The Sweet Addiction Series Collection: Sweet Addiction, Sweet Possession & Sweet Obsession (70 page)

I swallow loudly, trying to loosen up. “Okay, okay. Just… fucking hell, just wait a second.”

He muffles a laugh above me but I don’t respond to it the way I normally would, by telling him to fuck off unless he wants to switch positions. Instead, I do as he asks and push, feeling him slip further in. Inch by inch. I watch as his face contorts into one of immense pleasure, and that drives me. To want it more. To pull my knees back so my thighs are against my chest, opening up to him.

“Fuck, yes.” He growls, deep and guttural as he slides in to the hilt. “Christ, you’re so fucking perfect.”

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to feel, but it wasn’t this. A wave of heat washes over me at the sensation of him all the way in me. “Oh, my… Godddd.”

And then he starts to move in and out as he works my clit with his thumb. I keep my eyes on him even though the intensity of the pleasure I’m feeling is urging me to close them. It’s too much. I need to take away some of this stimulation before I break so I close them, but it’s brief.

“Dylan, look at me.” I do, and he takes over holding my legs back as he thrusts into me. “Feel it. Feel how I make every part of you feel good. You want this. You want me here.”

“Yes,” I answer, but it comes out as a plea. To keep fucking me. To never stop. To love every part of me, because that’s what he’s doing.

His breath comes out uneven, ragged. He’s gasping above me, struggling to not lose control yet. And seeing him like that gets me right there with him.

“Reese.”

“Fuck, I can’t… Dylan, I can’t stop.”

“Don’t stop. I’m so close.”

His movements become urgent, slamming into me with a crucial force. Pushing me up over the edge. And he’s right there with me.

“Coming,” I barely choke out as my orgasm moves through me like a tidal wave. I need to see him. I need to watch him lose it even though my eyes are straining to remain open while I ride this out.

“Holy fuck. Oh, my God, Dylan. Fuuckkk!”

He keeps his eyes on me, giving me the satisfaction of seeing him unravel. And it’s unlike anything he’s ever done. He’s wild. Screaming out my name between moans. Throwing his head back and flexing every muscle in his upper body. He gives me everything in a way I’ve never seen. It’s chaotic almost, the way he lets go, but it’s beautiful.

When his orgasm subsides, he drops my legs and pulls out of me. Arms wrap around me as he sits back and pulls me against his chest, burying his head between my breasts. I feel him tremble against me and thread my fingers through his hair.

“Thank you, love. Thank you for giving me that.”

Dropping my head, I press kisses into his hair. “See, that wasn’t so bad. I told you you’d like it,” I tease.

He lifts his eyes to me, stunning me with that sweet face. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.” I brush my nose against his. “Now what? Should we box up more of my stuff? I feel like we still have a lot to do.”

He cocks an eyebrow, looking around the room. “Anal sex and getting you ready to move in with me permanently? Fuck yes. That’s my kind of Thursday night.”

I throw my head back, falling into a laughing fit as his arms tighten around me, pinning our bodies together.

Close, but never close enough.

I’m getting married tomorrow.

I’m finally becoming Dylan Carroll.

Holy shit.

Okay. Focus, Dylan.

I’m chopping up the bars of semisweet chocolate I’ll need for my wedding cake frosting while Brooke watches the mixer with keen interest. She completely lost her shit this morning when I told her she would be in charge of making the caramel buttercream frosting for the other wedding cake. I’ve been right beside her, supervising everything, but this really is her baby and she’s studying it with a mix of pride and restlessness.

“Can you grab the peppermint extract off the shelf for me?” I ask, breaking into her trance. She gives her frosting one last glance before she grabs the bottle I’ve requested and places it next to my cutting board. “Thanks. How’s it looking?”

She begins to twirl a strand of her hair, a nervous habit I’ve picked up on today. “Umm, I don’t know. Like frosting? It might taste like ass, though.”

“Oooo, I love ass,” Joey rejoices as he carries in a gift bag. I blush instantly and he notices. “Hmm. Care to elaborate?”

“Nope,” I state firmly, shaking off my reaction to the word ass.
Really, Dylan?

He places the bag in front of Brooke and she surveys it peculiarly. “Here. This is my thank you for the shirt you got me. Which I look amazing in, by the way.”

I roll my eyes at his astounding modesty.

“Oh. You didn’t have to get me anything.” She stops the mixer, sliding the bag closer to her and peeking inside. I’ve placed my knife down, not wanting to miss the reaction to what I already know is in the bag. Her mouth drops open as she pulls out the apron Joey special-ordered for her. “You got me my own apron?” She holds it out, and I see the moment she notices her name on it. Her eyes well up with tears at the sentiment, just like any Wicks girl. “Thank you so much!” She flings her arms around Joey’s neck, clutching onto her apron.

Joey looks over at me and smiles as he returns the hug. “I was the last person who thought you should be working here, Brooke. But you’ve actually done really well. And you’re a natural back here with my cupcake.”

She spins around and slips her apron on, tying it around her neck. “Look, Dylan! It matches yours!”

“Apron sistas,” I sing, seeing Joey grimace behind Brooke.

“Goddamn it. I knew I should’ve ordered me one,” he mumbles as he turns around and disappears up front.

I stifle my laugh, dumping my chopped-up chocolate pieces into a mixing bowl. I brush my hands clean on my apron and walk over to examine Brooke’s frosting. Dipping a teaspoon into the bowl, I pop a small amount in my mouth.

“Well?” she asks fretfully. “Oh, God. Please, tell me we have time to make another batch of this?” She slaps a hand over her eyes. “I will never forgive myself if I’ve ruined some girl’s wedding cake.”

I grab her arm and pull her hand down. “It’s delicious, Brooke. Really. Try some.” I hold out a spoon and she takes it after studying it for several seconds, the obvious shock pouring out of her.

She dips it into the bowl and tests her creation. Her eyes flutter closed. “Mmm. Holy shitballs.” They pop back open, full of wonder. “I made that?”

I hold out my hand and she high-fives me. “Told you you could do it. Don’t doubt yourself back here.” I walk to the fridge, grabbing the heavy cream and catch her taking a picture of her frosting with her phone.

I love that: her excitement, her pride over what she’s created.

I’m so glad I hired Brooke Wicks.

After setting a large saucepan on the stovetop, I pour in the heavy cream and turn on the heat. Once I get it to a boil, I can add the peppermint extract and strain the mixture into the chocolate. Then it has to cool before I can frost my cake.

My wedding cake.

Both cakes are already assembled and ready to be iced. I’ve timed everything perfectly, allowing us to frost the other bride’s cake while my icing cools. The sugared orchids are already assembled for her cake. I tackled those bright and early this morning, knowing they would take me several hours. They turned out amazing, incredibly life-like, and I sent a picture to Reese so he could see what had me skipping my run today. His response was just as sweet as the flowers.

Reese:
You amaze me, love. You always have.

And then he sent me one more a few seconds later.

Reese:
One more day.

I turn the heat off for the cream and carry the saucepan over to the worktop. I slowly pour the mixture into my mixing bowl, whisking the contents as they melt together. As soon as the cream touches the chocolate, that familiar smell permeates my senses, filling me with the memory of this frosting. The only one I have besides the time I made it for Mrs. Frey’s anniversary cake. Reese hasn’t had this frosting since he ate it off my body on this very worktop, and when I was deciding on what to do for my own wedding cake, I knew I had to incorporate this flavor somehow. However, it’s not going to be hot pink this time. At least, not on the outside of the cake. I’ve tweaked the recipe to leave out the shaved peppermint sticks, opting for the flavor from the extract instead. And with a little help from some food coloring, I’ll have a beautiful white-mint chocolate wedding cake, as opposed to a pink one.

The shop door dings open as I set my empty saucepan back on the stovetop. Juls comes walking into the kitchen, carrying a small envelope with Ian right behind her. She’s dressed chicly as usual, while Ian is wearing the same attire I’m used to seeing Reese in.

“Is someone getting married tomorrow?” Juls asks, walking toward me. She stops when she sees Brooke’s apron. “Aww, I love that.”

“Joey got it for me,” Brooke states, smiling over at my thoughtful assistant as he walks into the back.

Juls darts over to him and wraps her arms around his waist. “You’re the sweetest, JoJo.”

“Christ, it’s just an apron. I didn’t propose or anything,” he counters.

“Babe, hurry up and show Dylan what we came here for. I need to get back to the office.” Ian walks over to the assembled cakes and studies them, leaning in closely. “These will get frosted, right?”

“Yes,” all four of us answer in unison, the obvious implication evident in our voices.

He straightens and stares at us like he hasn’t just asked a ridiculous question.

Who the hell wouldn’t ice a wedding cake?

“Okay, are you ready?” Juls asks, opening her envelope and waving over Joey and Brooke. We all three huddle around her as she pulls out the tiny black and white photo and holds it out for us to see. “Look at my little nugget.”

“Oh, my God!” I snatch the photo out of her hand and run my finger over the image. Tracing over the tiny splotch, because that’s exactly what it looks like, I can’t contain the magnitude of emotions beginning to course through me.

My best friend is having a baby.

When I glance back at her, it’s through teary eyes. “Juls! I love your little nugget!”

“Give me that.” Joey grabs the picture and studies it with Brooke. He gasps, looking from the picture to her stomach. “Can you feel anything yet?”

She shakes her head, wiping underneath her eyes. “No, not yet. But we heard the heartbeat today. That was amazing.” Ian comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. “Wasn’t it amazing, babe?”

He kisses her neck. “It was. I wish I could’ve recorded it.” He removes one hand from around Juls and takes the picture away from Joey. “Let me see my baby again.”

I watch as the proud father-to-be looks at the sonogram with his wife. He whispers something into her ear and she nods, tearing up again. It’s a private moment and I let them have it, turning around and busying myself.

At the sound of the shop door, Joey disappears up front, returning moments later and carrying the familiar white box. He sets it down on the worktop in front of me. “Not sure how he’s going to top a set of car keys,” he says jokingly, tugging at the white ribbon.

I open the box and pull out the card, not bothering to contain my excitement. I can’t. I’m marrying this amazing man tomorrow, my best friend just showed me a picture of her little nugget, and I have the two best employees a girl could ask for.

I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, but I’m finding it hard to imagine topping this moment.

I open the card as Joey sifts through the tissue paper, stopping to read over my shoulder.

Dylan,

You asked me to keep my eyes on you before when you danced to this song, and I’ve never taken them off. Dance for me now.

X, Reese

Joey pulls out Reese’s iPod and darts up front with it as I tuck the note into my apron pocket. He returns moments later with the docking station, plugging it in and setting everything on the worktop. “I love how he knows we dance on Fridays. Could he seriously be any more perfect?”

“No,” I answer, earning myself an annoyed look from him.

He cues the song up and seconds later, Beyoncé’s “Naughty Girl” fills the kitchen. Juls, Brooke, Joey, and I all begin dancing around the space and when I glance over at Ian, he’s holding his phone out with it focused on me.

“What are you doing?” I yell over the music, moving in between Juls and Brooke.

“What I’ve been instructed to do.” He smiles and motions for me to keep going.

Oh. Well then.

My man wants me to dance for him? Okay. I can do that.

I playfully spin around, bringing my eyes back to Ian’s phone every few seconds, pretending I’m looking right at Reese. Imagining him sitting behind his desk and watching me with that focused stare of his. I don’t dance sexy at all, because I’m still kind of dancing for Ian and that would be entirely too weird, so I keep it fun, letting Joey spin me around and dip me. Grabbing onto Brooke and waltzing her around the kitchen. It’s the best Friday dance party I’ve ever had with the most amazing people I’ve ever known.

After Ian and Juls leave, Brooke and I get started on icing the wedding cake for the other bride. That part itself is relatively easy, considering the bride didn’t request any intricate piping work or anything besides the sugared orchids. And those won’t be added until tomorrow morning. My cake, however, contains a ton of complex detailing that will take me the rest of the day to create. I wanted my cake to be very romantic, yet still traditional in a sense. Nothing modern or edgy. I was inspired by my dress when I came up with this design, wanting to mimic the lacework I instantly fell in love with. And sticking with the theme, which made my mother overly-ecstatic, I decided on a pale-gray lace pattern which will adorn my five-tiered cake, tying it into the bridesmaid dresses.