Craving Sugar

by Elena M. Reyes

  “This has got to be the weirdest—first sugar daddy meeting to date. There has to be a prize waiting for me at home or something.”

  Pulling back, I lowered my mouth to hers. Hovered over it.

  “Kiss me,” I repeated and watched with hunger as her eyes lowered to my lips. Licked her own.

  “Why?”

  My head was at war with my head. Do I tell her the truth, or a bullshit lie? Again, I looked down and focused on those pouty lips, the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

  “Because I need to taste their sweetness, or I’ll go insane.”

  NINE

  “Okay,” Beau whispered, rising onto the tips of her toes. “One kiss, and I’ll go.”

  I couldn’t move. Just stood there transfixed, eyes set on the fullness of her mouth.

  Closer again, and I could taste her on my tongue. In the air around me.

  Those glossy, pink lips with a hint of berry coloring smelled of sweetness. Fruity.

  “Kiss me.” My tone came out harsher than I intended—hunger that lay just underneath the surface now a palpable presence. “Now.”

  And she did.

  On my next breath, her plump lips brushed once...twice, before pressing firmly.

  For a minute neither of us moved. Just stood there, connected.

  It took everything in my power to stand still and not give in to the eager urge to devour. Was winning that war, until she let out a low keening sound from the back of her throat.

  I lost composure.

  She tried to move her head back, and I snapped. Fisted her soft locks in my hand while my other settled on her waist.

  Squeezed her hip in a warning to not move.

  Entwined the light brown strands—tilted her head to an angle of my liking.

  “Fuck,” I exhaled against her lips, my tongue tracing the softness of her bottom one. Again, that low whine met my ears and I had to breathe in deep. Try and find my center of calm before I fucked her against that very wall.

  “I-I should—” I didn’t let her finish her bullshit excuse to stop what was happening between us. Instead, I took advantage and slipped my tongue between her lips and massaged hers with my own.

  Pressed my body against hers until there wasn’t a single inch of space between us. Brought her leg up and wrapped it around my hip.

  Could feel the heat from between her legs against the zipper of my dress pants.

  “Hendrix,” Beau moaned, her hips giving a subtle buck, and my eyes rolled back. Manic desire burned through my every nerve ending, my limbs trembling.

  A saccharine taste uniquely hers exploded across every taste bud, and I groaned. “Don’t move.” At my command, her thigh squeezed. Jesus, I was right there.

  Could easily lower my zipper, pull her panties aside, and bury myself balls deep.

  Let her feel what she did to me. My cock, hard and desperate to feel her warmth, flexed against her core.

  “Addiction is a terrible thing,” she murmured under her breath before taking my lower lip between her own and biting down on the abused flesh. “You are a terrible thing.”

  I didn’t reply to her foolishness. Instead, I took her mouth once more. Stole the air from her lungs.

  Pain turned into a throbbing current that settled on the tip of my dick. Could feel as the drop of pre-come slid down the head and onto the fabric of my boxer briefs. Pooled there.

  She fought me for dominance and for once, I didn’t give a fuck about who held the control.

  Seeing her as crazed as I felt made me want to bang on my motherfucking chest like a brute. A savage beast getting the attention of his...

  Fuck, no. Stop.

  I released her at once. Stepped back and watched as the panting girl before me fought to stay upright. Catch her breath.

  “Take the folder and look it over. I expect an answer tomorrow.” The words left my lips before I could stop them. For a moment or two, she looked up at me with her green doe eyes wide. She was as surprised as I was by what just happened between us. “Any questions?”

  My hope that the kiss would be disastrous was now squashed.

  There was no doubt in my mind that Beau Carter was sent from above to punish me. Ruin my calm existence.

  “What?” she answered a minute or two later, her chest still heaving, fingers pressed against the swollen flesh of her lips. “Repeat that, please.”

  “Take the folder and go home.” Reaching out, I took her hand in one of my own and walked her back to the table. Picked up the contract while ignoring the electricity that flowed between us. “Don’t keep me waiting. This has an expiration date.”

  “Are you serious?” Surprise turned into exasperation en route to anger. Had to nip that shit in the bud before we fought once more.

  “Please don’t fight me on this, nymph. Behave and go home.” Without another word, I turned and walked back to the door. Opened it and waited just beside the entrance for her to pass through.

  Beau muttered something under her breath that sounded a lot like unbelievable before walking past me.

  Was I an ass for stepping right beside the exit, forcing her slim body to brush my own? Yes, and I wasn’t ashamed one bit.

  My hand shot out and grabbed her wrist before she could walk out completely. Pulled her to me one final time so my lips could lay a tiny kiss on the side of her neck.

  Her shudder made me smile.

  “Have a good day, Miss Carter. I look forward to working with you.” Four sets of eyes turned our way outside my office. Our mailroom clerk, two interns, and my secretary all startled at the sound of my voice.

  There was no doubt in my mind they knew what we’d done.

  Imagined worse than what happened.

  Her swollen lips and messy hair gave her away.

  I laid claim to a girl I didn’t know.

  “Have a good day, Mr. Parker,” she said, tone even—walked toward the elevator with her head held high. I followed her every move toward the exit.

  There was a subtle sway to her hips that forced my eyes down her shapely backside.

  “Fuck me.” Had to bite the inside of my cheek. Right over the swell of her ass, Beau had bent her arm and flipped me off so only I could see.

  Her way of having the last word.

  I’d give her this round, but we weren’t through. Not by a long shot.

  This would happen, and on my terms.

  “When were you going to tell me you were seeing someone?” Jax asked before taking a slow sip from his whiskey. Around us, music blared through the speakers and bodies writhed against one another.

  Scantily clad women moved to the aggressive beat of that summer’s latest club banger, eliciting enticing looks from men all around us. All, but me.

  We were at an upscale bar downtown that Friday night, a local hotspot owned by someone we both knew, sitting in the VIP area overlooking the dance floor.

  Somehow, I’d let him convince me after two threats and one unpleasant phone call from his secretary, Lisa, to show up or else.

  The else being her inviting herself home with me.

  Asshole had caught me off guard and took advantage. My mind had been elsewhere.

  It’d been four days since I’d tasted my nymph’s lips for the first time.

  Motherfucking ninety-six hours since I held her in my office.

  “What’re you talking about?” Because I still hadn’t shared my meeting with a possible contract with him. Had not informed him of my perusal of the site. “I’m not seeing anyone.” Unofficially official yet.

  “Bull and shit.” His eyes narrowed for a second or two before the asshole smirked. “So, who was the brunette you attacked inside your office? The one who moaned out your name.”

  The fuck?

  “How about those Marlins this season?” Avoidance was key here. One slip of the tongue, and he’d be out for blood.

  Gossiped more than any woman I knew.

  He wasn’t buying it and raised a brow. “
You do realize our secretaries are friends. Right?”

  “So?”

  “Asshole.” Jax muttered a few other things I couldn’t quite make out.

  “What was that?”

  Holding a hand up, he waved the waitress over and this time ordered a bottle of blue label. Once she was gone, his eyes appraised me. “I’m going to take a wild guess and say she’s from Craving Sugar and hasn’t said yes yet?”

  “How in the blue...” The words died on my tongue. I’d looked away for a brief second and toward the dance floor, when a flash of light brown hair caught my eye. “Fuck.”

  The object of my lust was mere feet away from me wearing a tight, asymmetrical grey skirt with a spaghetti-string black crop top, the lace letting a small peak of her bra show through. On her tiny feet were a pair of black peep-toe booties that made her legs go on for miles.

  She was dancing.

  Head thrown back in laughter at whatever the girl with her said.

  Having the time of her life while I waited for a response now four days late.

  “...you okay?” Whatever Jax said before that, I had no clue. My entire being was attuned to her every move; the way she gyrated before dipping low and popping that ass on the way up.

  All around her people looked: men and women, both with a semblance of desire in their expressions.

  “I’m fine,” came out on a low growl, my hand tightening around the glass in my hand. Fighting like hell not to get up and stop the idiot inching closer from making a move. “Just saw something.”

  “I bet.” His whistle caused me to look away from my nymph. Jax was looking in her direction, expression amused by my reaction. “Hot little number, that one. Seems young, too.”

  Fucker was baiting me. Knew more than he let on.

  “Spit it out.”

  He held his hand up in surrender. “No need, Parker. Your actions scream louder than any words can.”

  Our waitress came then just as Beau walked toward the direction of a table two places over. Placing the bottle down along with some ice, she turned toward me. “Do you need anything else, sir?”

  I waved her off with a shake of my head. Last thing I needed was the simpering fool making something look like what it wasn’t.

  Her huff and quick stomp of high heels let me know she’d walked away, and I looked back at Jax. “Fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Simple deduction, my dear Parker.” Idiot scratched his chin while I waited for him to elaborate. Took his time too, and poured us each a refill before tossing his back.

  “Get to it, ass. Got something to take care of.” Because I’d be damned if I didn’t seal the deal with Beau tonight. Preferably in more than one way.

  “The clues lined up, and I solved the case of your visitor’s identity. That, and she’s too young for you to have picked her up at one of the places you frequent.” Jax shrugged, trying to be nonchalant when I knew the jerkoff was loving this. “Leads me to believe you finally used the website’s membership.”

  Fuck, how I sometimes hated that he was a lawyer. Too perceptive.

  “What else?” Impatience colored my tone. Because that couldn’t be the end of that.

  “Kaitlyn called Lisa to complain, and I just happened to walk out of my office when it happened. Wasn’t my fault that Lisa had her on speakerphone while digging through the bottom of a file cabinet with her back turned from me. It’s like she forgot I hadn’t stepped out for lunch and had been on a conference call with a client.”

  “Are you serious?” I’d need to find a replacement for Kaitlyn, and soon. Could never trust an employee that shared your private affairs with others.

  “As a heart attack, Hendrix. Heard all of it.” Raising a hand, he began to tick off items with his fingers. “How the brunette was young, green eyed, and looked like a bitch. How you paraded her around...the way you led her in by the small of her back and then locked the door after entering. The moans that came from your office—”

  “Enough!”

  From the corner of my eyes, I noticed my little sugar tense and look over toward my table. Noticed how her eyes widened and then narrowed. Locked, and time fucking stood still.

  Around me I could just make out Jax’s laughter, but I paid him no mind.

  Not when her chest rose, and I made a move to stand.

  Beau spoke quickly to her friend, kissed her cheek, and then quickly walked back through the crowd. If Miss Carter thought she could hide from me, she had another thing coming.

  Five steps of my own, and I spotted her heading toward the bathrooms.

  Run and hide, little nymph, because this motherfucker will devour every inch of you once caught.

  TEN

  Beau

  Four hours prior...

  “Why are you making things more difficult than they need to be?” Zoe asked from her perch on a chair, in her hand a bottle of clear polish as she touched up her toes. Lately, my casa is her casa. “No need to draw it out. Call him.”

  We’d been at this for days.

  My avoiding, and her, trying to force my hand.

  “He’s an ass,” I pointed out and she rolled her eyes.

  “Most men are, but don’t have his face and body attached to it. Next issue?” Another coat on her baby toe, and she closed the bottle’s lid. “Hit me with something good.”

  “You read the contract he gave me! He’s insane, Zoe. It’d never work.” Looking at my hands, I tested the polish on my nails to see if they were dry. Still tacky to the touch, I sprayed them with the stuff the beauty supply recommended to speed up the process.

  “Toss me that, please.” I did, and she caught it with one hand. Popping the cap, she mimicked my action: shook the can and sprayed. Putting it down beside her, she turned and gave me her full attention. “Remind me what was so horrible in those papers from that gorgeous piece of man-meat?” Was it the virgin thing or the move-in-with-me part?”

  “And that’s another thing,” I yelled out in indignation. “He demanded I live with him. Just like that.”

  Move in.

  Quit my job.

  Drive one of his cars.

  Let him know where I am always.

  Share a bed.

  Be on his arm whenever the need arises.

  “It’s not unheard of...” My glare cut her off, and she zipped her lips.

  “Had he given me some time to work out the dynamics...what to tell my parents, it wouldn’t have horrified me. I’m not an idiot, chick. I get that some daddies might expect that.”

  Zoe stood from the chair and then wobbled over to me on the couch. Sat beside me and placed her head on my shoulder. “He’s under your skin.”

  “I know.” My sigh was heavy and full of frustration. “Can’t get him out of my head after that kiss.”

  “Would it be so bad, though? To give in?” Turning in the seat, she faced me. “That contract, which I read too, wasn’t all bad. All your bills would be taken care of. Everything, Beau, for the period of this run. Hendrix asked for six months, and you’d walk away with enough cash to pay the rest of your schooling if you are a careful spender.”

  “Also know that.” Throwing my head back on the couch, I looked up toward the ceiling, hoping for any divine sign. Anything to go by. “Still think he’s wrong for me. Maybe I should just go on a date with the CEO of that tech company that sent me a message this morning. Go for coffee or something and weigh my options?”

  “Sure. Be my guest,” she sing-songed, her shoulder shaking from laughter.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “No one will work, but Mr. Tall, Dark, & Yummy. Have fun failing...hey!”

  I hit her square in the face with a pillow and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door in her face before she could get in and retaliate. We were going to be running late if one of us didn’t jump into the shower, and I was forced to be the responsible one.

  Ruby had invited me out for drinks—to officially meet her boyfriend of six days. It was bound t
o be painful, and I invited Zoe to help me survive the night.

  God help us all.

  “And then we went on a boat around...” Since we arrived, and introduction were made, it’d been the same thing. We went here. Did this. Ate that.

  Why Ruby wanted me here tonight made no sense. There was no to and fro—getting to know you conversations—it was all about her.

  Not once, in the two hours I had been here, had she asked how I was.

  The most she did was look at Zoe with curiosity and ask how we met. How easily the lie slipped through my lips once more.

  “Bumped into each other at the library and chatted over coffee. We’ve met up for lunch once since then and had plans for tonight before you called, so we adjusted.”

  “Don’t forget that I was lonely since Gustavo is out of town this weekend.”

  After a short explanation that it was Zoe’s boyfriend who was away, Ruby was back to talking about her and Max.

  Jesus, I needed to get away and I did, for three songs on the dance floor.

  With my hands held high above my head, I rolled my hips to the beat. Closed my eyes and let the bass from the speakers dictate my moves.

  Dipping low, and popping my ass on the way up.

  I was a sweaty, panting—perma-smiling fool while Zoe shooed away the two guys that approached us. It wasn’t until a slower number began, and a few men seemed to be inching closer, that we ducked from the dance floor and back to our table.

  “Bottoms up, ladies!” Ruby clapped as we approached. Another round had been ordered; I’d just taken what was my third shot of the night when I heard his voice.

  It’d carried over to our table, and I froze.

  “What is it?” Zoe noticed my reaction and squeezed my hand. Ruby, on the other hand, remained oblivious and was currently locking lips with Max, the silent, brooding jock who’d spoken one word to us all night: “Hi.”

  “He’s here,” I whispered, looking in his general direction. Our eyes locked, and the butterflies erupted.

  “Oh my...” Zoe trailed off, and I had to force myself to look away from him.

  “What?”

  “You’re screwed. See you tomorrow.”