When she stepped back, leaving him emptied handed he ached for her touched instantly. He wanted to gather her back in his arms and kiss her from head to toe placing little reminders between them that she was his and he was hers. But he reminded himself that letting Holly go for a moment was for his pleasure too.
She turned around awarding him a delicious view of her backside. She glanced over her shoulder, giving him a come- hither glance. “You mind? I can’t strip by myself.” Her gaze cut to the gold medal zipper that trailed the length of her back. “Help me out of this thing and I can help you with that bulge in your pants.”
His jaw tightened. He closed the distance between them and clasped his fingers around her zipper pull. She sighed, wiggling her behind against him. He gave her zipper a jerk. “Holly,” he whispered her name at her ear, not as a warning but as a plea to continue torturing him. “You want me to ruin your dress. Because I can.”
Another butt rub. “Maybe I want you to do just that.”
He sucked air through his teeth. “In the morning you’ll be so pissed at me if I do.”
Her head fell back against his shoulder. “You know me so well. It’s extremely arousing.”
Everything inside him charged to action. He rolled his hips forward, nudging her inner thigh to prove to her how exactly aroused she’d made him. “Not going to argue about that.”
There went the zipper. Bare back graced his view and it was so damn sexy. He clenched his fists at his side as he watched her shimmy out of the dress, kicking it aside to land near the foot of the bed. She turned around to face him and stuck her arms out at her side. “Ta-da. No more clothes.”
He lowered his gaze on her breasts and groaned. “No bra?”
She gave him a dangerously sexy wink. “Less barriers. We’re always pulling off quickies at home, so I decided to come up with some sex hacks of my own. Besides bras are no fun to wear anyways.”
His lungs burned and heat shot straight to groin, sending his mind buzzing. “What did I do to deserve you?”
Holly stepped close to him and placed her hand over his heart. “You get me because you’re you. You love me unconditionally. You’re a great dad. You make me feel special.” She raised up on her tiptoes and nuzzled her face against his cheek. “You complete me, Jack. I wouldn’t be Holly without you anymore than you’d be Jack without me.”
His chest squeezed tight. He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her waist, and lazily stroked her back. He dipped his hand lower, skimming his fingers along her panty line, then gave them a quick pop. A small sound left Holly’s lip—not a protest, but a welcome invitation, and Jack took it. He pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips were soft and addictive. He’d be old and gray and still not have gotten enough of her sweet mouth. She lifted her arms and hooked them around his neck, drawing him in deeper. Her hips bucked, sending a wave of heat crashing through him. God, he needed her so much.
He broke their kiss, breathless and completely drunk on her touch. “I also lied about liking fifteenth century lit.”
“Oh, I almost forgot about your scholarly knowledge when it came to Chaucer,” she said, laughing as she tugged her panties lower on her hips. “Didn’t you watch the Knight’s Tale with your frat buddies to impress me?”
He chuckled. “I was a young idiot in love.”
Her panties hit the floor. “You were something, weren’t you?”
“Jerk move to get the pretty girl.” Jack swallowed, unable to think of much else but the fact that his wife had ditched her panties, and she did it for him.
“Nah. I’d call it a sweet move. Besides it worked.” Holly bent over giving him a flash her gorgeous behind, then stood upright, her panties twirling from her fingers. “You got my panties off fourteen years ago and counting.”
Jack undid his belt buckle. “Guess I’m a jerk with a heart.”
She gripped his belt and yanked it out of the loops with him. “Big, big, heart.” Her heated gaze lowered to his zipper and she licked her lips. Heat barreled to his gut, and instantly he was charged from 0 to 60 flat. “How about getting rid of the pants and boxers? Not very fair that I’m the only one butt naked.”
He placed his hand on her shoulder and stroked, then he lowered his touch to her waist, continuing on with his stroking expedition. “Hey. I could be memorizing each one of your freckles.”
“Like you couldn’t recite their location with your eyes closed.” She did this up and down finger motion that scanned the length of his body. “Undress Mr. McQuaid.”
Jeans. Boxers. Socks. Can’t forget those. Were on the floor in seconds. They stood naked. Body to body. Her ample breasts brushed against his chest hair and each time she giggled from the light touch a tightness twisted in his gut. This beautiful woman wanted him. The girl who stole is heart sophomore year of college when she said “hi” to him after the homecoming game and she still held his heart captive. She was his person. His Holly. Always.
He gathered her in his arms. “I want you.”
“Take me,” she said breathlessly.
She didn’t have to ask him twice. He kissed her, walking them to the bed. They rammed into the edge of the mattress both falling down on the comforter. Her legs fell apart, making room for him to climb between her knees. He pressed his mouth to hers, hard, as he ran his hands up and down her side. So soft. So beautiful. The heat returned to his gut, and he was reminded she was his forever, and unlike in college in their early dating days he didn’t have to question if he’d get to hold her in his arms again. They’d get their second round. And another.
He kissed her again, softy, then gazed at her.
She hooked her legs around his waist and looked deeply into his eyes. “You going to stare at me all night?”
“I could stare at you every night and not tire.” His body tightened like a rubber band ready to burst with need. He positioned himself above her. “Holly it’s you. Always will be.”
She cupped his face. “Same for me. Always you.”
And then he moved, sinking into pleasure, showing her that she was his one and always only.
About the Author
Jodi Linton is the author of romance novels with heart and sass. She lives in Texas with her husband and two kids. When she isn’t writing about happily ever after’s, she likes to travel with her family.
Sign up for Jodi’s newsletter and never miss any news!
Looking for more of Jodi’s books? Check them ALL out right here!
http://jodilinton.com/books/
Stay connected with Jodi at
www.JodiLinton.com
on Facebook and on Twitter and on Bookbub
Join her FAB READER CLUB on Facebook for insider peeks, friendly chats with other book peeps, and more!
Cupcakes & Macaroons
Cupcakes & Macaroons
A Cupcakes Series Short
By Bethany Lopez
Cupcakes & Macaroons
Copyright © 2020 Bethany Lopez
All Rights Reserved
This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Chapter One
“I love you both so much,” I told my twins as Cade waited patiently by the door. “Be good for your dad and I’ll bring you lots of souvenirs.”
“Bye, Mom, have fun,” Elin said, allowing me to kiss him briefly on the cheek.
“Okay, Mom, you’d better go or you’ll miss your flight. We’ll be fine,” Elena insisted as she tried to push me off her. “Bye, Cade, love you.”
“Yeah, love you, Cade,” Elin repeated.
“Love you gu
ys, too,” Cade said as he picked up his leather duffel, indicating he was ready to leave.
“Thanks, Eric, see you in a few weeks,” I said to my ex.
“No problem, you two have a good time. And, Lila, try and stay out of trouble,” he said wryly.
“Yeah, right,” Cade joked, before prodding, “Darlin’?”
“I’m coming,” I said, giving my kids each one more kiss on the cheek before rolling my bags to the door.
Once we were outside, Cade loaded our bags into the back of his truck and we were on our way to the airport.
Day before yesterday we’d had a beautiful wedding with our friends and family in attendance, and now we were headed to Europe for our honeymoon. I’d planned the wedding, and Cade, the honeymoon, so although I knew we were going to Paris, Venice, and Barcelona, I didn’t know the particulars.
And, I was totally okay with that.
Three weeks in Europe with my gorgeous hunk of a man was the stuff of fantasies.
Hell, I’d be happy in a straw hut in the middle of nowhere … as long as Cade was with me.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I said excitedly. “I hope Carmen will be okay holding down the fort.”
I was a private investigator. I kind of fell into the business after the PI I worked for was murdered and he left his business to me. Carmen, one of my best friends and new business associate, was watching over things while we were away.
Carmen had done it before, and I knew she’d be fine, but still, the business was like my baby, and I couldn’t help but worry something would go wrong while I was away. Or worse, she’d catch a case that put her in danger, and I wouldn’t be around to help her out of it.
Not that she was alone. Not only was she dating Branson Braswell, a lawyer and friend who’d gotten us out of some tough spots. But, our friend Bea was a local cop, and Amy May was always up for a little trouble, although, now that she was pregnant she probably needed to stop getting involved.
“She’ll be fine,” Cade replied. “Carmen’s a tough and smart woman.”
I nodded in agreement, since he’d simply confirmed my own thoughts.
We got to the airport and made it through TSA in record time. Since we were a little early, we decided to stop at the bar for a drink while we waited to board.
Cade pulled his hair back into a messy man bun, pulling off a look I couldn’t in a million years, the jerk, and I couldn’t stop my grin as I took him in.
Tall and built like a brick shithouse, with long dark hair, tanned skin, and a face meant to be an artist’s muse. Cade was all man. Virile, sexy, and sometimes scary. As a man who got things done for his MC, and looked like he was tailor made to ride a motorcycle, my new husband got my vote for the sexiest man alive.
“You good?” he asked with a grin when he caught me staring.
I could tell by the look on his face, Cade knew what I was thinking, but I still picked the olive out of my dirty martini and made a little show of putting it in my mouth and sucking on my fingers.
“So good,” I purred, leaning in close so only he could hear me. “You are so incredibly sexy.”
Cade brought his hand to my throat and caressed my skin before running his thumb along my jawline.
“Careful,” he warned, his tone rough. “Unless your goal is to get fucked right here.”
Damn, I thought as my vision blurred and my blood heated. It sounds good to me.
Unfortunately, they chose that moment to announce our flight was boarding. So, I tossed back my drink and mentally calculated how many hours it would be until we arrived at our first destination and first available bed.
Our first stop was Paris, and we were staying in the vacation home of one of his old football buddies. Cade had sustained an injury in college, but a few of his friends had gone pro, and they’d generously offered up their homes for us.
I’d never been to Europe, but had always wanted to go.
As we moved down the gateway to the plane, I grabbed Cade’s hand in mine and held on tightly.
I’d been burned in my first marriage when I caught Eric cheating, and I’d never imagined myself falling in love and giving ‘til death do us part another shot. But, Cade had busted through all of my walls by being a man I could count on. Someone who would love and protect me and my children, while letting us be who we were, and supporting us one-hundred percent.
Cade was the person I never knew I needed.
We were made for each other … As corny as it sounds, I believe it with my whole heart.
As we were about to get on the plane, I stopped and looked up at him.
“Hey … thanks for picking me up that day on your bike, for loving me even when I drive you crazy, and for not giving up on me … on us.”
Cade tugged on my hand, bringing me closer so he could claim my mouth with his. After a few heated seconds, I heard a man clear his voice behind us and broke away to see we were holding up the line.
“We’re on our honeymoon,” I stated, loud enough for the first twenty people to hear.
A few people smiled, and one lady shouted, “Congratulations,” as we turned and continued on to the plane.
Chapter Two
Our last night in Paris had been spectacular, everything I’d ever dreamed of. And, our day on the train was perfectly decadent.
We had a sleeper car, so we’d spent the day lazily making love, playing sudoku, and reading. There’d also been trips to the dining car for lunch and drinks at the bar. It was the perfect way to travel and I didn’t know how I’d ever go back to being stuck in a cramped airplane seat again.
We’d arrived in Venice refreshed and eager to explore the city.
First, we needed to take our things to Cade’s friend’s loft in San Marco, and then we were going to find the perfect place to sit outside and have dinner while enjoying the gorgeous architecture of the floating city.
Once at the building, we took the lift to the second floor, and when Cade opened the door to the loft, my mouth dropped open and I let go of my bags to walk inside.
It was glorious. Tall ceilings, with large windows and doors leading out to a terrace, which caused the space to look huge and open due to the brightness.
“When you said your buddy’s loft was two hundred and sixty-five square meters, I thought it was going to be tiny. But, either my conversions were off, or Italian builders are magicians, because this place is perfect,” I told Cade as I moved around the space, taking in everything at once.
I didn’t know where I wanted to go first … out onto the terrace, up the stairs to the split loft, or to the pool table in the center alcove to the right.
I went out onto the terrace, which had big, lush loungers and pretty potted plants, then whirled around and hurried up the stairs to see the two bedrooms and sitting area.
“Lena would die if she saw this place,” I said, imagining my preteen daughter lying on the daybed and reading in the natural light.
Cade came up behind me, putting one arm around my chest so I could lean back against him.
“I guess you like it then?” he joked.
“I could totally live here,” I sighed. “It’s gorgeous. We’re going to have to send your friends something better than a fruit basket to say thank you … like a custom motorcycle or something.”
Cade’s chest rumbled with laughter against my back.
“Want to go see the master?”
“You bet I do,” I replied, taking Cade’s hand in mine and leading him down the stairs.
“Cade, there’s a hot tub in the bathroom!” I cried, unnecessarily, since he was standing right there next to me. “Oh my gosh, if I didn’t want to see Venice so badly, we could totally just spend the whole week in this loft and I’d be perfectly happy.”
“We can do whatever you want to do, darlin’, just say the word.”
See, it was him saying romantic shit like that, that made me want to jump his bones. I think maybe he was catching on…
“I th
ink we should wash each other’s backs in that tub, before we get ready and go to dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said, his grin wolfish. “I’ll grab our things.”
“Oh, can you get the Macarons out of my bag so they don’t get smashed?”
Yes, I’d brought an emergency stash just in case they weren’t readily available in Venice.
“You got it.”
Cade went to go get our bags, while I started filling up the bath, which I noticed had a Buddha head decorating the corner.
Would I be able to have sex in the tub with a deity watching? And, is Buddha considered a deity?
“I haven’t seen this before…”
I broke out of my internal musings and looked at Cade, who was holding a vibrator.
“Uh, that’s not mine,” I said, never having seen the teal mechanism before.
“It was in your bag.”
“No it wasn’t … no way. I would have noticed,” I argued.
“It’s not as if you’ve unpacked the thing, Lila,” Cade replied. Which was true. I wasn’t the type to unpack my bag when traveling, opting to just live out of the bag instead. I mean, what was the point? You’d just have to pack it all back up again.
“No, but I think I would have noticed a strange vibrator amongst my things.”
“It was in a zipper pocket on the inside,” he told me, handing it to me.
I flipped it around in my hand, looking at it in puzzlement, and asked, “But where did it come from?”
I looked up and caught Cade’s eyes, and we both smiled and said, “Amy May.”
“What do you say we try it out?” Cade asked, taking a step closer.
“I thought we were gonna take a bath,” I said, gesturing with the vibrator to the nearly full tub.
“I’ll get you off with this, then we’ll get in,” Cade replied, and I had to admit… his idea had merit.
A Little Bit Cupid: A Collection of Short Stories Page 25