He tossed one of her legs up on his shoulder and sent her a look that would have rendered her jelly if she wasn’t already lying down. Hooo, he knew this sex stuff.
“Now then.” He spread her open and sucked in a breath. “You have one seriously gorgeous cunt.”
She started at the word.
“You don’t like that word?” He drew the tip of his tongue over her clit, teasing.
“I— Oh god. I never really thought about it.”
He sucked her clit between his lips several times before backing up. “I know it’s got negative history. But it’s not an insult when it’s used properly. This is a beautiful cunt. Slick. Dark with desire. Sometimes it’s a pussy. Sometimes it’s a vagina. But when it’s spread open to me like this, when I want to shove my face into you and lick every part? Then it’s a cunt. In the best way.”
That made sense. And it did make her tingly when he said it.
She nodded and he bent again, this time circling her gate with a fingertip while he went back to licking her clit. Slowly. Surely. The pressure just a breath more each moment. She wanted to lay back. Wanted to close her eyes and luxuriate in the way he made her feel. But she couldn’t. Couldn’t tear her eyes from the picture he made there on his knees between her thighs. His hair had fallen forward so she only got a glimpse of his face here and there.
He paid homage to her pussy, his big, strong hands, palms flat against her inner thighs, holding her wide as he devoured her. She’d never quite had sex like this before. He so clearly enjoyed what he was doing, so clearly had no shame or hesitation about having sex. It was raw and hot and taboo all at once.
And she loved it.
Down his kisses went until he slid his tongue deep, bringing a shiver and a gasp of delight from her. And then he moved back up to her clit again.
Mind-blowing pleasure started at her scalp and moved down, started at her toes and flowed up. She hung there, suspended, just before climax for several long minutes. Drowning in it. Drowning and letting go until it crashed through her entire body and she closed her eyes against bursts of color as she shook.
His kisses slowed. Gentled as she got her breath back.
“You come so prettily.”
She opened her eyes to catch sight of him as he stood. To catch sight of his . . . rather impressive attributes.
She grabbed his cock as she sat up. “Let’s see what you look like when you come.”
He made a choked sound but no move to stop her so she continued. “First, can I look at you?”
His cocky grin was back as he stood. “Look your fill, darlin’.”
She hadn’t been able to really concentrate on the tattoo on his back, but now that she got close, she could see it wasn’t abstract lines at all, but that those lines made a tiger that took up his entire back. She brushed her thumbs over it, amazed at the work. Amazed at the muscled, broad shoulders that tapered down to a narrow waist. She moved back to his front, her gaze snagged on his cock for long moments. She wasn’t a size queen by any stretch of the imagination, but Damien might convert her. It wasn’t so huge she cringed, but he’d definitely fill her up. Not a bad thing at all.
On his inner forearm was the word Hurley. His family name so that made sense. His nipple was pierced. More tats on his belly and one that curled from his wrist up to his shoulder.
“Wow.”
He raised a brow at her. “That’s my line.”
“I hope you have a condom.”
“I have several in my toiletries bag.”
“Good.” She pressed a kiss over his heart, down to his nipple where she dragged her teeth, rewarded by a hiss of pleasure and his fingers tangling in her hair.
“Yes.”
She moved across his chest to the pierced nipple. Good gracious, he was . . . wow. It wasn’t that she didn’t possess a good vocabulary. She did. But there weren’t any really good words to describe how hot this man was. She tugged the bar with her teeth and he nearly growled, his hands at her hips, pulling her snug against his body.
Mary brushed her body from side to side against his. Against his cock. Her desire, momentarily sated, began to bloom back into life as she took a deep breath and fell to her knees. “My turn to be on my knees.”
“You’ll hear no arguments from me.”
She grabbed him at the root and angled him so she could lick around the head, learning him, learning what he liked and responded to. He liked the way she dug the tip of her tongue under the head. Made a desperate sort of gasp when she sucked him in, just the head, keeping her mouth wet and very tight around him. His fingers tightened when she palmed his balls and then dragged her nails gently over his sac.
She loved this moment. Loved being on her knees before a man, controlling his every response with her actions. She brought him pleasure. He arched into her and she breathed through her nose to keep from gagging. He backed off, more gentle this time.
Over and over she took him as deep as she could, the surface of his cock changing the closer he got to climax. When she slowly brushed her fingertip over his asshole, he whimpered and widened his stance until he finally pulled her to her feet with a snarl.
“I need in you right now.”
She licked her lips and he gulped. She felt like a goddess.
“I wasn’t done.”
“You can suck my cock again any time you like. I want to fuck you. Right now.”
He pressed a hard kiss to her lips and dashed to the bathroom, returning with several foil packets, which he put under the pillow.
“Now.” He picked her up, tossing her to the mattress, and she had to struggle not to laugh.
The moment was surreal as she attempted to process it all.
Music floated up from the reception still in swing in the yard below. She felt reckless in the best sort of way. Their chemistry rendered her sort of sex drunk. He moved like no one else she’d been with. Sure of himself. Charming. Certainly he knew what he was about. But more than anything else, what hit her the hardest was that she knew he wanted her.
Knew he wanted to fuck her. That he dug her chemicals and found her totally hot. That sort of focus from a man like this one was dizzying.
And, he liked the dirty talk.
So. Very. Dirty.
Covered in tattoos. Pierced nipple. A drummer whose hair was too long and who grinned at her like a pirate about to plunder. It was like her fervent tenth-grade fantasy fuck had manifested itself in the room.
Only back then she hadn’t even known how to begin to fantasize about a man who clearly loved eating pussy like this one.
Still standing, he broke into her little fantasy objectification of him as he took her foot and began to knead his way up her calf.
She knew he was headed for . . . holy shit. She sucked in a breath and arched on a moan when his thumbs brushed over the dimples at the back of her knee.
Pleasure coursed through her, warm and sticky. The back of her knee! Who’d have thought?
He hummed his pleasure and she didn’t miss the slight note of amusement at her reaction to what had been until that moment, just the back of her knee that had never made her doorbell ring this way.
“I want you from behind.”
Fancy that, she wanted the same thing!
She got to her hands and knees quickly. His hands stroked over her skin. Down her spine. Over the curve of her waist, the swell of her ass. He paused at the space just below the cheek, at the beginning of the thigh, he slid his fingertip back and forth. Just a few times until gooseflesh broke over her and she arched back toward him.
Damien snarled a curse because he couldn’t wait another moment. He’d wanted to draw it out before he fucked her but she made it too hard to resist. That little thrust with the bossy little growl had been the last straw.
Reaching around, he tested her. Her pussy was soft and warm. Ready. He licked his lips, tasting her again. Quickly he got the condom on and lined himself up, slowly sliding into her.
So. Fuc
king. Good. This sweet, good-girl-on-the-outside, hot-as-hell-in-bed thing was hotter than anything he’d had in a very long time. There was real heat between them.
He’d taken a taste of Mary Whaley and he liked what he found. Spicy sweet. Bountiful curves. Hair that spread out around her face and shoulders. Bold and unashamed about her sexuality. Which was so hot. This woman liked to come. She liked to fuck and if she didn’t get what she wanted, she’d demand it.
She pushed back, taking him inside with one movement. He ground his teeth together as that tight heat surrounded him.
“Fuck. That’s so good.”
He slid his hands around her torso, taking her tits into his hands. Her nipples pressed against his palms. He stroked slow and deep, not in any hurry to leave.
She squirmed against him when he squeezed her nipples and then tugged. “God, yes.”
Smiling, he kissed her shoulder blade, wondering how many other little pleasure spots he could find in unexpected places. She sighed softly when he kissed her spine at the center of her back. She fluttered around his cock and moaned when he found the perfect spot between her ribs on her left side. He dragged his beard against her skin and she shivered and squeezed him.
“You’re full of delightful secrets.”
She laughed. “Me?”
He sped up just a little and she lost some of the rigidity in her back. “Gonna take me a while to find all your best spots. Just sayin.” He moved a hand down her belly to her pussy. Her clit was swollen and hard when he pressed the pad of his finger there. Side to side. Side to side until her breathy moans got a little more bossy.
Damien thought he’d tease her. Drive her over the edge into climax and then maybe the next one after that he’d come with her. Except as she came all around him, it was too much.
She met his thrust, taking him deep. Her hips rocked from side to side, even as she tilted to grind herself against his fingers. Too much indeed and he came hard and fast. Back from his teeth.
And when he pulled out slowly, she flopped, face-first, to the mattress with a happy sigh.
4
Mary pulled a tray of empanadas from the oven, humming at how they’d turned out.
“I have such great timing,” Daisy sang as she entered the kitchen. “Don’t know what it is, but I can smell that I’ll be having at least four.”
Daisy was not only Mary’s best friend on the planet, she also served as a manager for Mary’s catering business. Oh, they both told one another she’d only do it until things evened out and Mary could find a replacement, but for the time being, both women liked it that way and that was what counted.
When Daisy’s art career fully took off, Mary would hire a manager behind Daisy’s back so she wouldn’t feel guilty. But until then Mary knew it would keep Daisy working only one job other than her art instead of four.
“You’re my best taste tester anyway. Everyone else just says things are yummy. You’ll tell me if something is greasy or needs something.”
Daisy rolled her eyes as she grabbed a shrimp puff from a platter, popping it in her mouth. “First of all, you’ve never made anything your whole life that could be described as greasy. I bet if you made a bowl of grease as an entrée, it wouldn’t taste greasy.”
Mary smiled, satisfied and proud. She worked hard at what she did, but most of it her mother liked to say was Mary’s natural talent with food. It was her art. She just instinctively knew how to make things people loved to eat and drink.
Not that it wasn’t nice to hear that reinforced by her friends though.
“There’s a second thing. Lay it on me.” Mary began to core the green peppers and get rid of the seeds. The kitchen filled with the scent.
“This shrimp thing is awesome. I’d totally let this shrimp thing feel me up. Levi and I are hosting his parents. At his house of course.”
“Yes.”
Daisy’s grin was quick. “Like that? I haven’t even said what I needed yet.”
“You want me to make dinner for them. Something elegant and classic without being too heavy. Something with a twist because you are not classic, but exotic and delicious. You want them to know this but not in a negative sense. I’ll get you a few menu ideas. When is it?”
Daisy hugged her. “You’re awesome. How do you always know?”
“Because I love you, silly.”
“I’m so lucky.”
Mary grinned back. “We both are. Now you have Levi too, and that makes you even more lucky. His mother likes you already, which we both know was the biggest hurdle. No one cares what his dumb bitch sister-in-law thinks anyway. We’ll get Jules to make you a dessert that knocks their socks off.”
“I’ve never had a boyfriend like this.”
“That’s because he’s not your boyfriend.” Mary tipped the green pepper into the bowl with the cilantro, tomato and diced onion. “He’s your significant other in the best sense. He’ll be your husband one day. The daddy to your kids. My god, they’re going to be ridiculously beautiful kids I’ll spoil rotten.”
“Marriage?”
“Take that shock out of your voice. I know you too well. Of course, marriage. He lets you continue to live in your little house because it makes you happy and you can both pretend things aren’t totally serious yet. But they are.”
“Whoa now. Marriage is a ways off. Yes, we love each other. But he’s got issues and I’m still young. We have time.”
Mary used the hand blender to quickly pulse together the ingredients for the salsa-style dipping sauce.
“Sure you have time. But he’s not some guy who’ll be content to date you forever. He knows your value. Knows you’re amazing and he will want you under his roof. He’ll want you to marry him and have his babies. He’s traditional that way. And you want that too, even if you try to tell me you don’t.” She put some of the sauce into a little bowl, pushing it and an empanada to Daisy. “Taste.”
“More cilantro. You should open up like a counseling business you run while you prepare food. What about you? When do you find your forever?”
Mary shrugged. “I will when I’m supposed to. Right now, I have Luxe up and running. I’ve got jobs lined up for months. I’ve got the supper club booked for nearly a year. Profits are up. My friends are getting married. My brother has finally admitted he’s in love with Jules. I’m not opposed to forever. I want it and all. Just not right now. I feel like I’d shortchange a relationship in favor of my business. I want all my energy on that and I don’t want to have to feel guilty about it.”
Daisy nodded. “Fair enough. The dinner is in two weeks. There’ll be six. Well, I guess eight if you count me and Levi. His brother Jonah and Jonah’s daughter will be there as well as two of his other brothers. Mal and his wife are conveniently unavailable.”
Mal Warner’s wife had been atrociously rude to Daisy and thus was on Mary’s we-hate-you-forever list.
“It’s unavoidable that we’ll come into contact. Levi loves his brother. And I do too. Mal is a sweet guy. With horrible taste in women, obviously. But I don’t ever want Levi to feel like he has to choose me over his family. I won’t be that.”
“You aren’t that. People need to be responsible for what they do or say and to stop hiding behind the excuse that because it’s family no one should ever say anything.”
“Says the gal with the perfect family.”
Mary laughed. “Not perfect, but we do love each other. You were right about the sauce.” She poured it into a container so it could travel safely and tucked it into one of the big fridges.
“You’re still going to New York next month, right?”
Adrian was on a summer and early fall tour that had started just a few days after the wedding. For most of it, Gillian and Miles would travel with him. And then Gillian would bring Miles back so he could start school.
Next month they had a date at Madison Square Garden and as a big thank-you for all the wedding help, Adrian was flying out all their friends to see his shows there. Ba
ckstage passes. Swank boutique hotel. He’d even pulled some strings and gotten Mary reservations at a few restaurants she’d been dreaming about.
“Hell yes. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Damien’s band opens for them. That’ll be interesting.” Daisy’s attempt at innocence made Mary laugh.
“Don’t make me sorry I told you.”
Daisy grinned, delighted. “It is your duty as my best friend to tell me about hot one-night stands with rock stars.”
“It certainly was hot. He texts me sometimes. Just little things here and there. Sometimes pictures from venues, that sort of thing. Oh and he asks for my opinion on where he should eat in whatever city they’re in.”
He could have never said another word. She wouldn’t have been offended. She understood the rules. Knew what he was.
But the little texts were . . . well, she felt like they had the beginnings of an actual friendship. Which she liked. He didn’t send her pictures of his dick. Didn’t sext her or anything like that. He asked her about her business and sent her pictures of food and landscapes.
Yes, she was looking forward to seeing him next month and would have been lying if she’d said she wasn’t hoping for a repeat of their scorching night—and the following morning—between the sheets.
“I think he’s sweet on you.”
Mary julienned the carrots for her veggie sushi. “I think he’s a drummer in a rock band who drinks a lot, parties a lot, has a lot of women and shows up in the tabloids on a regular basis. I don’t even really follow the celebrity news and I know these things. I just have no desire for that. At all.”
“Well, that’s just one side to him. He could be more.”
“Daze, we had hot sex. He knows where all a lady’s parts are and what to do with them. But I’m not one of those women who thinks she’s the one who can finally tame that bad boy. That way lies madness. I’m a lot of things, but I am not dumb. I don’t want that. I don’t want to be in the paper. I don’t want to have to worry about my picture online being picked apart by his fangirls. I see what it does to Gillian and Adrian didn’t even have that sort of reputation with women and partying. Anyway, it was fun. I know what it was. He knows what it was. That’s all. Don’t go trying to make it something it can never be.”