Come Away With Me

  Asher and I will be at the shop in 30.

  We are at the front door. Your faithful employee doesn’t trust that I know you.

  I run out to unlock the door for them, grinning when I see Matt leaning his ass on the glass, dressed in jeans and a blue button-down that I know matches his eyes.

  His ass looks amazing in jeans.

  He turns and smiles at me as I unlock the door, step back to let him and Asher in, and then lock the deadbolt again.

  “Sorry we’re early,” Asher says as he saunters over to the glass case to ogle the treats inside.

  “You’re fine,” I reply. “Anastasia, this is Matt and Asher.”

  “Sorry.” She blushes and shrugs. “I just don’t feel comfortable opening the door early to people I don’t recognize.”

  “You did the right thing,” Asher assures her.

  “How are you?” Matt asks softly and cups my cheek in his hand.

  “Happy to see you,” I reply and turn my face to press a kiss to his warm palm. God, I’m so mushy.

  His eyes flare with happiness, then darken when I skim my teeth over the base of his thumb.

  “Keep that up and I’ll have you tied up in that apron and against the wall of your kitchen in one minute,” he whispers into my ear before kissing my cheek and pulling back, grinning wolfishly.

  “Promises, promises,” I tease. “I have your cupcakes ready to go.” Keeping his hand in mine, I lead him to the kitchen, where his boxes are waiting for him. “I hope everyone likes them.”

  “They’ll love them. The guys are becoming addicted to these. You just might put the doughnut industry out of business yet.” He winks, and I glow under his praise.

  “From your lips to God’s ears.” I nod. “Leo’s article will hopefully draw more people in, too.”

  “Leo’s article?” he asks with a raised brow.

  “Yeah, he said that he mentioned my shop in an interview. Shocked the hell out of me.”

  “Huh.” Matt nods approvingly. “That’s cool.”

  “You look tired.” I push my fingers through his soft hair and rub the muscles at the base of his neck. “Did you catch any sleep?”

  “Not really.” He sighs and rubs his hand over his face and then studies me for a moment. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  “Stop apologizing. Seriously, it’s okay, babe. I missed you, but you have a kick-ass job where you fight crime and defend the American dream.” I grin up at him as he smirks.

  “Uh, something like that.” He pulls me into his arms for a big hug.

  There’s nothing sexual about this, aside from the sparks of awareness that shoot through me whenever he touches me. Instead, he seems to be soothing both of us. His hands glide down my back and rest at my waist, holding me tightly against him. He buries his nose in my neck and breathes deep. “I’d like to come to your place when I’m done tonight.”

  “I’d like that, too,” I agree without hesitation. “I’ll make you dinner and everything.”

  He chuckles and kisses the top of my head. “That’s the best offer I’ve had in months. Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me until you’ve had my mediocre cooking,” I warn him. “I can bake like a champ, but cooking isn’t really my strong suit.”

  “I can cook.” Matt shrugs, but I shake my head adamantly no.

  “No way, detective. You’ll have worked a twenty-four-hour shift. I’ll feed you.”

  I pass his boxes to him and lead him out of the kitchen just as Asher hangs up his phone with a curse.

  “Abby canceled on me for today. What the fuck?”

  “Who’s Abby?” I ask, looking between both men in confusion.

  “My babysitter,” Asher replies and swears again, combing through his phone. “She has a family emergency and can’t watch Casey today.”

  I frown at Matt, but he shakes his head discreetly, as though he’ll fill me in later.

  “You don’t have anyone else to watch him?” I ask.

  “Her,” Asher corrects me absentmindedly. “Casey is my daughter. And no, I don’t have anyone else.”

  “I can watch her,” I offer.

  “You’re working,” Asher replies, frowning as his head whips up.

  “Well, the last time I checked, I own the joint, so I can invite anyone I wish.” I offer him a big smile and wink at Anastasia, who nods in agreement. “How old is Casey?”

  “Nine,” he replies. “She’s a good kid. She’ll probably just bury her nose in her iPod and stay out of your hair.”

  “We’d love to have her. Can Abby drop her off here?”

  Matt grins and leans his hip against my counter, crosses his arms, watching us both.

  “I’ll text and ask her,” Asher replies, relieved. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Of course.” I wave him off and walk to the door to unlock it. It’s time to open for the day. “She’ll be fine here.”

  “Abby says she’ll have her here in about ten minutes. Thanks, Nic. Really.”

  “My pleasure. I could use the extra help.” I chuckle and am shocked to find myself caught up in a bear hug from a very strong, handsome Asher. “Whoa!”

  “Watch your hands, partner,” Matt warns him.

  “You’re the best.” Asher sets me back on my feet and kisses my cheek. “Dump that asshole and marry me.”

  Matt’s eyes narrow and darken and his lips firm, but he stays where he is, watching.

  “Sorry, handsome.” I pat his cheek and back out of his embrace. “I’m content with what I have.”

  “Damn.” He smiles ruefully.

  ***

  “You’ll love the strawberry ones,” Casey assures a customer, carefully placing four of the cupcakes in a white box, her tongue held between her pink lips in concentration. Casey is adorable. Where her father has dark hair and eyes, Casey has long, curly red hair, green eyes and freckles all over her perky little nose. Her skin is perfect, soft and pink.

  She looks like a porcelain doll and is going to give the boys a run for their money one day.

  “Thank you, young lady,” the elderly customer says with a grin and then takes his treats to Anastasia to pay.

  “You’re welcome,” she replies politely.

  “You’re a natural at this,” I inform her. “Want a job?”

  She giggles and pats her white apron that is roughly four sizes too big for her small body. “I’m too young to work.”

  “I guess so,” I agree with an exaggerated sigh. “But one day, you’ll be great at this.”

  She smiles widely, showing off a missing tooth. “I’m glad I got to come here today instead of staying with Abby.”

  “You don’t like Abby?” I ask as I rearrange the almost-empty glass case.

  “I love her, but sometimes it’s boring.” She pouts a bit and then jumps in, helping me.

  I smile to myself and step slightly to my right, making room for her.

  “We just hang out at her house and watch TV all day. Summer is boring.”

  “Does your dad do stuff with you on his day off?” I ask. I wonder where her mom is!

  “Yeah, Dad’s days off are the best. But he works a lot.” She shrugs and eyes the strawberry cupcakes. She’s already had two today.

  “You can take all of the strawberry ones that are left home with you today,” I say, earning a big smile. “We’ll consider it your pay for all of your help.”

  “Wow! Thank you!” She hugs my waist tightly. “They are my favorite.”

  “I’m going to lock the door, Nic,” Anastasia says.

  “Sounds good, thanks.”

  “We’re closing already?” Casey asks with a frown.

  “Yep, it’s closing time. But I have to mix some frosting for tomorrow morning. Do you want to help?”

  “Yes!” She races into the kitchen, eager to help.

  “I think you have a new best friend.” Anastasia laughs. “I’ll handle the cleanup out here so you can get prepped for tomorrow.”

&nb
sp; “Thanks. Just let me know if you need me.”

  I walk into the kitchen to find Casey waiting for me by my large stainless steel work station.

  The same one that Matt made love to me on just a few weeks ago.

  “Okay, let’s get to work.”

  I hand her ingredients and bowls, and she and I work together, measuring and mixing. She’s funny and sharp as a tack, catching on quickly.

  “Justin Bieber is so not cool anymore,” she says with an eye roll. “Austin Mahone is hot.”

  “He’s hot?” I ask with a laugh. “Aren’t you too young to think that anyone is hot?”

  “Yes, definitely,” Asher replies as he and Matt walk into the kitchen.

  “Daddy!” She thrusts the bowl she’s holding into my hands and runs to her father, jumping into his arms. “I’m a worker bee now!”

  “You are?” he asks with a laugh.

  “That’s what Nic said. Right, Nic?”

  “You’re an excellent worker bee,” I agree, nodding my head.

  “Were you a good girl?” Asher asks her.

  “I helped all day! Nic let me serve customers and make frosting and I met Leo Nash!”

  “Leo stopped in this morning,” I add, laughing. “She thought that was pretty cool.”

  Casey smiles and nods and hugs her dad, then squirms out of his arms and hugs Matt around the waist. “Hi, Uncle Matt.”

  “Hi, munchkin.” He squats next to her and tweaks her nose. “I’m glad you had fun today.”

  “Can I come back tomorrow?” she asks as she throws her arms around Matt’s neck, hugging him tightly.

  “No, you’ll be back with Abby tomorrow,” Asher replies.

  “Oh.” Casey pulls out of Matt’s arms and looks at me with longing.

  I’m such a sucker.

  “Maybe, if your dad says it’s okay, you can come here once a week, as a treat.”

  “Can I, Daddy?” She clasps her hands together over her chest and bounces on the balls of her feet. “Please?”

  “Nic, you don’t have to…”

  “I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t like having her here,” I reply honestly. “She’s a joy, Asher. I would love to spend a day with her each week, at least until summer is over.”

  Asher looks at Matt, who just smiles and shrugs, staying out of it.

  “Please, Daddy?”

  “If you really don’t mind, Casey would love it,” Asher begins hesitantly. “But I don’t want to impose.”

  “Nonsense.” I turn back to my frosting, bag it up and put it in the fridge. “She’s a big help. The customers love her. And”—I hand Casey her box full of leftover strawberry cupcakes—“she works for cupcakes. We all win here.”

  “Well, then, I think you two have a standing date.”

  “Thank you!” Casey hands her father her box, and I barely have time to stoop to catch her as she throws herself into my arms. She’s so slender, so sweet. She smells like vanilla and shampoo, and I hug her tightly for just a moment.

  “You’re welcome, sweetie. I’ll see you next week, okay?”

  “Okay!”

  “Let’s go, bubba.” Asher takes Casey’s hand and waves to us. “I’ll see you on Thursday, Matt.”

  “Get some sleep,” Matt calls out, his gaze still pinned on mine.

  His eyes are hot and full of lust and something else that sends tingles through me and makes ravenous butterflies set up camp in my belly.

  “How are you?” I ask.

  “Hungry,” he replies and slowly moves toward me.

  “Nic, I’m leaving, too! See you tomorrow!” Anastasia calls out.

  “Thank you, Anastasia!” I pull my apron off and toss it in the hamper. “I have dinner going upstairs.”

  “You do?” he asks softly and reaches out to brush his knuckles down my cheek. “That’s not all I’m hungry for, you know.”

  “Well, it’s a good place to start,” I reply shakily. “Then we can work our way to other things.”

  “Bossy little thing, aren’t you?” He chuckles.

  “It was just a suggestion.” I lift one shoulder in a shrug, watching his mouth as he licks his bottom lip.

  “Are you finished here?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Let’s go home.” He takes my hand in his and lifts it to his lips, kissing each knuckle softly. “I want to spend some time with you. Enjoy you.” He leans in and kisses the apple of my cheek, then pulls his lips down to my ear. “Then lose myself in you until we both pass out.”

  I nod and pull in a deep breath, relishing the smell of him. He smells musky, like pure unadulterated male, and it makes every instinct in me sit up and beg.

  “Which part are you agreeing to?” he asks as he drags his nose along my jawline.

  “All of it,” I whisper.

  He grins, kisses me chastely and then pulls back, leaving me already missing his warmth and impatient to get upstairs with him.

  “Let’s go.”

  ***

  “You are not a bad cook,” Matt informs me with a grin as he stacks our plates in the dishwasher. “You had me worried.”

  “The slow cooker is easy.” I laugh. “It’s hard to screw anything up in there.”

  The whir of the air-conditioning kicks on, battling the hot Seattle summer heat.

  “Doesn’t heat the place up like the oven does either,” Matt agrees. “I’m surprised you have AC in here. This is an old building.”

  “I had it installed. My ovens downstairs make it necessary to cool the rest of the building, especially in the summer.”

  He nods, locks the dishwasher and sets it.

  “You shouldn’t be doing this,” I insist for the third time. “You worked hard today.”

  “So did you.”

  “Not for almost twenty-four hours,” I remind him.

  “My job isn’t any more important than yours, little one. We both worked today, we’ll both clean up from dinner.”

  “That’s very diplomatic for a Dom.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean my hips against the counter.

  “I told you from the beginning, I’m not interested in a slave. That’s not who I am.”

  “That’s convenient for me, because if you were, you wouldn’t be here.”

  “I know.” He exhales and walks toward me, his face sober now. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” He pushes his fingers through my short hair and cups my neck in his palm.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Dom thing still makes you nervous, doesn’t it?”

  “Sometimes,” I confirm. “I’m just still getting used to it.”

  He frowns but nods, his eyes darkening in concern. “Just talk to me when you get nervous, Nic.”

  “I do,” I assure him and push my hands up his chest, over the hard muscles of his pectorals. “You feel good.”

  “Is that so?” His eyebrow quirks up, and his lips tip up into a half smile. “I have a plan.”

  He leads me into the bedroom, and when we’re by the bed, he kisses my knuckles again and grins at me. “Trust me?”

  “Of course,” I reply instantly, making him inhale sharply.

  “I love that you answer without any hesitation,” he murmurs as he pulls my T-shirt over my head, unties the red ribbon from my hair and tosses it on the beside table, and unclasps my bra, exposing my breasts to him. “Trust is the most important thing in this relationship, Nic.”

  “I know,” I whisper. I can’t look away from his face as he watches his own hands, exploring my torso. “I want to touch you.”

  “I’m right here, baby.”

  I unbutton his shirt and slide it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground as he opens my black capris, pushes his hands inside against my hips and guides them down my legs along with my panties.

  He’s standing before me in just his faded blue jeans, the elastic of his blue boxer-briefs peaking out of the waistband. I slip my finger inside, beneath the elastic, and p
ull him toward me.

  “I want you naked,” I murmur.

  “Yes, that would be ideal,” he agrees.

  “I love your body,” I continue, tracing his muscles with my fingertips, up his torso, down his arms and back again. “Your skin is smooth, but your muscles are hard. I especially love this,” I murmur as I trace the V at either side of his hips.

  “What else do you like?” he asks and leans his forehead against mine. He’s panting now, and there is a hard ridge to the front left of his jeans.

  “I like these.” I gather his hands in mine and bring them up to my lips to kiss both palms, then place them on the small of my back and push his jeans down his hips to gather at his feet.

  I slip my hands beneath the elastic of his underwear again and this time lower them, cupping his ass firmly.

  “I really love this,” I murmur and smile against his lips so close to mine.

  He grins in return and glides his own hands down to cup my rear. “That feeling is completely reciprocated, baby.”

  He sucks in a breath when I clench my fist around his hard cock and pull all the way to the tip, then down again, holding him at the base.

  “This does amazing things to me,” I say.

  “You’re amazing,” he replies. “God, Nic, I don’t even remember what my life was like before you.”

  My heart stills for a moment and then picks up double time. I bite my lip and frown. I just don’t know what to say.

  How do I respond to that, when I’ve never felt like this either and it scares the living shit out of me?

  He kisses my forehead and lifts me in his arms, then lays me on the bed.

  “Is this the restraining portion of the evening?” I ask with a grin.

  He smirks and pulls his ropes down from the railing of my four-poster and begins twining them around my wrists.

  “How did you guess?”

  “I just had a feeling,” I reply and lift my head to kiss his arm as he works, threading and knotting his ropes around my hands.

  When he’s finished, he rests my arms comfortably over my head and kisses my lips slowly.

  “Comfortable?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  He reaches over to the bag he brought with him and pulls out a bottle of lubricant and tosses it on the bed at my hip.