Hard Candy

by Angela Knight, Sheri Gilmore

  “I-I did not.”

  “Oh, yeah. You did.” He bent his knees, then stood slowly. The material of her skirt caught on his belt buckle and lifted, letting his cock ride the crease between her ass cheeks through the thin strip of her panties. He rotated his hips, and heard her hiss.

  “That’s when I knew I’d get to fuck you ... one day.”

  Her hands gripped the sink so tight that her knuckles turned white. He knew she fought what he made her feel. She’d always fought her baser need for him. He wished he knew the sweet, soft words a woman liked to hear. The words he’d heard Dave use.

  “You’re so romantic, Nico.”

  His fingers had reached the top band of her panties. With a quick plunge of his middle finger, he dipped beneath the scrap of material and into her hot cunt. Her head came back hard against his shoulder.

  Jesus! He could come right here with just the feel of her body sucking his hand in tight. He took a deep breath and fought the urge. His heart pounded against his chest.

  He worked his finger deep, then back out to circle her clit. The tiny bud knotted beneath his touch. Her quick, shallow breaths told him she would go over the edge any second. He pinched the sensitive area with his index finger and thumb. He smiled when she bucked hard, caught between his body and the counter.

  God, he wanted her. She’d given David Scott everything without hesitation, but he’d had to drag and force any and all responses she’d ever given to him. Even now, she fought him.

  He groaned. She might have given David adoring looks, but it was him she’d wanted with those hard, hungry stares she hadn’t even been aware of throwing his way. He’d sell his soul at that moment for the chance to give her everything and anything she asked for. He wanted more from her than Valentine’s cards. He just had to convince her and remind her body that she wanted to give in to him; but would she?

  She will. the little voice in his head promised. Just like it had promised him years ago when he’d first seen Natalie Pasqua walk onto the school playground with her plaid skirt, pigtails, and glasses -- she belonged to him.

  “You want romance, sweetheart, go talk to David.” He added another finger to the first. She tilted her ass up against his cock, and his fingers slid deeper. She moaned. His other hand tightened on her hip to pull her closer. “But he won’t give you what I can.”

  “Well, I should hope not. At least not before we eat.”

  “Nona!” Both he and Natalie stiffened and spoke at the same time. He eased his fingers, sticky with her juices, from her body. He gave Natalie a second to pull her skirt down before he stepped away from her heat. His cock protested with a sharp pain through his groin, but he resisted the urge to adjust his fly.

  Nona stood in the doorway to the kitchen with her hands on her hips and a glare in her eyes. Nico moved his hand behind his back, but knew it was too late to hide the evidence of what he had been doing to the old woman’s granddaughter.

  “Go get cleaned up.” There was a movement on the porch. “We’ve got company for supper.” She waved at the person behind her.

  David Scott. Nico clenched his jaw. Shit.

  Chapter Two

  “So, David, what are you doing now?” Natalie smiled across the table at the man she’d worshiped from afar years before. “Handsome” still described the blond, blue-eyed ex-quarterback. At twenty-seven, he looked like he could go all night.

  Natalie choked on a green bean at the sexual thoughts her mind led her to tonight. First, with Nico at the kitchen sink; now fantasizing about David at the supper table. No wonder Nona watched her like a hawk. This was not how she acted under normal conditions. Normal?

  She almost laughed as she looked around the table at Nona, David, and ... Nico. He sat at the head, opposite Nona, like he had the right. His long legs stretched out with one hand resting on the tabletop and the other ... Lord only knew where his other hand lay beneath the tablecloth.

  She could imagine that other hand stroking up and down the length of his cock. He’d bring himself to the edge of orgasm, then back off enough to enjoy the pain of unattained release. His gaze had been on her all night. She’d caught movement beneath the thin cotton of the tablecloth several times throughout the meal. She bit back a silent groan at the thought of him masturbating while he watched her eat.

  Normal? No way in hell was this meal normal by any means. Never in her wildest fantasies had she ever imagined she’d be sitting at supper in her kitchen with the two men she’d always loved and lusted after.

  “... been working with my uncle at the used car auction over on Pass Road.”

  David’s voice broke into her thoughts. Natalie sat straighter in her chair and focused on him, sitting across from her. “I’m sorry. You said you’re working with your uncle?”

  “Yeah, but just until I get on my feet. The divorce cost a lot more than I thought it would. You’re lucky you and that guy you lived with in New York weren’t married.”

  Natalie took a quick glance at Nico, not liking the way his eyes narrowed at the mention of Rudy. He was a little too possessive after a couple of kisses and caresses. Couple? Hell, if there had been anymore like the ones he’d been giving her, Nona would’ve found them on the floor, rutting like deer in the fields. Her body felt branded from the heat of his fingers deep in her vagina.

  Her neck and cheeks grew warm, and she reached for her water. Taking a few sips to ease the heat at the remembered events earlier in the evening, she missed what Nona was saying. Luckily, her grandmother addressed Nico.

  “How is your mother?”

  “Fine.”

  “Is she still looking for a roommate?”

  Nico nodded.

  A man of few words. He’d never been much on conversation. His eyes had always done most of the talking. She looked up, and her breath caught at the sensation that he could see into her soul and knew every thought circling through her mind. She took another sip of water.

  He sat up. His other hand came from under the table. Natalie couldn’t take her gaze off those fingers, wondering what they’d been up to undercover with that long, hard -- She closed her eyes and bit back another groan.

  “Natalie, are you okay?”

  Her eyes opened to find everyone staring at her -- Nona in concern, David in confusion, and Nico ... in satisfaction.

  “What?”

  “You groaned, dear. Are you in pain?”

  You could say that! “Um, no, no, I’m fine.”

  Nico’s mouth turned up at one corner. Natalie wanted to crawl under the table. He knew what she’d been thinking. Fuck him! And that’s exactly what she wanted, no, needed to do -- she smiled at Nona -- but couldn’t at the moment. She tapped her finger against her plate.

  “I forgot to ask you what you’re doing now, Nico?” Her fingers stilled, but clenched the edge of the porcelain. “Where are you working?”

  His fingers played over the pattern of the tablecloth, but he didn’t hesitate to answer her. “I have a refurbishing shop down on Caillavet for old motorcycles.”

  “Sounds interesting.” Natalie wasn’t surprised that he worked with motorcycles. He’d always been tinkering with the things in high school and had ridden a big, black machine at the time. She heard the pride and satisfaction he had for his work in his voice.

  “I like it.” He shrugged and the movement drew her gaze to the broad shoulders that had surrounded her and made her feel dominated. She shivered and tried to get control over her wayward thoughts, but couldn’t resist looking at those shoulders again.

  So wide -- not like most Vietnamese men she’d met. Nico wasn’t only wide in the shoulders; he was tall and big. He must take after his unknown father.

  “Yeah, you ought to go check it out, Nat. He’s got some awesome bikes.” David leaned forward with a genuine look of admiration on his face.

  She knew they were friends, but she’d always wondered what it was that brought them together. From all outward appearances, they didn’t have anything i
n common -- David, super-jock, and Nico, super bad-ass. And here they were sitting down to dinner with her, super-nerd. She pushed a bean around her plate with her fork.

  The sound of silverware clattering on a plate brought her back to focus. Nona stood with the dishes in her hand. “Natalie, would you help me with the plates? Then I’ll start the coffee.”

  “Sure, Nona.” No meal went without coffee to round off the mouth-watering morsels her grandmother cooked. The coffee, thick and rich, came from the neighborhood’s old Cajun influence. Over the years, the number of true Cajuns had dwindled as more and more different peoples settled in the community of Pointe Cadet, but that just added to the unique atmosphere of Biloxi.

  That’s how it worked. One ethnic group moved in, then moved out, and another group moved in. First, the Cajuns, then the Croatian immigrants, now the Vietnamese. Pointe Cadet could be classified a veritable melting pot of various cultures, especially with the rise of casinos only blocks away, lining Highway 90. Even though small in size, the coast reminded Natalie a lot of New York with the mixture of peoples, religions, and cultures.

  She stood and reached for David’s plate, having to bend slightly to retrieve it. Catching his gaze on her cleavage, she felt her cheeks grow warm. She threw a glance at Nico to see if he noticed.

  Of course. Old eagle-eyes wouldn’t miss a thing. A little irritated at the disapproving look on his face, she couldn’t help feeling a surge of pleasure that both men were paying attention to her. She smiled first at David, then raised an eyebrow at Nico before turning away from them.

  Her panties were so wet she wanted to strip them away from her skin and ease the tight throb between her legs. Yep, this situation was downright ... stimulating. She almost giggled on the way to the kitchen.

  * * * * *

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Dave?”

  Natalie had barely disappeared through the swinging doors before Nico attacked the other man. David had had his chance at her in high school. It was his turn now.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know what I’m saying. Natalie.” Nico nodded toward the kitchen.

  David shrugged. “She looks damned good. New York must’ve taught her a few things.”

  Nico held back the urge to lunge across the table and grab him by the throat.

  “Back off.”

  “Are you kidding?” David leaned forward. “She’s hot, and I don’t plan on throwing away what’s offered this go-around.”

  “If you didn’t notice earlier, we kinda have a thing going on.”

  David raised his eyebrows up and down. “How could I not notice, bro? My cock went to full attention when I looked through the back door and saw you two.” He groaned. “Wish Nona hadn’t been with me; I would’ve liked to watch.”

  He should have been annoyed, but the thought of David watching him and Natalie fuck made him hard. Nico shook his head. “I’ve decided not to waste opportunities, either.” He sat back. “She’s mine. I’ve waited a long time for her to grow up.” He looked at David and frowned. “I thought you liked men, anyway.” Nico watched a dull red tinge creep over David’s cheekbones.

  “You know I like both. Anyway, I think that’s for the lady to decide. She’s always shown more favor towards me.”

  “Not anymore.”

  David grinned. “We’ll see.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “Hey, man, the casino is a block down the road, but I’ll take you on.”

  Nico nodded. “Then, it’s a bet. The one who has her in his bed on --” He looked at the calendar Nona kept on the wall. “-- Valentine’s Day gets to keep her without further interference from the other.”

  “Ooo, a whole two weeks of fun and games. You’re on.”

  The two shook hands. Nico refused to acknowledge the little frisson of electricity he felt at David’s touch. Nico planned on winning, whether he had to use “outside influences,” or not. He’d heard all the rumors that were whispered in the Vietnamese community about his father. He didn’t know who, or what, his father might be, but if all the rumors were true, the old witch over on Pass Road would know how to contact a demon. The old man had never done anything for him. Now would be a good time to call in all that back “child support” he’d never received. Natalie belonged to him.

  * * * * *

  “What do you think you are doing?”

  Natalie pulled up short as she walked through the swinging doors into the kitchen. Nona stood facing her with her hands on her hips and a frown across her face. Natalie looked behind her to see if one of the men had followed her, not sure who her grandmother spoke to. When she didn’t see anyone, she had her answer.

  “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “No, you don’t.” Nona sighed and took the dishes out of Natalie’s hands. “You’re playing with fire if you intend to lead those two on.”

  “Lead them on? They’re the ones coming on to me!” Natalie bit her lip and glanced over her shoulder, not wanting either Nico or David to hear this conversation.

  “But you’re letting them.” Nona shook her head. “Nico Bui has a short fuse, granddaughter. Don’t push him too far.”

  “His ‘fuse’ didn’t feel too short to me.” Natalie clamped a hand over her mouth at the unexpected words.

  “Natalie Marie Pasqua!” Nona admonished her, but Natalie saw the gleam of humor in her eyes. After a second, Nona even smiled. “He is a good-looking devil, isn’t he?”

  “Nona!” Natalie laughed. She’d never heard her grandmother utter anything sexual in her entire life. “Listen to you.”

  They giggled, and Nona took her hands. A serious expression replaced the happier, carefree one. “Promise me, you will decide wisely.”

  Natalie sighed. “I’m not choosing a husband, Nona. I’m just --” She waved her hand. “-- having a little fun.”

  “That’s how people get hurt.”

  “We’re all adults. I think we all know how to handle a ‘no strings attached’ kind of relationship.” Natalie tried to laugh, but the effort sounded weak. “David just got divorced less than a year ago, and I just broke up with Rudy. We don’t want anything serious right now.”

  “What about Nico? He looked serious to me when he had his hands all over you today.” Nona sniffed and scooped coffee into the old percolator. “He’s always ... liked you.”

  “You mean he’s always liked to torment me.” Natalie sat cups on the tray. “I know how to handle Nico.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Natalie leaned against the counter and listened to the old coffee pot perk. The smell of rich coffee filled the room. “Does he have a girlfriend?”

  “Nico?” Nona waved a hand. “Women are all over him like they were in school.”

  “Oh.”

  “But they are not like you.”

  “Oh? How’s that?”

  “They are cheap; you are not.”

  Natalie snorted. “Meaning, I’m dull and boring.” She could hear Rudy’s last cutting remarks, as he walked out of their apartment with a bleached-blond bimbo bitch on his arm. “Story of my life.”

  “You are not.”

  “It’s okay. Even Nico called me a ‘brainiac.’”

  “That was years ago and he was jealous.”

  “Jealous? He was being his usual obnoxious self.”

  “You had given another boy a Valentine. What did you give him?”

  “Nothing.” Natalie watched Nona finish arranging the coffee tray with dessert cakes. She frowned and thought about his confession in the kitchen. Guilt pulled at her heart for not realizing earlier how she felt about Nico. “I never gave him anything. Ever.”

  “Well, maybe this Valentine’s you will be a little nicer to him.” Nona picked up the tray and headed for the dining room.

  Yeah, but with any luck, it won’t be some silly card he gets from me. Natalie smiled and followed. The image of a dark hand offering two pieces of candy came
to mind. The image intensified when she went through the swinging doors to find the two men sitting smug in their chairs, looking at her. One, light and sweet; the other, dark and bitter.

  “Hey, guys, ready for something sweet?”

  David grinned and his blue eyes sparkled. Nico raised that imperious black eyebrow over narrowed eyes. The sight of both men, so opposite, but so right, made her heart flip-flop. Maybe she’d give them both something on Valentine’s Day.

  Chapter Three

  Natalie tiptoed into the living room. Flashlight ready, she angled the beam toward the bookcase. One step and she stubbed her toe on the side chair. It took all her willpower not to scream Shit! at the same time she fumbled to keep a grip on the flashlight. She swallowed hard against the shooting pain from her big toe and managed to hobble the rest of the way across the room.

  James Bond, I’m not. She leaned one hand against the wall and let out a sigh of relief. So far, so good if Nona hadn’t been awakened by her midnight meanderings. Carefully, she scanned the bookcase for Nona’s old journal full of gypsy spells. Nona would tan her butt if she ever learned she’d been using this family gem for years. Coming from a long line of gypsies had its advantages.

  Ah, there. Covered with dust and sitting back from the rest of the books on the shelf, she found the little journal she’d been hunting. She pulled it free and blew a thick layer of dust from its jacket. Nona must not use it anymore.

  Natalie limped over to the sofa. Curling her legs beneath her, she turned the pages, using the dim light from the flashlight to find the spell she wanted -- If you are undecided between two admirers, magick can help ...

  Well, she hoped so, because she had a dilemma. She had enjoyed the attentions of both men, but she needed to know which one she really wanted. Natalie bit her lip. She’d always pursued David, but deep down she’d always wanted Nico. She flipped the pages. Maybe a spell existed that would help her keep them both. Now, that would be an interesting scenario. She stopped her perusing and stared into the darkness. Her eyebrow rose, and she covered her mouth on the giggle that threatened to give her away.