Burning Hunger

by Tory Richards

“Are you ready, ladies?” Val asked upon reaching them, receiving eager nods. As rehearsed, she waved at the organist to let him know they were ready to begin.

  In single file they walked down the carpeted isle, then veered off to the left right before the altar. Val was first in line, keeping her gaze on Chaz where he stood at the right of the altar with his brothers. They were dressed the same way and looked magnificent in their tailored tuxes, standing tall. It was hard to describe, but they were identically handsome, yet individually captivating.

  She caught Chaz’s wink when she reached the end of her walk. Uncaring who might be watching, Val pursed her lips, causing his brows to arch. She loved teasing him, especially when he couldn’t get his hands on her right away. Oh, she knew she was going to pay for it later, but in the most mouth-watering way. Every time they made love, it was a new and exciting experience.

  She couldn’t wait, and she couldn’t wait to tell him he was going to be a daddy.

  ****

  Everyone arrived at the reception before the bride and groom and claimed assigned seats at one of the elaborately decorated tables. The colors matched the wedding party colors, with tablecloths of elegant ivory lace and huge vases of lavender wild flowers and baby’s breath. In the center of the room was the large ice sculpture of a magnificent horse, supporting a cowboy with a woman on his lap. A small placard next to it explained its significance. By the time Callie and Blade made their grand entrance, the story about their first encounter had spread.

  Soft music filtered through the room, loud enough to dance to, yet low enough so that people didn’t have to raise their voices in conversation. As Blade and Callie took their seats at their small, private table, people began to gather around and congratulate the newly wedded couple. Val watched Doris and John Evans welcome Callie into their family with a warm embrace.

  She smiled. Having only met Chaz’s parents for the first time recently, her opinion of them was that they were warm and caring people. They had welcomed her into the family as if they already knew she and Chaz were destined to end up the same way as his brothers. It was too soon to tell what the future had in store for them, but it was clear when the Evans men fell for a woman, it was hard and it was final.

  The wedding party had been assigned to one table, yet Chaz had yet to make his way there. Val watched him converse with his parents at his brother’s table, throwing back his head and laughing loudly at something that was said. Then, suddenly, his gaze sought hers out; he excused himself, and began walking toward their table. Val reached for her glass of water and took a sip, suddenly feeling nervous at the predatory gleam of interest in his eyes.

  “I know that look,” she teased, setting her glass down.

  Chaz sat next to her with an innocent look on his face. “What look?”

  “That you’d like to find the nearest closet where you can take advantage of me.” She grinned.

  “Well, since we’re on the same page…” He let his comment trail off. Then he was nuzzling Val at the side of her neck, causing her to sigh. “The first thing I want you to do is let your hair down.”

  Before she could stop it, a low moan escaped Val. She quickly glanced around the table to make sure it had gone unnoticed. Marissa and Beau were busy with their son, Mason. Justine and Karen were scoping out the available bachelors, who in turn were scoping them out. She didn’t have anything to worry about, except the warm lips behind her ear and the traveling hand under the table.

  “Why don’t we just crawl underneath the table and have that quickie you were talking about earlier? The way I’m feeling, it won’t take you long to make me come.”

  Chaz groaned low at her outrageous comment, then punished her with a bite. “You’re killing me, baby.” His hand pulled up the hem of her gown and somehow found its way to her bare flesh.

  It was a good thing the tablecloths went all the way to the floor. When Val felt his fingertips trail a path of fire up the inside of her thigh she trembled and bit down on the inside of her lip to keep from revealing what he was doing to her. All the while, she kept her gaze busy watching the occupants of the room to make sure no one was giving them any undue attention.

  Suddenly, Callie was glancing their way and waving. Val smiled back, unable to return the wave. How could she when her bones were turning to mush? “Chaz,” she warned in a whisper that sounded more like a sigh of pleasure, “if you don’t stop I swear the whole room is going to know what you’re doing to me.”

  “And what is that, honey?” He pulled away from her ear, but his hand remained on her inner-thigh.

  “What do you think?” Val looked him square in the eye. “You know you can’t touch me without turning me on.”

  “So? I can’t look at you without becoming aroused. We’re even I’d say.”

  “Val, are you feeling okay? You look a little flushed,” Marissa said from across the table.

  “Oh, I’m okay,” Val replied, putting her hand over Chaz’s to keep him from moving further up her thigh. “Maybe a little flustered from the champagne.”

  “Champagne, how did you get champagne before the toast?” Beau questioned, cradling his son while feeding him a bottle. The baby was half asleep.

  Val felt herself turn warm with embarrassment when she glanced at the glass of water in front of her. She swallowed hard. Will they believe me if I say wine?

  “Could it be the water?” There was a huge smile on Marissa’s face, as if she’d already figured out what was going on between her and Chaz. Beau glanced back and forth between Val, Chaz, and his wife before smiling and turning his attention back to his son. “You forget, Val, our men are triplets, and not just in looks.”

  Our men. Val liked the sound of that. She glanced at Callie and Blade. Their heads were close as they spoke intimately to each other. Every once in a while, Blade gave her a kiss that deepened the blush on her cheeks. His hands were lowered so that Val couldn’t see what he was doing, but it was obvious. One arm was closer to Callie, and she could just make out the slight movement that told her his hand was moving. Smiling, her gaze returned to Beau and Marissa. Something told Val that if they didn’t have the baby with them they’d be in a more intimate position too.

  She chuckled, letting go of Chaz’s hand, and looked deeply into his aroused eyes. It was obvious the Evans brothers had lust instead of blood in their veins. She breathed in slowly and deeply to control the unbridled emotions taking over. Why not enjoy herself? So what if we’re in a public place, it’s not as if anyone can see what he’s doing. Val knew Chaz was in for a surprise, and couldn’t wait for his reaction.

  His fingers inched closer to her pussy as they stared into each other’s eyes. She almost held her breath waiting for him to reach his destination. Finally his index finger flicked over the slit between her plump, clean-shaven pussy lips. She wasn’t wearing underwear either. They both sucked in their breaths with unexpected reaction.

  Chaz leaned forward and whispered into Val’s ear, “What did I ever do to deserve a sexy woman like you?” The tip of his finger ran up and down the slit, wiggling deeper inside with every stroke.

  Val was thankful when Justine and Karen got up and left the table, totally oblivious to what was going on. She exhaled a nervous breath, afraid that if she closed her eyes she’d forget where they were. The last thing she wanted was to announce the orgasm quickly building inside her. There was something so forbidden and naughty about what they were doing in public.

  “God, I wish I could stick my tongue inside you right now,” Chaz said, his breathing heavy. To make up for it he circled the outer edges of her ear.

  Val shuddered. “Chaz…I don’t think this is a good idea,” she whispered back. She began to look around the room, made eye contact with Callie, smiled, and continued her search. Thank God no one was looking at them, oddly anyway. “Maybe we should go find that closet.”

  His chest rumbled with deep laughter. “Baby, if I get up right now everyone in this room will know I have an e
rection. You want me to humiliate my parents?” His finger found her clit and he flicked over it without mercy.

  Val sucked in her breath and dug her nails into his arm. Ohmygod, he’s going to make me come, right here in this chair. “Chaz…” The taboo of the moment was nearly overwhelming. She’d never done anything so brazen, or exciting before. The pool and dance floor didn’t count, and they didn’t compare to having an orgasm in the middle of a wedding reception.

  “Come for me, honey.” He kissed her cheek. “I promise I’ll be here for you.”

  Val tried to focus her glazed eyes but it was impossible to see through the haze of desire blinding her. Every stroke of his finger brought her closer to heaven. She could read between the lines as good as anyone, but she had to be sure she didn’t misread the sincerity in his husky tone. She had to be sure.

  “You will?” she asked weakly, using every ounce of strength she possessed not to move her hips with his movements. She tried not to notice that waiters were moving from table to table, filling everyone’s champagne glasses for the official toast, aware that if she was going to let go it had better be soon.

  “Yes, don’t you know that by now? I’m not going anywhere, honey. Besides, you’ve ruined me for other women.”

  Val’s soft chuckle quickly turned into a sound of pleasure as she let herself go, unleashing the climax gripping her body…and soul, secure in the knowledge that Chaz would be there for her, that he wouldn’t let her crash without the protection of his strong arms. As she exploded in bliss and her gaze locked onto his, it dawned on her that she felt something else, something stronger. I love him! Tears filled her eyes with the depth of her emotion, while her lower body twitched and shook around his embedded finger. It was too much for her to handle.

  “What is it, baby?” His tone was tender, deep with concern.

  Val shook her head. “No-nothing,” she could barely speak for the lump in her throat. So this is what love feels like. And what a time to discover it!

  Chaz removed his hand from beneath her skirt, and before Val could prepare herself he pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap. It didn’t seem to matter where they were. He wrapped her in his strong arms and held her against his chest. He hadn’t been kidding about his hard-on.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked above her head.

  “That’s just it, nothing is wrong.” Except that I’ve fallen for you. “I just realized how…how much you mean to me.” Since he was holding her sideways against his chest she was able to see the lower half of his smiling face. A glance around the room showed Val they were drawing attention. She pulled away from Chaz to look into his eyes. “People are starting to stare.”

  “Let them.” He reached up and wiped a tear away with his thumb. “Does it bother you that we have feelings for one another?”

  Val stared into his warm eyes until Chaz’s words had sunk in. “You have feelings for me, too?”

  “Honey,” he laughed, “I’ve had a barrage of feelings for you since the moment I saw you walk into my brother’s house with that look-but-don’t-touch-attitude. Amusement, anger, lust. More than once I wanted to put you across my knee.”

  She couldn’t help it, she laughed. “Naked?”

  “Now that’s a thought.”

  The tinkling sound of someone hitting the side of their glass with silverware drew everyone’s attention toward the bride and groom’s table. The music promptly ceased. Beau was standing there with a champagne glass in his hand, obviously ready to make the official toast as first best man. Val hadn’t even seen him leave their table. Without prompting, everyone was suddenly reaching for their glasses.

  As she stretched to get hers Chaz beat her to it, handing her a glass before picking up his own.

  Still holding his flute high in the air, Beau was about to speak when Blade touched him on the arm. They had a brief exchange of words and then Beau sat down. Blade remained on his feet. “Before my brother makes his toast, there’s something I’d like to say to my bride.”

  He turned to Callie, who was staring up at him with a happy smile on her radiant face. Blade held his champagne glass toward her, and as if some silent communication had passed between them, Callie picked up hers.

  “I remember a time when my brothers and I thought we’d never meet that special someone we’d want to spend the rest of our lives with. Not long after Beau married Marissa, I asked him how he’d known she was the one. It didn’t take him long to come up with an answer. It was simple. He just knew, he said. Just like I knew the moment you landed on my lap beneath that tree, and I gazed into your beautiful, laughing eyes. I knew you were going to be trouble. You took my breath away, you turned me inside out, you touched my soul, but most of all, you complete me. To a long life together, honey.” By the time Blade was done, tears were rolling down Callie’s face. He backed up his toast by pulling her against him and kissing her long and hard.

  Once the clapping stopped, Beau rose to his feet again.

  “That will be us some day,” Val said jokingly. “I must be getting heavy.” She made a move to get off his lap.

  “I have no doubts,” Chaz responded, deadly serious. “Unless we elope to Vegas or the Bahamas. And stay right here.” He easily kept her from moving. Val just looked at him, not knowing how to respond, afraid to give in to the happiness waiting to burst through. “We were meant for each other, honey, and we’re good together. Why else did we both stop playing the field after that night at my brother’s house? Somewhere down deep you must have sensed it, too.”

  How can I argue when he’s speaking the truth? She was vaguely aware Beau had begun his toast, but couldn’t draw her attention away from Chaz. “So what does that mean?”

  Chaz stared into her eyes with an emotion she’d never seen before. “It means that.” He indicated the bride and groom’s table with a nod of his head. “It means babies.” They both glanced across at the baby in Marissa’s arms. “It means a lot of this.” He kissed her firmly. “If you want it.”

  If she wanted it? Val never thought she’d find such happiness. As the sting of tears filled her eyes, a trembling smile spread across her face. “Yes,” she whispered huskily, her heart swelling with love. “Yes.”

  They sealed their unspoken love with a kiss that spoke volumes about their feelings for one another, and the future they had ahead of them.

  The End

  Thank you for reading Burning Hunger. I hope you enjoyed it, and would appreciate you leaving a review where you purchased the story. You might also be interested in reading A Perfect Fit, and Surrender to Desire, books one and two of this series.

  A Perfect Fit blurb – Marissa Lambert is furious with her agent for hiring a security agency to protect her. The last thing she needs is some Texas cowboy following her around, and telling her what to do. Just because two plus-sized models have turned up dead in a month doesn't mean she's at risk. And besides, she can take care of herself.

  Beau Evans owns and operates Evans Security, and he's the unlucky one who gets to babysit the beautiful Marissa. The moment he watches her strut her stuff down the runway, in a revealing corset that hugs her generous assets, he gets an itch that doesn't go away. Their first encounter ends with an angry exchange and a battle of strong wills, but once they succumb to the lust in their blood there's no turning back.

  http://www.amazon.com/A-Perfect-Fit-ebook/dp/B00AX37N5E/ref=la_B002DBFNUQ_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378927866&sr=1-7

  Surrender to Desire blurb – Callie thought her man troubles were over when she accepts work at the Evans ranch. Until Blade Evans rescues her out of a tree and she winds up in his arms, and his bed. Against her will she starts to fall for the handsome rancher. Then begins to wonder, as his new housekeeper, is she just a convenient outlet for his sexual urges? Or does he feel the same way about her?

  http://www.amazon.com/SURRENDER-TO-DESIRE-ebook/dp/B00D5ZIO2S/ref=la_B002DBFNUQ_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378928049&sr=1-9

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  Rachel Masters has had a crush on her sexy boss for three years. As far as she knows the millionaire architect is oblivious to her, walking past her desk every morning with barely a nod in her direction. But when the power goes out and they're trapped in an elevator, the truth comes out in one steamy episode designed to take Rachel's mind off being claustrophobic.

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  THE MATING RITUAL

  On the run for her life, Toni finds safety with an uncivilized group of people living deep in the Carolina Mountains. Direct descendants from a legendary creature, they are more human than beast. With the exception of being big and tall, they no longer carry any of the original Bigfoot hairy, monstrous traits. Yet they prefer the simple, uncomplicated life their beastly ancestors lived. They remain far away from civilization, feeding the locals with rare sightings that keep the myth alive.

  Captured by their rugged leader, Cormac, Toni must undergo an ancient mating ritual in order not to be claimed and mated by any of the other males. Once Cormac mates with her in front of the whole clan, she will be off limits to everyone but him, something Toni is grateful for. She gradually falls for the powerful leader, willingly giving in to his ravenous demands for sex. He vows to protect and love her, but can she give up everything to live with him in the mountains?