His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2)

by Kinsley Gibb

  He nudged her left hand with the folds of her skirt. “Hold this.”

  She obeyed his rough command without compunction, knowing in this realm he was the expert—the master. She felt him lower his body onto her chair. The sound of him rolling the chair into position behind her was magnified in the silent office.

  Joe brushed the barest whisper of a kiss on her lower cheek before he brushed its twin with one as well. A feeling of utter depravity descended upon her as she leaned against the work surface she’d spent many hours behind. Instead of studiously completing her accounting, she stood mostly bare from the waist down while a sexy man took his time in silent admiration from behind.

  A group of tourist walked past the shop laughing and she stilled, thinking they’d notice her state. When they disappeared from view she relaxed. They’d been oblivious to her wild eyes and the delicate shivering that held her body captive. Not once did they look at her hard nipples as they poked through her thin white shirt.

  She felt terribly naughty.

  “Maybe we should go to the back.”

  “Widen your stance,” he commanded, completely ignoring her request. Instinctively she obeyed, as if her body knew in his hands, pleasure would exponentially expand. He brushed a kiss to her vulva and she shuddered. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

  “Easy there. Focus on looking perfectly normal. You wouldn’t want anyone wondering if you were okay or not. They might rush in to try to help. Imagine what their thoughts would be when they open the door.”

  Liquid heat slid down her thighs. The drawback in wearing a thong was the lack of absorption it allowed.

  “Very nice, sweetheart.”

  With his thumb he separated her bottom cheeks and pulled the thong away, exposing her most sensitive flesh to his hot breath.

  “Lean forward.”

  She bit her lip at his request, indecisive on whether or not to do as he requested or demand that they move to a more private location. After a pause, she obeyed and was rewarded by his guttural groan.

  “Fuck.”

  She arched her back even more, knowing the movement tilted her bottom into a position that was both lewd and graphic yet his reaction sent a thrill down her spine.

  Little Dani was the object of someone’s lust.

  Anticipation held her while he inspected her. The chair casters scraped the mat when he rolled closer. The chair creaked as he adjusted his position and lowered the chair height until he was satisfied. His heat singed her, reminding her of the presence of a large and very hungry alpha male behind her. He remained silent for so long, she began to wonder what he was doing.

  She gasped at the brush of his tongue against her vulva.

  “Oh God.”

  She shuddered. Somehow managing to keep her grip on the counter and her hemline. He stroked her once again, murmuring hot words that burned her ears.

  She moaned and he rewarded her with stroke after stroke until she her juices ran unchecked down her thighs. His fingers joined his talented tongue and he strummed her clit ever so gently. She wanted to turn around to touch him and he seemed to sense her intentions.

  “Don’t move.”

  “I wasn’t.” She shook her head frantically with her lie.

  “Better not.” He rubbed his chin along her thighs as if he didn’t want to miss any of her nectar. “So sweet.” He sucked a love bite on her inner thigh. “I’m going to mark you.”

  She shuddered against the counter.

  Dani wanted him to mark that empty place inside of her that ached for him. She wanted him to drive his cock inside her over and over until they both came but he wouldn’t.

  She hated his iron will.

  Isaac wasn’t the pervert. Joe was. He was content to drive her out of her ever-loving mind. What if he never gave in? What if she’d never know the feel of his body deep inside of hers?

  She groaned at the horrible thought.

  “Don’t worry, babe. I’ve got you.” He slid off the chair to his knees for better access, misunderstanding the source of her frustration. He licked, sucked and nuzzled, working his wicked tongue around her clit. He circled the nerve endings before sucking it gently. He rubbed his tongue against her while he sank a finger inside of her. With a curling motion of his fingers, Dani jerked against his mouth as a violent orgasm raced through her body.

  “Oh fuck, Joe.”

  Her body was not her own as she shuddered and gripped the counter for support.

  He seemed to understand the almost painful feeling she had with every accidental brush against her engorged clit. He murmured nonsensical things against her, as if soothing her while her body jerked in the aftermath of her orgasmic climax.

  She wasn’t sure how she remained upright and was grateful no one had glanced in the shop windows. If someone had discovered her flaying around on her desk while Joe worked his magic beneath her, the town of Sugar Bay would have fed on that for months.

  Joe stood and cradled her in his arms. He pulled the hem from her clenched fingers and pushed the fabric down her thighs. Gently he maneuvered her into the office chair where she sat with splayed legs. He kneeled between them and, using the tissue from her desk, he blotted the moisture between her legs. He took his time while she twitched in the seat and watched him with hooded eyes.

  He wiped his mouth and her gaze clung to the wet stickiness that remained on his upper cheeks.

  He met her gaze and the heat in his tiger colored eyes left her feeling ravished. Joe watched her as if he wanted to inhale her, to devour her.

  Joe licked his lips. “Delicious.”

  She shuddered. Her body was primed for another round of play but he sat back on his knees just out of her reach. The position framed the long, hard bulge between his thighs.

  On impulse she slipped off her heels and rubbed her feet against him. He stiffened and grabbed her feet. At first, she thought he planned to push her away but he didn’t. Instead he held her feet against that very hard part of him. She sat up hoping he had changed his mind. She hitched forward in her seat, preparing to scoot to the floor in front of him.

  “Don’t Dani.”

  “Why? I just want to touch you.”

  He shook his head. The movement was firm and she knew it wouldn’t end the way she wanted it to. “I won’t be able to take it.”

  “Then don’t. I’m past the age of consent, Joe.” She hated that she sounded pitiful but she was a mass of want and need. The thought of this ending without consummation made her reckless.

  He closed his eyes against her. She felt a growl coming on.

  “Why are you doing this? You’ve got to be miserable. I know you want me. I can feel how much you want me.”

  “Not you specifically. Release.”

  Her heart dropped. “I don’t believe it.”

  He shrugged.

  “I want you, Joe.”

  “You shouldn’t. I’m not good for you.”

  She ignored him and rolled her chair until she was inches away. She held his chin. “Why don’t you think you’re good for me?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does to me.”

  “If you can’t tell me, I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re not going to someone else for help, are you?”

  “No,” she said and watched him relax a little. “But even though you always make sure I come…” A blush took over her face although she wasn’t sure why. He’d seen her privates up close and personal.

  “Go on.”

  “It’s not enough. I feel empty. Incomplete.”

  His nod was slow and thoughtful. Hope filled her. Maybe he’d bend his pesky rules and give in to her. But he pulled back and stood. Dread settled in her stomach at his serious expression. “The last thing I want is to make you feel empty, Dani.”

  “Well you have.”

  He rubbed his face.

&nbs
p; “If you’d just give in to me.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “Give in to you?”

  “You know…do me. Coital kissing. The horizontal mambo. Call it what you will.”

  He chuckled at her frustration although it sounded pained.

  “I can’t. Derek is my best friend. You’re his little sister. I can’t…I just can’t.”

  “You make me crazy. I’m tired of people thinking I need to be protected or make decisions on my behalf because it’s completely unnecessary.”

  The garage door for the warehouse rumbled and they both froze.

  “Derek.”

  Why was he back already? Her brother’s timing sucked.

  “I’m sorry if I hurt you Dani, but it’s better this way. You can do better than me. I hope you have enough material for your research. Let me know…” his voice trailed off, like he wanted to say more but thought better of it. “See you at the cottage.”

  “Yeah. See you.”

  She watched as he walked out the front door. A part of her wanted to call him back and retract everything she said and that it had been a mistake, but she didn’t. She knew she wanted more than physical release from him. She wanted Joe. Just like the other crazy women in town. Except she wanted all of Joe—the funny Joe, the sweet Joe, the Joe who played hide and seek with her nieces and thought nothing of having a pretend tea party complete with mud pies and teddy bears, the sexy Joe who made her twist and moan and forget her name.

  There had to be a way.

  She wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

  Chapter Twelve

  “One more picture.”

  “Jeez, Dani. How many do you need?”

  “Be quiet and take the picture.”

  Dylan rolled her eyes but did as requested. She was old school and didn’t understand Dani’s need—no, obsession—to record every moment for posterity. Although Dylan loved taking photos of her kids, she seldom took any of herself.

  Dani didn’t have any kids but took pictures of each and every event. Maybe it was because she’d been basically motherless and had so few photo of herself as a child but she’d always felt the need to take photos. Her father had been to busy trying to survive to bother with photos and this was a huge moment in her life—her last moment with Thelma. Dani rubbed a palm over the faux wood grain dashboard with a loving touch.

  “I think you’re crazy.”

  “Of course you would.”

  “I’ll loan you the money you need. Or ask Derek.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Tell me what it’s for.”

  “I can’t do that either but thank you for the offer. Just know that it’s going for a good cause. It’s enough you’re letting me use Kurt’s old Honda.”

  Dylan shrugged. “It’s not much but it’s too small for me and the girls. I should have sold it long ago but—“

  A car rumbled into the parking lot where they’d planned to meet the interested buyer.

  “You sure about this? You can get into Thelma and take off. I’ll tell them you had a momentary lapse of judgment when you put your beloved up for sale.”

  Dani took a deep breath and shook her head. “No.”

  An older couple stepped out of a classic red Ford truck. The man had a comb over that would have made Donald Trump proud. He wore a fringed vest over a white long-sleeved oxford and a turquoise encrusted silver string tie. His black cowboy boots jiggled with every step but his wife was the real star of the show.

  “Whoa.” Dylan said next to her, as enthralled by the lady’s stunning proportions as Dani. She could have passed for Dolly Parton’s twin if Dolly had had pink hair. She wore aqua colored cowboy boots stitched with flowers and hearts and zebra patterned leggings.

  “Close your mouth.” Dylan hissed next to her as the couple drew closer.

  Somehow Dani shook off her awe and stepped forward with a smile. Thirty minutes later Thelma’s taillights rolled out of the parking lot and out of Dani’s life.

  “Man, you look pitiful,” Dylan muttered. “Come on. Let’s go deposit the check so you can do whatever secret project you’re up to. It’s almost time to pick up the girls.”

  ***

  Joe fixed his bow tie and shoved his hands into the shallow pant pockets of his monkey suit. He stood deep in the shadows behind the velvet curtain and hoped they’d forget about him but he knew he wasn’t that lucky. The Sugar Bay Bachelor Auction was set to start soon and judging from the roar of excitement coming from behind the curtain, it was going to be a success for the benefiting charities. The other poor souls who’d been dumb enough to say yes or simply hadn’t been able to say no huddled with him. No one looked exceptionally excited. Who would—except for maybe the truly sadistic.

  There seemed to be a lot of those types around town. More so than he’d thought.

  Charlie.

  The traitor, Mrs. Mac.

  Dani.

  Because of their sadistic sense of humor he hadn’t been allowed to write a check, but at least he got pleasure from knowing Linda Vitas Hospice would benefit from his humiliation.

  It was the perfect end to a perfectly shitty week as far as he was concerned. Dani had barely spoken to him. He’d been the recipient of a delicate cold shoulder that only a female could execute. He’d escaped the treatment only by working at the station or by hiding out in his garage.

  When she spoke to him at all, it was with studied politeness. The kind of politeness you’d show a stranger or someone you’d recently met. Certainly not to someone who’d brought you to ecstasy with his fingers and tongue.

  Who did that shit?

  He kicked the pile of rags on the floor beside him.

  “Women problems?”

  Joe looked at the bald gentleman to his right and nodded, a little sheepish he’d been caught acting like a five-year old.

  “They’ll do that to the best of men, son.” The man’s knowing eyes twinkled at him in the shadowed holding area.

  Joe nodded in agreement. Freaking ornery creatures, that’s what they were but he didn’t voice his opinion out loud.

  “But they sure are sweet.” The old man grinned, showing off his bright white teeth.

  Joe lost some of his bluster. He couldn’t deny the guy had a point.

  “That’s why I’m here, you know. It’s lonely up in my big house. It would be nice to have someone to share time with again—maybe dance with, cook with, snuggle with.” The last bit was said with such yearning Joe looked away. Poor guy.

  “Judging by the number of females out there, this is the place to be. I think most of the women in Sugar Bay and the surrounding communities are here.”

  The guy grinned. “That’s the plan. Although I’m not sure who would want an old fart like me with you young fellows up for bid.”

  “Trust me, I’d back out if I could and you can have the lot of them.”

  The old guy chuckled. “Enjoy it while you can, kid. One day when you lose the hair on top of your head and start growing hair in weird places, this will be a fond memory.”

  “Maybe.” Or maybe not but Joe didn’t want to spoil the old guys excitement so he kept his thoughts to himself and went back to the original source of his frustration.

  Dani.

  He was trying to do the right thing in protecting the stubborn creature. Couldn’t she recognize that instead of relegating him to being a bad guy? She deserved someone on her level because she was perfect—well, she was practically perfect.

  A grin split his face. This week he’d discovered his little brainiac had a tendency to leave the toothpaste cap off after she used it, was truly incapable of holding a tune as well as had a habit of snoring. It wasn’t a loud trucker sort of snore—more in tune with a baby bear sort of sound. He knew this because he’d walked past her room when she was supposed to be working. Initially when he’d first heard the sound, he’d thought her laptop was running hot. But when he’d peeked in to check on h
er, she was spread out on the bed in the midst of papers and open books with her mouth open and a trail of drool coming out.

  He shook his head with a chuckle.

  Man, she was cute. And hot. And sexy. And completely stubborn. Their relationship had changed through the choices and decisions they’d both made in the last few weeks and he wasn’t certain how to get it back to the way it was before his great idea. He wasn’t even sure he wanted it back to the way it was. All he knew was what they had at this moment wasn’t working. They didn’t talk or tease. Hell, every morning they went jogging in opposite directions to avoid the other.

  He hated the impasse.

  Something had to change.

  ***

  Dani smoothed her little black dress down her hips and subtly adjusted the neckline. She didn’t have much to showcase up top but did her best. Joe seemed to have a fondness for her legs and this dress emphasized them, making her legs look a mile long. The heels she’d borrowed from Anabelle helped with the illusion.

  Her sister-in-law had a shoe collection a hooker would envy. Thank goodness they had the same size feet. She only hoped she’d be as graceful walking in them as Anabelle managed to be. Two inch heels was her usual but tonight she was in the four inches category. It would certainly be her luck to attempt a graceful entrance only to fall flat on her face in front of the good folks of Sugar Bay.

  She grabbed a drink from a passing waiter and ignored the slight tremor in her hand. She didn’t think anyone else noticed because they were caught up in their own excitement. The liquid courage slid down her throat and she waited for the heat to relax her. She couldn’t believe she was about to go against the women of Sugar Bay. A part of her was scared she’d win and what Joe would think yet another part of her was worried she’d lose. Losing to some man crazy woman and losing out on a really cool car would suck. When would she ever be in a position to own a classic like Thelma again? She almost whimpered but took a deep breath instead.