by Chiah Wilder
A horn honked behind him and Shadow rolled on the throttle, raising the speed of the bike. Two streets over, and he was pulling up to the curb in front of Scarlett’s building. Sensing someone looking at him, Shadow glanced across the street and saw Warren glaring at him as the jerk opened the door to a red sports car then slid in. There was another guy in the passenger’s seat, but Shadow couldn’t make out his features.
“What the fuck’s he doing here?” he muttered.
Then he heard the squealing of tires as the sports car pulled out of the parking space and sped away. Shadow hurried into the building, stopping only to sign the register book with the front assistant after scanning the sheet to see if the asshole’s name was on it. It wasn’t. By the time he got off on the top floor, his nerves were so tight, they felt like they’d snap at any second. He turned the doorknob and it opened, and the aroma of banana-nut bread wafted out into the hall.
“Hey, babe, I’m here,” he said, closing the door behind him. “It’s not safe to leave your door unlocked, no matter where you live.” He walked into the living room and slipped off his cut, carefully placing it on the back of a chair.
“The front desk called me when you got into the elevator.”
The scent of her perfume curled around him in a seductive embrace. Shadow turned around and hissed in a breath. “Fuck, baby,” he rasped as lust slammed into him with the force of a two-ton truck.
Scarlett wore a black teddy that hugged her delicious curves in all the right places as her golden hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. The sheer cups, lace bodice, and open crotch left just enough to the imagination to make his cock punch against his jeans.
“Turn around,” he growled.
Scarlett slowly spun around, then looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, a wicked glint sparking in her eyes.
“You’re killing me, darlin’.” He took in the thin piece of fabric between the rounded cheeks of her luscious, naked ass. So fucking beautiful. So damn tempting. He wanted to squeeze and spank and bite those delectable cheeks—hard. Hard enough to brand her, leaving no doubt that she was his. All mine. “I can’t fuckin’ wait to unwrap you,” he said, walking toward her.
She turned around and Shadow snagged an arm around her waist, drawing her close to him. “I’ve got a real burn for you, woman,” he whispered in her ear.
“I’m so crazy about you,” she said, wriggling against him, rubbing her hand over his throbbing dick.
Groaning, his fingers dug into her silky smooth ass cheeks while his mouth devoured hers, as their tongues twisted, breaths mingled, and teeth clashed. Shadow walked them backward toward the couch until her legs bumped against it. He angled her back onto the cushions then broke away; kicking off his boots and unbuckling his belt, his gaze fixed on her pink pussy peeking out at him.
The heat in Scarlett’s eyes as she watched him tear his clothes off almost made him jump on top of her and bury his hard-as-steel dick deep inside her, but Shadow wanted to take his time and tease her until she begged to be fucked.
He dropped to his knees near her feet then slowly nipped and licked the inside of her right leg, stroking her other leg with his hand. He felt Scarlett shiver under his touch as her skin pebbled beneath his lips.
“Shadow.” She sighed and held her arms stretched out, reaching for him.
Capturing her green gaze, he ran his index finger through her slit, groaning when her slick juices covered it. “So fuckin’ wet … dripping,” he murmured as he lowered his head. With two fingers, he opened the folds, exposing her glistening clit. “So beautiful.” He stroked her smooth lips then pushed his finger inside her body, sliding in as deep as his knuckle, and then he stopped. Scarlett panted. Leaning over, he untied the front of her teddy and captured her pretty pink nipple between his teeth while he moved slowly in and out of her.
“Oh, fuck, Shadow,” she said in a ragged breath.
“You like that, baby? You feel so fuckin’ hot and tight, I can’t wait to shove my cock in you and fuck you good and hard.” He trailed his mouth down her body until he reached her sweetness. “You taste real fine,” he said as he swept his tongue from her clit to her heated wetness. He pulled out his finger then thrust his tongue inside her, pushing in and pulling out in quick succession.
“Shit.” Scarlett moaned and grabbed fistfuls of his hair.
His thumb moved round and round her clit as he plunged in and out of her until she cried out, her head thrashing about as he felt her whole body shudder.
Scarlett opened her eyes and they locked onto his. He leaned back and slid his finger into his mouth, licking her juices off of it. “I like that,” he said, smiling at her widened gaze.
“How does it taste?” she whispered, a pink streak brushing across her cheeks.
“Fuckin’ awesome.” Shadow bent over and dipped his head down, capturing her mouth. “Taste yourself, baby,” he said against her lips.
Her arms circled around his neck and she yanked him closer.
“Do you like your sweetness?”
“It tastes different—tangy and a little sweet. Kind of like a sweet and sour salad dressing. I don’t know.” The pink blush deepened and she buried her head in the crook of his neck.
“You’re so fuckin’ adorable.” He lifted her face up then covered it in feathery-light kisses. “Did you buy your sexy outfit for me?”
She nodded.
“I love that, baby.” He fused his lips on hers and they kissed passionately. “You know what I want?” She shook her head. “I want you to ride me so I can see those gorgeous tits swaying as you bounce up and down on my cock.” Shadow pulled up, taking her with him, his gaze never leaving hers. He slowly took off the lingerie, nipping and kissing his way down her body until she stood before him, beautifully naked. They kissed again, then Shadow held her hand and helped her straddle him after he lay back on the couch cushions.
Scarlett’s hair brushed across his chest as she bent down, and he grabbed one of her swaying tits and squeezed it hard, eliciting a cry from her. Pulling her closer to him, he lifted his head and sucked one of her hardening nipples into his mouth while he rolled the other one between his thumb and middle finger. Moaning, she raised slightly, and fire roared through his veins when her wet pussy brushed back and forth over the tip of his throbbing cock.
“I need you, darlin,” he rasped, then gripped her hips and eased inside her, inch by inch, as their eyes locked. The intensity of being with Scarlett jolted his senses like a power surge, and it made him groan.
She bent down, then kissed him and said, “Let me do it,” and raked her nails down his chest. “Just enjoy the view and the ride.”
Then she took him in—all of him—inside her. Her hot walls molded around his cock, and it felt so damn good. Wanting to be closer to her, to feel her tits against him, he sat up and buried his face in them.
“Ride me good, baby,” he growled against her soft skin before he caught one of her nipples between his teeth. He sucked hard, loving how she moaned and threw her head back as she kept riding him. Moving his hands down her body, they settled on her ass, and he squeezed it tightly as he rocked his hips so she could take him in deeper. Shadow loved the way her pussy pulsed around his cock, her juices covering him and dripping down his balls. He raised his hand and landed a slap on her ass.
“It feels so good.” Scarlett moaned over and over.
Her tits jiggled in front of his face as she rode him fast, and he thrust from below, going deeper. When their eyes met, he saw the wildness and pleasure on her face, and the pressure in his balls escalated.
“I’m coming.” Her voice was soft, yet ragged.
Then her pussy started to pulsate around him and she moaned savagely, clawing at his chest.
“You’re mine, woman. All mine.” Shadow grunted as the base of his spine tightened. He gripped her harder—wanting her delicate flesh to bear his mark—then he exploded, pouring his seed deep inside her, filling her.
Se
x with her is incredible. But it wasn’t just the sex, it was everything. It was all Scarlett. She made him want to be a one-woman man—for the first time ever.
Shadow eased Scarlett off of him, then cocooned her in his arms, never wanting to let her go.
Chapter Eighteen
Slivers of summer’s morning sunlight filtered through the wooden slats, casting thin yellow strips across the hardwood floor like threads of gold. Scarlett rolled over on her side and smiled. I love waking up next to him. Propping up on her elbow, she stared at Shadow, the man who had taken possession of her heart.
“Do you know how much I love you?” she whispered in a barely audible voice.
Shadow looked so peaceful—the dark look that crossed his face more often than not was gone. A small snore made her smile, especially when his lips turned up slightly as if a pleasant dream was playing in the theater of his mind. And those lips … they had kissed every inch of her body. A flutter of arousal landed between her legs at the memory of their night together. They’d spent most of it making love, talking, and laughing. At one point, he’d confided in Scarlett that he had more in common with her than he’d ever had with any woman. Hearing him say those words had made her insides melt. Scarlett understood exactly what he was saying because she felt the same way: Shadow was her soulmate. It was funny because she always thought the whole “soulmate” thing was a lot of bunk. She’d roll her eyes while reading articles about it in her many women’s magazines, and when some of her friends referred to their boyfriends as “the one,” Scarlett would bite her inner cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
And now look at me. I guess what they say about karma is true. Warmth and tenderness spread through her as she softly ran her fingers down his corded arm, loving how the dark hairs stood on end. Yes … there was such a powerful and electrifying connection to him that it took her breath away. The night before and earlier that morning, Shadow had told her she was all his, and she kept replaying the words over and over in her head, her body tingling each and every time.
Scarlett leaned closer to him. Yours—how wonderful. And you are all mine. Do you love me too and are afraid to say it? What dark secrets are you keeping buried inside you?
She watched him sleep, his eyelids fluttering, then Shadow opened his eyes and smiled drowsily as she looked down at him.
“How long have you been checking me out, babe?” he asked, tugging at a few strands of her hair.
“Not too long,” she said, running a finger along his jaw. “You looked so peaceful and content that I couldn’t help but watch you.”
“I was dreamin’ about you, darlin’.”
“Sweet or nasty?” she murmured.
“Both,” he said, pulling her down on top of him.
Without a pause, their mouths joined, passionately exploring each other as their hands touched everywhere. Combined moans of pleasure filled the room as she lost herself in his touch, his scent—his everything.
An hour later, naked and sated, they lay tangled together in each other’s arms.
“What’re you doing today?” she asked, her fingertips dancing in small circles against his skin.
“I gotta go to the warehouse. A big shipment came in so I have to catalogue and list it. Do you work today?” He raked his hand through her hair, then kissed the top of her head.
“Not today. My mom wants to meet me at the club later this afternoon. I’m dreading that. I’d like to see your warehouse and what you do.”
“Yeah? That’s cool. You can follow me there. I should probably get going in a bit.” He tipped her head back and brushed a light kiss against her mouth. “I don’t want to leave, baby.”
“Me neither,” she said as a low growl grumbled from her stomach. She giggled. “I guess my stomach has other ideas. Are you hungry too?”
“I could go for some chow.”
Scarlett kissed him quickly before pulling away. “I’ll whip up some breakfast, then we can go. I can’t wait to see you at your job.” She scrambled off the mattress and shuffled to the bathroom to get ready.
After showering and dressing, Scarlett took out apple-smoked bacon from the refrigerator along with two decent-sized potatoes, a small white onion, and a green chile pepper. She opened a cupboard and grabbed two frying pans and a grater, then set to work on making breakfast.
By the time Shadow walked into the kitchen, the small table was set, orange juice filled two glasses, and the bacon and hash browns were heaped on two small platters. A small plate held several slices of buttered toast.
“I’ve got fresh coffee to wake us both up,” she said, pouring the dark liquid into the mugs.
“Last night was fuckin’ incredible,” he said, then gave her a wink. He blew into his mug then took a sip. “You were fuckin’ awesome.”
“Well, I can’t complain about you either.” She teased him as she slid into the chair.
“And you never will.” Shadow picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite.
“Someone’s a little cocky.” She brought the glass of juice to her lips.
“Not cocky, darlin’, just confident.” He shoved the rest of the strip into his mouth.
Laughing, she reached over and patted his hand. “And you have every reason to be.” Scarlett leaned over and kissed him, then fell back against the chair. The smoky taste of bacon lingered on her lips and she licked them, loving the way Shadow watched her every movement.
“You keep that up, and we’re gonna be fucking on this table.” He picked up a piece of toast. “Now that I think of it, we need to do that.”
“We have to save something for later, right?”
Their fingertips brushed, and as he moved toward her, the sound of her phone broke through the moment.
“Let it go,” he said, his voice thick.
“You’ll never make it to the warehouse,” she whispered before sliding from the chair.
“True …” He sat back and bit into the toast.
“It’s my mom.” She groaned after looking down at the screen.
“What does she want?”
“Wait a sec.” Scarlett skimmed the text. “Just confirming our late afternoon tea. My mom’s obsessed with having teatime in the afternoon. It’s kind of annoying.”
“Are her people from England or something?”
“Not at all. She’s got some French and German in her. My mom never talks about her background. She was an only child, and after her parents died when she was real young, she was brought up by a great-aunt. Anyway, she thinks having teatime makes her classy or something. It’s kind of strange.”
“Do your parents know about us?”
“I’m betting that they do and that’s why my mom wants to meet with me. At least we’ll be at the club. My mother would rather die than cause a public scene.”
Shadow nodded. “I need to talk to your parents.”
Panic shot through her. “No, you don’t. What the hell are you thinking?”
“That I’m not a fuckin’ pussy, and I’m not gonna hide behind you. I’m a man and I need to tell them how it is between us.”
“I appreciate your gallantry, but trust me, it’s better if I talk to them.”
“I don’t like it.” Shadow stood and took his plate to the sink.
“Let me soften them up first, then you can meet them, okay?” She cleared off the table. “Promise me?”
“Again … I don’t like it. I’ll play by your rules for a little while, but I am going to talk to them.” He slipped his arm around Scarlett’s waist and drew her back against him. “We’re in this for the long haul.”
Happiness spread through her. “We are,” she murmured, resting her head against his chest.
“Then I gotta meet your folks and let them know that I’m not going anywhere.” Shadow kissed the side of her face.
“I agree, but after I talk to them. After all, I do know my mom and dad. You’ll get your chance.” She craned her neck and looked up at him. Shadow pressed his mouth on hers a
nd they kissed like they had all the time in the world. Finally Scarlett broke away. “We better get going.”
He swatted her butt, then helped her load the dishwasher before they gathered their things and walked out of the condo.
Pinewood Country Club was one of the oldest and most exclusive clubs in the area, and the Maroon Grille offered the members a warm, comfortable place to meet throughout the day for meals and conversation. The high ceilings and table linen gave it an air of elegance, whereas the stone fireplace and western paintings lent a casual and family-friendly feel to the restaurant. Beyond the dining area’s huge picture windows, an impressive golf course lay amid mountain peaks, making the view one of the best in the county.
Scarlett stirred her frozen daquiri with a red straw and looked up as her mother pulled out the chair opposite her.
“Sorry I’m late. Your father’s meeting went longer than he thought.” Pamela Mansfield waved the waiter over and ordered an Arnold Palmer with a shot of gin in it. “Have you been here long?”
Her mom looked cool and collected in a simple peach cotton shift; a strand of pearls rested just below the scoop neckline.
“I’ve been here for about fifteen minutes,” Scarlett replied. “Is your car in the shop?”
Pamela’s eyes widened slightly. “No, why?”
“Dad’s at the club too?” Her mouth went dry and her stomach clenched.
“Yes, he’s meeting Bruce and Alan to play golf. He’ll be here in a minute.” Her mother smiled at the waiter when he placed the drink in front of her.
“Are you ready to order?” he asked.
Pamela glanced over at Scarlett and she nodded.
“I’ll have the shrimp cocktail,” she said, even though her appetite had disappeared. How she wished she were back at the warehouse with Shadow. She had to admit it was a real turn-on watching him at work. He was so in charge, so confident, so sexy. I’m proud of him for being an entrepreneur. But of course, it fit his personality. The way she figured it: Shadow was better on his own because the rebel in him wouldn’t make it one day with an employer calling all the shots.