Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2)

by Michaels, Donna

  “Given my luck…” She smiled. “Might I suggest somewhere less public?”

  Her heart rocked in her chest when he glanced around then stepped closer.

  “We’re alone, and I need something to tide me over. Now.”

  “Right now?” Her pulse tripped.

  “Right now,” he replied, walking her backward until she brushed a fence post. “I need a glimpse.”

  She opened her mouth to respond, but he ate her words, devouring her mouth, kissing her long and deep as he unzipped her vest and hoodie, and slipped his hand under her sweater. The air was cold, but his hand was warm and thumb wicked as he brushed it across her nipple poking through the special black and red laced teddy she’d bought for him.

  He drew back and glanced down. “I love my present,” he said, voice low and rough. “Very much.” Tugging the lace aside, he exposed her pebbled peak to the cold air, then to his warm mouth as he bent and sucked her inside.

  Jill gasped and grasped his head, suddenly not as concerned with their location, even arching into him, silently begging for more. She could feel him smile against her breast, then she stilled when he unhooked her jeans and slipped a hand inside, following the teddy all the way down to the bottom.

  “You’re wet,” he said, before drawing back to hook her jeans, fix her sweater and zip her hoodie and vest.

  She played with the collar on his coat. “Your fault.”

  “I’ve got much more for you,” he said, cupping her ass and grinding his erection into her.

  His actions induced more quivers, and she glanced around. “I hope you’re ready to take this somewhere less public, because I also made us some of this.” She slipped a hand in her coat pocket and pulled out the bottle of chocolate.

  In the blink of an eye, she was swept off her feet, and he was marching her back toward the resort. Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled closer. Apparently, Lea wasn’t the only one about to have a memorable night.

  Chapter Twenty

  Two hours later, Mason had to admit, his brother had been right. Damn right. The bath he’d taken with Jill to wash off the leftover dried chocolate their tongues had missed was incredible. Soaping her gorgeous curves while she sat with her back against his chest in the big tub his sister had installed in his condo and he’d never used, had had him seeing double and barely hanging on long enough to roll on a condom and sink into Jill’s hot body.

  “Mmm…what ya thinking?” she asked against his neck as she snuggled into him on the bed, where he’d managed to get them after they’d dried off and caught their breath.

  He was still working on that.

  Trailing a hand down her spine to cup a soft cheek, he smiled as she shifted closer. “That the more I get of you, the more I want.”

  She nodded against his chest. “I seem to have the same issue.” Then her hand trailed down his body, and with one, long, well-placed stroke, he sprang back to life. He rolled them over until she was flat on her back smiling up at him.

  “I’ll have to remember to pull that lever more often.”

  He nipped at her neck, then began to work his way down her warm body. “Yeah, I like you on your back.”

  She sighed and did this sort of melt into the mattress thing that had her body relaxing and her legs opening up in the most inviting way. He detoured around her gorgeous breasts, but was unable to pass by without licking her nipples then blowing on them to watch them pucker and tempt him to linger. He did. Taking his time, drawing one into his mouth and tugging, his own body tightening as she moaned his name and arched up, filling his mouth with more of her soft curves.

  “Mason…oh my God,” she said on an inhale, pumping up more than his ego.

  Switching breasts, he was enjoying her little tremors when her cell phone began to ring on his nightstand. Before she could move away from him, he reached over and grabbed the phone to hand it to her.

  “It’s Lea,” she said excitedly, smiling at him as she answered. “Hello?”

  He slid back down her body, put his mouth on her breast, sucking the gorgeous peak into his mouth hard.

  “Oh my God.”

  He wasn’t sure if that was in response to Lea or him, so he switched to her other breast and gently bit her nipple.

  “Oh God, that’s good,” she gasped again, squirming.

  Still unsure if it was him, he kissed a path down her quivering belly to nip her hip. She sucked in a gulp of air, so he made his way inward.

  “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you.” Her voice went up an octave on the last word when he pushed her legs wider and kissed her inner thigh.

  He drew back to stare at her glistening folds. “Beautiful.” His gaze locked with hers, and because hers held a warning, he brushed his thumb over her center while he slipped a finger inside.

  “I’m so happy f-for-r…” She lifted off the bed. “…y-you both.”

  Ah hell, she was so wet and warm, he had to have a taste. Bending back down, he put his mouth on her, licking and tasting and nibbling, unable to get enough. God, he loved her body. Loved her taste. Loved…

  “Okay-y.” She arched up. “I have to go, too.”

  Lifting his head, he smiled at her. “Not go, you have to come.” Then he resumed his meal and she whimpered.

  “Bye, congratulations, again,” she said, hanging up and tossing the phone before grabbing his head, her fingers digging into his skull. “You’re bold.”

  He drew back. “Want me to stop?”

  She pushed his head back down. “Don’t you dare.”

  “Okay,” he said against her wetness, adding a finger to push her closer to the edge, wanting to taste the release she sought.

  With her hips bucking, she cried out his name and shuddered wildly before she came. Lapping at her, he prolonged her pleasure, enjoying her sweetness in the process. Thanks to the giving, responsive woman, today was the sweetest damn Valentine’s Day he’d ever had.

  Opening week at the new shop came and went in a blur. Jill enjoyed the flurry of activity and showing off Ryder’s exceptional work, along with several new chocolate mixtures she’d created at home while waiting for the Grand Opening of the Confection Connection Factory, or CC Factory.

  Tyler’s class came in for a tour and several more schools contacted her to schedule tours throughout the spring. Teresa had handled them like a pro. Internet sales, thanks to Mason’s web guru magic, had gone through the roof, and despite being off of Main Street, the shop itself had been busy with locals and resort guests all week. She even sold out of Better Than chocolates on her third day, prompting her to hire more staff, at Mason’s urging, and now she had a day shift and evening shift, with no more shortages.

  “So, what do you say, Fireball, ready to call it a day?” Mason asked, walking into the backroom where she was washing out the sink.

  She stopped to smile at him. “Just about. We had an unexpected rush an hour ago from the group of skiers that just arrived from the city.”

  He hugged her from behind and kissed her neck. “Yes, we’re booked solid again this weekend, but I managed to get us a room.”

  “What?” She twisted around in his arms and stared into his warm gaze. “Why would we need a room?”

  “To celebrate the end of your Grand Opening week,” he said, using his forefinger to brush a strand of hair behind her ear that had escaped her ponytail. “You’ve worked your ass off and deserve a treat.”

  Liking the sound of that, she slid her wet hands up his shirt and played with his neck. “You know where I can find a treat?”

  Gliding his palms over her butt, he yanked her in close and nipped at her lower lip. “Hell yeah.”

  “So, this room you got us, is there something in it that your place or mine doesn’t have?

  “Yes,” he said, brushing his lips across her cheek to whisper in her ear, “A big, heart-shaped tub.”

  Mason in a big tub. She was totally on board, and honestly happy for the first time in years.
She had a new shop that was doing well, another about to be rebuilt, good workers, wonderful friends, and a great man who treated her with respect…and was damn hot in bed.

  Yeah, life was good again.

  The next morning, Jill was eating breakfast with Mason, Lea, Ben and Ethan when Keiffer breezed into Ethan’s kitchen, stride purposeful and determined.

  “I thought I smelled Lea’s cooking,” the youngest Wyne said, grabbing one of the breakfast sandwiches from a dish in the middle of the table. “Mind if I take one to Greg? I’m running late. Was supposed to be at his garage a half-hour ago. I guess I celebrated Jill’s successful week a little too much last night and overslept.”

  “As long as you get back here by noon to take that group of skiers to the slopes,” Ethan replied.

  Keiffer nodded. “Will do.”

  Ben snickered. “Don’t go blaming Jill for your excuse to party.”

  She smiled. “Yeah, leave me out of it.”

  “Sorry, no can do.” The youngest Wyne shook his head and pointed at her. “I blame you for selling the Thompson sisters something called Better Than.”

  She shot a gaze to Lea and they both laughed.

  “Come on, Keif,” Mason said, warm hand sliding over her knee. “You can’t go blaming Jill for creating irresistible chocolate.”

  The guy shook his head and swallowed his mouthful. “I’m not. I’m blaming her for the name, because these girls said it was Better Than sex, and you know, it was my duty to prove them wrong.” A smug smile curved his lips.

  Ben rolled his eyes. “You’re full of shit.”

  “Actually…” Keiffer rubbed his stomach. “I’m full of your fiancée’s cooking.” He wrapped a sandwich in a napkin, said, “Got to go,” then rushed out the door.

  Lea carried a carafe to the table and filled everyone’s coffee. “I swear, sometimes that guy is the Pocono’s equivalent to Harland County’s Kevin.”

  Ben snickered. “He wishes.”

  “Yeah,” Mason agreed. “I’m not sure he could handle triplets.”

  “Japanese triplets,” Ethan added.

  “Holy sugar,” she said, glancing from brother to brother. “Are you telling me that the handsome cowboy who stood up with Lea at Brandi’s wedding had…” Sheez, she couldn’t even say it.

  Mason squeezed her knee. “Yep. I’d say Kevin’s a master and my brother’s a wanna-be.”

  “Yeah, and I wanna-be done with this morning’s ski run so I can take my son ice fishing this afternoon with Dad,” Ethan said, reaching for another breakfast sandwich.

  She only half-listened as the brothers talked fishing and ice and the frigid temperatures that had kept the ice thick enough to fish so late in February, her thoughts drifted to the man lightly brushing her leg with his thumb. And the heart-shaped tub they’d enjoyed numerous times yesterday.

  He was so giving, in bed and out, and she wasn’t used to the honesty. God, the honesty. Mason was refreshing. Unusual. So open. Upfront. He had no hidden agendas for her to worry about and never blew smoke up her ass to get her to do something. Truth was important to him. Her, too. She understood only too well why he had issues with being kept in the dark about things. Renee and her cheating and betrayal had seen to that. He was an open book and expected, demanded, the same from those he cared about. The last few weeks with him were amazing, and his ethics were starting to restore her faith in the male population. Maybe not all men were dishonest. Maybe he really was the one, her heart insisted. Maybe it was okay to fall for him.

  God, she hoped so. She feared she already had.

  “I think you’re all crazy,” Lea was saying, sipping her coffee. “You wouldn’t get me to sit on the ice freezing my butt off just to drop a line in a hole.”

  Ben laughed. “Yeah, but you sure don’t complain when we bring home a good catch.”

  “Because it would be a shame to let the fish go to waste after you’d suffered all day in the cold,” her friend replied.

  “It’s not that cold,” Mason said, stirring his coffee. “Sometimes we light a fire.”

  Jill reeled back and stared at him. “A fire? On the ice?”

  “Yes.” He nodded.

  “Is it safe?”

  “Yes,” he repeated, squeezing her knee again, sending tingles up and down her leg. “It’s not a—” He stilled, gaze fixed on something to her left. “Ben, what is it?”

  She twisted to find his brother, pale, jaw clamped and shaking.

  “Keiffer…” Ben jumped up and jammed his arms in his coat just as Mason’s cell started to ring.

  He stiffened and yanked out his phone. “You okay? What? Oh God. Okay. Don’t touch anything.” He shot to his feet, Ethan joined him.

  Ben was already dialing his phone. “Tell him I’m calling 911.”

  She rose to her feet with Lea, heart hammering the breath from her lungs while thumping in her throat.

  “We’ll be right there, Keiffer,” Mason said. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Don’t do anything. Ben already called them. Stay on the phone with me. We’re on our way.” He shook his head at her, his expression somewhere between devastated and concerned as he rushed out of the kitchen with Ethan, barely grabbing the coat she shoved at him.

  Jill was shaking, knowing something horrid happened, but had no idea what. Lea grabbed her hand and shared a worried gaze as her ears picked up Ben requesting the police head to Greg’s garage…

  For a suicide.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The week went by in a blur. Mason barely recalled half of it; he was so eaten up with concern for Keiffer, he hardly allowed himself time to think or feel other than for his brother’s loss. For his brother’s welfare.

  With no snow on the ground and a biting wind at his back, Mason sprinted on one of the trails, trying to outrun his own anger and pain. He needed the exertion. Something to get him by. Something to keep him busy. None of his siblings were ready to work their jobs at the resort. Thank God they had very well-trained staff to pick up the slack for a bit.

  Finding his best friend’s body when he’d arrived at the garage last Saturday had changed Keiffer. Harmed Keiffer. Mason knew his younger brother would carry the scar the rest of his life, and he fucking hated that he couldn’t do a damn thing to help.

  Sure, he and his brothers had been by his side the whole week, during the wake and funeral, which had closed down main street with the line of veterans that arrived from around the county in cars, trucks, motorcycle, all there to support their fallen brother.

  It had been touching and painful, especially when Gabe had added Greg’s picture to the wall of the fallen soldiers he had in his restaurant to honor local servicemen. No offense to Lea’s father, but he knew it would be a while before he and his brothers would be able to eat in there.

  His heart was pounding, and so was his head from the sprint. He slowed down to a jog, but kept moving. Had to keep moving. Maybe it would get the blood flowing and his brain would come up with a miracle to get Keiffer through this goddamn pain.

  Each of his brothers and his father were taking turns keeping an eye on him, just being around him twenty-four seven. The guy wasn’t sleeping, barely shutting his eyes before he was calling out, cursing the images in his head.

  Mason’s gut clenched and fingers curled into fists. Dammit, Greg. How could you be so goddamn selfish to do this to Keiffer, your father, and cousin Stone who’d arrived last week?

  Whenever those thoughts ran through his head, they were always accompanied by a rush of guilt. Mason stopped, then closed his eyes as the remorse slammed his gut. The poor kid was troubled. Needed more help than he’d gotten. Than he’d sought. Than anyone had ever guessed.

  And wasn’t that just the fucking part he hated? The part Keiffer was blaming himself the most over? Other than being somewhat quiet, no one had any damn idea the soldier had been dealing with the demons he’d mentioned in the letter found neatly in an envelope next to his body.

  Resisting the urge t
o scream at the top of his lungs, Mason jammed his hands in his pocket, hunched his shoulders against the brisk wind and began to walk. He hated being weak and useless, exactly how he’d felt the whole week. His brother needed him. He had no idea if he was helping, but the whole family rallied around Keiffer, including Lea who’d taken the week off and stayed with Ben at his apartment at the resort. She’d done all the cooking, but his brother, who could usually eat his way through a bucket of wings and a whole pizza, barely ate a crumb.

  Keiffer could drink, though. They’d all gotten shitfaced with him the night after the funeral. He rubbed his temple. That was two days ago, and he was still feeling the effects of the Jack he’d downed.

  A horse’s whinnie and another’s snort broke through his haze. Mason stopped and blinked at the field of chestnut mares ambling toward him and the fence that kept them from the dirt road. He reached out to stroke one of the gentle beauties. Somehow his feet had brought him to the spot where he’d given Jill her wolf on Valentine’s Day.

  One of the best days of his life.

  For a moment, he allowed the memory of that day, of her smile, and laughter, and taste, and hunger to fill him up and push aside all the sorrow, guilt, worry and pain eating his gut.

  Her beautiful face flashed in his mind. Her mesmerizing, warm brown eyes and luscious lips always had a ready smile, despite the pain and mistrust he detected just under her surface. She understood his abandonment issues because she carried them herself, and yet, although she hadn’t intended to walk into his heart, she had and was on the same journey. The one where they learn to trust again.

  He did trust her.

  Mason’s hand stilled as that thought sunk in and took root.

  He trusted Jill.

  She always had his back. Even this week. He hadn’t seen much of her, just a few brief moments here and there, and a little bit at the wake and funeral where she’d stood by his side, silently holding his hand, or brushing his arm with hers, slipping it around his waist, a gentle hand on his shoulder. Something he’d needed, yet never acknowledged or realized until now. It was as if she’d known. Had offered her strength without question or request.