Page 43 of Cupcake of the Month
She parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside. He groaned, and the guttural sound shot a torrent of lust through her blood. She ached to press herself against him, to mold the solid planes of his body against her own soft flesh. But still she refrained, using only her mouth and tongue to deepen the kiss. The denial of pleasure only heightened her desire.
Until she felt vibrations against her hip.
She broke off the kiss and took a deep, steadying breath. Stars swirled behind her eyes and she squeezed them closed for afew seconds. “Unless you’ve learned some tantric tricks since the last time we were together, I should probably answer my phone.”
He reached for her, his eyes on her mouth. “Let it go to voicemail.”
She huffed out a soft laugh as she took a step back.
He cupped her face and brushed light kisses against her lips, her cheek, her forehead before letting her go. Her skin tingled where he had touched her, demanding she return to the pleasure, but duty called.
She fished her phone out of her pocket. “This is Jordan.”
“Jordan, it’s Frank Smith, Mrs. McGraw’s receptionist.”
Josh put his hand on her shoulders, letting his rough fingers trail down her arms. The warmth of his touch tingled down to her toes. “Hi, Frank.”
Josh’s warm breath tickled her ear, but he didn’t lean in to taste her. She closed her eyes, the current of his stroke sending shocks through her system.
“Mrs. McGraw is running about a half hour late. I hope you haven’t yet left your house.”
“Just about to, so you’ve got good timing.”
“We’ll see you when you get here.”
Who was she to look a gift thirty minutes in the mouth? She slowly turned around and raised her mouth to Josh. Her hands gripped his shoulders and her breasts pressed full against his chest. The shudder that ran through her body echoed in his and he tightened his grip. The slow, gentle caress of lips seared her soul.
Too soon she stepped back, the unfulfilled throbbing between her legs nearly killing her. She picked her shirt up off the floor. “There are things we need to talk about, Josh. Before this goes any further.”
***
Not kissing Jordan wasn’t part of Josh’s plan.
Not that he had a plan, but if he did, kissing Jordan would be part of it. Kissing meant being in the moment, the now, instead of the past. Kissing meant no talking. Kissing meant he could forget the person he was.
He stepped back and waited, his gut clenching in anticipation of her words.
“I need to know what’s happening here.” Her voice was casual, but her eyes peered intently at him from over her glasses as she put her shirt on. “You left me with a whole lot of unanswered questions eight years ago.”
Her words increased the pressure in his chest. “I’m not who I was then,” he muttered.
“Who is?” She laughed. “Hey, fun is fun. And fun is good. But for me, the fun needs to be only with me. Until we decide otherwise, I want to be your only baker.”
Those words were a harsh insult coming from her, though she didn’t realize it. He wanted to be more than a prize for her. He strode to her before his mind put a halt on getting too close, on opening himself up, if the fun developed into something more for her.
It was already there for him.
She caught her breath and followed his every movement, her pink tongue wetting her strawberry lips. Without pause, he threaded his fingers through her hair, loosening her bun and caressing the silken strands, stoking the fire within him. He took in her heavy-lidded, desire-filled gaze and lowered his mouth to her...hand, which had sprung up between them and blocked his progress.
“No one else,” she said. Her soft brown eyes held a challenge. “No other bakers in your kitchen.”
There never could be anyone else for him. He had attempted to forget her, to find someone else, and erase his deep feelings for her, but Jordan had constantly and continuously haunted histhoughts. He gave a brief nod and tried to kiss her again.
Her fingers continued to cover her mouth. “I mean it, Josh.”
His moment of hope disintegrated, leaving an emptiness behind. What did she want, lavish promises of forever? That wasn’t going to happen. It never worked out, no matter what he felt for her. He leashed in his desire and leaned against the bar of the kitchen, folding his arms across his chest.
“Wow.” Jordan’s voice cracked, and an answering pang echoed in his gut. “You’re so caught up in your catering conquests that you can’t even meet me halfway. Whatever you get from your revolving oven door, I hope it’s worth it.”
