by Quinn, Taryn
I stared at it, shaking my head as I rose. “You must take me for a real tosser.”
Kellan drew back his hand. “Say what?”
“Your son is sick. Your woman needs you. All of this,” I gestured at the sweet mixing board I hadn’t gotten nearly enough time to play with, “can wait.”
“You’ll extend your trip?”
“I can’t do that.” Although it troubled me how much a part of me desperately wanted to. And probably not because of Kellan.
Maybe I was a tosser.
“Oh.” Kellan tried to keep his face expressionless, but he didn’t quite achieve it. “Understandable. You’re in hot demand.”
“Keep talking like that, you’ll swell my head. I’m busy, yes, but I’ll be back. Once your boy is on the mend, we’ll figure out a date.”
I wasn’t thinking about seeing Ivy again. A one-night stand was plenty.
Liar.
“Thanks, man. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.” Kellan pulled me into a quick hug. He nearly dislocated both my shoulders from his grip, but I maintained my cool and patted his back before he moved away.
The air tasted sweet as it again flowed into my compromised lungs.
“No problem. Working with you was fun. We’re on our way to creating a hit.” I drained the last of my cold coffee and pocketed the rest of the scones without shame. I’d eat them in the car if need be.
Drowning my sorrows in cookies as I drove back to my most certainly empty room at the bed and breakfast? Maybe. It seemed like a noble cause.
“Thank you for your delicacies and for sharing your home, Maggie. And I hope your baby is well soon.” I leaned in to give Maggie a hug, shocked into silence when she cupped my face and kissed my cheek.
“You’re welcome here anytime. I’m sorry your plans were messed up. Next time, it’ll be spring and this one will be better. Right, little man?” Her voice was cheerful as she jiggled her son in her arms, but there was no missing the fear pinching her mouth.
My chest squeezed again as Wolf knuckled his eyes and tried to smile. It was probably gas, but the gesture touched me almost as much as his mother’s kindness.
Swallowing hard, I glanced at Kellan. “You’re a lucky man. Keep me posted on how he is.”
Shockingly, I meant every word.
Kellan walked me out. As soon as I’d pulled out of the drive, Kellan and his family followed in the small SUV.
I let out a long breath and reached for my pocket. I’d finished off my purloined scones before I reached Crescent Cove’s town limits.
Snow dripped from every bough and eave and glistened in the now full sun. Townspeople bustled up the tidily shoveled sidewalks with their hands full of shopping bags or tugging on leashes that led to an assortment of dogs, both small and large. I’d figured this was the type of place where teacup poodles reigned, but there were just as many German Shepherds and Labradors.
It was a home, not merely a postcard, and though some people rushed, no one scowled. The weather wasn’t ideal and no one seemed to notice.
Where the hell was I? Had I been dropped onto another planet?
People seemed so oddly happy here. Perhaps that was why the townspeople’s reproductive organs operated at peak efficiency.
That was as good an explanation as any other.
I parked near the bed and breakfast and climbed out of the car to empty crumbs from my pocket. There weren’t many. Maggie’s scones were like gold.
I was still licking my fingertips when I stepped inside and found Sage helping a couple of guests. I figured I could sneak up the stairs undetected, but no such luck.
“There you are!” Sage smiled brightly. “And here I thought you were still holed up in your room.”
“No indeed, in and out for business.”
Sage smiled knowingly. “As we realized when Lucy knocked for housekeeping. A lovely young lady told her to come back later.”
My ears and neck were heating up, but they weren’t flushed. That would be ridiculous. I was a grown man. If I wanted to entertain female company in my suite, I was damn well entitled.
Before I could come back with some snark, Sage continued.
“Ivy is a beauty, isn’t she? Bright and sweet too. If you had to choose a welcoming committee to Crescent Cove, you couldn’t find anyone finer. Have a wonderful time.” Sage winked at me and turned to the couple that had just shuffled up to the desk.
“It’s lunchtime,” I sputtered.
“So? Any time is a good time for amore. Am I right or am I right?” Sage asked the couple.
I didn’t stick around for their response.
It was only as I climbed the stairs that hope surged inside me. My step quickened. If Ivy had still been in the room when housekeeping arrived, might she still be there?
I stopped outside my door and knocked, just to be polite. “Ivy? It’s me.”
No reply.
I opened the door to the suite and let out a long breath at the destruction around me. Nothing too horrifying, but there was little doubt a female was still in residence.
Thank God.
A noise came from the bathroom and I cocked my head. She was singing. I couldn’t help a grin. Her voice was pleasing, as appealing as the rest of her. Even if she wasn’t exactly nailing the lyrics of the song she’d decided to attempt.
I moved to the doorway and came to a halt. She was in the tub, surrounded by fragrant bubbles. Her hair was up but some spilled free to her shoulders. Barely contained fire. Her eyes were closed and her breasts bobbed and swayed as she danced in place, her tight pink nipples popping through the froth to torment me.
My throat went dry, my pulse sped up, and my jeans suddenly got a size smaller.
Christ, she was going to kill me.
Did the morning-after—okay, afternoon-after—count as an extension of a one-nighter?
Guess we were about to find out.
Seven
Bubbles frothed around my neck. Perhaps a bath bomb and bubbles wasn’t the way to go. Then again, I’d never been in such a luxurious tub. Not quite the Pretty Woman size, but I was going with it.
If I was going to be treated to a swanky room for my one-night stand, I damn well better use it.
My first reaction had been to ball up his note and pitch it on my way out the door with a flounce. But I was alone, so the flounce was just stupid.
No sense in wasting me time. Living with my brother didn’t allow for much of it. And I really didn’t need to do the walk of shame just yet. So, tub, my bitchy playlist, and my AirPods it was.
Fuck Rory Ferguson for being such a good lay.
I didn’t want to keep thinking about him. Charlie Puth in my ears certainly didn’t help. Fitting song though. I smoothed the bubbles along my arms and sang about attention and the gossipy nature of a relationship.
Not exactly us. Gossip would require caring about what we did.
And I didn’t.
Time to stop feeling sorry for myself.
I slowly sat up, the bubbles and water flowing over my shoulders. My nipples tightened at the change of temperature.
“You are a sight.”
My eyes popped open. Rory stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, pulling at the sporty collared sweater he was wearing. My gaze raked down over his lean waist to the strong thighs making his jeans way too appealing.
Especially with the obvious bulge showing there as well.
I ducked back under the suds. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to hear you butcher Charlie’s song.”
I pulled out my AirPods. “Rude.” He shrugged. Was that a smirk? Ugh, such a shit. “I wasn’t singing for you.”
“Pity. I was still enjoying it.”
“What are you doing here?” All the bubbles I’d been so worried about were suddenly disappearing at a rapid rate. I tried to pull them toward me, but they were dissolving as quickly as I tried to gather them.
“Are you
trying to hide from me, ginger fairy?”
“No.”
He stepped into the room and the huge bathroom instantly felt smaller. I wasn’t worldly enough to throw my shoulders back and invite him in. Besides, the water was already getting cold. And I wasn’t sure I wanted another round with him.
Not when he’d left with a note.
Though it was probably more than most women got after a wild night of sex with a stranger. I mean, it was sort of wild. It had certainly been athletic and memorable. At least for me anyway. Probably another day at the office for him.
He took a fluffy towel off the rack and stood at the side of the tub. “I’ve seen everything.”
“It’s different when there’s daylight. And when I’m pruny.”
His eyebrow spiked. “Should I leave then?” He set the towel back on the rack.
I blew the little hairs that had come free from my messy knot out of my face. “Why are you here?”
He reached over to turn on the taps and unplug the drain. “My meeting had…complications.” He unhooked the fancy rain hood and switched the lever to turn the flowing water to the shower setting.
I frowned when he held out his hand for me.
“You want the bubbles rinsed off, yeah?”
“Right.”
He held out the shower head. “We don’t have to do anything more if you’re not interested. I can leave you be.”
“You still haven’t answered me.” I stood and the water sluiced down off of me. Far too little bubbles were left to cover any part of me.
His eyes did that hooded thing like last night. Just before he fucked me into the mattress. I stood still as a gentle flow of water at the perfect temperature rinsed away the minty bubbles.
Truly, how could I resist my favorite scent waiting for me when I spotted the tub?
His Adam’s apple bobbed hard. “Turn.” His voice was harsh and gritty.
I slowly turned until my back was to him. I shut my eyes and swayed a little. His eyes felt so heavy on me. His breath was light on my neck as the water flowed over my lower back and the curve of my ass.
The water stopped and I was about to turn around when his lips brushed along my neck. He cupped my breasts, tugging lightly on the tips as he slowly sipped from my wet skin.
He tucked his chin over my shoulder. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
I covered his hands. “I doubt that, but it’s lovely to hear.”
He nipped at my jaw. “I don’t lie.”
I couldn’t help the dreamy smile. “I don’t suppose you do.”
“That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.” His hand slid down my belly, his short nails leaving the lightest trail through the moisture clinging to my skin.
“Good to know.”
His touch slid lower again, teasing through the narrow strip of curls that framed my slit. I was still sensitive, but I ached for him to fill me up again.
“Is this your version of seduction?”
“Does it make up for me leaving?”
I leaned back against him. The fine blend of his sweater made me straighten. “I’m going to get you wet.”
“Not if I get you wet first.”
My laugh ended in a groan as he slid two fingers into me. I had no choice but to lean on him. Not when his fingers were that freaking talented. My thighs trembled and I arched away from him as the last of the bubbles swirled around my feet.
I reached behind to grasp his hair, his name a sigh and a half scream as black dots played like fireworks across my vision. He held me tighter against him, his cock digging into me, but he didn’t let me go.
He swayed and moved with me as I rocked through one orgasm and yet another before I sagged against him.
Whoa.
He wrapped a towel around me and scooped me out of the bath, then carted me into the bedroom.
“Wait.”
He frowned down at me.
My teeth chattered a little as I came back from the quick trip to Euphoriaville. I curled into the blanket-sized towel and tucked my face into his warm neck. “If this is going for another round, I thought you might be happy to know Sage outfitted the medicine cabinet.”
“She is a wonder. Practically congratulated me before I came up to the room.”
I laughed. “Sounds like her. I started at the diner after she left, but I’ve heard some serious stories about her.”
He set me down on the bed and tucked me into the covers. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want to assume anything, nor to have the town talking about you.”
I snuggled into the fluffy and very warm duvet. “I’m a big girl, LC.”
He grunted, but he damn well returned to the bathroom. He came back into the room and set the small box of condoms on the end table before making a pit stop at the fireplace to set the fire to blazing.
Now that I was under the covers and the winter sun was streaming in the window, I was warming nicely, but I appreciated the gesture. Especially with the look on his face. It said that I was going to be losing the towel momentously.
I shivered as he stood before me.
“Still chilled?”
I shook my head no as I bit my lower lip.
“You’ll be the death of me.”
My smile was slow and wide as my arm shot out to drag him onto the bed. His boots thumped to the floor. A rare laugh tumbled from his lips as he stripped out of his jeans and I pushed at his sweater and the thermal shirt under it.
“Poor California boy is freezing his ass off here in New York.”
“Ah, but I have a sweet redheaded lass who is going to warm me up.”
I laughed at the thickened bit of Irish he put into his voice. “Keep talking like that and I’ll never let you go.” His smile slipped a little, and my breath backed up. “I didn’t mean—”
He covered my mouth with his. “I know what you mean, Ivy.”
The thrill zinged down my spine as he said my name again. Why did that drive me so crazy? It was just a name. People said it a million times a day since I was usually waitressing at three different places some weeks. When he said it?
It wasn’t like anyone else.
And then it really didn’t matter what names were being said, because most of the next string of words were curse words and deities in quick succession.
Sweet mercy, the man had a talented mouth. A devilish one that had no business making me scream out for God, but boy, did I.
He rolled me under him, above him, and finally, in what was becoming his favorite position—and mine—he spooned me as he splayed me open to his every touch.
I arched and his long, delicious fingers stroked me from clit to neck before he turned my head to meet his lips as he thrust into me again and again. I was surrounded and bared at the same time, cherished and displayed in ways I’d never been before.
His teeth sunk into my shoulder as a stifled groan ended in a sweet sigh. I didn’t remember drifting off, but my body was sweetly swaddled into the covers as Rory slipped away to take care of the condom.
Just like last night, he returned to gather me close.
If I drifted off, would he be gone again?
The worry of it wouldn’t let me slip away as I’d almost done only moments before. He would be leaving, I had no doubt of that. I just wanted to be awake and aware of it this time.
I rolled in his arms until our legs were a tangle and I could rest my cheek against his chest. Words felt like too much just then, but he seemed to be good with the silence. Part of me wanted to ask what he was thinking, but the other half of me didn’t want to know.
Was he counting the minutes before he could escape?
As gruff as he was, there was a steely spine of politeness inside of him as well. Such a crazy combination. And he didn’t reach for his phone every three minutes either. Most guys rolled over and checked their phones about thirty times.
Heck, I usually did as well.
It seemed too imp
ortant to be fully present for once. To soak up this little moment to hold me through the seemingly endless thaw of spring until I could get my summer plans in order. To finally make my little truck a reality.
I toyed with the medal resting on his chest. I nearly missed the small cross threaded onto the chain behind it. “Saint Christopher?”
“Good eye.”
I grinned up at him. “I worked at a little card shop when I was sixteen. Had a bunch of these kinds of medals in a display case. Grandmas usually bought them.”
He laughed. “Well, you can add Irish mothers to that list as well. Even went so far as to get the holy father at Saint Peter and Paul’s Church to bless it before she gave it to me. That was after she made me promise I’d wear it on every flight.”
I rested my chin on top of my hand. “Patron saint of travelers.”
“It’s a comfort to her, so I wear it.”
“Not a comfort to you?”
He shrugged. “Easier to wear it than to remember to grab it for every flight. Then again, I’m always on a plane going somewhere.”
The questions burned my tongue. Just who was this man who didn’t seem to belong anywhere and yet was comfortable wherever he was?
His face closed off a little. “Just spit out whatever it is you have to say.”
Now I wanted to bite my tongue even more. It didn’t matter. It was just today between us. I settled with the easy. For me as much as him. “What happened with your meeting?”
He visibly relaxed, fluffing the pillow behind his head. “My client’s child fell ill and he and the boy’s mother ended up heading to the urgent care center.”
I propped myself on my elbow on the mattress. “Oh, no. Is he okay?”
“Seemed like a normal child’s malady. Ear infection and fever perhaps? I’m not sure. Obviously, that ended our meeting.”
“That was nice of you.”
He sat up. “Just being human. Not sure why everyone is so surprised that I’d be okay with postponing our work.”