by Ava Wood
“Izzy,” Talia scolded. “Do you not see the line of guys out there? I can’t deliver flowers right now.” She let out an exasperated cry as she kept working.
The sound of the phone ringing had Izzy scampering back to the front.
“Talia?” Landon watched her continue to work flawlessly on the bouquet.
“What?” She didn’t even glance in his direction; she just continued working.
“I really would like to help. Could I maybe deliver those flowers for you?”
Talia stopped briefly to look in his direction. “Really?”
“Sure.” He saw a sparkle in her eyes that sent his heart racing.
“I’ll pay you.” She dug around in her pocket before she added, “Here are the delivery van keys. I’ll have Sara pull the order together and give you the address. You can use the GPS in the van.”
Before he could turn down the money, Izzy ran back into the room. “I’ve got a guy needing an arrangement for a funeral this evening. Can we pull it off?”
Talia rolled her eyes as she yelled, “Yes. Get Camey and Sara on it.”
“Got it.” Izzy immediately disappeared from the room again.
Landon took the keys from Talia and when their hands held briefly, she whispered, “Thank you.”
“Tal, I’ve got two deliveries to make. I don’t have time to work on a last-minute funeral arrangement.” Camey entered the backroom with flowers in one hand and waving paperwork in the other.
“Give the deliveries to Landon. He’s going to fill in for the afternoon.”
Camey gave Landon a quizzical look. When he approached her to take the paperwork she whispered, “Don’t screw this up.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
Camey escorted Landon to the van, pointing out the different arrangements for each order. “I’m serious. Don’t screw this up.” She bit off the end of each word.
“I got it, Camey.” He closed the back doors to the van and set out for his first job as a delivery driver.
Things had finally begun to slow down. All of the arrangements were completed and Landon was out on the final delivery of the day. Talia had sent Camey and Izzy home shortly after she flipped the Closed sign, leaving her alone with Sara to discuss something that had been on her mind since Landon left on the first delivery. She found her sister inside the cooler, tidying up the remainder of flowers.
“Landon was great today, wasn’t he?”
Sara stopped what she was doing and eyed her sister. “I guess, yeah.”
“We’ve been shorthanded since Brandy left and I was thinking maybe Landon might be a good fit, at least for a little while.”
“Do you really think that’s the best idea? I mean, you barely know the guy. What happens when things don’t work out?” Sara’s response was strangely aggressive.
Talia looked down her nose at her sister. “When things don’t work out? Thanks for the vote of confidence, sis.” She turned around to leave, but stopped at the door. “You know, I don’t need your permission to hire him. I was just trying to include you in the decision, but if you’re going to be indignant, I’ll do this on my own.” Talia walked out of the cooler as Landon entered the back door.
Sara was right on her heels. “That’s the way you seem to like it these days.” She stopped in her tracks when she saw Landon staring, slamming the cooler door behind her.
“Should I step outside?” He hadn’t completely entered the building yet and slowly backpedalled away from the squabble.
“Forget it. I was just leaving.” Sara grabbed her purse from under one of the counters and left the shop.
After the door slammed shut and the shop was quiet, Landon asked, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Talia carried around a trash receptacle, cleaning debris off the counters. She wanted her sister’s approval for hiring Landon and all she got was flack. She yearned to go upstairs and relax, maybe even eat something. Wiping the last of the leaves and stems off of the counter, she was startled when Landon’s arms wrapped around her waist, dropping the trash can when he began nuzzling her ear.
“Why don’t we go upstairs? I’ll get your mind off of whatever that was.”
Talia placed her hands over his and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Mmm.”
He led them to the stairs and followed her up to the apartment, his hands on her hips the entire way.
When they were inside her apartment, Talia turned to face him. “Thank you for your help today. I don’t know how I’ll ever truly repay you.”
“I’ve got something in mind.” He lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist before carrying her to the bedroom. Flipping the switch, the room illuminated and Landon carried Talia to her dresser, setting her on the surface. His hands grabbed their fill of her backside before he let go. “Have I told you how sexy your ass looks in these pants?”
Talia giggled at his absurd compliment. “Shut up.” They were one of her worst pairs of dress slacks. On most occasions she avoided them, but they never wrinkled and she was in a hurry.
“But you look even sexier out of them.”
She gasped, immediately stifling her laughter. She never knew just exactly how to react to the hunger that hid in his eyes.
“I believe I said something about bending you over here and watching you come.”
Talia was panting, nearly forgetting to breathe.
Landon lifted her off the dresser and made quick work of undoing her pants, slowly sliding them over her legs. Every inch of her was sensitive to his touch, to every movement he made. He removed her pants, but left her panties in place.
She reached down to remove them, but Landon gripped her wrists, putting her hands behind her back and holding them against the dresser, making her chest to bow out toward Landon’s keen eyes. With his free hand, he reached under her shirt and began kneading at her breast. When she moaned, he pulled the cup away and rolled her nipple between his fingers. She felt a pool of heat forming between her legs and squirmed in his grasp.
“Be still,” he commanded in his sexy way. He pulled her shirt up to expose her breast and began an oral assault, swirling his tongue around her nipple.
With each flick of the tongue, her body became more responsive, and at each movement, Landon nipped at her flesh. His tongue licked and sucked, but each time her body leaned into his caress, his teeth sank in a little deeper. It took everything inside her to finally still beneath him. When his seduction was no longer met with writhing, he let Talia’s hands go and in one fluid movement pulled her shirt over her head. He quickly spun her around to face the mirror, before he recaptured her wrists in his hand.
With his newfound control he pulled her hard against him and sucked on the lobe of her ear. She watched it all unfold in the dresser mirror, one breast fully exposed as her chest rose and fell with her frantic breathing, his mouth sucking and licking at the hyperaware flesh of her neck. She was dripping with want for him and she couldn’t even look him in the eye. With one hand, he was able to open the clasp to her bra then push it from her shoulders. Leaning her over the dresser, he pressed her breasts firmly against the surface, the cold wood sending tingles through her breasts.
“I’m going to have you just like this.” He gripped the ponytail at the back of her neck and pulled her head up so their eyes met in the mirror. “I’m going to make you scream my name and when you’re no longer screaming, I’ll fuck you until your legs are too weak to stand.”
Talia’s head fell forward when Landon let go of her hair. She was relishing in how erotic this all was, how sexy his roughness felt. She tried to watch Landon in the mirror, but he disappeared from view. He’d knelt down behind her and, before she could wonder what was going on, he’d pulled her panties down around her thighs and his teeth bit into the soft flesh of her buttocks. She tried to lift off of the dresser, but Landon’s deft hands pressed her down onto that cold surface again.
“Did I say you could get up?” With his words came a
swift thwap. He had spanked her.
Talia felt the sting shoot through her, between her legs and up to her chest. She was caught somewhere between angry and aroused. All anger melted away when she felt Landon’s nose press between her cheeks and his tongue began its rigorous torture on the soft folds of her center. He finally removed her panties, then spread her legs for better access.
“You taste so good.” His tongue returned to that delicate flesh, moving in and out and circling around, hitting all her sensitive spots. He lapped at her nub before his tongue was diving in again, circling to touch all sides of her entrance.
Of their own volition, her feet pressed her higher until she was teetering on her tiptoes with her chest pressed firmly against the dresser. She tried to hold herself together as his tongue continued to move furiously against her. When she was gasping for air, on the verge of climax, she felt his teeth graze against her clit and she shattered. As her body convulsed with her orgasm, his mouth began again, licking and biting and lapping up every bit of her arousal. She was barely coming down from her first orgasm when the second began to build and she cried out, “Fuck me, Landon.” His tongue continued its agonizing circles as her legs quivered beneath her. He sucked at her clit when she exploded again, trembling in his grasp, and she moaned, “Oh god, fuck me now.”
In that moment, Landon’s cock, fully erect, slammed into her. Each thrust sent another wave of tremors straight through her. She struggled to think straight as he pulled her ponytail, forcing her to watch him pound out a tormenting rhythm. He moved faster, deeper, rocking slightly from side to side, hitting every single sensitive bit of flesh. The torment of in and out became too much and her head fell against the mirror. His sack slapped heavily against her mound over and over, sending her higher. She gasped for air, screaming in ecstasy as he moved inside her. His girth filled her, slathered in her own arousal. He was exploiting things in her that she’d never known existed.
A third climax was on the horizon and Talia found herself grasping for something, anything to keep from crumbling into a million pieces. She gasped for air when the sensation was too much and she cried out his name once again. “Oh, Landon.”
Her words sent him crashing into her one last time as he fell over the precipice and came inside her. She watched the pleasure spread across his face as he laid against her, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
Talia’s legs collapsed beneath her, too weak to hold her own weight. She tried to stand but faltered, and Landon instantly swooped in, picking her up to carry her to the bed. She clung to his sweat-drenched body, and was immediately glad she’d never made the bed when he dropped her to the rumpled sheets. When she reached to pull the sheet over her body, Landon’s hand grasped hers.
“I’m not done with you yet.” He began kissing the blue rose on her ribcage, moving across her body and down. “Not even close.” He buried his head between her legs and began to ravage her again.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Landon’s head nuzzled against Talia’s throat.
Talia groaned, “What time is it?” She stretched her legs, feeling that delightful ache between her legs where Landon had spent most of the night before.
“It’s seven.” He suckled at her ear lobe. “I think I heard one of the girls come in a few minutes ago.”
Talia sat up in bed, pulling the sheet over her bare breasts. “I should get down there. I need to help Sara with inventory.” Any other day she’d be frantic for sleeping late, but she felt so sated and rested that she couldn’t make herself care. As her mind started to waken and thoughts began to form, she remembered the argument she had with her sister. Her thoughts were immediately interrupted by Landon’s resilient hands brushing across her waist, pulling her back down onto the bed. “I really should get to work.”
He pressed her hand down his body, resting it over his impressive erection. “By all means.” He smirked at her and her hand began its work.
With fervor, she twisted and stroked, listening to his moans next to her. When her grip gently tightened, he bucked beneath her and she pulled at him once more before crawling down the bed, stopping when her face hovered over his remarkable length. Her eyes met his briefly before she placed his tip in her mouth and softly sucked.
Looking up at him, she saw him resting his head on his muscular bicep, leisurely watching as her mouth took him in gradually, inch by inch. As she moved her tongue along him, she could see the frenzy building in his eyes. His brows grew closer and his breathing was erratic as she continued to move up and down his member. With eagerness, she continued, broadening her jaw so that she could feel him against the back of her throat. Seeing the pleasure growing on his face, she quickened her movements, pulling at his tip with her tongue. With her hand, she cradled his sack, feeling its fullness and massaging it as she continued her efforts, repeatedly filling her mouth to its capacity.
She watched his every breath as she worked, only closing her eyes once when his hands fisted in her hair and tugged, triggering slight pain. His hand began to control the rhythm, forcing him deeper still. He moaned, struggling not to move as he pushed her down his length one last time before she felt his seed spilling down her throat. With great pride, she wiped at her mouth and rose from the bed, smiling all the while.
“God, I’ll never get enough of you,” she heard him growl as she grabbed her clothes from the floor. “Never.”
“Well, I really have to get to work now. I’m definitely late.” She dropped her clothes in the dirty hamper on the way to her closet. Digging for clothes, she realized it had been far too long since she’d done laundry. She had matched an apricot chunky sweater with brown leggings when Landon entered the closet.
“Should I come back this evening?” He had his arms wrapped around her in an instant.
“I have a better idea.” She turned in his arms, placing her hands along his biceps. “Why don’t you stay?” When Landon stared at her, bemused, she continued, “I mean, you were a real asset yesterday. I don’t think we would’ve made it through the day without you, and quite honestly, we’ve been short staffed for months. We could really use your help…” She bit the inside of her lip, trying to calm the overwhelming nerves she was feeling. “Full time.”
“You’re serious?” He stared at her like she’d grown a second head.
“Yes, I’m serious. Is the idea so absurd?”
“No, it’s great. I just thought, well…” He was fumbling. “I just didn’t want to rush things.”
“Oh.” Talia stepped out of his grasp. Were they rushing things? As comfortable as she’d become with him, the thought hadn’t crossed her mind.
“No, no, no.” His hands started to stroke her arms. “I just meant that I didn’t want to scare you off.” He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. “I’m honestly happy with the speed we’re moving.” After another soft kiss he added, “And I’d love to work for you,” he lifted her gaze to his, “full time.”
Ecstatic, Talia threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “You won’t regret it, I promise.”
“I’m sure I won’t, Petal.” He kissed the top of her head and left the closet.
“Where are you going?” She followed him out, enjoying the sight of his glutes working as he walked.
“I’m going to run home and change. I need to look presentable for my new boss.”
Talia giggled. She liked the sound of it … boss. “I’d better get to work.” She moved to press a chaste kiss to his lips, but he pulled her close and deepened the kiss briefly before pushing her away.
“See you later, boss.” He swatted her butt when she turned to walk away.
The morning was off to a great start and she only hoped it would get better.
Sara took inventory of the place, trying to get caught up on her monthly duties in the shop. She was still fuming from her argument with Talia the night before, but she couldn’t fault her sister for making the big decisions. She only wished it wasn’t with the escort that Came
y brought into their life. Everything about Landon was simply a recipe for disaster and she didn’t know how to get rid of him now that he had rooted his way in. Her sister really seemed happy with him, but the thought made Sara’s stomach turn. Talia was falling for a gigolo, for God’s sake.
At the moment, she was thankful for the peace and quiet in the shop since Talia hadn’t made it down to help with inventory yet. When she was going through the flowers in the cooler, disposing of the wilted and scheduling orders, she heard the back door to the shop open. She set down her clipboard and stuck her head out of the cooler door to find Reina entering the backroom. “If it isn’t the walking dead,” Sara laughed, but there was no humor in Reina’s face.
“I feel like the walking dead. I really shouldn’t have offered to come in today, but after Camey called me and told me how insane yesterday was, I wanted to make it up to Talia so I offered to come help with inventory.”
“That explains why she hasn’t been down yet.” Sara got back to work as Reina joined her in the cooler.
“Whose bike is that out back?”
Sara looked up from her task and rolled her eyes. She was becoming too much like her sister and she needed to stop. “That’s Landon’s. He spent the night and get this…” Sara crept to the cooler door and looked out in the shop to make sure Talia hadn’t come down. “Talia wants Landon to work here. She suggested he be our delivery driver since Brandy quit.”
“What?” Reina shrieked, sending Sara’s finger in front of her lips, trying to quiet her.
“Yeah, he filled in yesterday while you were out and after she closed up last night, she mentioned that he was a good fit. I tried to talk her out of it, but she told me to shove it up my ass because she makes the decisions.” Sara whipped a wilted hydrangea out of one of the pots and its stem broke as her arm flailed through the air. “How can she not see what a sleaze he is?”
“Dios mio!” Reina began sifting through the flowers, removing several wilted ones and adding them to the trash. “Does Camey know?”