Perfect for You

by Candis Terry

  “I never take it off. It’s a reminder that instead of being sold out by the parents who gave birth to me, I ignored the fear in my heart and was rewarded with a new family and a new life.”

  Thinking of the scared, brave little girl she must have been, his heart clenched. “You’re amazing.”

  “Not really. Just stubborn.”

  “No.” Gently he cupped the side of her face in his hand. Stroked his thumb down her smooth cheek. “You’re more than that. You’re absolutely beautiful. Inside and out. I’ve never met anyone like you before. I’m honored to know you, Brooke Hastings,” he said, meaning it from the bottom of his heart.

  And then he kissed her.

  Chapter 10

  Brooke could barely breathe with Dec’s mouth on hers, even though the kiss was soft and sweet and . . . reverent.

  He’d said they could forget the boss/employee thing for the night, but he’d also said he could never picture her as a friend.

  So that left them . . . where?

  She took pleasure in his freshly showered scent, his delicious taste, his firm yet gentle touch, and the sense of security he offered without saying a word. When he ended the kiss she felt rattled, needy, and a little more than speechless.

  Searching for something relevant, she said, “Thank you for understanding and not judging.”

  “No one has the right to judge another’s life. When I say I admire you, Brooke, I mean it.” His thumb slowly stroked across her cheek. “In fact . . .”

  Her heart picked up speed as he glanced at the door then brought his gaze back to her.

  “Wait right here.”

  When he went inside the cabin, she did her best to calm her racing heart. For four years she’d wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Now she knew. And now she knew she would never be satisfied with just three kisses. But with the way he’d gotten up and walked away, it seemed he had other ideas.

  When he returned and sat down in the chair with his dark brows pulled together, she knew what he was about to tell her couldn’t be good.

  Exasperated, she couldn’t escape fast enough. “I’ll go get the dessert.”

  “Wait.” When he reached out and caught her hand, her heart got tangled up in a wicked web of hope. “When we were at that little shop on the pier in Santa Barbara? You know, the one with all the sparkles and frills?”

  She nodded.

  “I saw something that made me think of you and I knew I had to buy it.”

  Handing her the small white paper bag, he sat back in the chair and waited for her to look inside.

  “You . . . bought me a gift?”

  “It’s . . .”

  Please don’t say it’s no big deal.

  “When I looked across that store and you were trying on fairy crowns, you made me smile.” Uncertainty pulled at the corners of his masculine lips. “I realized you do that a lot. And when I saw that in the display case it made me smile too because it connected with you. And . . .” He lifted his hands and dropped them down on his thighs. “That’s a whole lot of sappy shit right there, but it’s the truth.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” But she did know that what he’d said touched her down to the very depths of her heart.

  “You haven’t even seen what it is yet.”

  “Dec. If there was an empty peanut shell in here I’d love it, because you thought of me and . . . those words you just said weren’t sappy at all. They were wonderful.” She kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  She unfolded the bag and the tissue inside. The silver chain bracelet with three charms inside made the butterflies in her stomach get up and dance. She lifted it from the box and the firelight caused it to sparkle. She stopped the charms from swinging so she could see what they were. One was a diamond-encrusted heart. Another was of a mischievous-looking Tinkerbell. The third charm made her laugh out loud.

  “A bucket?”

  “In case you come up with any more items for your list,” he said.

  “And Tinkerbell?”

  “You were wearing a fairy crown in the store at the time.” He touched the little charm and sent it swaying. “I know you always wear your Fearless bracelet and I didn’t buy this to replace it. Fearless says a lot about you. But the heart on this one says a lot about you too. And I’ve never met anyone before who has such a feisty determination to turn something wrong into something right. In my eyes, you’re very much like that little fairy who flies around sprinkling pixie dust on everything to make it better.”

  Warmth surrounded her heart and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’d better be careful saying things like that or I just might fall in love with you.”

  As if she hadn’t already.

  “That would be a very bad idea.”

  “And that just goes to prove that we have two very different opinions.” She kissed his cheek again because grabbing him and throwing him down on the table so she could have her way with him probably was a very bad idea. “Thank you so much for this. I love it. Will you help me put it on?”

  “Of course.”

  She handed him the bracelet and held out the arm with her Fearless bracelet. “I want to wear them together.”

  He opened the clasp and hooked it onto her wrist.

  “They look perfect together,” she said, moving her arm so the diamonds flashed in the firelight.

  Perfect together.

  The same way she saw the two of them.

  “But they’ll never be as beautiful as you.”

  Heart as light as air, she chuckled. “Declan Kincade, are you hitting on me?”

  “That would be another very bad idea.”

  But he didn’t say no.

  “How about I go get that dessert?” she asked, knowing that he might be feeling a bit moody right now with all the revelations they’d both just spilled out on the table. She also knew giving him that moment might steal away any of the progress they might have made. And while she might want to give him a push, she’d never take advantage in a moment where he might be emotionally . . . vulnerable. If he gave in, she wanted it to be real.

  In the kitchen she grabbed hold of the counter and tried to catch her breath. Her heart had the whole Tarzan chest-pounding thing going on and her knees were wobbly as noodles. When she heard the back door open she snapped upright so fast her neck cracked.

  “What’s for dessert?” His deep voice rippled through her heart and down to her girl parts like warm, sweet honey.

  “Caramel mousse with toasted shredded coconut.” She opened the refrigerator and took out the glass dessert bowls. “I was just about to add the coconut. I wanted to wait till just before I served it because I didn’t want it to get soggy.”

  “How about you hold off on that.” He came up behind her, close enough to feel the heat emanating from his big, tall, strong body.

  Caged between him and the counter, she glanced over her shoulder. “You don’t like coconut?”

  “There’s just something really . . . sexy about a silky mousse.” He reached around her, stuck his fingertip in the chilled glass, and licked it off.

  Whoa.

  If she thought her heart had been pounding before, it just set a new world speed record. Every rapid beat sent a pulse between her thighs and set her desire on high.

  “Mmmm.” The sound rumbled from his chest and into her back.

  “Good?” She tried to sound nonchalant.

  “Delicious.” He leaned in more. “Have you tried it yet?”

  “No.”

  “No?” He dipped his finger in the mousse again and turned her to face him. “Have a taste.”

  “You want me to . . . lick it off your finger?”

  He gave her a slow nod.

  Brooke didn’t know what game they were playing and she certainly didn’t know the rules. But she wanted this man. And even if she only had him long enough to taste the damn mousse, she was game.

  She came fully into his arms and held his hand steady. Instead of licking the
mousse off, she looked up at him, closed her mouth over the tip of his finger, and sucked it off.

  He closed his eyes and a low growl rumbled in his chest.

  “Good?” he asked.

  She nodded. “What are we doing, Dec?”

  “Sampling dessert.”

  “Is that all?”

  He shook his head slowly. “I’ve tried to respect that you are the best damn assistant I’ll ever find. And I know that if I cross that line I stand a great chance of losing you. I swear to God I’ve tried not to dream or fantasize about you. But ever since that kiss in the ocean, ever since you woke up wrapped around my body, I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”

  To know he’d been thinking of her like that filled her with total and complete exhilaration.

  “What if I promise you won’t lose me?” she asked.

  “I’d still hesitate. But then I’d seriously think about putting a huge dent in the no fraternizing policy.”

  “Then I promise you won’t lose me.” She trailed her fingers up the front of his rock solid chest and felt his heart pound against her palm. “So what’s your excuse now?”

  “No excuse.”

  “Then exactly what is it you want to do? Right now . . .” She let her fingers play over his abs. “While my body is pressed against yours and every sexual fantasy imaginable is playing in my head?”

  “Brooke.”

  “Dec.” She leaned in and felt the hardness of his desire press against her from behind his zipper. Then she pressed her lips against the rapid pulse in his throat. “What do you want to do? Right . . . now?”

  Yes, she was walking over hot coals.

  Yes, she was daring the devil to come out and play.

  And yes, she’d never wanted anything more than she wanted him.

  “Right now . . .” His eyes darkened with hunger as they searched her face. “I want to forget I’m your boss. And I want to lick my dessert off every soft, silky, sexy curve on your body.”

  A strong intake of air lifted his broad chest as he settled his hands on her hips and brought her up hard against him.

  She went up in flames.

  “But if you tell me I’m overstepping my bounds,” he added with a frown tugging his dark brows close, “tell me to go to hell, or tell me no, I’ll back off. Right now. Even though it might kill me. And it probably will.”

  “I’d never tell you no.” She looked him straight in the eye. “Don’t you know that by now?”

  “I promise I’ll go slow.”

  “Dec.” She grabbed the front of his shirt with both hands. “I’ve been waiting for this for four years. Don’t disappoint me now by going slow. Give me everything you’ve got. Fast and hard.”

  “Fuck. Yes.”

  All thought flew from her head as he closed his mouth over hers and fed her a long, hungry, pantie-wetting kiss. Her body hummed with need as his hands traveled down her back and gripped her rear end. Without breaking the kiss and with amazing ease, he lifted her up onto the counter.

  Now they were eye to eye. Even though he’d stepped between her thighs, the lower parts of their bodies were no longer touching. And Brooke really, really wanted them touching.

  His firm, demanding mouth trailed down the side of her neck while his hands roamed her back, sides, and breasts. Her head dropped back to give him better access.

  Yes.

  She wanted him to devour her.

  Completely.

  Because when it came her turn, she planned to savor every second, every muscle, every interesting body part he possessed and then some.

  Twice.

  “You make me so crazy,” he murmured against her throat. “I want to take my time with you, but my body is aching for more. It’s aching for deep, fast, and hard.”

  “Oh God.” She pulled his shirt up and over his head. When it landed somewhere on the floor she leaned in and pressed her mouth to his chest. She licked his pebbled nipple then sucked it into her mouth. He had a gorgeous physique. Tall. Lean. Firm. Not too overdone. Just right. “Didn’t I mention that fast and hard sounded really good right now?”

  “You did.” He trailed a slow lick with the tip of his tongue up the side of her throat. “But I’ve been waiting to touch you for so long, I am not going to hurry.”

  When his hand gently cupped her breast and he rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger, a need it, want it, gotta have it message shot between her legs.

  “Are you sure?” she moaned when he playfully nipped at her throat, an action that sent a direct, razor sharp response to her nipples. “We could always do it again.”

  “Oh. We will.” He lifted his head, looked into her eyes and cupped her face in his hands. “But you don’t want to be disappointed and I certainly don’t want to disappoint.”

  “I was joking earlier.” Her breath caught in her throat when he slid his hands beneath the straps of her dress and touched her bare skin. “There’s no way you could disappoint me.”

  “I’m not going to take that chance.” He grinned like the devil and drew her dress down, exposing her bare breasts to the cool air and his hot eyes.

  “You are even more beautiful than I ever imagined,” he murmured. “And I am even more turned on that you aren’t wearing a bra under this dress.” He glanced down. “Panties?”

  She slipped her hand down to the zipper of his jeans, pressed her palm against his massive erection, and squeezed. “Would it make you harder if I said no panties?”

  “I’m not sure harder is even possible.”

  “Let’s give it go.” She squeezed him again. “No. Panties.”

  He growled. “God, I love the way you think.”

  “Your body likes the way I think too.”

  He chuckled deep and sexy. “My body loves the way you think.”

  Not that she’d planned for tonight to go where it seemed to be headed. It wasn’t why she had no underwear on beneath her dress. But at this moment her fondness for freedom whenever possible beneath her clothes was working for her. Brooke figured she should probably feel shy about sitting there half naked. She didn’t have the most perfect body, but the way Dec looked at her made her feel perfect. And that was really all that mattered.

  Now if she could only get him to hurry up and start taking off the rest of his clothes she’d be much happier.

  Instead, he again dipped his finger into the caramel mousse. Slowly he drew a circle around her nipple. When the cold of the creamy mix touched her skin, she drew in a breath and let go of a moan. Then he dipped again and did the same for the other side. The heat of his mouth took away the chill as he circled her erect nipple with his hot, moist tongue. She squirmed and nearly slid off the counter. He caught her in time, then he pinned her wrists behind her body, which arched her back and thrust her breasts higher.

  “Mmm. Perfect.” His warm breath whispered across her skin, fanned the fire, and singed her patience.

  Each tug and pull of his mouth caused a response lower in her body. Her thighs squeezed his hips.

  “Do I get equal time?” she asked. Her fingers tingled to touch him. She was tired of imagining what his skin would taste like on her tongue. She wanted the real thing.

  “You’ll get your turn.” His fingers curled into the fabric of her dress and he pulled it off over her head in one smooth motion.

  Before she could blink, she was buck-naked on his grandfather’s kitchen counter while he stood between her thighs still partially dressed.

  “After I’ve had my fill,” he said then went back to swirling her nipple with his slick, hot tongue.

  “But . . .” Oh damn that felt good. “I want my hands on you.”

  “And I want my tongue on you. Everywhere. But especially between your gorgeous legs.” His hot, moist mouth moved down her body, teasing and torturing, until he ended up on his knees. His big hands slid over her thighs and then under them as he brought her to his mouth.

  He kissed each inner thigh, and then he moved that ma
gical mouth right where she wanted him. Heat exploded through her entire body and she had no option but to drag her fingers through his hair and hang on for dear life.

  Briefly he lifted his head and looked up at her. “You’re beautiful, Brooke. Everywhere. So soft. So sweet. So tasty.” And then he went right back to business, delivering on his promise that he would not disappoint.

  The fastest, hardest, most mind-blowing orgasm hit her at mach speed in a wave of silken heat and bubbly tingles. When she completely melted and bonked the back of her head on the cupboard, he kissed his way up her thigh, alternating between light feathery kisses and gently sucking her most sensitive spots. He continued the pleasure up her stomach to her breasts then ended up at her neck again.

  “Dec?” she said when she was able to form words.

  “Hmmm?” His fingers continued to explore her body, letting her know he was nowhere near done yet.

  “Get those damn pants off right now.”

  A low chuckle of pleasure rumbled in Dec’s chest because he’d just satisfied this woman for the first time of the night. “Maybe you’d like to give me a little help?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Brooke slid off the counter and danced her fingers down his chest on their way to his zipper. Before she pulled the tab down she caressed his erection through the denim of his 501s.

  “Fuuuuck.” His heartbeat kicked up into the red zone as he dropped his forehead to hers. “That feels so damn good. I can’t wait to have your hands on me.”

  Having her beneath his hands, against his tongue, was like some kind of magic he’d never known. Not that he’d ever been a selfish lover, but with Brooke he couldn’t seem to get enough. He wanted it all. Right now. He wanted to soak her up in his skin so he’d never have to be without her.

  “I don’t just want my hands on you,” she said. “I want my mouth and my body on you too.” She took him by the hand and pulled him into the bedroom.

  He’d never been much of a follower, but the hell if he wouldn’t follow her anywhere she wanted to go. Especially if it led him to more of whatever this was happening between them.