All I Want for Halloween

by Marie Harte

  She bobbed over him, sliding her tongue over the spot just under his crown, knowing how crazed it got him.

  “Oh fuck. Yeah, baby. Suck me.” He arched up into her, his hand gripping her shoulder, the other stroking her hair. “I thought of something.”

  She continued to blow him, cupping his balls as she drew harder, sucking with a fierceness he seemed to crave.

  “For Halloween, I’ll go as a cleaning guy. You go as my Hoover.”

  She paused, and his deep chuckle affected her enough that she pulled back to stare at him.

  His smile caught her right in the feels. Hell.

  “What do you think? You have powerful suction. And you’re really good at getting me clean.” Then he dragged her over him and kissed her, taking any thoughts she had left.

  He fucked her mouth with his tongue. His hands were everywhere—over her back, her arms, then down to the small of her back, pulling her into him. He found her ass and rubbed, and the massage felt amazing. Sexual and therapeutic.

  “You wet for me, baby?” he asked, nipping her earlobe. “You ready for me to get some satisfaction?”

  She would have promised him her great-grandmother’s famous sauce recipe if he’d asked. “Sure,” she said breathlessly, on fire as his hands pushed her to sit up, cupping her breasts.

  He played with her, letting her angle herself over him, taking him deep inside her. Finally.

  She arched her back while he massaged her breasts, his fascination with her nipples a joy of its own. He sat up and pulled her down at the same time, then sucked from each breast while she rode him, no thought but an orgasm so close she could taste it.

  After pulling away from her breasts so he could watch her, he shoved a hand between them, fingering her clit.

  “Gear,” she rasped, her entire body like a live wire.

  “Yeah. You like that.” He watched her with intensity, and at any other time she might have been embarrassed.

  But Sadie’s body had control of her, and she wanted nothing more than to come.

  “Squeeze me. Get me off, Sadie.” His breathing increased, his arousal growing with hers. “I want to feel you come around me. Let me see you,” he crooned and pinched her, and she cried out, lost to everything but the sensations of pleasure coursing through her.

  He groaned, pumped into her faster, then stilled while she trembled in his arms.

  They sat entwined for some time, her legs on either side of him, his body still full inside her, slowly starting to soften.

  He planted kisses on her chest, her shoulders, her chin. When he reached her lips, the caress felt different. Not sexy or soft, but so caring.

  “Man, I would worship you all day every day if I didn’t worry about my dick falling off.”

  Thank God. Gear was back. She grinned. “The romance. I just can’t take it.”

  He chuckled, rubbing her back with those big, callused hands. “Sorry. That didn’t come out right.”

  “Oh, I think it came out just fine.” She laughed, pressed so tightly against him she didn’t fear him falling out of her.

  “That comment was so…Elliot-like.” Gear sighed. “And now the mood is truly gone.”

  “Hey, I gave you what you wanted. I messed you up.”

  “You mean I messed you up,” he corrected and hugged her when she would have left him. “Now we get to talk about exactly what that means.”

  “Huh?”

  “Sadie, let’s stop dancing around. We’re not into games and bullshit, right? So let’s get this settled. Two weeks ago, we had crazy car sex, and I came inside you.” He closed his eyes, a huge smile of satisfaction on his face. Then he opened his eyes, the green-and-gold colors entrancing. “I knew the risk, and I wasn’t sorry I took it. Being in you was better than anything I’ve ever had in my life.”

  She blushed.

  “I can’t regret it. I won’t. You said we were safe, that the possibility of you being pregnant was probably not gonna happen.”

  “That’s what I said. I wasn’t lying.”

  “I didn’t think you were. But you and I talk about stuff. And we never talked about that. Why not?”

  “I don’t know.” Because I’m a moron who wants your baby? Yeah, crazy girlfriend wouldn’t mind getting knocked up by you because I love you? Maybe? I think?

  “We just had unprotected sex again.” He kissed her throat, then her mouth. “And you’re probably not that safe.”

  “Well, uh…” Should she tell him she was on birth control now?

  “So you could get pregnant.” He ran a hand through her hair. “That should be freaking me the fuck out. But it’s not. Because it’s you.”

  “Okay, now I’m freaking the fuck out.” Her heart raced. “I’m not ready to be a mom yet.”

  “It’s not like I’m lined up to be father of the year either,” he said drily. “But burying my head in the sand and pretending those things can’t happen when we fuck raw, well, that’s just stupid.”

  “I know.” She groaned. “I went on birth control right after that time in the car, okay? The next day, as a matter of fact. We should be good.” She couldn’t read his expression. Relief? Annoyance? Anger? “Well? What’s that look?”

  “I don’t know. Probably relief.”

  That would make sense. Wait. Probably?

  “It’s not like I want to do things backward. For me, I always thought I’d be the opposite of my parents, who popped out three kids, then decided to get married. Orchid’s a born-again hippie, and Otis plays by no rules but his own.”

  “Yet you turned out okay.” She stroked his neck, feeling the taut muscles sloping to his shoulders. “Mostly.”

  He chuckled, and she realized they were having the conversation with him still embedded inside her. Talk about doing things backward. Having unsafe sex, then talking about protection.

  “The thing is, why didn’t we talk about this before? We came home from the castle and just spent the last two weeks having sex with condoms. I’m okay with that. You know I am. But why didn’t we talk about it?”

  This conversation made her uncomfortable. She squirmed to get free and Gear let her. “Be right back,” she said as she raced to the bathroom to clean up.

  Once clean, she donned a robe and returned to him. He was sitting at the edge of the bed wearing a pair of sweatpants. Nothing else. Glory be to tattooing.

  “Like it, huh? You’re always staring.”

  “That’s because you covered your dick. Trust me. I’d stare at that instead of your arm if you bared it again.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “See? We talk about my dick. My tats. But not about something important like a baby.”

  Or the fact you said you love me. She so wanted to say that but had no intention of opening that can of worms so soon after the baby stuff.

  “What do you want?”

  “I want the truth about what you’re feeling.” He patted the spot next to him, and she sat, soothed by his body heat. “The last thing I want to do is scare you off. That’s why I didn’t bring it up. That and I kept waiting for you to say something. You’re nothing if not vocal about what you want and don’t want.”

  “You say that as if that’s a bad thing.”

  “Not at all. With you, I know where I stand.” He paused, took her hand in his, and rested it on his thigh. “Sahara was needy. She wanted to be the center of attention all the time. At first when we were dating, I liked being with her. But it didn’t take long to see she wanted fame more than me. She had an agenda, and I didn’t care because I had my own too. I wanted to build bikes. The more elaborate, the shinier, the faster, the better. And she helped me get to that point.

  “But she and I could never talk like this. I never wanted to think about a baby with her. Never forgot myself with her, to the extent I’d come inside her without prote
ction.”

  “Oh?” Sadie wanted an Academy Award for Best Not Acting Like His Words Mean Everything in an Awkward Scene.

  “To be honest, I was afraid if I said something about it, you’d bail. I mean, what kind of lame guy doesn’t care about being safe? And then you’d realize I’m not a great bet in the romance department either.”

  She squeezed his fingers, staring at their joined hands. “You? Mr. I’m Afraid My Dick Might Fall Off?” They both had a nice laugh about that. “I don’t know, Gear. You and I happened so fast. I’ve never felt this kind of connection before.” She took a leap. “It’s a little scary.”

  “No shit.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, I’m happy being around you. Even when you’re bitchy, or you make me eat food you know isn’t good enough to be in Sofa’s, I eat it and feel like a king because you want me to have it.”

  She felt too warm, alarmed he might begin to comprehend her deep feelings. “I like to feed people.”

  “Yeah, but I’m not just people. I’m the guy banging Sadie Liberato—I’m king of the world.” He laughed and pulled her into his arms for a kiss. “Look, Sadie, I’m not trying to talk this to death. God knows I’d rather have my teeth pulled than have some Lifetime moment.”

  “Amen.”

  “But I want us to be good. We’re good, yeah?”

  She stared into his eyes, feeling so much good her heart threatened to burst. “Um, yeah. We’re good. Sorry I didn’t tell you about being on the pill before. I just wanted it to be totally safe before we did it again without a condom.”

  “Did it? Making love, you mean?” he teased.

  “Nah. Making love is for wimps. You and me, we’re solid fuckers.”

  He slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sadie, that mouth. It’s so dirty.”

  She nodded and licked his hand.

  “Ew.”

  “That’s what you get.”

  “Oh?” He rolled them both back on the bed. “I don’t think so, you dirty girl. Now use that mouth for good.”

  “For good?” She chuckled, loving how fun Gear could be in bed.

  “Yeah. Get me clean. You know, now, while I’m small and soft and able to fit all in your mouth.”

  She glanced at him lowering his pants and saw he’d lied. “Not that soft or small.” Even flaccid, Gear was huge. “Though I have to admit, I’ve never heard a guy willingly call himself tiny.” She gripped him, feeling his heartbeat in the rush of blood there.

  “Never said tiny,” he rasped. “And I’ll do whatever I have to to keep you in line, woman. Now shut up and blow me.”

  “Ah, there’s my Romeo with his love words.” She grinned. “What do I get if I do?”

  “You get an awesome costume for my folks’ Halloween party. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Hmm. That sounds like a good deal.”

  “And one more thing,” he said on a moan. “You get a protein shake free of charge.”

  “Okay, no more food references from you. I can only stomach so much.” Realizing her bad pun and knowing he’d heard it because he laughed, she shut him up fast with her lips and tongue.

  Ha. Not so funny now, am I?

  He had the last laugh when he considered turnabout fair play. And he multiplied his big win when he hugged her to sleep and kissed the top of her head, murmuring love words when he thought her asleep.

  The big jerk. Now what do I do about that?

  As she nodded off in dreamland, where they were the golden couple, in love and finding their happily ever after, and where it was safe, she admitted, “I love you too.”

  Chapter 17

  Gear didn’t know what to think. Sadie had mumbled something that sounded a lot like “Love you too” last night. He wanted to think she’d been responding to him. But who the hell knew?

  A guy with balls would out and out ask her. Hadn’t he said he didn’t like games? But he’d never played at something he couldn’t afford to lose before.

  Gear took risks with every new creation. Hell, he was taking a huge one with his new venture. But he couldn’t afford to lose Sadie.

  “I signed a lease,” he said as they sat eating breakfast together. She’d made him blueberry pancakes, and had he not already been in love with her, he’d have fallen for her because of the pancakes, no question.

  “A lease?” She toyed with her food, her appetite a little off.

  “What’s up? The baby making you too sick to eat?” he taunted.

  “Asshole.”

  He grinned. “The lease for my new shop.” He told her where it was, and she agreed the area sounded perfect. “You should come by and see it.”

  “Maybe I will.” She added nastily, “That’s if Harrison Jr. lets me get by without making me puke.”

  “Hey, I’m eating here.”

  “No kidding.” She stared at him, and he loved that she liked his looks. “Where do you put it all?”

  “My feet.” They stared down at his size twelves. “I have big feet. Hey, another thing we have in common.”

  “I like having big feet,” she said and picked at her pancakes, then pushed the plate aside. So maybe she didn’t like blueberries. “These puppies let me run really fast, right over your back and up your ass if you aren’t careful.”

  “Ohh. So scary. Maybe you should be a witch for Halloween.”

  “Ha-ha.” She drank some coffee and smiled. “Since I was such a good girl last night…”

  “You were. So good.” The woman could swallow like nobody’s business.

  She snickered. “You’re so easy. Anyway, you owe me. But I get some say in the costume, right?”

  “Yeah. We could go meet my sister when you’re done working today, if you want. She’d open the shop for us. You’ll love Iris. She—”

  “I already met her.”

  He paused. “You did?” What the hell had Iris done?

  “Yeah. She came to scope me out, and I lured her to the dark side with cream puffs.”

  “Freakin’ Iris. I told her to leave you alone.”

  “Embarrassed of me?”

  “Yeah, that’s exactly what I am. Embarrassed.” He rolled his eyes. “More like my family tends to scare people away. They’re not—ah—normal. Probably the only guy who wouldn’t put you off is Thor. And I made sure I was present when you met.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?”

  “One, so he’d be on his best behavior with you. He’s got an IQ of a bazillion, and he can be a little preachy if you let him. Plus, some chicks dig the brainy type. I didn’t want you to possibly be one of them.”

  “So you’re saying I’m not brainy?”

  “No, thank God.”

  Sadie threw a napkin at him, and he grinned. “Yeah, well, I liked your parents. And I like your brother and sister. Iris was cute. She was being protective. And the fact she owns a costume shop is a bonus. Halloween is my favorite holiday, but I loathe clothes shopping. This applies to costumes too.”

  “So you’re saying you lucked out by meeting me. You owe me.”

  She frowned. “How did you get that? Since meeting you, I’ve been attacked by your vicious ex-fiancée.”

  “Um, you pounded her.”

  “I’ve been hounded by the press and nearly sued.”

  He loved the twinkle in her green eyes. “Again, you made the first move. Throwing water on a reporter? Oh, and that press is getting your shop a lot of popularity. I read an article about Sofa’s the other day in a Best Of list online.”

  She wasn’t done. “Then I had to deal with your family taking shots at me.”

  “My parents like you better than me.”

  “And I had to defend your honor at the gym. All in all, knowing you has proved to be really trying.”

  “Sac up, Sadie.”

  “Hate to break it to you, but
I don’t have a sac, thank you very much.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, not sure I’d be so hot for you if you did. Then again, I am a fan of that mouth.”

  She blushed, and he laughed harder.

  “Shush,” she said. “Now let’s go. I have to get to work, and you have to do…whatever it is you do on Sundays. What are you doing today?”

  He shrugged. “Going to head to the new shop and sketch out some ideas. I also need to talk to Iris about some rebranding, now that Motorcycle Madnezz isn’t mine.” It still hurt to say, but not as much anymore. Not when he had Sadie and a fresh start waiting for him.

  As if sensing his fading grief, she gave him a hug and kissed his chest. Right over his heart.

  He squeezed her. Woman, you are it for me. Now how the hell could he get her to see that? Because she’d panicked yesterday at the gym.

  “Can’t. Breathe.”

  “Oh, sorry. Sometimes I forget you’re not as big as your mouth.”

  She grinned. “Come on.”

  “You know, you should give me a key,” he offered. “Then I could come and go when I want to.”

  She froze. “A key?”

  “Yeah, you know. They work on locks?”

  “Smart ass.” She went to grab a jacket, studiously not looking at him.

  So weird to see Sadie flustered. He still didn’t know if that was a good thing. He’d rattled her last night, but she hadn’t run far. Just to the treadmill.

  “And I could give you a key to my place. You know. So we’re even.”

  She glanced up. “Even, huh?”

  “Sure. Besides, I have a hot tub. Just think. You can use it whenever you want.”

  Her slow smile melted his heart. “Well, it would let me keep an eye on you.”

  “Hey, I’m an open book. I got nothing to hide, baby. It’s just you and me. And more pancakes. And maybe something tasty from Sofa’s, okay?”

  “Everything from Sofa’s is amazing,” she argued.

  And he wanted to breathe a sigh of relief that he’d made it past that hurdle.

  They walked to their cars, and she stopped him. “So, ah, I’ll get you a key later. I have to get one made, because Elliot and Rose have my spares.”