“If you want, I could go with you to look into classes.” He suggested it so casually, it was hard to resist.
And then his thumb brushed over her wrist in a gentle sweeping motion, her skin igniting with fire in his wake. Her gaze drifted from his hand to his eyes which were so pale blue she could easily get lost in them. She had to remind herself they were just friends and pulled her wrist away.
Realizing what he did, he dropped his hand to his lap.
“I’ll think about it,” she promised.
As she collected plates, he picked up the empty wine glasses and followed her into the kitchen.
“You know what I think we need now?”
She placed the plates in the sink and ran water over them. “What’s that?”
“Dessert.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” She pressed her hand against her full belly. “I’m stuffed.”
“Me too. But after a meal like that, it wouldn’t be right not to top it off with something sweet and delicious.” His eyes drifted to her lips before meeting hers again. “And I have just the place in mind.” There was a knowing twinkle in his eyes.
“Is that so?”
“Yep. Come on, Marion. What do you say?” His mouth quirked in an inviting smile.
“With an invitation like that, how could I refuse?”
As they headed out the door, Marion couldn’t help but wonder if he was an ice cream man. Or maybe his idea of dessert was going back to his place and slathering her with whip cream.
The thought sent heat rushing through her body and pooling between her legs. What a delicious naughty thought. And what she wouldn’t give to have that actually happen.
* * * * *
A short car ride later, Graeme parked at a meter in front of the Bitter End Coffee House. Downtown at night was never really her thing and she certainly wasn’t too keen on having coffee so late in the evening. Plus her ploy of having him a lone had been afraid. Not that she intended to do anything with him. She turned into a big chicken. A big pathetic chicken. And she admitted she was disappointed dessert didn’t involve their naked bodies and a can of Reddi-Whip.
The setting sun cast a late afternoon glow on the streets and shadowed the walkways. There was something romantic about their surroundings, even though she kept telling herself there was absolutely nothing romantic about her relationship with Graeme.
“But, Graeme…I can’t drink coffee this late in the evening.”
“Not to worry,” he said. “They have plenty of other things to sample. And the pastries are to die for.”
Inside, the heady aroma of coffee filled the air. The coffee house at night was a completely different crowd than the early birds that frequented the place in the morning. On the small stage in the corner, a local folk band played unfamiliar tunes but were still catchy enough to make her want to tap her toe.
A lady waved to Graeme from behind the counter and greeted him with a smile. She was probably in her late forties with dark wavy hair and striking green eyes.
“Graeme, it’s great to see you here.” She came around the counter to greet him by kissing him on the cheek. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I came in this morning,” Graeme said. “Jody, this is my good friend Marion Parker. Marion, Jody Sawyer. She’s the owner of the Bitter End.”
“It’s great to meet you,” Marion said, extending her hand.
As Jody shook her hand, she said, “What can I get you two?”
“A slice of your finest cheesecake, a latte for me and for you, Marion?”
Marion examined the menu above the counter, trying to decide on something without so much caffeine. “Um…maybe some tea.”
“How about Earl Grey?” Jody suggested. “With cream and sugar or honey and lemon?”
“Early Grey is great and I’ll take it with cream.”
“Nice choice,” Graeme whispered.
Minutes later, they settled into a cozy corner into a couple of leather chairs, sipping their drinks and sharing the cheesecake. Marion had never tasted anything so divine. Creamy and light, the raspberry puree gave it an irresistible punch. She licked her fork clean and leaned back into the chair, satisfied.
“I told you it was good,” Graeme said, grinning at her over his paper cup.
“You were right. Now I’m really stuffed.” She stretched her legs out in front of her and rested her hands on her stomach.
“After the band plays, maybe we can talk a walk through downtown,” he suggested.
“Sure.” This evening of catching up sure seemed as though it was turning into a date.
The band was loud enough to enjoy but not so loud so they couldn’t carry on a conversation. When they finished their set to a round of applause, they took a break.
“They’re not bad,” Graeme said, nodding to the musicians.
“I had no idea you liked this kind of music.”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know.” He winked, smiling and bringing out the devilish dimples.
Was that an invitation to get to know him better? Unsure, Marion sipped her tea.
“Hi, Graeme.”
Suddenly all thoughts were ripped from her mind at the sound of the flirty, sing-song female voice. Glancing up, the beautiful young girl stood behind him. She couldn’t be more than twenty, if a day. She wore tight jeans and an even tighter shirt that hugged her voluptuous curves and showed ample cleavage. She spun a lock of shimmering sunny blonde hair around her forefinger. Marion hated her on sight.
Graeme twisted in his chair to see who greeted him so sweetly. “Jessica, hey.”
He made no move to get up or greet her warmly. In fact, he sounded downright annoyed she had interrupted them. Good. He took a sip of his coffee, ignoring her forlorn look.
“I hope it’s okay I came over to say hi,” Jessica said.
“Sure.” He propped his ankle on his knee, completely nonchalant.
“I’m Marion.” She reached over him to extend her hand.
Jessica gave her a wet noddle handshake. “Hey.” It was the only response Marion got since she turned her batting eyelashes back to Graeme. “My friends and I wondered if you wanted to come with us to the Library. We’re going to shoot some pool and stuff.”
The new hot spot in downtown—the Library—wasn’t the kind with books and dusty shelves. It was the kind with faux bookshelves, a bar and a lot of pool tables. Not a lot of studying going on there, for sure. It was the happening place since the local college crowd frequented it.
“Sorry, I can’t,” Graeme said, sounding much nicer than he probably should have. He nodded toward Marion. “I’m already with someone.”
Marion smiled when she saw the look of defeat on Jessica’s face.
“Oh, okay. Well, call me sometime?”
Graeme gave her a curt nod and a half-hearted wave then busied himself with his latte. Under his breath, he uttered not and Marion stifled a chuckle. Thank goodness he wasn’t interested.
Jessica retreated back to her huddling girlfriends where she whispered something to them and four pairs of eyes pinned Marion.
“What’s the Library?” Marion asked, pretending not to know.
“It’s a new bar in downtown with pool tables, darts, things like that. We can go sometime if you want.”
“Where do you know her from?” Marion kept an eye on her over the rim of her cup.
“Oh…just around.” He ran a finger around the rim of his cup, avoiding her gaze.
“Right.” Was he kidding her? Did he think she was stupid?
He glanced her way as she reached for her purse and fumbled inside it for her compact. She had to do something to keep her hands busy and her mouth from babbling. She understood he had girlfriends before her, but she didn’t want to actually put a face and body to one.
“Marion, she’s a nobody. Like I said, I’m a regular here and I meet a lot of people.” He reached for her, placing a warm hand on her arm and forcing her to make eye contact. He sound
ed sincere and the look in his face told her he really was.
Despite that, she couldn’t help but think how many girls he knew. How many came up to him like that. Did it really matter? He was here with her after all. Not the Jessicas of the world. And he didn’t seem interested. No need to get the claws out. Yet.
She grinned, giving him a nod.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.
The unexpected question made her freeze, her heart sputtering in her chest. “Sunday?”
“Yes, tomorrow. Sunday. You mentioned you were taking painting classes, so I thought maybe we could visit the Kimbell or something.”
She loved the Kimbell, walking through the galleries and seeing all the lovely paintings. “Together?”
He chuckled. “Yes, together.”
She knew without a doubt what her answer would be. “I would love that.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yes, please.” She couldn’t help but grin.
And to think, only moments ago, she saw the evening as a complete and utter failure. An awkward silence lapsed and she bit her lip, watching the patrons in the coffee house and the band take the stage once again. Marion noticed Jessica and Company still eyed them. Or rather Graeme.
And suddenly her Inner Bitch awoke and she sidled next to Graeme and slipped her hand in his, lacing their fingers. He glanced down at her, somewhat surprised though not displeased.
“Should we call it a night?” Graeme sounded as unsure as she felt. Maybe he didn’t want the night to end either.
“I am pretty beat,” she lied. “It’s been a long day.” A long, emotional day.
He got to his feet and she stood. “Then I’ll drive you home.”
As they left the coffee house behind, Jessica and Company stared after them. She couldn’t help but feel a little superior Graeme left with her. He winked at her, a signal he got what she was doing and she bit her inner cheek so as not to laugh out loud.
They stepped outside into the balmy nighttime air and then her evening turned into a nightmare. She saw Ethan heading up the sidewalk toward them. He had a blonde on his arm.
“Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
She stifled the groan that wanted to erupt. She nodded in Ethan’s direction. Graeme placed his hand in the small of her back in a protective gesture.
“Ethan. How can he be here and with her? I thought he wanted to get back together.”
“Don’t worry.” His voice was low so only she could hear. He swung her into his arms and pulled her close enough she got a nose full of his delicious cologne. “We can handle him.”
His mouth landed on hers in a fierce kiss of possession, his arms holding her so close their bodies melded. His lips were soft and sensual, demanding and determined. His tongue delved deep inside, swirling with hers and dancing an oral waltz. Tasting her. Bringing her to the edge of delight and pushing her over. Her body responded with loud applause, every nerve-ending stood up and took notice. Heat pooled at the apex of her thighs and her brain near short circuited.
She never wanted it to end. He took her breath away. Quite literally.
“Well, well.” Ethan’s voice broke their embrace.
Reluctantly, Graeme released her and she staggered to his side, his arm still around her waist, holding her close. Her lips were swollen in his arduous aftermath and she resisted the urge to run her fingertips over them.
Ethan gave them a look of disgust. “If it isn’t the happy couple. I can’t believe you’re still hanging out with this loser, Marion. I thought you had better taste than that.”
“Awfully snide for someone who wants me back,” Marion replied calmly. She glanced at the girl next to him who looked at Ethan with wide eyes. “She your girlfriend?” She nodded toward Blondie. “Did you already have her lined up or did you find her this afternoon after I turned you down?”
“Ethan and I have been together for four months,” Blondie said, sounding defensive.
“Wow, four whole months. I’m impressed,” Marion said. “Did he tell you he came to me earlier today wanting to reconcile?” She turned her gaze back to Ethan.
Beside her, Graeme coughed to cover his smirk.
“Ethan, is that true?” Blondie released his arm and stepped back from him, looking hurt. She crossed her arms over her much too ample bosom.
His chiseled features turned stony, the muscle in his jaw ticked with his annoyance as he glared at Marion. Finally, he put on his best fake smile and turned to the girl, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
“Of course not, sweetie. Don’t you recognize the cry of a desperate woman when you hear it?”
Marion balled her fists, wishing she could punch in him that sardonic grin. “You—”
“He’s not worth it, baby.” Graeme hugged her gently to him. “You know what a master manipulator he is.”
“And I suppose you’re worth it?” Ethan shot back.
“She’s with me, isn’t she?” Graeme said.
Marion glanced at him to see his arrogant smile he flashed at Ethan. Her heart throbbed hard and she suddenly found him completely irresistible. All those feelings she had tried to suppress flooded up, threatening to overcome her. She had to get it in check and quick.
“Come on,” Ethan said. “These losers aren’t worth our time.”
Ethan stepped around them with the girl in tow who gave Marion a look of death. Marion wanted to shout something sarcastic back but couldn’t think of anything. If Delilah had been there, she’d have a ready comment. As the two walked away, Graeme hadn’t bothered to remove his arm around her waist.
Marion giggled. The farther away he got, the harder she laughed and pretty soon, she was overcome with gales of laughter. Graeme laughed too, whether at her or the entire situation she couldn’t be sure but she didn’t really care.
“What did I…ever see…in that guy?” she asked between breaths. It was more a rhetorical question than anything.
“I don’t know but calling us losers is like the pot calling the kettle black.”
Graeme still held her close. She liked it. He was so warm and cozy next to her. She wanted him to keep her there for as long as possible but knew it would have to end sometime.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you home.”
Chapter Seven
Marion woke on Sunday before the sun started streaming in her window. She glanced at the clock and groaned when she saw it was after seven. Why she found it difficult to sleep in on weekends was beyond her.
Her day began early during the week when she would get to the gym and do her own work-out before her clients came for theirs. She started the day with a cup of coffee and toning exercises. On the weekends, after crawling out of bed, she’d do yoga to keep her muscles flexible and to find her center.
But this morning, she couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed. Instead, she buried deeper under the blankets, pulling them over her head to block out the morning light. As she lay there listening to the silence of the house, her thoughts turned to Graeme. They would be visiting the art museum together and it made her smile. She really looked forward to spending more time with him.
The way he held her against him last night when they ran into Ethan made her body tingle. She was certain she could still feel Graeme’s warmth and smell his cologne. He made her feel safe and warm. Deep down she knew the whole “let’s be friends” thing was a farce. And she intended to put an end to it.
She could picture his face clearly with those pale blue eyes that were so striking she could get lost in them. She even liked his goatee. It was oh-so-sexy. And when he kissed her, his whiskers tickled her face. Mmm.
How could she forget the way his face scraped against hers as they kissed? She liked the way it felt against her skin. If they kissed for more than thirty seconds, what would it feel like? Would he abrade her, make her raw? And what would it feel like on other places on her
? She flushed.
Thinking about it made the dark recesses of her body respond. She stretched her arms over her head and arched her back remembering his incredibly soft hands, his elongated fingers, the perfectly trimmed nails.
Her hand slid down, over her breasts pausing to squeeze their softness. Her nipples peaked, turning into hard pebbles that begged for more. She pinched first one then the other. Desire and need coiled in her lower abdomen, her core suddenly damp. She kicked away the blankets, looking down the length of her naked body.
When she returned home the previous night, she needed more. She had stripped, leaving her clothes in a pile, and slid between the cool sheets. It wasn’t often she slept in the nude, but last night she had to. She had to touch herself to ecstasies until she came and came and came. It still wasn’t enough. It would never be enough until she was with Graeme. Until his bare skin was sliding against hers. Until he buried deep insider her.
She needed more.
Her hands moved lower over her sharp hip bones as she thought only of Graeme. Her legs fell apart with her knees slightly bent as her fingers slipped over the coarse hair and parted her lips. Her fingertips dipped into her warm dampness, making slow deliberate swirls, barely grazing her skin and igniting the fire deep inside her. And even that wasn’t enough.
Like any single gal, she had her private stash of B.O.B.s—battery operated boyfriends. She’d put them to good use over the last few months since she hadn’t been with anyone. She reached for her nightstand drawer and found the small vibrator that fit over her fingertip. Flicking it on, she returned her hand back to her clit.
Her heart pounded as her vibrating finger rocked back and forth over her swollen nub. The dampness increased, her excitement escalated. Visions of Graeme and that glorious tongue of his danced through her mind, making her want his mouth on her there as she neared climax. Her body ached for more, wanting to feel his hard length sliding in and out of her, wanting to touch him. To have him touch her. She imagined Graeme’s lovemaking would be slow and deliberate. It would be nothing like Ethan, whose selfish love play left her wanting.
Take Me I'm Yours (Coffee House Chronicles) Page 6
