful.

  She reached out a hand to calm him, and a connection unlike anything she’d ever felt slid through her like wildfire.

  A small gasp left her lips and she blinked up at him, meeting his surprised expression with one of her own.

  “Dr. Merton.”

  He shook his head, a different kind of light shining from his eyes. “Thomas.”

  “Both of you. Out. Or I’m calling the cops.”

  Thomas chuckled darkly. “I don’t think you will.”

  “And why is that?” Brody sneered.

  “Your new bride, does she know what you did? That the officers were so busy chasing down the drunk driver they didn’t bother to follow up on a certain man who’d had a few under his belt when he decided to get behind the wheel of his car with his daughter?”

  “Who the fuck are you, asshole?” Brody stepped back, his eyes widening in surprise.

  “He’s the man who tried to save the only good thing about our marriage.” Liv’s voice was strangled, even to her own ears.

  That was it. She was done. Done with Brody and all of his bullshit. Done with feeling like she had done something to deserve this.

  “Get me out of here.”

  Dr. Merton, no, Thomas, held out his hand and she took it, his heat enveloping her in a world where Brody and his ilk didn’t exist.

  She nodded, letting him lead her away.

  Chapter Seven

  Thomas almost lost it completely and he wasn’t sorry. Tension thrummed inside of him as he held Liv’s hand and led her from the odious presence of the scum she’d been married to.

  His wolf wanted to rip the man to shreds for what he’d done.

  Stand down.

  A low growl was his only answer as he maneuvered her around the building. He’d been to this venue once before when one of his pack members decided to hold a human wedding and he knew there was a bridal suite hidden above the room where the app launch was being held. Although, judging from the yelling he heard coming from the main event space, the launch wasn’t going well at all.

  “Up this way.”

  “Where are we going?” Liv’s voice had that breathless, sultry quality that made his clothes fit just a little too tight.

  “There’s a suite of rooms they use for weddings.”

  When she faltered mid step, he shook his head. “No. They won’t see you. No one will. It’s a private space above our building.”

  “How do you know?”

  “That’s a story for another time.” He gave her a smile and reached for the door handle.

  The room was furnished with a daybed, a small kitchenett
e, and a sitting area. It was perfect for them to get a moment away from the crowd and her dick head of an ex.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you back there. Or to intrude. But I was walking around wondering how much the grounds had changed and heard him threaten you.”

  He closed the door behind them and watched her as she inspected the space.

  “I’m glad you did. The heel of my left shoe also thanks you.”

  “I’m sorry?” He wasn’t sure what to make of that particular comment.

  “If he had come much closer, it would have been sticking out of his eye.”

  “Oh.” He chortled. “Now that would have been a waste of a good shoe.”

  “Tell me about it,” she replied drily.

  “We don’t have to stay here for long. I just thought you might not want to go back to the launch just yet.”

  “Did you hear yelling?”

  Thomas grimaced. “I did. Wolf hearing being what it is, I do believe the man of the hour didn’t make his expected appearance.”

  “Oh no.” Liv’s eyes widened. “That poor woman.”

  “Indeed.”

  Her eyes clouded over, as if in thought.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What happened down there? When you touched me?”

  Thomas took a deep breath and moved away from the door. If she wanted to bolt, he wouldn’t stand in her way.

  “You’ve been around shifters, I take it?”

  Liv nodded, cocking her head.

  “When we find our mate, something happens inside of us. A chemical reaction of sorts.”

  “Spoken like a doctor.” A small smile played on her lips, but her eyes stayed fixed on him.

  Here was where it got tricky.

  “When I met you at the hospital, my wolf knew you for what you were.”

  Liv blinked. “But you never said…”

  “How could I? You were there under extraordinarily difficult circumstances and, for all purposes, taken.”

  He moved toward the kitchenette, restless.

  “You came to the flower shop.”

  He nodded. “The first time was an accident. The rest, not so much.”

  Color stained her cheeks. “I didn’t behave very well, did I?”

  A snort erupted before he could restrain it. “No. But your partner cleared up that mystery for me.”

  “Oh?” Her voice grew sharp. “And what might that be?”

  “The flowers were for the children.”

  “What?” She stepped closer to him and he wondered if it was conscious or instinct taking over.

  He nodded. “When we mate, we mate for life.”

  “But…” She rung her hands. “I haven’t…”

  He smiled and closed the distance between them. Tipping her chin up with his finger, he slipped his hand into her hair. “You didn’t have to. Just being around you was enough.”

  Her soft skin under his hand was nirvana.

  “I want…”

  His wolf slid under his skin and his cock strained against his slacks. God, how he hungered for this woman.

  “What do you want, Liv?” He whispered, placing his lips on her forehead.

  She shifted in his arms and tilted her lips up to meet his, and his world exploded into a fusion of color.

  Groaning, he tugged her closer as her kisses grew more insistent. Dizzy with want, he barely noticed they had made their way to the daybed until his legs buckled beneath him and she’d crawled onto his lap.

  Chapter Eight

  Liv’s world was a riot of color and sensation. His hands on her body spurred her higher. The taste of his lips on hers made her forget the darkness and feel only him.

  Somehow, they’d been talking and moments later here they were on the daybed, with her straddling his lap. Only the layers of his pants and the wisp of fabric of her panties baring his entrance.

  Why was that?

  She needed to take them off.

  “What’s happening?” She panted, the liquid heat of her core screaming for release.

  “You’re feeling the mate bond.” His normally neat hair was tousled and his lips were puffy from being kissed repeatedly.

  “I think I like you like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Looking like you’ve been well and properly kissed.” She grinned and reached beneath her dress. Those panties had to go. Two thumbs and a kick had them careening to the other side of the room.

  “Well, then.” His voice was strained as he reached for his zipper. Moments later, his erection sprang free.

  It was fucking gorgeous.

  “Thank you.”

  “Oh, God. Did I say that out loud?” Liv was mortified.

  “Yes.” He grinned and tugged her forward.

  She didn’t have to be asked twice. Settling over him, she guided the fat head of his cock into her entrance, sucking in a gasp of air when he thrust upward.

  “God…”

  “Not quite.” He gripped her hips and ground the root of himself deep inside of her, stretching and filling her until she groaned.

  Her nipples tightened into nubs that scraped against the inside of her bra. All she wanted was to feel her body against him, skin to skin, but there would be time for that later.

  Much later.

  “Now,” she pressed herself against him and buried her fingers in his hair. Manipulating her hips, she ground her body against him as he lifted up from beneath, the power of his thighs making her weak.

  Before she knew it, he flipped her onto her back. Every stroke was a love song that had taken years in the making. Every kiss a fiery explosion within her to make up for all the heartache.

  His fingers stroked her lady bits and she screamed, her body convulsing around his length as the first orgasm rippled through her body.

  “Liv,” he gasped, driving deeper and harder as she went to pieces around him.

  She caught sight of his luminous eyes as his thrusts became more insistent and, relying on instinct, she took his hand in her mouth and bit down until she tasted blood.

  His snarl turned into a groan as he found his own release, hips jerking as he filled her with his seed. Pain seared her neck as his teeth found purchase, marking her as she had him. There was no way to tell where the pleasure stopped and the pain began. It was one. They were one.

  She wrapped her legs around him and held him close, listening to his heartbeat as their bodies slowed.

  He was still inside her and she didn’t want him to move.

  It was too soon.

  Shifting his weight, she mewled in protest as he withdrew and dragged her, wobbling to her feet.

  “Again?”

  Goddess, she was greedy. But she didn’t care.

  “That sounds wonderful, but first…” Thomas grinned, pulling Liv back into his embrace. He reached for the zipper on the back of the lace dress and lowered it, letting the garment fall to the floor.

  “I want to see you.”

  Liv’s bra was the next to go, landing on the floor next to the dress. She had no idea where her shoes had landed and was glad her legs were smooth enough to not wear stockings.

  “Thomas…I…” Liv pressed her lips against Thomas’, sinking into the sweet and now familiar taste of him. “This is how I want to feel. Every day, every hour.”

  Liv groaned and swayed in Thomas’ embrace. His fingers twined in Liv’s hair and his mouth hungrily devoured her, moving from her lips to the soft spaces on her neck and behind her ear. His kiss was urgent and exploratory, sending her stomach into a wild swirl of longing.

  Thomas pushed Liv back toward the bed, lowering her down onto the quilt. He let his gaze travel over Liv’s body and tenderly appraised her.

  “I’ve loved you for better or for worse every day since I met you.” Thomas smoothed a tear from Liv’s cheek. His lips claimed hers once more and he stood, tugging at the buttons of his shirt.

  In moments, his clothes lay on the floor next to hers and she hungered
for the man who had become her moon and stars.

  Goddess, why hadn’t she seen him for who he was sooner?

  “You couldn’t.”

  “I said that out loud, too, didn’t I?” Heat surged up her face and she wanted to roll over and hide.

  “You did.” He poked her in the side and she giggled, looking up at him sheepishly. “You also bit me.”

  “Hey, so did you.”

  “But you bit me first.” He climbed into bed, giving her a long, toe curling kiss.

  Yelling and the sounds of people outside jolted them both. It was either the launch party or the wedding. Liv decided she really didn’t care. Whatever it was could wait until tomorrow.

  “The door’s locked,” Thomas murmured. “Don’t worry.”

  “Good.” She hooked one leg over his and wrapped a hand over his length.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Mmmm.” She stroked him, twisting her hand over the blunt head, noting the excitement dancing in his eyes.

  “Excellent.” A wicked smile curled his lips upward. “I haven’t even started yet.” He lowered his lips and pressed a kiss onto Liv’s mound. Her pussy dampened, she hungered to savor the length of manhood between Thomas’ thighs. Why did it feel like she was starving for him? Minutes felt like hours and she clamored for his touch.

  “I want to look at you.” His eyes raked over her body and she squirmed beneath his observation.

  “Thomas…”

  He leaned forward and took the tip of one of her breasts into his mouth and sucked. Liv writhed beneath him as he switched from one to the other, the rock like points glistening in the half light. Every stroke of his tongue shot bolts of heat into her core and she was about to explode.

  Easing his finger along the slick folds of Liv’s heat, he slid a digit inside of her hot, wet sheath. His hand cupped Liv’s sex, rubbing lightly against her clit, and she watched him smile as another orgasm had her twisting against the quilt.

  “More…”

  “Mmmm. Soon.”

  “No. I need to touch you.” Liv reached out and it was her turn to lower him to the bed.