Just Desserts (Holland Springs #4)
Page 24“Not by a long shot,” she whispered against his lips as he released her wrists. “I want to go to the house where they film Downton Abbey.”
“Clearly, you’re fatigued and in desperate need of copious amounts of sleep,” he said, before she could add to her list. Though her list charmed him, as did she.
She rubbed against him, her very hot body doing things to his that had him groaning and wrapping his arms around him. “You know when you’re so tired that you can’t go to sleep without some help?”
Right now he knew nothing, but the way she felt in his arms and beneath his palms. Satiny skin and a plump bum. He cupped her there, pressing her against his dick and creating a friction that set his teeth on edge. “Shall I be your sleep-aide, like the other night?”
Her lips found his throat and kissed him. “Yes.”
Sliding his hands from around her bum to her thighs, he lifted and carried her to the bed. He set her on the edge, letting his hands coast down her legs, to her feet, then he placed them on his shoulders. Like this, she was open and pink, completely vulnerable to his touch. Christ, he wanted her. And she wanted him.
But not yet.
“Your shoes are fantastic,” he said, peering up at her.
She looked down at him, her cheeks flushing. “Technically they’re your shoes, since the sales clerk suggested I open an account at Louboutin’s, the one on Mount Street.”
“Hope you bought the lot.”
“Might have, with your preference for me to leave them on during sex,” she said, wiggling her feet and smiling cheekily. She knew him so well. Her shoes sparkled with crystals. “These are the best shoes evah. Isabella will be so jealous.”
He might have to buy the entire store, if those shoes made her that damned happy. Of course, they made him happy. High heels made every man happy, or they should in his opinion. “What else did you buy?”
“If you don’t stop talking, Sebastian, I’ll make you take me to Stonehenge,” she threatened.
Tilting his head to one side, he gave her a smug smile. “Pretty sure you’re the one at my mercy, right now.”
Her eyes glittered. She trailed a hand down her chest, lightly cupping her breast. She pinched a hard, pink nipple. He licked his lips and his erection became rock hard.
“Looks like you’re at my mercy, too.”
“Mutual imprisonment? I think not.” He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her thighs, effectively pinning her to the spot. So very trusting, she was…and vulnerable. “Not when I have you like this. Completely vulnerable to my mouth.” He kissed her and her hips jerked. “My tongue.” He traced a path to her clitoris and circled it, smiling when she smacked her palms on the bed and gasped his name
“Shall I tell you what to do with your hands?” he said, and then softly blew hot air against her clit.
“They’re holding me uh-up,” she said, her voice rising.
He licked her again. “Fast learner, darling. Impressive.”
“Lots of sight-seeing,” she panted, her breasts lightly bouncing.
Undeterred by her second warning, he continued his leisurely explorations. “Stratford-on-Avon is very popular,” he said, and then sucked her clit into his mouth. She grabbed his hair, pulling and tugging as he ate her, as he feasted and gave her what she needed. Every lick, every nibble serving her. He served her, kneeling on the floor between her thighs and concentrating on bringing her to orgasm.
“Bastian…ung…I’m going…oh my,” she said, her voice beautifully breathless.
Another graze of his teeth over her swollen flesh and she screamed, her fingers nearly ripping his hair out. He winced a little, but didn’t stop. Instead, he watched her as she came apart, as her sexy body flushed and goose bumps dotted the landscape of her skin. Her lashes fluttered, eyes closing and luscious mouth parting.
When she finally subsided, he laid his cheek against her thigh. She unwound her fingers from his hair.
“Really?” He raised a brow, but that sexy woman didn’t look away.
Sheepish gave way to seductress. “Mmm-hmm. I think I would like it.”
Unhooking his arms from her legs, he stood and leaned in to her. “You’d only like it?”
She nipped at his jaw. “I might love it if you do it—one day. Need to ease into stuff like that.” Flopping back on the bed, she scooted to the middle.
“Naughty Daisy.” His hard-on screamed for relief. But he didn’t deserve to be inside of her, not tonight. Tonight was only about her. On second thought, if she wanted to have sex, he would have no choice but to concede to her demands.
He gazed down at her face. Sleepy eyes glowing with satisfaction blinked at him. “You’re a great sleep-aid, but further testing is needed to be sure.”
“Shall I get other participants?” he teased.
She pouted, full lips so kissable that he couldn’t help himself. For long, torturous minutes, he kissed and stroked her body, while her hands explored his. He growled when she found his erection and squeezed.
“What about you?” she asked.
“What about me?” He kissed the corner of her mouth, then worked his way to her ear and took the lobe between his teeth.
She arched her neck and turned her head. “You need sleep, too.”
God, he was going to hate himself in the next few minutes. “Today was a long day for me,” he said, trying to ignore her hand that had moved from the outside of his pajama bottoms to the inside. She rubbed his piercing with her thumb and he bit his lip to keep from moaning.
“Naughty Sebastian,” she said, and then laughed a little. “I want this inside of me.”
Hell, yes. Then he remembered what he didn’t come prepared for… Oh shit and kill him now.
“But not tonight. I’m too sleepy,” she said on a yawn, then gave him a little smile and let go of him, her hand falling to the bed. “And satisfied.”
Grimacing, he stood, painfully aroused. “See you in the morning,” he said as she rolled on her side, and slipped off her heels. Desire hit him hard again, all those curves and bare skin so close, yet he didn’t have permission to touch her. He crossed the room and opened her door.
“Don’t forget to wear your sightseeing suit,” she called out.
He paused. “I don’t bloody have a sightseeing suit.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She yawned again. “Whatever you say, your suitliness.”
Ignoring her, he shut the door behind him and padded to his room. He scrubbed his hand over his face and walked inside. He glanced down at his erection and exhaled. Guess he’d have to take matters into his own hands.
Chapter Nineteen
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Daisy sang, lightly tapping her very own Sleeping Beauty on the nose. “Daylight’s a-wasting.”
Drowsy blue eyes blinked up at her. “Good God, you’re one of those people.” He turned and buried his face in the pillow, giving her an unobstructed view of the tattoos she wanted to trace with her tongue.
Later, she reminded herself. First, she had to make him pay. Although what did it say about her that she had to blackmail him into spending time with her? Then again, no one had blackmailed him into giving her an orgasm that had made her see another universe full of stars that outshone the sun.
She smiled. Yep, she’d lost her mind and then found it reading some poetry.
“What time is it?” he asked, his voice muffled.
Unable to stop herself, she traced the large R on his upper back with the tip of her finger and he growled. She laughed. “Six AM. I let you sleep in.”
“Jesus Christ, woman, go back to bed,” he groaned.
“Are all world domination plotters this whiny in the morning? Need your cup of special world domination beverage to get you going first?”
“Shut it, Daisy.”
Her smile grew wider as she traced another tattoo on his back. “Bless your heart. Maybe if I fed you first, you wouldn’t be so ornery.”
“Ha! I plan to be ornery all—hang on,” he said, turning over. His gaze landed on the nightstand. A tray loaded with plates of biscuits, grits, bacon, sausage, fruit, and muffins sat on it. “Did you make all that?”
“Well, I had to pass the time somehow. I’ve been up since three,” she said, leaning over to grab the tray as he sat up. She placed it over his lap and smiled. “Hope you like it.”
He dug in, then seemed to remember his manners and asked, “Have you eaten?”
She nodded. “I always eat while I cook. It’s why I have to exercise every day. Else, I’d end up looking like my Aunt Jeannie.”
“I approve of your methods,” he said around a mouthful of biscuit and ran an appreciative eye over her. He swallowed. “Am I off cupcake rationing?”
She had baked four dozen cupcakes this morning. “Depends on you.”
He lifted his brows. “Fine. I’ll make arrangements for this Saturday and—”
“No.”
One brow went higher than the other. “Sorry?”
“I don’t want the earl’s tour or even Sebastian Romanov’s tour. I want the real deal tour, for tourists. In fact, I found a walking tour for us that we do at our own pace.” She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and scrolled through it. “We’re doing the infamous Wizard Tour this morning, right after you call in sick to work.”
His chin dipped. “You’re quite serious, aren’t you?”
“I’m quite pleased,” she said, imitating his accent. And he looked less than pleased. He looked a little scared. “It won’t be that bad mingling with the commoners, Your Lordship.”
“That’s not the problem.” He speared some helpless strawberries. “I’ve never called in sick to work, much less lied about it.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” she said cheerfully. “Besides, it’s not like you’ve never lied before.” She wriggled her fingers at him, engagement ring prominently displayed. “But if you can’t say you’re sick, then say I made you take me.”
Sebastian burst out laughing. “Made me?”
Pouting, she batted her lashes at him. “Call in sick for me?”
He stopped laughing. “Put those away,” he ordered, pointing the fork at her lips.
“Fine.” She picked up the tray, grabbed his fork, and set all of it on the nightstand, then crawled into his lap and straddled him. “Is this better?”
“Marginally,” he said, but his hands settled on her hips.
“Mmm?”
Another brush over his lips and she tugged the lower one into her mouth, sucking on it. Her heart sped up and her panties grew damp. This was a very dangerous game she was playing. Well, in that she might decide to spend the day with him in bed, instead of wandering the streets of London.
His hands tightened and he grew hard between her legs. She pressed against him, acutely aware of how empty she felt and how she wanted him to fill her. To stretch her and make it so she could feel him for days later. Her sex throbbed and pulsated with need, but she could be strong. She could make him wait.
“Take. Me. Please,” she whispered.
“Oh yeah,” he growled.
Putty in her hands. “Great!” She sat up, scrambled off the bed, and smiled. “I’ll take the tray with me and finish cleaning up the mess I made in your kitchen.”
Stunned didn’t begin to describe the look on his face. “You’re going to leave me, like this?” Gesturing to his lap, his erection tenting the thin sheets.
Pretending not to notice his current state, she shook her head and grabbed the tray. “Of course not.”
“Fantastic.” He lunged at her.
She danced out of his reach, the plates sliding together with dull thuds. “I’ll be happy to wait for you to get dressed first. Seriously, Sebastian, we’d be mugged if you went outside looking like that.” By horny women salivating over him.
“At least allow me to go by the office before we begin,”—snagging her phone from the bed, he read from the screen—“this magical journey around London. Be sure to have your broom at the ready.” He ran a hand down his face. “Why do you insist on torturing me?”
She glared at him. “Spending time with me shouldn’t be torture.” Whirling around, she marched to the door. “And it’s not going to work.”
“What’s not going to work?”
“Making me mad so I won’t want spend the day with you.” She opened the door with her foot. “I think you need to have some fun. Lots of it, for the entire time I’m here.”
“You think I need to have fun?” he asked.
Casting a glance over her shoulder, she said, “Yes and Kate agreed.”
“The two of you talked about me?” His blue eyes widened.
“Nothing too personal,” she fibbed.
“What did she say exactly?”
Daisy swallowed. She had to tell him the truth. “That she still cared about you and it was the reason she was trying to help me fit in with your friends and dress the part.”
“Really?” he asked, his gaze assessing and maybe even hopeful.
Daisy’s heart pinched. All that talk about him not loving Kate anymore, she realized, might be just that. Talk. “Yes. She thinks you work too much and need to have fun.”