Scrumptious: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Camos and Cupcakes Book 3)

by Melissa Schroeder

Me: How do you know?

  EJ: Harry said that there were only a few women he avoided and that would be Allison—the whole sister thing creeps him out.

  I wait for a few minutes and then roll my eyes. Knowing EJ, she’s standing there waiting for me to ask her to continue.

  Me: And?

  EJ: Virgins. He avoids them at all costs, so if he’s into you, and from that dance the other night, I’m pretty sure he is, Fritz really likes you.

  I blink.

  EJ: What’s going on with you two?

  Me: He’s been really supportive, and he took me for a ride yesterday.

  EJ: I thought you said you were still a virgin.

  It takes me a second to catch on and I end up rolling my eyes again.

  Me: On his bike. Then we might have made out on the couch.

  EJ: FINALLY. Tell EJ all.

  I don’t know what she wants. I’ve never had a lot of female friends. In fact, since school, I’ve only held onto Allison. I have a few friends from the CIA and my time in San Francisco, but no one who ever stuck.

  Me: I just did.

  EJ: No, asshole, tell me about this making out.

  Me: Uh, we kissed.

  EJ: Tongue?

  Me: Yes.

  EJ: And?

  Of course, I sit there not knowing what to say. As I said, I never had secrets to keep or girlfriends who wanted to know those secrets. Allison would probably want to know, but she wouldn’t be pushy.

  EJ: *gif Judge Judy tapping watch*

  Then, there is EJ. She would want to know everything, and I know if I told her she would keep it a secret. Or, I think she would have done that at one time. Now that she’s attached to Harry, there is a good chance that she would tell him.

  Pretty Boy: I hear you in there.

  He doesn’t—unless he has bionic hearing.

  Me to EJ: We kissed, a little heavy pawing.

  EJ: LOL, only you would call it pawing.

  Me: Well, it’s all over now.

  EJ: Why?

  Me: He knows I’m a virgin.

  EJ: Remember that whole Fritz doesn’t deal with virgins? Well, he doesn’t. So, if he wants you even knowing that, that means he REALLY wants you.

  Hmm.

  Pretty Boy: I swear I will kick your door open.

  Me: I refuse to take you to the hospital if you break your foot on the door.

  It is a thick wooden door, specifically made for Tito when he remodeled the room.

  Pretty Boy: At least you are texting.

  Me: Still mad.

  Pretty Boy: I’m sorry.

  I sigh. I don’t need to see his face or hear the words in his voice to know that he’s definitely sincere. And seriously, there is a good chance he really means it. I’m not ready to give in. I know a huge part of it is embarrassment. I’m not ashamed of my virgin status, but the fact that I blurted it out because I was drunk is embarrassing.

  Me: You should have told me.

  Pretty Boy: I should have but how was I supposed to do that?

  Pretty Boy: And this is stupid. I’m sitting in the hallway outside your door texting.

  I sigh because I know he’s right. I look down at McLovin, who has fallen asleep. No help there, although, I know he would vote against Fritz because, Fritz is right. McLovin is an asshole. I force myself off my bed and walk to the door. I open it and find him sitting on the floor, leaning against the opposite wall. He looks up at me. Regret shows in his gaze and I want to immediately forgive him. I resist. I might be a bit of a hard ass in the kitchen, but with my friends and family, I tend to forgive too easily. It’s why my mother thought she could get away with over-scheduling me to work.

  He rises to his feet and walks over to me. He stops close enough that I can see the misery in his eyes, and dammit, I can smell his cologne. Fresh, unadulterated Fritz and sandalwood. It’s intoxicating…he is. I force myself to keep from leaning closer into his body heat, sniffing at him like some kind of freak.

  “I’m sorry.”

  I cock my head and study him for a long moment. “Whatcha sorry for, O’Bryan?”

  He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I should have been honest about what you said. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  “Why would I be embarrassed?”

  His mouth twitches. “No reason. If anyone should be embarrassed it’s me. I can’t believe I was such an asshole.”

  “Just…” I stop because I realize he’s gazing at my mouth. I don’t think I’ve ever had a man this entranced with me, by me. Maybe I have and I just didn’t notice.

  “Just what?” His voice deepens over the two words.

  I swallow. “Are you an asshole because you didn’t tell me? Or is it because you blurted it out?”

  He shoves a hand through his hair, and it stands up, although in a totally sexy way. Even when his hair is a mess, he’s sexy. Me, I can look like Monica when everyone from Friends went to Barbados.

  “For blurting it out? Both? I just don’t know what to do here.”

  I blink at the frustration dripping from his voice. He’s…well, damn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. He’s always cool, or that’s what I have seen when he’s with women. Even in the worst situations—like the aforementioned night event at EJ’s store. He hustled the racist asshole out of the store, and had no problem picking up a woman. He’d been pissed about the guy’s behavior, but he hadn’t really shown it. He’s a multitasker like that.

  Now though…I watch his agitated movements, the way he seems to be…out of sorts.

  “What’s bothering you?”

  He says nothing for a long time, so I just shake my head.

  “Never mind. If you think I’m just going to forgive you because of your pretty face, you’re mistaken.”

  “You want to know what’s bothering me?” The tone of his voice tells me he is definitely irritated.

  “Yeah, I think I have a right to demand an answer.”

  “You.” He shoves his hand through his hair again. “Seriously, Savannah, you have me all twisted up inside, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

  “Because I’m a virgin.”

  “First of all, that’s not that much of a turn on for a man. Or maybe it is, but it never has been for me.”

  “Yeah, EJ told me you avoid them.”

  “Your virginity isn’t all you’re about. Jesus, woman, I’ve never had this many problems speaking to a woman. Even when I was a virgin myself.”

  “Now what do you mean by that?”

  “I mean that before I knew about your virginity, I was always attracted to you.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “No, not bullshit. Truth.”

  He starts to pace back and forth in the hall in front of my door. Agitation drips from his movements, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this.

  “I’ve always thought you were attractive, but I just…well, you were kind of scary. I mean, you did threaten Harry with your knives —things like that. I don’t have an issue with a woman being like that, but that is all I saw you as. You were this badass who didn’t take shit off people. Then I needed a place to live. You didn’t have to let me move in. You were practically pressured into it.”

  “I don’t do anything I don’t want to.”

  He stops and then walks back to stand in front of me. “Yeah, you did. For your family, you always did. I thought it was because of your ego. When I moved in here, I realized it wasn’t. It was all because of your family. You wanted to make sure they were taken care of.”

  I don’t say anything because no one—other than Allison and EJ—has taken the time to question my reasons. Everyone assumes it has to do with my ego, or my money, or whatever. No one ever understood why I did it.

  “Then, I move in with you. You welcome me into your home and you’re…”

  “What?”

  “Sweet.”

  I roll my eyes, but he grabs me by the arms and makes me look at him.r />
  “You are sweet. You have this armor you show the world. I don’t know if it was erected because of the industry you work in or if it was your family. More than likely, it has more to do with those idiots who raised you.”

  “Idiots?”

  “Yeah. They don’t see you for the wonderful, caring person you are. I have a feeling Tito and your grandmother had more to do with that than your mother.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. I can’t talk because if I do, I’ll probably start crying. Why? Because some pretty boy is trying to get in good with me?

  “I fell for the badass chef because of the soft center you protect with sarcasm. I like her. She’s so fucking funny I can barely stand it, but then there is that sweetness, the one that offered me a place to stay. That person, she draws me in every day, and for the first time in my adult life, I want to see where a relationship goes. It isn’t about the chase. It’s about getting to know the woman I’ve come to respect.”

  I blink again because, those tears, those bastards are trying to leak out of my eyes.

  “Yeah?”

  He nods. “Yeah. And that’s part of the allure of Savannah Martinez.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know how you’ve hidden yourself from other men for so long.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I don’t think a heterosexual man alive could resist the puzzle that makes up your personality.”

  I snort. “Yeah, just a newsflash for you, Fritz: Men don’t like difficult women.”

  “Yeah, wimps don’t.”

  I feel my lips curve. “Really? Wimps?”

  He nods. “Invite me into your room, Savannah.”

  I want to. I want to give into him tonight to do everything I have been fantasizing about since I saw him in his underwear a few days ago. And hell, especially after last night. But I’m worried that if I give in, I will always forgive him every transgression.

  He must sense my apprehension, because he holds up his hands. “No touching unless you give me permission.”

  I hesitate. I know Fritz and, while he’ll push his agenda, he’ll step back if I ask him to.

  I step away and let him follow me into the room. McLovin—who had been watching us during the entire conversation—hisses.

  “Suck it, asshole,” Fritz says. I think he’s going to move to my bed, but then he sits in the overstuffed chair in the corner again. As I walk past him, he slips his hand over my wrist and pulls me onto his lap.

  “I thought you wouldn’t try any funny business.”

  “I said no touching unless you give me permission.”

  I let one eyebrow rise as we stare at each other. I will never get used to his eyes…or his pretty face.

  “I don’t think I said anything about you having the right to touch me.”

  “Not with your mouth,” he says, reaching up to brush his thumb over my lips. Just that one little move has my body lighting up with anticipation. “You spoke to me with your eyes.”

  I shake my head, waiting for him to kiss me. But he doesn’t. Instead he just cuddles me closer.

  “So, where do we go from here?” he asks,

  I shrug. “I thought to the bed.”

  He chuckles and pats his shoulder, urging me to set my head there. I don’t resist. I can’t. It’s one of the sweetest gestures a man has ever used in regard to me. Sadly, while I have had experience in oral, I haven’t had much time with moments like this. I settle my head there and, instantly, I can feel his entire body relax.

  He threads his fingers between mine.

  “Why don’t we talk about where we go from here? Maybe a little about where you have been?”

  “Where I’ve been?”

  “You’ve dated, yes?”

  “Yeah. Mostly when I was working in San Francisco.”

  “And?”

  I know what he’s asking and part of me doesn’t want to tell him. I’ve always been such a private person, but if we move forward with this relationship, we both know where it will end up.

  “I’ve done oral sex, heavy petting. I just never got past that stage.”

  “Idiots,” he says, releasing my hand and letting his hand drift to my waist. It’s not overly seductive, but that simple gesture has my heartbeat jumping. Heat pools in my belly and my pussy contracts. From a touch on my waist. What. The. Hell.

  I clear my throat and raise my head. His own head is leaning back against the chair, his eyes closed, and there is a smile curving his lips. I want to eat him up with a damned spoon. Is that a saying? I am so bad at this even in my head.

  “What’s that smile for?” I ask, surprised at the huskiness of my voice. I shouldn’t be because my entire body, especially my vagina, wants both of us to be naked, and I am ready to eat him alive.

  He opens his eyes and I see it there, the same need that is thrumming through my entire body. “You. You make me happy, Savannah.”

  And now I want to do more than just eat him alive. I want to take him to bed and not think about the consequences. I want to make bad choices, do all the bad things to him. Have him do some equally horrible things to me.

  He leans forward and kisses me, just a simple brush against my mouth, then he moves away. Just the kind of kiss that is never going to quench the desire that is now humming through my blood.

  “We have to figure this all out.”

  “What?” Why do we have clothes on? Seriously? I want us to be naked. All the naked.

  Jesus, I’m not making any sense.

  “We need some guidelines, rules.”

  “For what?” Like who was going to be on top? I don’t really care about that. I just want both of us naked.

  He chuckles. “For dating.”

  “Well…wait, what?”

  “Dating, Savannah. I don’t just want one night with you. I want to date you.”

  It takes a second for my brain to catch up because it really isn’t working. My hormones have taken over all of a sudden. “Dating?”

  “Yeah, I think we need to do all the couple things. Go out, get to know each other.”

  “You said you did know me.”

  “I know that you’re not just a badass, but I want to know you better. That’s what you do in a relationship.”

  “Relationship?”

  I sound like an idiot repeating his words back to him.

  “Yeah. I also want to treat you to a night out.”

  My frown grows so hard I can actually feel the lines deepening in my face. “A night out? Like a date?”

  “No, not like a date. An actual date. Like I said.”

  I’m confused and apparently, he sees my confusion.

  “It would be easy to just hop into bed—”

  I try to jump off his lap, but he holds still.

  “I just said it would be easy. I don’t mean we should.”

  “Why not?”

  “I want more from you. Hell, I want more from myself. You matter to me.”

  I sigh in irritation and longing. There is a big part of me that wants to seduce him. I know it wouldn’t take much to talk him into taking me to bed tonight. Except there is the more important part of me, and it realizes that this is important to him.

  “Okay.”

  He leans up and kisses me for real this time, his tongue teasing the seam of my mouth. I let my lips part—I’m really powerless against this need, the one thing that should frighten me. Instead, it increases my arousal. I turn into him, pressing my breasts against his chest, needing a little pressure to ease the pain in my aching nipples. Unfortunately, it just ramps up the tension. He slides his hand from my waist to my thigh. I moan against his tongue, my hands slipping thought his thick hair. His hand tightens on my thigh and I live in the moment, falling into the passion this kiss is creating. Before I am ready to give up, he tears his mouth away. I follow his mouth, my eyes still closed, needing to keep tasting him.

  “Savannah.”

  I blink my eyes open and look
at him. “What?”

  He shakes his head and then closes his eyes. It’s like if he looks at me, he might lose it all and that is an interesting development.

  When he finally opens his eyes again, the fires are banked. “I’m serious.”

  I’m embarrassed that I’m trying to figure out a way to get him to bed. I know it won’t take much because I can feel his hard dick against my hip.

  “Don’t,” he warns.

  “What?”

  “My control his holding on by a thread. I want you more than my next fucking breath. You don’t think after that little taste I had of your pussy last night I wouldn’t want to feast on you again?”

  I shiver at the heat threading his words. The primal tone he uses when he refers to the night before tells me that I could definitely talk him into sex tonight. There is something else there, deep within his eyes.

  You matter to me.

  I don’t know if a man has ever been more truthful with me. I nod. He urges me off his lap and stands. The thick ridge of his penis is easy to see and my mouth actually waters. I want to slip his cock in my mouth and drink him down.

  “God, please, stop looking at me like that,” he says.

  I look up at him. “Sorry.”

  He chuckles, then walks to my door. “Don’t be. Just…okay. We’re going to go out Friday night. A date. We’ll both dress up.”

  “Okay,” I say, because at this point, I would probably agree to go cow tipping—which is not really a thing at all—just to get closer to getting him into my bed.

  He cups my face with one of his hands and leans in. This kiss is chaste, sweet and sexy at the same time. No tongue, just a simple pressing of our lips together. When he pulls back from me, he smiles.

  “I’m going to date the hell out of you,” he says, then walks away. I listen to his receding footsteps.

  I shut my door, then join McLovin back on my bed. He gives me a look of disgust before jumping onto the chair Fritz and I just vacated. I roll my eyes as I lay down on my bed, staring up at my ceiling. My body is still humming, vibrating with arousal so pure that I’m surprised I can even think straight. And Fritz knew it. He left me here unsatisfied. On purpose because he wants to date me.

  Great. I took a manwhore and turned him into a prude.

  Good going, Savannah.

  With that, I open up my drawer, grab my favorite vibrator, and decide to relieve myself of some of this tension. If I don’t, there is a good chance that I won’t make it until Friday without embarrassing myself.