Sweet Reunion

by CJ Warrant

  Beth also couldn’t help ogling his kissable lips. Oh, how she wished she could feel them on her skin.

  “So, why did you assume I slept with slutty Andrea?” he asked, pulling her out of her naughty thoughts.

  Beth pinched her lips for a second and said, “Hannah said she saw you leaving Andrea’s room the following morning…” Beth’s words trailed off. “Hannah lied to me, didn’t she?” There was even more contempt for her ex-friend. “I should have known—I knew she liked you too, but I never thought she would stoop this far to screw me over. First you, and then Sweet Cupids.”

  Bryce closed the gap, leaving a scant of space between them. “I looked for you that night, but Hannah told me you left with some guy. She’d tried on several occasions to kiss me too, but I pushed her away. I never really liked her. She always used you, Beth.” Bryce paused for a second and said, “So who was the guy?”

  “There was no guy, except…” Beth smiled in amusement. “She was probably talking about the taxicab driver. Hannah had called a cab for me and he drove me to the Marriott down the street.”

  “I think Hannah was jealous of you,” Bryce declared.

  “I doubt that. But you know what? Right after I left you tonight, I headed back to the shop to retrieve my cell phone, and I found the back door open.”

  “Hannah? Did you call the cops?” Bryce took her hands and led her to the couch. He sat down next to her. His touch jumpstarted her heart into a frantic race. Her head was spinning with growing need.

  “Yes and no. No cell phone,” she muttered ruefully.

  “What happened?” Bryce asked, pushing the loose strands of her hair behind her ears. She loved the slight sizzle from his touch on her lobe.

  “I scared her when I caught her rifling through my office. Then she started to give me a load of crap about why she was there, and finally, after not backing down—and by the way, you would have been proud of me—Hannah spilled about how she only went into business for a quick buck. And of course, she blamed me for not listening. So if you can, like by Tuesday, have the papers drawn up saying whatever Hannah had taken from the account and a third more will be her final payment one year from now.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to press charges?”

  “No. I just want her out of my life,” Beth said wholeheartedly.

  “Okay. I will modify the dissolution of the partnership and make sure she can’t come back for more.”

  “Thank you,” Beth whispered as her thoughts began to drift to their connected hands.

  “Well, Beth. Now that that’s settled, we’ve come to another dilemma of our own,” Bryce said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.

  She let out a ragged breath. “What’s that?” His lips were mere inches from hers.

  “How many times am I going to make love to you?”

  Chapter Seven

  Did she hear him correctly? “What?”

  He leaned in and kissed her, tasting every inch of her mouth. Oh God. His lips were soft, warm, and slightly hesitant. Beth couldn’t help but let out a yearning moan. She leaned in and deepened the kiss.

  “Bryce.” His name slipped out of her mouth like a vow.

  “Beth, I want you—I’ve always wanted you.” Bryce’s hands stroked her arms, caressing them up and down and then shifting to her back, pulling her in for a long, drugged kiss that left her dizzy and wanting.

  The gentleness of his hands on her body made her lean into him. His mouth—tongue sent delicious tremors through her to the point of near climax. She’d wanted this man for so long, and now he was here—right in front of her, kissing and touching her like it was his calling.

  “Say yes.” The words barely came out audible.

  Beth pulled back and looked up at him. She knew exactly what he wanted from her. “Yes.”

  He didn’t hesitate and claimed her mouth again with a carnal, almost desperate declaration. His tongue swept inside her mouth, ravenous and needy, so visceral.

  She was desperate for his touch. Without hesitation, their mouths still connected, they stripped out of their clothes in a frenzied rush until Beth could only feel skin. Bryce fell back onto the sofa, bringing Beth with him.

  Chest to chest, Beth savored the heat of his skin. She ran her fingers through the crisp hairs on his chest, which also tickled the tight buds of her nipples.

  Beth hungered for a taste of his skin. She trailed kisses along his throat, collarbone, and down to his chest. His nipples drew tight as she suckled them one at a time, all the while gliding her hands down to the base of his enormous shaft.

  Her fingers wrapped tight around his length and moved in a slow, even rhythm.

  Bryce hissed out with pleasure. “You’re going to kill me if I don’t get inside you now.”

  He pulled her hand away, pressed his rigid erection up against her pelvis, and rocked back and forth. “I want you to taste me.” His voice went rough and guttural, like he was in pain.

  Beth couldn’t help but grin. She made him feel this way, crazy and lustful. Satisfaction flowed through her, knowing she was the source of his pleasure.

  Feeling even more daring, she slid down his body while grazing her breasts against his hot skin, feeding off the friction of electricity between them. Bryce let out a low moan as she slid her tongue down his chest, his hard abs, laving her way to the junction of his thighs.

  When Beth got to her knees, between Bryce’s legs, she focused on the object she most desired. With a gentle grip around his erection, she dipped down and kissed the head. A milky pearl drop of fluid formed on the tip that Beth licked up and savored his salty taste.

  “Oh Beth, take all of me.”

  And Beth did just that. With each stroke of her hand, her lips tightened and sucked until his body began to tremble.

  “I love you. Oh God, Beth, I always have.”

  His declaration was like a symphony. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she was on a mission. Beth wanted to show him how much she loved him right back. As she took him deep into her mouth, Bryce jerked back and stood up while pulling her to her feet.

  Without missing a step, Bryce picked her up and carried her to the bed.

  He hovered over her until they locked eyes. “My turn,” he said with a salacious grin, and began kissing down her body until he reached her breasts, giving them equal measure. Sucking her peaked buds into his mouth as though they were his nourishment. Bryce continued his lavish attention down to the apex of her sex.

  Hot and wet, the torturous pleasure ran through her body with urgency. She clung to him as he ravaged her with his tongue, teeth, and fingers until she writhed and cried out his name in a loud rapture.

  As her climax began to settle, Bryce slid up her body and nestled himself between her legs.

  “Condom,” Beth whispered, pointing to the nightstand.

  Bryce quirked a brow, but didn’t ask why she had condom in the nightstand. He kissed her, reached over, and grabbed the closed wrapper. He sat up, ripped it open, and rolled it on.

  Bryce wasted no time. He pulled Beth’s legs up, and slipped inside of her wet heat. “Oh fuck. Beth, you feel so damn good.”

  “Don’t talk,” Beth pleaded.

  “As you wish.” At first, Bryce moved in a slow rhythm.

  “Faster.” Beth ground her hips up until he sped up the pace. Skin slapping against skin until their bodies melted into one, feverish and greedy.

  Faster and faster, Bryce moved into her until he grated out her name between his teeth.

  Beth’s core tightened with each hard thrust; she called out his name at the same time. Three deep hard thrusts, and they both came in a climatic surge. Euphoric and exhausted, all her strength vanished, leaving her a molten mess.

  Bryce collapsed on top of her with heavy breaths against her sweat-dampened skin.

  “Bryce…” She couldn’t finish.

  He slipped out, breaking contact, and fell next to her. After he pulled off the condom, and dro
pped it in the wastebasket next to the bed, Bryce pulled Beth against him and kissed her shoulder and neck.

  “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked, his right hand caressing her stomach and between her breasts.

  “Yes,” she said with a slight giggle. His fingers were doing delicious things to her skin.

  “Why are you laughing?” He popped his head up to look at her face.

  She turned around and looked at him. Truth. “Because I’m happy.”

  Bryce leaned in and kissed her with such adoration, Beth knew his words of love were real.

  She pulled back. “Bryce?”

  “Yes, Bethie?”

  She loved it when he called her that.

  “I love you, too.”

  There was no hesitation, no need to be afraid to get her heart broken. She told him how she had always loved him.

  “Always did. Always will.”

  “I love you always.” Bryce wrapped his arms around her and they clung together with utter love and passion.

  Epilogue

  Holidays, especially New Year’s Day were always about togetherness and new beginnings, especially in her family. Yet, this year, Beth had passed on her parents’ invitation for Christmas and New Years. It had always been an obligation, never a choice. This year, she’d let her brother and sister deal with their parents badgering and incessant bullying about Beth’s choices she had made.

  Apart from listening to her parents’ complain, it wasn’t a warm holiday welcome anyway. Beth realized that they were never going to be happy for her, and she accepted that. All her life she dealt with them, but not anymore. After the whole ordeal with Hannah, and now Bryce in Beth’s life, there was no way she wanted negativity from her parents in her new life anymore.

  Beth told them that she wasn’t coming, and if they couldn’t handle her decisions and be happy for her, then they wouldn’t have to worry about seeing or hearing from her again. Of course, they’d argued that their behavior was because they cared. They apologized, but were they really sorry? Beth knew, no matter how much sorry one person—or her parents said, she wouldn’t believe them until they showed her.

  Besides, she had so much work to do with Sweet Cupids.

  The flurry of craziness during the Christmas season had turned out to be wonderful. The shop profited and pulled in plenty of money to cover all her expenses. What was even better?

  Hannah signed all the proper papers Bryce drew up, with one stipulation he insisted; he would loan Beth the money to pay back Hannah, and in turn would pay him without any interest.

  Beth knew not to argue with Bryce, and agreed to the terms but with interest. He agreed, and she in turn became the sole owner of Sweet Cupids.

  Everything was going well, even her relationship with Bryce. They had spent every day together from the moment they made love. There was still a needle of worry that their relationship was moving too fast, but she just pushed the doubt aside and tried to focus on the good things they shared and the possible future they would have.

  So, with the Yuletide done, Beth relaxed on the couch, waiting for the new year. As she worked on some numbers and went over the new menu—she’d added ‘Beth’s cookies’ to the yummy list, the doorbell buzzed.

  Bryce.

  He’d called a few hours ago, saying he needed to drop something off before heading to his parents’ house for a party.

  He had invited her to attend, but she graciously declined. As much as she loved being with him, seeing his family—especially his father—didn’t bode well with her. She wasn’t sure if she could hold her tongue about how he pressured his son into marrying someone he never loved just to strengthen the family’s firm.

  With Markus, Bryce explained that his brother took off right after they called a truce. Still, she didn’t think Bryce would ever get over his brother’s betrayal. No amount of apologies would heal those wounds. Wherever Markus went, she hoped he’d fix his philandering ways.

  Beth ran to the door, opened it, and stood there in surprise. Unexpectedly, Bryce walked in with a large bag of food, namely Chang’s Chinese take out—her favorite by the way.

  “What are you doing?” Beth asked while shutting the door.

  She couldn’t keep a wide smile off her face when the salivating aroma coming out of the brown paper bag made her want to drool. Or could it be simply brought on by the way Bryce was dressed.

  He had on a pair of Lucky Brand jeans and a nicely form fitting but worn out Pink Floyd t-shirt. Oh my God. She loved the way he dressed down. She bit her lower lip to keep from groaning. A surge of need was rising, but she had to tamper it down or they’d make love and he’d be late to the party.

  “New Year’s Eve dinner for two.” Bryce lifted a bottle of Cristal champagne from out of the bag. His devilish grin hinted that he had more in store for her.

  “What about your parents’ party?” Beth asked with excitement.

  “Nope. I want to share this time with you and you only. We’ve been separated for too long, and I’m not going to let you spend another moment without me.” He leaned in and kissed her. “Now, woman, I’m hungry. Stop asking so many damn questions and let’s eat.”

  Beth let out a haughty laugh, but did as he asked. She grabbed two sets of her ladybug-embellished plates and matching highball glasses, and placed them on the rectangular coffee table.

  Eating kung pao chicken, pot stickers, and sweet and sour pork, they shared their first home meal in a beautiful and loving way. To Beth, it was the best meal she had ever eaten.

  “Since you brought dinner, I’ll make dessert.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.

  Bryce’s eyes went wide with delight. “Something chocolate?”

  “Okay.” Beth tapped her finger on her cheek and thought of something fast and easy to make. “How about a coffee cup chocolate cake?”

  “Can I watch?” Bryce asked, rubbing his hands together as he got to his feet.

  “Only if you don’t share my secret recipe.” She eyeballed him with a serious frown, but quickly grinned when he smiled like a little kid ready to lick a spoon full of batter.

  He raised two fingers and said, “Scouts honor.”

  Beth snorted. “Bryce, you are far from an honorable boy scout. Remember, I know your secrets.” She got up from the couch and headed to the kitchen.

  He smacked her on the rear and followed right behind her. “I’ll show you later just how this Boy Scout can use ropes.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and let out another giggle. The idea of Bryce tying her up sent a sizzle of need right to her core, and the idea of tying him to the bed thriller her even more. Maybe sooner than later, as she tried to remember if she had any rope in her toolbox.

  Shaking her head at the naughty thought, Beth concentrated on their dessert.

  Within a few minutes Beth had all the ingredients and two large coffee cups in front of her. Once she combined all the ingredients, she had two cups half filled with cake batter. Beth placed one cup into the microwave and set the time for a minute and a half. The second it beeped that it was done, she took the hot cup out and replaced it with the second cup with same amount of time.

  While the cups cooled, Beth whipped up some vanilla frosting and added a few drops of red and green gel food coloring. With a fork, she carefully stirred without totally mixing the colors together.

  The moment the cups cooled to the touch, Beth scooped the frosting and iced the cupcakes. She handed Bryce a spoon and said, “Happy New Year, honey.”

  “Happy New Year, Bethie.” He scooped up the warm chocolate cake with a large dollop of frosting into his mouth and moaned in delight. “I had doubts, but this is good. You should become a baker.” He chuckled and then shoved another spoon full into his mouth.

  Beth laughed. “Hmm. Maybe you’re right.” She leaned in and kissed him, then licked the bit of frosting off the corner of his mouth.

  Bryce dropped his spoon, grabbed Beth, and wrapped his arms around her. “G
ot any rope?”

  And before she could answer, he kissed her senseless.

  Oh, yeah, life is sweet.

  Microwave Cupcake Recipe

  Single serving size/follow ingredients as steps

  1 large Coffee Cup-microwavable

  1 large Egg-fork whipped

  2 Tbsp of melted Butter

  2 Tbsp of Milk

  1 tsp of Vanilla Extract

  1/4 tsp of Sugar-(for sweeter batter add ½ tsp instead)-mix well

  6 Tbsp of Self Rising Flour (Or add 1/8th tsp of baking powder to regular flour and sift)

  1 tsp of Cocoa Powder

  A pinch of Salt- mix well again

  1 Tbsp of mini chocolate chips-stir lightly

  Cook in microwave- 1 minute and 30 seconds- NO MORE!

  Let it cool for five or more minutes. Cup may be still be hot, so need to be careful around children.

  Frosting

  6 to 8 Tbsp of Powered Sugar

  Splash of Vanilla extract

  Heavy whipping cream or whole milk- 1 tsp at a time until you get a loose toothpaste consistency.

  Ice the Cupcakes.

  Enjoy!

  About CJ Warrant

  Award Winning Author CJ Warrant is a lover, a hater and sometimes a fighter for all she’s passionate about. She can’t exist without coffee, chocolate and a damn story brewing in her head. She was born an overseas Army brat, in a Korean Italian household but settled in the states at the ripe old age of five.

  With a long career in the beauty industry, a wonderful marriage to a great man and three kids nearly all grown, her view of life is as such. Life is a journey; both good and bad, light and dark, but she takes it all in and learns from every experience life has to offer. She takes those crazy moments, stirs in the dark and brings her passion for words to life.

  Visit CJ at www.cjwarrant.com

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