Sway (8 page)

and headed to the shower. He didn’t

miss Kelsey. Not anymore. It didn’t

hurt to think about all the what-might-

have-beens, because all he could do

was be thankful she hadn’t killed

anyone else that night.

So he’d dated and fucked around.

Plenty of beautiful women in the

world. Most of them made him happy

in bed. Some amused him out of it.

But he didn’t have to open up and let

any of them in. He didn’t have to give

them anything he couldn’t bear to part

with. And it had been good.

But Daisy Huerta was something

else. Something different and vibrant.

He wanted her in a way he hadn’t

wanted the others. With the others he

could be casually rough. Never to

harm, but he could hold wrists and

fuck hard and they were all right with

it.

Daisy though…he wanted more.

Stripping off, he got the water

started and stepped in, groaning at

how good it felt.

He wanted to do all sorts of things

to and with Daisy. He soaped up and

gave over to the inevitable, grasping

his cock in a soapy fist and thrusting.

Her lips, plump and red, that

tongue…he wanted to fuck her mouth,

watch his cock disappear between

her lips and come out, wet and shiny

with her spit. He wanted to order her

to take him deeper, suck him harder.

Wanted to pull out and come all over

her beautiful tits.

His balls crawled up close to his

body. The vision in his head driving

him toward climax faster and harder

than usual. She’d look fucking

spectacular on her knees before him.

He wanted to dress her up in the

finest lingerie, wanted to shower her

with pretty things, things she’d wear

or use and think of him. He wanted to

be on her mind the way she was on

his.

Wanted to sink his cock deep into

her cunt and see the changes on her

face as he did. Wanted to watch her

tits jiggle as he thrust deep, wanted to

feel the slick, wet heat of her around

his cock, wanted that juice to drip

down his balls.

He arched into his fist when he

tweaked his left nipple, thinking

about what hers would look like.

Wondering how her pussy would

taste. He knew the sweet seduction of

her mouth, that taste and heat of her

there. Would she be as delicious

when he took that first lick? Would

her clit harden against his tongue as

she begged for more?

He sped, needing to come, needing

to be in her.

What would her skin look like as

he fucked her? Glistening with sweat,

the marks from the flogger on her ass

like pink kisses. That brought a grunt

from his lips. He rarely used toys or

tools. But with her? With her how

could he resist?

She wouldn’t be a plaything like

the others. He couldn’t hold back

with her like he did the others. She

called out to be dominated. To be

cherished and cosseted, pleasured

and spoiled.

She wasn’t to be played with

because with a woman like her it

wouldn’t be a game.

It was a risk. A woman who was

nothing like all the others. A woman

like her was indelible, the kind a man

didn’t forget. Ever. He came in a hot

rush as thoughts of what she’d be like

propped up in this shower stall, his

cock deep inside her, ran riot in his

head.

And even as he finally found sleep

an hour later, it was with her face in

his mind’s eye.

Daisy sat at the large table with all

her very favorite people in the world.

Jules to her left. Cal and Ryan,

Gillian, Adrian and their son Miles.

The family of her heart. Mary busily

moved around the room, making sure

all the other diners were happy, but

she came back to the table frequently

to check in with them and visit a

moment.

Gillian leaned close to speak.

“You’re grinning in that way you do

right before something like a new

dress shows up in my front hallway.

What are you up to?”

“I was just marveling at how lucky

I was to have you all in my life.”

Surprised pleasure flashed over

Gillian’s face. “That’s lovely. I’m

glad to have you right back.”

Mary came back to the table. “I’ve

got a few minutes before dessert.”

She sat and Jules handed her a glass.

“While you’re here, we wanted to

talk to you all.” Adrian spoke and

Gillian straightened, taking his hand.

“Finally.” Jules snorted.

Gillian raised a brow in her

friend’s direction, but then spoke to

the group. “We’ve set a date for the

wedding. The second weekend in

July. After the holiday. Mary, would

you be our caterer? Jules, will you

handle all the desserts? Daisy, would

you design our rings?”

“Wow, you two are like an entire

economy unto yourselves.” Mary

grinned. “I wouldn’t be offended if

you wanted to look at other caterers.

I’m assuming this will be a big

wedding and I’ve only done small-to-

medium ones before.”

“Oi you. Not only will you be

expected to cater our wedding, but

we have
two
events we need you for

as it happens. The wedding itself

will be small. Just immediate friends

and family. We’re having it at the

new house.”

Adrian looked to Gillian and then

his son, smiling. Daisy liked him a

lot. She had her doubts at first. But

he’d proven himself to be a damned

good father and the kind of man

Gillian needed. “And then something

larger. A reception my manager

wants to throw. Industry people and

that sort of thing. They wanted us in

Los Angeles but I said no. We’ll do it

here in Seattle. There’s a planner

who’ll be contacting you with all the

details but that one will be in early

August.”

While Daisy was sure her friends

would be amazing as caterers and

pastry chefs, she wasn’t too sure

about ring design.

“Are you sure you want me? I

know some great jewelry designers.”

“None of them know me. Know us.

You know not just me and Adrian,

but Miles. You’re special and perfect

because I love you and you’re

family.” Gillian smiled and Daisy

fought back tears.

“I can get you some ideas by the

end of the month.”

“All right.” Adrian squeezed her

hand and looked to the group again.

“You’re as much my family now as

my brother and sister are. This will

be a big family affair. It means a lot

to Gillian and me that you’re all such

an important part of our lives and so

naturally our wedding too.”

“And I know you will be busy

supervising all the food and stuff at

the wedding, but you’re all under

orders to have enough non-Delicious

staff so that you can enjoy the

reception with us. Got me?” Gillian

gave them all a look and everyone

nodded.

Daisy raised her glass. “To

Gillian, Adrian and Miles.”

“To love.” Gillian toasted back

before first kissing her son’s cheek

and then Adrian’s lips. Daisy wanted

that, she realized. Wanted that

connection with someone. Wanted a

kid and a husband and a happy ever

after.

Levi pulled into the driveway and

caught sight of her immediately. The

dress, the red dress he’d chosen, was

vivid against winter’s gray. She

stood on the stoop of the gallery

speaking animatedly to an older

woman she looked a whole lot like.

He froze a moment. This was like

meeting the parents. And he hadn’t

done that for many, many years.

He made himself walk from his car

up to the steps. He was a grown-ass

man and he could meet someone’s

grandma without proposing marriage.

Daisy turned and caught sight of

him. Her smile drew him closer.

“Take a coat. It’s a pretty dress,

but you need a coat or you’ll get a

cold.” The little old woman looked

him up and down. “He’s wearing a

coat. See?”

Daisy nodded sagely. “You’re

right. Levi Warner, this is my

grandmother,

Delores

Huerta.

Grandma, this is Levi.”

He took her hand and shook. She

appeared fragile, but her grip told

him otherwise.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.

Huerta.”

She smiled at him, a twinkle of

mischief in her eyes, and he liked her

immensely right then.

“Make her put on a coat.” She

kissed Daisy’s cheek and headed

around the gallery, waving. “Have

fun.”

“I need a coat.” Daisy laughed and

he followed her into her house where

she grabbed a white coat and gloves

which made her look like a

glamorous starlet from the 1940s.

He helped her into the coat and

escorted her out to his car. She

waited for him to open her door,

which he really liked.

“You look beautiful in that dress,”

he murmured as they drove. It

pleased him beyond measure that

she’d worn it.

“Thank you. You look pretty

beautiful yourself.”

At the restaurant, she held his arm

and let him do the door opening and

the chair pulling out. He knew she

didn’t need it, but he wanted to and

she allowed it because of that. The

pleasure of that knowledge warmed

him.

She mixed his wasabi and soy

carefully, looking up to catch his eye

to be sure it was the mixture he

preferred. He watched her hungrily

and wondered what she’d look like

totally naked. When his beer arrived,

she poured it for him.

He hadn’t been waited on like this.

Ever. Not in this personal way she

did. Sure, he’d had waiters pour his

beer and serve his food, but this was

Daisy, taking care of Levi, and it got

to him. Got to him like so many other

things about Daisy Huerta and he

couldn’t seem to stop thinking of her.

And how she was different.

Which was stupid. Because she

was
different, different enough that

she was totally off the menu when it

came to anything long lasting. It

wasn’t like he could bring her home

to his parents. A twenty-four-year-

old artist with tattoos and all that in-

your-face, lush beauty. His mother

would be unfailingly polite to her and

when she saw him next she’d cut him

to shreds with his responsibility and

his future and how wholly unsuitable

a girl like Daisy was for a man like

him.

He shouldn’t be there with her at

all. But he was. And he had no plans

at all to change that.

“How was your weekend?” His

fingers brushed hers as he took the

glass and then sipped.

“Lovely, thank you. Worked and

hung out with my friends Saturday.

Yesterday my friend announced her

wedding date at long last over

dinner. Yours?”

He sighed and she laughed.

“That bad?”

“Family drama.” He shrugged.

“Not as fun as being with friends and

hearing wedding dates.”

He was very stingy with his life,

she noted. It annoyed her.

“The rest of your family lives in

Seattle?”

“Mainly. One of my brothers is in

Kirkland, another is in Redmond. The

rest live in Seattle. What about you?”

“My entire family lives on

Bainbridge. I’m spoiled to have them

all so close. Why did you decide to

be a lawyer?”

“Why did you decide to be an

artist?”

“Do you always answer questions

with questions?” She paused when

the first plates began to arrive. She

grinned when she noticed they’d

given her an extra plate of yellowtail

nigiri. Her favorite. She winked at

the server in thanks. He blushed.

“Do you know that guy?”

“I worked here for two years. On