Reluctant Desire [Desire, Oklahoma 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

by Leah Brooke

  “Good. You need your protein.”

  Slipping her shoe off, she ran her bare foot up his leg. “You mean to keep my energy up for tonight?”

  Beau’s lips twitched as he set his own menu aside. “That, too. Despite my best efforts, you’ve lost some weight. You need to put it back on.”

  Reaching down, he took her foot in his hand and began to massage it. “Those heels must be killers on your feet. You probably should have worn something with a lower heel, especially with that hip.” Frowning, he glanced toward her hip. “Does it bother your hip to walk in them?”

  Insulted that he didn’t seem as bowled over as she’d hoped by the look she’d worked so hard to achieve, Charity blew out a breath. “So much for looking sexy.”

  Shaking his head, Beau took her hand in his again. “I think you look sexy as hell, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be concerned about you.”

  His gaze slid to her breasts. “Your nipples poking at the front of your dress have been teasing me ever since we sat down. That low neckline is driving me crazy. No, put your hands back down.”

  Feeling self-conscious, Charity had automatically reached to cover herself, but the disappointment in his eyes had her dropping her hands back into her lap. Her nipples tingled under his appreciative gaze, becoming even tighter.

  The flare of heat in his eyes before they lowered to her breasts again had her shifting restlessly in her seat and sitting up straighter.

  Taking another sip of his champagne, he bent closer, keeping his voice low and intimate. “The curves of your breasts make my fingers itch to touch you. I already know that your breasts are as firm and soft as they look, and as your lover, I know how incredibly sensitive they are, too. I know how delicious you are. I can’t stop thinking about that soft pussy, or how wet and needy you’ll be once I spread those thighs and get my mouth on you.”

  Lifting her left hand to his lips, he kissed the ring he’d placed there and lowered his gaze to her lap before lifting it to hers again. “Le mien.”

  Hardly able to breathe, Charity leaned closer as if being pulled by a magnet. “I love when you speak French, and I love when you speak in that low, deep tone. What did you say?” Her stomach muscles tightened, her breath hitching at the seductive quality in his voice.

  Beau leaned closer, answering her in the same tone, his eyes filled with possessiveness. “Mine.”

  Charity remained silent as the waiter came over and Beau gave him their order, her mind reeling as she remembered the number of times she’d heard him say the same thing to her when he’d taken her virginity.

  Once the waiter left, Beau turned back to her, regarding her intently. “I’ve said that to you many times. This is the first time you’ve ever asked me about it.”

  Nodding, Charity took another sip of her champagne. “I guess I figured you’d be embarrassed if I asked you what it meant, like something you might say in the throes of passion and regret.”

  Beau grinned. “I never regret anything I say to you in the throes of passion, cher. Usually, I can’t manage more than a string of groans and grunts.”

  “And a lot of cursing.”

  To her delight, Beau threw his head back and laughed, his throaty chuckle more potent to her senses than the champagne she drank.

  Sitting back as the waiter brought their food, Beau shared an intimate look with her, waiting until the man left before speaking again. “When my cock’s inside that tight pussy, my baser instincts take over.”

  Sitting back, he gestured toward her plate. “Eat your dinner.”

  Despite Brandon’s warning, most of the people they knew in the restaurant had already congratulated them on their engagement, and only stopped by the table to see how she was doing.

  Jared, Duncan, and Reese Preston hovered over their pregnant wife, Erin, as she approached the table. Beau jumped to his feet to pull out a chair for her, but Duncan beat him to it.

  Erin waved her hand toward the chair and shook her head. “No, thanks. I need to stand a few minutes. Damn it, Jared.”

  Jared guided her to the chair, and with gentle firmness, forced her into it. “You don’t want your ankles swelling again, do you?”

  Erin looked at Charity and rolled her eyes. “They’re driving me crazy. They act like I’m the only woman who’s ever had a baby before.”

  “You’re the only one who’s ever had our baby.” Reese ran a hand over her hair. “Something you’ve heard often enough in the last six months.”

  Beau gestured toward the other chair, and offered to get more, but the other men shook their head.

  Duncan braced his hands on Erin’s chair and leaned over her. “We’re going to get Erin home. She’s tired, but doesn’t want to admit it.”

  Erin waved her hand negligently in the air. “According to you three, I’m always tired or hungry.” She smiled at Charity. “So how are you feeling? I heard you had a checkup today.”

  Charity couldn’t help but smile. “Small town, isn’t it? It went fine.” She raised a brow. “How did yours go?”

  Erin’s eyes widened before she burst out laughing. “Touché. It went great.” Glancing at her husbands, she smiled. “They worry too much. Still, they’re kinda cute.” She yawned, leaning more heavily against Duncan.

  Reese took her hand and helped her to her feet. “You just never give up do you, baby?”

  With the help of her husband, Erin got to her feet, rubbing her stomach. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Charity, you take care of yourself. I can’t wait to dance at your wedding.”

  Duncan took her hand in his. “Slow dancing.”

  As Duncan and Reese led Erin out, Jared paused beside the table, the love and concern in his eyes obvious as he stared after his wife. Turning back, he smiled. “We’ll be there. We’re all really happy for both of you.”

  Watching Jared walk away, Charity sipped her champagne, and started to turn away, hesitating when Jared paused and looked toward the doorway before changing direction. Sitting straighter, she watched him say something to Brandon, whose answering smile seemed forced.

  “I’m going to get jealous if you keep staring at other men.”

  Charity turned to Beau. “No, you’re not. You know damned well you’re the handsomest man in Desire and that I love you madly.” Leaning closer, she snuck another glance toward the other men just in time to see Jared walk away.

  “Okay. Spill it. What’s going on with Brandon?”

  Beau cut into his steak. “It’s just something he and Ethan are going to have to deal with. It seems that the women they meet aren’t interested in having a ménage relationship. It’s making them reassess what they want, and I don’t think either one of them is really happy.”

  Shrugging, he gestured toward her plate. “Eat.”

  Charity winced, hurting for her friends. “Damn. I was young, but I can still remember people talking about Clay and Rio. They knew they wanted a woman to share, but they ended up marrying different women, and both of them were miserable. I hope Brandon and Ethan don’t make the same mistake.”

  “I’m sure they’ll work it out.” Sitting back, Beau eyed her steadily. “It’s funny that you and Hope were both raised in a ménage household, and yet neither one of you chose a ménage marriage.”

  Grinning, Charity stabbed another mushroom. “You’re more than enough for me. Besides, you can’t help who you fall in love with, and I fell in love with you. My mom fell in love with all three of my fathers, and always told us to follow our hearts.” Grinning, she touched his forearm, her stomach muscles quivering at the feel of hard muscle shifting under her hand. “I did, and so did my sister.”

  Beau’s slow smile took her breath away. “My grandfather said the same thing. I looked across the diner at your college graduation party and finally knew what he was talking about. Knocked me for a loop.”

  Charity’s breath caught at the love shining in his eyes, her heart melting. “I didn’t expect you, either. I was so scared that you would want someone more soph
isticated.” Laughter bubbled free as she thought of her friend.

  “I guess the same thing happened to Erin. She came to town to talk Rachel out of marrying two men, thinking that an arrangement like that would never work.”

  Beau laughed. “We all enjoyed watching that play out. She came to talk her pregnant little sister out of marrying the two men she’d fallen in love with, and who both claimed responsibility for the baby—”

  Giggling, Charity had to swallow before she choked. “And then she ends up married to three men and now they’re having a baby of their own.”

  “And they couldn’t be happier.” Taking her hand in his, he leaned close. “I’m going to make sure you’re just as happy.”

  Charity stabbed another piece of chicken. “I just hope you’re happy.” Her body tightened with anticipation as she thought about the evening ahead. “What kind of toy did you get for tonight?”

  Taking the fork from her hand, he slid the piece of chicken past her lips. “Just you, chéri. You’re my toy tonight.” Gesturing toward her plate, he reached for his glass again. “Finish eating. I want my dessert.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  As soon as they walked through the front door of Beau’s house, he shut and locked it behind them, tossed his keys onto the table in the entryway, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. Burying his face against her neck, he breathed deeply. “You smell delicious. Warm and sweet. That pussy didn’t get cold on the way in here, did it?”

  Dropping her head back against his shoulder, Charity let her eyes flutter closed, only to open them again as his hands started moving. Her body tightened as need slammed into her. “Not a chance.”

  He untied the belt of her coat, and made quick work of unbuttoning it. “I’ll have to check it out for myself.”

  With his big body behind hers, he nudged her forward. “I want my dessert.” He took the purse from her hand and tossed it on the sofa before removing her coat. He tossed the coat to land on top of her purse, and without slowing, lifted her into his arms, making her feel small and ultra feminine. “I’m dying to see you in just a garter and stockings.” He strode into the bedroom, not pausing until he reached the bed, and with slow deliberation, slid her body against his as he lowered her to her feet.

  The moonlight streaming in from the large window provided enough light for her to see the hunger in Beau’s eyes, a hunger that always stoked the fire inside her. Her clit swelled with anticipation, her nipples beaded tight against the silky material.

  Trembling with an excitement that made her giddy, and grateful for Beau’s steadying hold, Charity stood on rubbery legs as he worked her out of her dress. Her breath came out in a rush as the dress fell to the floor to puddle at her feet. “God, I want you. It’s been so long.”

  Pressing her thighs together did nothing to ease the ache there, and when she leaned into him, rubbing her nipples against his warm skin made the ache even worse.

  “Step out of the dress.” Beau’s deep voice washed over her, his accent more prominent and seductive than ever, came from right next to her ear. His hot hands closed around her waist to steady her as she stepped out of the puddle the dress had made at her feet.

  When she started to kick off her shoes, Beau slid his hands to her breasts, cupping them and rubbing his thumbs over her nipples.

  “No. Leave those shoes on. I want to see you just the way you are.”

  Bereft of the warmth at her back, Charity forced herself to remain still as he moved slowly to stand in front of her. Without taking his eyes from hers, he bent to turn on the light.

  His eyes widened, the awe in them making her feel like the most desired woman on earth. Taking her hands in his, he held them away from her body, his gaze filled with heat as it raked over her. “Beautiful.”

  Charity felt beautiful. Desired. Seductive.

  Confident.

  Wearing nothing more than her black, lacy garter belt and stockings, and a pair of ridiculously high heels, Charity lifted her chin to face him squarely. Running her fingers over her stomach, she bit back a moan when he smiled and took a step closer.

  “Very sexy, cher. Turn around. I want to see that pretty ass, too.”

  Overwhelmed by the aura of male sexuality and hunger surrounding him, Charity did as he demanded without hesitation, stunned at the change taking place inside her.

  It was as if a mask had been ripped away, revealing a sexual primitiveness in Beau that he’d never allowed her to see before.

  Turning, she whipped her head around to watch his face, never looking away from him as she completed her circle. “Beau, you’ve never been this way before.” Gulping as he dropped to his knees in front of her, she sucked in a breath at the slide of his fingers over her newly bared flesh.

  “I was afraid of scaring you off.” The shock of his touch on her overly sensitive mound made her jolt, but his hands went to her hips and tightened, holding her in place. “How does it feel to be bare?”

  Her knees weakened at the demand in his voice, a masculine need in it that she’d never heard from him before. “Naked. Exposed. Sexy.”

  His touch—his voice—so familiar, and yet with a difference that seemed so erotic, stroked her senses with an intensity that made her shake all over. His hands clenched on her hips as his lips touched her abdomen. “Good. I like you this way. Very much.” Leaning back, he held her with one hand while sliding the backs of his fingers of the other over her mound, drawing another gasp from her and sending a riot of tingling sensation racing through her.

  Lifting his hooded gaze to hers, he watched her intently. “Why did you do this?”

  Surprised at the question, and finding it hard to form a coherent reply when his fingers moved lower. “Uh.” She hissed in a breath at the slow caress of his fingertips back and forth over her folds. “It’s, uh…”

  Chuckling softly, Beau rose slightly and slid a hand to her bottom, pulling her closer. “Why did you get waxed, cher?”

  His warm mouth hovered over her nipple. “Why, cher? After all this time, why would you wax yourself now?”

  Threading her fingers through his hair, she tried to pull him closer, but Beau held firm. “Because I wanted to please you. I wanted to excite you. Damn it, Beau. What are you doing?”

  He seemed so tense, a tenseness that she’d never noticed before. His hands tightened against her bottom a split second before his lips closed over her breasts, as if he anticipated her jolt.

  The sharp tug shocked her, the pull to her clit so sharp she couldn’t hold still. It ended almost as soon as it began as he lifted his head, but the heat and pinpricks of pleasure lingered.

  “I’m making love to you.” Straightening, he brushed her hair back, and ran his fingertips over her collarbone to her shoulders. His eyes seemed lit from within as he stared down at her, his fingertips tracing a slow pattern from her shoulders down to her breasts. “You did. You do.”

  Sucking in a breath, Charity lifted her hands to his shoulders, arching her back to give him better access. Her breath quickened when he slid his fingers over the upper curve of her breasts, catching again when he circled her nipples. “I d–did what? I d–do w–what?”

  His fingertips closed over her nipples, applying just enough pressure to bring her to her toes. “You did please me. You did excite me. You still do. You’re a constant source of pleasure and excitement that I just can’t get enough of. Thank you for waxing your pussy for me. I’m going to show you just how much I appreciate it.”

  Fisting her hands in the material of his shirt, Charity lifted her face to his as another rush of moisture coated her thighs. “Beau, please!”

  “Please, what? Does that clit need my attention?” Releasing her nipples, he gently lowered her to the edge of the bed, his body covering hers and forcing her back. “My mouth’s watering for my dessert. Stay just like this. I want to look at you.”

  Charity’s skin tingled everywhere, the heightened awareness so intense, it made her dizzy. Her veins bub
bled with excitement and combined with the warm flow of love and desire poured over her, filling her with a sense of well-being and hunger that somehow went hand in hand.

  It didn’t matter how he touched her, as long as he touched her. She wanted his hands and lips everywhere, and she wanted to touch him just as badly. Wrapping her arms and legs around him wasn’t enough. She pulled him closer, rubbing against him. Her hands moved over his shoulders and back and into his hair. She kissed him everywhere she could reach, and it still wasn’t enough.

  She whimpered when he started to rise, needing his closeness more than she needed her next breath. Tightening her arms and legs around him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. “No. Please don’t go.”

  Rubbing her slit and breasts against him, she rained kisses over his cheek. “Take me, Beau. Please. I need you so much.”

  She’d never needed quite this way before, a physical and emotional neediness to be as close to him as possible.

  Beau lifted his head, pushing her hair back from her forehead. “Shh. It’s okay, cher. I’ve got you. I’m not going anywhere. I just want to taste you. I want my mouth on you.”

  He nuzzled her jaw, disentangling himself from her hold as he worked his way down her body, leaving a trail of sizzling heat all the way to her slit.

  Standing between her thighs, he prevented her from closing them as he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged out of it. “I find I have a weakness for garter belts and stockings, especially when they frame a soft, bare pussy.”

  Charity’s breath caught at the sight of his bare chest, the moonlight creating mysterious shadows her fingers itched to explore. Her stomach clenched when he reached for the fastening of his dress pants as he toed off his shoes. “Beau, I want to be exciting for you.”

  Seconds later, he stood naked in front of her, his cock already hard and thick. “You’re everything to me.”

  He reached into the drawer beside the bed and retrieved a condom. Fisting his cock in his hand, he rolled it on, his eyes never leaving hers. “All mine.” Once he’d rolled on the condom, he reached for her leg, lifting it high. Bending to touch his lips to her calf, he slipped her shoe off and tossed it aside. “Every gorgeous inch.”