His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2)

by Kinsley Gibb

  “Ah—Dani. You okay?”

  “I think so.” She moved her hips a little and he groaned. “This isn’t like the last time.”

  “Hmmm. How so?”

  “I mean you’re much bigger than he was. I’m not sure I can take all of you.”

  His chuckle came out rough, like he was in pain. “Do you trust me, Dani?”

  “Yes.” She said without hesitation. She did trust him.

  “Then relax.” He bent and kissed her. Softly his mouth moved against hers until she relaxed and her body opened. He slid deeper and deeper until he was in all the way. His kisses grew harder. Joe changed the angles, the pressure. His tongue challenged hers in a duel and she gave chase. While their tongues dueled, his body demanded her surrender. The pounding rhythm he set soon had her moaning beneath him. Her hips rose to meet his, pushing against his body. She demanded his surrender as well.

  Dani didn’t recognize herself and knew in the light of day, she’d be mortified at the sounds she uttered but she couldn’t help herself. Yet with every lusty demand she made, Joe responded by slamming his body into hers.

  He tilted her hip, changing the entry angle. With each thrust, he brushed against her sensitive hood. Every movement pushed her further up the bed and made her hands find support with the underside of the wooden headboard. Dani gripped it, arching her body while his body pounded hers. At last her body clenched, her internal muscles gripped him tight and tremors rippled from where they connected and spread to her extremities. Pleasure gripped her hard and gave a lusty moan.

  “Fuck.” Joe breathed. His body continued to move in a frenzied rhythm until he too stiffened, following her over the edge. The fierce beauty of his expression enthralled her. She stroked him through his crisis until he collapsed next to her as if his lifeblood and all energy had been depleted.

  Dani wanted to tell him how wonderful it had been, how glad she was that he’d changed his mind but she lacked the energy. She managed to pat him twice on his sweaty shoulder before sleep claimed her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I have something to show you.”

  “I’ve seen it already.” After their brief nap, they had a marathon of research—backwards, forwards, her on top, reverse cowgirl, draped over the back of the sofa until they collapsed in the early hours of the morning.

  “Not that smartass.” He smacked her bottom with narrowed eyes. His attempt at anger was spoiled by the twinkling in his tiger colored eyes. “And if you ever what to see it again, you’ll show me a more respectful tone.”

  “Yes, high and mighty master.”

  “Excellent start, sweetheart.”

  He led her along the path to the garage—aka, his secret lair.

  “Woah. Shouldn’t I be blindfolded or something? What if I leak information to the masses? Gasp.”

  “Hush. You’re distracted me. Besides I’ve got other plans for the blindfold.” He wagged his eyebrows at her.

  Her girl parts sat up and clapped. “Lead on, master of the universe.”

  He chuckled then abruptly stopped without a word. With an intent look, he pushed her against the jasmine covered wall that led to his garage and framed her face with his hands. For breathless minutes he kissed her senseless. When he was done, she staggered upright and struggled to catch her breath.

  “What was that for?”

  “Because I can.” His grin was crooked and a little boyish yet so completely charming she shook her head while her heart did a flip flop inside her chest.

  “Alright then. Feel free to administer that whenever the mood strikes you.”

  “Oh, I well.” He shot her a smoldering look that curled her toes.

  She sighed. He was that good—with one look, he could make her cream in her panties. “You should come with a warning label,” she muttered as she fanned her face.

  He grinned in response but what was the point in hiding how he made her feel. He already knew. He was the experienced one in this setup. He probably knew her body better than she did.

  Joe interlaced their hands and pulled her down the path. At the alarm pad he entered a series of numbers, which she didn’t bother trying to peek at, she was too busy recovering the equilibrium he’d destroyed with his kiss and ensuing comment.

  He opened the door without preamble and switched on the light. Shelves of beach treasures lined the room along with a long workbench that faced the water view window. Assorted equipment sat on the surface, which she didn’t recognize except for a hammer, drill and a few strange looking pliers.

  “What’s all this, Joe?”

  “My secret hobby.”

  Dani moved to a wooden display and saw rings and bracelets of different designs each featuring polished glass, gemstones or other found object. She recognized moonstones, quartz, aquamarines and topaz gems.

  “I’ve always been a collector and sometimes after my morning run, I’d walk along the beach and pick up whatever caught my eye. Over the months I’ve collected all sorts of treasure—pretty glass, shells, rocks. One of the guys at the station mentioned a site on the Internet that allowed people to sell custom items. He came across it when he was looking for a ring for his girl. He couldn’t find quite what he was looking for but it got me thinking. I already had this stuff and wondered if I could make something someone would want.

  That’s how my Etsy shop, Genie’s Treasure, was born. I named it after my aunt Eugenia because she always loved pretty things. I think she would have liked it. I mean—I hope, she would have liked it.” He looked up from the hammer he’d been fiddling with and met her eyes. His expression was more somber than she’d ever witnessed and her heart melted for the little boy who’d lost his sole anchor in the world. “The first ring was made in her honor and I still carry that design. The proceeds for that one go to the hospice that helped her when I wasn’t here.” He stared unseeing out the window for a moment before he turned back. “Only Derek knows about this so let’s keep it on the down low.” He attempted to smile but the result ended up slightly crooked.

  “I think she would have loved the fact you named your shop after her.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  A beautiful hammered ring caught her eye. The topaz was a golden and reminded her of his eyes.

  “May I?”

  “Of course.”

  She slid it on and it fit beautifully. She held it her hand and admired the warm beauty.

  “It’s yours.”

  “No, I can’t take it but I’ll pay you for it.”

  “I don’t want your money, Dani. It’s yours.” He lifted her hand and rubbed her knuckles gently before kissing her hand. The gesture was courtly and sweet and made her feel guilty for not confessing her own secrets. He’d been brave to tell her his secret hobby and side business and she was flattered he’d told her. Yet she wasn’t ready to tell him about her writing.

  It was easier to bare her naked body to him than it was to bare her soul through her writing so she kept quiet and listened while he showed her his favorite pieces.

  ***

  Dani reviewed the proposal one last time before she pressed print. The front door opened just as the printer finished spitting out the last hour’s work. Dani glanced up to find Joe looking like a romance novel cover model minus the shirtless action. She hadn’t seen him since he left yesterday for his shift and her body definitely missed his.

  “Is Derek around?”

  “Well, hello to you, too.” She slapped the proposal into a file folder and stacked it with the others on the corner of her desk.

  Joe leaned over the transaction counter and smacked a kiss on her lips. “Hello, Dani.”

  She grinned. “Hi.”

  They continued to grin at each other like two village idiots until she recalled his question. “No. Derek went with the boys to an auction in Tarpon Springs.”

  He nodded. “Perfect.”

  “For?”

  Joe rounded the
desk and pulled her along with him towards the back to the workshop.

  “My lunch break.”

  “Where are we going? There’s just leftovers in the refrigerator back there. We’ll have to go out for lunch.”

  “Give me a second.” He walked around the various projects Derek had completed. Curiosity allowed her to let him drag her along until he stopped at a console table Derek kept for display. For whatever reason Derek refused to sell the thing—said something about sentimental value. “This is perfect.”

  “Are you ill?” She felt his forehead but didn’t detect an elevated temperature.

  “No.” He lifted her to sit on top of the console and stepped between her legs. “Why?”

  “Hmm—well, you’ve barged in—“

  Joe slid his hands under her skirt and up her thighs.

  Dani lost her train of thought and swallowed. “Umm…Joe?”

  He palmed her panty-covered bottom in his big hands and rubbed under the elastic. “Yes?”

  “What’s going on?” Dani found it difficult to remain still.

  “Nothing.” He cupped her bottom and pressed close. An intriguing thickness greeted her.

  “Oh. Okay.” She shifted closer and slipped her arms over his shoulder. It seemed like a logical place to put them. Besides, he had such nice, wide shoulders.

  “Dani?”

  The elevated position brought her face more near his level, allowing her to look deep into his eyes. The fire in them made her feel all cozy-like. “Yeah?” she whispered.

  “Can you shut up already?”

  Her lovely bubble burst. “That’s rude.”

  “Not as rude as you playing ten million questions when I’m trying to have my wicked way with you.”

  She sighed. “There is that.”

  “So, will you hush already?”

  “Hmmm…let me think about it.”

  “You do that. And while you’re doing that, I’ll have my lunch.” He dropped to his knees and slid her bottom to the edge. With one hard yank, he ripped her panties and exposed her. Before she could gasp, he pulled her forward to his waiting mouth.

  “Oh, Joe,” she breathed.

  For the next few minutes, speech escaped Dani—at least any speech that made sense. Instead she made the kind of noises that increased his hunger. He feasted on the bounty of Dani’s honey and wasn’t satisfied until she screamed his name and shuddered her release.

  After her last shudders faded away in the silent room, Dani lay slumped against the wall, a boneless mass of satisfaction. “Well. That was fun.” Dani licked her dry mouth and struggled to sit upright. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart.

  Joe stood and undid his jeans. He shoved them down his thighs along with his briefs. His erection rose hard and strong between them. He nudged the welcoming notch between Dani’s thighs and she let her thighs fall open.

  Joe pumped his thick cock once and she watched a drop of pearl glisten at the tip. Dani licked her lips. She wanted to taste the salty sweet essence, but the sound of his rough groan startled her. She lifted her gaze to his. Lust and hunger stared back at her.

  That she’d been the one to inflame him to such a state thrilled her. A daring part of her wanted to push him further. Still holding his gaze, she circled her hips and undulated her vulnerable softness against his rigid cock. Each glancing pass brought his cock closer to the sensitive hood that sheltered her pleasure. Together they watched as his cock brushed against her clit. She shuddered at the incredible sensation that pulsed through her.

  No longer able to wait, Joe thrust deep and Dani cried out—not in pain but because his possession felt so good and she felt so full.

  “You’re so wet.” Joe rocked his hips into hers, his movements slow and measured.

  “Please,” she moaned and pressed against him, her body silently urged his to go faster. Yet he ignored her demand as if he wanted to savor the sensuous pleasure.

  “Not this time, babe. I want it to last.” He kissed her, slid his tongue in her mouth to chase and tease. She tasted her essence in their kiss and moaned at the memory of his rapacious hunger. Joe captured her hands and imprisoned them against the wall while his body pinned hers to the console.

  He held her gaze, refusing to let her go. In the position she was in, in their proximity, she was bared emotionally—no longer capable of hiding her feelings. She closed her eyes, afraid of what he would see.

  “Open your eyes.” He demanded and stopped until she obeyed.

  Satisfied, he continued and the console hit the wall with a steady thud—slow and powerful.

  Soon the cadence increased and each stroke became more fierce as their bodies demanded more. More heat. More friction. More intensity. When Dani jerked high and hard in the circle of his body and her body clenched his rhythmically, the sheer ecstasy of her release pushed him over the edge and he surged into her one last time before he exploded, following her into oblivion.

  ***

  “Holy cow.”

  “So know you know it works.” Joe rubbed her back in slow circles.

  “Hmmm? What works?” Dani was half on top of Joe. Somehow in the aftermath of their mutual orgasms they had slid from being upright on the table to being prone on the floor.

  “Your scene…the one in the library on the console table.”

  She froze and lifted her gaze to his. “You little snoop!” She smacked his chest with an open palm.

  “Ow, woman. Is that anyway to treat the man who made you see stars?” Joe captured the offending weapon of her hands and held it captive against his chest.

  She pulled his chest hair. He evaded her and she retrenched. The pursuit and capture led to them rolling on the floor.

  “Calm down.” He glared down at her. “I’m sorry,” he said although he didn’t look very sorry.

  “How?” Her face burned. She didn’t mind complete strangers reading her writing but the thought that someone she knew had read her work mortified her.

  “It was an accident. I swear. You left a few pages of your rough draft tucked between the sofa cushions.” He raised an eyebrow and whistled. “Lucy, you got some ‘splaining to do.”

  She sputtered and tried to get up. “No. No. Just no.” At last he released her and she straightened her clothes without looking at him, her movements abrupt and efficient. “Rough draft,” she moaned. It hadn’t even been the polished edits.

  He nodded with a huge grin. “Research, my ass. You’ve been writing a romance.”

  “Don’t tell anyone.”

  “Why not? Your family will be so proud. They’ve always been proud of you.”

  “That was when I was getting my PhD. I’m not sure if they’ll still be proud of me writing a romance instead of working on my dissertation.”

  “I think you’re wrong. Since I’ve known Derek, he’s always bragged about his brainiac baby sister. You have nothing to worry about.”

  She shrugged and did her best to clean all evidence of their interlude. “All my life my family has been proud of my academic achievement. That’s what I did. They didn’t want me working. They wanted me to focus on my studies. Never mind that Dylan has worked since she was sixteen and Derek has always been an entreprenuer. Academics was my role in the family but I’m not interested in that anymore.” The panties were worthless at this point so she balled them up to dispose of later. “I want to write but I’m not sure how they’ll take it.”

  “You should give them a chance to decide instead of hiding your efforts.”

  “I’m not ready.”

  “How many books have you written?”

  “Two. They’ve done well and I’m working on my third.”

  “That’s no small achievement, Dani. You should give your family the chance to share in your success.”

  He seemed to realize she wasn’t convinced. He opened his mouth to say more but the sound of the back door opening stopped him.

&
nbsp; “What the—“

  “Derek’s back.”

  They heard Derek searching in the back room where they unloaded. “Dani. Have you seen my lucky tape measure?”

  “No,” she yelled back. To Joe she whispered, “You’d better go. We can talk later.” They hurried to the front.

  Joe looked torn. She knew he wanted to convince her to come clean to her family but she also knew the thought of facing Derek after what they’d just done wouldn’t be appealing to him either. She had her answer when he crushed her lips in one last kiss, then pulled open the door.

  She sat at her desk and rubbed her throbbing lips in the wake of his departure.

  “Who was that?” Her brother held his lucky tape measure in one hand.

  “Just a tourist looking for directions.”

  “You okay? You look kind of weird.”

  “Thank you, brother. As usual, your assessment always touches my heart. Makes me feel so good.”

  Derek grinned. “You look flushed. That’s what I’m trying to say, little pain. You’re not coming down with anything are you?”

  A bad case of the ‘Joe’, but was that even a sickness? She didn’t think her brother wanted or needed to know how much she thought about his best friend.

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

  “I’ll call Dylan and see if she can her make her special soup.” Derek left and she heard him directing the boys while they unloaded their loot.

  She shook her head. One minute he was annoying and the next he was a loving big brother. It was hard to stay mad at him for any length of time. She knew Dylan would come tonight and watch her until she finished her soup. Being the youngest was great except when she wanted them to see her as an equal. Unfortunately, in their minds, she was the snotty kid they always took care of.

  She sat in front of her laptop and opened a new file. Unseeing, she stared at the blinking cursor while her thoughts ran over today’s event. Today’s lovemaking was different than before.