His fingers found her channel, swirled around her entrance, then plunged deep. Gasping, she dug her heels into the mattress.
Lifting her arms above her head, she gripped the sheets and surrendered.
His fingers pumped in and out of her while his tongue circled her clit over and over again. Pressure built, and her breaths rushed from her lungs as he worked her toward the edge.
“You taste like honey.” He thrust high into her as his other hand rubbed her clit. “I’ll never tire of your taste. Never forget it.”
His touch left her, only to grab her ass and lift her higher. He indulged on her from anus to clit over and over again, slurping her juices and pulling her closer to his mouth.
Lowering her back to the mattress, he flicked her nub, delicate and lazy.
Candy lifted her head and gazed at him between her legs. His eyes shone with hunger and pleasure.
Reaching out, she beckoned him with her fingers, anxious to feel him on top of her. He pulled a foil packet from his pants, then shed his clothes in a hurry, tossing them left and right. After rolling the protection over his hardness, he covered her with his warmth.
Wrapping her arms around him, she held him close as his lips met hers. She slipped her tongue inside his mouth, then licked his lips. Moaning at her own sweet taste, she lifted her legs and crossed them behind his back, hauling him tighter against her.
He lifted his head, licked his lips, and grinned. “Fuck, I can still taste your sweetness.” Lowering his head again, he rubbed his lips against hers. “You taste so good.”
“Eric,” she breathed out, her heels digging into his ass.
His cock dragged against her clit. White light exploded behind her eyes. She inhaled sharply. What this man did to her shouldn’t be allowed. She lost all rationale and sense of herself.
Her gasps filled the room as the friction against her clit heightened and pushed the need to come higher and hotter. Rolling her hips, she met him move for move, matched him moan for moan as they continued to play.
Steadying himself on his elbows, he stared down at her, their gazes locked as need and desperation built. “Shit,” Eric moaned, and she felt his body shudder against her. “I have to get inside you. I’m ready to come and I haven’t had that hot cunt around me yet. You make my head spin, woman.”
He guided his cock to her entrance. Plunging down in one move, he filled her completely.
“Oh, yes,” she gasped, shivering in pleasure, thrilled to have him inside her.
He pulled back, then thrust deep, stretching her and setting her on fire. Over and over, in and out, his body moved against hers. His chest hair dragged against her nipples, and she wrapped her arms around his back, bringing him in closer, enjoying the decadent sensation against her tits.
“Christ, you feel so good. So tight and wet, my dick slides into you just perfect.” He groaned as she lifted her hips. “Fuck, yes.”
Standing, he grabbed her hips and thrust. Groans filled the room. Loving him at this angle, Candy let him lead. His head thrown back on his shoulders, he pushed into her relentlessly, his hips hurling toward her as he fucked her.
Fisting the sheets, she held on and prayed the intoxicating bliss never had to end. But she wanted his hot come shooting inside her at the same time and was eager to let go herself. Such a double-edged sword—the thrill of sex and never wanting it to end—while the need and urgency rushed toward her.
“Oh, God, Eric, please,” she wailed, forgetting where she was and why she should be quiet.
“Yes, baby.” His hands latched on to the back of her thighs and pushed her legs back. Knees nearly touching her face, she gasped as his dick hit her high and right against her G-spot.
“Oh hurry, please, hurry.”
Faster and harder, Eric’s balls slapped her ass with every plunge he took. Euphoria spread along her body, driving her, goading her toward the edge of the cliff. His thumb found her clit and stars exploded.
Wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. She heard his own curse at a distance as every nerve went numb and a rush of bliss made her spin. Lost somewhere in the unknown, her mind blanked and it was as if she were staring down at herself. Her body didn’t feel like her own. Her heart raced as if trying to escape her chest.
“Son of a bitch.”
Eric’s groan and the pressure of his body lying back over hers brought her back to the moment.
Holy hell. Complete and utter suspension on some exhilarating plane, she was a puddle of nothing in his arms. Licking her lips, she tried to swallow around her dry throat and coughed.
Eric shifted back and gazed down at her. “You okay, babe?”
She nodded, but pushed at his shoulders. Panic filled her. She was out of her depth. Her lungs burned as she tried to draw in air.
“Oh shit. Let me grab you some water.” He took off toward the guest bathroom and returned with a full glass.
Clasping it, Candy drank greedily. The cold liquid felt glorious.
Eric rubbed her back. “Better?”
She gulped down the water, savored the last drop, then pushed the glass toward him. “More, please.”
He chuckled, then did her bidding. “I didn’t know I’d have such an effect on you,” he called from the bathroom.
Hell, she didn’t either, and she wasn’t sure how to handle it. She’d surrendered to the inevitable and flung all reasons of caution away. She couldn’t regret anything now. No matter how breathless she was or the journey she’d been on.
He made his way back to her, and she accepted the glass again. “I guess the warmth of summer and being tired just caught up with me.” She emptied the glass in two long swallows.
“Well, then, you need to sleep. And I have to admit, I’m feeling dead on my feet. Shove over.”
He pulled the covers back on the bed and waved her over. Oh hell no. There was no way he was spending the night with her. That was going too far to keep a tight rein on herself. No use getting comfortable with things that were never meant to be.
“No. You’re not sleeping here. Not with your brother and sister down the hall.”
Eric’s jaw dropped. He floundered before spurting out, “You were the one who wasn’t all that quiet a few minutes ago. I couldn’t care less if they know we’re in here together.”
“Yeah, well, I care. I don’t want either of them to know.” Her gaze met his, pleading and hoping he’d respect her wishes. “I’d rather they didn’t right now. Please, Eric.”
He held her gaze for what seemed forever, then nodded. “Get in.” Holding the sheet aloft, he waited while she pulled the nightgown back over her head and got comfortable. Leaning down, his mouth met hers. He ravished her, sweeping his tongue inside as if staking his claim. Pulling back, he tucked the sheet around her hips before stepping into his jeans.
He strode to the door, then glanced back at her. “We’ll talk more about this tomorrow. I’m not ashamed of anything we’ve done. And I don’t need to keep anything a secret.”
The door closed behind him, and the darkness enveloped Candy like a blanket. Missing him already, and the need to call him back heavy on her tongue, tears filled her eyes.
Shit. There was no reason to be this weepy.
She’d be so busy over the next few days there wouldn’t be any time to talk. And she’d make sure to avoid him as much as possible.
No matter how much her heart screamed at her not to.
Chapter Ten
Candy finished dressing and checked her makeup in the mirror.
Comfort was high priority tonight. She’d be all over the auction, mingling, checking on the catering and making sure everyone was having a great time, so low pumps on her feet would be the key to finish off her outfit and for comfort. The red flirty top she chose made her smile with its two frill lines across her chest and off one shoulder.
The weather was too warm to bother with a jacket or shrug, but she wanted to look professional and tidy for this evening. The knee-length black
skirt hugged her curves in all the right places, though without being too sexy for such a business event. Leaning over the vanity in the town hall bathroom to get closer to the mirror, she touched up her eyeliner.
The week had flown by. She and Melissa had worked their tails off confirming and reconfirming with all the businesses and families donating. The local advertising company had also been kind enough to run ads in the newspaper and put some ads around town. If they didn’t raise a high six-figure amount, she’d be surprised.
She fluffed her hair with her fingers, loving the short cut she’d gotten yesterday. The back of her neck was bare, which allowed the sometimes cool breeze to waft along her skin, and the sides framed her face well. It was too hot to sport the longer length she normally preferred. She wouldn’t miss having to put it in a ponytail or wear a few dozen pins to hold it all together.
Melissa rushed in as she threw her eyeliner pencil in the side pocket of her briefcase.
“Hey, the line has already started out there. I’m nervous. Oh wow, you’re stunning. Love that top.”
Candy smiled, enjoying the flush across Melissa’s cheeks as she washed her hands.
“I’ll let you borrow it sometime. Or take you shopping for a different color. No need to be nervous. It will be a great evening.”
“What if no one goes into the other room to make bids?”
“They will. You and your brothers will greet them as they make their way to the finger foods, and everyone will start mingling in no time.” Grabbing Melissa’s hands, she turned her, then squeezed her shoulders. “Listen, just breathe. Ready? In. Out. Deep. Now gentle.” Breathing exercises were something Candy made sure to control. Many a night before heading out on the runway she’d needed to relax and focus on the task at hand instead of the butterflies in her belly. Yoga was her preferred teacher when it came to the meditation and relaxation.
“Oh, that’s much better.” Melissa sighed. “Thank you.”
“I’ll make sure we find you a good Yoga instructor when you start modeling. It’s a rite of passage to keep your breathing even and controlled when doing shoots or runway.”
“There hasn’t been time to discuss anything with Eric, you know. And the height of everything fashion starts in a month. There’s no way I’ll be ready given the lack of time I have now.”
Candy drew the girl into her arms. “Tomorrow afternoon we’ll sit and talk it over. With both your brothers. Now.” She lifted Melissa’s chin with a finger and took a deep breath of her own. “Let’s get out there and make sure your big brother hasn’t scared anyone away. Everything will be fine.”
They exited the bathroom and came to a quick halt as they took in the room. At least a hundred people were already mingling and filling their plates with the delicious treats they’d provided them.
“Holy crap,” Melissa whispered.
“Definitely,” Candy agreed. “Now go stand by your brothers. Do your part.” Giving the woman a gentle shove, Candy moved into the room, smiling and waving at people she’d come to know over the last few days.
Diane caught her attention, waving at her from the hot food table. Candy headed in that direction. Diane instantly pulled her into a tight hug. Candy had come to love this woman, with her sweet but tough nature and her love of the McKenna-Weatherly family.
“The place looks so fab, honey. You did a great job.” Diane squeezed her hand, her face serious. “I need to talk to the family a bit later. You can do that for me, right? Get me some uninterrupted attention with them?”
“I don’t know. It’s going to be an exciting and very long night. What about tomorrow afternoon?” She did some quick math in her head. “How about two? I will be heading there about one, so that will give us time to go over everything from tonight. Then you can have them all to yourselves.”
“You’re the best. And you can sit in as well. I don’t mind.” Diane cackled as if sharing a secret.
“I’ll see how things are going. I leave the day after tomorrow. Very early in the morning.” Kelly, the jewelry vendor, caught her attention from the bidding room and she nodded. “I’ll have a few people I need to speak with, so you eat and enjoy tonight.” She embraced the older woman before taking a step back. “Thank you so much for all you’ve already done.”
Diane waved her away, but Candy noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes. Yes, the older woman loved the family very much and would do whatever extra she might have to in order to see to their happiness.
Candy’s heart thumped. How many times had she wished for a family such as this one who embraced those who were in need of help and came together as one with very few questions asked. There was something about this place that just said home.
But she was a woman constantly on the move. How could she settle in one spot for too long?
Stopping at the jeweler’s table, she glanced around the beautiful items on display. “Oh, Kelly, these are fantastic. Heavens, look at this white stone.” Candy lifted it. The long silver chain with a white pearl on the end took her breath away. There was such translucent beauty in the stone, which looked clear, but the light caught all the intricate details within it.
“You’ll have to bid on it.” Kelly grinned. “I added about three dozen more items this afternoon.” Candy opened her mouth, but Kelly held up a hand, cutting her off. “I know. I know. But I had a lot of phone calls late yesterday afternoon asking for various colors. I didn’t make any promises but I did make sure to include as many shades of everything that I could. It’s great for business all around.”
Candy nodded. “Thank you so much. And please contact me when all this is over. I would love to get you started with a website and maybe an exclusive order for any of my clients for photo shoots.” Kelly blushed. Candy touched her shoulder. “You’re talented, Kelly. I want to show that off.”
“Thank you. So much. We’ll definitely talk.”
“I’m going to circulate.” She set the necklace back on the table and gave Kelly a thumbs up. “Good luck. Not that you’ll need it. If you need me, text.”
Candy wandered the room, talking with as many people as she could and shaking hands while also checking each item and making sure there were plenty of clipboards with sheets for bids. She was a detail-oriented person—who feared the minute particulars—but thanks to Glory from the bank, who’d commandeered a few bank employees to set it up and also stand by each table to keep an eye on things, Candy didn’t have to stand guard too much.
But she was nothing if not thorough and had to take a peek just in case.
A touch on her shoulder had her turning. “Hi, Glory. I was just thinking about you.”
“Hope only good thoughts.” Laughing, Glory embraced her, then drew her to the side while people milled around them. “Everything looks fantastic. And packed.”
“I know. It’s wonderful. Thank you for all your help.”
From her vantage point, Candy could see the trio still greeting guests as they came through the door. What Eric must think now? She knew he didn’t have high hopes for tonight but he’d be proven wrong. There were already more people here tonight than she ever expected.
“It was my pleasure. I’ve known them forever. I hate that things came to this.” Glory’s attention was on the family at the door. “I hate the role I’ve played in all of it, too.”
“Hey.” Candy faced her new friend, her heart aching for her. “Listen, they don’t blame you. You have to know that. And it’s part of your job.” Candy didn’t want to state the obvious or make it sound crass, but it was the truth. “I’m sure you’ll face this kind of thing more than once in your career.”
“What I really want to do is write novels and be my own boss.” Glory slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening.
“Well, then that is what you should do, honey! Why not?”
Glory waved away her words. “I need to make a living. It’s just a pipe dream.” Her gaze moved back to Melissa and her brothers. “Don’t mean to be a downer, bu
t I’ll work on writing my first book when Melissa’s dreams come true.”
“You sound skeptical.” Candy wasn’t sure how she felt about the negativity suddenly crowding her.
“I’m sorry, I’m being unfair. I don’t doubt your abilities in your business, but the love of that family there—” Candy narrowed her eyes. The yearning and envy in the other woman’s eyes made her wonder about her words. She and Glory hadn’t become best friends and she didn’t know very much about her, but there was more going on than she could speculate at the moment.
“It will take a bulldozer to break through their bond. Even to let Melissa find her dreams.”
Candy understood what Glory was saying. And it would be the very reason Melissa would be in Europe within the month. The boys wouldn’t let her miss a great opportunity. At least deep down. They’d do whatever would make their little sister happy.
She had to believe that.
“Things will work out as they’re supposed to. But you need to follow your dreams as well. Life is too short to do otherwise.” Eric glanced in her direction while his brother greeted someone in line. Even across the room he made her weak in the knees. Those sinfully sexy eyes of his captivated her. His smile beamed, charming her.
“Looks like there’s more here for you than just signing Melissa.” Glory grinned and poked her in the arm. “You and Eric, huh?”
Breaking the connection with him, Candy shook her head. “Eric and I nothing. That’s all there is to it.” Day after tomorrow she’d be gone and she wouldn’t leave expectations in her wake.
“Keep telling yourself that. I see someone I must talk to who has some deep pockets.” Glory started across the room, only to turn back to Candy. “Remember, life is too short not to grab on to what you want.” She winked, then strode away.
Candy hated having her words thrown back at her. But in this case, Glory was wrong. Life was too short…to expect what could never be.
****
Eric wanted a tall draft of beer, a plate of whatever he could find, and place to put his feet up.
Stirring Up Dirty Page 9