Trusting Chance [Fate Harbor] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Caitlyn O'Leary

  “She just thinks this two-husband setup is the best thing since sliced bread, Sam. I can’t figure it out, but she thinks for some people it just works. She’s convinced that you and Chance are two of those men who will find it fulfills their needs. She’s been saying it since we’ve moved here. What’s more, I think she has Chance convinced, too.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Hmmm, what?” Butch asked.

  “It’s kind of a chicken-and-egg thing. Does Betty have Chance convinced, or does Chance have Betty convinced?”

  Butch took a sip of his beer, and looked over at Sam. “Well, that’s a damn good question, son.”

  Sam walked Josie up the steps, carefully staying close behind her. She had had two glasses of red wine at dinner, and he didn’t know if she had taken pain medication that day. She glanced back at him. “I know what you’re doing Sam, and you don’t need to. I’m perfectly able to navigate my own staircase.”

  “You had two glasses of wine.”

  “So you were counting!” He took the keys from her hand, and unlocked the door.

  “Did you take medication today?”

  “I took some this morning, not this afternoon,” Josie huffed. “If I had, I wouldn’t have had wine with dinner.” Josie pushed open her door, walked inside, and turned to face him, holding out her hand for her keys. Sam walked past her, ignoring her outstretched hand, realizing he had offended her. She was a touchy little thing.

  “I don’t require a keeper, Sam. I’d like you to leave.” He turned to her.

  “I think you need someone to watch out for you, someone who cares about you. When was the last time you had someone you could lean on?” When he saw her confused expression, he had his answer.

  “How many people have you taken care of over the years?” he asked quietly.

  Josie bit her lip, and he just couldn’t help himself, he brushed his fingers over her mouth, rescuing that bit of flesh. “I would love it if you would let me take care of you. Just a little bit…is that so wrong?” He cupped her face, and bent for a slow taste of those luscious lips.

  Josie couldn’t stop her response. His words had unlocked something deep within her. She couldn’t remember a time when she could literally lean into someone, and she reveled in it. Her arms lifted to encompass his broad shoulders. God, he felt so hard, so good and strong. Trying to get even closer, she lifted up on her toes, and gasped in pain. He felt it in their kiss, and correctly interpreted it. He broke away and looked at her. In one quick moment, she was lifted in his arms and then found herself settled on his lap on her sofa. She looked up at him in wonder. “You’ll hurt yourself doing that,” she admonished.

  “Baby, you’re just a little thing,” Sam said.

  Josie snorted in disbelief.

  “Okay, you’re lush and curvy, just the way I love women. I can’t stand a woman who’s going to blow away at the first strong wind. But, Josie, compared to me, you are a little thing, and you’re the perfect size, with the absolute perfect body. Do you understand me? Are you finally hearing me?” Josie looked up at him, and saw the absolute truth on his face. She turned away, and nuzzled his neck, not wanting him to see the sheen of tears in her eyes. This man, who made her blood sizzle, was turning her self-image upside down. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her heart.

  “I know we’re going to talk about our injuries, but can you please tell me how such a beautiful woman could think she needed to hide in clothes four times her size? How she could think that she wouldn’t have men falling at her feet?” Josie couldn’t help giggling at the outrageous statement.

  “I’m serious, baby. At least a quarter of your male customers are coming into Sweet Dream Desserts to see the sights, not for the pastries.” Sam tilted her head so she was forced to look at him. “Let me guess, it was some guy who convinced you that you, you were less than perfect.”

  “Actually, it started way earlier than that. My mom was one of those women who would blow away in the wind, and she was constantly harping on my weight. So, it’s pretty much ingrained that I’m fat. And, yeah, I got pretty serious about a guy, and when I finally agreed to sleep with him, well, he wasn’t all that impressed with my body. He insisted the lights be turned off.” Josie had to turn away from Sam. She couldn’t stand to see pity in his eyes.

  Once again he turned her face, and she ended up looking up at him, and what she saw was anger. “Baby, that should never have happened. I understand a parent belittling you, boy do I understand that, but I can’t understand the asshole issues. If I was lucky enough to get a chance to make love to you, I would want all the lights on. I wouldn’t want to miss a thing.”

  Sam leaned forward and reached down to clasp both of her hands in his, and then he twined their fingers together. It somehow seemed more intimate. He looked down at his big fingers pushed through the spaces between her smaller fingers and suddenly had an image of his cock parting through the tight tissues of her vagina. He looked up and saw a heavy-lidded response on her face, as if she was reading his mind, and then he noticed her squirm slightly on the sofa, as if she was getting aroused. She looked back down at their hands and he was sure that she was just as aware of the imagery as he was.

  Sam leaned in, and nuzzled the crook of her neck, inhaling the womanly scent of Josie. He rubbed his cheek up her jawline and finally took her mouth. He glanced up, and saw that her eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed in arousal. He started by sipping at her plump lips, before he brushed his tongue against her lower lip, asking for entrance. She opened for him, inviting him inside, and her taste made him dizzy. He tasted the crème brûlée they had for dessert, but mostly he tasted the sweetness that was Josie. Again and again he tangled with her tongue, getting to know what made her whimper, what made her lean into him. When she brushed her breasts against his chest he broke away. He watched as her lashes lifted, her eyes looking deep brown.

  He reached over and turned on the lamp on the right side of the sofa that was behind him. Then he leaned over Josie, pushing her deeper into the back of the sofa, and turned on the lamp on the left side of the sofa. He came back and hovered over her, noting how her eyes had gotten even darker. His hands went to the top button on her navy-blue silk shirt and ever so slowly unbuttoned it. He took his time, and unbuttoned each one, revealing the golden corset underneath. He was amazed that drool wasn’t dripping on the garment by the time he was done taking off her blouse.

  “You know this holds me in a lot,” Josie warned.

  “You normally look like a pinup girl, Josie, now you look like every wet dream I’ve ever had.” His hands stroked over the smooth satin of the corset. “Do you use this, the same as the brace?” he asked.

  “Yes, it gives me just as much support, but it makes me feel prettier. I feel clunky wearing the brace. It’s almost like the brace makes me feel disabled or something.”

  “Yeah, the migraines I have make me feel that way. Sometimes they are disabling. I can’t do anything but lie down until they go away,” Sam confided. As he was talking, he was stroking over the gold satin, moving closer to the dark swell of Josie’s breasts as they mounded over the top of the binding garment.

  His eyes flicked over to the clock at the stove and saw it was 7:15. He had forty-five minutes, and he knew exactly how to use them.

  “Baby, you don’t sleep in your brace or corset, do you?” He saw the slight shake of her head, and he levered off her. Standing up, he bent over and scooped her up, striding to her bedroom. He went around and turned on all the lights he saw, including the nightlight plugged into a low socket, just to make a point, before he put a giggling Josie onto her feet.

  “You’re a nut, Sam Booth.”

  “It’s close to your bedtime, and I’m tucking you into bed.” He might not get the relief he needed but he was damn sure going to get a taste of Josie before he left tonight.

  He looked around her bedroom, not surprised to see that her bed was made. They had that in common, the need to control t
heir environments. It probably came from their childhoods being so out of their control. Everywhere he looked, he saw color and feminine touches. He looked back at Josie. She was breathtaking. His hands went to the waistband of her jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping, then guiding them down her smooth thighs, unsurprised to see gold panties to match her corset. He helped her out of her ballet flats at the same time he had her step out of her jeans. He ran his hands up her legs, resting them on her hips, and looked up at her. “Turn around. I want to undo the ties of this corset.”

  He watched as Josie licked her lips and motioned to her side. “Actually you can unhook it here, it’s easier.”

  “Oh, baby, there is no way in hell I’m not going to play with those laces. Now turn around.” He watched as her eyes dilated at his strong tone, and she immediately complied. Josie liked being told what to do in the bedroom.

  Josie turned her back to Sam. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, with all the lights blazing in her bedroom. She knew that when the corset came off, not only was she going to look two sizes larger, she was going to have imprints all over her skin from where the laces had dug into her flesh, but right now she didn’t care. She was choosing to trust what Sam had said earlier. She was sick of living this half-life.

  She felt his warm hands push the mass of curly hair over her shoulder so that he could get to the laces. His fingers trailed along the seam, touching the skin that was revealed between the crisscross of the strings. Then she felt him undo the bow holding the laces in place, tugging, and then that feeling of release as the pressure eased. His fingers were warm against her back as he pulled the laces, bringing more relief, and Josie couldn’t help but sigh. Sam pressed up against her back. His head bent low to nuzzle her neck, breathing her in as his fingers continued to slowly set her free, allowing her to breathe more easily. With every inch of skin he revealed, he caressed and rubbed. He knew that she would be sore from the compression, and she moaned at the pleasure of his touch.

  Suddenly the corset was expanded completely and falling. Josie caught it just in time as it would have fallen and exposed her breasts.

  “Please, baby, show me.” Sam again turned her around, this time within the safety of his embrace. Josie lowered the garment and let it slide to the floor, and put her hands to her sides, with her fists clenched. She knew her breasts were large and heavy, and that they did not stay up without support. She didn’t look like the nude models in pictures she had seen, but she willed herself not to cover her breasts.

  Sam reached out and cupped both of her breasts. They seemed the perfect size in his big hands. “You’re gorgeous, baby.” His thumbs brushed over her nipples and sensation zipped directly to her core, wetting her panties. “Oh God, Josie, I can smell your arousal. Let’s get you on the bed.” He stepped her backward, two steps, and Josie felt the back of her knees hit the mattress. His right hand slipped behind her back and lowered her to a seated position. “There you go.” Gently he pushed her down so that she was lying before him, her feet touching the floor. He knelt down in front of her, and she pushed up on her elbows. His fingers traced the panel of her panties, squeezing past her clenched thighs. “So wet. Is this for me?” He leaned forward and took a deep breath. “This is the sweetest smell.” His hands gripped the sides of her panties and drew them off her body, leaving her naked.

  “Spread your legs for me, Josie.” It was the most decadent request anybody had ever made of her. She debated for just a moment, and then chose surrender, parting her thighs. She felt herself quiver, and Sam must have noticed it too, because he ran soothing hands up and down her legs, murmuring sounds of approval. He pushed her even further apart for his perusal, until finally Josie could feel the outer lips of her sex opening up as well. She couldn’t help the instinctive need to close herself, but Sam’s determined hold kept her open to his gaze.

  “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful, Josie, and knowing that you are sharing this with me, humbles me.” Sam’s hands slid upward, and Josie watched as his thumbs tangled in her dark curls, and then she felt him opening her even further. She whimpered, whether in embarrassment or need she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was both. He bent forward and she could feel his breath against her wet sex and then he turned, rubbing his cheek against her pussy. “I want to have your scent on me for the rest of the night,” he explained.

  Turning back, he sucked her right labial lip into his mouth and Josie arched off the bed, the sensation unimaginable. His tongue flicked against her flesh, sucking loudly. Then he moved to the other side, giving it the same attention before he pushed his tongue deep into her empty channel, curling it to gather her honeyed essence. Josie watched, fascinated as he swallowed again and again as if he couldn’t get enough of her flavor, and really enjoyed tasting her.

  He looked up, his eyes hooded, dazed with desire. They opened a little more as he saw her expression. “I could do this all night. My God, woman, you’re everything I ever dreamed of.” One of his fingers moved to gently enter her, as his head lowered to envelop her clit. Josie could no longer stay on her elbows, the pleasure so intense she fell back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She felt the pressure increase in her vagina and realized he must have inserted a second finger. He swirled them around, seeking, and then suddenly he brushed against nerves she never knew she had, causing her to arch against his face with a keening cry. He rubbed more insistently, fluttering his tongue against her clit, and Josie’s eyes closed as she climbed a roller coaster, seeing colors and sparks behind her eyes, until suddenly she exploded and flew down the coaster, on the best ride of her life.

  “Josie…baby…” She felt arms around her. She was under the covers of her bed, a warm body wrapped around her. “Honey, are you all right?” She looked up and realized that Sam was the warm body that was surrounding her, and she cuddled closer.

  “I’m perfect,” she murmured drowsily. Sam helped her to a sitting position, and put a glass of water to her lips. “Here, baby, drink this.” Josie couldn’t believe how thirsty she was. After she was finished, she thought about the fact that she was under her covers, and she had no knowledge of when Sam had gotten the water she was drinking.

  “When did you get that? Why don’t I remember?” she asked, embarrassed.

  “You were kind of in a fog,” Sam explained.

  Josie looked down, and couldn’t miss the erection pressed against Sam’s jeans. Sam grinned sheepishly at her. “Yeah, you definitely have a certain effect on me, baby.”

  “Do you want to…?” she asked tentatively.

  “It’s past your bedtime.” Sam motioned to the clock beside her bed, and Josie saw it was 8:45. “I’m hoping that you’ll dream of me. I would have left already, but I need you to come lock the door.” Josie saw that he had already found her Hello Kitty nightshirt, and he easily slipped that on her, and she followed him to the door. He stopped before opening it.

  “No more avoiding my calls.” Josie shivered at his authoritative voice.

  “I promise.” He kissed her hard, and then left. Josie locked the door. He was right, she did dream of him.

  Chapter 8

  Chance was waiting at Sweet Dream Desserts when it opened at 6:00 a.m. His conversation with Betty the night before had convinced him that he needed to take the red-eye home. He would just have to finish his business via teleconference. He wanted Josie and Sam to hit it off, but he didn’t want them to do it without him. Anyway, when the hell had Sam met Josie? He had planned to introduce the two of them.

  But Chance had to chuckle. Leave it to Sam. He might be injured, but that man had always attracted the ladies. He was still smiling when he saw Elise and Josie behind the display counter. He also took note that he wasn’t the only single man who was waiting at the door. Josie had managed to gain a few admirers here in Fate Harbor. Elise gave him a wink when she saw him. It was good to know that he had the inside track as far as she was concerned.

  Chance stepped back and let everyone else go first. He wan
ted to make sure that he had as much time to talk to Zee as possible. He noticed she looked tired, and he wondered just how late she and Sam had stayed up last night. He knew that they had left Betty and Butch’s around 6:30, because that’s when he had gotten the call from Betty. He also heard from Betty about the ungodly schedule she kept, getting up at 2:00 so she could start the baking process before the doors opened. He was going to have to see about getting her some additional help.

  Just as he got to the front of the line, she zipped to the back, leaving Elise to help him. Elise gave him a sheepish grin, and that just made him chuckle again. Nope, none of this was going to be easy, but easy wasn’t fun. “I think I make your boss nervous.”

  “I think that’s a good sign, Chance. All the others she handles just fine. You she hides from. What can I get you?”

  “How about some coffee and a cinnamon roll?” he answered.

  “To go?”

  “Oh no, I want to enjoy the ambience.” Elise rang him up, and he sat down at one of five little tables that sat near the front of the Dream Desserts. Chance positioned his chair so he could see out the window while watching the entrance to the kitchen. When Zee came back out, she had a smudge of flour on her face. She looked edible.

  “Hey, friend, do you have time for a break?” Chance called across the store. Josie started, seeing Chance still there. She looked around the bakery, and saw that it was empty, so she reluctantly went to sit with Chance. He knew that his presence unnerved her. She still hadn’t figured out exactly how to classify him because of all of his flirting, which was fine by him. He didn’t want to be considered just a friend.

  As soon as she sat down, he gripped her hand and twined their fingers together, and she audibly gasped looking down at their hands. Chance was confused, until he saw her unconsciously undulate her small fingers around his larger ones. Then he saw the significance of the symbolism. He brought their clasped hands up to his mouth, and inserted his tongue in a crevice where their fingers met, and he heard her softly moan. Zee was a sensual woman, and he was a hell of a lucky man. He’d bet his last dollar that Sam had been a lucky man last night.