by Cara Dee
“Thank you.” I gave Alessia’s hand a squeeze.
Isla looked like she was about to burst. “Gah! Okay, I have a million questions, but I’ll save those for when I get Alessia alone.”
I smirked. “I appreciate that—I think.”
Alessia giggled.
“Alessia, hon,” Jameson said, returning to his seat at the dining table, “blink if you want us to save you.”
Hardy-fucking-har. Everyone obviously thought that was hilarious.
I’d show my gratitude for his playing tonight another day. Right now, I had something more important to tell him. “Okay, enough chitchat. I’m taking my girl home, and Jamie, there’s no cake on your plate.”
I dragged Alessia out of there in the midst of Jamie’s furious outburst that, admittedly, made me laugh a great deal. He’d met his matches, that was for fucking sure.
We were on each other the second we made it home. I pushed off her coat while she unzipped my jacket. Her mittens and beanie landed on the floor. She threw my ball cap somewhere. I’d cursed the center console in my truck for being in the way, I’d cursed the elevator for being so goddamn slow, and now I cursed when Alessia dropped to her knees right there in the middle of our living room.
I threaded my fingers through her hair as she pulled down my jeans.
As soon as my boxer briefs were past my hips, she gripped my cock and closed her soft lips over the head. Her gaze was too seductive.
“I’ll punish you if you tease me,” I warned. “Suck me off like a good girl.”
Fuck me if she didn’t whimper around my cock. She coated me with her tongue and took me deep.
Shudders ripped through me at the feel of her hot, wet little mouth. She sucked me hard and maintained eye contact, something that rendered me stupid.
“Jesus Christ,” I whispered.
I tested the waters by fucking her mouth slowly, and she offered a quick nod and slipped her hands back to my ass.
My God. I let her go and scrubbed my hands over my face. Then I returned one hand to her, wrapping her hair around my fist and guiding her back and forth on my cock.
She released my cock with a wet pop to catch her breath after a while, so I stroked myself in front of her face as she kissed her way down to my sac.
“Use me how you want, tesoro,” she pleaded. “Don’t hold back. I want—” She flushed and sucked one of my balls into her mouth.
I grunted and felt my thighs tremble.
“You want what? Tell me.”
“Don’t hold back,” she repeated in a whisper. “I’ve been fantasizing about you going rough on me since I was a teenager.”
I hauled in a breath at the filthy images that flew through my mind.
“Open your mouth,” I said.
She did as told, and I guided my cock into her mouth, sliding it along her tongue.
“Uh-uh, don’t suck yet.” I fisted her hair tighter and pushed deeper. “I wanna see where my cock makes you gag.”
That worked on her, and seeing the transformation happen right before my eyes caused something to snap inside me. I saw it in her eyes. The desperation seeped through, and she pressed her thighs together. Her hands dropped to her lap.
“Is that it, baby?” I stared hungrily as the head of my cock rubbed against the back of her throat. “Were you a filthy little girl at camp? Did you think about me taking you even back then?”
She nodded minutely and blushed furiously.
My lips parted with a heavy breath. Fucking hell. Then I watched her screw her eyes shut and choke when I pressed the head down her throat.
“Breathe through your nose,” I murmured. “You can’t confess something like that and expect me to act like a gentleman. If you act like a slut, you get treated like one.”
She whimpered again, and the quick vibrations traveled up my shaft.
I gave her some time to adjust until I felt her hands sliding up my thighs and back to my ass again.
“Perfect,” I breathed through a shiver. I eased up some. “We have years of fantasies to act out, I reckon.”
Her gaze flashed to mine, and I saw all the silent pleading I needed to see to let go of my last shred of decency.
Pushing forward again, I fucked her tight throat in quick little thrusts. In, in, in, out. I let her gulp for air before I forced myself in again.
I sucked in a breath as a wave of heat washed over me.
“Suck me for all you’re worth,” I ordered raggedly. “It’s the only cock you’ll worship for the rest of your life.”
She moaned and redoubled her efforts, swirling her tongue around me every time she drew me in. “It’s the only cock I want.”
“Good.” I touched her cheek. “Sometimes I’ll treat you like a princess when I take you. I’ll smother you in kisses and fuck your sweet pussy with my tongue until you pass out.” I grabbed ahold of the back of her head and slowly pushed my cock down her throat. “And sometimes.” I stifled a groan as she choked and convulsed around me. “Sometimes I’ll treat you like my dirty little whore. I’ll use you because I can’t fucking control myself around you.”
When I let her come up for air, she gasped out, “Adam, I need you.”
And those words nearly pushed me over the edge.
I clenched my jaw and hauled her off the floor. I was completely done talking. Ushering her over to the couch, I positioned myself behind her and made quick work of her pants. I shoved a hand down her panties and felt how soaked she was.
She mewled and bucked into my hand.
She couldn’t be more ready for me.
As I pushed down her panties, I bent her over the back of the couch. Then I guided my cock to her pussy and slammed in.
With a tight grip on her luscious hips, I fucked her hard and relentlessly, setting the pace for the rest of the weekend that would be remembered by all the spots in our building I claimed my future wife.
I grabbed the headboard and punched into her over and over while she cried out and clawed at me. It used to be her bed. Now it was ours.
She’d turned me into an insatiable animal, and she matched the thirst like no one else.
“You’re so close,” I said, breathing heavily. “Come on, love. One more, and then I’ll fill you again.”
I’d become obsessed with coming inside her.
She gasped and threw her head back.
I rubbed her clit harder, and when I admitted how much it turned me on to watch my come trickle out of her tight pussy, she went rigid and screamed out her orgasm.
I followed as if her body commanded it.
Up until Valentine’s week started at the restaurant, life was solely about food and sex.
Whenever we worked, the ring burned in my pocket.
Possessiveness continued to build up within me, and it was her I took it all out on—every minute I could. In the elevator, in the stairwell, and one night, I broke my own rule and took her behind the bar in the restaurant.
The streetlights outside were the only source of light when I lifted her up onto the counter next to the register, parted her legs, and buried my face against her pussy.
She’d been asking for it all night by wearing a skirt and reminding me she’d skipped the panties.
“Anyone can see us, baby,” she hissed.
“You should’ve thought of that sooner.” I got down on one knee and encouraged her to drape her legs over my shoulders. Fuck, she tasted amazing, and the sounds she made drove me nuts. She always tried to keep it down at first. But eventually, she caved.
I sucked on her clit and fingered her, I rubbed the stubble around my mouth between her lips where she was so fucking sensitive, then I licked the flesh I’d upset and watched it turn dark pink. I tongue-fucked her until she was begging for my cock, I teased her until she was desperate. It was how I wanted her. Always.
Then I hiked her to the very edge of the counter, stood up, freed my cock, and forced it into her pussy.
Before we knew it, Valentine�
�s Day was here, and there was a line outside the restaurant for our first service.
As we usually did before an event, Alessia and I held a little pep talk with our crew in the kitchen.
Griffin would be assisting me today, with Tracy using one of the workstations back here. He’d have Jon with him too. Three servers, one bartender. Alessia hostessing and helping out behind the bar when it was needed.
Everything was prepared. Alessia and one of the servers had spent the day decorating the dining room, and she didn’t know she’d set the scene for her own proposal.
I was fucking buzzing with energy, and I loved seeing our crew on the same page. I wanted them to love working here, to be a part of something, a living organism, and they all played an integral part.
“As always, remember to have fun out there.” Alessia finished her pep talk with a grin. She was buzzing too. “And as soon as you need help, just holler at me.”
“All right, people.” I took over. “I’m gonna need five minutes alone with Alessia. Griffin, you can go have your smoke. The rest of you, scatter. The kitchen’s off-limits.”
A chorus of “Yes, Chef” rang out, and all of them took the opportunity to get some fresh air before the evening got sweaty.
I wove my fingers with Alessia’s and guided her over to the door.
“See the line out there?” I pointed through the circular window and positioned her in front of me. “They’re gonna fill the place tonight,” I murmured and pressed a kiss to her neck. “They’ll never know what came from the menu we created.”
Us.
She drew an unsteady breath as I slipped my hand into her pants and cupped her pussy.
“Adam,” she warned. “I don’t think now is a good—oh cazzo.”
I pushed aside her panties so I could feel her properly. Just my middle finger. I slid it up and down in lazy strokes, dipping inside her to gather the wetness, up and around her clit, back down again.
Slow, slow, slow.
I wanted some of the energy gone.
“I love you.” I grazed my nose along the shell of her ear.
She swallowed hard. “I love you too.”
I hummed and felt how quickly she got wet for me.
“At some point tonight,” I went on quietly, “I’m gonna surprise you out on the floor.”
She cocked her head, and one of her hands came up to the door.
“I’m gonna ask you a question.” I nipped at the soft skin of her neck, then dropped an openmouthed kiss over the same spot. “And there will be a ring.”
When she gasped, I sped up my ministrations and applied pressure to her clit. She failed to stifle a whimper.
“Adam, what—”
“Quiet,” I whispered. “It’s gonna be the sweetest story to tell our grandkids one day.”
“Oh God,” she moaned.
“But you and I will share a look,” I continued. I moved my free hand up to her breasts and pinched a nipple through her clothes. “You’ll remember that it wasn’t the real proposal, because the moment your husband proposed was right now, with his fingers buried inside you, when you were right on the verge of coming.”
She trembled in my grasp, and her other hand came up to the door too. Even though she couldn’t support herself on it, she tried to dig her fingers into the metal.
“Marry me, Alessia,” I murmured. “Spend the rest of your life with me as my wife.”
She nodded jerkily and stiffened, and then the pleasure took over. She tried to hold her breath and stay quiet, but she couldn’t. Shallow, barely audible little yesses slipped between her lips, and the elation nearly did me in.
She collapsed after a moment, her chest heaving rapidly, and she almost pushed the door open when she put too much pressure on it.
I kept planting kisses along her neck and jaw, and I righted her clothes for her.
“Oh my God,” she panted. A beat later, she spun around on me and threw her arms around my neck. “Oh my God, Adam!” She sniffled.
I grinned and dipped two wet fingers into my mouth.
She laughed through her emotions while I hummed at the best fucking flavor there was out there.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” she chuckled and carefully wiped her fingers under her eyes. God forbid she smeared her eyeliner or whatever.
“What?” I said. “Proposed to you or finger-fucked you in our kitchen?”
“Both—combined!” she giggled.
I smirked and kissed her quickly.
Her gaze went soft. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“That’s good.” I inhaled deeply and reached around her to squeeze her ass. I couldn’t help it. “I’d rather not wait to give you my name either.” I nuzzled her jaw.
She grinned. “I suppose I shouldn’t make some joke about keeping my own name?”
I laughed. “Yeah, no.” If that’d been the type of woman she was, it would’ve been a different matter. “Alessia Grady.”
She bit her lip then smiled widely.
I kissed her nose. “Act surprised when I join you on the floor.”
“That wasn’t a joke?”
I shook my head. “We gotta have a story for the grandkids, remember?”
She merely beamed up at me.
Halfway through our service, I finally saw my opening.
The last two couples of the first seating had left. No one would be waiting for a table for another hour or so, and everyone had a plate in front of them. Most of them had just been served their main course, and Alessia was making rounds to ensure everything was good.
I went over to the sink and washed barbecue grease off my hands, then wiped them on my short apron.
“Can you hold down the fort for a few minutes, man?” I asked Griffin.
“Yeah, sure.” He turned to Tracy, who was on his way out to the kitchen. “Tracy—I need one of the gluten-free shit biscuits.”
I chuckled and took a breath, feeling weirdly nervous. I’d already proposed to her, for fuck’s sake.
Heading over to the stereo, I changed the song to an appropriate tune I’d played before. One of my pinin’ tunes from back when she was just a dream.
Here goes.
I retrieved the ring from the pocket of my jeans, removed my cap and ran a hand through my hair, and I left the bar and walked past a few tables. She had her back to me and was asking someone if everything tasted good, and when they replied with their praise, I reached her. I grabbed her gently by the elbow and spun her to me.
Her eyes went large with genuine surprise before she blushed because she knew what was happening.
I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
Then I went down on one knee right fucking there, completely ignoring everyone around us—thankfully no family members during tonight’s service—and I grasped her left hand in both of mine and kissed her knuckles.
My heart hammered like I’d just run a marathon.
“When we opened Coho together, you said you loved how happy I was.” I felt the nerves leaving me when she smiled tenderly. All the love I needed was right there in her rich brown eyes. “Only one thing would make me happier.” I held up the ring, and she exhaled shakily and got teary-eyed. “It starts with you saying yes.” And ends when we’re a family. “Will you be my wife?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
I rose to a stand as the relief and sheer bliss surged through me, and I kissed her hard. There was no missing the applause around us, but I did my best to shove it outside of our little bubble.
“You’re my dream come true, Adam,” she murmured into the kiss.
I smiled and finally got my ring on her finger. “I love you.”
She grinned. “I love you too.”
Epilogue
Adam Grady
“Four minutes to go!”
Jesus Christ. I wiped my forehead on my sleeve and threw the last of the asparagus on the grill. They’d been precooked and marinated, but I wished I had an extra minute to make
them perfect. Lifting the lid of the saucepan, I grabbed a whisk and stirred the thickening sauce. Almost done.
Next to me, Wren used his remaining time to create some crispy bark, which looked delicious but raised the flames on the grill to the limit. And I was sweating my balls off here. We all were.
When he’d told me he was opening a new restaurant in Vegas and wanted me to come out for the opening, I hadn’t hesitated. But what was once a kind invitation from an old buddy was now a mad event with four chefs creating four different items from his new menu.
The place was located in the Cosmopolitan, and it was packed. The kitchen was wide open, much like ours at home, only five or six times as big, and we had dinner guests as well as journalists and critics watching.
To make it worse, to turn it into a goddamn comedy show, we wore mics.
“Don’t make me look bad, Grady,” Wren commented with a smirk.
“Buddy, you’ve looked bad since birth.” I shook the skillet with the sizzling bacon and took some enjoyment from hearing the crowd crack up at my comeback.
“Two minutes!” the announcer called.
I grabbed a dish under my counter and began plating the mashed potatoes. The other two chefs were behind on time, so that removed some pressure from me. While Wren finished his meal, he plugged Coho for us and gave the audience a short history of my career as a chef. I would’ve stopped and listened to the compliments if I’d had the fucking time.
Instead, I was busy cutting the meat into four perfect slices. Medium rare, as they should be. Fuck. Alessia was better at design than I was, but I did okay. The meat ended up in a neat row at the center of the plate, followed by a bed of crispy bacon next to it.
I checked the asparagus. Another minut—
“Sixty seconds!”
“Motherfucker,” I cursed.
The crowd seemed to find that funny too.
I had to wait.
I slipped the towel from my apron and wiped a smudge of mashed potatoes from the edge of the plate. Then I waited until there were thirty seconds left before I brought the asparagus off the grill, placed it on top of the bacon, and then it was just the sauce and butter.
