by Abby Brooks
“Hungry?” he asked as they approached a line of picnic tables near the stage and dance floor.
Ellie’s stomach growled loudly as the scent of fried shrimp, fish, and lobster mingled with the briny scent of the sea. “Very.”
“What do you like?”
“Ummm…” She tilted her head and pursed her lips, pretending to consider. “All of it.”
“I’ll tell you what. You have a seat right here, and I’ll grab us some grub.”
Before Ellie had a chance to respond, James disappeared into the throngs of festival goers. She sat at one of the empty tables, entertaining herself with people-watching and tapping her foot in time to the music coming over the speakers near the empty stage. The band wouldn’t show up until later in the evening.
James reappeared a few minutes later, carrying two trays laden with food with his brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law in tow. “Look who I found,” he quipped as he sat a tray down in front of Ellie. “You know Ian and Juliet, don’t you?”
Ellie smiled. “I sure do.” She offered her hand to Ian, who stood just slightly taller than James, but had the same dark hair and eyes as his younger brother. “It’s good to see you again,” she said to Juliet with a nod. James sat across from Ellie while Ian and Juliet joined them at the table.
“I grabbed a little of everything for you,” he said, waving a hand over the trays.
“This can’t all be for me!” Ellie laughed and shook her head. “You guys will have to help.”
Juliet gathered her long, brown hair over her shoulder. “The provider gene runs strong in the Moore men. If you’re not specific about what you want, you’ll end up with more than you can handle.”
“You say that as if it’s a bad thing.” Ian arched an eyebrow. “I’m sorry my desire to satisfy your every need is such a burden.”
Juliet blushed and reached across the table to grab her fiancé’s hand. “Nothing about you is a burden. Not one thing.” The look she gave him was so intimate and filled with love that Ellie felt as if she was interrupting a private moment instead of talking with friends in a public place.
She turned her attention back to the piles of food on the table. “You’re planning on helping, right? You know I can’t eat all this.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll help. Don’t think for a second I’d leave all this for you to handle by yourself.”
The two couples laughed and talked while picking over the food. Ellie had met Juliet at Good Beginnings when she first arrived in Bliss. They’d had several casual conversations since, but spending more time with her only proved Ellie’s sneaking suspicion that she really liked the woman. She could see the two of them ending up great friends, if things worked out. And the love Juliet felt for Ian was unmistakable.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with an explosion of colors, the band set up and began playing. James stood and extended his hand. “Dance with me.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Ellie said as she untangled herself from the picnic table.
“I think you missed the part where I wasn’t asking.” James smiled and led her to the dance floor and Ellie could have sworn she heard Juliet muttering something about a bossy gene.
Somewhere between the breeze, the music, and the look in James’ eyes as they danced, Ellie lost herself to the moment. For such a muscular guy, the man could really move. When she asked him about it, he credited martial arts for helping him learn to be quick on his feet then lifted her up and swung her around, her legs sweeping along behind her, before he lowered her to the ground, and dipped her back while she laughed and shrieked.
“Strong and fast,” he said. “All the better to keep my opponents on their toes.”
“Is that what you’re doing to me?” she asked as the music ended. “Keeping me on my toes?”
James’ lips tightened into a thin line and his eyebrows clenched together. “You’re not my opponent, Ellie.” The band started playing a slow song and he pulled her close. “You’re my friend.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone and for whatever reason, that little bit of skin on skin contact ignited her desire for him. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder to hide the blush spreading across her face
“I like being your friend,” she murmured, her lips brushing his collarbone.
Was it her imagination or did he sigh at the whisper of her breath against his throat? Pull her a little tighter? Maybe?
She looked up and found him staring down at her, his gaze heated. She licked her lips, her focus darting from his mouth to his eyes and back again.
“Ellie?” he asked with a low growl in his throat. “Can I kiss you?”
“You don’t have to ask, you know.” Ellie swallowed. “Kissing is part of our deal.”
“Right. I remember. But I want to kiss you. Not fake girlfriend Ellie, but the woman I have in my arms right now.”
Every ounce of good sense went on high alert, warning her that she needed to stick to the agreement and not allow things between them to get muddled. “I’d like that very much,” she said, her mouth paying no attention to her head.
James leaned in, his tongue sliding over her lower lip so lightly Ellie wondered if she imagined it. His gentle mouth contradicted the hard stone of his body and she sagged in his arms, opening herself to him. She grazed his lip with her teeth and he growled in appreciation as they swayed in time to the music.
The kiss ended before the song and James stopped moving but didn’t let her go. Ellie didn’t want him to stop. She wanted him to press his lips to hers again. Wanted him to run his hands along her body again. Wanted to feel the corded muscles in his arms and shoulders jump and bunch beneath her hands. Desire pooled between her legs and James pushed his hips forward, the evidence of his own desire pressed into her stomach.
“God, I want you,” she murmured, gazing up at him, not even caring that her mouth was operating without permission again.
James crushed her body to his. “The feeling is mutual.”
She wanted to slide her hand into his pants and run her fingers across his dick, feel it jump to life, then tease him with long, slow caresses. Meanwhile, her thoughts went to war, battling over whether it was a good or bad thing that she was in public and couldn’t act on her desire. The band started playing again and all around them, couples danced and laughed, but still, James didn’t let go.
He didn’t look away.
His eyes remained locked on hers the way her body still pressed against his. The beat of the music entwined with the rhythmic rush of the waves against the shore.
Finally, James blinked rapidly and licked his lips. “Ready to go?”
For once, Ellie’s mouth didn’t know what to say. No, she didn’t want to go. Not if it meant their time together was over. But yes, if he was going to take her somewhere quiet, somewhere they could be alone, then yes, she was all kinds of ready for that.
Not knowing what he meant was torture, but she nodded, unwilling to put any pressure on him. “If you are,” she managed at last.
“Fuck yeah, I’m ready.” He took her hand and weaved through the crowd, a guided missile en route to its target.
Doubt and lust locked in a gruesome battle in Ellie’s mind.
He’s ready to leave because he’s mad at you for kissing him!
He’s ready to leave because he wants to get you alone and kiss you some more!
He likes you!
He hates you!
Chapter Sixteen
Ellie
The bike roared through the streets of Bliss, and Ellie’s heart sank as she realized they were heading back to the café, not James’ house. As he pulled up beside her car and put down the kickstand, nerves flipped around in her belly. She took his hand when he offered it and hopped off the bike, ready to bolt for the door as soon as he released her.
But he didn’t release her.
He kept a firm grip on her hand even as he swung his leg over the bike. Then he drew her cl
ose and kissed her again.
The kiss at the festival had been soft and warm, melted caramel poured over molten chocolate.
The kiss outside Good Beginnings was hard and insistent, the crack of lightning striking the ground.
His hands gripped her ass. His mouth slanted over hers. Holding her tight, he walked her backwards toward the door while she dug in her purse for her keys.
As soon as they stepped inside, James was on her again, fierce and unrelenting. He ran a hand under her shirt and cupped her breast, his rough skin searing her with pleasure.
“I’ve wanted you since you took me home from Hurricane’s that first night,” he murmured against her lips, then trailed his mouth down to her throat and kissed along her collarbone and shoulder. “I’ve tried to ignore it, but I can’t. Not anymore.”
Ellie groaned and leaned her head back to give him room to work while grabbing a handful of his hard on through his jeans. She couldn’t wait to wrap her hands around his shaft, to feel the shudder of pleasure run through him as she took control. While James pulled her shirt over her head and lowered his mouth to her breast, she fumbled with the button on his jeans. He bit down lightly, using his teeth to pull on the lace of her bra, then circled her hardened nipple with his tongue.
Ellie finally managed to undo his zipper and slipped a hand inside, eager to feel his velvety hardness. She gasped when she found she could barely wrap her fingers around him, the space between her thumb and middle finger enough to completely steal her attention from what he was doing to her chest.
“Holy shit, you’re big,” she said.
“I’ll go slow until you’re used to it.”
His words sent a tremor through her body. She ran her hand across his sheath and he moaned, throwing his head back.
“Take your shirt off,” she murmured.
“Take me to your office,” he said. “Too many windows.” He was right of course, even with the lights off, the chances of someone walking by and looking in were high. Stopping to grab her shirt off the floor, Ellie led James through the kitchen to her office in the back, side-stepping the half-dried pile of mayonnaise on the tile.
He was on her as soon as she flicked on the lights, unhooking her bra and sliding it off her shoulders. Stepping back, his gaze skated along her naked torso, the hunger in his eyes predatory.
“You are fucking magnificent.” He licked his lips. “Take off your pants. I need to see you. I’ve been fantasizing about this too long.”
“You’re not the only one with fantasies, you know. I need to know what’s under that shirt.” She tugged at the fabric separating them.
James shook his head. “Get naked, Ellie. Now.”
The confidence in his tone set her on fire. Keeping her eyes trained on his, she undid the button and zipper in her shorts and let them slide down her legs to the floor. She hooked her fingers in her panties and pulled down just a little on the waistband, teasing him.
He groaned in appreciation. “All the way.”
She had never been with someone so demanding before and it turned her on more than she could’ve imagined. She did as she was told and stood naked before him, reveling in his hunger for her.
“Now you,” she said.
“I’m not used to taking orders, Ellie.”
“Neither am I.” She stepped into him and slid her hands back into his pants, smiling when she felt a little bead of moisture on the tip of his cock. She wanted him in her mouth, and she was tired of waiting.
Ignoring the fact that James was still completely dressed, she pulled his dick out and kneeled in front of him, curious to see just how much of him she could take. She swirled her tongue around his tip, amazed by its girth, then licked his shaft.
“Stand up,” he growled, pulling his shirt off. “You’ve taken care of me since day one. Tonight, let me take care of you.”
Ellie had no intention of doing what he said, but as soon as his shirt was off, he pulled her to her feet. With firm hands on her shoulders, James guided her to her desk and perched her on the edge, legs spread. She had a moment to realize that the tattoos on his arms met on his chest and back. That they were, in fact, one very large tattoo. A moment to appreciate the chiseled muscles in his chest and his tight stomach. And then he was on his knees, spreading her thighs with his hand, and running his tongue up her slit. She leaned back on her elbows, her heavy braid bouncing on the desk behind her, papers sliding to the floor.
“I’ve wondered how you taste,” he said and then went to work driving her crazy. His tongue circling her clit, his scruff rough against the tender flesh between her legs, his fingers warm as he drove first one, then another inside her. She whimpered, unable to speak through her pleasure.
No one had ever gone down on her like that before.
No one had ever made her feel so good before.
Her orgasm built quickly, a freight train barreling down the tracks. Her muscles began to clench just in time for James to stop doing what he was doing.
“Oh no, Ellie. You don’t get to come until I give you permission and I want your first orgasm to be with me inside you.”
She melted at his words, shocked how much she liked being told what to do. She didn’t respond, but only because she couldn’t. James dug in his pocket for a condom then slid his pants off. Ellie couldn’t stop staring at the monster between his legs, straining toward her. She licked her lips as he slid the condom in place.
“Do you want me, Ellie?”
She nodded, opening her legs wider.
“Say it. Say you want me.”
“Oh God, James,” she managed. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
He moved in close, shoving her further back on her desk, papers and pens and anything else in the vicinity clattering to the floor. He pressed the crown of his cock against her opening and she gasped, her eyes locked on his. Inching forward, James cupped Ellie’s cheek, the heat in his gaze holding her captive.
Her eyes rolled back in her head as he filled her. A whimper slipped past her lips and James stilled. “You good?” he rasped, his thumb running along her cheekbone.
Ellie nodded. “I’m fantastic.”
True to his word, he moved slowly while she adjusted to being so full and then, as his passion took over, he picked up the pace. His thrusts grew hard and insistent and her orgasm swelled inside her, waves of pleasure like nothing she’d experienced before.
“James! I’m gonna come…” She trailed off and moaned, letting her head slide back.
“Not yet, Ellie. Wait.” He pushed himself all the way inside her and she cried out.
“I can’t…”
He thrust deep.
Again.
And again.
“James…I need…I can’t…”
Finally, he growled. “Come for me, Ellie. Come just for me.”
His voice sent ripples of pleasure through her, and her body obeyed his command, clenching tight against his dick as he undulated his hips. She cried out his name—both a prayer and a reason to pray—and he climaxed, her name a whisper on his lips.
Chapter Seventeen
James
“Holy shit, Ellie. That was amazing.” James leaned forward and nuzzled her neck, trailing kisses down her throat, over her chest, and not stopping until he reached her magnificent breasts. He gathered his pants and boxer briefs from the floor and pulled them on.
Ellie gathered her composure as she half-slid off the desk. “Aw…” She ran her hand along her forehead, wiping at the beads of sweat gathered at her temples. “That’s a thing of beauty. It’s a shame to cover it up.”
“Are you referring to my manhood?”
“Why yes, I am.” Ellie looked around for her shirt. “And did you really just refer to your penis as your manhood?”
“I have a right to call my penis whatever the hell I want to.” James pulled her close before she could grab her clothes. “And for the record, my beautiful manhood…” James trailed off and lifted
an eyebrow, daring her to judge him for using the word. “…pales in comparison to you, Ellie Charles.”
She blushed and ducked her chin to hide a smile, a movement James found completely endearing. Finally, she retrieved her clothes from the floor and sighed at the mess of papers around her desk. Tightness settled into her eyes as her brows furrowed.
“What’s wrong?” James pulled his shirt over his head and worry set into his stomach. “Please tell me you’re not about to get all weird now.”
“No,” she said with a laugh. “It’s not that.”
Everything about her posture indicated something was bothering her. “What is it then?”
“Okay, it’s a little that. But that’s just a me thing that I’ll get over soon enough.”
James raked his hand through his hair and took a step back. Sure, he could admit he found her more attractive with each passing day. And sure, he could admit he enjoyed spending time with her because she wasn’t afraid to challenge him. But, damn it. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Fuck.
Ellie held up her hands. “No need to freak out. It’s written all over your face. I get that this relationship isn't really a relationship and it isn’t going anywhere.” She gathered a handful of papers off the ground and started to organize them. “Look, I can’t help it if that was the best sex of my life. But I know me, and I know I’m gonna want more. And I’m sorry that makes me worry, but given that this relationship has an expiration date, I just got a little anxious about the real possibility you might ruin me for other men and I’ll end up having to forsake sex altogether because no one can live up to you.”
James puffed up his chest. “Well, I guess that doesn’t sound so bad.” Though he continued searching her face for any signs she was lying. “Although, I suppose—in this situation—we can both agree that it sucks to be you.”