“For starters, in this house, he’s not a legend. He’s just an ornery old widower. Second, whatever you make is fine.”
“I need to figure out something green. But not like a green vegetable. That’s the wrong shade of green.”
“Why the color green?”
“Seriously? Because of At Midnight,” she said, looking at him like he should know this. Caulfield Montgomery was his godfather. How was he unaware of the importance of this detail? “The color green is what he used to show the true hearts and motives of the characters.”
“Come again?”
“Everyone who betrayed the family in some way had something green. D'artagnan had the custom leather in his car, Anaura had the jade necklace, Aiden had the green rabbit’s foot, and Xander had green shading on his tattoo,” she said, turning back to the frosting. “Cretia, the biggest betrayer of them all, had a green aura. And I quote, ‘But not like the color of money. It was a pale, placid color, like the inside of a lime.’”
Holden stood then, giving her a stunned look, like he couldn’t believe she’d just quoted his own godfather’s words to him. She suddenly felt very self-conscious, unable to tell if he was impressed or thought she was potentially a little crazy. Maybe both.
“You really do know that book inside and out, huh?” he asked, thankfully sounding impressed rather than concerned.
“I told you, I wrote my capstone paper on it. It’s my favorite book,” she responded.
Holden just stared at her for a moment, before making a show of turning to walk out of the kitchen and into the living room. A moment later he returned, phone in hand, tapping away at it like he was sending a text.
“What are you doing?”
“That’s it. I’m canceling Christmas. Both my father and Uncle Field are just going to adore you, and once you bust out knowledge like that about Caulfield’s books, we’ll never heard the end of it! Can’t have my godfather stealing my girlfriend, now can I?” he told her, a sly grin on his face.
Gigi stopped mixing the frosting, and she felt her pulse start to race. Girlfriend? Did he just call her his girlfriend? Did he even realize what he just said?
"Girlfriend?”
Holden
Holden hadn’t actually meant to use that word out loud. Girlfriend had been the term he’d been using in his own head to think about Gigi ever since that night at the gazebo. But in his own mind was a very different place than actually voiced. Surprisingly, saying it out loud felt really good.
“Ummm, yeah,” he admitted, feeling a little ridiculous. For as good as it felt to use that term, he was suddenly very aware that they hadn’t had any kind of conversation about what they were. He knew it was something—neither of them were the type to only be in this for the “benefits”—but he probably should have initiated this conversation a little differently. “That’s kinda what I’ve been referring to you as in my head. If you have a better term…”
“I like that one,” she said, her eyes full of warmth.
“Good, so do I.”
“But I can’t make any promises to not run off with Caulfield Montgomery. A girl would be crazy to turn down a living legend like that!” she teased.
Holden lunged across the kitchen, earning a playful shriek from Gigi. Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her slightly off the ground, spinning her around. The skirt she was wearing flared a bit as she wiggled and giggled in his arms. The sound of her laugh went straight to his dick, and it took all he had to not haul her to the bedroom right then and there. But he knew she had cupcakes baking, and he didn’t dare put her at risk of burning something else.
Putting her back on the ground, he twirled her around so she was facing him, her eyes still filled with the giddiness of the moment. He loved seeing her this happy. In moments like these, it seemed like all was right with the world, and they were both exactly where they should be. Long gone were the ghosts of their pasts, and the only thing that existed was the two of them.
BEEEP!
“You, young lady, have been saved by the bell, it seems,” he said to her, not letting the oven’s timer ruin the moment the way it had the last time they were in this situation.
“It’s nice to have the appliances on my side for once!” she commented. When she bent over to pull the pan out of the oven, the sight of her glorious ass was more than Holden could bear. His dick strained against his pants, and his hands itched to take hold of the perfection he knew was under that sky-blue fabric. Feeling a little impish, he took a step closer and lightly smacked her backside, earning another shriek.
“I probably deserved that, huh?” she said, returning his playful grin.
“And so, so much more,” he told her, leaning in for a kiss. Her lips were sweet, like the frosting she had just been mixing, and Holden was more than willing to spend some time getting lost in her this afternoon.
“All teasing aside though,” Gigi said, turning serious. “I don’t want to mess up Christmas. Not just because my favorite author happens to be coming, but because this is your family. I’m going to be so embarrassed if I screw this up. What if I give everyone food poisoning?”
“Hey, hey now,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “None of that. Where’s all that confidence you’ve found?”
“It’s currently freaking out that I’m going to ruin the holidays with your parents!”
“Sweetheart, you have become a magician in the kitchen. Whatever you make is going to be spectacular. But do you want the real secret to winning over my dad and Uncle Field?”
“Yes!”
“As long as you have sweet tea and lemonade for them to make an Arnold Palmer, we'll have a house full of happy campers.”
Gigi’s eyes went wide, and her mouth flew open with surprise. Holden had no idea what he said that was so shocking, but whatever it was, it seemed to have sent Gigi into a tizzy.
“That’s it! An Arnold Palmer cupcake! A sweet tea cake and lemonade frosting,” she exclaimed. “That’s the signature item!”
“That sounds delicious.”
“You’re a genius, Holden!” She launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck as if she hadn’t seen him in months. Grabbing her by the waist, he picked her up and set her on the counter behind her. With her hair swept up, showing off her neck, glowing with excitement, she was too adorable for words. His pulse raced as he took her in, all sweet and innocent. She looked almost good enough to eat—and Holden really, really wanted a taste.
“It was your idea, sweetheart. I’m just here to taste test,” he told her, moving in between her legs. He placed a kiss on her collarbone, feeling her shiver underneath him. When he repeated the motion on the opposite side, she moaned softly from the contact, shifting her hips closer to his.
“I need to frost the cupcakes,” she said to him, breathless from his attention.
“Maybe I could frost your cupcakes,” he countered, his voice gruff with desire.
Gigi’s sharp inhale of breath was all the reaction he needed, and he wasted no time in pulling her shirt over her head and ridding her of her bra. Her beautiful breasts heaved from her deep breath, and Holden couldn’t look away. Everything about her was stunning. Reaching behind him, he grabbed the bowl of frosting she’d been mixing and dipped a finger into it, scooping out a chunk of the sugary concoction. Slowly and deliberately, he ran his frosting-covered finger over the swell of her breasts, circling her nipple, like he was an artist and she was his canvas. The whimper that escaped her lips as he traced his way along her cleavage sent a whole new surge of lust through his body, amping him up and fueling his desire to pleasure the beauty in front of him.
Holden leaned in and kissed Gigi, softly at first but quickly turning up the heat. He was so fucking turned on and wanted nothing more than to have her writhing underneath him, screaming his name. He kissed his way along her jaw and down her neck, making his way toward the sweetness he knew was waiting for him a few inches south. When he reached his handiwork, he t
ook a long, drawn out lick across her breasts. A loud moan came from Gigi, and she arched backward, pushing the stunning orbs closer to his face, trying to direct his attention. He didn’t hesitate in giving her what she wanted, taking her now erect nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue around the peak. She let out another moan, this one even louder than the last, as he worked his way from side to side, making sure not the smallest amount of frosting was left.
“Holden…” she groaned, as he returned to her mouth. His name sounded amazing coming from her. It didn’t matter what they were doing, that sound made his heart squeeze. But hearing it in reaction to him making her feel so good she couldn’t think to say anything else? That might be one of the best feelings in the world.
Grabbing on to her hips, he quickly found the zipper on her skirt and undid it. Taking the cue, she shimmied out of the garment until she was sitting there in just a thong. It was Holden’s turn to groan as he ran his fingers under the lace sitting on her hips, wondering how mad she would be if he just ripped the panties right off of her.
“The frosting was sublime, sweetheart. And you know I love your cupcakes,” he told her, continuing to kiss her. “But there is another part of you I have been dying for a taste of.”
Gigi stilled for a moment before opening her eyes and staring into his. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, wondering where he was going with this.
“I want nothing more than to devour your sticky bun.”
19
Gigi
“You…you do?” Gigi stuttered, not sure what to make of his comment.
“I absolutely do,” he told her, still looking intently into her eyes. She saw a fire there that told her he was not only serious but filled with desire. It sent sparks shooting through her to think that he wanted her this much. “And not just because I heard Hunnie say it earlier. I’ve wanted it ever since that first afternoon in my bedroom.”
Sugar Honey Iced Tea!
“You heard that?” she squeaked, swallowing hard. A new wave of embarrassment flooded over her, and she closed her eyes, letting her head fall forward, hoping she could just magically vanish into thin air.
“Sweetheart, look at me,” he said, taking her face in his hands. “You never, ever have anything to be embarrassed about with me, understand? Never.”
Gigi nodded, still feeling slightly silly, but the look in his eyes was unchanged. The fire was still there, and the heat from his gaze was almost burning a hole in her. She wanted him so badly she could feel it in every ounce of her being.
“Good, then I have a taste test to get back to,” he growled. He captured her lips with his, bringing her right back to the state she’d been in while he had finger-painted her with the frosting.
Kissing his way down her body, he paused for a moment, lavishing her breasts with attention all over again. Still sensitive from moments ago, she felt all-new sensations rush through her. How was it possible to feel this much pleasure? Every place he kissed her seemed to be filled with a thousand nerve endings, exploding with just the lightest touch. He let go of her breasts, his mouth making a popping sound, and continued his journey down her belly, until he reached the lacy hemline of her panties.
Butterflies swarmed her insides as he slipped his fingers under the sides of her thong and started to drag it down her hips. He was slow and careful, drawing out the moment. She didn’t know if that was his way of telling her that he knew she was nervous or if it was because that was just the pace he wanted it, but either way, she was grateful. When he reached her ankles, Gigi gasped as he slowly spread her legs apart and methodically inched his way back up, this time with kisses on the inside of her legs. The softness of his beard against her thighs surprised her. It tickled, but not in a way that made her want to giggle. It was as if someone was running a feather along her skin, letting her know he was there, drawing all the attention to that spot.
His kisses went from light and sweet to open mouthed and purposeful the closer he got to her mound. She could already feel the anticipation building in her, her pulse racing as she tried to catch her breath, with each new touch of his lips. As much as she always wondered what the hype was about, the idea of letting a man do this to her had always scared her a bit. Holden was the only man she could have ever imagined allowing down this road—that was how much she trusted him.
Before she knew what was happening, Holden placed one of those searing open-mouth kisses directly on her sex. The sound that came from her mouth was one she didn’t recognize, but so was the immense pleasure she was feeling. She heard Holden chuckle softly as she fell backwards onto her forearms and opened her legs wider, giving him access to whatever he wanted. He ran his tongue up and down her pussy in long, languid strokes, following with nibbling and sucking that was driving her out of her mind. She had never felt anything like it, and she never, ever wanted it to stop. Every movement of his tongue sent her further and further into space. He continued to lick and suck, carefully avoiding her clit, where she was dying for his touch. She writhed under his attention, trying to coax him into finding the bundle of nerves, but no matter what she did, he expertly avoided the area.
Just when she thought there was no way this could get any better, he inserted two fingers, finding the secret spot inside her, and his tongue flicked her clit. Gigi flew up, arching her back from the new, sudden contact, letting out a groan that made her glad the closest neighbors were miles away. Holden reached up with his free hand, grabbing hers, entwining their fingers. The tender gesture made her feel even more connected to him, and her heart squeezed. She felt so much for him, and not just because he was driving her crazy with his mouth, but didn’t have the words to express any of it.
“Oh my…Oh my…I…” Gigi started to say, but was cut off by the all-consuming bliss that took over all her senses as Holden took her clit in his mouth and sucked. Hard.
Her orgasm crashed over her, sending her throttling through the air. Every inch of her felt like it was on fire, like fireworks detonating rapid-fire. Her hand found the back of Holden’s head, running her fingers through his hair as he continued, never letting up as the pleasure rolled through her over and over again.
When her climax finally subsided, Holden placed a few more tender kisses on her mound before rising up off his knees and leaning over her body with his, kissing her passionately. She kissed him back harder than she had ever kissed anyone, and it still wasn’t enough. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her entire being around this man and stay that way forever.
“That might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten in this kitchen,” he whispered, just before nibbling her earlobe. Wrapping his arms around her, he stood back up, returning her to an upright position, but thankfully not letting go. She wasn’t sure that any of her muscles were working enough to hold her in place. He just held her there, their foreheads resting against each other, catching their breath.
“Holden, can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course.”
“No one has ever done that to me before.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
“Was it that obvious?” she asked, feeling the panic rush through her.
“No, sweetheart. But you thought cake was better than sex. It wasn’t hard to deduce. It was just one more thing I knew I needed to fix.”
The blush Gigi felt rise up the back of her neck was nothing compared to the swoon that rushed through her. There was so much to this man that he hid from the world. So much that she still needed to discover. Her feelings for him overwhelmed her—she was falling harder for Holden than she had ever fallen for anything else in her life, all combined. How was it possible to feel so much for one person? But right now, that wonderful feeling of being somewhere between like and love was not what was burning inside of her. It was something else entirely. Something a lot more…primal.
“Holden?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
Without another word, Gigi locked her legs around his waist, pressing her core into
the crotch of his jeans, and taking him in a devouring kiss. Finding the button of his jeans, she undid them in a hurry, and slipped her hands into his briefs, giving his cock a good, hard squeeze.
Holden
The groan Holden let out at the feel of Gigi’s hand on his cock vibrated through his whole body and probably could have been heard all the way at the Busy Bean. Something about the way she took charge in the moment, grabbing him like he was the last cupcake at a BBQ, made him even harder than he already was, which he really hadn’t thought possible. Going down on her had been a truly erotic experience. Armed with the knowledge that he was the first, that no one else had ever given her this kind of bliss, was special enough. But seeing and feeling how she reacted to his touch and watching her come undone from his handiwork had been something else altogether. He loved how responsive she was and loved even more that it was because there was something special between them.
She continued to stroke his dick, changing up the speed of her strokes, her sex only inches away. He could feel her heat calling to him, and he wanted nothing more than to sink in there and fuck her until neither of them could move.
Wiggling out of his pants and briefs, trying not to break from the fevered kisses, Holden managed to step out of his discarded clothes and kick them off to the side. He reached for her breasts again, stroking and caressing them, wanting to make sure she was as turned on as he was. Up until now, all their sexy times, while driven by desire and attraction, had still had an element of softness to them. But not this moment. This moment was filled with nothing but lust and primal need. He was going to show Gigi just how frenzied sex could be.
Leaning back a couple of inches, he finally broke their kiss, whipping his T-shirt over his head. Gigi’s eyes were wild, matching his own, and her lips were swollen from their making out. He loved this look on her face. Grabbing her ass, he lifted her off the counter, positioning himself right at her entrance.
Cakewalk Page 17