LavenderLaceTrilogy_Bundle

by Lynn LaFleur

  He handed her a glass, then held up his own. “To a night of love.”

  She clicked her glass against his. “To a night of love.”

  Llyr gazed into Ashlyn’s blue eyes as they sipped their wine. Her skin looked golden in the candlelight. She was so lovely, and even more lovely in the soft lighting. His duties often kept him away from her for months at a time. He hated that. He never wanted to leave her side.

  Or her bed.

  He couldn’t get enough of her. He’d had sex with many, many women. None of them made him feel the way Ashlyn did. Gods and goddesses naturally had high sex drives. Centuries ago, he’d moved from mortal to goddess and back again, searching for the perfect lover. His wandering had stopped the first time he took Ashlyn to bed. She satisfied him completely.

  He and Ashlyn had made no promises to each other, no arrangement to sleep with no one else. He’d had other lovers since he became involved with Ashlyn and knew she had too. No more. They’d admitted their love before he left her ten days ago. To him, that meant an exclusive relationship for the rest of his life with the beautiful blonde who had stolen his heart.

  “Mmm, very good.” Ashlyn smiled. “You always pick the best wine.”

  “I’ve had a few years of practice.” He selected a piece of tender chicken. “Open up.”

  She parted her lips. He slid the chicken into her mouth. Picking up a piece of beef, he savored it slowly while she chewed her own meat. As soon as he swallowed, he fed her a cube of sharp cheddar before taking one for himself.

  “Do ye like the cheese? I picked it up in France.”

  “It’s wonderful. Everything is wonderful.” She touched his chest, sliding her fingers across his skin. “Thank you for doing this.”

  “Anythin’ for ye, lass.”

  He dipped a tiny carrot in the creamy dip and lifted it to her mouth. Eyes narrowed, she closed her lips over the vegetable and slowly drew back. Llyr’s breathing deepened. She looked like she was sucking a cock.

  His shaft quickly grew even longer and thicker. Llyr had planned the romantic picnic to celebrate coming back to her after almost two weeks apart. He wanted to do something special for Ashlyn before they made love. He looked at her breasts. Her hard nipples clearly showed through the sheer fabric. She shifted on the blankets. A whiff of her arousal drifted to his nose.

  His willpower was fading in a hurry.

  A small drop of dip lay on her bottom lip. Llyr wiped it off with his thumb. “Have ye had enough?”

  Her coquettish smile made his cock jerk. “Not nearly enough.”

  “I get the feelin’ ye aren’t talkin’ about the picnic.”

  Ashlyn shook her head. “Not at all.”

  Llyr went willingly when she pushed him to his back. She grasped the waistband of his briefs and tugged them past his hips. She paused long enough to lick his rod from tip to base. Llyr barely had time to inhale sharply before she pulled his briefs off his legs and tossed them aside.

  She attacked his cock as if she were starved for it. She licked all around the head, dragged her tongue down the length. His balls received her expert attention long enough to make his eyes cross.

  “Ah, darlin’, ye have a wicked tongue.”

  Llyr closed his eyes and absorbed the pleasure of her lips and tongue. She drew his shaft deep into her mouth, then slowly pulled back until only the head remained between her lips. Grasping the base, she repeated the action over and over, going a bit farther each time until she took all of him.

  There wasn’t a spot on his cock that she didn’t lick or caress. She spent extra time at the sensitive area beneath the head…the area that shot his blood pressure through the roof when she licked it. Pre-cum oozed from the slit. She lapped up every drop.

  Mere moments away from an orgasm, Llyr cradled her face and looked into her eyes. “’Tis time for ye to stop, darlin’.”

  She ignored his command and took his cock deep again. He could stop her, or let her do what she so obviously wanted. Tunneling his fingers into her hair, he pumped his hips and fucked her mouth.

  “Take it all, lass. Aye, that’s the way.”

  His balls drew up close to his body. Llyr arched his hips and squeezed his eyes shut when the pleasure galloped up and down his spine. His body jerked with each pulsation of his cock.

  Llyr pried his eyes open to see Ashlyn leaning over him on her hands and knees. A satisfied smile touched her lips. “I love it when you come in my mouth.”

  “I love it too, darlin’.” He ran his hands up and down her arms and over her shoulders. “I was supposed to make ye come first.”

  “It isn’t a contest, Llyr.”

  “Aye, but I like to feel ye tremble in me arms.”

  “The night is still young. I believe you said something about having your way with me many times tonight.”

  “That I did.” He slid his fingers beneath her bra straps and pulled them down her arms. Her warm breasts fell out of the cups. Palming each full globe, he kneaded them until her nipples beaded. “Perhaps we should take this to your bed.”

  She kissed him. Llyr could taste his essence on her tongue. “I think we should definitely take this to my bed.”

  Chapter Three

  Twyla saw Molly Ross at the usual corner table in Jennie’s Java. An aspiring author, Molly said she preferred the atmosphere of Jennie’s Java to the apartment she shared with her sister when she wanted to write.

  She admired Molly’s determination. Her friend had received numerous rejections from agents and editors, but she refused to give up.

  It surprised Twyla not to see Marci Bayne here. Marci usually arrived before Twyla. Perhaps Marci’s hunky boyfriend had kept her in bed this morning. If Twyla had a lover as gorgeous and sexy as Keefe Donegan, she certainly wouldn’t waste her mornings having coffee with two women.

  Taking her place in line, Twyla thought back to five weeks ago when she’d shared a table with Marci and Molly for the first time. The three women had bonded over their lattes and muffins. Discussions about jobs, body image, men and sex had quickly sealed their friendship. Twyla looked forward to their conversation every weekday morning.

  Marci and Keefe came in the coffee shop as Twyla turned toward the table with her latte and chocolate chip muffin. They didn’t see her since they only had eyes for each other. The same twinge of jealousy she’d felt with Sherry when they were shopping for lingerie hit her again. Twyla was happy for her new friend, but also longed for the same kind of happiness.

  Marci looked in her direction and smiled. She spoke to Keefe again before he stepped up to the counter, then she headed toward Twyla. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. “Hi.”

  “Good morning. Is everything okay? You’re later than usual.”

  “Oh yes, everything’s fine. Keefe and I… We got a late start this morning.”

  “Couldn’t get out of bed?”

  A lovely blush filled her cheeks. Twyla grinned. “He must be really good.”

  “He is. He’s amazing.”

  “I heard the word amazing,” Keefe said, walking up to them. “You must be talking about me.”

  “He also has an ego,” Marci said to Twyla.

  “It’s part of my charm.” He handed a cup to Marci. “Good to see you, Twyla.”

  “You too.”

  Keefe kissed Marci’s cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay.”

  Marci watched Keefe leave the coffee shop, love written all over her face. If Twyla hadn’t already known how much Marci loved her man, she would know it now.

  “Keefe isn’t working today?” Twyla asked as they made their way to Molly’s table.

  “Not at the office. He’s finishing up the painting at my house. We’re putting it on the market next week.”

  “You got everything moved to his house?”

  “Finally. I never realized I’d accumulated so much stuff until I started packing. I didn’t think my little house could hold that much.”

  T
hey stopped at Molly’s table. The young redhead didn’t lift her gaze from her laptop’s screen. Her forehead was furrowed as her fingers flew over the keys.

  Twyla looked at Marci. “I don’t think she knows we’re here.”

  “I think you’re right.” Marci leaned over and waved her hand in front of Molly’s face. “Yoohoo!”

  The young redhead jumped and jerked up her head. Her eyes appeared glazed for a moment before she smiled. “Hey.” Her smile faded and her eyebrows drew together. “How long have you been here?”

  “Long enough to see you totally absorbed in what you’re writing.” Twyla slipped into the chair opposite Molly. “Are you in the middle of another sex scene?”

  Molly grinned. “A really hot one. I’m writing about a ménage a trois.”

  “You know about those?” Marci asked, sliding onto a chair between the other two women.

  “Well, not personally. But I’ve done a lot of research.”

  “Sounds like fun research.”

  “Reading, Marci. That kind of research.”

  Twyla tore her muffin in half. “Would you like a more personal type of research?”

  Molly wiggled her mouth back and forth. “I’ve thought about it. What woman wouldn’t want two guys whose only desire is to make her come again and again?”

  “I have that with one guy,” Marci said with a wicked grin.

  “Don’t brag, Marci. It’s tacky. Not all of us have a stud in our beds.” Twyla popped a bite of muffin into her mouth and chewed. “Not that my friends and coworkers haven’t tried to find one for me. My friend Sherry keeps setting me up with blind dates who are complete duds. I have another one tomorrow night with some guy who works with her husband George.”

  Marci removed the top from her coffee. “You don’t know anything about him?”

  “Only that he works with George and she calls him Mr. Wonderful. Sherry invited him and me to her house for dinner.”

  “Maybe he’ll be different.” Molly closed her laptop and entwined her hands on top of it. “He must be nice if your friend calls him Mr. Wonderful.”

  “You haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the other four Mr. Wonderfuls Sherry has introduced to me.” Twyla uncovered her latte and took a cautious sip. “I know my friends are trying to help, but their idea of a great guy and mine are completely different.”

  “Maybe you should try meeting a guy outside Seattle.” Marci snitched a bite of Twyla’s muffin from her saucer. “Keefe and I went to a wonderful lodge in British Columbia last month. It was for business, but it turned personal the first night we were there. You should go someplace where you can be pampered. Forget about your job and men and just think of you.”

  Twyla had to admit that sounded like a wonderful idea. It had been months since she’d taken any time for herself. She didn’t have to go as far as B.C. for pampering. There was a wonderful B-and-B in the foothills above Seattle that she loved. She could get a facial, manicure, pedicure, massage, plus eat incredible food and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. “That’s a good idea. I know the perfect place to go.”

  “But in case you do meet a sexy man there,” Molly said, “you should check out all the goodies at Lavender Lace.”

  “I did. Sherry and I went there Wednesday. My Visa won’t recover for months.”

  “Really?” Eyes wide, Molly leaned forward. “What did you buy?”

  “Five beautiful, sexy bras, which I desperately needed. Panties to match all the bras, a gorgeous black nightgown, and…a red thong.”

  “Oooh, sexy.”

  “I don’t know what possessed me to buy a thong. I’ve never worn one. I’ve never even tried one on until two days ago.”

  “Did Ashlyn wait on you?” Marci asked.

  Twyla nodded.

  “She seems to know exactly what a woman should buy. I’d never considered thongs either until she suggested I try one on. I thought they’d be uncomfortable.”

  “Same here,” Twyla said.

  “As soon as I saw the heat in Keefe’s eyes the first time I wore one, I knew buying it had been the right decision. I went back and stocked up on thongs and demi-bras.” She grinned. “He’s a very happy man.”

  “And you’re a very satisfied lady,” Molly said, also grinning.

  “Oh yes.”

  “You’re also a lucky lady.” Twyla wiped her hands on a napkin. “Keefe is a great guy.”

  The humor faded from Marci’s eyes. “Maybe your friend’s Mr. Wonderful will be great too.”

  “I doubt it, but I’m not going to worry about it. You’re right, Marci. I need to think about me. I do deserve some pampering and I’m going to treat myself. Soon.”

  *

  Daniel clasped his hands behind his neck and leaned back in his chair. He’d been looking at numbers all day and they were starting to run together. He knew he should quit, but he was so close to figuring out the best route to take with the budget that he didn’t want to stop.

  He had the building to himself. If he quit and came back Monday, he wouldn’t have the privacy and quiet he had now. Constant interruptions would hinder his progress.

  Also, if he continued to work, he wouldn’t have to have dinner with the Trahans.

  It would be rude to cancel on such short notice, but he’d be lousy company tonight for anyone. He wouldn’t mind meeting Sherry’s single female friend when he was more relaxed and not so wrapped up in his job.

  His decision made, Daniel dug the piece of paper from his shirt pocket that listed George’s address and cell phone number.

  George answered after the second ring. “Hello?”

  “Hey, George, it’s Daniel. I need to cancel dinner tonight. I’ve been at the office all day and I’m wiped. I’m sorry to back out, but I’d probably fall asleep in my plate.”

  “Been there, done that. Luckily I caught myself before I actually fell in my plate.”

  Daniel chuckled. “My canceling won’t get you in trouble with Sherry, will it? I don’t want you to have to vacation with your in-laws.”

  “Nah, it’s cool. And my in-laws aren’t that bad. Well, my father-in-law isn’t that bad. We won’t talk about my motherin-law.”

  “I appreciate your understanding.”

  “No problem. We’ll do it another time.”

  “You bet.”

  Daniel hung up and turned back to his computer. His eyes burned. He hadn’t lied to George when he said he was wiped. He was tired of staring at numbers, yet he didn’t want to go home and spend the evening in front of the television. Maybe he should go to the Trahans’ house for dinner after all.

  He was too tired for that tonight. He wanted a quiet place to have a drink and a good meal. That would be perfect.

  One of the employees in his section had told him about a place in the foothills. He said it was technically a bed-and-breakfast, but had great food and a laid-back bar. No loud music, no strobe lights…just a relaxing place.

  Daniel closed his eyes while he tried to remember the name of it. It had something to do with flowers. Daisies? Lilies?

  “Wild Rose Inn. That’s it.”

  The rest of this mess could definitely wait until Monday. Daniel signed out on his computer, turned off the desk lamp and left his office.

  *

  Twyla jerked the dress over her head and tossed it on the bed. She wasn’t having any luck deciding what to wear to the Trahans’ tonight. She wore professional clothes every day to work. A T-shirt and jeans would be her normal attire when visiting Sherry and George since she usually ended up on the floor, playing a video game with their two kids. Not tonight. She thought she should look nice for dinner since Sherry had invited Mr. Wonderful.

  She did not want to meet Mr. Wonderful.

  She thought again about Marci’s suggestion to take some time for herself. Spending a weekend at her favorite place sounded perfect. Maybe she’d even luck out and meet a guy for a wild night of sex.

  Twyla snorted. She hadn’t met a guy in the last
four months she wanted to be with past the first hello. She had no reason to believe it would be any different if she went to the B-and-B.

  The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to get away. No phones, no meddling friends. She’d already choked her Visa at Lavender Lace. She might as well make it gasp and splurge for the two-hour massage and all the goodies that went along with it.

  It sounded perfect.

  Twyla decided she’d call first thing Monday and try to book a reservation for next weekend.

  Why wait? Why not go tonight?

  The little voice in the back of her mind urged her to go now. Her boss would be out of the office Monday. One simple phone call and Twyla could take the day off too. She could go tonight after dinner and have two days of pampering.

  Twyla frowned. It would be late by the time she left the Trahans’ house. She’d rather go now and get a room, then check out the bar. She’d find her own date tonight, if for nothing more than a drink and pleasant conversation. If it worked out that they clicked and she invited him to her room, that would be even better.

  First, she had to make sure she could get a room. Second, she had to call Sherry.

  Her reservation made, Twyla punched in Sherry’s cell phone number. She listened to four rings before she heard the recording in her friend’s voice, telling her to leave a message. She didn’t want to lie or hurt Sherry’s feelings, so decided on a generic excuse.

  “Hey, Sher. I can’t make it to dinner tonight. I’ll call you next week.”

  Guilt rolled through her stomach as she disconnected the call. Twyla took a deep breath and pushed away the uneasy feeling. She’d told Sherry over and over that she didn’t want any more blind dates. Her friend had refused to listen.

  Since she didn’t have to try to impress the new guy, it would be easier to pick out what to wear. Twyla took her favorite dress out of her closet, the one she’d immediately thought of when Ashlyn at Lavender Lace had mentioned a black dress. It didn’t shout “fuck me”, but came very close.