Chapter 9 #2
A light pink paints across her cheeks. “Haven isn’t the one who kissed me the other night.”
“No, he wasn’t,” I say in a guttural growl. Haven’s never shown interest in her, and whether or not it’s because he noticed mine, I don’t care. The thought of another tongue down her throat besides mine makes me feral.
She pushes the glass away and takes a deep breath. “I came here to tell you that I don’t want to be friends, and I’m tired of hiding.”
There are two big confessions in what she said, but I’m hung up on the first part.
She doesn’t want my friendship? I’ll honor her wishes, but damn.
That’s worse than the flirting ban. Am I going to get restricted from the bakery?
Will I get escorted out by her cousin like Pete, the guy who berates her for her pricing? “I’m sorry if I did anything wrong—”
“You do everything right, and I don’t want to be friends.” Her eyes fly wide. “Oh, I made it sound like— No, I treasure your friendship. I’d be sad to lose it, but I want more when it comes to you. I always have.”
She punctuates her comment by blowing out a breath. Her nervous energy eases into a steady presence. She folds her hands like she’s waiting for my reaction.
When it comes to me, she wants more? She always has? So that whole time I worked to get closer to her, she wasn’t cold out of lack of interest? My smile starts long before it reaches my mouth.
“Well then, sugar.” I round the counter and plant myself on a stool facing her. “That means I need to take you out again.”
She spins to put her knees between mine. “Or you could kiss me now.”
Kiss me now echoes loud in my head. That long tendril of hair that’s been teasing me is still tracing down her neck.
I rub the silky strands between my fingers before sliding my hand around the back of her neck.
Gently pulling her closer, I close the distance between us.
A little whimper leaves her and she shoves her hands in my hair, less restrained than I am.
The whiskey on her tongue mingles with all the sweetness that’s Elodie Palmer.
The scent of sugar cookies fills my nose and it fucking fits her.
If I could bottle her, I’d drink nothing else for the rest of my life.
I’m hard and pulsing behind my fly, and even though nothing’s going to come from it tonight, I don’t try to hold back.
She scoots to the edge of her stool, but that’s not close enough.
I don’t care how much it pinches my dick, I haul her onto my lap.
She straddles me, her legs twining around my waist like the last time I kissed her.
In this position, she grinds against my encased erection, and a ragged groan leaves my chest. She echoes with a throaty moan and rubs herself harder against me.
I need to have more of her than this kiss. I line a path with my mouth down her throat and she tips her head back while wiggling her hips with a frantic urgency.
“You’re close, aren’t you, sugar,” I whisper against her throat.
“Yes.” She reflexively tightens her legs around me.
If she wants more, I’ll give her more. As my fingers tunnel under her shirt, I score my teeth along the base of her throat.
A shiver racks her body. My fingertips hit her warm skin, and fuck, I’m harder than ever.
We’re alone and I don’t expect anyone, but I can’t risk exposing her.
“Someday, I’m going to see every inch of you. ”
She nods, her eyes heavy lidded. The way she’s got me in her hold is tempting me to carry us both to the supply room. But when we do it, she’s going to be confident that she’s good and ready.
“I want to see you,” she says as she swivels her hips in a way that elicits another groan from me. “All of you.”
“You will.” As soon as fucking possible—when I have her in private. I skim my hands up to cover her breasts. They fill my grip perfectly and her tight little nipples poke into my palms.
A whine leaves her and her legs quiver. The hitch in her breath steals my attention from her tits.
“You need to come.”
“I’m so close.” The more she rubs against me, the stronger my pulse hammers in my cock.
I wedge my hand between us and cup her pussy through her pants. Heat blisters my skin. “You’re wet for me? For this?”
I get a moan for an answer.
“I bet that sweet little cunt of yours tastes like honey.” She rocks into my hand, but I slip it out from between us. A tremble rolls over her when I slide under her waistband. “I’m going to get your sweetness all over my fingers and lick them clean.”
“Cruz.”
My name is nothing but a gust of air. I hug her to me, but she’s got me in the stronghold of her legs. A tidal wave of desire crashes into me. Fuck, am I going to come in my pants? Elodie’s in my arms and she’s almost at her peak and we’ve done nothing more than dry hump.
This woman drives me wild.
The tips of my fingers hit wet heat. “Fuck, Elodie. You’re dripping for me.”
“Yes.”
I circle her swollen clit and she bucks, barking out a cry.
She twists her fingers in my hair. “So good.”
“I’ll give you better.” I tunnel through her heat, needing to be inside of her, even if it’s only up to a knuckle. As soon as I hit her entrance, I push in.
“Fuck,” she grits out.
I barely get out another swipe around her clit when she stiffens and gasps.
“Cruz. Oh my god!”
My hand gets soaked and she shakes in my hold. Her walls clench around my finger, gripping it tight.
“Ride it out.” My cock is throbbing, getting strangled behind my zipper, but this moment is fucking perfect. Elodie coming in my arms? Heaven.
“Shit,” she says on a gasp and sinks her butt down as far as my hold will let her go.
I could get her off again. Elodie Palmer has a lot of repressed passion, but I won’t push her for more. She’s the finest spirit I’ve ever had on my lips, and I don’t rush a good drink. I slowly drag my hand out from her sweats.
“That?” I suck the finger that was inside her into my mouth, loving how her lips puff open and her pupils dilate. “Was goddamn spectacular.” The taste of her honeyed flavor on my tongue is better than any whiskey known to man.
A sexy smile spreads across her lips. “It’s your turn.” She tries to reach between us, but I grasp her wrist and bring her hand to my lips.
I hold her gaze when I kiss her soft skin. “I got what I’ve been wanting for so long. I told you I’m serious when it matters, and that, sugar, mattered a whole damn lot to me. We’ll do more later. I want to savor this.”
She runs her hands through my hair, her gaze roaming all over my face. “You’re too good to be true.”
“Nah,” I say with a smile. “I’m a little bit naughty—when it matters.”