Happily Ever After: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Piper Rayne

  I try to keep my poker face, but it cracks.

  She smiles, then tries to hide it by pinching her lips together.

  We both laugh and people near us turn to stare. But I don’t care.

  “So, next Thursday,” I say. “Pitching practice.”

  Her eyes dance with mischief. “But you lost the bet.”

  My cock twitches. Fuck am I going to have fun with this girl.

  “I’ll make you a deal,” I whisper softly into her ear. “I’ll give you some pointers, and then you can give me some.”

  A pink blush races up her neck and she turns away, making her ponytail swish again.

  The attendant takes our donations, and we file down the long table. I’m near the middle, with Lori on my left and a scrawny kid of about eight on my right.

  Lori sizes up her pie, then mine. “No fair, mine is bigger.”

  “You’ll just have to eat faster.”

  She rolls her eyes. In one quick twist, she creates a knot out of her ponytail. I hadn’t pegged her as competitive, and I like it.

  Next to each pie is a scrap of fabric, and I snatch hers up. “Want me to tie your hands for you?”

  Her lips part, as if she’s about to protest. Then she spots the scrap of fabric by my pie. “Then I won’t get to tie yours,” she says with a nervous smile.

  “We’ll save that for another time,” I say, and step behind her.

  She crosses her wrists and I carefully wrap the tie around them. We’re standing so close, almost touching. My cock is beginning to throb. She shifts, as if she can feel my heat.

  “Too tight?” I ask, finishing my knot. I’ve never tied a girl up before. What can I say? I’m a simple guy with simple needs. But the way we’re both practically panting right now is giving me all kinds of ideas.

  Lori shakes her head.

  The mom of the kid next to me helps me with my tie. I thank her but silently wish it were Lori’s slender, soft fingers brushing over my skin. The mom wishes us all luck and steps behind the rope, camera in hand.

  “Ready?” Lori asks as we step forward to our pies.

  “Yeah,” I say, thankful that the waist-high table is hiding what tying her wrists did to my dick.

  The announcer goes over the rules, reminding us that we have three minutes, while the crowd behind the rope watches, many with their cameras or phones poised.

  “Go!” the announcer calls.

  I pounce on my pie, which is made of whipped cream and some kind of fruit filling. Apple maybe.

  Out of the corner of my eye, Lori gulps the pie and licks her lips. She smiles because she’s caught me looking but doesn’t glance my way.

  “One minute!” the announcer calls.

  I return to my pie, scooping filling into my mouth. It’s sweet and thick but does nothing to satisfy my craving for an entirely different kind of pie. If I don’t taste her again soon, I’m going to lose my fucking mind.

  “Time!” the announcer calls.

  All heads bob up from the table. I blink through the cream coating my face and eyelashes at Lori.

  The lower half of her face is coated with white cream, like a Santa Claus beard. She’s managed to get a smear on her left temple that extends into her hair.

  Her eyes are wide and she’s breathing slightly faster than I think is justified for a pie-eating contest. She licks her lips and watching her little pink tongue dart about brings on a vision of her on her knees, taking me inside her soft mouth.

  To my surprise, the kid next to me has completely cleaned his pie dish. When the announcer pins the blue ribbon on him, he beams and his mom races over to hug him, whipped cream mess and all.

  “Let me untie you,” I say, shrugging out of the knot holding my wrists.

  Obediently, Lori turns her back and I whip off the tie but pocket the fabric.

  We both grab the offered paper towels and wipe our faces, but I still feel sticky.

  “You missed a spot,” I say, pointing to the smear on her temple.

  “So did you,” she says, grinning. She swipes a spot on my neck.

  They’ve set up a temporary sink on the side and I pull her to it. We wait for our turn, our hands still locked.

  “What flavor was your pie?” she asks.

  “Apple,” I say.

  She nods. “Cherry,” she says before I can ask.

  Energy zaps between our hands like volts of electricity. I can’t explain what I’m feeling, I only know I can’t turn it off.

  At the sink, we take turns wiping each other’s faces. Her touch is tender, and it makes me wonder what it would be like to be cared for like that, to be the object of someone’s kindness. Someone like Lori.

  I give her a wet willy and she splashes some of the water in the sink at me. I return the splash and soon we’re both soaked and the announcer races over to kick us out.

  I grab Lori’s hand and pull her from the tent.

  “Oh my God, we’re so bad!” she shrieks as we run, though there’s no one chasing us.

  “So bad,” I say, heading for the stables.

  “Where are we going?” she asks.

  Instead of answering her, I pull her inside the barn and kiss her against the wall. From deeper inside the space comes the soft rustling of horses moving in their stalls. I briefly wonder if we’re alone, then decide I don’t care.

  Her eyes flash with surprise but then she’s kissing me back. She tastes of sweet cream and summer and I can’t get enough of her soft lips.

  I press into her, the thick base of my cock grinding against her soft center. Unable to stand it any longer, I tug her into an empty stall and frame her face with my arms pressing into the slats.

  I lean down to kiss the slope of her neck. “I need to taste you.”

  “In here?” she says. There’s fear in her voice, but her body is melting to my touch. Being naughty is new to her, but I’m pretty sure she likes it.

  “Yeah, here,” I say, kissing her mouth again.

  A wild look races across her face. “What if someone comes?”

  “Like you?” I tease.

  “Oh wow,” she says, then gasps when I grab hold of her skin and suck.

  I pull out the tie and lift her arms above her head.

  Her eyes go wide, but I give her a reassuring grin as I secure her hands to one of the slats.

  Jesus she’s sexy as fuck like this with her eyes blazing and her chest arched up to me. I kiss her again, our bodies pressing close together, the heat from her skin igniting mine.

  She gives a little moan.

  I skim down her body, taking a nip of each breast as I go.

  She gasps, her body releasing a tight shudder.

  I sink to my knees and unbutton her shorts. While kissing her smooth belly, I tug everything down.

  Drawn in by the raw scent of her arousal, I bury my face in her folds, my tongue sliding deep between her thighs.

  Lori sucks in a soft cry, her hips bucking.

  I press her thighs into the stall and taste her everywhere. She’s raw and sweet and lush.

  “Fuck you’re wet,” I groan, and lick her again, this time swirling around the tiny hood of her clit.

  Lori’s breaths are ragged, accelerating. I suck and tease, gliding up and down.

  Her hips start to rock against me. I press her thighs apart, but her shorts only stretch between them another inch. It’s all I need.

  I slide two fingers inside her, thrusting with her body’s rhythm.

  Lori exhales a trembling sigh.

  I glance up at her face to see her mouth open in desperation and her eyes softly closed.

  I swirl her clit and drive inside her tight heat with my fingers.

  When I release her with the edges of my teeth, Lori’s hips go wild.

  I attack her pussy, thrusting and nibbling like a man possessed.

  Her face clenches and her lips pinch shut, muffling her cries until she’s arching hard against my mouth.

  I feel like doing a victory
dance, like I’ve just hit a Grand Slam.

  Lori’s thighs shudder and she bucks away from me.

  I kiss her thigh and reach up to stroke her warm belly that’s quivering with aftershocks.

  Rising, I pull up her shorts, then reach up and untie her. She falls into my arms, her panting breaths hot against my neck.

  I hold her tight as energy surges through me. Holy freaking hell.

  “That was the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” she says.

  “It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever done,” I say. We kiss, the blood pounding in my temples.

  “I want…” she says, then stops as a look of trepidation comes over her face.

  I raise my eyebrow while my cock pulses against her thigh.

  “…to do that to you,” she finishes, her shy expression replaced by that look of resolve. “But I don’t… I’ve never…” She swallows. “Will you show me?”

  Fuck, this girl.

  I lift her chin and gaze into her innocent brown eyes. “Get on your knees, doll.”

  13

  Lori

  The hay scratches my knees, but I’m so turned on by this I could be perched on a bed of nails and it wouldn’t matter. I caress the stiff length of him through his shorts and he groans.

  I plant soft kisses along the top of his waistband, tasting his firm, warm skin. He loosens my bun, so my ponytail falls free, then caresses the side of my head, combing back stray hairs.

  My fingers shake a little as I unbutton him and pull the zipper down. His shorts fall to the floor and I slide his boxers down his waist. His erection springs free and I have to stifle my gasp. Even though I’ve touched him, the idea of putting my mouth on him still makes me nervous. He’s not exactly small and I have no idea what I’m doing. But I want this. I want to make him feel good the way he did for me.

  His skin is smooth everywhere, but it’s like velvet here. I grasp him right in the middle. His scent is a mix of musk and man and it calls to me like some kind of siren song. A bead of liquid appears on the tip of him. I can’t help it—I lick it.

  Caleb hisses, his thighs shuddering.

  The rush that comes from knowing I can do this to him washes into my brain. I risk a glance up and see his eyes blazing with hunger.

  “You okay?” he asks, his thumb caressing my forehead.

  I smile my reply, then close my eyes and I wrap my lips around the tip of him. He’s warm and tastes a little salty.

  Caleb exhales a tight breath.

  I glide over the tip of him, inhaling his scent, tasting his skin.

  “Can you take more?” he asks, his voice almost desperate.

  I glide lower.

  “Fuck,” he groans.

  I glide up and down, completely consumed by his needs. I take him a little deeper, trying to relax my throat.

  “Yes. Like that,” he says. “Now suck me with your tongue.”

  Oh, right. His tongue had been what sent me into outer space, so of course the same would feel good to him.

  I grip the base of him and start to swirl as I glide. He starts rocking against me in little thrusts. He reaches down to show me how to stroke him up and down while my mouth moves. My world narrows to managing all of these tasks at once.

  Caleb takes his hand away and caresses my temple, then slides into my hair.

  He thrusts a little deeper, hitting the back of my throat. I gag and quickly pull off of him.

  “Shit, sorry,” he says.

  I go from a cough to laughing. “It’s okay,” I say.

  “It just feels so good,” he says, lifting my face to look at him.

  “It feels good to me too.”

  His eyes brighten. “I’ll try to be gentler.”

  “Don’t,” I say, giving him my warrior look.

  He raises an eyebrow. “This is your first and I don’t want to scare you.”

  “I’m not fragile,” I say. “I won’t break.”

  A hungry look passes through his eyes. “Is that a challenge?”

  I take him into my mouth.

  Caleb gives a long groan. I refocus on the feel and taste of him and tuning in to his rhythm. He starts to urge me faster, so I close my eyes and give in to the sensations.

  “Fuck, I’m gonna come,” he growls, his fingers wrapped in my ponytail.

  Even though I brace myself for it, the jet of warmth that hits the back of my throat takes me by surprise. It’s thick and salty-sweet. I’ve heard all the debates about spit or swallow but there’s no way to spit anything out from this angle and I don’t want to. It’s not something I would ever choose to consume but in this moment, it’s sort of hot. He holds me there as the last of his pulses fade, then releases me with a shudder that shakes his entire frame.

  I come off of him and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. He pulls me to my feet and tugs up his clothes, then grabs me in a tight embrace. Both of us are still breathing hard, our rapid hearts thudding against each other.

  “I think you’re a natural,” he says into my ear, rocking me side to side.

  I start to laugh. “Liar.”

  He laughs too and we stay there for another long minute.

  A shadow darkens the barn door and seconds later, a horse is being led inside.

  Caleb pulls me to the corner of the stall, and we peek through the slats as a man walks his horse down the length of the barn. As he ushers the horse inside a stall, I quickly finish zipping and buttoning up my shorts. Caleb grabs my hand, and we hurry through the door.

  Outside in the soft evening light, all the colors seem more vibrant. I’m giddy with what we just got away with, and how easy everything is with Caleb.

  In the distance, the sound of the square-dancing announcer echoes across the meadow.

  Caleb checks his watch and groans. “I hate to do this, but it’s almost time for my shift.”

  “What shift?”

  “At the first aid tent. I gotta take over for Pete at six thirty.”

  “That’s okay,” I say, “I’m supposed to meet Annika.”

  “Pete and I are in charge of the fireworks tonight,” he says, swinging my hand. “So, I won’t get to see you.” He looks crushed by this.

  “Supposedly we’re having pitching lessons next Thursday,” I say.

  “I can’t wait that long,” he says, looking pained.

  My heart hums because this is the sweetest thing a guy has ever said to me.

  “How about this?” he says, snapping his fingers. “I’ll sneak into the camp tomorrow night. Surprise you.”

  I scratch a sharp itch on my knee. “Just don’t surprise my campers. The last thing I need is to give them nightmares.”

  He gives me a confident grin. “I’ll be very careful.”

  We stop me at the edge of the main tent. His playful expression turns serious.

  I can’t help but brace myself. Is this when he’s going to tell me we should go back to the friend zone?

  “I know you said you’re not girlfriend material. I’m guessing that means not getting serious about any of this.”

  I shift so I can see his eyes better, but it doesn’t give me any more clues as to what he’s getting at.

  “Are you … looking to see other guys?” he asks, his face contorting with discomfort.

  Truthfully, I hadn’t given it much thought. I’m no sex kitten, that’s for sure. “Why are you asking?”

  He swallows. “I’m coming off of that mind-fuck with Del, so I’m in no great place for anything serious either, but we could keep hanging out like this.” His shoulders rise and fall in a quick shrug.

  My heart flutters.

  “I mean, after summer ends, we’re both leaving, right?”

  “Right,” I say as my mind spins with the implications. Last night was awesome but I was under no pretense it would continue. I went into it with my eyes wide open, hoping that after, we could be friends again.

  “But … if you wanna sow your wild oats, that’s cool,” he says, though his pinched
expression reveals his effort to make this sound casual.

  “Wild oats?” I say with a laugh to cover the realization I’m in serious trouble. I don’t want to go back to being just friends. “Maybe we could just sow our wild oats with each other.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “Are you talking dirty to me?”

  I give him a look. “Just so I’m clear, we’re going to not see other people, and we’re going to hang out but not get serious.”

  He nods, his eyes brightening. “Exactly.”

  A warning bell is sounding from the back of my brain, but I ignore it. Summer’s half over already. After today, we both go back to our jobs. Our days off don’t always line up. So, it’s not like we’ll have a ton of time to spend together.

  What’s the harm in a little casual fun? I’ve never done something like this before. It sounds risky and thrilling.

  “Yes,” I say. “I’m game.”

  He steps close for a long kiss. “What we did in there was fucking hot as hell,” he says when he pulls back.

  “Um, yeah,” I say as the blush works up my chest.

  “Promise me we can do that again very soon.”

  “How soon?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.

  He gives me a warning look. “Now you’ve done it,” he groans. “I get to sit at the first aid tent for the next three hours thinking about you.”

  He’ll be thinking about me? “Oh.”

  He kisses me again, his tongue flicking gently against mine. I can still taste myself, a salty-lemony flavor that starts to make my blood hot.

  “Okay,” I say suddenly, stepping back. “You gotta go, and I need a cold shower.”

  He grins. “I like that I can turn you on like that.”

  That makes two of us.

  He gives me one last kiss. “See you soon,” he says, then dashes off.

  I watch his fit body become a blur in the crowd, then spin, trying to get my bearings. Annika said she’d be at the food tent for the judging, so I head in that direction. The movement delivers a fiery itch from my knees. I go to scratch them when I notice that my skin is bright red and splotchy. My palms are too.

  “Oh my God,” gasp, fighting the sudden urge to itch everywhere.

  It seems to be spreading. How can I stop it?

  “Holy cow, girl, what happened to you?” Annika says when I find her.