by Lily Marie
It was a mess, and she couldn’t be happier. She was also too exhausted to be nervous around Elijah—which was a relief, since they’d be cleaning for a couple hours. At least.
She walked into the kitchen, and found him hunched over a platter of leftovers, eating with his fingers. He looked at her, and swallowed.
“Busted.”
“I didn’t think there was anything left. They were like piranhas tonight.”
“With good reason.” He disassembled a piece of her vegetable lasagna, and ate each layer, humming in pleasure. “I almost chose this. God—even cold it’s incredible. Why haven’t you opened a restaurant before now?”
Kaylee took a deep breath, staring at the stainless counter as she told him. “I worked for a restaurant in California, under one of the top chefs in the world. I was supposed to take over when he decided to open a second restaurant back in London.” The memory of what happened next still hurt. “My ex, Rick, sabotaged my test dish, and ended up with the job.”
“Son of a bitch.” Anger edged Elijah’s voice. “Tell me you got revenge.”
“By the time the dust settled, I didn’t have the strength to do more than leave.” She blinked back the tears that threatened. “I trusted him. I thought I loved him. He betrayed me for a job. That hurt so much, I could hardly think beyond it.”
His hand closed over hers, his calloused fingers warm. “But you did.” His low, deep voice was gentle.
“I packed up, and started driving. All I knew when I left was that I needed to get away—from Rick, from all of it.” She lifted her head, met his eyes. “When I pulled into Pine Heart it was for a stopover. But I walked around town, and felt a tug, a need, a sense of peace. When I saw this building for sale on Main Street, I took it as a sign. I wanted to make this my home, create the dream that had been stolen from me.”
“What about Rick? Did you keep track of what happened to him?”
A smile finally crossed her face. “According to a food blog I follow, he’s slowly driving the restaurant into the ground with his temper tantrums. The owner plans to fly in from London after the holidays to deal with the situation.”
“Karma’s a bitch. Sounds like she smacked him down.” He grinned at her, squeezed her hand before he let go. “I love a happy ending.”
Laughter burst out of her—and it felt good to laugh again. “I felt bad wishing evil on Rick, even with what he did, but his downfall is all him.”
“And your success will be all you, beautiful.” She blushed, and his grin widened. He picked up a lumpy crab cake that didn’t make the cut. “What do you put in these? They are absolutely addicting.”
“It’s a secret recipe, handed down in my family on their deathbed.”
Elijah raised his eyebrows, savoring the crab cake before he swallowed. “Deathbed?”
Kaylee propped her elbows on the counter, and stared him straight in the eye. “Once you give up the recipe, you have nothing left to live for.”
He picked up another reject crab cake, studied it for a few seconds, then grinned at her. “I’d rather eat them than make them.” He popped the crab cake in his mouth, and rolled his eyes. “Mmm—they are to die for.”
“Hilarious, Black. Are you that pithy in your column?”
He clutched his chest. “You don’t read my column?”
Kaylee bit back a smile, and picked up one of her homemade potato chips, dusted with paprika. “I don’t really like food columns. The writers are always so pretentious.” She crunched the chip, fighting the laughter at his surprised look. “So sure they’re right about everything.”
“We are not—I’m not…” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re poking at me, aren’t you? Chef humor—poke the food critic. Am I right?”
She picked up another chip. “Maybe.” Bit into it. “Maybe not.”
He leaned over the counter. God, he was adorable. It took all her control not to grin at him, or kiss those full, beautiful lips pouting at her right now.
“You’re this close to damaging my fragile ego.” He held his thumb and finger up, almost touching. “Did you want to crush me on the eve of my almost syndication?”
Kaylee dropped the chip in her hand. “Are you serious? That’s amazing.” Impulsively, she grabbed his hand. “I adore your column, Elijah Black. Why do you think I was so nervous when we first met? My favorite food critic, in the same town where I was opening my first restaurant. It’s a wonder I didn’t have a breakdown before tonight.”
“You adore my column.” He stood, using her hand to pull her in. “I’m your favorite food critic.”
“I—” She swallowed, and tried not to breathe in his scent. “Yes.”
“I just had one of the best meals of my life, in a restaurant where I felt more at home than in my own apartment. Simple food, elegantly presented.” His fingers tightened over hers, and her nerves kicked in, hard and fast. “You have been a revelation, Kaylee Jackson—and I want to learn more.”
She stared up at him, a blush spreading across her cheeks. He let go of her hand, and disappointment speared her. Then his arms circled her waist, lifting her off the stool. Before she could do more than take in a shaky breath he trapped her against the closest wall.
“I tasted your simple, outrageously delicious food. Now I need to taste you.”
He did, and took his sweet time with it, starting at the base of her throat. His tongue flicked over her sensitive skin, his lips and teeth following, nipping and kissing his way up to her lips. When he finally took possession of them, she nearly sighed in relief.
The sigh changed to a moan as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding over hers, hot, fast, so aggressive she had trouble matching his pace.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and he growled when she arched into his impressive erection. God, she wanted him.
“Kaylee—God—” He fumbled with his jacket, throwing it at the counter when he managed to get it off. “You taste so good.” She let out a low cry when his hand closed over her breast. “I was right.”
“About—what?” She could hardly breathe, never mind talk.
“Breasts.” He brushed his lips over hers, warm, soft, devastating. “Perfect fit.”
She let out a breathless laugh. “You were measuring?”
“Couldn’t help it.” He kissed his way over to her ear, and she let her head drop back, giving him more access. “They were hard to ignore.” His free hand curled around her hip. “So were these. So beautiful,” he whispered. “So damn beautiful.” He nibbled her earlobe, and she fought to breathe. “I want you, Kaylee Jackson.” He leaned back, passion in those dark brown eyes, along with something more primal.
“I want you back, Elijah Black.”
“You know what I am.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do.”
He swallowed, and Kaylee knew what he was going to say.
“My bear knew the second I saw you. I wasn’t ready to admit it, wasn’t ready for you.” He took a shaky breath. “I want you for life, Kaylee, and it scares the hell out of me.”
“Me, too.” She met his eyes, and knew it was now-or-not-at-all time. Instinct had her stopping in Pine Heart, and it led her to a second chance at her dream. Here was her second chance for a love so big it would always leave her breathless. “Elijah—”
“I don’t jump into anything fast. I’m a thinker, a planner. But you, my beautiful Kaylee, make me want to jump. Roman warned me,” he muttered.
“About what?”
“This.” He brushed his thumb over her nipple, and she arched up, heat scorching her. He growled, rocking into her, his hard length teasing her. “My brother fell for his wife Jenna at first sight. I didn’t really believe him.” He laid his forehead against hers, and she could feel him trembling under her hands. “I do now.”
He captured her lips, his tongue sliding in to tangle with hers. She let out a low cry when his thumb started tracing circles around her sensitive nipple. Then he rocked into her, so hot, so hard
he had her body clenching. If he kept that up, she’d orgasm right here. She’d rather have her first one with him inside her, filling her—
And there was her answer.
She slid her hand into his thick brown hair, met every thrust of his hips. He freed her lips, his breathing ragged as he looked into her eyes.
“Kaylee?”
“Yes, Elijah. God, yes.”
He yanked her off the wall.
The cold stainless of the prep counter met her ass when he set her down, letting her go long enough to pop the button on his waistband and unzip his jeans. She fumbled with her own zipper, her fingers refusing to work. Elijah chuckled, and gently pushed her hands out of the way.
“This isn’t going to be the romantic scenario I’ve had in my head all day—I want you too much. But there is one thing you need to do before I can touch you.” He cradled her cheek, his dark eyes sober. “I need you to accept me, Kaylee.”
She swallowed, knowing exactly what he asked of her. Lindy Black had included that tidbit in her shifter orientation. Just in case, she said.
“What do I—need to say?”
“That you want me to claim you, for now, and for life.” He laid his forehead against hers. “I will understand if you say no. We can just have sex, and walk away from each other. It may kill me, but I’ll do it, if that’s what it takes to be inside you, love you tonight.”
She fell even harder for him as he bared his heart, and gave her a way out. What he wanted from her was permanent—something she had never had in her life. She realized now that was why she ended up in Pine Heart—everything about this charming town pulled at her need to belong, to be part of a community. Now this gorgeous, charming man—this shifter—wanted to belong to her.
Her heart pounded as she whispered. “Claim me, Elijah Black. For now, for life.”
“Thank God.” He sounded so relieved, she had to bite back a laugh. “I have condoms, if you need me to—”
“I trust you,” she whispered. And she did—all of the Blacks had a reputation for integrity, and caring about the people in their town. Elijah had proved it by running into a burning building to save someone he’d met only hours before. “Love me, Elijah.”
He let out his breath, then spread her legs and eased his thick cock inside her.
“God—you are so wet, so tight.” He curled his hands around her hips, held her in place as he slid into her. She had never made love to a man without protection, and feeling him—all of him—so smooth, and hot, was incredible. He kept going until he filled her completely. “I have to move, sweetheart.”
“Yes, please.”
He let out a low chuckle—it changed to a groan as he pulled out of her and slipped back in. Kaylee braced herself on the counter, arching her back to take him in deeper.
“Shit—I need to touch you—” His hand slid down until one long, calloused finger found her clit. She cried out when he started rubbing her, his cock filling her at the same slow, agonizing pace. “Kaylee—”
“Don’t stop—” She covered his hand with hers, pressing his finger against her clit. He did one better, sliding his finger inside her. “Oh, God, Elijah—”
He bent his knees, changing the angle of his cock. All she could do was breathe as he drove himself in to the hilt. Her body clamped around him, so close to orgasm she wanted to scream. Elijah seemed to sense it, because he eased his finger out of her and drew out every thrust.
His kept her teetering on the edge, his slow lovemaking driving her crazy.
“Elijah—please—”
“You feel so damn good, Kaylee.” His low growl warned her—just before he buried himself to the hilt.
Kaylee cried out, pushing back every time he thrust into her. She wanted to feel him deeper, harder, faster. He obliged, pounding into her, so deep he touched her core. Pressure built, hot and fast, and she panted, so close to an explosive orgasm like she’d never felt before.
She tilted her hips and he went deeper, both of them gasping at the power of their connection.
“Kaylee—lay back for me.” She did as he asked, and watched him slowly unbutton her chef’s coat. “Just a tiny white tank underneath. So naughty, Chef Kaylee.” He tugged at the sweat damp fabric, revealing her breasts. “That’s better. I need to feel as much of you against me as I can. God, Kaylee—you feel so good.”
He closed one hand over her breast, his other braced on the counter. He leaned in and kissed her just before he thrust into her, hard and deep. She gasped against his lips, tilting her hips to take him deeper. It was his turn to gasp.
He freed her lips, moving inside her. She dropped her head back and he took advantage, kissed and nibbled the length of her throat, his hand moving from one breast to the other, teasing her nipples until she squirmed.
“Faster—please, I need faster.”
“Your wish, sweetheart.” He thrust harder and she cried out, clamping around him. “Damn—I won’t last much longer—”
He thrust again and the orgasm slammed into her.
She clutched his arms as she rode it out, his rough, hard thrusts driving her release higher. He stiffened, and let out a roar as he came, filling her with his hot seed. His climax triggered her second, so surprising she screamed as sensations exploded through her.
Endless minutes later he lowered himself to her chest, his cock still buried deep inside her. Kaylee fought for breath, her skin slick with sweat. She had never experienced anything like that—and she wanted to do it again, as soon as possible.
Elijah licked at the sweat on her throat and she laughed.
“Amazing,” he said, his voice raw. “God, you were amazing.”
“I never—” She cut herself off, not wanting to sound like a sex neophyte.
“What? I won’t judge, I swear.” The amusement in his voice should have set her off. Instead she smiled.
“Two orgasms. Two of the most intense orgasms ever.” She opened her eyes in time to catch his grin. “At the risk of inflating your ego even more, yes—it was all you.”
“And this is all you.”
She gasped when he moved inside her, already hard again. “Elijah—how—”
“One of the perks of being a shifter. Quick recovery.” He eased out of her, and before she could protest he picked her up and headed for the door leading up to her apartment. “This time, I want to watch you fall apart, Kaylee Jackson, in your bed, both of us naked.”
“Promises, promises.”
Elijah practically sprinted up the stairs, cursing as he fumbled for the doorknob. When he finally managed to open the door, Kaylee laughing helplessly, he grinned down at her.
“You will pay for your mockery, my sweet lady.”
“I hope so.”
She let out a shriek as he tossed her on the bed, naked before she pushed to her knees.
God help her, he was magnificent. Broad shoulders, lean hips, every inch between muscled and slick with sweat. His cock stood between them, hard, thick, and ready for her.
She tore off her coat and tank. His fingers curled around the waist of her jeans and peeled them off her, taking her plain cotton panties with them.
“God in heaven.” He stared down at her, his breathing uneven. “You are even more beautiful than I imagined.”
She reached up and loosened her hair, letting the waving length fall around her. Elijah swallowed—and she gasped when he pounced.
He took them both down to the bed, then straddled her and pressed the thick tip of his cock into her.
“God—” She arched up, needing to feel more of him. He slipped inside her, inch by inch, until he filled her completely, and lowered himself to her, skin on skin. “Elijah—”
“You are mine, now and for good.”
He captured her lips in a kiss that left her dizzy. Then he started making love to her.
This time he worshipped her body, with his lips, his hands, his hard, thick length. By the time she climaxed she couldn’t see straight—and she found he
rself more than a little in love with him.
He joined her, his release sending her into another shattering orgasm.
His mind-numbing kiss left her limp, and she let him lift her. He pulled the duvet back and slid them under the cool sheets, wrapping himself around her.
Kaylee reached down between them and closed her hand around his semi-hard cock, smiling when he groaned. “I want to feel you, shifter.”
“My pleasure.” He eased her hand off him and pushed his thick tip inside her. It was her turn to groan. “How is that?”
“More.”
He draped her leg over his, curled one hand around her hip, and eased inside her, inch by inch. She shuddered at the feel of him inside her again. It was new, and familiar at the same time.
“I can’t guarantee we’ll get much sleep like this. Especially since you—” He thrust into her, already hard. “Turn me on like a switch.”
“Sleep is overrated.” His laughter rumbled through her, and she smiled, tightening her body around him. He choked, and pulled her into tight, rocking against her. “God, Elijah—”
“I love how my name sounds in that husky voice.” He moved inside her, touching her core with every deep thrust. “Say it again.”
“Elijah,” she whispered, and let out a raw cry when he drove into her.
That was all it took to send her over the edge.
He rolled her on her back and pounded into her, letting out a roar when he fell with her.
Seven
Elijah opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the window next to the bed. He let out a satisfied sigh, and gathered the curvy, gorgeous woman in his arms closer. Her scent surrounded him, and he drank it in. Sweet lemon, which he knew now was the soap and lotion she used, and an undertone of the apples she used in her dessert last night.
He buried his face in her tumbled blonde hair, and found the same fresh lemon scent. He’d never smell lemons again without getting hard.
It was happening right now, his cock still buried inside her from their last lovemaking. He let out a low groan, needing to move, but not wanting to wake her. His bear refused to let him pass up another chance to love her.
Elijah started rocking against her, his hand finding her breast. She arched into his hand and opened her eyes.