The Weekend Surprise (The Cannon Brothers, #2)

by Jade, Ella

  He ran his thumb along the side of her cheek as he deepened the kiss, taking control and massaging his tongue against hers. He tasted of mint, maybe the aftertaste of gum. As he tilted his face, his stubble brushed across her jaw, leaving a burn that coursed throughout her system. Her heart rate increased, the beat echoing between her ears, alerting her that she craved more than his lips. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders and down his chest, indulging in the way his heated flesh felt beneath her touch. Boldness wasn’t her strong suit, but it was as if her hands moved of their own accord. Perhaps it was his deep, sensual kisses or the way his fingers caressed her face, but she wanted to touch more of him. Exploring was all she could focus on as she trailed her fingertips lower, to the waistband of his pants.

  Before she had time to think, he guided her onto her back and moved on top of her, never breaking the kiss. Pressing his hard form into hers, his excitement was prominent as he rolled his hips. Kissing his way down her neck, he undid the first few buttons of her shirt, creating a burn from his five o’clock shadow when he moved along her flesh.

  The strumming between her ears created by her rapid heartbeat intensified. It wasn’t until she felt the warmth of his mouth on her breasts that she realized he had pushed the thin lace of her bra out of the way. He captured her aroused bud between his teeth before blowing his breath on it. She trembled when he circled her nipple with his tongue, working his way to her other breast to offer it the same attention.

  She gripped his shoulders as he teased her with his mouth, writhing beneath him when he slid his hand between their bodies and cupped her wet sex through her yoga pants. When he rubbed his palm along her entrance, a gush of fluid dampened her panties. Can he feel that?

  As he kept up his pace with his hand, he moved lower. When he kissed a path down her stomach, she tensed. It was supposed to be a kiss. How did it get this far so fast? Because it all felt so good.

  “Wait.” She pushed against his shoulders until he sat up.

  “What’s wrong?” His eyes clouded with confusion.

  “I, well...” She sat up and buttoned her shirt. “Giving massages isn’t the only thing I’ve never done before.” Heat crept up her neck. Did she really have to explain this?

  “What do you mean—oh.” He picked his shirt up off the floor when the realization set in. “You’re a virgin?”

  She nodded.

  He pulled his shirt back on and stared at her for a few seconds with that domineering intensity she’d become accustomed to. The silence was more awkward than what she had admitted.

  “I’m sorry.” She didn’t know what else to say.

  “You’re apologizing because...”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “You probably aren’t used to this sort of thing. Don’t you want to do it right now?”

  “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, but I’m cool with not doing it too.”

  “You are?” He was full of surprises.

  “Yeah.” He shot her that sexy grin of his, the one that made her heart skip and her insides quiver. “I didn’t come here with intentions of sleeping with you. I stopped by because I wanted to see you. I got a little carried away when we started kissing, and maybe if you hadn’t stopped me things would have played out, but now that I know you’ve never done it, I won’t push you.”

  “You’re not completely turned off by my lack of experience?” She couldn’t believe she was discussing this with the hottest guy she’d ever met. She’d learned in middle school sex education that abstinence was the best policy to protect against diseases and unwanted pregnancy. The concept stuck with her.

  “Turned off?” He took her hand. “It’s kind of the opposite.”

  “How come?”

  “Baby, the more you talk, the hotter I get.” He kissed her fingers. “Innocence is a major turn on. Guys like virgins.”

  “Oh.” That made sense.

  “Don’t worry.” When he ran his lips along her wrist she shivered. “I won’t take advantage, but I’m curious.”

  “How did I manage to stay a virgin?”

  “Not that I think it’s a bad thing, but not many girls your age can claim the title.”

  “I guess I haven’t met the right guy. I kept to myself in high school and I’ve been really focused on my music and education. I’ve dated, not seriously. The opportunity hasn’t presented itself.”

  “I find that very hard to believe.” He leaned in and kissed her, softer this time, more tender than he had before. She found that was as pleasurable as the rougher, heated kisses. It made her want him more. “You’re gorgeous. I’m certain every guy you’ve dated has wanted you as much as I do.”

  “There’s a big difference.” She traced his lips with her fingertips, experiencing that boldness again. “I’ve never wanted them the way I want you.”

  “I’m honored.” He kissed her again. “I’m not going to take that lightly. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me.”

  “I wanted to give you a chance to bolt if you were freaked out about it.”

  “Freaked out? No.” He brushed his lips along hers. “You’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me.”

  “I don’t want you to go anywhere.”

  “Good.” He twisted his fingers around the ends of her hair. “I want to get to know you, Sammy. I want to know everything about you.”

  “There’s not much to tell.”

  There were things about her life that he didn’t need to know. Some things she couldn’t tell him because she didn’t know much herself. Never knowing her father left questions that her mother could have answered if she were still alive, but that wasn’t the case. Sammy wanted to move past where she had come from and start her own future.

  “Somehow I don’t believe that.”

  “I want to focus on us for now.” She pressed her lips to his, not wanting to think about her past. With Tyler, things could be different. When she thought about him, she envisioned a new and exciting life. She didn’t have to be the poor, shy kid with no parents. She could be beautiful, outgoing, and his.

  “Whatever you want.” He kissed her jaw. “We’ll take this slow. I’ll treat you like the woman you deserve to be treated as.”

  No one had ever said things like that to her. She wanted to believe him, wanted to take a chance with him. What did she have to lose? She was tired of being alone.

  “I’m happy you came here tonight.”

  “Me too, baby, me too.”

  Chapter 4

  Tyler sat at the upscale bar and sipped his beer as he watched Sammy twirl the cherry around on the fancy toothpick in her martini glass. She seemed apprehensive to taste the fruity concoction he had the bartender make for her.

  “I promise you’ll like this better than the wine.” He nodded toward her drink. “Try it. If you don’t, we’ll order something else.”

  “It smells good.” She picked up the glass, careful not to spill the purplish liquid. “I like pomegranate, so I think this will be good.”

  “You won’t know if you don’t try.”

  Her innocence drove him wild. Ever since she made her little confession the other night, he hadn’t trusted himself to be alone with her. They’d gone to dinner and the movie theater two nights in a row, met for lunch, and now they were hanging out at the trendy downtown bar, experimenting with flavored vodka. He wanted to keep his promise to take things slow with her. Dating and getting to know one another was easier if they were in public. If they were alone, he would want to touch her, and touching would lead to other things. He was hard just thinking about all the things he wanted to do between the sheets with her.

  She tasted the martini and smiled. “That’s really good. Much better than wine.”

  “I told you.” He finished his beer.

  “I can taste pineapple and cranberry juice too.” She took a bigger sip this time. “It’s so smooth.”

  “Small sips, baby.” He laughed. “That vodka is going to go right to your
head.”

  “Isn’t that what I want it to do?” She giggled as she drank some more. “It makes me feel warm.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He motioned for the bartender to bring another round.

  His cell buzzed with a text. He glanced at it before slipping his phone into his pocket. It was Friday night and people were looking for him. People he no longer wished to associate with.

  “Don’t you have to answer that?” she asked.

  “Nope.”

  “It’s not a Cannon and Carrington emergency?” She finished her drink. “Jack isn’t having a crisis?”

  “No emergency.” He pushed his empty beer bottle away when the bartender brought over their second round. “A friend wanting to get together.”

  “A girl?”

  He nodded, because he saw no reason to lie.

  “I bet lots of girls want to get together with you.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “You’re seriously hot.” She circled her finger around the rim of her empty glass. “My lips are tingling. Is that normal?”

  “Maybe you should slow down.” He placed his hand over hers. “So, I’m hot?”

  “You know you are.”

  She swiveled her stool to face him, her long legs dangling. She wore a gray skirt that sat high on her thighs, revealing much of her tanned legs. Her shirt was tight and the tops of her breasts peeked out ever so subtly, taunting him. Luckily, her jean jacket covered most of her skin or he would’ve had a hard time keeping his hands to himself.

  “I’m sure most girls think you’re hot. I know that girl who just text you does.”

  “Does it bother you that I got a text from another girl?” This was new territory for him. He wasn’t used to explaining his social life to anyone. It never really mattered before.

  “Kind of.” She boldly took another sip from her second glass. “Would you like it if a guy text me?”

  “Not at all.” The thought of her even speaking to another guy sent waves of jealousy coursing through him. Jealousy was new territory for him too. He never stayed with a girl long enough to care if she was seeing someone else.

  “That’s my point.”

  “Since we both feel the same way, we should put this out there right now.” He picked up his beer bottle and drank before speaking the words he’d never spoken before. “I don’t want to be with anyone else. I don’t plan on it. I want what’s between us to be exclusive. It’s non-negotiable.”

  She smiled before picking up the toothpick with the cherries.

  “What is it?” If she told him she wanted to date other guys, he’d lose it.

  “I agree.” She nodded. “I’m not interested in seeing other people, but when you said it was non-negotiable, you sounded like a no-nonsense executive securing a deal.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” He grinned. “I suppose my brother is rubbing off on me.” He placed the bottle on the bar. “I didn’t mean to come off as an executive. I wanted you to know I’m serious about us. If I do get a text from another girl, I have no intentions of responding. Not tonight or any other night.”

  “Don’t apologize.” She put the fruit to her full, kissable lips and sucked the first cherry into her mouth.

  Is she trying to make me come? He was never going to get rid of the hard-on he had for her at this rate.

  “You’re really sexy when you take charge. I like to consider myself an independent woman, but I won’t lie. With you, I could relinquish some of that independence and let you take control.”

  “I think the alcohol has lowered your inhibitions.” He leaned closer to her, taking her chin between his fingers. “I like it.”

  “You have no idea.” She licked her lips, the scent of the cherry lingered on her breath. “There are all sorts of new and thrilling ideas swirling through my head right now.”

  “Hmm...” He brushed his mouth against hers. “I take it you like the martini.”

  “Very much.” She held the toothpick in front of him. “Do you want my cherry?”

  “Fuck,” he whispered. “Don’t say things like that.”

  “Oh!” She laughed, but the blush in her cheeks gave her away when she realized what she had asked. “I meant this one, I mean...”

  “Shh.” He took her wrist and brought the cherry to his mouth. “Yes, I want your cherry.” Sliding it off the toothpick, he held it between his teeth. He leaned into her mouth, pressing his to hers, and pushing the fruit between her lips. Taking his time, he savored her taste, exploring her slowly and deeply.

  She sighed when he released her chin, moving his hand down to caress her throat. The longer he kissed her, the more of her he wanted to touch. Trailing his hand lower, he swept his fingers along her silky tank top, feeling her aroused nipples brush against his palm as he moved his hand to rest on her exposed thigh.

  “We have to stop,” he mumbled against her lips. “We’re in public.”

  “I always seem to forget that when I’m with you.”

  “Me too,” he said as he pulled away. “Finish your drink.”

  “I think you’re right.” She looked at her almost empty glass. “I need to slow down. The room is spinning.”

  He placed his credit card on the bar. “Let’s get a table and get you something to eat. That’ll help.”

  “I’d much rather go back to my place.” She traced the top of his hand with her fingers. “I want to be with you.”

  “You’re going to be the death of me tonight.”

  “I know you felt it in that kiss. You wanted more.”

  “That’s not a secret.” He twirled the ends of her hair around his finger. “When it comes to you, I want it all.”

  “I don’t want to wait anymore.”

  “There’s no rush.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Now that I know you’re mine, we have all the time in the world.”

  “Can’t we go back to my place and see what happens?” Her persistence was adorable, but he had to stay strong.

  “The vodka has gone to your head. Tonight’s not the right time for us to see what happens. I couldn’t control myself with one kiss in a public place. How can I be expected to control myself when we’re alone?”

  “I know you’d never hurt me.”

  “Hurt you? Never.” He shook his head. “I want everything to be perfect for you.”

  The bartender settled their drink tab and signaled to the hostess that they were ready for a table.

  “Come on.” He stood and extended his hand to her. “Let’s go sit at a table.”

  “Can I bring my drink?” She took his hand. “I want to finish it.”

  “Of course.” He picked the glass up from the bar. “You can have whatever you want.”

  “I want you.”

  “I’m all yours, baby.”

  THE OFFICE WAS BUZZING with energy on Monday afternoon. Spencer and Coda had returned from Italy the day before and were expected to make an appearance. Tyler was shocked that his brother wasn’t already seated at his desk and barking orders. Tyler was certain he had Coda to thank for that.

  In two weeks, Tyler’s life had taken a drastic turn. When he met Sammy at the wedding, he never expected to be so taken by her. He wasn’t an exclusive kind of guy, but he had no interest in seeing anyone else. There was something different about her. Aside from her innocence, there was a spark and a drive he seemed to be drawn to. She’d managed to charm his grandfather in a short amount of time. In a strange way, she reminded him of Coda. They had a way with the Cannon men.

  “There you are.” His grandfather’s voice boomed through the hallway. “It’s about time.”

  “I told you I’d be in this afternoon,” Spencer said. “I wanted to catch up on emails at home before I came in to see what was going on here.”

  Tyler made his way out to greet them. Now that his brother was back, he hoped some of the pressure he had experienced when dealing with the clients would be lifted. While Spencer was in Italy, Tyler came to
the realization that he liked running things from the inside. He appreciated his brother’s negotiation skills and his gift to get the campaign done no matter what now more than ever.

  “Don’t let him fool you, Jack.” Coda hugged his grandfather. “He managed quite a bit of work on our honeymoon. I doubt there were many emails to answer when he got home.”

  “Didn’t trust me?” Tyler asked. He hugged Coda. “Welcome back, but did you have to bring him home with you?”

  “Funny.” Spencer rolled his eyes. “I can’t wait to see how you’ve managed to screw things up around here.”

  “You’ll be surprised, Spencer. The boy has done a tremendous job in your absence. You should be worried about your job.”

  “I don’t want his job,” Tyler said.

  “I was joking.” Spencer slapped his brother’s back. “I’ve read everything you copied me on, and you did do a fantastic job.”

  “I told you I would. I’ve been paying attention.”

  “Sometimes I wondered.” Spencer smirked as he placed his arm around Coda’s waist. “We had a wonderful time in Italy. Thank you for holding things down while we were away.”

  “He did more than that,” their grandfather said. “He even found me a new assistant.”

  “You did?” Coda asked. “What happened to Angela?”

  “She had a family emergency,” Tyler said. “She’s fine and here in the mornings until the summer.”

  “You had time to interview assistants for Grandfather?” Spencer asked. “That’s impressive.”

  “Not exactly.” Tyler shrugged. “An opportunity presented itself.”

  “Am I going to like this?” Spencer sighed.

  “Here she is right now,” their grandfather said. “Sammy, come here and meet Spencer and Coda Cannon.”

  “Sammy?” Coda said. “Isn’t that the girl from the hotel?”

  “Yeah.” Tyler smiled at Sammy when she made her way over to them. She wore a pale yellow dress that complimented her delicate curves. He glanced down at her never-ending legs, but was interrupted when Spencer spoke.

  “This is unexpected.” Spencer looked at Tyler.