British Big Shot: A Hero Club Novel

by J. H. Croix

  “It doesn’t feel right to leave you in the lurch. And you have an excellent point. You have much better uses for that money. I don’t know why I’m saying ‘I don’t know.’” His eyes shifted from mine, looking past my shoulder through the windows. “What are those sparks of light?”

  Turning, I saw the inky sky glittering with fireflies. I felt Jasper’s presence like the wind buffeting me fiercely when he came to stand beside me. He emanated strength and heat, and I felt slick need throb at the apex of my thighs. I was a needy girl when it came to him.

  “Those are fireflies,” I murmured, my voice falling into the quiet, charged air around us. “Why don’t you know?” I couldn’t let this go, apparently. Turning, I looked at him.

  After what felt like forever, his eyes caught mine before sweeping down and back up my body. Everywhere his eyes landed felt like drops of lava on my skin.

  “I don’t know why I don’t know,” he said slowly. “Apparently, I can’t treat this like a business decision.”

  “Is that what it is, a business decision?”

  “It should be. It’s become complicated.”

  “How?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, Anna. You. I have no business wanting you, but I do.”

  All of a sudden, I thought bad decisions were a great idea. “Well, I guess we’re in agreement on that.”

  “On what?”

  “I have no business wanting you, but I do,” I parroted his words back at him.

  Jasper’s eyes went dark, and my pulse began to race as my belly trembled. I practically had to squeeze my thighs together to ease the ache there.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jasper

  The list of reasons for why I should’ve been sensible here was definitive. But I didn’t stand a chance. Not with my cock so swollen I could feel the heavy weight of it when Anna’s cheeks went pink, and I wanted to count all the freckles scattered there. Not when I saw the barely perceptible shift of her thighs and remembered how slick, hot, and wet she’d been the other night. Not when I wanted to be sheathed inside her sweetness.

  The moment caught, and sparks charged the air between us. I held myself in check. I needed for her to be the one to make this move.

  She stared at me, and I waited. Just when I thought she wasn’t going to, she closed the distance between us, stopping right in front of me. She smelled like flowers. When she lifted her hand and her fingertips trailed along my jaw, I held my breath. She curled her hand around the back of my neck to bring my mouth to hers, and I couldn’t hold back a low growl as my entire body absorbed the shock to my system.

  The moment Anna’s tongue slicked against mine, I was gone. Kissing her was intoxicating. She yanked my control away, and everything got real hot, real fast.

  Just like the last time I kissed her, everything happened fast. It was as if someone left the latch open on a gate and let loose a herd of horses. Fierce need galloped through me, and my hand tangled in her hair as I tugged her against me in a full-body clench.

  Her mouth was hungry and sweet, her lips mobile as her tongue glided sensually against mine. She made a soft sound at the back of her throat, the sound sizzling through me and setting my nerve endings on fire.

  I lost track of the moment. All I knew was the feel of her soft breasts pressing against me and the way her bottom gave under my touch when I slid my palm down to cup it and pull her tight against my aching arousal. For a man who had no business kissing this girl, there was absolutely nothing businesslike about what we were doing. Her hands splayed on my chest, mapping the muscles before she reached between us and boldly stroked my cock through my jeans.

  I drew back from her sweet mouth to gulp in air. “Sweetheart,” I began, my breath hissing through my teeth when she stroked me again.

  “I’m not feeling very sweet,” she murmured, the naughty lilt in her voice like a bolt of lightning in my body.

  I tugged at her blouse, gratified when the buttons gave way easily. Yet again, I discovered Anna had a penchant for sexy underwear. Today, I was greeted by the sight of a cream lace bra with her nipples barely concealed behind it, pink and pebbled.

  I was leaning down to cup one, my teeth grazing over the taut bead, but Anna had other priorities. She popped open the buttons on my fly, sliding her hand down into my boxers, and let out a satisfied hum when her palm made contact with my hard, hot length.

  I gave her nipple a suck before I lifted my head, and murmured, “Slow—”

  “I’m not slowing down,” she countered with a saucy grin before she shoved my jeans and boxers down, and my cock sprang free.

  She was sexy all on her own, but throw in her bossiness with that saucy grin, and I was treading in territory of losing all control. Her smooth palm curled around my length, giving me a light stroke before her thumb smeared across the tip, wiping the drop of pre-cum rolling out.

  I usually set the tone when it came to sexual encounters, but Anna was having none of it. I started to say her name again, but all that came out was a rough groan when she leaned down and took my crown in her mouth. Her tongue swirled around the tip, and then she sucked me in deep as I grasped her hair.

  Fuck me. Anna’s mouth was pure magic. She teased me with her tongue and then sucked me in again and again, taking me deep before drawing back. My release was threatening as electricity sizzled down my spine. This wasn’t how I wanted to lose control, not just yet.

  I managed to get her entire name out through gritted teeth. She rocked back on her heels and looked up at me. Her strawberry curls were in a messy rumple around her shoulders.

  “Now, it’s your turn to do as I say,” I murmured as I reached down and grabbed one of her hands. Her lips curled in another saucy smile as she straightened.

  “Okay.” Two syllables said in her throaty voice, and I felt the hot shot straight to my balls.

  I turned, and she followed right behind me. I stopped just in front of the bathroom door, which was immediately between her bedroom door and mine. “Whose bed?”

  Anna gave me a long look, catching her bottom lip in her teeth and distracting me immediately. I had to kiss her again. Next thing I knew, we were tumbling into another blur of kisses when I took sip after greedy sip of her lips, soft, plump, and pliant, as her sassy tongue tangled with mine.

  It was only when I broke free for a nearly desperate gasp of air that she answered, “Mine.”

  In another second, we were in her bedroom. Our clothes dropped on the floor, falling in a messy rumple on the floor scattered around us. Then I was nudging her back with my hands on her hips. I forced myself to go still for a moment when her hips bumped against the bed.

  I had only been fantasizing about Anna naked for an entire week and a half. In the larger scheme of time, that was nothing more than a blink. But for me, those fantasies had filled my thoughts so thoroughly the time felt endless.

  She had freckles scattered on her shoulders, a few on her belly, and more scattered like far-flung stars on her legs, all cinnamon brown and tiny. I thought perhaps if I kissed every single one, then I would be able to map her body and make her mine.

  She had plump breasts, a trim waist with a soft curve to her belly, and generous hips. Speaking of hips, I slid my hands down the dip in her waist to grip her hips and push her back on the bed.

  “How come your bed?” I asked.

  I gripped her calves, pushing her knees apart as I made my way up. “Better pillows,” she gasped right as I teased my fingers into her pink, glistening pussy.

  “Are you telling me you gave me inferior pillows? I think you owe me.”

  I sank two fingers deep inside her, everything in my body lunging, straining with her when her head fell back, and her hips rocked into my touch. I blew lightly on her sex, reveling in how she trembled under my touch as I stroked into her again.

  “Wha-at do I owe you?” she gasped.

  “Mmm, I think perhaps an orgasm, maybe two.” Then I broug
ht my mouth to her, licking through the salty tang of her arousal, and she shuddered all over.

  Fuck me. Anna was so responsive, and not the least bit shy. Once we had our hands on each other, nothing held us back. I was far more accustomed to women worrying about how they looked and being careful and controlled in their responses. In contrast, she was loud and abandoned, almost messy.

  I didn’t get to tease her for long. I saw her hands curling into fists, and she gasped my name before her pussy rippled around my fingers when I sucked her clit lightly. She actually cried out my name, and an unfamiliar possessiveness reverberated inside me when she did. I was too caught up in the moment to dwell on it although it was as if a small bell rang inside.

  I was rising, pressing my knee into the mattress when I realized I needed a condom. I was off the bed and striding into my room in a second. “Where are you going?” Anna called, sounding impatient.

  “Condom,” I called over my shoulder. I made it to my room where I snatched one out of my toiletry bag.

  I might’ve broken land speed records on the way back. I was sheathed and then finally sinking into the cradle of her hips.

  “Hurry,” she ordered, curling her legs around my hips.

  And I hurried, belying any illusions I had about being in control of this. The moment I sank into her satiny, snug core, my mind simply went blank.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Anna

  I stared up at Jasper. His face was cast half in shadow, and his eyes were intent on mine. This was supposed to be sex. It was definitely that, but it was wildly out of control, hot, fast, and messy. Jasper was British and proper, and this was not what I expected of him.

  But then, this wasn’t what I expected of myself. He turned me into a little seductress. I had no shame with raw, carnal need driving me.

  His weight settled over me, and the muscles of the shoulders bunched. “Hold on,” he murmured.

  Like a good girl, I did just that, curling my legs more tightly around his hips. He rocked back and filled me again, the stretch delicious and intoxicating. I let out a ragged sigh of pure pleasure.

  Before I realized what was happening, he efficiently rolled us over so I was sitting astride him, and he was propped up on the pillows. He leaned forward, catching one of my nipples with his lips and giving it a sharp suck, the pleasure arrowing straight to my core.

  “Now, I know you like to be in charge, so…”

  I needed no further instruction. Holding onto his shoulders, I rose up and sank down slowly, savoring every inch of him as he filled me. My control lasted for all of one second before I was rocking restlessly, and he was arching into me as we took turns pushing higher and higher.

  I barely heard him speak through the thrum of my pulse buzzing. “You owe me two orgasms.”

  With a hot, open kiss on my neck, he reached between us, working magic with his fingers just over my clit. He caught my lips with his when I came, the shudders hitting my body so hard, I barely registered anything but the decadence of pleasure slamming through me.

  I was still reverberating when I felt his hand tightening in my hair as he let out a rough cry with my name following. I collapsed on him, just like the other night on the couch. Just like that time, he held me close.

  I didn’t remember if we talked after that, but I did remember him holding me by the hand and leading me into the shower. My legs were unsteady, and I felt like I’d melted. I did remember hot water raining over us and noticing that he had a tattoo curling around his hip in bold black strokes. I also remembered him laughing as the soap bubbles rolled over my skin, and he teased me to another climax with his fingers.

  We fell asleep together, and I came awake with the feel of his hot lips on the back of my neck. I rolled over to have his mouth claim mine in a sweet, hungry kiss.

  Yeah, so I could totally get used to that kind of waking up. I could also totally get used to sleeping tangled up with Jasper. Turned out, he was a cuddler. Who knew?

  The British big shot was flipping my expectations upside down. After yet another two orgasms, I made us omelets for breakfast. I wasn’t sure how to interact with him after that wild night, but somehow, we eased into a regular morning.

  Although nothing about the situation was regular. We were into the second week of his month here, and I still wondered what he would want to do at the end of it. I knew, technically, I had a little power in the situation. He couldn’t sell without my written permission, even if I were the one buying him out. It’s just I didn’t want to be business partners with someone who didn’t want to be in the situation. Especially now that he knew I could buy him out.

  Fortunately, it was a flower day. I needed something to keep me busy after last night. Jasper was in the middle of a phone conference as I was getting ready to leave. He held a finger up from where he sat at my desk. I was just reaching for my straw hat and lowered my arm. “Yes?”

  “Do you need any help?”

  I was still confused by how helpful he was trying to be. He honestly seemed to think he might as well work since he was here. I shook my head. “No. We have a system. I’m sure you have plenty of work to catch up on. You can count on it being quiet up here.”

  He held my gaze for several long beats before nodding. “I’ll be down at some point.” Another pause, and my belly shimmied. “Thank you for breakfast.”

  “Of course.”

  I had to willfully tear my eyes from his. I practically ran out of the loft apartment. As soon as I made it downstairs, I was pulled into the day. Customers were already arriving to wander through the flower fields. The weather was perfect, sunny with a light breeze. By the time late afternoon rolled around, I was exhausted but happy.

  “Here you go,” I said, handing over a bouquet.

  The young man smiled. “She’s going to love these. How much are they?”

  “Twenty dollars.” I tapped open my computer tablet. “We take cash or credit cards.”

  The man handed over a credit card, and I quickly swiped it. “What’s the occasion?” I asked conversationally.

  He suddenly looked nervous, a twitch of worry appearing between his brows. “I’m asking her to marry me. I’ve got flowers, a bottle of wine I got from your winery, and the ring.”

  At that moment, the back of my neck prickled, and I knew Jasper was approaching. My body’s awareness and responsiveness to him was shocking. I kept my attention on the young man. “Oh, that’s lovely! It sounds like you’ve planned everything. Are you taking her out to dinner?”

  Jasper arrived beside me at the table. We handled transactions for the greenhouse and flowers with a table we set up each week right outside the gates that led into the flower fields. It was temporary but more convenient than having traffic going in and out of the winery.

  “I’ve got a picnic,” the young man said.

  “A picnic for what?” Jasper interjected.

  Just the sound of his voice sent a little shiver through me.

  “He’s proposing,” I said, glancing up toward Jasper. “He has flowers, wine, and a ring. I think he’s set himself up for success.”

  Jasper looked at the man solemnly for a moment before smiling. “It sounds like it. Best of luck.”

  “Please do come back and let us know how it goes,” I said as I handed over the computer tablet, gesturing for where he could sign with his fingertip.

  After he signed, he looked up. “I definitely will.”

  After he walked off, I felt suddenly tongue-tied. That was another thing Jasper did to me. I never knew what to say, and now, we’d taken things to a whole new level last night. I didn’t know what that meant. I thought I needed to treat it casually because anything else seemed insane.

  “It’s been busy,” Jasper commented as he looked around. There were still a few customers left but not many. Eloise was chatting with a couple in the perennial section, and our rooster let out his distinctive call.

  “Flower day is always busy.”

  I busie
d myself tidying up the table. “If you don’t mind me asking, how is it that your grandparents ended up with this combination winery and flower business?” Jasper asked. Without me asking, he began picking up debris scattered around the table.

  As I put receipts in a box, I replied, “Well, my grandparents had the flowers first because both of them loved gardening. Just for fun and personal reasons, they started growing grapes and making wine. My grandmother was the one who eventually turned the wine into part of the business. She was an early adopter before local wines got really popular. I honestly think that led to some of her financial mistakes. The money was just so easy at the beginning.”

  I closed the cashbox and looked over at Jasper. His eyes were considering as he looked back at me before nodding slowly. “Makes sense. You don’t have to worry as much. You know it’s going to be fine, right?”

  Staring at him, I knew intellectually his words made sense, but “fine” was something I felt as if I’d been chasing my entire life. I didn’t want much. Just stability and to be able to sleep without anxiety running laps and chasing my thoughts in circles at night. “Maybe,” I said, looking down quickly.

  Looking up at the sound of tires on the gravel, I watched as the last vehicle departed the parking lot. Eloise came over to the table. “I’m gonna head home. Everything’s already locked down in the winery. Do you need any help feeding the chickens and the goats before I go?”

  “Oh, no. I’ve got it. Thank you for everything today.”

  Eloise smiled at us. “All right. See you tomorrow.”

  She disappeared around the winery into the parking area for staff. I stood from the table. “I’ll carry the stuff in and then go take care of the animals.”

  “I’ll help,” Jasper said.

  “You don’t have to—”

  One of Jasper’s brows rose in a dark slash. “I’m not going to stand around while you do all the work, Anna.”