“Okay,” I agree. “What do you have in mind?”
“Anything you want,” he replies. “Let’s get out of this apartment for a while, and then I’d very much like to spend tonight here with you.”
“I’d like to go down to Pike Place Market for some produce for the week.” I tap my lip with my finger, contemplating all the possibilities. “Maybe pick up some fresh chocolate from the chocolate place just up the hill from there.”
“You use fresh chocolate in your cupcakes?” Matt asks.
“Of course. I buy all my chocolate from them. It’s the best.”
“Okay. I might have a surprise before the Market and the chocolate place.” He checks the time, then leans in and kisses me softly. “Thank you for this morning.”
He kisses me once more and pulls me from the bed. “Let’s shower and then head out. We need an early start.”
He picks me up in his arms and marches into the bathroom.
“Are we going to get dirty again before we get clean?” I ask with a laugh.
“Oh, definitely.”
***
“God, I love Seattle in the summer!” I exclaim and lean on the railing of the ferry, breathing in the salty air and enjoying the breeze in my hair and on my skin.
It’s a gorgeous sunny summer day in Puget Sound. Matt surprised me with a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island, which is only about a forty-minute ride, but the view is spectacular.
“I do, too,” he agrees and leans on the rail, watching the Olympic Mountains grow smaller as we drift away from the island toward Seattle. “Did you enjoy the town?”
“It’s a cute place.” I nod and smile. “The bagel shop makes one hell of a sandwich.”
“Next time we’ll rent bikes and ride around the island.”
“Sounds fun, too.”
He steps behind me, wraps his arms around my shoulders and rests his lips on the top of my head, holding me snugly against his chest as we enjoy the spectacular views around us.
I haven’t known him long, and I’ve already placed so much trust in this man. More than anyone in my life before. His quiet calm is soothing.
I hope I’m not making a mistake.
When we dock at Seattle, we walk up to Pike Place Market, one of the most famous outdoor/indoor markets in the world.
“Our first stop is the doughnut guy,” Matt informs me with a grin.
Because it’s a beautiful Sunday, the market is bustling with tourists and locals alike. We join the line for doughnuts and wait.
Matt’s eyes never stop roaming, watching the people who pass by, listening to conversations around us. His hand holds on to mine tightly, as if I might get scooped up into the flow of bodies and disappear.
His protectiveness is a new side of him that I can’t help but enjoy. It makes me feel…wanted.
When it’s our turn, Matt places his order and then offers the plain brown paper bag to me, steaming with hot, fresh doughnuts the size of a baby’s fist.
“No, thank you,” I murmur, secretly yearning for just one. Just one.
“Are you sure?” he asks incredulously. “These are the best doughnuts in the city.”
I nod, my mind made up. I don’t want to pay for it later. “I’m sure.”
“If you’re worried about the calories—”
“I’m not,” I interrupt. “I’m still full from lunch.”
He watches me closely for a moment and then shrugs, tosses a sugar and cinnamon doughnut into his mouth and leads me farther into the market. Despite the throngs of people, Matt stays close and patiently waits while I choose fruit for this week’s cupcakes, as well as produce for my own kitchen.
“Fish for dinner?” Matt asks in my ear, pointing to the fresh fish on display from one of the vendors.
“Sure.”
He leaves me to buy some fish, so I also buy fragrant herbs to go with the fish and the makings for salad.
“Hey, baby.”
I frown and turn at the familiar voice, praying I’m wrong.
Please, God, don’t let it be who I think it is.
Nope, I’m just not that lucky.
“Don’t call me that, Rob.” I roll my eyes and keep moving down the line of produce.
“Hey, you haven’t returned my calls in a while,” he responds, ignoring my request completely.
“Nope, I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not interested, Rob. Look…” I turn and catch Matt watching us over Rob’s shoulder. He raises an eyebrow, but I square my shoulders and look Rob right in the eye.
He’s short, only a few inches taller than I am, but he’s a good-looking guy with black hair and brown eyes, a crooked nose.
“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I’m just not interested in seeing you. Good luck to you.”
I turn to go, but he grabs my arm. “Wait.”
“I think she already said no,” Matt growls from behind him.
There’s really not enough room to have this kind of altercation here in the middle of the market. There are too many people bustling around us, bumping into us.
“This isn’t your fucking business,” Rob snaps back with a sneer, and Matt’s eyes narrow into deadly slits.
“She’s with me,” he states calmly. “She said no. That’s all you need to know.”
Rob’s gaze slides to mine. “Seriously.”
“That’s right.”
“Fine.” He backs away, his hands up in surrender, but I can see anger and embarrassment in every line of his body. “See you around.”
“A former boyfriend?” Matt asks as he watches Rob’s retreating form.
“Used to,” I confirm and pay for my purchases. “I’m finished here.”
“Chocolate place next?” Matt asks.
“Yes, please.” I sigh in relief that Matt doesn’t press the subject of Rob as we exit the market and begin to climb the hill that leads up into the heart of downtown. This hill is a bitch.
“I hate this hill,” I grumble, earning a chuckle from Matt.
He links his fingers through mine and takes the bag out of my other hand, carrying both the fish and produce in his spare hand. “So tell me about that guy.”
“I was hoping that subject was closed.”
“It will be after you spill it.” He grins down at me, then places a kiss on my forehead. “Please.”
“He’s a guy I met in school. I went out with him once or twice, but he’s not really my type.”
“And that is?”
“Well, let’s just say Rob is pushy and selfish and really enjoys talking about his truck.”
Matt chuckles. “Yeah, I know the type.”
“So not someone I enjoy spending time with,” I assure him and shake my head. “I just stopped returning his calls. It wasn’t even worth telling him to go away, because we’d only gone out a couple times. There was no physical relationship. I just let it fizzle out.”
“But he seems to still be into you,” Matt comments.
“I guess. I don’t really care.” I wince and bite my lip. “That makes me sound like a bitch.”
“No, it makes you sound honest.” He pulls me to a stop on the hill, until I’m standing up higher on the hill than he is, making his eyes level with mine. He leans in and kisses my lips softly, cradling my cheek with his free hand. “His loss.”
“Let’s go get some chocolate.”
“Good idea. I might have a plan.” He winks and leads me into the decadent chocolate shop, Rob already a distant memory.
Chapter Six
“Oh my God, you really can cook.” I sit back in my chair and push my finished plate of poached salmon and salad away from me and sip my water, watching Matt across the table.
“You doubted me?” he asks with a raised brow.
“Not at all.” I shake my head and laugh. “I’m just offering you a compliment.”
He nods and stands to clear the table, and I join him. “You cooked, I’ll clean.”<
br />
“We can do this together,” he offers, but I shake my head adamantly.
“No way. You’ve been spoiling me all day. I can do this.” I take the plate from his hand and stand on my toes to kiss his warm cheek.
His eyes are soft and happy as he smiles at me. “Okay, while you do this, I’ll be in the bedroom.”
“Taking a nap?” I ask drily, earning a light pat on my ass.
“No, smart-ass. You’ll see.” He kisses my forehead and then leaves the room.
Matt is an excellent cook, but oh sweet Jesus, is he ever a messy one, too! My kitchen looks like a bomb went off in it, and he only poached fish and made a salad! Although, some of the mess is from breakfast, too, because we didn’t have time to clean up before we left for the day.
Which drives me nuts, because of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is the one I get a bit obsessive about.
I can’t help it.
So I dig in, loading the dishwasher, hand-washing what won’t fit and sanitizing the countertops. By the time I’m finished, the kitchen sparkles and smells like lemons, and I’m mortified to see that I’ve been cleaning for more than a half hour.
Some hostess I am.
I wander back to the bedroom to find Matt sitting in the chair by the window, reading something on his iPad.
On the way back from the market today, Matt stopped by his place to grab a change of clothes and a few of his things for another night away from home.
He’s lit a few of my candles and shut off the bright lights, giving the room a soft glow.
“I’m sorry I took so long,” I murmur and lean against the doorjamb, taking in the handsome man in my bedroom.
“I’m sorry I’m such a messy cook,” he responds with a wry grin. His eyes are warm as they travel down my body. He stands and walks slowly to me. “Your eyes look amazingly green in this candlelight.”
“Thanks,” I reply as my heartbeat speeds up.
He’s predatory now as he slowly crosses my bedroom to stand directly in front of me. He doesn’t touch me, not yet. He leans his forearm on the doorjamb above my head and kisses my forehead gently.
“I want to show you what I can do with my ropes tonight, little one.”
I pull in a deep breath and clench my thighs at the sudden pulse of electricity that just his simple words send through my core.
“You can always tell me to stop if it’s too overwhelming,” he reminds me tenderly, still not touching me.
He’s still wearing his soft gray T-shirt and faded blue jeans from today, and my fingers are itching to touch him before he immobilizes me. I push my hand under his shirt, over the tight skin of his abs. The muscles jump under my hand, and his jaw ticks as he watches me, letting me explore his skin.
“I just want to touch you for a minute,” I whisper softly.
He kisses my forehead again and then tips my chin back, watching me intently as my hands explore his belly and chest, under his shirt. I move my hand around his waist to his back and step close to him, wanting him to kiss me.
Finally, finally, he cradles my face in his hands and kisses me. Lazily but thoroughly, sweeping his lips over mine, nibbling at the side of my mouth and then sweeping across to the other side before sinking in and taking over, kissing me in that intense way that only Matt can.
He pulls away, takes my hands in his and leads me out of the doorway toward the bed.
“How do you feel, sweetheart?” he asks.
“Fine.”
He raises a brow, and I swallow, thinking about how my body feels. “Excited. Nervous.”
“Better,” he replies and tugs my top over my head.
He kisses my body as he disrobes me, brushes his fingertips over my skin, leaving me humming in anticipation of what’s to come.
When I’m completely nude, Matt scoops me up and lays me gently in the middle of the bed.
“I’ve added something to your bed,” he informs me with a satisfied grin. He takes my right hand in his, kisses my palm, and then is suddenly looping soft rope around my wrist, tying beautiful knots. He lays my hand above my head and then circles the bed to the opposite side and pays the other wrist the same attention before linking the two with loose loops.
He reaches up, and pulls the same kind of rope down from the rail along the top of my four-poster bed, ties it to my linked hands, and cinches it, hoisting my torso up off the bed until my shoulders no longer touch the mattress.
“Is this painful on your shoulders?” he asks calmly.
“No,” I reply breathlessly, watching him with wide eyes. Just as he reaches for another length of rope—I didn’t even see him grab that when we were at his apartment!—his cell phone rings in his pocket.
“Damn.” His eyes are still pinned on mine. “I’m sorry, baby, this is work.”
He yanks out his phone and takes the call. His eyes narrow, still watching me closely.
“What?!” Now he paces away and stands at the window, looking blindly out at the street. “When? Fuck! Hold him there! What do you mean you don’t have cause? I’ll give you fucking cause! Fine, I’ll be there in twenty. Do not let him leave, understood?”
He ends the call and grabs his iPad, pulls his keys out of his pocket. “I’m so sorry, Nic, but I have to go.”
“Uh, Matt?” My voice is full of humor as he turns to look at me, and his eyes glass over. “I’m kind of tied up here.”
He drops his keys and iPad into the chair and swiftly returns to me, untying me quickly, rubbing my wrists and lifting me into his lap. He caresses my hair, my face, kissing my forehead and cheeks softly. “I’m so sorry, little one. I wouldn’t have left you like that.”
“I know.” I giggle and burrow into his lap deeper. “You obviously need to go to work.”
“I do.” He sighs regretfully. “We might have just caught a break on a case that we thought had gone cold.”
“I understand,” I murmur and kiss his cheek.
“But, first, we’ll sit here for a minute.” His hand glides down my side to rest on my hip. “It’s torture to leave now. You looked gorgeous in my ropes.”
“We can finish what you started another time,” I assure him.
“Damn right.” He chuckles. His eyes roam down my chest, my nipples still puckered in anticipation.
I’m breathing faster than normal, and my body is humming. His hand travels from my hip to between my legs and cups my sex. “Fuck, you’re wet.”
“I like it when you tie me up,” I whisper.
He growls as he plunges two fingers inside me and begins to fuck me with his fingers, quickly, not taking his time, but moving rapidly. His thumb presses against my clit, and he buries his face in my neck, biting and licking me. “I’m not leaving here until you come, baby.”
His words and hand send me into a tailspin. My hips rock up, pressing into his hand, as I cry out, my arms wrapped around his shoulders. I ride through the orgasm and then settle against him, panting and spent.
“Better?” he asks, his lips turned up in a half smile.
“Hmm,” I agree and cup his face in my hand. “Thanks, detective.”
He laughs and sets me on my feet. “I’m sorry I have to go. I’ll text or call when I can.”
“Okay. Be safe.”
He tilts his head, watching me. “Interesting choice of words. Good night, baby. Thank you for today.” He kisses me gently and then takes off, pulling his phone out of his pocket before he’s out the bedroom door.
“Asher, we caught a break…”
***
“You can head home, Anastasia. Things are quiet today.” The pretty mother of three grimaces and pulls her apron off as she glances at the time.
There is still an hour before closing time, but it’s dead in here. I could have closed at noon today.
“Yeah, it is. Unusual for a Thursday,” she agrees.
I nod, already mentally tallying how many cupcakes are going to have to go to the homeless shelter down the street tonight. I ne
ver serve day-old cakes, so at the end of the day, the leftovers are sent to the needy.
Even the needy deserve a sweet treat.
“Have a good night.” Anastasia waves and heads through the kitchen to her car parked out back.
Just then, the door opens, the bell above tinkling, and in walks Leo Nash. All six-foot-plus of his tattooed hotness. He grins at me in that cocky rock-star way and saunters over to the counter.
“Please tell me you have lemon and chocolate left.”
“You’re in luck,” I reply as I pull down a two-cupcake box and gently lay one of each inside. “How did it go over there today?” I ask, gesturing across the street to the recording studio.
“It went well, actually. The new album is coming along great.”
“A new album already? Sunshine just came out.”
“Well, we record when we can.” He grins and shrugs. “We have a few weeks off from touring, so we’re getting a few songs down before we head out again.”
I nod, pretending to understand the life of a rock star.
“You did a great job on the cake for Bryn and Caleb,” he mentions casually.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“I did. In fact, I mentioned you in an interview.”
“Me? Why?”
“It was one of those lame ‘so tell us about yourself’ interviews, and they wanted to know about Sam and I.” He cringes and looks half-pissed for a second. “The only thing I was willing to share was that we love your cupcakes. So, I hope it drums up business for you.”
I don’t know what to say. Leo Nash told an interviewer that he loves my cupcakes.
“Wow.”
He laughs and takes the box from me. “I hope that was okay.”
“Uh, I think cupcakes are on the house from now on.”
His eyes light up, but he still drops a twenty in the tip jar. “Sounds like a fair trade.”
“So much for free cupcakes,” I reply drily, eyeing the money in the tip jar.
“They’re worth it.” He shrugs and turns to leave, winking at me on the way out.
My heart might beat right out of my chest.
God, the man is just so…hot. Samantha Williams is one lucky woman.
I shake off my close encounter with the sexy Leo Nash and lock the door before putting cupcakes in boxes and cleaning up for the day.
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