Treat her Right: A New Zealand Sexy Beach Romance (Treats to Tempt You Book 2)

by Serenity Woods

  “This is the kind of thing we’re looking for,” she said, breathless at being alone in the room with him. She held up the A4 sheet of photos Kole had taken earlier of her, the girls, Fox, and Stuart to show the customers, and waited eagerly for Joss’s reaction. Kole had cleverly adapted her basic idea and brought it to life, and the resulting photos were sexy, fun, and arty all at the same time.

  Tasha had refused to undress, but Kole had lit the photo with a golden light that made everything about her glimmer, from her silky brown top, to her tanned skin, to the dark hair he’d persuaded her to let down for once. Her face was encased in a glittering mask of brown and cream paper curls that looked like curls of milk and vanilla chocolate. She held one hand stretched out toward the camera, palm up with a truffle resting in the middle of it, and Kole had managed to capture the seductive twist that appeared on her lips whenever he was around.

  The others’ photos were similarly beautiful and sexy. Elle’s full lips, painted bright red, were pursed sexily as she blew on a cup of coffee, while Caitlin was laughing beneath her mask, and as well as her beautiful white teeth, she was showing the camera the pads of all five fingers covered with a circle of chocolate.

  Shy, quiet Stuart had been surprisingly happy to agree to a photo providing his face wasn’t visible, as he didn’t want his students teasing him about it at the high school. But he’d stripped off his shirt, and the eyes of all four girls had nearly fallen out of their heads at the sight of him naked from the waist up. Maisey had to admit, the guy had hidden talents. After losing his wife nearly two years ago, he’d practically become a recluse, and because he was so much quieter and more reserved than their other friends, Maisey tended to overlook him. But he was tall at six-two, and hid broad shoulders and a muscular build beneath his English-teacher-sweaters and tweed jackets. He’d posed with a dish of ice-cream, and Maisey had chuckled when Elle’s face had flushed as she’d passed him it. Not that Stuart had noticed. He’d taken the loss of his childhood sweetheart hard, and even though she’d been gone a while now, Maisey couldn’t see him dating again anytime soon.

  It had been fun watching Fox having his photo taken. Fox had told Tasha that Hell would be serving ice cream before he agreed to pose. Elle and Caitlin had turned their womanly wiles on him, however, and eventually he’d been persuaded. He sat astride a chair, shirtless, one arm resting along the back, a piece of chocolate bark in the other hand with his teeth closed around one end. A cowboy hat hid most of his face except for his mouth, and his muscular arms were enough to sell the bark by the truckload.

  She looked over Joss’s shoulder as he examined her photo. Stripping off in front of her brother had been a bit embarrassing, but he’d carefully averted his gaze until she was facing away from him and ready for the shot.

  She sat perched on the edge of the seat, her back to the camera, looking slightly to the side and at the floor to present her profile. She wore an elaborate half mask she’d bought from the two-dollar shop and painted chocolate brown, then decorated with sequins, beads and feathers. The mask covered the upper half of her face, but didn’t hide her dark hair, which tumbled down her back like curls of rich chocolate.

  She held a truffle in the fingers of her right hand and had raised this to rest against her lips, which were painted a bright gold. Kole had framed the photo to capture one bare shoulder, her profile and her hair, and the overall look was sensual and fairly sexy, she thought.

  “Do you like?” she asked.

  “You look stunning,” he said simply. “I can see what you were trying to do now. It’s a great idea—these look amazing.”

  She flushed. “Thank you.” To cover her fluster, she took the cap off the camera lens and switched it on. Years of growing up with Kole as he experimented with different forms of photography had meant she was comfortable enough with a camera to take the photos herself. “Right ho. Any ideas how you’d like to do this?”

  “No idea at all. Except, I refuse to look over my shoulder the way you did.”

  She laughed. “That would look a bit weird.”

  “I’m guessing you want the shirt off?”

  She moistened her lips. “Sure. Why not?”

  He began to unbutton his shirt. He started at the top and moved slowly down, button by button. He kept his eyes fixed on Maisey while he did so, and heat rose through her body to her cheeks.

  When he reached the bottom, he slowly parted the sides of the shirt and eased first one shoulder, then the other out before letting the shirt slip down his back, catching it in one hand like a stripper.

  “That’s not the first time you’ve done that,” she said, trying to sound cheeky rather than breathless. His tanned body had muscles in all the right places, just toned enough without looking like he stood in front of the mirror lifting weights all day. An attractive sprinkling of brown hair covered his chest, making her itch to run her fingers through it.

  Clearly amused at her wide eyes, he laughed and threw the shirt at her. It landed on her head, and the scent of hot male washed over her. Every hair on her body stood on end. She removed the shirt, knowing her face must be scarlet.

  Joss grinned at her. “Where do you want me?”

  Oh, anywhere. Everywhere.

  “Let’s start standing up,” she said, trying to give as good as she got, although her voice came out as a squeak. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll try a chair.”

  He chuckled and stood in front of the camera. Reaching down, he picked up the cowboy hat and donned it, tipping it forward to cover most of his face.

  “Great,” she said. Ooh, cowboy. Down, girl. He looked gorgeous standing there, thumbs hooked in the pockets of his jeans as if he’d walked in off the ranch, even though he probably didn’t know the first thing about cattle.

  “Now we just need the chocolate.” She had a sudden idea. “Oh! Don’t move. I have to get something.”

  She ran into the shop and picked up one of her chocolate icing pens. Then she came back into the room. His expression turned curious at the sight of the icing pen in her hand.

  “I’m going to write a message on your chest,” she said.

  “Okay…”

  “It’ll be great. You’ll be the centerpiece of the whole show.”

  “I really don’t—”

  She pressed a finger to his lips. “Wait and see.”

  He lifted his head, and his eyes met hers. She caught her breath. There was enough heat there to melt all the truffles in the cabinet.

  She lowered her gaze and brushed light fingers across his breastbone. “I’ll write here rather than across your chest. It’ll look like a tattoo.”

  “Okay.”

  She deliberately didn’t look up again. If she looked up, she was going to kiss him, and she wanted to get the photograph done first. Instead, she traced out the wording, sliding a finger across his skin. Yes, she’d just about have enough space.

  She didn’t miss his answering shiver.

  Stepping closer, she popped off the end of the icing pen and leaned in close to begin to write.

  Even though they’d had the air con on, it had been warm in the shop all evening because of the number of customers around. Joss’s body had warmed his aftershave until all that remained was a light aroma blended with the musky smell of hot guy. Maisey tried to breathe shallowly as she wrote, but even then his scent wound around her like a web, catching her and refusing to let her go.

  She leaned one hand on his shoulder to steady herself, conscious of the muscles in his neck beneath her fingers. Part of her wanted to squeeze them as if she was testing a piece of fruit. She fought against it, forcing herself to focus on the writing.

  Joss said nothing while she worked. She hadn’t yet turned off the music playing in the shop, and strains of a folksy blues song filtered through. She’d put the playlist together herself, choosing a mixture of fun and sexy disco songs and sultry slower songs to add to the sensuality of the evening. The music wove around her like his scent, until
every sense felt heightened. She was aware of the slow rise and fall of his chest; his warm breath on her cheek as she tipped her head; the way his smooth, tanned skin reminded her of tempered chocolate, heated, stirred, and cooled until smooth. Her body responded to his, tightening and moistening in readiness for him.

  Still, she kept her eyes on the lettering, working around his clavicle, across the top part of his chest and then up to his other shoulder, carefully forming the letters until she’d finished.

  When she’d done, Joss looked down, read the phrase, and laughed. “I’ve never been called that before.”

  She smiled and stepped back. The words “Treats to Tempt You” curved around his neck like a Gothic tattoo—it was perfect.

  And incredibly apt.

  “Hold out your hand,” she said.

  He did so, palm up, and she placed three truffles on it, one rolled in coconut, one in ground almonds, and one in glossy dark chocolate. Then she went behind the camera. “Okay, here we go.” He gave her a wry look and she caught it in a quick snap, then grinned at him. “Head down.”

  He tipped his head forward so the hat covered his face, looking to one side. He’d crossed his legs at the ankles and had hooked his other thumb in the pocket of his jeans, and the overall look of relaxed, sexy cowboy was, she thought, decidedly pleasing.

  She framed the photograph to capture him full length and took a couple of shots.

  “You’d better be quick,” he said. “The icing’s melting.”

  “You shouldn’t be such hot stuff,” she teased.

  He chuckled.

  “Don’t move,” she warned.

  “Don’t make me laugh then.”

  She took a couple more photos, then beckoned him over to look at the screen. “What do you think?”

  His smile of pleasure made her glow. “They’re really good, Maisey.”

  “Nobody could tell it’s you,” she said, “well, unless they knew you very well.” She grinned and took one of the forms, wrote his name, and handed him the pen. “You need to give your permission for us to use the photo.”

  He signed at the bottom. “So am I going to find myself plastered all over the internet now?”

  “There are a few porn sites that would pay quite well for these.”

  He laughed.

  She turned off the camera. Her heart rate sped up again as she turned to face him. “I see what you mean about it melting.” She reached out a finger to mop up some of the icing that had oozed down.

  He watched her suck the chocolate off her finger. His smile faded, and his eyes darkened as his pupils dilated.

  She dropped her hand, and pressed her lips together for a moment. She could feel the sexual energy pouring off him, barely contained by his strong self-control, but he didn’t kiss her.

  “Do you still think this is a bad idea?” she whispered.

  He studied her for a moment. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

  “My body says no,” he said eventually. “My brain says yes.”

  “You think too much.”

  “You could be right.” He smiled, a little ruefully.

  Maisey wanted him so bad by this point she was tempted to close the break room door and lock him in until he agreed to have sex with her. Worried that might scare him off for good, she reached out and took another finger-full of the icing from his chest and licked it. “Nobody need ever know, Joss. What I offered before—that’s all I’m suggesting. No ties, no commitment.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Just a quick fuck?”

  Her heart raced. “Yes.” She moved closer. “Just a quick fuck. Doesn’t that sound appealing?”

  His chest rose and fell quickly. “Yes.”

  Relief swept over her. She placed a hand on his chest, to the side of the writing. Then she leaned forward and slowly licked the chocolate letter T from his skin.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Joss hadn’t achieved an erection that quickly in years. As Maisey’s tongue passed across his skin, lapping up the chocolate, he hardened in response, his pulse pounding, every drop of blood in his body seemingly racing to his groin.

  He let out a long breath that blew across her skin, and she lifted her head, eyes dancing as she swallowed the chocolate.

  “You tempted me too far,” she teased.

  For a moment, Joss couldn’t think of anything to say. It was almost as if his rational self had faded away leaving him with only sensation—the sight, sound, and smell of this beautiful woman who had offered herself to him so generously.

  He wanted her, so badly he felt as if his blood was boiling. But at the back of his mind the knowledge remained that this was the girl he’d known for a good portion of his life, and he felt conscious she was a few years younger. If she were a stranger who’d made it clear she was only interested in sex, he would have ripped her clothes off by now and plastered his lips to hers. But how much experience did Maisey have in the bedroom? She may not be offering commitment, but that didn’t mean she was ready for a hundred percent of his attention. Raw caveman sex wasn’t every woman’s cup of tea. Was she expecting him to take her home, undress her slowly, kiss her all over, be gentle and considerate? Not that he was usually rough, but there was a difference between fucking and making love.

  Still, she had offered him a quick fuck… And the way she’d licked his chest—surely he couldn’t be blamed if he misinterpreted that?

  As he continued to stare at her, though, Maisey’s eyes took on a wary look as if he was a hunter approaching his prey in the forest. She sucked in her bottom lip and took a step back. Was she scared? She put her hands behind her back, and the movement pushed her breasts toward him. No, she wasn’t scared. But she didn’t know what to expect. His lips curved. He liked her like this. Unsure and hesitant. Her smart mouth cowed by the passion in his eyes.

  He moved toward her, and her eyes widened a little more. She swallowed nervously.

  “What’s the matter, Maisey?” He kept his voice low and seductive. “Changed your mind?”

  She gave a little shake of her head, her breasts rising and falling rapidly.

  He closed the distance between them. “There’s still a lot of chocolate on my chest.”

  Her gaze dropped to it, and she licked her lips.

  “Perhaps you can help me out,” he suggested. He put his hands on her hips. She felt soft beneath his fingers, which slipped easily over the brown silk.

  Taking a breath, she dipped her head. Her pink tongue came out and, very slowly, she licked off the next letter.

  Joss inhaled, hardening even more, if that were possible, his fingers tightening, digging into her hips. Maisey flicked a gaze up at him, then moved onto the next letter, removing it from his chest with slow, sensual licks.

  She worked gradually around his collarbone, murmuring with pleasure, although whether she was enjoying the chocolate or his skin, he wasn’t sure. But by the time she’d reached the end, all of his reservations had vanished, and only raw, hot desire remained.

  She lifted her head and ran her tongue around her lips to remove the remainder of the chocolate, and that proved to be his undoing. Forgetting his promise to himself to be slow and gentle, he pushed her back against the table and crushed his lips to hers.

  Maisey moaned deeply, and her arms rose around his neck, one hand sliding into his hair. Joss pressed himself against her, driven nearly insane by the softness of her body beneath the silky dress.

  Luckily, she didn’t seem keen to take things slow either. Her fingers tightened in his hair, and her other hand skated across his shoulders and upper arms, exploring his muscles, stroking and squeezing until he thought he might explode.

  His own hands were busy doing some exploring too. He slid them up her waist and around her back so he could bring her closer to him, crushing her breasts against his chest. He then moved them down her back and onto her butt, skating over the dress to test whether she truly was going commando.

  He couldn’t feel
any VPL, and he lifted his head as he began to scrunch up the material of her dress in one hand, lifting the hem until his hand touched the skin of her outer thigh. Maisey said nothing, her eyes and sexy smile urging him on, and so he rested his palm on her thigh and slowly slid it up to her hip, and around to her bare bottom.

  “Fucking hell,” he said. “You weren’t kidding.”

  “I always tell the truth,” she said huskily. She moved her hips so the seam of his jeans, stretched by his eager erection, pressed into her soft mound. “Mmm.”

  “You feel amazing in this dress.” He captured her lips with his own for a moment before raising his head again. “As soon as I walked in and saw you tonight, I knew how this evening was going to end.”

  He plunged his tongue into the warm cavern of her mouth, tasting the chocolate icing and the sweet taste that was all her. The scent of vanilla arose from her skin once again to ensnare him. Their tongues played, and she nibbled his bottom lip, forcing him to emit a guttural growl.

  She pulled back to look at him. Her smile had disappeared, and her eyes were half-lidded with desire. All traces of the girl he’d known had vanished, to be replaced with a hot, sexy woman.

  “I’m beginning to think you like it rough, Dr. Heaven,” she said.

  He caught her hands and pinned them behind her back. “Is that a problem, Miss Graham?”

  She shook her head and reached up to kiss him again.

  Joss moved, but he’d forgotten about the stand only inches from his foot. He kicked it, and it rocked. Tearing his lips from hers, he turned and caught it just before it fell and smashed the camera on the floor.

  “Eek!” Maisey took it from him and moved it to one side. “Good catch.”

  He was already losing interest in the camera, distracted by her bending over to tighten one of the joints on the stand. The brown silk draped across her bottom, dipping enticingly between her cheeks.

  As she moved away from the camera, he caught her and pushed her forward against the table. She gasped, and he moved close to her so she couldn’t escape.

  “You’re driving me mad.” He ran his hands from her hips up her waist and around her ribcage. The silk billowed over her breasts, and he brought his palms up to cup them, giving a deep groan of satisfaction at their weight.