Tart

  He bent his head to her and kissed her long and slow, his lips and tongue exploring every single part of her pussy. He flattened his tongue against her, teasing her clit, building her higher and higher.

  And then he sucked her clit between his lips. Three times until she gasped in a breath and orgasm crashed into her hot and sharp until she was sure she’d burst with it.

  When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her, his head on her thigh. “That was spectacular.”

  He smiled and she rolled on top, grabbing his belt and unbuckling it before attacking his button and zipper.

  “I want you in me.” That she managed to say it without sounding desperate was a miracle.

  She scooted down his legs, pulling his jeans and shorts along with them, down and off.

  He’d never actually been with another person who was so unafraid to ask for what they wanted. She was bold and unapologetic. It was incredibly hot.

  And then she turned back to face him and crawled up his body. “I must have been a saint in some former life to have merited this moment.” He meant every word.

  She laughed, bending to kiss his knee and then the other. Her hair trailed up his thigh as she kissed her way up, past his cock, up over his belly and over his chest.

  He hissed his pleasure when she licked over his left nipple, dragging her teeth against it until he made a sound awfully close to a plea.

  Her ass was perfect. He noticed this as she bent over his body, kissing down his belly again.

  Better than any porn he’d ever seen, she grabbed his cock and licked around the head, all while keeping her gaze locked on his face.

  He nearly swallowed his tongue when she sucked him in deep and then backed off, keeping his cock wet and slick.

  Her fist slid up behind her mouth and then she moved back to palm his balls. He couldn’t look away from that beauty there spread out before him. That mouth on his cock. Her eyes, so brilliantly blue, locked on to him. He was exposed and raw.

  She drew him achingly close to climax. So close he pushed against her shoulder. “I want to fuck you.”

  She pulled up with a soft pop of sound.

  He held up a foil packet and she grabbed it, ripping it open.

  Transfixed, he watched her roll it on his cock. Her eyes went half-mast as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Need beat at him but he continued to watch as she moved up and then sat, pressing herself onto him. She was so fucking tight. Sweat sprang to his temples.

  “I should confess to you that having you on top is my favorite thing.” He loved having a woman above him where he could touch her nipples and get at her clit.

  “I’m amenable to that,” she said on a gasp.

  Orgasm had lent a pretty flush to her cheeks. Her hair was tousled around her face and she looked like a thoroughly debauched girl next door.

  She leaned down to kiss him, slow and long before backing slowly onto him again, taking him deep.

  She pushed herself upright, her head tipped back, arched, sliding her cunt over his cock again and again until he was nearly blind with it.

  She rose above him, all that glorious hair sliding over her skin, over those pale pink nipples.

  “You’re so hot. Christ.”

  He’d known, somewhere in the back of his mind that it might be like this between them. But it was more, more than he could have imagined.

  She circled her hips slowly. She’d braced her hands on his thighs behind her body so she was arched toward him, her head back. He slid his hands over every part of her he could touch.

  Her upper body was toned. He figured it was most likely due to all the kneading and mixing she did. Whatever the cause, she was beautiful there above him as she undulated. He tiptoed his fingers down her belly, heading to her clit.

  “Again for me.”

  He squeezed it gently and her cunt rippled around him, tightening and fluttering. She groaned low and deep and he continued a slow squeeze and release of her clit.

  And then she sat straight up with a gasp and began to come, her pussy clamping tight around him as she increased her pace, pressing herself around him harder and harder, faster and faster until he grabbed her hips and held her in place as he came so hard he saw stars against his closed eyelids.

  It went on and on until he wasn’t sure he could take it. But she lay against him, his cock still inside her, as he caught his breath.

  “Be right back.” He rolled from the blanket and headed into the bathroom to rid himself of the condom.

  When he got back to her side, he pulled her close, taking a deep breath and letting it all out. Just being. He buried his face in her hair, his arms around her from behind. The world was all around them, just outside the little A-frame surrounded by trees.

  Just Gideon and Jules. For the moment he could forget everything else. The complications of dating and relationships. His granddad’s needs, her business, their friends. None of it was necessary to think about right then. He knew what he wanted and it was her.

  7

  She painted her nails as she waited for Erin to answer the phone. They’d see each other later that day at Delicious, but she wanted to get this out of the way and out of Gillian’s earshot.

  “Hello, Jules!”

  Erin Brown was a person like no other Jules had ever met. Adrian’s big sister, she was larger than life with Technicolor hair and an infectiously jovial manner that was impossible not to respond to. She was a musician just like Adrian; in fact they still recorded together, though Erin didn’t go out for full tours.

  She was talented and lovely and really fun to be around. And she saw Gillian for the treasure she was, which went a hell of a long way in Jules’s book.

  “Hey, Erin. How’s it going?”

  “Not bad. Todd took Alexander out to the park and Ben is working. I am blessedly alone. I can’t tell you what a rarity that is.”

  Jules knew there were people out in the world who had more than one partner, but Erin was the only person she knew who lived within a committed threesome. She and her husband also had a partner, Ben. And the three of them had a sweet little boy named Alexander. For all the piercings and wild hair and rock-star life, Erin was also refreshingly old-fashioned and family centered. They made a beautiful family and it was clear they all loved each other very much.

  Erin and Adrian were very close. As Adrian also was with his older brother, Brody. He had a strong commitment to family and Jules admired that. He and Gillian were perfect for each other in that way.

  Very few people would have been good enough for Gillian and Miles. Lucky for Adrian he was one of them. Most of the time anyway.

  Jules looked down at her calendar for a moment before speaking again. “I was wondering if you’d like to plan an engagement party with me for Gillian and Adrian. Now that they’ve chosen a date and things are moving forward I thought it could be a good idea.”

  “Yes! I was just thinking about this a few days ago. Ella brought it up. Let’s do it.”

  They talked places and dates and decided on mid-June, which gave them about a month to get everything in place.

  “Get me a list of people you think Adrian would like to have invited and I’ll get them on the list.”

  Erin assented. “Gotcha. Also, I know a really good printer. How about I take on that part?”

  “All right, that works. I’ll work on food with Mary.”

  “I’m sure she has connections for good bar staff, so can you get me a few names? I’ll volunteer to get that hooked up. Nothing wild.” Erin laughed. “We’re all too old for wild these days. But a nice open bar. I know Brody wants to help with some of this too. How about he pays for food?”

  Jules tapped her pen a moment. “We’ve got the food. If you want to get the booze, that’s fine. But we’ve got the food and the desserts. Mary and I already talked about it.” They weren’t rock stars, but they wanted to do their part for their friend.

  “You’re going to tell Brody no?” Erin laughed. “
Oh, never mind, I bet you would. It would be worth it to see his face. How about he gets the printing then? For the invitations.”

  “Do you always get your way?”

  “Not always, but most of the time I do.”

  Jules could imagine the grin on Erin’s face as she said it. She was too lovely to be annoyed with. Erin only wanted to do for the people she loved and Jules couldn’t fault her for that.

  “I’ll get you the contact information later today for the invitations, then. And I’ll get you the info on the menu and all that stuff too.”

  “Perfect. Brody and I are so thrilled for Adrian and Gillian. I’m so glad you called. We’ll see you in a few hours at Delicious. I’m super excited. We’ve got a babysitter and everything. A real adult meal in a place without paper tablecloths? I’m in heaven.”

  “It’s Mary’s first Delicious at Tart. She’s nervous and pretends to be worried she’ll pull it off. But she knows, like we all do, that she’ll kick ass. I’ll see you and your dudes later tonight.”

  She hung up. As the maid of honor and Gillian’s best friend, it was Jules’s job to be sure everything went smoothly. Gillian tended to be a worrywart, wanting everything to be perfect for everyone else. But this was her day and Delicious had banded together, united to be sure Gillian’s wedding was the best day ever.

  For now though she had to finish getting ready for dinner. Jules wanted to head over to Tart a little early to check Mary’s progress. She’d been forbidden from helping, but not from coming in to her own shop.

  Mary insisted on people staying out of her kitchen when she did dinners unless she’d chosen them for helper status.

  Jules wasn’t a helper this time, but if Mary needed the extra hands, she’d pitch in.

  But first her nails needed to dry and she planned to think over which pretty underpants she was going to wear. As she had a man and all.

  Grinning, she managed to get the drawer open to look, all without messing up her nails.

  It was good, this thing with Gideon. The sex had been . . . well, stunningly good. But more than that, he made her laugh. He was the kind of man who cared about important things, who took care of those who needed it.

  They shared history. Which was . . . well, she knew plenty of people she’d gone to school with and had been lifelong residents of Bainbridge along with her. But this was unique. Even back then he’d been exotic. He’d come for a month or a week or two and was gone.

  That shared history meant something to her. And to him too, she believed. They shared a comfort level she rarely had with others.

  Gillian would want details, Jules knew. Jules had tried to talk with her last night, but Miles had been home and they had a movie marathon going. She’d stayed for something suitably horrifying and had slept with her damned lights on, which was often part and parcel of family movie night with Gillian and her men.

  She had some juicy post-date gossip and it was about time. She hummed as she got dressed. Things were really looking up.

  • • •

  Jules let herself in the back door of Tart and her phone started buzzing in her bag so she fished it out. “Hello?”

  “Do you still have my copy of Tigana?”

  She smiled at the sound of Cal’s voice. “I don’t think so. I gave it back. I’m not home right now, but if you can’t find it, let yourself in and check my shelves.”

  “It can wait. I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.”

  She rolled her eyes. He had a beautiful home with a beautiful view and he was the messiest person she knew. Clothes everywhere, books all over the place. Thank goodness he’d gotten a housekeeper the year before.

  “Did you get a sudden yearning to read fantasy? Do you want me to come over and look for it?”

  “You would totally do that for me.”

  She cocked her head, though he couldn’t see it. “Of course I would. Just like you’d come over to my house to fix my leaky faucet.” Which he had done only the month before.

  “I take it you’re going to Delicious tonight? Save me a seat. I have to run over to Seattle to grab some paperwork so I might be late.”

  She frowned. “Will do. Gideon will be here tonight. I know he wants to see you.”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me what? Will I be there?”

  Mary poked her head out into the hall and narrowed her gaze when she caught sight of Jules. “Uh-oh, your sister discovered me. Protect me.”

  He laughed. “You’re on your own for that. I have to run; I’ll see you later.”

  It wasn’t until he hung up that she remembered he never answered her question.

  • • •

  He hung up and paced a little.

  She’d brought up Gideon.

  Brought him up in a friendly way, but it was unmistakable that she’d been in contact with him and that they’d discussed Cal.

  He really did have to run over to Seattle to pick up some papers. He may as well get it done. He had to push it to make the ferry in time, but he’d done it enough that he had the pattern down.

  Regardless of any business between him and Jules, his sister was having her first night at the new space and he needed to be there to support her.

  He pulled his shoes on and grabbed his work bag. The rest of his house was a mess, but his office was always spotless, so at the very least he always knew where his car keys, work bag and anything else work related and important was.

  He got in his car and the first thing he noted was Jules’s hair thingy on his stick shift. It made him smile to see it. They’d taken a drive up to Vancouver together in the fall. Mary had come as well. They’d all stayed in a fabulous little boutique hotel and had shopped and eaten too much and had a great time.

  Her smile. It hardened his entire body just thinking about it. Juliet had the most beautiful smile. Open. Big, perfect white teeth. There was nothing wishy-washy about a true Jules smile. Her joy was apparent on every part of her face.

  They’d been close for decades now. Each boyfriend or girlfriend Cal had had was jealous of her. And he understood why in retrospect. While he’d never cheated on anyone he was with—it wasn’t part of his makeup to do so—he’d been closer to Jules than any of them. Had sought her out to relate a funny story with or to share a secret.

  He liked to tell people she was his best friend. But that wasn’t entirely fair, he knew. He wanted Juliet. Had wanted her since he’d been eighteen and she’d been fifteen. He’d been her first kiss. She’d made him do it, convincing him someone else would do it if it wasn’t him and she could trust him so why not just show her what she’d been missing.

  It had been an exciting moment. One he still recalled from time to time. One moment she’d been his little sister’s annoying friend and the next she’d been, well, a girl worth kissing.

  But he’d shoved that part away. She was too young. He had older girls to sniff around, and, as he’d come to discover, some boys too. That part of him and Jules had gone dormant, but it was still there, sleeping, not always so quietly, beneath the surface.

  She’d been a fixture in his life. Always there for him when he needed her. If he lost that he’d never forgive himself. As long as she stayed in the friend camp that had been possible. To always have her in his life.

  He’d been repeating this to himself over and over since Mary had come to his house to tell him about Jules dating Gideon. It was true. Mostly.

  If she was with Gideon, he could have them both around. It would be good. Wouldn’t it?

  8

  By the time Cal arrived, Delicious was in full swing. But true to her word, Jules had saved him a seat. On the other side of Gideon.

  He frowned but covered it quickly as he entered the doors and everyone looked up. Jules smiled and moved to him to grab a hug. He kissed her, like he normally would, on the lips. But it felt different because she smelled like another man.

  “Saved you a seat. Gideon is going to hog you, he said.” She indicated
the chair. Seemed to Cal like Gideon was hogging her, not Cal. But he kept that in his head where it belonged. He smiled at Gideon, who looked good, even while his hand slid over Jules’s shoulder before he reached Cal, who he pulled into a hug.

  “Good to see you.”

  “You too. Welcome back to Bainbridge. Mary says you’re back for good. I’m glad.” Cal said it and realized it was true, even if the guy was poaching Jules.

  He hugged Gillian and Daisy, nodded to the others and sat. Jules wasn’t even in his line of sight, which sucked. Though Daisy and Levi were, and they were both beautiful and funny to be around so that would be fine. Ryan was at the other end of the table and his brother sent a quick look to Gideon and Jules before moving his attention back to Cal as if to say See.

  And he did see.

  Erin, Todd and Ben were at the other end of the long table. He waved to them. He was glad to see them there supporting Mary.

  Speaking of his sister, Mary came out of the kitchen and headed to them with a dish of something beautiful. “You missed the first plate.” She kissed his forehead as she slid it in front of him.

  “Sorry. Ferry traffic. But I knew you’d save me something. It’s perfect in here.” He looked around the room. They’d transformed the dining room into something more intimate.

  “It’s all Daisy and Jules. I was having a little crisis earlier about it. I wanted it to be as intimate as the house, you know? So Daisy shows up with these heavy red drapes and Jules wound the white lights along the edges of the ceiling. The linens are perfect too.”

  Daisy waved a hand. “I can’t take credit for any of it. It was all Jules. The curtains are her mother’s. They were upstairs. As were the linens.”

  Jules shrugged and Cal wished he were close enough to reach out and give her hand a squeeze. “It’s nice they get used. They close out the outside world just perfectly and should be easy enough to take down and put back up at will. Same with the tablecloths and linens. I’m leaving the lights for a while. I think they add something.”

  She’d done it because it had made his sister feel better. He knew her so well. She’d come over there early, when he’d spoken to her before. Just exactly to be there for Mary when she got freaked.