His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2)

by Kinsley Gibb

  Courage.

  Every heroine in her novels had that characteristic and she’d do well to remember that.

  She thought about Tyler’s recent note she’d found tucked in front of her keyboard yesterday.

  Vulnerability is our most accurate measure of courage

  Dani let the words expand in her mind because she would need all the courage she could muster for tonight’s event.

  The last row was almost filled so she claimed one of the few seats available. The entire room was visible from her position so she settled in to wait. According to the program, Joe would be the last bachelor up for bidding. The plan was to tease the crowd first with the other bachelors, work them into a bidding frenzy and culminate with Joe as the grand finale.

  As hard as her heart was pounding, Dani wasn’t certain she’d still be alive by the time Joe made an appearance. Women of all shapes and sizes conversed in excited whispers. There were only a handful of men present and those who were, looked less than thrilled to be so.

  The lights flickered signaling the auction would soon start.

  “Here goes nothing,” she muttered.

  “What’s that, sweetheart?” A little lady in pink settled in next to her. She was a tiny little thing with the doe brown eyes.

  “Nothing.”

  Lisa Strickland stood on stage as Master of Ceremony for the night. Her dress was red, tight and as eye catching as she’d intended. Music pulsed from the speakers and the first bachelor walked onto the stage. Dani winced. The guy looked petrified. He was young, probably still in college. No doubt his mother had signed him up for the cause. The good-looking kid looked ready to bolt but then the young ladies in the audience begin whistling and cheering. From her distance, she saw a bright red blush take over his face.

  “Zachary is a junior in the pre-med program and loves tennis and the beach. His hobbies are kayaking and painting. He’s looking for a girl to enjoy the outdoors with. What do you think ladies?” Lisa called out.

  The ladies hooted and demanded for Zachary to walk up and down the stage. At first the kid was stiff but seemed to gain confidence as the screaming ensued. Soon enough he bumped along to the music, posing every now and then, and flirted with the crowd. The bidding went fast until Zachary strutted off the stage while a young lady near the front bounced excitedly in her seat.

  Following the adrenaline rush caused by young Zach, the next few bachelors were auctioned in quick succession. The men’s expressions ranged from stunned to smug at the amount that was raised. It would be a happy time for the various benefiting charities.

  “Next up is Mr. Dean Markham, ladies.”

  “Ooh. What a cutie. He’s mine.”

  Dani glanced down at her little neighbor in pink. “Good luck.”

  She was pretty sure the bald guy standing on the stage was the stud Mrs. MacKinnon had her eye on. It was confirmed when the bidding got brutal between a large group of older ladies, Mrs. MacKinnon included. She watched as her neighbor hopped up and down, trying to raise her paddle high enough to confirm her bid.

  “Can you take care of this for me, sweetie? You’re nice and tall and have long arms.” She handed Dani her auction paddle.

  “Umm…sure.”

  The bidding was up to five hundred dollars.

  “Raise the paddle, dear.”

  She obeyed and Mrs. MacKinnon glared at her. Dani shrugged. Who knew the ability to dance was such a hot commodity for the geriatric set. And so it went for several minutes until Mrs. Peterson shook her head and it was only between her pink neighbor and Mrs. MacKinnon. At three thousand dollars Mrs. MacKinnon shook her head and her neighbor squealed with triumph.

  “Thank you. Thank you.”

  Mr. Markham looked pleasantly shocked that his donation was the highest so far. He bowed in their direction and her neighbor fluttered her fingers at him.

  Dani shook her head. Young love. Such a sweet sight.

  The next bachelors were auctioned but nothing else matched the excitement of the geriatric battle for the dancing Romeo.

  At last the featured bachelor walked on stage. Excitement filled the crowd and a dull roar commenced. For a guy not wanting to participate Joe looked like a natural as he worked the crowd into a frenzy. He had all his clothes on yet they were in a crazed state. She didn’t want to imagine the blood lust had he been an exotic dancer and taken anything off. It might have been like feeding time in a pool of piranhas.

  Dani recognized some of the faces of his adoring fans from the floral and basket drop offs over the last few days. Dani had barely seen Joe this week since they’d entered their silent impasse. She’d been busy tracking a buyer for Thelma and figuring out details for tonight. A deadline for her critique partner had to be met so she’d used the silence productively. He’d either holed up in his man cave or went to work and although she wondered what he did in his secret lair, she hadn’t ventured inside for a couple of reasons. One, she hadn’t been invited and two, there was an alarm panel at the door.

  Tension remained high between them. He probably regretted asking her to be his pretend girlfriend. The whole thing had snowballed into their current situation with her wanting more and him refusing to give in to their mutual lust. Since she didn’t want him to see her in the same light as his assorted stalkers, she’d kept to herself while she planned her next stage of attack.

  Tonight was the night. She was throwing it out there—being vulnerable.

  The bidding started and it seemed like half the room was in the running. A majority of the bidders tapered off at about five thousand dollars. The chocolate lady went head to head against Lisa who’d taken a break from her MC position. Dani didn’t want to know what her husband would think of her bidding.

  Joe no longer looked happy with situation especially when it looked like crazy Lisa was going to win. They’d reached ten thousand dollars when the chocolate lady shook her head.

  Lisa looked as pleased as a smug cat that had finally caught the wily mouse at last.

  “Twenty thousand dollars.”

  The room’s inhabitants spun in their chairs to look at the crazy bidder who’d entered into the fray.

  Charlie gave her a knowing look and nodded.

  Lisa threw down her paddle and stormed out of the ballroom while her new friend embraced Dani in a soft powdery circle of excitement. “You won! You won! This is a lucky row!”

  Dani smiled back dumbly. She couldn’t believe it. From a distance she heard a variety of voices call out their congratulations but it was hazy. In a numb trance, she stumbled to the front and signed promissory notes while well wishers embraced her.

  “What the hell?”

  Dani jerked at the harsh whisper in her ear. The hot body behind her was unmistakable.

  “Hey,” she said, her voice weak. “Looked like you needed help.”

  “Jeez, woman.” He pulled her behind him and headed toward the exit. “Twenty thousand dollars,” he muttered under his breath, and turned to glare at her. “Tell me that’s not your life’s savings.”

  She shook her head and his shoulders relaxed. “Nope. I sold my car.”

  His eyes widened comically. He looked apoplectic. “Holy heck. Are you insane? You love Thelma.”

  She shrugged, not negating the fact.

  “How did you get here?”

  “Dylan dropped me off. She’s letting me use Kurt’s old car but I didn’t want to drive a clutch in this getup.”

  Joe’s head shook back and forth, making him look like a bobble head. She giggled and realized her mistake instantly when he glared at her, yanking on his bow tie. “It’s official. You’re insane. I ought to take you over my knee.”

  He slammed the exit door open and pulled her outside. The night air was cool and crisp, a perfect antidote to the hot ballroom. She fanned her face and allowed him to tug her through the parking lot. They arrived at his black jeep and he lifted her into the passenger seat without a
word. She was glad because she couldn’t imagine climbing into the seat in her heels and short dress with any possible grace.

  Joe peeled out of the parking lot and headed towards the cottage. At the first light he stopped to glare at her.

  “You know Derek is going to flip when he hears how much money you spent. Shit.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “That’s okay.” He shot her a look. “I’ll tell him I gave you the money. I’ll pay for it since you were simply trying to save me.”

  “No, you won’t. I can’t let you do that.”

  “Dani. You don’t understand. There is no possible way I’m going to let you pay twenty thousand dollars for me.”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “Ye—“

  She was cut off by the crush of his lips against hers. It had been too long since she’d felt them. She’d been fearful she’d never feel them again.

  A horn blared behind them, reminding them of where they were. Joe accelerated and the wind whipped around them as the jeep ate up the miles to his cottage.

  “You cold?” He looked over at her, concern evident in his eyes.

  “I’m fine.” Adrenaline coursed through her, creating a fire deep inside. This was it. She could feel. After a long and drawn out dance, it was finally going to happen.

  Silence reigned through the course of the ride and while Joe parked and locked his jeep. He rounded the hood and without a word, he demanded she take his hand. Together they walked to his front door.

  Dani turned to him and started to speak but he put a finger on her lips. His eyes glittered in the darkened stoop. “Silly woman. You didn’t have to save me. I could’ve taken a night out with Lisa. It wouldn’t have been worth ten thousand dollars and no where what she wanted but I would’ve survived.”

  “I know.” Her heart pounded in her chest. Vulnerability equals courage. “I just wanted you to realize how much I want the next step.” What had started as research had evolved into more.

  Joe tilted his head back as if in prayer. He exhaled a harsh breath and met her gaze. His eyes lacked his usual teasing and she held her breath. “Don’t you know…“ He started then licked his lips before continuing. “Don’t you know you never had to pay for me?” He shook his head. “I’ve always been yours.”

  “But you said—“

  “I know. And I still feel the same way.”

  “But—“

  “But nothing, Dani. You win. I can’t say no to you anymore.”

  A huge smile took over her face but he shook his head, still not smiling. “Not so fast. We’ll play it your way but Derek can’t know. He thinks I’m distracting you from the Professor and that you’re my pretend girlfriend to throw off Lisa. That’s the only reason he’s okay with us spending so much time together. He doesn’t know about your research and he never will, got it?”

  She nodded, ready to agree to anything at this point. She didn’t have the female equivalent of blue balls especially since he made her come every time but she wanted more than a one sided orgasm. She wanted him with her—inside and a part of her.

  “You’re driving me crazy. You know that, don’t you?”

  She grinned. It was only fair. He drove her fairly crazy as well. Now, they could drive each other crazy.

  “Fair warning, Dani. The first time is going to be rough. It’s been painful these past few weeks and my control isn’t going to be great.” He stroked the side of her face with the back of his fingers.

  “That’s okay.”

  “Yeah, well. I wanted you to be sure to mark it in your research so you’ll understand the desperation behind it.” He held her chin and forced her gaze to his. Golden lust greeted her. Her hands brushed against his abdomen and he stiffened.

  “Desperation?” She sent him an arch look.

  “You have to know that.” He stepped closer and Dani felt his heat wrap around her.

  “You’ve been so good at saying no, I thought it didn’t bother you.”

  “Woman.” He touched his forehead to hers and she grinned at the frustration she heard in that single word. “Do you know how many miles extra I ran? Or how many cold showers I’ve suffered through these last few weeks?”

  “You didn’t have to say no,” she reminded him.

  He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Enough. You’ve been warned.”

  She licked her lips. “Bring it.”

  Her bravado made him flash that famous grin before a pregnant silence suspended. The twinkling teasing left his eyes and hot need replaced it. He morphed into a hungry alpha male who no longer bothered to hide how much he wanted her. His gaze stripped her bare and she shivered.

  At last.

  He tilted her head back and she strained in her high heels to meet his lips but he hovered a breath above her.

  Wretched tease.

  In response, she pushed up on her toes and nipped his lower lip.

  Joe reared back. “Oh ho. So that’s how you want to play it.”

  “I’ve waited a long time.”

  “So have I, Dani. You’ll never know just how long.”

  Before she could question him further, he slammed his mouth over hers and she sank into his kiss. It wasn’t smooth or practiced. It bordered on the desperate, just like he’d warned. Their teeth bumped and she tasted a coppery hint of blood.

  “Sorry,” he muttered against her lip.

  “That’s okay.”

  Their lips met again as if magnetized. The want and need between them had stretched for so long, even a small break was too much to withstand. A door slammed shut behind them, propelling Joe to unlock the front door. He hurried Dani inside and pushed her back against the closed door to kiss her again.

  “So good,” he murmured and nipped her lower lip.

  “I know, right?” A moan escaped as he slid his lips along her neck and marked her flesh. “We should have done this a long time ago.”

  “I was an idiot,” he said into her small cleavage and tugged the top of her dress down until a breast popped out.

  “I agree.”

  “Hey.” He nipped the plump underside of her breast.

  “But a sexy idiot,” she clarified and he captured her coral tipped nipple into his mouth.

  “Better.” He opened wide and consumed as much of her swollen flesh as he could while his hand lifted and molded her breast in his big hands. He twirled his tongue around the turgid nipple, alternating between sucking and nipping.

  “Oh, yes. Right there.”

  “Like this?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  He renewed the pressure. His hands became rougher with every touch. “Babe, you’re so hot.”

  “Oh Joe,” she murmured while he feasted on her. Her head rolled back and forth against the door. Who knew her nipples were so sensitive. She felt ready to go off at any moment.

  Joe frantically felt for an opening. When he couldn’t find one, he shoved her hemline up. He lifted her leg, grabbing the back of her thigh, and ground his body against the hot needy part of her. He was long and hard. She shuddered against the thick length of him as their lips devoured one another.

  At last they came up for air.

  “Wait. Wait.”

  “Oh God. Not again.” She moaned and let her head fall back against the door.

  “Not that. I just don’t want our first time to be against the door.”

  “Oh. Okay then.”

  He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his hips while he walked to his bedroom.

  “Next time then.”

  He chuckled. “Okay. Next time.”

  She rained kisses on his face until he released his hold on her, tossing her onto his bed. She landed on her back with a soft bounce but wasn’t alone for long. He crawled on all fours until his body covered hers.

  For a long time after, there weren’t many coherent words. Instead there were moans and lusty groans with the occasional, “Oh,
fuck.”

  “Yes, please,” she muttered and he grinned down at her. Dani took in his crazy hair, styled from her eagerness in finger-fondled tufts. His cheeks were brushed dark with passion. He’d never looked so sexy.

  “Are you sure, Dani.?” He panted with serious eyes.

  No longer interested in hearing the word ‘no’, she attacked him. “Take off your clothes.”

  She pulled off his loosened tie and nimbly unbuttoned his shirt. While she did that, he lifted up on his knees and shoved his dress pants down. Tight, black briefs outlined his need for her and she was up in a flash. In his awkward position, it was easy to push him onto his back. With greedy hands, she reached for him. The tip of his cock had escaped its confinement and she bent to lick his weeping slit.

  “Fuck, no, Dani. Not this time. I’m already primed.”

  She groaned. “Always with the commands, Joe.”

  He pulled back, toed off his shoes and kicked off his pants completely before he returned to face her in the middle of his bed.

  On their knees, he grinned down at her. “Just you wait, Dani girl. You’ll get yours.”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Promises. Promises—“

  Joe swallowed her words and kissed her until she was breathless. He tugged away their remaining clothes. When she moved to take off her heels, he stayed her.

  “Not those, Dani. You can leave those on.”

  She grinned at his lustful expression. Guys really were visual creatures.

  At last, he pulled her down to the bedding and rolled her so he was partly on top. He stroked her skin and the torture began again. Her breast got extended attention before he moved his way south but she was beyond ready—drenched, in fact.

  “Not this time, Joe. I want you with me this time.”

  “You sure?”

  “So sure. Come with me.”

  “I want to make sure your body is ready.”

  “Oh. It’s ready. No worries there.”

  Joe chuckled and bent to kiss her. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Fuck me?”

  Joe didn’t respond. He focused on positioning Dani the way he wanted—spreading her thighs wide with her leg over his forearm. With one hand, he angled his pulsing cock to her opening. Her slippery warmth welcomed him. “You’re so wet.” He closed his eyes and slid in an inch. He paused for a moment while her body adjusted. When her body opened up further, he slid in another inch and sweat dripped from his forehead.