Read, Write, Love (Love in Bloom: The Remingtons, Book 5) Contemporary Romance

by Melissa Foster

  “Me too. I always want to do more. I want to write more, write differently, take my readers to new places. Do you want to take your business to another level? Try new things with it? New flavors? Travel more? Or do something else altogether?”

  She shrugged, which she knew wasn’t an answer at all. “I never really overthink things. I want to enjoy my job. I want to love it, actually, but I also love life so much. All of it, from the yucky parts to the good parts. I hope to one day find something that fits that part of my personality. I’m enjoying the jam business so much, and the flea markets, that I’m kind of hoping this feeling remains. I just wish I could know for sure now.” Pepper inched up beside them and put his head on Kurt’s leg. Kurt’s eyes never wavered from her.

  “Is there some reason you are putting so much pressure on yourself? I can see you’re a little stressed over this. Do you have a career deadline?”

  She laughed. “A career deadline? No, but I’m almost thirty. Shouldn’t I know what I want to do?”

  He kissed her softly, and she nearly melted into him.

  “My mother would say that no two people are the same and not to compare yourself to what others think you should be like.”

  Kurt’s voice—and his words—soothed the rough edges of the pressure she had been putting on herself. He made her feel better about her inability to commit to a career.

  “So you don’t think I’m a hopeless, reckless, nightmare?”

  He smiled. “Wow. All those things and a train wreck? No. You seem like you’re very passionate, and you just haven’t figured out where to direct your energies yet. You’ll figure it out.” He shrugged. “Or you won’t, and if you don’t, you’ll have spent your life doing all sorts of things along the way that you, hopefully, enjoyed, so will it really matter?”

  He leaned in closer, and she could barely breathe. He wasn’t judging her. He wasn’t telling her all the reasons she needed to make a career choice. Him of all people. Kurt Remington. The man who knew exactly what he wanted—the man who was slowly stealing little pieces of her heart.

  “The truth is, most people spend more time with their jobs than they do with their spouses, so if you don’t enjoy it, you’ll…divorce it.” His voice grew serious. “Life’s too short to stay married to a career you hate. You’re probably smarter than half the people out there who are begrudgingly going to their jobs every day.”

  His lips were a breath away from hers. She could smell the sweet wine on them, and she could feel the heat coming off of him in waves. She didn’t think before she spoke. She looked into his eyes, and the words came from her heart.

  “Kiss me.”

  His eyes narrowed, and in one gentle move, he took her in his arms and kissed her until she couldn’t think, could barely breathe. He lowered her to the blanket, still in his arms, their lips joined, their tongues colliding in an erotic, sensuous, lavish kiss. He lay beside her, one leg draped over her hips, his chest pressed to hers, breathing air into her lungs. He brushed her hair from her forehead and slid his hand to the back of her head, tilting it just enough that they both deepened the kiss. He wasn’t groping her body or pushing himself on her—and as much as she craved his big, strong hands on her body, she loved this. The closeness, the way he was kissing her, as if kissing her was all he ever needed. She’d never felt so treasured in all her life.

  Pepper whined, and they drew apart, both breathing heavily.

  Kurt held her face in his hands and pressed another kiss to her lips. “I like you way more than I should after just a few crazy days.” He breathed heavily.

  Oh God. Me too. She opened her mouth to say just that, but all she could manage was, “Uh-huh.” She felt her cheeks flush again.

  He smiled and kissed her again.

  He stroked her hair. “This is the first time I’ve really taken time off in weeks.”

  “And.” Kiss me. Touch me.

  “And there’s no place I’d rather be.”

  She reached her hand around the back of his neck and brought his mouth to hers again. God, she loved kissing him. She couldn’t mess up kissing. It was the mechanics of taking clothes off and maneuvering bodies that she was worried about. But kissing? She could kiss him forever.

  He ran his hand up her thigh, and her whole body shuddered. His lips slid to the corner of her mouth and he pressed a soft kiss to it; then he kissed a trail along her jaw to her neck. His strong hand gripped the outside of her upper thigh and held tight. Leanna closed her eyes and arched into him as his lips worked their way up her neck to the sensitive area below her earlobe, where he licked and kissed, then grazed his teeth along her earlobe until her heart thundered against his. She needed more of him, more of his touch, his tongue, his kisses.

  He took her earlobe in his mouth and laved it with his tongue, then whispered, “I want to make love to you.”

  “Yes,” she said in one long breath.

  He brought his forehead to hers. “The sand?”

  “Too messy?”

  He looked down at the sand. “The sand will be messy, gritty, and uncomfortable as hell, but I don’t care about any of that.” He glanced at Pepper. “But if he takes off while he’s attached to my ankle, it could get a bit awkward.”

  She bit her lower lip and glanced at Pepper. “Trust me on this. You’re having sex with me; it’s going to be awkward.”

  He nuzzled against her neck. “Why does that totally turn me on?” Kurt kissed her again. “This might sound lame, but I’ve never been a very adventurous guy. I’ve never had sex on a beach.”

  “You? Not adventurous? You waded out into a storm and saved me. That’s pretty damn adventurous. But I’ve never had sex on a beach either.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “My free spirit”—he kissed her neck—“beautiful Leanna”—he kissed her lips—“has never had sex on a beach? But you’ll whip off your clothes in my living room and put on my sweatshirt when you’ve known me five minutes?”

  She was still relishing in his use of the word my. “I knew you about thirty minutes, and there’s a big difference. I’m not shy about being seen naked, but being seen having sex? Not such a pretty sight.” She looked up and down the beach. They were alone, tucked against the side of a dune. The moon reflected off of the ocean, the waves lapped at the shore, and Leanna’s heart thundered inside her chest. At the moment Pepper was being very well behaved, lying in the sand beside them, and the idea of getting out from under tender and sexy Kurt did not seem appealing at all.

  Nervousness and desire vibrated through her body. “I’m game if you’re game.”

  “Oh, baby, with you? I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I’m game for just about anything as long as it doesn’t involve a broom or broken glass.”

  He covered her mouth with his and kissed her until the last bit of worry about being seen and out of sync slipped away, and all that remained was the feel of his full lips, his hard body against her, and the sound of the breaking waves. Kurt’s hand moved along her thigh, and when it slid beneath her dress, her whole body went hot. She arched into him, and he pressed his cheek to hers as he worked her belt free.

  “I’ve thought about you in your lacy panties all day.”

  His seductive whisper sent a shiver through her, and when his fingertips touched the edge of her panties, she sucked in a breath. He gazed at her with serious eyes.

  “Want me to stop?” he whispered.

  God, no. She shook her head, reached her hand around the back of his neck, and pulled his mouth to hers again. His big hand moved up her body, his palm covered her ribs, and his thumb grazed the underside of her breast. She moaned against his lips, and he deepened the kiss. When they came apart, she could barely breathe for the need to kiss him again. But his mouth was moving slowly down her body, kissing a hot path between her breasts. He lifted his eyes and met her gaze and she held her breath; then he moved farther down and lifted her dress above her hips. Leanna gripped the blanket in her fists and closed her eye
s, stifling the urge to beg for more as he ran his finger along the edge of her lacy panties, teasing her with his touch. Her body tingled, aching for more of him. Then his lips were on her stomach again, burning a path from her belly button to her hip. She exhaled in pleasure and he gripped her hips, causing her breath to hitch in anticipation. He used his teeth to drag her panties down her thighs. Good Lord. It was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen a man do. Kurt ran his tongue along the crease between her leg and her sex, first on one side, then the other. A cool bay breeze swept across her damp skin, and Kurt worked his way up her body, kissing, tasting, touching every inch of her skin and taking her dress with him. When he reached her breasts, he stopped, and she felt him rise up onto his elbows.

  “Leanna,” he whispered.

  She opened her eyes.

  “You’re sure you want this?”

  “Yes.” God, yes. Now, please.

  He kissed her softly. “You’re exquisite. Everything about you, Leanna. You’re not at all awkward.”

  “Take your shirt off.” She tried to work the buttons on his shirt, but her hands were trembling.

  He pressed his hand to hers and held it against his chest. “You’re shaking.”

  “A little.”

  He kissed her hands. “Are you nervous?”

  “A little.” A lot.

  “We don’t have to.” His gaze turned serious.

  “I want to.” She reached for his buttons again. “I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my life.” Oh, shit. Did I just say that out loud? She shot her eyes to his. Oh God! He was looking at her with an amused little smile.

  “Me either.” He removed his shirt and rolled it up, then placed it beneath her head. He shifted his eyes to Pepper, fast asleep in the sand. “Think I can untether him?”

  “Yes. Quick. Yes.”

  He removed the leash from his leg, and Pepper opened one eye, then closed it and went right back to sleep. Kurt stepped from his pants, and Leanna drew in another sharp breath at the sight of him, naked, before her. She felt as if she were under a spell, her eyes locked on the gorgeous broad-shouldered creature before her. Planes of lean muscles and warm skin there for the taking, and boy did she want to take. She dragged her eyes down the center of his body to his eager desire between his legs, and anticipation thrummed through her. He came to her then, and she wanted to reach for him, to stroke him and love him, but she couldn’t move.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered against her neck as he unhooked the front clasp of her bra and carefully removed her clothing, leaving her naked, save for her panties around her thighs. In the next breath, he drew them off. Leanna closed her eyes, breathing harder and shivering against the bay breeze as he came down beside her. He reached into the pocket of his pants and took a condom from his wallet, then tore it open with his teeth. She tried to help him roll it on, but her hands were still trembling. He took her in a sensuous kiss, never missing a beat as he put on the latex sheath.

  “Told you I was awkward,” she whispered as he gently laid her back down.

  Positioned above her, he kissed her again. “You’re not at all awkward.”

  She shifted her eyes away, and he drew her chin back, bringing them eye to eye again. “We can stop.”

  “No,” she said sharply.

  “Look at me. Be here with me, Leanna. Share this moment with me.”

  She held his gaze as he slid inside her, and a streak of heat raced through her body to her heart. She sucked in a breath as he pushed deeper, until their bodies were as close as they could possibly be, and he stilled. She closed her eyes, and he kissed her eyelids.

  “Be with me.”

  His heated whisper drew her eyes open as he withdrew, then pushed in until he was buried deep, again and again, sensuously stroking the coiled heat in her belly free. He lowered his mouth to hers, and in that moment she became his. The rest of the world fell away, and it was only the two of them. His efforts carried her from one breath to the next, breathing, taking, loving her body. She tried not to move, afraid of throwing them off. He buried his hands in her hair and rested his forehead on hers.

  “Leanna.” Her name was filled with desire. He kissed her again as he pulled out, then thrust in until he was buried deep, and stilled again.

  He slid his lips to her cheek and whispered, “Move with me.”

  She loved his voice, his words, the way he expressed himself. Every word was intense, passionate, and thankfully, he began moving inside her again. Yes, oh yes.

  “No,” she whispered back.

  He stilled again.

  “No? Why?”

  “I’ll throw you off, and this feels so good.” She looked away, and he drew her eyes back again, searching for understanding. “Really,” she pleaded. “Trust me. You don’t want me to move.”

  “Let me be the judge, okay? I want to feel you, all of you, and if that means you move at a different rhythm than me, I’ll figure it out.”

  She bit her lower lip, completely, utterly embarrassed and wanting so badly to let herself go and just be herself with him at the same time. She shook her head.

  “Leanna.” He caressed her cheek. “I don’t care if you buck like a bronco. I’m with you. I want you. The real you.”

  She smiled. “A bronco?”

  He shrugged; then he lowered his mouth to hers, and his tongue moved swift and deep, in perfect tune to every thrust of his hips, and Leanna began to forget her worry and forget her awkwardness. As his hands moved down her body to her breasts and he brushed her nipples, her hips began to move on their own. She knew she was completely off, and when he stilled, so did she.

  “No. Keep moving,” he urged.

  She did, and she prayed he wasn’t going to get up and say, That’s some crazy shit you have going on there. I can’t do this. Her last boyfriend had said something similar one too many times.

  In the next breath, his cheek was pressed against hers again and he was whispering in that sweet, seductive voice of his. “You feel so good. I love the way you move. Oh yeah, that’s it.”

  His encouragement wrapped around her heart; then his lips met hers and his heart thundered against hers. She felt so safe with him that she didn’t object when he rolled over and positioned her on top, even though she hated being on top. Their pleasure was all up to her now, and she sucked at this part of sex. She moved, and she knew her rhythm was off. Then his hands found her hips, and he helped her find a rhythm that he could match. Their rhythm. Once they found their cadence and their bodies were in sync, one of his hands found her breast, while the other found her center, and he teased her most sensitive area. She couldn’t help but suck in a breath and arch against his hand.

  “That’s it, baby. Come for me.”

  His voice sent another thrill through her. No man had ever talked to her during sex, and Kurt made her feel special and sexy. He sat up and took her nipple in his mouth, still teasing her with his hand, and her eyes slammed shut against the sensation of a million pinpricks along her limbs as she came apart, sending her body into a frenzy of crazy movements and hot pulses. He gripped her hips again, moving with her as she rode out the wave of the best orgasm she’d ever experienced. When she finally let out the breath she’d been holding, he expertly rolled her onto her back and took her in another hard kiss. She couldn’t think. The new position brought her quickly to the peak again, and she lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. He smiled down at her, never missing a beat, driving his hard length into her, burying to the hilt and then pushing deeper.

  “That’s it,” he urged. “Come on, baby. Take it right over the edge again.”

  Pepper whined, and Kurt shot him a heated look. Pepper put his head back down and sighed.

  Kurt drew his eyes back to Leanna, totally focused on her pleasure, his muscles hard beneath her palms, his movements efficient and strong. He shifted his hips, and she sucked in another breath.

  “Kurt,” she panted. “Oh God.”

  He gripped her hips and h
eld her tightly, thrusting harder, deeper, stroking the spot that tightened every nerve in her body and sent her insides into a pulsating fever of need. He sped up his pace, and she gripped his powerful biceps tightly as he took her to the brink again. She cried out—a loud, indiscernible shriek of pleasure that sent Pepper to his feet, barking and running up and down beside them. Kurt held her tight as his muscles flexed, and his body shuddered against her as he found his own release.

  Pepper circled them, barking and whining.

  Kurt leisurely reached for his leash and drew him close—carefully, Leanna noticed.

  “Sit.” He said just above a whisper, still breathing hard. Leanna felt the word vibrate through his chest.

  Pepper obeyed.

  “Good boy,” Kurt managed. He let out a breath and pushed himself up from Leanna’s chest.

  She pulled him down on top of her again. She needed to feel his heart beating against hers. Being in Kurt’s arms stole the emptiness from her heart and filled it with an unfamiliar contentment that she never wanted to lose.

  “Told you I was awkward.” She bit her lower lip.

  He kissed her trapped lip, then kissed her cheeks and her forehead and looked at her with his sea-blue eyes. “I didn’t notice a bit of awkwardness. You’re perfect.”

  Chapter Eleven

  A COOL BREEZE came off the bay like a sigh and rolled over Kurt and Leanna, now fully dressed and lying on the blanket gazing up at the stars. Pepper’s leash was tied to Kurt’s belt loop, and the dog lay quietly beside them. Leanna’s leg was draped over Kurt’s, her head rested against his chest, and her index finger traced the ripples of his abs.

  Kurt covered her hand with his. “You’re nervous.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Was this too public? It was new for me, too. I’m sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t have—”

  “No. It wasn’t that. I mean, it was public, but I wanted to be with you as much as you wanted to be with me, and this was fun. I’m glad we have a first for both of us.”