A Little Harmless Surprise 3.5 (3 page)

“I can show myself out,” he said, then looked down at her. He hesitated, then leaned closer to brush his lips over her forehead. “Thanks.”

And, as usual, he walked quietly away. When they heard the front door shut, May sighed.

Evan pulled her back onto the mattress then covered her with his body. “That wasn’t a sigh of regret I heard, was it?”

She laughed. “No. He just seems so lonely.”

Evan rolled his eyes. “The man can have just about any sub in Rough ’n Ready, and does most of the time.”

“There’s more to it than sex and you know it,” she said playfully slapping at his shoulder. “Rome is the one person who can be in a room full of people and look, well, so singular.”

Evan nodded as he settled fully against her. “Yeah, I have a feeling he does that on purpose.”

“Of course he does. What he needs is someone in his life.”

Evan groaned and rolled off her. “No. You are not going to start fixing people up. And especially not Rome. He could make our lives hell if you piss him off.”

She snuggled up against him, seeking his warmth and comfort. “You know he would never do anything to us, or the club for that matter. He just seems like he needs a good woman. It did wonders for you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I have to agree with that. I have something else for you.”

“Another pressie? Oh, is it that new guy from the mainland, the one with the curly blond hair and all those hard…muscles?” she asked.

He rose and smacked her ass. “Behave.”

Instead of pulling off his clothes and joining her back on the bed, Evan retrieved the box he’d held earlier. He hesitated for a second, then handed it to her. She admired the red hibiscus wrapping paper for a second before tearing into it. He chuckled in response.

“I guess you’re not going to be shy on Christmas.”

She laughed. “You know I love presents.” They shared a smile as she was sure he remembered opening their wedding presents when they returned from their honeymoon.

She tossed the paper behind her on the floor. When she opened the box she stilled. Nestled in the black tissue paper was a red leather collar. She looked up at Evan who was still standing by the bed looking very vulnerable. Oh, he had his big old macho Evan stance that she recognized, but there was something in his gaze that told her there was a part of him that worried about her reaction.

She pulled it out and sighed. She knew without a doubt Evan had it specially made for her. The leather was wonderfully crafted and soft to the touch. A heart charm made of what looked like Hawaiian gold dangled from the front of it. She turned it over.

Kau ā kau.

“Forever and always,” she murmured.

“Season after season,” Evan said, giving the true interpretation.

The gesture was more than she expected. They had dedicated themselves to each other months before the wedding. Then, of course, they had promised themselves in front of their family and friends. She hadn’t even thought they had another step, but apparently Evan did.

“It’s beautiful.”

His shoulders relaxed. “You do know what it means, don’t you?”

She nodded. “But…I thought you knew I was yours. Always.”

He sat next to her on the bed and took the collar from her hands. “I do. Tonight was more about me. Do you understand?”

Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she shook her head.

He sighed as he undid the clasp. She knew that even now Evan was comfortable with explaining himself. That he took the time to do it with her meant more to her than the rings on her finger. He slipped it around her neck then refastened the clasp in the back.

“I had it custom made for you by Maui Kink. I thought you knew what I was up to.”

She shook her head. “Not a clue.”

He blew a sigh of relief. “I had it sent to Micah to make sure it didn’t arrive while I was out. I know you. You would have opened it in a heartbeat.”

She frowned at him. “You make me sound like some kind of gold digger.”

He chuckled then his smile faded. “Tonight was more about my feelings for you. I could give you this, because I trust you completely. I understand that you’re mine.”

“And you’re mine,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

He cupped her face with both hands. “Don’t cry, Maylea.”

She shook her head. “Happy tears.”

“Women.” He shook his head, then leaned his forehead against hers. “I give this to you because from now, it is just us, committed to each other. You and me.”

She nodded and kissed him. The sweet gesture soon turned ravenous as Evan slipped his tongue against the seam of her lips. Without hesitation, she opened her mouth to him, needing him on that crazy level she always did. He was the other part of her soul she had been missing for so many years.

Evan eased her back onto the bed and covered her with his body once more. He nipped at her neck and started kissing his way down her body and she thought of little else than the pleasure he gave her for the next few hours.

****

Be sure to read how May and Evan first fell in love
A Little Harmless Obsession
,
available from Samhain Publishing in digital and coming to print this August 2nd.

Now, please enjoy two extra Harmless Shorts, also available on Melissa’s Website.

A Little Harmless Fling

(c) 2008, Melissa Schroeder

This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are no construed to be real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely incidental.

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief excerpts or quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The woman who called herself Gennifer brushed a blonde curl back over her shoulder and smiled at the bartender as he set her strawberry margarita in front of her.

“Thanks.”

“Will there be anything else?” He offered her a smile that promised more than drinks. And, at one time, she would have taken him up on it. Young, virile, he had light green eyes that stood out against his bronze skin. But…she didn’t need or want another man.

She shook her head and sipped her drink. As he worked his way down the bar, she watched him, handling locals and tourists with the ease. In Honolulu, she was sure it was something that gained him a lot of good tips. And, she thought as she took another sip, he could mix a mean margarita, heavy on the tequila, thank God.

Gennifer looked in the mirror behind the bar and studied the crowd of sunburned tourists decked out in their new Hawaiian outfits, and that’s when she saw him. Her stomach clenched, her nerves stretched. He was right on time as he always was. She couldn’t remember if he’d ever been late. The man was probably born on time with minimum fuss.

He was gorgeous of course. That was another thing that hadn’t changed. Thick blond hair, strong jaw, that linebacker body. His black Hawaiian shirt sported one embellishment—a palm tree on the top right corner. It made her grin. Butch—as she was thinking of him at the moment—would never wear something with a busy pattern. The khaki, loose-fitting pants were ruthlessly ironed, not a crease to be found.

Their gazes locked in the mirror. As serious as he was, there was always a hint of devilment within his deep chocolate eyes. His hair might be perfectly styled, his suit without a wrinkle, but there was always a wicked gleam in the depths of his gaze.

As he made his way through the bar, he never took his attention from her in the mirror. A shiver slipped down to the base of her spine. Heat vibrated through her, shimmering in her blood, racing along her skin. Gennifer had to suppress a quiver as he continued walking toward her.

He kept his attention on her, ignoring the patrons in general, even snubbing one or two women who approached him.

The shiver grew, heat slicing through her veins, her body warming the closer her got. His dominant personality should have been a turn off. It had been with other men, but with him, well…it just got her hotter. Even in the humid Hawaiian air, her nipples tightened against the cotton fabric of her red dress.

By the time he reached her side, she was breathless, although she did her best to hide it. She sipped her drink then glanced over at him. The knowing smile irritated and aroused her.

“Took ya long enough, Butch.”

Humor lightened his eyes. “You’ve always been a demanding wench.”

The bartender sidled closer. Butch shook his head without looking at the man. “I assume you got the room.”

She really should take exception to his tone. She should have been pissed when he’d sent her an email with an order to secure a room. Instead, just the thought of being ordered about by him had her hormones humming. He could melt her into a puddle of lust with just a look.

“Yes, although you didn’t specify what kind of view you wanted.”

His lips quirked, but he said nothing as he watched as she finished her drink. She didn’t hurry, even if she wanted to. Truthfully, what she yearned to do was to rush upstairs, strip him naked, and then jump his gorgeous bones. It wouldn’t be the first time for that…and definitely not the last. Tonight, though, she wanted to draw out the anticipation. She knew it drove him crazy.

***

She was pushing him. She was good at it, excelled at it in fact. Years of practice had made her an expert on just what would push him over the edge. And she always was one for the game. But this time, he thought, he would just push back.

Butch crowded closer, slipping in between her barstool and the next. Her bare thigh rubbed against his. He was wearing slacks, but it didn’t matter. Even without touching her skin he was hard. The mere thought that they were moments away from stealing upstairs for an illicit tryst had his body raring to go.

He closed his eyes. Good God she had him thinking like…he didn’t know what the hell he was thinking like, but it wasn’t like him. Illicit tryst? He sounded like a hero in a gothic novel, he guessed. Opening his eyes, he motioned toward the bartender and ordered a lava flow. Out of the corner of his eye he caught her satisfied smile, the curve of her lips into a shrewd smirk. It was about time to give her a little of what she was tossing out.

“So…”

She flashed him a grin that was all teeth. His cock twitched. He loved her independence, loved the fact that she was so confident in herself. It had become almost more of a turn on than the compact little body she displayed in that curve hugging dress.

“Gennifer—with a G.”

He snorted. “So, Gennifer with a G, where did you get that dress?”

She skimmed her hand down her body. He curled his fingers into the palms of his hands, resisting to the urge to touch, caress.

“Went out this morning shopping, just for this.”

The bartender set Butch’s drink down in front of him and he tossed the young man enough cash to cover both drinks. Saying nothing, he pulled a sip off the straw, still amazed he liked the fruity concoction he’d tasted his first night on the island.

When he said nothing, just continued to watch her, she squirmed on the stool. A flash of irritation passed over her face. The next second, it melted into calculation. She leaned closer. The scent of her always drove him crazy. Wildflowers, and just a hint of her—musky woman. It was an aphrodisiac.

“You should see what I bought to wear later.”

He could just imagine. Her moods changed as often as weather in the South. Black leather one day. Pink velvet the next. It didn’t matter what it was, if it was on her, it would be sexy.

Her lips brushed against his ear. It would be unmanly to shiver, but he could feel one waiting to crawl up his spine. He suppressed it knowing it would give her too much satisfaction. She wanted to play, and he was helpless to do anything but please her. Still, there was no way to ignore his erection. Her breath feathered across his lobe, his cock twitched again and lengthened.

“Are you ready yet?”

The double entendre was intended. She never tried to pretend, or play coy. She said what she meant and meant what she said.

Feigning a calmness he didn’t feel, he shrugged. “No hurry.” He sipped his drink and looked around the room, pretending that his heart wasn’t galloping out of control.

Her husky laughter dipped down into his soul, captured him, and sent another bolt of lust careening through his blood. When he set down his glass, he noticed his hand shaking and decided to call her bluff.

“Let’s go.”

He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her off the stool. She stumbled against him, her breasts flattening against his chest. Butch groaned. He just couldn’t help it. Her hardened nipples were stabbing him through his shirt. He knew just what they looked like, tasted like.

With more than a little roughness, he tugged her through the crowd. He heard her surprised giggle but he ignored it, and everything else. All that mattered was getting her alone. Butch had never been one for public sex, but he was dangerously close to seeing just what it was like.

He stepped outside of the bar area into the Hawaiian sun and squinted. Turning to lead her down the sidewalk that lined the two pools, he jerked to a stop when she tugged on his hand. Looking over his shoulder at her, he offered her a furious glare.

“Wrong way, Butch. I got us a room in the Rainbow Tower.” She tilted her head in the other direction.

Without a word, he turned on his heel and made his way around the other side of the pool area. It only took a couple minutes to drag her through the scattering of the pool patrons. Butch ignored the curious stares.

He reached the bank of elevators and stopped. “Floor?”

She said nothing and he glanced at her.

“Floor?” he repeated.

“Please.”

“Don’t beg.”

She heaved a sigh—which he knew was completely for show—and twisted her arm until he released her wrist. “No, I’m waiting for you to ask nicely.”