Misadventures of a Backup Bride

As we exit the restaurant, the evening humidity envelops me. Since I’m a West Coast girl, I’m not used to that. Traffic noise on the road nearby and the faint song of cicadas competes with the sound of Carson’s rapid footsteps eating up the blacktop and the gong of my racing heart. When we reach the car, he unlocks it, slides the food into the backseat, then slams the door. Then he pins me against his sleek black vehicle. His wide palms cover the space around me. He sucks away all the available air between us simply by being.

“Carson…”

“Are you protesting now that we’re alone?”

“No.” I assure with a shake of my head. “I was going to tell you to hurry up.”

“I intend to.” He grimaces as if he’s reluctant to admit what he’s going to say next. “But I can’t not taste your mouth right now.”

I don’t even have time to gasp before he seizes my lips again, forcing his way inside my mouth and sweeping every inch. His breath is harsh, his kiss reckless. But his touch skimming down my body is so gentle that I sigh into him and work my arms around his neck to pull him closer.

We kiss forever, it seems. Every time I think he’s going to back off and drive us out of this parking lot, away from the cars honking at our PDA, he fuses our lips together again and delves even deeper than before. I don’t merely melt against him this time, I become one with him, remolded to him by the heat of our bodies and our growing need.

Finally, he wrenches away with a curse, raking his hand through his hair. “If we don’t leave now, I’ll do something to you right here that we could get arrested for.”

I wipe away the traces of my lipstick from his mouth as he opens my car door and ushers me into my seat. A moment later, he’s tossing himself into the vehicle beside me, revving the engine, and peeling out onto the street. The aroma of dinner fills the car, but that’s not the hunger twisting me up inside.

“How long until we reach your place?” I murmur, dropping a hand on his thigh.

For some reason, I can’t bring myself to stop touching this man.

He grimaces. “Usually ten minutes. I’ll try to make it in five.”

The last of the rush-hour traffic seems to be clearing out, so I’m hopeful he can make that happen.

“Once we hit the door, everything you’re wearing better evaporate quickly or I’ll rip it off your body. Do you hear me, Ella? Unless you’re saying no. If you intend to stop me, now’s the time, sweetheart.”

It’s awesome that he keeps trying to give me an out. He wants full consent, and I respect that. I should probably take the exit he’s repeatedly offered me. It would be smarter.

But when it comes to Carson Frost, I’m losing IQ points by the minute.

“I could say the same to you.”

“What do you mean?” He sends me a sharp stare.

“When we get behind your closed door, those clothes better come off fast, mister.”

Despite the arousal pouring off his big body, a faint smile creases his lips. “You’re an unpredictable woman.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

As he speeds toward his place, I’m looking for something to focus on besides how badly I want him. If I don’t distract myself, I’ll likely speak or act in some way to put a dent in his focus and compromise our safety.

Thankfully, Carson fills the void. “In case we don’t come up for air again until we meet Shaw and his daughter on Friday night, my middle name is Alexander. I was born in Northridge. I graduated from Reseda High School, did my undergrad at UC Irvine, and got my MBA from USC. Give me your details.”

I watch him steer the speeding car steadily and wonder how he’s managing it. I don’t think I can retain a word of what he said. I’m not even sure I can spit out my own personal information. All I can think about is how amazing it will feel when I have this man’s naked body pressing into mine. Did he say we wouldn’t come up for air for two days?

“Um… My middle name is Cooper. It’s a family name. I-I was born in Simi Valley. I went to Simi Valley High. Go Pioneers…” The stupid joke slips off my tongue. “And I graduated from UCLA. How much longer before we can get naked?”

The car lurches forward as he steps on the gas a bit harder. “I’m trying to get there as fast as I can and still stay in one piece. Are you really ready for what’s about to happen?”

If I don’t have this man inside me soon, I’ll freaking fall apart.

“Absolutely.”

Chapter Four

CARSON

Dinner took a totally unexpected turn—and I love where this is heading. When I greeted her at the office earlier, I thought this would be the longest two and a half weeks of my life. I couldn’t imagine being close to Ella every waking moment yet not succumbing to the urge to seduce her. At least not without losing my mind. Now, I’m pretty sure the second we cross the threshold of my pad and shut the door behind us, we’re going to be naked, entwined, and busy.

Hallelujah!

It sounds odd, but from the moment I saw her again, I’ve felt as if my to-do list would never be complete if I didn’t get the chance to do Ella Hope. Over the phone, I had the impression she was prim, maybe even a bit shy sexually. I could call the woman who felt up my hard cock with her wriggling toes under the table in a restaurant a lot of things, but I’m scratching shy off the list. God knows I can’t look at her flushing cheeks, gleaming eyes, and the outline of her hard nipples through that silky blouse for much longer without stripping her down and tasting her all over.

She’s gripping the armrest of her door, foot tapping the floorboard, as I make the last few turns and lurch into the complex I’ve been renting an apartment at until I get Sweet Darlin’ in order. Then I’ll focus on putting down roots and buying a house.

For now, I careen into the nearest parking spot and throw the car into park. “We’re here.”

But she’s already out the door. Ella seems almost as eager as I am. I love the fact that she coyly teased me through our abruptly shortened dinner. But now that the moment is here, she’s not toying with me at all.

She slams her car door. I reach in and grab the food, then lock up the car behind me. “I’ll get your suitcase later.”

After I’ve had an hour or two inside her, I might be able to leave her for a few minutes without the craving for her hitting me so hard I can’t function. Maybe.

“Much later.” Ella gives me an impatient glance, silently asking me to lead the way.

I envelop her hand in mine and all but drag her toward the building on the right, then up a flight of stairs. At my front door, I shove the key into the lock and turn it. “Get ready. This is going to be fast.”

“I hope so,” she mutters, relief all over her face when the door gives way and admits us into the silent, shadowy apartment.

With a hand on the small of her back, I guide her inside and shut the door behind me, locking it. I pocket the keys and take a handful of ground-eating steps to the kitchen. I shove the bags of food in the refrigerator, then turn back to her as the door swings shut. I’m already tearing off my tie, stripping out of my shirt.

Ella stands at the threshold of my kitchen, watching, breathless.

“Come here, little girl.”

She raises her chin. “I’m a grown woman.”