Sweeter Pleasures

by Lyssa Cole

  Finally getting the door to unlock, Drake got into the car quickly, his scent invading my nose straightaway. God, he smelled so fucking good. His cologne and just him-that musky scent; it was so toxic and heady. Drake beamed at me as he buckled his seat belt, his happiness vibrating off him. I could stare at this man all day.

  I sat there, smiling back at him like a fool who was love-struck, drool practically leaking from the side of my mouth. “Good morning Bree. How nice it is to see you so bright and early this fine day.”

  And then his lips were on mine. I didn’t even have a chance to process it, and his tongue was slipping inside, tasting and exploring and I was gone, falling into the bliss he gave me. After a few moments, I pulled away and his dark eyes met mine, his gaze saying so much more. The air was thick and heavy with arousal and so many words left unsaid.

  “Bree,” Drake whispered, his face still close to mine, his breath smelling of sweet mint toothpaste, “Go out with me tonight. A real date. Let me show you how you deserve to be treated.”

  How could I say no to this man, this sweet, gorgeous man who was looking at me like no other woman existed? My entire body flushed with heat and desire, his presence leaving me near speechless. He put me into such a trance, a beautiful state I never wanted to leave, and I just wanted more and more of it. Why say no? Why deny myself any longer?

  I simply nodded and then pressed my lips against his tenderly, drawing my next breath from him. “Show me what you got, my hot baker.” He chuckled softly in his throat and then he grabbed the back of my head, pulling me down for another mind erasing kiss.

  Drake

  Shit my head was all over the place today. Bree was distracting me and I couldn’t focus at work. When I was in the front, checking on the bread stock, I saw a man enter out of the corner of my eye and I swore it was one of them. Fear gripped me, leaving me rooted to the spot. My fists clenched, and I tried to think of an escape but I couldn’t, the fear and panic leaving my mind blank. A second later, Liz was greeting him by his first name, asking him if he wanted his usual coffee and pastry, and relief flooded through me.. Fuck. I had to end this. I had to end her.

  Drake and I were dragging serious ass at the bakery today and the girls could tell. I knew Julie had kept quiet but Liz and Mackenzie could tell something was going on. I just said I was up late and then had to be here early to bake but I knew they weren’t buying it.

  Finally, around noon time, Sawyer came in, and Julie offered to watch over the place. Mackenzie and Sawyer were here to close and Liz was working until three. We had plenty of coverage. Drake would be finishing up his shift soon and I could tell he was ready to go.

  As I said my goodbyes to everyone, I could feel Drake’s eyes watching me. This felt weird. Did I hug him or kiss him goodbye? I didn’t want to at work. I wanted us to remain completely professional. But thankfully, Drake solved the problem for me by remaining professional and saying a quick goodbye, but not without his hand brushing mine. Tingles filled my entire body at just that slight exchange of skin. I wanted so much more of him. He whispered that he would call me later.

  As I headed to my car for the second time today, I thought about the warm bubble bath I was going to have with a nice chilled glass of wine. Then I was going to slip into my bed and get some shut eye. I couldn’t wait, exhaustion was pulling at my entire body.

  Just as I slipped my key in my car door, I felt a hand wrap around my arm and squeeze a bit tightly. I gasped when I looked up and saw Kyle’s angry face glaring down at mine, his nose swollen and bruised. I quickly looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze, but secretly glad Drake fucked his face up. He deserved it and so much more.

  “Bree,” Kyle said, his voice sending chills down my back, “Can’t we just go somewhere and talk? Why do you keep running from me?”

  “Kyle, please, I really don’t want to do this right now.” I snapped, my tiredness making me feel bitchy and aggravated. I didn’t feel like dealing with him right now, not when my bed was calling my name.

  “When do you want to do it then, huh, Bree? I’ve been trying to see you, call you, talk to you all this past week and you just keep ignoring me and shutting me out. What the fuck is going? And who is the asshole that hit my face last night?”

  I started to get really mad. Who the fuck did he think he was?

  “Kyle, that really isn’t any of your fucking business. You shouldn’t have talked to me the way you did. And you can’t just come storming back into this town like everything is okay, like everything is forgotten, and forgiven because it’s not. You did what you did and you made your choice. Now go back to Hawaii and start a life with her.” I finished, feeling slightly relieved at speaking my mind.

  Kyle’s eyes flashed with fury, and I crouched back against my car, feeling scared. “Bree, listen, I don’t want her. I want you. It’s always been you.”

  I felt a sharp pang of emotion-something indescribable-anger mixed with sadness and for some stupid reason, affection for him. Not love anymore but I don’t know, I felt really confused.

  I tried to back away as Kyle was looking pissed now, his face growing darker. “Kyle, you need to get it through your head. I don’t want to be with you anymore. It’s over and done with.”

  In a flash, Kyle had lunged at me, grabbing me tight in his arms. He wrapped his whole body around mine and I couldn’t move, feeling like I was in a strait jacket. “No, Bree, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’re wrong. We are meant to be together.”

  I pushed against his arms, wanting him to ease up on his grip. I felt like I was suffocating. I wasn’t going to be able to break free. Maybe I should just placate right now. Tell him what he wants to hear, just to bide myself some time. I hated doing that but Kyle was not backing down and he didn’t seem like he was going to be anytime soon.

  “Kyle,” I whispered, a sob catching in my throat, hating this whole fucked up situation. My anger was slipping into sadness and I tried to stay mad so I wouldn’t lose focus. “Can we just talk about this some other time? Over coffee or something? I am exhausted and I just need to go home and get some sleep.”

  “Only if you promise to meet me tonight, Bree. I’ve been waiting long enough.”

  Fuck. I couldn’t tonight. My date with Drake.

  “I can’t tonight, I already have plans with Julie. How about tomorrow morning?”

  I felt Kyle stiffen and I knew he was trying to figure out if he should believe me. He was not dumb and he had seen me with Drake a few times now.

  But then he relaxed and broke his grip, pulling back from me as his eyes glared into my own. I snapped mine up to him, pissed he was treating me this way. Holding me hostage almost until I agreed to meet him. I sighed, wanting to get the fuck out of here.

  “Okay, Bree. I’ll call you.” Kyle leaned down and tried to kiss me on my mouth but I quickly turned my head and he caught my cheek. He hissed under his breath and I moved away quickly, afraid of what he could do next. God damn, what was wrong with this man? I breathed a sigh of relief when he turned and walked away. I quickly got into my car, locking all the doors behind me. My heart was pounding and I actually felt nervous. Julie was going to have to come with me tomorrow; there was no way I was going to go by myself. One more rejection and he was going to explode.

  Kyle was being a fucking asshole lately and he really thought he was going to win his way back into my heart acting like that? As soon as it didn’t work out as easy as he thought it was going to, he flipped his shit. Well too bad-suck it up buttercup. He couldn’t just do what he did to me and then have an expectation to come walking back in here like nothing happened.

  Tomorrow I was going to set him straight whether he liked it or not and he was going to sign those damn divorce papers even if I had to kill his ass in the process.

  Chapter Thirteen

  After sleeping for a solid four straight hours, I woke up feeling much better but there still was a haze of exhaustion hanging over my head. Tonight was going t
o be an early night. I’d have to warn Drake.

  Mmm…Drake. As I soaked in my bubble bath, I replayed all of the events of the past twenty-four hours. It felt like a lifetime ago and I was yearning to taste him again, touch his hard body. God the things that man made me feel.

  It was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before and I just wanted more and more. I wondered how tonight was going to turn out. Was he going to seduce me? Or was it going to be pure romance? I couldn’t imagine him not seducing me; we could barely keep our hands off each other.

  I thought about how conflicted I still felt. Kyle made me feel confused but I knew it was best to just cut ties and end things, as I was never going to get back with him. Things were just too complicated and I didn’t want to work them out. Not after feeling the type of passion I felt with Drake.

  Which brings me to Drake. I wanted to pursue things with him because I just couldn’t resist him and I liked him. Like, really liked him. Why ignore such a connection that fate threw back in my face? What were the chances that the cute boy with the brown eyes and shaggy brown hair would end up back here and working for me? Enjoying the same passion for a career as I had. But I was still so guarded and nervous after being hurt by Kyle. What if Drake were to hurt me just as bad?

  Cut the shit, Bree.

  I couldn’t go on living life thinking that way. Bad things could happen at any time. But I would never live if I were always hiding behind my bakery. Drake came here and ended up at my bakery. It was almost as if he was delivered to me. I should just enjoy this and go with the flow. No one was getting married or moving in together.

  I shook my head, trying to clear the million thoughts roaming through. It was time to stop thinking so much and get ready for my hot date. So I shaved everywhere, washed my entire body from head to toe, and when I was finally scrubbed clean, I got out and got dressed. I had picked out a cute flowy skirt with a flowered pattern and a lacy white tank top with a jean jacket over the top. Ballet flats completed the sexy but casual look I was trying to go for. I added a chunky jeweled necklace with the same colors and some gold hoop earrings. I pulled my hair back by a flowered clip on one side and let the rest hang down in long loose curls. My makeup was dark and smoky but not club time dark. Just enough to be spicy with black eyeliner running along the top and bottom and a shimmery eyeshadow lightly brushed the lids.

  Drake arrived on time and when he knocked on my door, I felt my nerves get the better of me. The swirl of emotions mixed themselves inside of me and I needed to take a few deep breaths before opening the door to him. Everything was so overwhelming-the most being my heart as it pumped wildly in my chest.

  Another knock came to the door and I knew there was no more stalling. I opened the door and when my eyes saw him, I gasped. He looked so unbelievably gorgeous, I was taken a back for a moment. My eyes dropped down his body taking him in as if he were my cure, the end to my damage. He was dressed in a pair of dark sleek jeans, fitted so perfectly in all the right places, a tight navy shirt hugging his well-defined chest that I could only imagine must be perfect looking, and then an open black leather jacket. I didn’t take him for a leather jacket type of guy but damn did he pull it off without a hitch. He had cleaned himself up, his facial hair trimmed, leaving not much left and his hair was combed. The scent of his aftershave hit my nose and my knees felt weak. I could bury myself in his smell and get lost.

  What I didn’t notice was Drake checking me out. His eyes ran up and down my body, drinking me in like a glass of water, and the electricity just zapped between us. I don’t know how long we stayed that way looking at each other, sizing each other up, but God damn it felt like an eternity. Neither one of us seemed to want to break the spell we had both put ourselves under.

  But finally, Drake did. “Bree….” He said, his voice deep and dark, almost thick with desire, “I…I… I mean you…you look so fucking beautiful.”

  I flushed as his hand reached out and grabbed my hip, pulling me against him. It was all so intoxicating-his scent, his holy hotness being pressed against me. I could feel his length against my belly and I wanted to moan, but I swallowed it, trying to focus on us. Drake brought his lips down to mine and kissed me so gently, so softly, I melted instantly. I snaked my arms around his neck and kissed him back, deepening the kiss, wanting, no-needing more.

  When we broke apart, we were both panting as we usually were, both of us pulling the air from each other in the most delightful way. “Are you ready for your date? I’m going to knock your fucking socks off baby.” He grinned down at me and I couldn’t help but beam back up at him.

  “My socks huh? I was kind of hoping it would be my dress that would be coming off…” He laughed, his throat rumbling and I couldn’t help but grin at him, the sound filling me with pleasure.

  Drake’s voice rumbled as he spoke, “That may happen later…but come on, let’s go!” He winked at me and then pulled me towards his car, a sleek Dodge charger in fire engine red. It matched him perfectly and looked pitiful next to my crappy Toyota corolla. Drake opened my door for me and I slid inside. After Drake was in, I turned to him, the small space in the car already shocking me with our spark, “Where to?”

  Drake wagged his eyebrows at me, giving me a playful smirk. “You’ll see. Now sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  Drake

  God she was beautiful. She made my heart flutter, beating a new crazy rhythm. I was a bad person. A bad person for bringing her into my life, into my danger. But I was selfish. I wanted her. As I drove her towards the city, I worried they were following us, but I tried to clear my head and focus on the beautiful woman sitting beside me who deserved a perfect night.

  About twenty minutes later, we were now in Boston, and the sun was beginning to set on this cold spring day. I hated New England weather sometimes. It had been spring for a few weeks now and even though we were blessed with late afternoon daylight, the weather has not warmed up yet. Thankfully, my jacket was warm enough with my tank top and skirt on.

  Drake pulled into a beach parking lot and parked in front of a big sign that said ZIPLINE RIDES HERE! WATCH THE SUNSET ON THE BEACH WHILE ZIPPING THROUGH THE AIR!

  Oh my God! Zip lining! Something I’ve always wanted to do but never really had the guts. And now this perfect man brought me here, to do something I’ve always wanted to. I could cross this one off the old bucket list.

  “Zip lining?” I asked Drake, spinning to face him, my face lit up with excitement and amusement.

  He nodded, his excitement matching mine. “I’ve always wanted too, just never had the chance. I come to this beach a lot to sit and when I saw this sign, I knew I needed to do it. The best part is we can go together.”

  “You mean, as two people together?” I squealed, so beyond excited to do this with him, to be that close to him, his body pressed against mine as we zipped through the air.

  Drake laughed, his eyes shining with joy. “Yes, Bree, together, wrapped around each other…” His eyes suddenly grew dark and I felt the rush of heat between my legs. My insides clenched and I had to press my knees together to dull the ache.

  He gave me a sweet kiss and then hopped out of the car, rushing to the other side to open my door. As soon as I got out of the car, the beach air hit me, the smell of the ocean filling my nose. I closed my eyes for a second as the wind whipped through my hair, the ocean breeze feeling wonderful if not a bit chilly. Drake grabbed my hand and pulled me up the ramp. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me making me stop dead in my tracks. “Fuck, my dress! I can’t go in my dress!”

  Drake turned around, his face scrunching up in laughter. “Bree, it’s okay. You have to strap on their God awful pants.”

  “Oh okay.” I smirked at him as his laughter continued. “Stop laughing at me!” I smacked his arm playfully as we began walking again.

  “You’re just too cute. It’s sexy as fuck.” Drake gave me a sexy smile and there went all my coherent thoughts. This man, this hot fucking man was going to be my undoing. D
rake tugged on my hand, reminding me to stay out of my head and keep up with him. When we reached the booth, Drake paid and we entered the area to get setup.

  My nerves began picking up again and absentmindedly, I began to scratch at my neck. Excitement spun its way in, combining with my anxiety, and I kept blinking, trying to process that this was really real.

  After the employee helped us suit up (the pants and straps totally killing my outfit), we were taken through a series of instructions. I prayed Drake was paying attention because my brain was way too overworked to even retain any information. All I could focus on was the ride ahead and the fine ass man in front of me. Never in a million years did I expect to be doing this with a man like him.

  We climbed the stairs, feeling like we were never going to reach the top. After taking our shoes off, we got strapped in and were given the final warning-back out now or it was too late. Drake was now behind me and his arms were securely wrapped around my waist. He whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my entire body, “Are you ready, baby?” I nodded and then we were midair, flying down the zip at a fast speed. I shrieked, the pure adrenaline rush pumping through my entire body. Drake was yelling behind me, the kind of shrieks you hear on a rollercoaster ride, as we whipped over the beach, the ocean right below us, the sunset looking magnificent from here.

  When we reached the other side, we were lifted onto the platform and both of us were gasping and giggling, the exhilaration of the zip ride flowing through us. I couldn’t wait for the ride back; this was such an amazing experience. I just wished it lasted longer. It was a good two mile ride but flying so fast made it seem like two feet.

  As the employee checked all of our straps and made sure we were still good to go, Drake and I tried to slow our breathing, as he whispered in my ear, “Wasn’t that fucking awesome?” I nodded, my body flooding with happiness.

  “Okay, ready to go?” The employee called out to us. Drake answered back and we were off again. This time, Drake and I held our hands in the air as we flew through the air, the second ride even better with all of our nerves gone. It was the best fucking feeling being in the air with this man. I didn’t want to ever get off this ride.