by Danni Rose
"You don't have to lie." She frowned. "Men have never been interested in me."
"Sweetheart, a man would have to be blind not to see your beauty. You have me so wound up, I can't remember my name."
He smiled at her giggle. Amber gave him a sexy grin as she reached back and unhooked her bra. With a slow stroke of his hands, he pulled it off and let it fall to the floor. "My God, how can you not know how gorgeous you are?"
"I dated in college, but both experiences were a disaster. They wanted my help with their accounting classes and thought I would be grateful for a date."
"Some men are idiots and don't know what they're missing."
"After my last relationship, I made becoming a CPA my focus and haven't been with anyone since then."
"I can't change the past, but now you're with a man who appreciates every curve of your body. I'm grateful those men weren't smarter, or you wouldn't be here."
Amber slipped her fingers under his t-shirt and rubbed her hands in slow, sensuous caresses over his chest. His head fell back as she stroked him until he became a mass of raging desire. He grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulled it off, and sent it flying across the room.
Mason huffed in relief, and Amber laughed. "A little overheated?"
He growled. "More than you know."
She pressed her breasts to his chest and shifted back and forth over his skin. Her hardened nipples scraped over him teasing his body. He watched her through half closed eyes. When she shivered, his stomach clenched. If he didn't relieve the pressure building in his shaft, he would lose the ability to father children.
Amber was a temptress. The shy almost-accountant was so much more than she knew—sweet, sensuous, with a body that haunted his dreams. He wanted her with an urgency that dug its claws into him. Twisting his body, Mason moved to lay her on the sofa. His hands drifted over her curves until he reached for the button on her pants. When he pulled on her slacks, she lifted her hips making it easier for him to get rid of them.
At last, he could drink in the loveliness of the woman who'd starred in his dreams. He crawled between her legs. Excitement building, he kissed her breasts and teased her nipples. When she gasped for air, he slid to her stomach and circled her navel.
Mason scattered kisses as he made his way down her body. He licked at her navel and her hips until he reached her core. Lungs aching from lack of air, he inhaled her sweet, musky scent. His stomach clenched with anticipation as he bent to taste her.
Amber tried to push her legs together. "Please stop."
He sat back on his knees. "What's wrong?"
"I've never—" She waved a finger and blushed.
She was so darn cute. "Try to relax and let me love you. If you don't enjoy this, I'll stop."
He watched her tongue flick over her lips. She gave him a shy nod, and her blush went from pink to bright red.
Not wanting to give her a chance to change her mind, Mason dipped his head and slid his tongue over her mound and tasted her cream. When she shivered, he twirled his tongue around her clit. She moaned, and he sucked on her slick center.
With a broad, wet smile on his face, he looked up and said, "You're sweeter than any dessert and twice as addicting."
"Oh." She dipped her chin, and a corner of her mouth lifted. "Thank you."
Mason bit back a laugh. She might misunderstand. He'd been with women who were experts at seduction, but none had heated his blood the way Amber did. Her innocent sensuality and passionate responses to his lovemaking bewitched him.
Getting to his feet, he struggled to get rid of his clothes. He dug into the pocket of his pants before tossing them, along with his other clothes, across the room. Standing next to the sofa, his gaze swept over her. He wanted to burn this picture in his mind. She lay, waiting for him, a woman of exquisite beauty.
She held her hand out. "I want you, Mason."
Control on the verge of collapse, he ripped the condom from its silver wrapper. A moment later, he crawled onto the sofa and captured her mouth. He nipped her bottom lip and used his tongue to soothe the tender spot. When he deepened their kiss, she moaned. His tongue slid into her mouth and tangled with hers.
Then pressing his hips against hers, Mason rubbed his shaft in her juice until he was slick. Amber writhed under him. He moved with slow, smooth strokes as he slid into her pussy—in and out—until he buried his cock deep in her sheath. Using what remained of his control, Mason stopped moving. He wanted to savor the hot velvet wrapped around him.
Amber peered at him through eyes more closed than open. "Don't stop." She shifted her hips.
Mason groaned and pulled out until only the head of his cock was in her heat. Then he pushed back in.
"Yes," she whispered. When she rubbed against his pelvis, the breath rushed from his lungs.
He muttered, "So good."
On his next thrust, she lifted her hips to meet him and moaned. Now his strokes came fast and hard. Their mating became desperate as they crashed together in a furious search for fulfillment. He wanted release but refused to take his pleasure until Amber had her satisfaction. To help her over the edge, he slid a hand to her breasts. When he fondled the soft mounds, she arched her back.
Amber's hands tightened around his arms, and she dug her nails into his skin. He felt her pussy flutter. She was close. He ran his tongue in circles around her nipples, sucked on them, and scraped his teeth over the pebbles.
Her pussy clenched, and she shrieked, "Mason!"
The walls of her sheath clamped around him. His cock jerked and pulsed with his release. Pleasure surged through him. Every muscle in his body stiffened, and he threw his head back. The blood thundered in his ears as he roared his satisfaction.
Mason's heart pounded. Arms too weak to hold him up any longer, he dropped to Amber's side pushing her closer to the edge of the sofa. He sounded like a struggling steam engine as gasped for breath.
Worried, he turned to look at Amber. Her eyes were closed, but she wore a lopsided smile.
Feeling pleased that he put that smile on her face, Mason asked, "Are you all right?"
"Never better."
He shifted his body trying to get comfortable. "I need a bigger sofa."
She giggled.
Mason frowned. "Was my lovemaking that bad?"
"What? No. I'm about to—" her butt hit the floor, and she burst into laughter. "—fall."
Still shaken by the intensity of their loving, Mason rolled over and looked at her. Using the last of his strength, he got to his feet. He grasped her hand and pulled until she was standing. With an arm around her waist, he led her to his bedroom.
"Wait! My clothes—"
"Later."
Hours later, Mason lay with his arms and legs wrapped around Amber as he nibbled on her neck. His stomach rumbled, and he remembered they hadn't eaten. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving. What time is it?"
Not wanting to release his hold on her, he twisted his head. "It's almost midnight."
"I should leave so you can rest."
He wanted her to stay—all night, every night. But he didn't want to scare her when even he didn't understand his growing infatuation. "You should have something to eat before you leave. I wouldn't want you to collapse from a lack of nourishment."
"That would be bad."
"Let's have a picnic." Mason grinned.
Amber wrinkled her forehead. "Don't you think it's too late for a picnic?"
"Nope." He rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. "I'll be right back."
As he walked out of the room, Mason looked over his shoulder and caught Amber watching him. He winked at her and exaggerated the sway of his hips as he left. Her laughter filled the air.
Mason raced to the kitchen to get the appetizers he'd prepared. He set the dishes on a tray along with a pitcher of tea. Then he added slices of the tiramisu for dessert. Pleased with his effort, he returned to the bedroom.
She gasped. "This is your picnic?"
"It looks delicious."
After he set the tray on the bed, she ran her finger through the whipped cream on the tiramisu. When her tongue slipped out to swirl over her finger and capture the sweetness, he had to swallow a moan. Careful not to upset the tray, he sat on the bed. He took a deviled egg and held it up for her.
She smiled and bit into the egg. Her eyes closed as she chewed. A moment later, they opened. "That is amazing. Do I taste avocado?"
"Yes and bits of bacon." He chewed the other half of the egg and wiped his hands on a napkin. "There's a bit of egg on your lips."
Amber lifted her napkin, but he caught her hand. Before she could question him, he swept his tongue across her mouth and licked the egg away. When she blushed, he kissed her.
He poured the tea and handed her a glass. "I hope you like this."
She tasted the tea. "Does this have…?" She took another drink. "Peach and mango?"
"I like to try different flavors."
"But with fresh fruit?"
He lifted his chin and looked down his nose. "No chef, worthy of the title, would use any ingredient that is not fresh."
When she reached for a bruschetta, he pushed her hand away. "Let me feed you."
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, but she nodded.
Mason shared every treat with Amber, giving her the first bite of each appetizer. Heat spread through him as he watched her bite into a stuffed mushroom. Never had he thought of eating as erotic, but as he watched Amber, he hungered for more than food.
After they finished the finger foods, he lifted a spoonful of tiramisu up to her. When she wrapped her lips around the spoon, he stopped breathing until his lungs demanded air. He pulled the spoon from between her lips and groaned when the tip of her tongue peeked out to lick her mouth.
Wanting to see Amber do that sexy swirl with her tongue again, Mason took another scoop. His hand tilted when he offered it to her, and a dollop of whipped cream fell on her breast. They both stared at the spot. He dropped the spoon on the tray.
"I've made a mess." Mason grinned and leaned forward.
The drop of whipped cream rolled down her breast to her nipple. Mason's tongue slid over the pebble. As he lapped the deliciousness, the nub tightened. With a light touch, he ran his finger across her skin to gather the last bit. He slipped the finger into his mouth and sucked on it.
Amber took several shaky breaths before whispering, "A washcloth would have worked."
"True, but I wouldn't want to waste such a mouth-watering delight."
"I'm still hungry." She grinned. "And not for food."
Mason scrambled to his feet and grabbed the tray. Not caring that the dishes rattled, he removed their picnic and returned to Amber's side.
She laughed. "Impatient?"
He lunged for her. Before she could get a word out, he had her breast in his mouth.
CHAPTER SIX
Amber opened one eye. Her gaze drifted over the muscles of a sculpted chest up to Mason's model-handsome face. She watched, fascinated, as his blue eyes darkened. Mason smiled. Returning his smile, she remembered her wanton and wild response to his lovemaking and felt the heat of a blush on her face.
She pressed a hand to his cheek. "I have to go home to change clothes. If I leave now, I'll have time to work on your books."
"Have you run into any other problems?"
"I've entered most of the receipt information into the program. Now I'm checking the bank statements. The files should be ready to transfer to your computer this weekend."
"Then you can show me how to print the reports." Rolling over until Amber was on her back, Mason lay over her.
Her heart raced when he brushed his lips over her mouth. Although they'd made love throughout the night, she still hungered for him. Amber slipped her hands around his neck and pulled his head closer. She kissed him with the passion in her until he moaned. With a smile on her lips, she left the bed to dress in her wrinkled clothes.
Mason sat against the headboard. "Do you have to leave?"
"If I don't, I'll try to keep you in bed all day. If I miss work, my boss will raise a fuss."
"I hear he's a tough taskmaster." He got out of bed and pulled on sweatpants and a shirt. "I'll walk you to your car."
"You don't need—"
He tapped a finger on her nose. "A gentleman walks his woman to her door. Since I can't do that, I'll walk you to your car."
"You're a nice man, Mason Reed."
"Nice?" He slapped a hand over his heart. "Not the most handsome, most charming man you've ever known?"
She laughed. "Don't worry. Torture couldn't make me reveal your secret."
When they reached the car, he asked, "Will you stay with me this weekend? We can go fishing, again."
Amber squeezed his hand. "You remember that I'm leaving town and there can't be anything permanent between us, right?"
"I remember, but while you're here, I want to enjoy more time with you."
"I'd like that." She tilted her head. "I don't want to mislead you."
"You're not." He kissed her. "I'll see you later."
While Amber drove home, she dreamt of a life in New York with its busy streets, the hum of traffic, and real Reuben sandwiches. She slapped her hand on the steering wheel. Why did she meet Mason now? He was a wonderful man, an amazing lover, a fantastic chef, and he hated life in the city.
If she lost her heart to him, she would leave town with a piece missing. She cared for him, but that didn't mean she'd fallen in love. She had to fortify the walls around her heart to keep that delicate organ from shattering. With a sigh, her shoulders drooped. Who was she kidding? It was too late.
After she showered and dressed then worked on Mason's books until it was time to leave for the inn. After a passionate welcome from Mason, she prepared for the diners. During lunch, she rushed between the tables serving food, wine, and coffee.
As lunch drew to an end, Maggie, the Inn's receptionist, raced through the dining room to the kitchen. A minute later, Amber's eyes widened when a scowling Mason rushed out of the kitchen to the front desk.
Amber wanted to follow, but with customers lingering over coffee, she had to stay. After she finished resetting the tables, Mason still hadn't returned. Something must be wrong. He never left the kitchen until after prepping for dinner. Weren't they having lunch together?
She was on her second cup of coffee when, forty-five minutes later, Mason returned to the kitchen. He pulled off his cap and threw it at the wall.
She jumped off the stool and grabbed his arm. "What's wrong?"
"Damn!" He laid his hands on the counter and dropped his head. "My parents are here."
Amber's mouth dropped open. "I didn't know they were coming for a visit?"
"I didn't know either." He rubbed his face. "Mom said they want to see the changes I've made in the house, but I know Dad. He's here to criticize and point out everything I'm doing wrong."
"Mason, you can't let him provoke you. You're doing a fantastic job. In one year, you've established a successful restaurant. Your customers rave about the food, and you have reservations booked for the next eighteen months."
"But the bed-and-breakfast isn't profitable."
"It will be. You have a year. Enough time to make it a success. I'll help."
"I've tried to come up with a marketing plan for the bed-and-breakfast." Mason shook his head. "Besides, what can you do?"
"Did you forget? I graduated with a double major. My other degree is in marketing. I can help you draft a marketing plan and implement it."
"You're leaving town."
"When that happens, you can hire someone to take over the work. By the time we're done, the River Inn will be famous."
"After my parents leave, we can discuss your ideas." He grimaced. "We can't go fishing this weekend."
"We'll go after they leave."
Mason slapped his forehead. "Lunch! You hav
en't eaten."
"Don't worry about me. You should have lunch with your parents."
"I've lost my appetite, but you have to eat. I made a spinach and steak salad with blue cheese, pears, and candied pecans."
"My mouth is watering, but I don't want to eat alone. Will you eat with me? You need to keep up your strength to spar with your father." They laughed, and then she said, "I'll pour lemonade, and you serve the salad."
They worked together to set up lunch.
Amber sighed with delight after her first bite of salad. "My compliments to the chef. This is delicious."
Mason's lips curved, but it wasn't his usual everything-is-great-in-my-world smile.
She asked, "What's wrong between you and your father?"
"Dad doesn't consider cooking a proper career for a Reed. We're supposed to be financial wizards, movers and shakers, not chefs."
"But you love what you do. Isn't that important to him?"
"No." Mason looked frustrated. "When I was young, I spent time with my grandfather and listened to his stories. He came to northern Minnesota to be a lumberjack and loved working in the forest. Grandfather studied and learned about the business. When he saved enough money, he opened a lumber mill."
"The Mill?"
Mason nodded. "He used to tell me, 'I'm just a backwoods boy who knew how to save money.' He got rich doing the work he loved. That's what I want. Dad doesn't agree that we don't all have to be sharks."
"When you make a success of the Inn, he'll admit you were right. He'll be proud of you."
He leaned over and kissed her. "You're good for my ego. Thank you for being my friend."
They finished eating and did the prep work for dinner. While Amber set the tables, she replayed her conversation with Mason.
Disappointed when he'd called her a friend, Amber frowned. Wasn't she more than a friend? She rolled her shoulders to release the tension tightening her muscles. What had she expected him to say? Hadn't she insisted on being nothing more than friends?