Beefcake & Cupcakes

by Fennell, Judi

  Not that she doubted it. The ridge beneath his shorts couldn’t hide that.

  She ran her palm along his length.

  “Lara.” He groaned her name and his head fell back, giving her perfect access to that strong corded throat and the pulse beating at its base.

  She kissed it. Laved it. Loved it. Then she nipped her way down, savoring every flex of his pecs, to find his nipple. It hardened at the first stroke of her tongue, which was only fair since hers were aching to have his hands and mouth on them.

  All the pent up longing and frustration of the three lonely years since she’d been with a man, been wanted by a man, rose up inside her. She fought it; if she allowed herself to think about it, it’d ruin what she could have with him.

  So she didn’t think. Instead, she felt. And oh God, did he feel good.

  She ran her hands over that hard body, not an ounce of fat anywhere. She rubbed her palm along the cut lines by his hips, then over and around to that perfect backside she remembered so well.

  “Geez, talk about rushing it.” Gage growled against the curve of her neck. “Careful, Lara.”

  She didn’t want to be careful. She’d been careful and it’d gotten her nowhere.

  She rammed her hands beneath the waistband and shoved his shorts—the guy went commando—down his legs.

  This time, she was the one who pulled back and looked. “My God, you’re beautiful.”

  “Men aren’t beautiful.”

  “Not true. You are.” She ran a finger down the center of his chest, over every ripped “pack” of the eight-pack, down to that thin line of hair below his navel that led…

  Oh yeah. He definitely wanted her.

  “Lara? You’re sure about this, right? We don’t have to do this.”

  Oh yes they did.

  She ran her finger down his treasure trail to the base of him.

  And then she ran that finger along the length, stopping at the very tip.

  It jerked and Lara looked up at him. “I want you, Gage. Make love to me.”

  After that, they needed no words. They tore back the sheets on her bed and touched and caressed, taunted and teased each other, gasping and smiling as they discovered each other’s bodies. Gage liked the spot beneath his left ear kissed; she liked the inside of her elbow. Gage’s feet were ticklish; Lara loved to lick his instep.

  Gage loved to lick any part of her.

  And she let him. Opened herself and her body up to him, to his desire, and that wickedly talented tongue of his as he discovered all her secret places, dragging her from her three-year hibernation with a vengeance.

  “You are so beautiful, Lara,” he whispered against her breast as his tongue and his teeth sent pleasure spiraling through her. “You have to know that.”

  She did now. Right this second because he made her feel that way.

  She needed this. Needed him. For however long it lasted.

  She rolled on top of him and parked her fists beneath her chin, her body thrumming as she straddled him. “I want you inside of me, Gage.”

  He jerked beneath her. “Oh baby, that’s where I want to be.”

  God, did he.

  She grabbed his shorts when he said the condoms were in the pocket, then sat above him like a conquering diminutive Amazon and rolled the condom down his cock, and Gage thought he’d never seen anyone more beautiful. She was so unbelievably sexy he couldn’t understand how she didn’t know that. How she could even think to be jealous of any other woman.

  He grabbed her hips the moment the condom was in place, put pressure for her to lean forward, then lifted her and slid into her tight, wet heat. “God, Lar, you feel so damn good.”

  “You’re right. I do.” She sank down, taking him to the hilt, her beautiful breasts swaying in front of him.

  It was more temptation than any man could be expected to endure, and he wasn’t about to try to.

  He took one tight, hard nipple in his mouth, the sound of her groan sending desire pounding through his veins, swelling his cock inside her so freaking quickly he thought it might blow the top off. He had to think of something—anything—to calm down and keep from rolling them over and pounding into her.

  Wait. Why was he fighting that idea?

  He had no idea. He flipped her onto her back, slid a hand around her leg and beneath her ass—that delectable curve that fit perfectly in his palm—and pulled her against him so she’d take him deeper.

  He smiled when she groaned. “Like that?”

  “Uh huh.” She arched into him, her head bowing back, and Gage latched on to the pulse in her neck that hammered in time with his.

  He flexed his hips, withdrawing just a little, but she sank her nails into his ass.

  “Don’t leave.”

  “Honey, I have no intention of it.” Ever.

  Ever?

  Gage stopped flexing. No no no. Ever wasn’t the issue here. It wasn’t on the table for consideration. This was for tonight. A few weeks, maybe, but it couldn’t be forever.

  She wiggled beneath him. “Gage… please…” she gasped, her lips trailing across his chest, her tongue teasing his nipple, and her hands—sweet Jesus—her hands were roaming his back, his ass, every part of him, urging him back down into her.

  He went. He couldn’t not.

  She clamped her legs around his waist. “More, Gage.”

  He wanted to give her more. So much more.

  He pulled out. Sank back in when she whimpered. Pulled back and repeated it all over. And again. And again. So many times, so hard and fast, that when the blinding rush of pleasure seized him, Gage had nothing left in him to fight it.

  So he didn’t. He rode it and took her with him, as it thundered over them, crashing down only to ebb out and build again like waves on the shore, over and over, the rise and the rush, as he poured himself into her.

  She moaned beneath him, her head tossed back, her eyes clamped shut, and she ground out his name as she clenched him, milking every shred of pleasure from his body.

  “Lara,” he mouthed against her breast, the slick sheen of perspiration sweeter than any of her cupcakes. “That’s it, baby. Come for me.”

  “I… It’s…”

  Good. He wanted her incoherent. He rocked inside her again, smiling when she gasped…

  He kissed her neck. Her cheek. Her lips. Slicked his tongue along them, wanting inside.

  She took him in, sucking him into that moist wet heat as her sheath did to his cock, and Gage felt another surge rise inside him.

  He flexed his hips. Yes. There. She felt so good clamped around him. He had to move. Again.

  “Oh, Gage.” Her breath came in a shuddering whisper, setting his already stretched-thin nerves on fire.

  He moved again.

  Her legs slammed around his ass, her ankles locked, and she arched into him then came apart all around him.

  Gage lost control, pounding into her. Rearing back against her crossed ankles, plunging into her, the driving need to claim every part of her spurring him on. He needed this, wanted her, had to have her, every bit. Every part. Every last response.

  Her cries echoed in the room, her nails scored his back and her heels—dear God, her heels were jamming down onto his ass, pushing him inside her so far he couldn’t tell where he ended and she began.

  And then it didn’t matter as he came, one long glorious, breath-and-vision-stealing moment suspended in time as she took all he had to give and then some, and Gage hurtled over the edge knowing nothing had ever been like this and never would be again.

  And that he could never go back …

  ***

  It took a while for the tremors to subside, and when he opened his eyes to find her beautiful ones right in front of him, all the hazy sensual satisfaction he was feeling mirrored in them, the tremors started again.

  “Hey,” he whispered.

  “Hey yourself.”

  “You okay?”

  “I think that might be a mild term for what I’m f
eeling, but yes, I’m okay.” Her fingers drew lazy circles on the small of his back and her smile was one of pure satisfaction.

  He slid from her body and rolled onto his side, taking her with him. “That was more than okay, you know. I’m going to go with amazing.”

  “Works for me.”

  And she worked for him. Which ought to scare him, but didn’t. Not anymore.

  Gage cupped her cheek and tilted her head back. Kissed her. Rubbed her lips with his, soft and sweet, but with the promise of so much more.

  Just how much was the question.

  He tucked her head beneath his chin and wrapped her up in his arms, sheltering them from those thoughts. Reality would come soon enough with the sun; tonight he just wanted to enjoy Lara.

  Chapter 20

  Lara floated into the bakery. Last night—and this morning—they’d been… Magical.

  He’d made love to her—no, they’d made love to each other. Then they’d woken this morning and done it again. He’d cooked breakfast while she showered since they’d agreed that taking one together would only make them late for work, something neither could afford. They’d eaten together, and then she cleaned up while he showered, all the domesticity of the scene tugging at her heart.

  Going to bed with Gage had been great; waking up with him even better—to the point that she couldn’t remember why she’d thought it wouldn’t be a good idea.

  “Either you swallowed a pound of buttercream this morning, or some other kind.”

  Lara winced. Cara had always been blunt, but that was over the top even for her.

  “Did you get any sleep?”

  Lara pulled her apron over her head. With luck it’d get stuck on her topknot and she’d never have to face her cousin’s knowing smile.

  Cara helped her tug the apron down. “You know I’m going to get it out of you eventually, so you might as well spill now.”

  “There’s nothing to spill.”

  “Uh huh. Right. You haven’t looked like that since, well, ever.”

  Lara winced. She hadn’t looked or felt like this with Jeff. Not even in the beginning. “The party was a success and I think we’ll get a few more gigs from it.”

  “No way. You’re not copping out with a business discussion. And besides, I already heard about what happened. So, was Gage as hot in bed as he apparently is on stage?”

  “Geez, Car, can you give it a rest? Do I ask you to kiss and tell?”

  “You don’t have to. I tell you everything anyway. So does this mean there was some kissing going on?”

  Lara rolled her eyes and grabbed a package of fondant. She needed to beat something.

  “Come on, Lar. I don’t get why you’re being so hush-hush about it.”

  “Because there’s really nothing to tell. Gage danced, Megan got out of control, and everyone loved the cupcakes.”

  “Well from what I heard about his dancing, I’m surprised you can walk today. That must have gotten you revved up.”

  “Talking about revved up, what’s with this sexual dynamo persona you’ve suddenly adopted?” She wanted the focus off of her.

  Unfortunately, Cara was too annoyingly smart to fall for that. She plunked her butt on the prep table. “You’re not changing the subject. Dish.”

  “He had to fill in when one of the guys got sick.”

  “And did he fill in?”

  Lara threw a chunk of fondant at her. “You’re annoying.”

  “Pot meet kettle. Get to the good stuff. Explain his truck outside of your condo this morning.”

  “Oh.” Lara sliced off another hunk of fondant with a little more force than necessary. She should have known Cara would check on her way in. “That.”

  “Yeah, that. So, what happened?”

  “Pretty much what you’re imagining.”

  “And?”

  “And what? It was awesome.” He was awesome.

  “Thank you Jesus.” Cara crossed herself. “It’s about time you got back in the saddle.”

  “He’s not a horse, Car.”

  “I hope he’s hung like one.”

  Lara didn’t even dignify that with an eye roll. But yeah, he was. Not that it was any of Cara’s concern.

  “So are you going to see him again or was this a one-and-done?”

  Lara could feel the embarrassment creeping up her cheeks. “I’m making a birthday cake for his nephew.” Over breakfast, Gage had invited her to celebrate with them tomorrow night and she’d volunteered.

  “The one whose medical bills he’s paying?”

  “Yes.”

  Cara cocked her head and twirled a curl. “Amazing-looking, can dance, takes care of his sister and her son… You know, Lar, the guy seems pretty damn perfect. Why aren’t you all over him?”

  She had been all over him, actually, but that wasn’t what Cara meant. “I’m taking my time, Cara. You should know as well as I do that it might not go beyond the window dressing.” Cara had held her more times than either of them wanted to remember when she’d cried over Jeff. The bastard.

  “Don’t judge everyone by McMonster’s standards, cuz. You’re giving him too much power.”

  No, she was taking the power. For far too long she’d given it to Jeff. Now she was responsible for herself and lessons learned were well worth remembering. No more being in anyone’s thrall. If this thing with Gage was going to go somewhere, she wanted to make the decisions with him, not just go along for the ride.

  Though it had been one hell of a ride… “Like I said, we’re taking it slow.”

  “Okay, whatever.” Cara tossed the fondant into the trash can. “I’ve got to get to the contracts. Mrs. Applebaum changed the date to a week before.”

  “Ouch, that’s going to be tight.”

  “Not if we bring in help.”

  “We can’t afford help.”

  “Actually, we can.” Cara smiled. “I told Mrs. Applebaum we had to juggle projects to accommodate her and there would be a fee for it.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I did. And she went for it. So offer Jesse the job. We’re getting our first employee. It can only get better from here.”

  Lara hoped that was true in all aspects of her life.

  ***

  Gage couldn’t keep the stupid grin off his face as he carried the finish trim up to the gazebo the next morning. Thank God he worked alone. He wouldn’t want to take the ribbing from the guys; Lara was too special for that.

  And that was a huge problem. One he was going to have to address at some point, but that point wasn’t now. He just wanted to enjoy the afterglow. It’d been too long since he’d felt this way.

  Actually, he wasn’t sure he’d ever felt this way.

  Which was also a huge problem.

  His phone rang as he set the trim on the sawhorses. “Hey Missy, what’s up?”

  “I might ask you the same thing. I was worried when you didn’t come home last night. Are you okay?”

  Okay was putting it mildly. “Sorry. Yeah, I’m fine.” He wasn’t used to having to check in with anyone and hadn’t texted her that he wouldn’t be home.

  “Was it Lara?”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose, not wanting to share this yet. “I invited her to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate Connor’s birthday.”

  She snorted. “And that took you all night?”

  He was not discussing his love life with his little sister. “Is there anything else you need, Miss? I have to get up on this roof.”

  “There are tons of things I need, Gage, but the most important one is you. Be careful, okay. On the roof and elsewhere.”

  She might be his little sister, but she was still a mom and sounded like one.

  He shoved the phone into his back pocket and measured out the first board. A few more pieces of trim and this job would be done. Then he could bill it out, and concentrate on the others, including the gazebo for McCullough.

  He was just about ready to cut it when his phone rang again. Bry
an. Geez. A night out and the entire world had to know his business.

  “Hey, Bry.”

  “When were you planning to tell me about Tanner? I would’ve thought between you and Gina that I wouldn’t be the last one to know twelve hours later.”

  Hell. He’d forgotten to make that call, too. He’d checked with the hospital on his way in this morning, though. Tanner had been admitted for appendicitis. “I handled it.”

  “Yeah, heard that, too. Real well from what I can gather. Megan Livezy has been calling here for the past hour looking for you. Says you owe her an apology.”

  “I owe her? Where’d she come up with that?”

  “Apparently you touched her inappropriately when you were trying to get her off of you.”

  “Jesus Christ.” He pinched the bridge of his nose again, this time because of a headache. “The woman was wrapped around me like a burrito and I’m the one who did inappropriate touching?”

  “Yeah, I know. I got the story from a bunch of different people. Now I’m trying to get video of it. We need to prove she was the instigator to keep her quiet. We don’t need this kind of publicity.”

  “Shit.” Nothing would bring down their business quicker than rumors spreading about what other services they offered…

  “Exactly.” Bry cleared his throat. “So, Missy called here, looking for you. Said you didn’t come home.”

  “What the hell? Does everyone have to know my business? I was off the clock. My time is my own.” He set the saw down lest he cut something he shouldn’t.

  “I’m asking as your friend, not your business partner. Was it the cupcake lady?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Yeah, it matters, Gage. You’re into her. And since I know everything that’s going on in your life—how many times have you told me your priorities—I can be concerned. I mean, don’t get me wrong, if you’re into her and having a relationship, great. But if not, I have to wonder what you’re doing because she’s in the industry. We don’t need any bad blood.”

  “There won’t be any, Bry. It’s fine. Don’t worry.”