Nothing's Sweeter than Candy (23 page)

“No. I'm still dreaming.”

“What are you dreaming about?”

“Knights in shining armor, handsome princes, and happily-ever-afters.”

“Umm, I was hoping you were dreaming about me.”

“I'm sure I would have gotten around to you, sooner or later.” She chuckled softly, her lips pressed against his chest, savoring his warmth and the steady beat of his heart against her cheek.

He put his fingers under her chin and tilted her head back so he could gaze into her eyes.

“You scared the hell out of me and took ten years off my life. I almost lost you.” He choked, and his voice filled with unchecked emotion. “I don't ever want to feel that way again.” He tangled his hand in her hair, pulled her lips closer, and kissed her tenderly ... reverently, and poured everything he was into that one kiss. She tasted his fear, his ache, and his uncertainty. His emotions pulsed against her lips and washed over her in waves, and she felt the truth of his words down to her toes. When he finally pulled away, he put his forehead to hers and took a shaky breath.

“I'm never letting you go. Do you hear me? I don't care how hard you fight to get away from me. I love you, Candace, and no one will ever take you away from me again. I'm not pressuring you. I know you need time to figure things out and make up your mind, but just know that I'm not going anywhere. I'm in this for the duration.” His voice dropped to little more than a whisper. “You already have
my
heart and soul. I'll wait for you to give me yours.”

His gaze fell upon her bruised cheek, and he brushed it lightly with his fingertips. “He hurt you.”

“He scared me.”

“I wasn't there.”

“I pushed you away.”

She cupped his cheek in her hand and looked him in the eye. He looked exhausted. His long and shaggy hair hung over his eyes, and his face hadn't seen the sharp edge of a razor in at least a day or two. He'd never looked so rugged, or so tired. She combed his hair to the side with her fingers. Looked deeper, she saw more than fatigue below the surface. There was concern and love reflected back at her. Real, true love. Her heart clinched, and tears threatened to fill her eyes. She kissed him softly on his lips and then cuddled closer, again resting her head on his chest. She felt safe and comforted there. She threaded her fingers through his and pressed their entwined hands against her chest.

“You're wrong, Brice. You
were
with me, through every terrifying moment. You were there when I needed you most. And even though the experience was nothing I'd care to repeat in this lifetime, something good came from it. Nash, in his own twisted way, did what neither you nor Joyce were able to do. He opened my eyes and made me see what a fool I was. I'd let men like him get inside my head and make me believe that real love didn't really exist. That stuff like that only happened in fairy tales, or the movies. And I was okay with that, until you came along—you, with your sweet, protective, and caring ways that scared the crap out of me.

“You were too good to be true; therefore, everything about you had to be a lie. I'd settled for less for so long I was too afraid to hope for better. When Nash tried to belittle you and claimed he knew the kind of man you were, he made me realize how wrong we both were. I'd closed my mind to possibilities. Every time I said no to you, I was really saying no to me
and denying myself the experience of something wonderful—some
one
wonderful.”

She rose up on her elbow and looked him in the eyes again, filled with determination and conviction.

“I knew you'd come for me. It didn't matter that he'd taken the bracelet and made me leave everything behind. I knew you'd find me because ... I knew you loved me. I
was
dreaming about you, Brice,” she confessed in a small voice. “You always come to my rescue, just like in all those fairy tales. You saved me from Nash, and you saved me from myself.
You
are my knight, my prince, and my ever after.” She leaned over and kissed his lips. “Thank you.”

He pulled her into his arms and crushed her against him until she felt him tremble. She let him hold her, even if his grip was a little tight. She sensed his need to. When he was finally able to let go, he brushed her hair back from her face and smiled down at her.

“I have something for you. I've held onto it for weeks, hoping and waiting for the right moment.” He pulled a small black velvet box from his jacket pocket and gave it to her. She opened it and was stunned to see nestled inside a beautiful princess-cut diamond ring in a platinum setting. He removed the ring and carefully slipped it onto her finger. It fit perfectly and looked as though it had always belonged there.

“I know this is sudden and unexpected, and that you're still trying to find your way. But I don't need months and months to think and analyze what I'm feeling inside. I already know where my heart belongs. It belongs to you.” He brought her hand to his lips and brushed it with a kiss. “You don't have to say yes right now. Just don't say no.”

She stared at the ring in silent wonder, absorbing the proof of his love there on her finger, and her hand shook under the weight of all that it implied. The tears that had threatened for so long finally spilled over and tracked down her face, and he leaned over and gently kissed them away. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I was so determined not to fall in love with you, Brice. But I'm glad I have crappy willpower.”

The last brick in her wall crumbled and fell. She no longer needed her shield to protect herself. She'd finally let go of the past and allowed herself to believe that her heart and her future were in good hands.

Three months later

“Wake up, sleepyhead.” He rolled her over and nuzzled her neck. One hand rested on her bare breast while the other supported her head and pulled her closer for a kiss. After all this time, he was still in awe that he was allowed to live and breathe and wake up next to this woman. It had been months since the kidnapping, but he still hadn't gotten past the fear of almost losing her. There were nights he'd jerk awake in a panic from dreams that Nash had gotten away with his plan or that he hadn't found her in time. He'd reach out and pull her close and breathe away his fear and reassure himself she really was all right. He knew that deep down he'd never get over that feeling of terror.

That day in the hospital when he'd given her the ring, when, to his surprise, she'd said yes, that guarded look of distrust and fear had been replaced by something new—determination, devotion, and love. Andrew Nash could rot in jail for all he cared, but he grudgingly owed him a debt of thanks. If not for his dramatic actions, Candace might never have come to the conclusion that Brice really loved her. Now she belonged to him, body, heart, and soul.

His parents had fallen in love with her on sight, and she and his mother had quickly become friends. His only hope was that she didn't scare Candace off with all her badgering about how soon they planned to start having babies. His mom had a one-track mind.

“Who's asleep? I've been lying here waiting patiently for
you
to wake up so I could jump your bones.”

“Why'd you wait, babe? You know you don't need an invitation. You can jump my bones anytime and anywhere.” His voice was low and wickedly sensual.

“Really? Anywhere?” Her eyes stretched wide and sparkled with mock amazement and mischief.

He felt that familiar punched-in-the-gut feeling he always got when he looked into that beautiful sparkling well of brown and golden flecks.

“Don't act like you're surprised. I think it's safe to say that our escapade in the elevator more than justifies that statement. Not to mention the kitchen counter, the dining room table—and let us not forget the hot tub in the backyard. If you want to try something different, why don't we stay in the bed for a change?” He chuckled.

“You must have been reading my mind.” She grinned as she reached down and wrapped her hand around his shaft and felt it pulse and come alive in her palm. She gripped it firmly and stroked the length of it, letting her thumb slide across the head and make tiny circles over the tip. He groaned his pleasure, enjoying her soft touch. She leaned in and traced his lips with her tongue, insisting he open for her, and he complied. Once the kiss started, he took over and dominated her, taking it deep. He pulled her head back and skimmed her throat with his lips and tongue, and then spoke into her neck, his breath warm against her skin.

“Don't you have somewhere to be?” he asked.

“Mm hmm.”

“You know, if you start this, I'm not letting you out of this bed until we're finished.”

“So, stop talking.” She breathed in his ear. “Time's a-wasting.”

“I'm just giving you fair warning, babe.” He covered her mouth with his, and in one swift move he flipped over onto his back and pulled her on top of him. She spread her legs, opening wide to allow his cock easy access to slide inside her wet, warm channel. The sensation made them both shudder and groan with pleasure, and they were immediately swept away and lost inside their self-made world of love and lust.

• • •

She raised her head and looked at the clock on the dresser, and her eyes grew wide with alarm. “Damn it. Look what you've done. I'm going to be late! Sarona and Joyce are going to
kill
me.” She jumped out of bed and hurriedly gathered her things. “They warned me not to spend the night with you because they knew this would happen. I can just see them now, tapping their feet and checking their watches. I'll have to listen to them muttering ‘I told you so' for the rest of the day.”

Brice looked at her with a satisfied grin. She might be frantic, but he was feeling pretty damn good.

“Hey, don't blame me. I warned you.”

“I am not taking all the blame for this, mister. If I go down, you're going down with me. Don't just lie there. Get up! We've got a wedding to go to!”

“Go ahead and get in the shower. I'd join you, but we both know I won't be able to keep my hands off of you. I'd only make you later than you already are. I've got a little more time than you.”

“Yeah, you're right.” She gave him a hurried kiss on the lips and rushed into the bathroom to take a quick shower and dress.

He lay back with his fingers laced together behind his head, grinning like an idiot as he stared at the ceiling. He felt like the luckiest man in the world. The woman he loved was only a few feet away, and very soon, she'd be a permanent fixture in his life and in his home.

• • •

The wedding march sounded, and all heads turned to watch the bride's approach. The groom was nervous but proud and sported a grin across his face from ear to ear. The bride was led down the aisle on the arm of her father, who smiled and proudly delivered her into the hands of her husband-to-be. When she took her place among the group, they stood in a row in front of the altar, the six of them, all friends. They had come together in a time of trouble and near loss, and now they stood together in a time of joy to bear witness to the blending of friendships and families. This union would make the bond between them tighter, stronger.

Brice looked across the narrow space that separated them all, and then stared at Candace. Her transformation from tousled lover to elegant beauty was breathtaking. She was the product of that wonderful magic women worked when the occasion called for something special. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. The love he felt welled up inside and threatened to overflow, and he was completely consumed by a tidal wave of emotion. During the course of the ceremony, the minister's voice resonated throughout the church as he spoke in reverent tones. But Brice was so focused on her face, her lips, and her eyes that the words were lost to him.

David poked him in the ribs. “Hey,” he whispered loudly, his voice rippling with repressed laughter. “Pay attention. Your turn will come soon enough.”

The minister repeated his question. “May we have the ring, please?” Brice grinned sheepishly and reached into his inside pocket to retrieve the wedding band and handed it to David. David turned and smiled at his lovely bride and repeated his wedding vow in a clear, strong voice. Brice listened to the words of commitment as he looked meaningfully at Candace, and she returned his stare with a look of understanding.

David was right; their turn would come soon enough. They had come a long way together. The evil villain had been thwarted, the beautiful maiden had been rescued, and the hero had gotten the girl. It was a happily-ever-after ending ... after all.

(From
Prelude to a Seduction
by Lotchie Burton)

“What are you doing?”

“I'm undressing you,” he murmurs, as his fingers deftly unfasten the buttons of her blouse and unzip her skirt. His mouth teases and nibbles at her neck and shoulder.

“Silly man, of course you're undressing me.” She giggles. “Maybe my question should have been,Why?”

“Because,” he whispers in her ear and lets his lips journey down her cheek to trail kisses across her chin and lips. “I love to touch your skin, and I can't touch you with all these clothes on.”

Her smile is warm and sexy; her breath is hot and sweet. “I know, but if you keep this up, I'll never get out of here on time.”

“That's the plan,” he says, showing off perfect, beautiful white teeth in a wide, wolfish grin.

“I can't be late, not again!” She shrieks with laughter when he leans forward and licks that elusive sensitive spot just behind her ear.

“I'll bet no one will even notice. Come on, babe, let me send you off with a smile on your face,” he cajoles. “Or at least let me send you off with a smile on my face.” He grins and wiggles his eyebrows up and down. She shakes her head. He knows she'll eventually give up and give in to his persuasive mouth and convincing hands. Ignoring her feeble attempts at protest, he continues to methodically strip her clothing away piece by piece until she stands completely naked and exposed to his appraising gaze. He lays her down upon the bed and blankets her with his body, burying his face between her soft, succulent breasts.