Two Dates Max (10 page)

“Yeah, there it is.”

His sexy whisper in my ear was almost enough to make me come on the spot. I gasped as he moved his finger in slow circles right where I needed it.

“Come for me, baby doll. Come on my cock.”

“Sean!”

As if his command was all I needed, I suddenly climaxed hard enough to see stars. He groaned through it as my walls clamped down on him. Then he was gripping my hips in both hands and pounding toward his own release.

“Fuck!”

His bruising grip tightened further as he climaxed. I hung limply across the back of the sofa, face buried in the cushions, and tried to catch my breath.

“Damn, babe… You okay?” he asked.

“Mmhm.”

He chuckled and slowly pulled free of my body. I whimpered at the loss then yelped when he suddenly lifted me into his arms.

“Now a shower and then we’ll eat.”

I just smiled and gave a lazy nod, content to let him do as he pleased.

* * * * *

Dinner consisted of leftover chicken salad on toasted wheat bread. Sean acted as if it was a gourmet meal which helped my embarrassment at not having anything better. I hadn’t been to the grocery store after he had upset me in his office and I was running low on supplies.

“If you want to sleep in tomorrow, I’ll run out for breakfast when I wake up,” he offered.

We were sitting at my kitchen table. He was in jeans and I had on nothing but his shirt.

“So, I guess you’re staying the night?”

I tried not to sound needy or unsure but must’ve failed miserably. He reached across the table and took my hands between his large palms.

“I’d like to. Can I…please?”

The sincerity in his plea was a surprise. Maybe I wasn’t the only one falling on my face here. I prayed not because I was total putty in his hands whether he knew it or not.

“Yes. I’d like that too.”

His warm grin sped my pulse and I had to pull one hand from his to take a sip of my water.

“Great. In the morning I’ll need to pick up the beer for tomorrow night.”

I frowned in confusion before my memory activated. “Shit, the barbecue.”

I dropped my head into my hands with a groan. Sean’s hands were suddenly on my shoulders, which he kneaded in a soothing massage.

”What’s wrong? Second thoughts on having company?”

“No. It’s been so crazy the past couple of days I just completely forgot about it. I haven’t even bought the steaks.”

He wrapped an arm around my waist and placed a kiss against the side of my neck. I dropped my hands to give him a weak smile.

“Don’t worry. We’ll hit the grocery store tomorrow and get everything we need,” he said.

I really liked his use of “we” and relaxed into his hold, nodding my agreement. He nipped at my earlobe and sent a shiver down my spine. Just that easy I was ready for him again. My thighs were a little sore from our earlier workout against the sofa, but there was no way I’d let that stop me. I stood to lean against him, pushing the chair from between us, and ran my hands down his bare chest.

“It’s still pretty early. I’m off tomorrow, you’re off tomorrow…”

He chuckled and I loved how it softened his face.

“Hmm, that means we can sleep in so…what should we do to stay busy tonight?”

I smiled as his deep, sexy voice washed over me. I was perfectly happy just standing in his arms.

“Well, we could watch a movie…”

“Or?”

“Or…play a board game…”

He chuckled again. “Or?”

“Or?”

He pressed his lips against mine for a heartbeat before slowly inserting his tongue between them. I tasted him and played a bit before letting him consume me. By the time I came up for air I was panting and needy. He lifted me as if I weighed nothing and took me back to bed.

The next hour was the most sensual and emotional of my life. It was the first time I’d felt as if a man was making love to me, not just having sex with me. As Sean brought me to climax I stared into his eyes and felt a connection I’d never felt before. Did he feel it too? As he slipped away from the bed to clean up, I considered a dozen different ways to ask him but was no closer to choosing one when he got back into bed. He held me securely all through the night, and when I woke he made love to me again.

* * * * *

Our grocery shopping trip was enlightening. Sean dragged me into the competition for recon on their prices and merchandising. He purposely mixed a few regularly priced items into the sales shelves and turned most of the bread sideways. I never laughed so damn hard while in a grocery store before.

“Look at this,” he muttered. “How in the hell can they expect anyone to find the marinade on this aisle?”

I tilted my head and tried to understand the confusing organization of the condiments aisle. Sean was right. The marinades were hidden on the bottom two shelves between gravy and salad dressing.

“Wanna reorganize while I shop the meat department?” I asked with a perfectly straight face.

He whipped his head around to give me an incredulous look. I bit my bottom lip hard to keep from laughing.

“Babe, if you hurt your lip I’m going to have to kiss it better and I don’t know if kissing you in a public place is such a good idea.”

I released my lip as heat rushed to my cheeks. He chuckled at my obvious embarrassment and glanced back down at the marinades.

“Which one do you want for the steaks?”

“Um…mesquite.”

“All right.”

He bent to pick one up and a middle-aged woman walking past glanced at his ass. I just smiled since I sure as hell couldn’t blame her.

“How’s this?”

I quickly turned my attention to the bottle he held up to me. He was still bent over inspecting the choices as I took it from his hand.

“This one is fine. But you better get more than one.”

He grabbed two more and tossed them into the basket. “Okay. Next?”

Twenty minutes later we had checked out and were walking to his pickup truck. He kept one hand on my waist in a show of possession that sped my pulse the entire journey across the parking lot. Anyone could see us. We were three blocks away from our neighborhood in a busy, popular shopping strip. The chances of seeing a neighbor were pretty damn good.

All of that ran through my mind as I walked beside him in silence. He whistled and seemed happier than I’d ever seen him. It was turning out to be a very fine day.

“Are Hank and Elle coming tonight?” he asked as he started the truck.

“Well, I originally invited her and Declan. Actually, I haven’t talked to her in a couple of days. I’ll call her real quick to see what’s going on.”

Sean nodded as I dialed Elle’s number. By the time her voicemail activated we were pulling into my driveway.

“Hmm, she didn’t answer.”

I was starting to get worried. It wasn’t rare to go a week without talking to her when she took time off work, but usually that was when she was on vacation. I trusted Hank with her…for the most part.

“Well, we’ve got plenty of food if they decide to show up,” Sean said.

I just nodded and helped him take the groceries inside. Once everything was put away I dialed Hank’s number. I got his voicemail too and this time left a message.

“Hey, it’s Megan. I’m getting worried. Please tell Elle to call me or call me yourself so I’ll know everything’s okay.”

I rattled off my number even though I knew he had it and hung up, frowning at the phone. Strong hands landed gently on my shoulders, massaging in the most delicious way.

“Don’t worry, babe. Elle’s a smart girl. If there is a problem she knows how to get away from it long enough to call for help.”

I nodded even though I didn’t fully agree. Elle was a smart girl but often let her emotions get in the way of common sense. I just hoped my initial assessment of Hank was correct. I knew where he lived now. If he hurt her I’d kick his ass…somehow.

Sean released me and set to the task of marinating the steaks. There wasn’t much else to do so early in the day so I just watched him. He finished quickly and placed them in the refrigerator.

“All right. Now, what shall we do for the next few hours?” he asked with a gleam in his eye.

“Hmmm…” I pretended to think it over before whipping off my shirt and throwing it at his head. “If you can catch me, you can have me,” I called over my shoulder as I ran from the room.

I didn’t even make it five feet.

At five minutes past six o’clock my doorbell rang. I straightened the hem of my dress, pushing Sean’s roaming hands away for the umpteenth time, and sprinted to the door. Relief filled me when I opened it to find Elle and Hank on my front step.

“Elle!”

I threw my arms around her and dragged her into my house, glaring at Hank over her shoulder. I was holding him responsible for not hearing from her, but had to admit she looked a hell of a lot better.

“Oh Meg, I’m so sorry. I know I haven’t called for days—”

“No you haven’t. And I’ve been really worried about you.”

Hank cleared his throat and handed me a bottle of wine. My eyes crossed.

“Ugh, thanks. You
really
shouldn’t have.”

They both laughed.

“Don’t worry, Meg. It’s not red this time and there’s only one bottle,” Hank said with a wink.

I took the wine from him since he still had his hands full with what appeared to be a casserole dish.

“And what’s that?” I asked as I led them into the kitchen.

“You know how you raved about his home fries?” Elle asked.

“Fries? Those were mini baked potatoes, not fries,” I said.

Hank chuckled and set the dish down on the kitchen counter to shake Sean’s hand.

“Sean this is Hunky Hank. Hank, Sean.”

Both men laughed as Elle reddened. “Megan.”

“What?” I asked in mock innocence.

She deserved it for making me worry about her.

“Sean, this is Hank
Thurmond
. A very good friend of mine,” Elle said.

Hank frowned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders possessively. “For now.”

Elle rolled her eyes but made no move to dislodge his arm. I grinned and put the wine in the freezer while Sean stepped out the back door to check on the steaks. Elle’s bruises were barely visible beneath her artfully applied makeup. She also didn’t have the defeated air about her I’d grown used to seeing. Hank was definitely good for her.

“Well, you’re the first to arrive but the steaks should be ready soon,” I said.

Hank and Elle each grabbed a beer and headed out the back door to sit on the patio and talk to Sean. I was about to join them when my doorbell rang again.

Within thirty minutes the other four guests had arrived and we were all sitting on my back patio. I had two wooden picnic tables set side-by-side for occasions like this. Disposable plastic tablecloths turned the dull brown into a festive placemat for our potluck dinner. Wine and beer were interspersed all around and everyone was having a great time. To my relief, Sean actually knew two of the guys and had no problem talking to anyone. I had secretly feared his usual somber mood would descend in the middle of the dinner.

The six people around the table were some of my closest and oldest friends. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if Sean didn’t get along with them, but it wouldn’t have been pleasant either. Aside from Elle, the other women, Clara and Toni, were openly opinionated on everything. Neither would hesitate to put Sean in his place if he said something rude.

“Sean,” Clara called from the far end of the table. “You manage Hardy’s?”

He nodded until swallowing the food in his mouth. “Yup.”

One of Clara’s perfectly sculpted brows arched in excitement. “So, you know Mari Campbell?”

I tensed and dropped my gaze to my plate for fear of what his face might tell. Beneath the table, Sean’s hand landed on my thigh. He squeezed gently before removing it to wrap his arm around my waist.

“Yeah,” he answered. “I was her manager for a couple of years.”

“Oh. So have you met Devon Campbell?” Toni asked.

Devon was once deemed Houston’s Most Eligible Bachelor. Though Mari had successfully put an end to his bachelorhood he was still one of the city’s sexiest men.

“Yes, I’ve met him.”

When he didn’t elaborate both ladies thankfully took the hint and moved on to another topic. My appetite had disappeared at the mention of Mari and I played with the remaining food on my plate.

“You all right, baby?” Sean whispered in my ear.

His warm breath across my skin made me shiver and I leaned into him. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

He raised a brow, but said nothing else as he placed a gentle kiss against my temple.

I looked away to find Elle grinning at me.