2SpiceRack_bundle (16 page)

Lily
Harlem

A book in the Spice Rack series.

Kimberly is desperate—muffling gasps of
pleasure under the covers is just not doing it for her. She loves and desires
her husband, but she needs more.

Could the Spice Rack picked up at a girly,
wine-infused party be the solution? Anticipation floods her body as she opens
the first “task”. What the…? How is “love on the move” going to spice up her
sex life? It’s impossible, or so she thinks, because when a sudden sinful idea
pops into her head she has to act, much to Nate’s delight.

Until they’re spotted, pulled over, hauled
out and cuffed, and not in fluffy pink. They’re in for it, but the glint in
Nate’s eye tells Kimberly he’s finally got her exactly where he wants her. It
might feel like hell, but before she knows it she’s catapulted to a heavenly
place she’s been longing to revisit. As long as they can get away with it.

A Romantica®
marital heat erotic romance
from Ellora’s Cave

“Go on, open it.”

“No, you do it.”

“Chicken.” Kimberly took the spice jar from
her husband and gave him a poke in the ribs.

“Well, it’s not like it’s going to be used
in the dinner, is it?” Nate asked with a shrug.

“It might be. It could be anything. That’s
what the girl said at the party. Absolutely anything from mild vanilla to chili
hot.”

He laughed. “I suppose it could be
something reminiscent of that scene from
9½ Weeks
.” He moved behind her
and pressed his body to hers. “I’d quite enjoy that actually.”

“Mmm, I love that film.” Kimberly relished
the feel of her husband winding his arms around her waist and the soft sound of
his warm breaths in her ear. Carefully she peeled off the plastic then flicked
the lid. The ticking of the clock above the door to the hallway seemed extra
loud echoing around the kitchen, as if time had slowed, heightening her
anticipation, cranking up her expectations.

She emptied the single slip of
cream-colored card stock onto her palm. It landed with the writing facedown and
she stared at it. For a whole week she’d wondered what would be in the
medium-to-hot jar. All kinds of wicked images had been floating around her
mind, creeping into her dreams and stealing her breath. When she’d been
standing in the playground waiting for Sophie, a steamy image of herself
handcuffed to the bed and Nate pounding into her with abandon had created a
tremble in her belly. She’d had to take a deep breath and ensure her expression
was under control before her daughter came running out.

That same delicious pang of longing rumbled
between her legs now. God, if she felt turned-on just opening the jar then it
had been well worth the money. Sure, it had been a chunk out of the weekly
budget, but it had been ages since she and Nate had tried anything new in the
bedroom. Something
had
to be done.

Under the covers, in the dark, muffling
their groans of pleasure had been the norm for so long it was hard to imagine
anything else. She’d almost forgotten what Nate sounded like when he gave in to
his desire, stopped biting his lip and burying his face in the pillow as he
climaxed. She remembered he liked to send a lot of unholy praises heavenward,
but it had been months since he’d done that and even longer since he’d yelled
her name with that divine guttural quality to his voice.

The Spice Rack had come in the nick of
time.

“Go on then, turn it over.” Nate squeezed
her a little closer and, with a thrill, she felt the hardness of his growing
erection against her buttocks. So he’d been thinking of the rack too, since
she’d shown it to him a few days ago. She’d been worried he’d complain about
the cost or say it was a silly idea. But it seemed he was as into the game as
she was.

“We have to do it, whatever it says on
here, that’s the deal.”

“That’s the deal.” He pressed a kiss to her
temple as Kimberly turned over their task.

Express your love while on the move.

Kimberly stared at it, read and reread it.
Her heart sank. It was nothing like what she’d been led to believe it would be
and to say she was disappointed was an understatement. What happened to “go and
buy some red leather boots, a set of handcuffs and a flogger”? Well, maybe that
was going a bit far, but something like “tie down the woman you love and ravage
her” would have done. Or even, as Nate had suggested, “feed each other while
naked and then lick jam from each other’s private parts” would have sufficed.
But this,
express your love while on the move
. How was that going to be
any fun? It was such a vague suggestion.

She sighed and dropped the task to the
counter. “Well, that was a waste of money.”

“What do you mean?” Nate spun her in his
arms, surprise in his voice.

She looked up at his face. A long day at
the factory meant stubble was shadowing his jawline and his eyes looked tired.
“I don’t even know what it means, love on the move. It’s so vague.”

A grin pulled at the side of his mouth.
“Perhaps it means getting raunchy while you’re on some kind of transportation.
A train or a plane maybe.”

Kimberly tutted. “How much money do they
think we have? It’s not like we
ever
fly anywhere so we can’t join the
mile high club, can we?”

He laughed, shifting her against his chest.
“No, but we’ll come up with something.”

“You really think so?” She was doubtful. It
just wasn’t what she’d expected. She’d hoped for something more specific, so
they knew exactly what they were supposed to be doing. A task that would
guarantee satisfaction. But
on the move
…?

He smoothed his hands up her back and
slotted his fingers into her hair. Touched their lips together. “One of the
many things I love most about you is that you
always
figure it out.
Whether it’s where to go on holiday on a budget, what to have for dinner or how
to stop Sophie crying about a missing teddy. You, Kimberly, are one in a
million, and I’d be lost without you.”

She hugged him close and kissed him,
feeling as though her heart would burst right out of her chest with love. Even
if they never did anything those stupid spice jars suggested, hearing Nate say
those words was worth all the expense. For too long they’d been like ships
passing in the night, working hard, never quite catching up with each other
properly and now here they were in the kitchen of all places, connecting again.

The heat level in the kiss cranked up.
Their teeth touched briefly as Nate sought deeper contact with his tongue. He
tasted of mint—he’d just showered and brushed his teeth as he always did after
work. And his cologne, slightly woodsy with a hint of cinnamon, swirled around
Kimberly. His shoulders felt hot and solid beneath her palms, his cock was
butting into her stomach, almost at full hardness now.

“Mommy, Daddy.”

Kimberly snapped away.

Nate turned to the sink, dipped his hands
into the water and began clattering dishes.

“Sophie,” Kimberly said, straightening her
blouse and skirt and smiling at their five-year-old daughter.

“What were you doing?” Sophie asked,
dropping her arms to her sides and staring at first her father and then at
Kimberly.

“We were having a little kiss. Mommies and
daddies do that sometimes,” Kimberly said, tucking a strand of hair that had
come loose from her ponytail behind her daughter’s ear.

“Oh,” she said. “What, like in
Snow
White
when the prince comes and wakes her up?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Kimberly smiled. “Have
you packed to go to Grandma and Gramp’s? They’re expecting you soon.”

“Yes.” Sophie held up three fingers. “I
have my nightdress, my toothbrush and Silky Rabbit.”

“Well, that sounds like everything. Why
don’t you go and get your shoes and coat?”

“Okay.” Sophie skipped down the hall and
began rooting in the box for her weekend sneakers.

“I’ll come with you,” Nate said as he dried
his hands on a red gingham towel.

“Are you sure? I know how my dad talks your
ear off about the state of the auto industry every time he sees you.”

Nate smiled and pressed down Kimberly’s
collar, which she hadn’t noticed had been sticking up. “I like talking to your
father, but if it worries you I’ll wait in the car. You can tell them we’re
going straight to an early showing at the movies.”

Kimberly frowned and stared at the spice
jar. She’d planned a child-free night so they could enjoy carrying out whatever
instruction medium-hot had given them. But
express your love on the move
,
that just wasn’t going provide any entertainment.

Or was it? She pulled in a deep breath and
nibbled on her bottom lip. Nate said he loved the fact she could always find a
solution. But could she work out this one? And would the answer come to her in
time? They only had tonight and then it would be at least a week before Sophie
could go to her grandparents’ again. Kimberly would surely die of frustration
if they didn’t indulge in some down and dirty action—soon.

Mmm, as time was of the essence, perhaps
they should open a new one when they came home. Second time lucky. Maybe she
should have a secret peek at them until she found one with handcuffs or ropes
or something else Nate would have to use to tie her down.

* * * * *

Sophie was deposited at her grandparents’
house, but despite what Nate had originally said, he did go in and talk to his
father-in-law. Forty-five minutes into the visit and he seemed as into the
conversation as Kimberly’s dad, the future of gas prices and the new hybrid
cars on the market being the main topics.

Kimberly’s frustration grew as she watched
her mother and Sophie start on an evening of cake-making and listening to
Sophie’s favorite fairy tale CD. Kimberly finished her second coffee, washed
the cup and looked at Nate, who sat at the kitchen table deep in discussion.

His shoulders were a little hunched and his
black turtleneck stretched taut across his back. She could make out the neat
triangle shape that his upper torso had always possessed—wide at the top,
tapering to a narrow waist. The black sweater, though nice, didn’t really do
justice to what she knew lay beneath. His muscles were defined and solid, a
by-product of the physicality of his job on the line. His skin was the color of
the sky at sunset, a deep bronze—a throwback to his Italian roots, he always
said.

He swept a hand through his midnight-black
hair, shoving it over his forehead and seemingly not noticing when it just
flopped back around his face. She smiled. His absolute lack of vanity was one
of the things she adored about him. Nate was a gorgeous specimen of a man. Not
in the slightest bit pretty, just potent testosterone and strong features. He
could have been a movie star. Take on the roles Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee
Jones were such masters at. He’d be great, she always thought, with his deep
voice and the determined set of his jaw when he decided he wanted something.
And if there were any clothes-off scenes she just knew the female members of
the audience would swoon.

But he was hers. All hers and she didn’t
have to share him. Thank goodness.

Kimberly pressed a kiss to her mother’s
cheek and then one to the top of Sophie’s head. “I’ll see you at lunchtime
tomorrow.”

“Don’t rush, Mommy. Me and Granny have lots
of baking to do, and we might not have eaten all the cakes by then.”

Kimberly laughed. “I’m sure Granny will let
you bring some home. Now be a good girl and get into bed when you’re told to.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Bye, love,” Kimberly’s mother said. “Enjoy
your evening, and there really is no rush tomorrow. It is Saturday, after all.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it, Mom.” Kimberly
smiled and then walked over to Nate.

She rested her hand on his forearm. “We
should go. We’ll miss the start of the movie.”

“Movie?” He creased his brow.

Kimberly scowled. How could he not be
playing along?

“Ah yes, the movie.” Nate nodded quickly
and stood. “Of course. Good to see you, Derek. I’ll hunt up the information on
the old Chevy engine for you.”

“Thanks, Nate, I’d appreciate it,” Derek
said, shaking Nate’s hand and then turning to Kimberly. “You kids go and have
fun. Sophie will be just fine with us, don’t worry about a thing.”

“Thanks, Dad. See you tomorrow.” Kimberly
gave her father a quick peck on the cheek and then steered Nate to the hallway.

“We were only supposed to stay for a
minute,” she whispered as they put on their shoes.

“Sorry,” Nate mouthed and opened the door.

Once outside, he pulled her close as they
walked to his car. “Sorry,” he said again. “It’s just your Dad has a friend
who’s bought this old Chevy and he’s renovating it. He wants me to help out.”

“Well, that’s all very well, but this night
is supposed to be about us, remember?”

Nate squeezed her close. “Of course I
remember. How could I not?” He lowered his voice. “And just so you know, if
Sophie hadn’t walked into the kitchen earlier, I may well have stripped you
naked right in front of the sink, bent you over and had my wicked way with
you.”