CHAPTER SIXTEEN
K RU
If there was ever a password to open the floodgates for me, it’s that. I grunt, closing the space between us in a quick swoop until her lips meet mine and we’re kissing. Urgently. Desperately.
Piper clings to my shirt as I back her up until her thighs hit the table.
My tongue plunges into her mouth, tasting her, needing more of her.
She whimpers through a kiss, wriggling against me like she’s impatient.
I break the kiss and sweep my arm across the table, pushing the papers to the side before I pop her up onto the edge of the table.
“I would have swept the papers off the table dramatically,” I tell her, “if they weren’t your very special plans.”
She giggles, smoothing her hands along my jawline. “You’re so sweet.”
“No promises next time though,” I warn her as my hands trail up the sides of her legs. I tug her closer by the hips, and she inhales sharply. All the tension that’s been building between us since Cleveland is finally snapping.
I dip down, capturing her lips in a heated kiss.
She arches toward me again, and I can taste the hunger and fire pouring out of her.
I cup her head in my hands, getting drunk on these kisses.
My cock is fully hard and begging for attention by the time she breaks the kiss.
Her eyes are hooded as her hands drift to my belt line.
“Kru,” she whispers.
“Maven.”
“I was wrong.”
I lift a brow. I’ve barely got a foot in this world after that make-out session, so I’d be lying if I said I knew what the hell she was referring to. “Uhhh…”
“Avoiding you was wrong. I was just scared of how intense it was. And will be.”
I brush my lips against hers. “Heard.”
She grins. “Is that another kitchen thing?”
“It is.” I press a soft kiss to her lips. “And I’m scared, too. But you should know that I plan to fuck your brains out the second you admit that you’ve been dying for it."
Her eyes flutter shut, and when she looks at me again, I can see the decision in them.
“I’ve been dying for it.”
I can’t stop the grin that comes over my face. I cup her cheeks in my hands. “I definitely heard that.”
My hands are trembling as I tug her leggings off and toss them aside. She’s got me unmoored and floating in outer space already, and she hasn’t even touched my cock.
“You are so fucking beautiful.” My voice is a rasp as I behold her, in panties and an oversized Cloud Nine t-shirt. I squeeze the tops of her thighs, parting her legs slowly so I can see that delicious V. The crotch of her panties is damp, and I grunt, tilting my head to take it all in.
She’s too hot to resist. Too fiery to turn away from. And fuck, I want this woman more now than I ever realized was possible.
Piper hooks a leg around my waist, bringing me closer. “Take your jeans off,” she commands.
I do as she says and push my pants down, revealing my black boxer briefs and the enormous bulge beneath. She scoots to the edge of the table so her pussy grinds up against my erection. I suck in sharply and press my palms flat into the table, matching her movement.
“Fuck, Kru.” She whimpers, rocking her pussy against me, faster now.
I roll my hips, pleasure prickling across my back. This is dry humping at its finest. I bury my face in her neck, groaning. “You want me to come in my pants, don’t you?”
“Is that an option?”
“If you keep humping me like this, yes.”
She bursts into giggles. I take the opportunity to lift her shirt and tug it off, tossing it to the side. I scan the bakery again, double checking all the front windows are shuttered. I don’t want any Peeping Toms, because now that I’ve got Piper’s legs wrapped around me, I’m not moving an inch.
My gaze solders to the creamy mounds of her breasts tucked behind a silky pink bra.
Of course her bra is on brand as well. I bite my bottom lip as I reach behind her to unfasten the damned thing.
There’s no fucking way. I struggle with it for a few moments before I realize a quicker solution.
Time is of the essence. I reach into the pocket of my pants and bring out the sheathed paring knife I’d tucked away to take home.
Piper gapes as I toss the leather holder to the side. “What are you—”
Rrrrrip.
The bra falls limply around her.
“Sorry, couldn’t wait.” I drop the knife and dip down, pressing kisses to the tops of her breasts. A low moan escapes me as I relish her cleavage. “I’ll buy you another one.”
Her shoulders shake with repressed laughter. “Did you just cut my bra off with a paring knife?”
“Correct.” I close my lips around one rose-pink nipple and then do the same to the other one. “Too delicious to wait.”
“So my clothes aren’t safe around you,” she murmurs, running her fingers through my hair as my kisses trail between her breasts. “Will you cut off my hair if I put it in a ponytail?”
“Nope. But I’ll cut your panties off if they look at me wrong,” I warn with a laugh. She responds by scooping my face into her hands. Our lips smoosh together. The kiss feels like we’ve known each other for years, not weeks.
Her hands slide down my chest, exploring the ridges of muscle there. When her fingers dip beneath the waistband of my boxers, I have to break the kiss, sucking in a sharp breath.
"Impatient," I murmur against her lips.
"You're one to talk," she shoots back, gesturing to the remnants of her bra. "Is this a skill you learned in chef school? Cutting things that get in your way?"
I grin wickedly. "Only when there's something delicious underneath."
True to my word, I hook my fingers in her panties, dragging them down her legs. She lifts her hips to help, and I drop to my knees, pressing kisses along her inner thighs as I go.
"Kru," she breathes, her fingers tangling in my hair.
I look up at her from between her legs, taking in the sight of her—flushed, disheveled, and utterly gorgeous. I’m on cloud nine, and I’m reveling in this play on words when I say, "Yes, Maven?"
"Don't tease."
"But I'm so good at it," I reply, my breath hot against her pussy. I run my tongue along her inner thigh, so close to where she wants me but not quite there. "Tell me what you want."
Her eyes, heavy-lidded with desire, meet mine. "Your mouth. On me. Now."
Abso-fuckin-lutely . I swipe my tongue over her sweet heat, finding her swollen clit. I'm tasting her, my tongue exploring every delicious inch. She gasps, back arching, thighs trembling as I focus on the needy nub that makes her squirm.
Her hands tighten in my hair, guiding me, showing me exactly what she needs. I'm more than happy to follow her lead, alternating between flat strokes and targeted suction, adding a finger and then another, curling them inside her until I find that spot that has her crying out.
"Don't stop," she pleads, hips rocking against my face. "Please, Kru, don't stop."
I have no intention of stopping—not when she's making those sounds, not when her thighs are quivering around my head, not when I can feel her getting closer with each stroke of my tongue. I double down on my efforts, adding a third finger, stretching her gently as I suck and lick.
When she comes, it's with a shout that echoes through the empty shop, her back arching beautifully, pussy clamping around my fingers. I work her through it, easing off only when she tugs at my hair, too sensitive to continue.
I wipe off my mouth with the back of my hand before I rise to my feet, ridiculously proud of the dazed look on her face. "You came right?”
"Shut up. Like the entire town didn’t hear it,” she says with a laugh, then reaches for me. "Get these off." She tugs at my boxers.
I comply, kicking them aside, my cock springing free. Her eyes widen slightly, and a slow smile curves her lips.
“Just like you remember?” I murmur as she wraps a hand around my length.
“Bigger, actually.” She bites her bottom lip, then swings her pretty gaze up to find mine. “Do you have a condom?”
I close my eyes briefly at the sensation. "Yeah, in my wallet."
She raises an eyebrow. "So you were hoping for a happy ending, huh?"
"Boy Scout motto," I manage to say as her thumb circles the head of my cock, capturing the precum oozing out. "Always be prepared."
"You were never a Boy Scout," she accuses, but she's already reaching for my discarded pants.
"Come on, only a Boy Scout would know how to handle an uncooperative bra," I retort, watching as she retrieves my wallet and finds the condom tucked inside.
She’s shaking with silent laughter as she tears open the foil package and rolls the condom onto my cock. “So you’re telling me undressing a lady is part of the Boy Scout curriculum? I’m not buying it.”
I grunt, seeking out the sweet hollow of her neck. “All right, I taught myself that part. But I really was a Boy Scout.”
“Boy Scout. Uncle Lobster. Reality TV show legend. Chefpreneur.” She lifts a brow, hooking her ankle behind my waist as I position myself between her legs. “What else am I missing, Kru?”
I pause, searching her face. "Love of your life?”
She inhales sharply. Fuck. I meant it like a joke, but shit, that one landed heavy. My cock grazes her swollen folds and I swoop down to catch her lips in a kiss.
“That was supposed to be funny,” I murmur against her lips. “Let me re-do. Cloud nine companion?”
In response, she wraps her legs around my waist and pulls me forward, causing my cockhead to slide partway inside her. We both gasp at the sensation.
"Fuck, Piper," I breathe, sinking deeper, inch by excruciating inch, until I'm fully buried within her. She's tight, hot, perfect. Now I really am on cloud nine. "You feel amazing."
Her nails dig into my shoulders. "Oh god, it’s better than I remembered.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It is,” she gasps. “It’s definitely a bad thing. Now move, Kru. Please.”
I obey, pulling back before thrusting in again, setting a rhythm that has her moaning with each thrust. Her legs lock tighter around me, urging me deeper.
Piper is a hot, silken vice I can’t get enough of. I brace one hand on the table beside her hip, the other scooped around her waist to make sure she stays soldered to me. She meets each thrust with equal fervor, her gaze locked on mine.
"God, I've wanted this," I confess, my voice rough. "Wanted you. Since Cleveland."
"Me too," she gasps, her pussy tightening around me. "I couldn’t fucking stop thinking about it."
The confession pushes me closer to the edge. She felt it too. More than just a one-night stand. I slide my hand between us, finding her clit, circling it with my thumb as I thrust harder.
"Fuck, you feel good, Maven," I murmur, feeling my own release building.
A wispy laugh escapes her as her head drops back. “Tell me about it.”
The sight of her splayed out and delirious with pleasure is too much—my orgasm rips through me and I grunt, burying myself deep inside her. I grind into her, sinking my teeth into the top of her shoulder as heat and bliss wind through me.
Her pussy begins pulsing around me and she’s whimpering, clawing at my back.
Number two for her.
For a long moment, we stay joined, foreheads pressed together, struggling to catch our breath. Eventually, I ease out of her, both of us wincing slightly at the loss of connection.
I toss the condom and grab a damp cloth from behind her counter, gently cleaning her up before taking care of myself. When I return to her, she's smiling softly, looking thoroughly debauched and satisfied.
I help her gather her scattered clothes, though the bra is a lost cause. "Sorry about that," I say, holding up the severed straps. I tuck it into my pocket. “I’ll take it as a souvenir.”
“For your altar, no doubt,” she teases.
Once we're dressed—Piper sans bra, which I find deeply distracting—I help her tidy up the shop. We work in companionable silence, stealing glances and occasional kisses.
It’s after midnight by the time I finally check my phone. “Maven, it’s late for you. Aren’t you tired?”
“I am…but I’m too excited about the barn,” she admits.
“Tomorrow. We’ll check it out, I promise. Don’t get your hopes up though. I don’t want you to be disappointed if it’s not what you imagined inside.”
She nods, looking thoughtful. "Yeah. Same to you.”
“What?”
She cracks a smile, but it looks sad. “Don’t you go falling for me. I don’t want you to be disappointed. This needs to stay a secret from my brothers.”
"About the barn?" I ask, deliberately obtuse.
“That, and, you know…us.”
Disappointment shivers through me. "Ah." I pull her against me, enjoying the feel of her body against mine. I hope it’s not the last time she gives in to this passion between us. "They’re not a fan of my food, huh?”
"It’s just easier this way.”
I walk her to the back door, watching as she gathers her keys and phone. Before she can leave, I pull her in for one more kiss, deep and thorough.
“Can I drive you home? I know you rode your bike. I’ll toss it in the bed of my truck.”
She shakes her head. “I think I need a lakeside bike ride right now. I appreciate the offer though.”
“Text me when you get home?” I reach for her phone, which is unlocked, and start to input my number. “Now you can’t use the excuse that you don’t have my number.”
She bites her bottom lip, sending me the cutest and coyest smile. I want a picture of this moment. I could look at her pretty face for years and not get tired of the view.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this way about anybody.
“Night, Kru.” She pushes out the back door and blows me a kiss as she leaves.
Only when the door closes behind her and I’m left with my thoughts do I feel the squeeze in my chest, the swirl in my gut.
Piper’s warning came too late.
I’ve already fallen.