Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2)

by Michaels, Donna

  He quirked a brow. “I think I know what’s missing.”

  “You do?” she asked, setting her spoon in the sink, then turning to find him right behind her. “What’s missing?”

  A devilish grin tugged his lips as he reached past her to drop his spoon next to hers. “You,” he replied, face deliciously close, so close she could see every brown hue in his eyes, twinkling, drawing her in, making her smile.

  She tipped her head. “Is that right?”

  “Yep. I’m positive this chocolate would taste even better on you.”

  As if in concurrence, Mocha made a familiar, horrible, screeching sound, started to shake then shot chocolate out in all directions.

  “Dammit, Mocha.” Jill rushed around the table and lunged for the switch. But it was too late. By the time she turned off the machine, warm chocolate coated the walls, cabinets, table, floor, her…Mason.

  Chapter Twelve

  Mason.

  Shoot. Jill stepped closer to the handsome man with chocolate dripping from his hair, down his face and onto his already splattered shirt.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  He blinked, then held up his hands and smiled. “I swear, I had nothing to do with that.”

  Relieved that he wasn’t angry, she laughed and he joined in. For a full minute, they stood in the middle of her kitchen laughing and dripping with chocolate. Then the amusement lighting his eyes turned to a delicious, dark heat. Her heart rocked hard in her chest.

  He reached out to cup her chin. “I think it’s time to test my theory,” he said, then leaned in to softly lick her cheek.

  The feel of his tongue gliding over her skin made her gasp as awareness rolled down her body in a charged wave of warmth. “I agree,” she said on a hitched breath. “Let me see.” Zeroing in on a splotch on his throat, she gripped his shoulders, and licked him clean. Then stilled. “Oh my God, Mason!”

  “Mmm…always nice to hear a woman scream my name while her lips are on my skin.” His hands trailed down her sides to settle on her hips.

  She drew back and laughed. “You’re a genius!”

  “Nice to hear, too.”

  Still smiling, she grasped his face with both hands, lifted up on tip-toe and gently licked the chocolate from his cheek. “This is definitely the taste I was going for.”

  His hands tightened around her waist. “Glad I could help,” he said, voice low and delectably husky.

  “You did,” she said, continuing to lick his skin. “Salt. That’s what I have to add to my mixture. A little more salt.” She drew back and smiled. “Thanks for your help.”

  “You’re welcome.” He walked her slowly backward until her back hit the wall. “Do I get a reward?”

  With her heart pounding so loud and hard in her chest, she could barely breathe. “What do you want?”

  A wicked gleam entered his eyes and sifted the strength from her knees.

  “To conduct my own test,” he replied, running a finger through a glob of chocolate on the front of her apron before smudging it on her lips in an erotic back and forth motion. “My true and proper taste test.”

  Warm breath hit her face as he cupped her chin and gently lowered his mouth to hers. Anticipation stole what was left of her breath.

  Oh Lordy…

  Using unhurried, deliberate movements, he started at one end and brushed his lips over hers, tasting, nibbling, savoring, driving her slowly out of her mind with soft, little licks of his tongue.

  “Mason,” she whispered, trembling against him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her tongue out to meet his.

  He groaned, and thrusting his hands in her hair, knocked off her hairnet as he angled her mouth and deepened the kiss.

  Holy hotness, what a kiss. Deep, and drugging, and demanding as hell, and she gave back tenfold. By the time they drew apart for air, she had no strength left in her legs and clung to him for support.

  “Damn, you taste good,” he said against her temple, breath hot and ragged. “And I was right about the chocolate. It does taste better on you.”

  Smiling, she dropped her gaze to her hand as she played with the neck of his shirt. “I agree…and I know I’m out of practice, but…I bet it would taste even better if we were naked.”

  He bent down at the knee and tipped her head up at the same time, waiting until she met his deep gaze. “Of that I have no doubt, but I wouldn’t want you to feel pressured in any way, Jill.”

  “That’s sweet,” she said, sliding her hand up his broad shoulder to brush her thumb across the back of his neck, empowered by his shudder.

  “Believe me, sweet is the last thing I’m feeling right now.”

  His gaze was hot enough to re-melt the dried chocolate stuck to her body and clothes.

  This time, she shuddered. “And the last thing I’m feeling is pressured.” Jill stepped back slightly, reached behind her and untied her apron before pulling it off and dropping it at their feet. She moved to stand in front of him. “Now, where were we-e-e—” Her foot slipped through a glob of chocolate, and she landed on her butt before she even finished the sentence, or either of them could react.

  “Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt?” he asked, dropping to his knees beside her, concern entering his gaze.

  “I’m okay.” Except for my pride. Heat rushed to her face as she rubbed her butt.

  He cocked his head, sexy grin tugging his lips. “Are you sure you’re okay? Because…you know, I’d be happy to kiss it and make it better.”

  All kinds of ideas rushed through her head, and before she had a chance to think them through, her mouth opened. “Well, now that you mention it…” She pointed to her cheek, wishing she’d had the guts to point to her chest. “It does kind of hurt here.”

  “Yeah? How’s this?” He leaned in and gently kissed her cheek.

  “Better,” she replied, running her hand up his arm, loving the feel of flexing muscle underneath.

  “Anywhere else?”

  “Yeah.” She pointed to her lip, and he obliged by kissing her softly at first, then hungrily when her tongue accidentally-on-purpose snuck into his opened mouth.

  Oops.

  He had an arm around her back and used his other hand to push her hair aside as he drew back and nibbled on her jaw. “Anywhere else?”

  Unable to find her voice, she nodded and pointed to her neck, even tipped her head for better access. The very smart, very enterprising man made his way to the spot, and explored the area, drawing all sorts of responses from her, including, but not limited to, gasps, clutching, eyes rolling back in her head, and even embarrassingly needy moans.

  Bless him. He didn’t seem to mind. When he finished, she was a panting mass of melted goo, resembling the chocolate clinging to the floor.

  “Did I get it all?”

  His voice was low and rough, and her good parts responded with a tight pull. She shook her head. “Funny, but I must be coming down with something. I seem to hurt everywhere.”

  Fierce hunger flashed in his eyes. “Is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  His hands trailed down her body to the bottom of her shirt. “Then you need to strip,” he said, grasping the hem and lifting the material over her head, leaving her sitting on the floor in her bra and jeans. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra, then sucked in a breath as the lace fell away.

  She used the time to snake her hands under his Henley. “So do you,” she said, pushing his shirt up his torso, revealing a six pack and drool-worthy pecs dusted in a smattering of dark hair. Saliva pooled across her tongue, the very tongue she wanted to pull across his chest.

  “Me? Why?”

  She smiled. “Because it’ll make me feel a lot better.”

  “Oh, trust me, Jill,” he said, yanking his shirt off with one hand before he leaned over her until she was flat on the floor staring up at him. “I’m going to make you feel real good.”

  She slid her hands up his arms. “Promise?”

  “Guara
ntee.”

  Then he proved it by kissing her senseless, leaving her trembling as his lips blazed a trail down her shoulder and collarbone, teasing her with little kisses and licks.

  “Mason,” she sighed, needing more, and could feel him smiling against her skin, but forgot to be mad when his mouth finally closed around her nipple, taking the tip between his teeth, flicking it with his tongue before tugging softly.

  Crying out, she arched into him, silently offering more.

  Apparently, he understood silent offers.

  He made his way to her other breast, his big, calloused hands brushing a delicious trail down her body before unhooking her jeans, shoving that wonderful hand inside and sliding a finger between her legs.

  “Mmm…perfect,” he murmured against her breast. “Warm and wet.”

  Her heart rocked at the thought of what wonderful, wicked things he might do. He released her to draw back and smile as if reading her mind.

  “Lift up, I need to take these off so I can taste all of you, Fireball,” he said, tugging her zipper down.

  Her heart warmed by the endearment, she wanted that, too, so very much, but first, she rose up onto her elbows and stared at him, needing him to know. “I-I wasn’t kidding before, Mason. I haven’t done this in a while. And…” She cleared her throat, still holding his gaze. “I was a virgin when I married Donny and haven’t been with anyone else. A-and it’s been a long time.”

  God, she was embarrassed, but didn’t want to disappoint him. It was better he knew she lacked experience going into…whatever they were going into.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” he said, quietly, brushing the hair off her forehead. “I haven’t been with anyone in a while, either.” He bent down to kiss her shoulder.

  Then his lips were burning a trail again, this time down her throat and breast. He circled her nipple with his tongue and sucked the tight peak into his warm mouth.

  Closing her eyes, she moaned and lay back down, kicking the last of her restraint out the door. She wanted Mason, and she was going to have him. Now. And would happily tell him if she could catch her breath. The best she could do was lift up when his fingers slid under the waistband of her jeans.

  Without taking his mouth off her, he tugged them down along with her panties, his rough jaw scraping her soft skin, wicked tongue planting ideas, igniting needs.

  When he had them off and she was completely naked, he positioned himself between her legs and stared up at her. “Damn, you’re gorgeous. I can’t wait to taste you.” Then his mouth and hands were back on her, kissing a path up the inside of her legs, calloused palms making her shiver the closer he got to…the part quaking for him the most.

  She hadn’t had an orgasm in well over a year. Anticipation trembled through her limbs. One well-placed glance and she was going to go off like…Mocha. Quick and messy.

  “I got you,” he murmured, putting his mouth on one thigh, then the other, and then…her center.

  Her whole body jerked.

  “Easy.” His warm hands grasped her thighs, while he gently began to take her apart with his tongue.

  She called out his name, her hands suddenly in his hair, holding his head as his mouth teased with slow strokes of his tongue. But she needed…more. “Mason…please,” she begged, didn’t care, would happily beg again if he’d just give her what she needed.

  “You taste so good,” he said against her wet flesh, driving her out of her mind.

  Her pulse was racing and heart pounding when he finally gave her what she needed. He took her where she needed to go, teeth and tongue upping their game, taking her to the edge, that blissful edge…then beyond. Crying out his name, she came hard and fast, and he drew it out with an expertise that left her breathless and shaking.

  When she eventually came back to herself, she opened her eyes and wondered briefly how long she’d been out, because Mason was naked. Standing. Rolling on a condom. A large one.

  Breath immediately caught in her throat as she stared up at his gorgeous, hard, sinewy body glistening under the unflattering lights in her kitchen. There was nothing unflattering about the man. Not the dried chocolate stuck to his hair and body, and certainly not his erection. He was big and hard everywhere.

  Gaze dark and smoldering, he bent over her, palming the floor by her head. “You were delicious, but I need to be inside you,” he said, voice low and rough with need.

  She ran her hands up his back, finding him tight with tension. “I want you inside me, too.”

  With a low, sexy sound, he captured her mouth with his and kissed her deep and frantic and deliciously hot. Then he drew back and positioned himself between her legs, and holding her gaze, shoved inside in one, long, slow, stroke.

  It was all too much, yet all too right.

  She wasn’t going to worry about tomorrow, or the fact the countdown had begun to the day he walked away. No. Right now, he made her feel incredible, and wanted, and cherished, and God, she just wanted to enjoy that rare feeling without all the repercussions swirling in her head. So she shut them down. Closed them off. Refused to worry about what happened next.

  “Jesus, Jill, you feel so damn good,” he said, pulling nearly all the way out before pushing back in.

  In the stark, florescent lights, he looked magnificent, brown eyes that deep Criollo bean color, face strained, muscles quivering, ecstasy tugging them both into a pulse-pounding rhythm. She was so close to that edge again. How could she be there already? But she was, and with every drag of his body and slow push inside, the tightness increased until she was ready to snap again.

  “Mason…I’m…” she panted, completely out of herself, treading in unknown waters.

  He bent down and kissed her lips. “I know. I’m with you,” he said, drawing back to up their pace.

  She was done. That was it. Jill cried out, her pleasure echoing off the chocolate splattered kitchen walls, mingling with his low, sexy sound as he thrust deep inside, all the way to the hilt, and followed her over into a bliss he created.

  Still flat on her back on the kitchen floor, Jill came back to herself a little while later, and absently noted a few splotches of chocolate on the ceiling. Mocha outdid herself this time. She hardly ever hit the ceiling. Tonight, the machine reached new heights.

  Just like Jill.

  The common ingredient was Mason. Ripped and wickedly handsome, the enigmatic man pulled responses from her she never knew existed. Her body was still quivering with little aftershocks of pleasure. She understood how her chocolate felt flowing through the fountain, stripped, taken apart, then put back together. Right now, she could barely feel her legs.

  Mason stirred at her side, then came up on an elbow and stared down at her, his eyes still dark with heat. “You okay?”

  “Very. And then some.” Smiling, she reached up to touch his face. “You?”

  A grin tugged the mouth that kissed her palm. “Hell, yeah.”

  “I’m glad.” She brushed his jaw with her thumb. “I never asked you why you came.”

  Another smile claimed his lips. “Because you tightened around me and—”

  “Not that.” She laughed and smacked his shoulder. “I meant here, to my place.”

  “Oh, that.” He reached behind him to pull something out of his discarded cargos. “To give this back to you. Again,” he replied, holding up her grandmother’s pin.

  She sat up and reached for her neck. Duh. Naked. Her scarf was hanging with her coat on a hook by the door. “I’m sorry. How…where?”

  “Outside the ladies’ locker room.” He smiled, handing her the pin.

  In all the years she’d worn the heirloom, it had never fallen off. Ever. Now, within a little over a week, she’d lost it twice. Opening the clasp, she lifted her shoulder. “It’s not broken. I don’t get it.” Then a thought dawned, and she could feel her face turn beet red as she lifted her gaze to his. “I swear to you, Mason, I haven’t been leaving this for you to find on purpose.”

  He grinned. “It�
��s okay. I believe you,” he said, then rose to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”

  She watched him walk across the room. His naked backside was as impressive as his front, all sinewy and lean, mouthwatering back muscles and glutes rippling as he walked. The outdoor activities he conducted were good for his body. And hers. After all, she’d certainly reaped the rewards.

  He disappeared down the hall, presumably to find the bathroom to take care of the condom. Heat rushed down to her toes. Just looking at him made her ache and took her mind off her stupid display of emotion. But, she should probably worry about the chocolate splattered walls, cabinet, table, ceiling and floor before the mess had a chance to harden, instead of worrying about hardening other things.

  She’d just closed the clasped when she heard the bathroom door open. Suddenly feeling shy, she jumped to her feet, set the pin on a clean shelf, then quickly reached for the nearest piece of clothes. Her apron. With no time to grab another, she slipped it on and was tying the strings when the mesmerizing, naked guardsman walked back into the room.

  He stopped dead, gaze heating as he stared. “You look so damn hot. Are you naked under there?”

  She nodded. “Yeah…I thought maybe I should try to clean this place.”

  He shook his head and strode straight to her, mischievous grin tugging his lips. “I’ve got a better use for the chocolate.”

  And like that, she went damp, and her ache increased as she watched his erection grow hard before her eyes. He stopped in front of her, lightly brushing his thumb across her beaded nipples poking the apron. “A much better use.”

  “Again?” she asked, unable to stop from pressing into his big, warm hand.

  He bent down to kiss her neck. “Again,” he replied against her skin, sliding his other hand around to cup her bare ass and squeeze. “And again, because I’ve the feeling twice in one night won’t be enough for me.”

  She drew back to stare up at him, and her whole body heated at the fierce expression on his face, somewhere between playful and protective. Her heart cracked open, and he slid farther inside, which scared the hell out of her, because he was bound to leave like the others.