“Only if you talk me into it in the first place.” I caught the predatory gleam in his eye and ran in the opposite direction. I didn’t make it far before he caught me from behind, wrapping his arms around my stomach.
“You throwing down the gauntlet, sweetheart? Because I’m more than happy to pick it up,” he breathed into my ear.
“No!” I squeaked. Then I jerked my chin towards the windows that went from the floor to the dramatic cathedral ceilings, with a spectacular view of the harbor. “But I think the living room is a decent compromise with those windows that anyone could look through.”
“Compromise accepted.” He lifted me off my feet and settled me on the ground and went about making me forget about my worries that someone might see us. As I was writhing beneath him, my whole focus was centered on him. An entire parade could have marched past us, and I wouldn’t have noticed. He was just that good at making me lose my mind. A skill he demonstrated to me over and over again for the next week, while giving me the best vacation of my life.
“What are we going to do today?” I asked, nudging Gaige in the side when he didn’t look up from his laptop. We were settled side-by-side in the chairs on the porch, enjoying our coffee after breakfast the same way we had each day since our first morning there. It felt like we’d been doing it forever, and I’d quickly grown accustomed to the habit, to the point that I couldn’t imagine a morning without it.
“Sorry,” he murmured distractedly. “I think I might finally have a lead on the chocolates.”
We’d been having so much fun that I’d almost forgotten about the reason Gaige had come to LA in the first place. He hadn’t brought it up in all the time we’d been on the island, and it had lulled me into a false sense of security. Or not quite false since I didn’t have any doubts that Gaige would keep me safe. “What kind of lead?”
“They were brought to the set by a courier service. The guy I have helping me out was finally able to pinpoint the time they were delivered. It took so long because they sat for a day before the production assistant gave them to you,” he explained. “My guy got a still shot of the courier off the studio’s security tapes, hunted him down, and questioned him about it. Luckily, he remembered the chocolates. He said it’s rare for them to accept a package from UPS and then turn around to deliver it since there isn’t a reason it couldn’t have just been sent directly to you in the first place.”
“That is odd,” I agreed. “Is the UPS delivery trackable?”
“Yeah, it came from Hawaii.”
“Hawaii?” I echoed. “Pierre Marcolini has a store there. It’s the only one in the United States.”
“Yeah, I figured that out right away, but finding the customer would be next to impossible without more information. Getting them to release customer information without a court order is hard enough, but it’s nearly impossible without being able to say that we knew for a fact that the purchase was made from their store. An exact date would make it even easier.”
I nodded as I listened to his explanation. “I can see how it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“The upside is that we’ve been able to whittle it down to a small pile of hay,” he sighed as he set the laptop on the ground and rubbed his face with his palms. “I’d hoped to know more by now, but at least it’s progress.”
I put my mug on the table between us, rose from my chair, and climbed onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. “The other good news is that I haven’t gotten any more surprises since you came to town. Maybe you scared whoever it is off.”
“It’s possible,” he agreed. “But I still need to find the person behind it all and make sure they understand that an approach to you—any kind, no matter the reasons behind it—is unacceptable. And that if they decide to try it again, I’ll be the one giving them your response.”
I shivered at the dark promise in his voice. One thing was for sure; I wouldn’t want to be in that person’s shoes. Gaige pissed off was a scary sight, even when his anger wasn’t on my behalf and not directed towards me. But he didn’t scare me. In fact, it was the opposite. His determination to eliminate what he perceived to be a threat to me, no matter what it took and where it came from, made me feel like the safest person in the world. It also didn’t hurt that he pretty much catered to my every whim.
“If the trail leads to Hawaii, do we need to go there?” I asked, blinking at him with feigned innocence.
“You trying to talk me into a trip to a bigger, better island?” He dropped a kiss on top of my head, squeezing me tight.
“Nah,” I laughed. “This one’s perfect for the two of us.”
“Damn straight it is.”
“Is there anything else you need to track down this morning?”
I felt him shake his head. “Nope. I’ve already reached out to an old Army buddy who lives in Honolulu. He’s going to stop by the store when they open today and see if he can talk them into sharing their receipts from the day the chocolates were shipped. If we’re lucky, one of the employees will remember something since they aren’t supposed to do mail orders from the retail shops.”
I leaned back to look at him. “Not only did this person know what my favorite chocolates were, but they went well out of their way to get me a box. That’s weird, right?”
“It might have been easier than we think. Just like I’m doing to figure out who this guy is, he could have asked a friend who was in Hawaii to buy the truffles for you.”
I scrunched my brow in confusion. “But wouldn’t that friend have shipped them, too, instead of the store? Then their name would’ve been on the shipment, and this whole thing would be so much easier.”
“Not necessarily. Think about how simple it would be for us to ask one of the shops here to ship a purchase home for us because we don’t have enough space in our luggage. Or because we’re tight on time and can’t go to the post office ourselves.”
“You’re right. That art gallery offered to pack and ship the painting I was looking at when we wandered in there the other day.” He flashed me a knowing smile, and I was filled with a sudden certainty. “You bought it, didn’t you?”
“Yup, and I had them ship it to my house.” This time he was the one who tried to look innocent. It didn’t work for him any better than it had for me.
I let it slide, just as I had all the other things he’d done that hinted at his intention for me to go to Atlanta with him when this was all over. “If you’re free, can we rent the beach bicycles like we talked about yesterday?”
“You still want to do that today?”
I jumped off his lap and grabbed his hand to pull him up after me. “Yup. Let’s get going so we aren’t out there when it’s ridiculously hot this afternoon.”
“Sure, sweetheart. I know how much you prefer to save all the really sweaty activities for when we’re home alone. Naked.”
Of course I did. That kind came with all the orgasms I could handle.
8
Gaige
I’d taken Arabella on a bicycle ride on the beach, just like she wanted. I’d even agreed to a two-person bike and did most of the pedaling. But now that we were back at the cottage, it was time for my reward. Arabella had collapsed on the couch in the living room and was gulping down another bottle of water. My girly girl wasn’t a big fan of exercise, which was fine by me. I loved her curves. Her plan to not get too sweaty while we were on the beach had failed. Even though we’d both already showered, I was about to get us dirty all over again.
I dropped down on the cushion next to her and pulled her legs onto my lap. I rested one of my hands on top of them and grazed my fingertips along her skin. Goosebumps popped up behind the path I took, as my hand trailed up her thigh and under the hem of the shorts she was wearing. Her breathing hitched and her head jerked up as she capped the water bottle and set it on the end table.
The inseam on her shorts wasn’t very long, and the material was loose enough that I wa
s able to reach her panties. My fingers brushed over the fabric directly over her tight pussy, and my cock pressed against my zipper when I found it drenched. The light teasing of my touch sparked the chemistry between us. “I’m addicted to you, sweetheart. I can’t seem to get enough. Don’t think I ever will.”
“Good,” she murmured throatily. “Because it’s the same for me.”
I fisted my other hand in the ponytail she’d pulled her blonde hair into before she’d jumped in the shower and brought her lips to mine. Her mouth parted as her eyes drifted closed. I nipped at her lips before plunging my tongue inside, and she inched closer until our bodies were flush against each other. Her pebbled nipples pressed against my chest and she mewled in need, but she still wasn’t close enough for me. I dropped both hands to her hips and lifted her up as I stood.
Sliding my grip down to her ass, I held her tight as I strode towards the room we’d been sleeping in. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I felt her damp heat press against me. With her fingers digging into my shoulders, I moved as fast as I could while still licking and sucking at her neck.
“Gaige,” she gasped when I dropped her onto the mattress, quickly following her down and settling myself between her thighs.
My mouth returned to hers while my fingers deftly undid the buttons on her shorts. When they were loose, I shoved them down her legs, taking her panties with them. After I crawled back up her body, she yanked my shirt over my head and tossed it on the floor. The athletic shorts I’d pulled on were easy to drag down my legs. While I was getting rid of them, Arabella whipped her T-shirt over her head. She hadn’t bothered with a bra since it was just us, and I groaned at the sight of her perfect tits.
“So fucking gorgeous, and all mine,” I breathed, bending low to suck a pebbled nipple into my mouth. I bit down gently, making her wiggle underneath me. Before moving lower, I gave the other side equal attention while rocking my cock against her pussy. I groaned at how slippery she was as her wetness coated my hard on. As much as I enjoyed playing with her tits, I wanted her pussy more. So I kissed my way down her stomach, swirling my tongue in her belly button before moving lower. I settled between her thighs, wedging them wider with my shoulders as I slung her legs over them. I gave her a long lick, and her hands clenched at my shoulders. Grinning against her damp flesh, I devoured her until her cries rang in my ears.
“Please, Gaige. Don’t tease me. Give me what I need.”
Her body shook with need as I thrust my tongue in and out of her tight hole. Her walls clenched, and I knew she was close. She needed more to send her over the edge, so I replaced my tongue with a couple of fingers and licked my way up to her clit to flick it before sucking it into my mouth. Her back arched off the mattress as she flew over the edge, screaming my name. Her knees tightened around my head, and I kept at her until she was a boneless heap and couldn’t keep them there anymore.
I levered myself up and drove inside, bottoming out on that first thrust. “You fit me so perfectly. I don’t know how it’s possible, but it still feels better each and every time I feel your pussy wrapped around my cock.”
The aftershocks from her orgasm had her pussy squeezing my dick. It was like she was trying to milk my climax out of me, and I struggled for my control. I didn’t want to come too quickly, didn’t want it to be over so soon. Holding still, I took a few deep breaths before I began to move. I started off slow, reveling in the grip of her pussy walls as I slid in and out.
When she started to tremble in my arms, I picked up the pace and hammered my cock into her. Her nails dug into my skin, her legs squeezed my hips, and her cries filled the room. All of that combined together had my balls drawing up as my orgasm built.
“C’mon, sweetheart. Give me one more. Let go and squeeze the fuck out of my cock. It’ll send me over the edge, too.”
“Yes,” she hissed as she flew apart, taking me with her just like I’d said she would. I planted myself deep inside her one last time and groaned as I exploded, emptying myself inside her. I’d taken her bare each and every time. As I got closer to finding the person behind the mysterious gifts, I found myself praying that I planted a baby in her belly because it would tie her to me forever. Not that I was going to let her get away if she didn’t turn up pregnant. I’d just make sure it happened later.
When I was done, I collapsed on top of her feeling drained in more ways than one. I didn’t want to crush her, so I rolled to my side. As I was tucking her body against me, I heard my cell phone ring.
“Damn it,” I grumbled, turning to stretch an arm out. I snagged my shorts from the floor and dug my phone out of a pocket.
“Leave it,” Arabella murmured. “You can check your messages later.”
I planned to agree, but then I glanced at the screen. I bolted up in bed, my energy returning as I swiped on the screen to answer the call. “This can’t wait. It’s my guy in Hawaii. He might have gotten me the name we need.”
9
Arabella
I jerked up, the drowsiness from my two orgasms disappearing. Crowding against his back I tried to listen in on the conversation, but I could only hear Gaige’s side of it.
“You’re shitting me.”
The bunched muscles in his shoulders relaxed under my fingertips.
“How much did it cost you to get her to give you the name?” There was a slight pause as his friend answered. “Okay, I’ll send you the money to cover it. Thanks, man. I appreciate the help.”
He heaved a deep sigh as he set the phone down on the bedside table. His chin dropped to his chest, and my nerves frayed. When his shoulders started to shake, I began to freak out—until I realized he was laughing. I didn’t understand what his friend could have found that was funny.
“Gaige,” I grumbled. “What’d he tell you?”
He flopped on his back, tugging on my arm until I cuddled into his side. “The girl at the shop remembered shipping a box of champagne filled truffles to LA. It wasn’t something she was supposed to do, but she felt like she couldn’t say no because of the person who asked for the favor.”
“Who was it?”
“Owen Walker.”
“What? No! It couldn’t be,” I gasped. “Owen and Sienna were here in LA with me when I got the chocolates. They couldn’t have gone to the store in Hawaii. It’s impossible.”
“That’s why she wasn’t supposed to do it. Sienna called and sweet-talked her into breaking so many rules. She took Owen’s credit card information over the phone. Agreed to ship the chocolates overnight from the store to LA. And she accepted a bribe to do it all. Back then, and again today to give us the name.”
I shook my head, still not quite grasping what was going on. “But that doesn’t make any sense. Why would they send me gifts like that?”
“From what Sienna told the girl, Owen was hoping to lure an unnamed pastry chef into moving to Atlanta and working for him.”
“Owen Walker wants to hire me?” I gasped.
“Sounds like it,” Gaige confirmed.
I scrambled off the bed, yanked one of Gaige’s shirts from the dresser, and pulled it over my head. Then I ran into the kitchen and grabbed my cell phone off the counter where I’d left it when we’d gotten back from our bike ride. I hadn’t been paying super close attention to my voicemail messages since I’d gotten to LA, and it’d only gotten worse when Gaige and I came to the island. I wasn’t ignoring them, but I was saving them to listen to later after I checked to see who’d called. The only ones I’d been returning were from my sister so she’d know that I was still alive, as she kept putting it each time she called.
As I walked back into the bedroom, I pulled up a message from Owen that I’d received the day we left LA. When it got to the part where he asked me to call him back to discuss a job opportunity, Gaige chuckled. “Mystery solved.”
“This was all a big misunderstanding?”
“It certainly seems that way. The shop girl mentioned that there was a note in the box when the chocol
ates were shipped via UPS. It must have gotten lost in transit. The same could have happened with the flowers and dinner. Why don’t you give Owen a call back so we can be certain that everything is explained away?”
“Okay,” I whispered, trying to adjust to a reality where there was an innocent explanation for the gifts. I pressed the button to return his call and waited for Owen to answer. It only took three rings.
“Owen Walker.”
“Hey, Owen. It’s Arabella. I’m sorry it took so long to return your call, but I’ve had a lot going on,” I apologized.
“No worries. I would have called again if it was urgent, but things have been pretty hectic for Sienna and me too.”
I took a deep breath and asked a question I never thought I’d voice. “You mentioned a job opportunity?”
“Yes, I planned to talk to you about it while we were in LA. But between what happened with Jude and Liz, adjusting to a new producer in the middle of taping, and Sienna being pregnant, there never seemed to be the right opportunity.”
I was pacing back and forth nervously until Gaige pulled me onto his lap. I offered him a reassuring smile.
“Sienna’s pregnant?”
Gaige’s hand drifted down to my belly, and it made me wonder if Sienna was the only one considering how many times Gaige and I’d had unprotected sex. I should probably be more worried about the possibility of being pregnant, but I’d never be able to regret it if Gaige’s baby was growing inside me.
“She is.”
“Congratulations!”
“Thanks. You know what a great baby shower gift would be? Taking a job at Saphyre as our head pastry chef.”
“In Atlanta?”
Gaige perked up at that, nodding his head as Owen went over the details of his offer. Between the chance to work with a chef I respected so much and having a job in the same city as Gaige lived, I was ready to leap at the chance. But before I could accept it, Owen sweetened the deal. “Sienna said that you mentioned how much you were hoping to leverage your role as a judge into a show of your own. I can talk to the producers from mine to see if they’d be interested in talking to you. I left them with a whole in their schedule when I decided I was done, one that they might be willing to fill with you.”
Passion, Vows & Babies: Feed Your Soul (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4