by Vivian Arend
Pepper grinned. “That’s what friends are for.”
“I think I need to hear all the details,” Suz said, “but I have to run pretty quick. Do you two want to get together with Lynn and me for girls’ night out? We were planning one pretty soon, and we’d love to have you join in.”
“I’d like that,” Pepper agreed quickly.
“Ditto.” Kendra dug in her purse and pulled out a card, handing it over to Suz. “Cell phone numbers, Facebook, the usual.”
“Fab.” The curvy blonde tucked it away, finishing the last of her drink and putting the cup back on the table. “And now I really have to run, but Pepper, have fun and remember, no glove, no love. Kendra? You let those babies grow up. Cowboys are far more exciting once they’ve had a little time in the saddle. If you know what I mean.”
She left in a flurry of golden hair, a swinging bright blue purse, and killer heels that really shouldn’t be out on the street.
Pepper locked eyes with her friend, and the two of them managed to keep a straight face for all of ten seconds before bursting out in laughter. By the time Pepper caught her breath she felt a whole lot better. “I really do like her.”
“Oh, me too. I wasn’t laughing at her or anything.” Kendra wiped her eyes. “But how does she come up with those things on the spur of the moment?”
“I don’t know, but she’s fun to be around.” And the brief respite had been desperately needed. It was with a lighter heart that Pepper laid a hand on Kendra’s arm. “You’re fun to be around, too, and I hope you know that. I’m glad we’re going to share the apartment, and I really hope you’re okay with the Jack thing.”
“Of course I am.” Kendra pushed her empty coffee cup forward. “It was a bit of a shock, but I couldn’t be happier for you. Really.”
Pepper smiled, and suddenly the butterflies were back. Strange butterflies of nervousness that she rarely had when it came to fooling around. Suz’s comment about experienced men had hit home. Pepper had never worried about holding back in sexual experimentation, but no way would she be able to match the things Jack had seen and done.
The good part? She was pretty sure he wouldn’t mind helping her take the training wheels off.
Suz
Suz settled behind the wheel of her fire-engine red convertible, sliding back the roof before she pulled out her phone. Better get this conversation out of the way before she got into traffic.
“Returning your call, doll face.”
Her best friend Lynn all but squealed with excitement. “Oh my God, do I ever have the best gossip.”
It was cruel, but these things had to be done. Suz cleared her throat then dove in.
“Jack and Pepper are going to do the nasty. Parker knows about it, and now he’s giving you the evil eye for grinning while thinking about how hot those two are together, but he’s also happy because thinking about how hot those two are together totally got your engine going, and you did the freaky-deaky all night long.”
Dead silence greeted her from the other end of the line.
Suz chuckled.
Lynn finally caught up. “Number one, you are such a shit. Number two, how the hell do you do that?”
“Ah, now, if I told you my methods, I’d have to kill you.”
“You’re amazing, that’s all I can say.”
“I know.”
Lynn laughed. “Bitch. I love you. And if you say I know again, I will serve liver and onions the next time you come over.”
That would be a fate worse than death. “Hey, I just chatted with Pepper and her bud. They’re going to join us for our next girls’ night out. You got a date that works for you yet?”
“One sec.” Rustling noises in the background. “How about next Thursday?”
“Perfect by me. I’ll email them and see if it’s good, and book us spots at the spa.” She thought of something else. “You want to chip in to help cover their costs? I think things may be a little tight for a while, with them just getting out of school.”
“Okay by me. I’ve got to run, though. Parker’s still in bed.”
She checked her watch. “Wow. You did wear him out. You go girl.”
Lynn signed off, and Suz tucked her phone away, turning to grab her seat belt right in time to see a familiar face appear beside her driver’s door.
“I’m afraid I have to write you a ticket for loitering.”
They were never going to grow up, but Suz hadn’t been lying when she’d told Pepper she’d learned to appreciate her family. “You put my name down on your little pad, Chase, and I will tell Mom about the time you opened all the Christmas presents early to see what was inside before wrapping them back up.”
Chase frowned. “Stop holding that over me. I was twelve.”
“Never. You know you’d never get another Christmas present from her again if she found out, and if anybody is a Christmas junkie, it’s you.”
It was a standing joke, and Chase accepted her teasing with a smile. “I heard you stopped in at the shop. Everything okay?”
“Peachy keen and twice as sweet.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Got a couple of friends who are moving into The Towers. I’ll introduce you to them sometime. Good kids.”
“Oh, so friends isn’t code for something more explicit.”
Suddenly Suz had an inkling of what Parker was going to feel like having people talk sex and Pepper in the same sentence. “I’ll just pretend you didn’t bring that up.”
All six foot four of annoying sibling stood back from her car, putting his sunglasses back in place. “Introduce us sometime. And take care of yourself, little sis.”
“I always do.”
She made sure she was buckled up before pulling into the traffic, because no matter how close they were, her siblings would have no problem slapping a fine on her and laughing while doing it.
Family. Couldn’t live without them, but sometimes it would be nice to try.
Chapter Seven
Jack let Pepper in later that evening, surprised to find her outside his door at seven o’clock sharp. Punctuality had never been her strong suit, so the fact that she was actually on time startled him.
Though not as much as the flicker of unease in her eyes.
“Hey.” He furrowed his brow. “You okay?”
She brushed past him and dropped her purse on the hall table. “I’m great. Kendra and I signed a lease today, which means I’ll be out of my folks’ house in less than two weeks. Halle-frickin’-lujah.”
Now he frowned, trailing after her as she headed for the living room like she owned the place. “I’m sure it hasn’t been that bad living with them again.”
She sighed, tossing her hair over one shoulder as she flopped onto the couch. She was wearing tiny denim shorts that revealed a helluva lot of firm, golden thigh, and a tank top that was so low cut he was momentarily distracted by the creamy swell of her cleavage.
“It hasn’t been happy fun time central, either,” she answered. “Dad is being his usual overprotective self, and Mom has been bugging me for weeks to consider working at DreamMakers permanently.”
Didn’t sound at all bad to Jack, but he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to antagonize Pepper right off the bat. But still, he often thought her attitude toward her very loving, very supportive family was a tad…ungrateful, maybe? Insensitive? But she was also young, and she’d never had to experience the other side of the spectrum—a family that didn’t support or protect you at all. A family in which you were totally and utterly invisible.
Pushing aside the bleak memories, Jack joined her on the sofa, sitting right next to her and slinging an arm over her shoulder. When she tensed, the frown returned, deeper than before.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded.
Pepper shifted, her teeth digging into her perfect pink bottom lip. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit. I’ve known you forever. I can tell when something’s up with you.”
Other women might have voiced another denia
l, flashed a cheerful smile, and pretended he was imagining things, but Pepper Wilson wasn’t other women. She was notorious for speaking her mind, and after only a brief moment of hesitation, she opened her mouth and did just that.
“I feel weird about this,” she said frankly.
Jack arched a brow. “This?” he echoed.
“Like you said, I’ve known you my whole life. You’ve seen me throwing temper tantrums when my parents wouldn’t let me watch an hour more of TV. I watched you go through your horrible zit-face phase. God, I was hiding under Parker’s bed the day you told him about losing your virginity to that airhead Elaine Tomilson—”
He blinked. “Wait, what?”
“—and now we’re sitting on your couch, and your arm is around me, and we’re probably going to have sex any second.” She blew out a breath. “I feel awkward and nervous and totally unprepared for any of this.”
Jack stroked her bare shoulder before bringing his hand to her face to grasp her chin. “First, our past history has nothing to do with this moment, Candy Cane. We’re adults now, light years away from the immature kids we used to be.” His thumb swept over her jaw. “Second, it’s okay to be nervous. I promise, I won’t push you to do anything you’re not ready for.” He captured her bottom lip between his fingers and pinched it in reprimand. “And third, what the hell do you mean you were hiding under Parker’s bed? How much did you hear, damn it?”
Her mouth twitched, then stretched into the sassy grin he knew and loved. “Everything. I heard everything.”
Jack couldn’t stop a groan. “You’re such a sneaky little brat. We had no idea you were listening.”
“Duh. Otherwise I’m sure you wouldn’t have told Parker about how you were worried Elaine didn’t have an orgasm because you shot off your rocket too fast.”
He stiffened. “It was my first time. I had no clue what I was doing.”
She batted her eyelashes at him. “Don’t worry, Jackjack. A lot of people don’t knock it out of the park on their first try. I mean, the boy I had sex with my first time managed to make me come, and he was a virgin, too, but I’m sure that doesn’t mean your experience was uncommon or anything.”
He all but growled, his lips crashing down on hers in a hard kiss before he pulled back to glare at her. “Who was he and where does he live now so I can kill him?”
She flashed another grin. “Brandon Hill, and I’m pretty sure he still lives in the old neighborhood.” She gasped. “Oooh, I should look him up. I wonder if he still knows how to do that incredible thing with his tongue—”
Another animalistic noise ripped from deep inside him. “Say one more word about some other man’s tongue and I’ll spank that naughty ass of yours.”
“Promises, promises.” She stuck out her tongue. “You’ve threatened to spank me before, but I’m starting to suspect you’re all talk and no action, Jackjack.”
She was goading him. He knew that. But he didn’t care. He didn’t need to be goaded into taking what he wanted—that had been his intention when he’d invited her over. Besides, seeing the defiant gleam in her eyes told him that her nerves had ebbed, which was exactly what he’d wanted.
“You want action, Pepper?” He slanted his head.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Then you have five seconds to get naked and spread your legs for me. Spread them wide, too. I want to see every inch of your pussy.”
Her breath hitched, her expression burning with heated anticipation. “And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll rip your clothes off myself. And I mean rip. They’ll be in shreds when I’m done with them.” He met her eyes, then counted in warning. “One.”
He supposed she must’ve had a deep attachment to the outfit, because her hands found the button of her shorts in lightning speed. With a smirk, Jack watched as pieces of clothing flew off in a blur and hit the laminate floor. In a heartbeat Pepper was naked, leaning back against the cushion as her legs parted seductively.
Jack slid off the couch and stood in front of her, his mouth flooding with saliva as his gaze fixed on the sweet paradise she was so brazenly offering to him. She was goddamn perfection. Utter temptation.
“Are you still feeling awkward?” he said roughly.
Very slowly, she shook her head.
“You sure? Because I want you totally relaxed before I get started.”
He saw her swallow. “I was relaxed, you jerk, until you made it sound so formal! ‘Get started’,” she grumbled. “What is this, a medical procedure? I thought we were going to get it on.”
Jack chuckled. “Not just yet.”
Pepper narrowed her eyes. “Is there another reason I’m buck-ass naked on your couch, then?”
“Of course.” He tipped his head to the side. “Would you feel more comfortable if I talk you through the procedure?”
“Sweet baby Jesus—are we seriously playing doctor right now?”
He dragged his tongue over his bottom lip and ignored the incredulous question. “It’s a two-step process, baby. Step one, I’m going to get on my knees in front of you. Step two, I’m going to lick your pussy until you can’t move, see, or breathe and the only words you’re capable of saying are Jack, Oh God, and I’m coming again.”
Her eyes glittered. “You sound very confident of that.”
“I am confident.” He stepped closer, and enjoyed the way her breath caught again. “I’m good, Pepper. I’m very, very good. So now sit back and hold on for the ride.”
“God, you are so arroga—”
He was on his knees with his mouth on her pussy before she could finish her sentence. Pepper jerked as if he’d struck her, then practically melted into the cushions as a throaty moan slipped out.
Jack circled her clit with his tongue before drawing it between his lips. The gentle sucking was for him, not her, because the fleeting contact with that sensitive bundle of nerves was all he’d be giving her right now. He’d be licking and kissing and suckling that little bud again…but not until she begged for it.
Rumbling in contentment, he licked down her slit and headed south, the tip of his tongue lapping at the moisture clinging to her delicate folds. She tasted as sweet as he’d known she would. God, he didn’t even need food anymore—the taste of her could sustain him for the rest of his life.
“Jack…” His name shuddered out of her mouth. “Stop going so damn slow.”
He lifted his head and smiled. “No.”
Then he resumed the lazy exploration, planting tiny kisses on her inner thighs before kissing his way back to her core and rubbing his lips against it. She shivered, and he smiled again. Oh yeah, this was going to be fun. She was so damn sensitive to his touch, each shiver telling him exactly what she liked, each anguished noise telling him exactly what she needed.
He didn’t give her the latter, though. No, he’d waited too long for this. He planned on dragging out every last second until he’d had his fill.
Groaning, he pushed his tongue inside her and stroked her hot channel with it. Pepper’s hips shot off the couch, frantic hands tangling in his short hair to keep him in place. He fucked her with his tongue until he couldn’t breathe anymore, coming up for air just as her hand slid down her flat belly and over the reddish heart-shaped hair on her mound so she could touch her clit.
He promptly swatted her hand away. “Keep your palms flat on either side of you, Candy Cane.”
“No,” she burst out. “I need…I…” Raw need filled her expression as her head lolled to the side.
“You’ll get what you need when I decide to give it to you,” he rasped in warning.
She glared at him. “I want to come!”
“You will.” His lips tugged up in an evil smile. “When I decide to let you.”
“I hate you so much right now.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure you do.” Then he parted her labia with his fingers and licked her hot, swollen flesh, making her cry out again.
He continued to avoid her c
lit, teasing her with languid swipes of the tongue everywhere but that hypersensitive center of nerves. His cock strained against his fly, so hard it was liable to rip a hole in his jeans.
“I can’t wait to fuck you,” he muttered as he brought a finger to her opening. He plunged it inside, groaning when her inner muscles rippled around him. He couldn’t wait to feel her squeezing his dick like that. Couldn’t fucking wait.
But not yet. Not until he showed Pepper Wilson all the wicked things his tongue and fingers were capable of.
He licked up and down her slit, stopping each time right before he reached her clit, while his finger pumped inside her, nice and slow. Sweat broke out on his forehead, his restraint downright miraculous.
“Jack,” she wailed when his tongue did another pass that neglected her clit. “Please.”
He slipped a second finger into the mix, pumping harder. “Beg for it,” he ordered, looking up to meet her eyes. “Beg and I’ll let you have it.”
Her emerald-green eyes flashed with both lust and resentment. Pepper Wilson didn’t ask for things, she took them. He knew that, knew she would never show an iota of vulnerability if she could help it, but he needed her surrender. Needed to know that she was as desperate as he was, that she wanted it as badly as he did.
“Touch my clit,” she choked out. “Touch it, lick it, suck it, just do something to it. Please, Jack. Please, please, please, please.”
A dark laugh slid out, his cock thickening even more as her pleas echoed in the air. As they unleashed something hot and primal and male inside him. He lowered his head and wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking hard as he fingered her.
“Oh God.”
He felt it the moment she came. Her swollen bud pulsed against his tongue, her pussy tightened around his fingers, and her lower body rocked into his face.
“Oh God…Jack…”
Satisfaction coursed through him as she moaned out the words he’d known she would, as she convulsed on the couch from an orgasm so powerful it nearly triggered one from him. Jack clenched his ass cheeks to ward off impending release, ordering his cock to behave. He focused on Pepper, on riding out the orgasm with her, flicking his tongue over her clit in fast, thorough strokes.