The Best Man (Chesapeake Shores Book 2) Read online

  We find a few great fitting pairs of jeans at the first store, then head to the surf shop for tees and a zip up hoodie. I’ll be honest, Ev is straight up sex in a custom-tailored suit. But casual, scruff-bearded, weekend Ev in jeans that mold to his ass and a sweatshirt so soft I want to curl up in it? Do I want that? Yes, please.

  An hour later, he’s found shoes and is currently devoting a bizarre amount of time to sock selection.

  “I’m gonna head down to Drip before they close. They’re just down the block on the corner. Be back in twenty or so. And promise me I won’t return to see you debating over the same two pairs of socks.”

  He holds out his pinky. “Promise. I’ll probably be over in women’s lingerie.”

  I bark out a laugh at his deadpan statement.

  “Seriously.” He eyes me for a minute, as though he’s calculating. “36DD?”

  “Jesus. Are you a bra-size savant?”

  He laughs. “Not hardly. I looked at your tag the other night. The lingerie you wear is gorgeous, but I might need to see you in something a little naughtier.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yep, but no peeking. Now, run along, Gorgeous. Coffee shop closes in thirty.”

  He smacks my ass, and I get all kinds of ideas. I may have to make a slight detour on the way to Drip.

  “Get that fine ass in the house,” I say, as she pulls into her drive. My patience is a thin thread right now, my cock imprinting against the zipper of my pants.

  We step out of the car, and I make a move to go inside, but Molly is stalling.

  I swat at said ass, as she leisurely bends down in front of me, seemingly preoccupied with some stone in the driveway, or maybe a few stray leaves. I don’t know what the hell she’s looking at, but I know what my view is, and it’s testing the pitiful amount of self-control I have left.

  “Or what?” she teases. “What are you going to do if I decide now is the perfect time to look for four-leaf clovers in the yard? Or maybe I should take a minute to check the bird feeders and make sure they’re full?”

  This woman. She teases me and makes me crazy. And I love every fucking second of it. Sex has never been playful for me, not even when there were games involved. It was a means to an end, an exercise in mutual pleasure. It was gratifying, sure, but never playful.

  But with Molly? It’s a different experience all together. It’s about her pleasure, and the pleasure I get from making her feel good.

  “In that case, I’ll need to spank those gorgeous cheeks, just to show you what disobedience will get you.” She giggles in response, knowing she’s getting exactly what she wanted.

  “But you should know by now, I’m not a patient man, Molls.” I nearly growl those last few words, and Molly gasps as I press my erection against her backside. Widening her stance in an effort to stay upright, she grips her ankles and presses back against me, a delicious friction building between us, despite the layers of clothing that separate us.

  Holy Jesus. We’re in a Goddamn front yard in a residential neighborhood. There’s a birdbath ten feet away, and on the ground in front of us is a ceramic cat figurine holding a garden gnome in its mouth. Sure, we’re partially blocked by my car, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that life is continuing as normal all around us, despite the fact that we’re on the verge of turning Stella’s driveway into a sex club. A few houses down, I can hear the hum of a lawn mower; meanwhile, I’m seconds away from lifting Molly’s skirt, shoving her thong to the side, exposing her sweet, wet pussy, and driving inside her.

  This is fucking crazy. And I just want more of it.

  “Is that what you want, Gorgeous? Is that what gets you wet? You never told me you were into public sex.”

  She moans aloud at my questions, and I thank God for the noise of the lawnmower. Rising slightly but never losing contact, she pivots a little to the left and grips the edge of the car door, just above the window well. I’ve never been more grateful for owning a convertible in my life. Sweet Jesus. Leaning her upper body just inside the car, she pushes back impatiently.

  “God, Ev. Don’t make me wait.”

  I can deny her absolutely nothing. Not even driveway sex in broad daylight.

  I unzip my trousers, lower my boxer briefs, and free my straining cock. I tell myself that to any passersby, we just look like two people who are intently searching for something we dropped in the car. A coin, maybe. But, in reality, I don’t give a shit. If this is what Molly wants, what Molly needs, I’ll give it to her and wave at the Goddamn lawn guy as I take her from behind.

  Just like I envisioned, I lift her skirt enough to allow myself access, and she shivers slightly as the cool air touches her hot flesh. Tracing my finger along the seam of her thong, I ask, “You sure, Molls? This is what you want? You want me to fuck you right here? You can’t wait to get inside, get on a bed?”

  She releases a breathy sigh, as she pushes back against me once more. “Ev,” she pants. “You know what I need. Just fucking give it to me.”

  Her words turn me on. Her trust ignites a fire in me. I do know what she needs. And I will always give it to her.

  Gripping my cock, I slide my hand upward to rub the tip with the pre-cum that glistens there. Holy shit, I’m about to lose my mind. I bring my hand to the base again, squeezing just enough to buy me a few more minutes of ecstasy with Molly. Pushing her thong to the side, and thankful for the voluminous skirt that hides much of what we’re doing, I tease her opening with my cock and push inside.

  My hands wrap around her hips and rock us in a steady rhythm that has Molly moaning and cursing and gasping. We rock like that, in and out, back and forth, pleasure and pressure building between us.

  “Do you feel what you do to me, Gorgeous? Can you feel how crazy you make me?” My fingers dig into the soft flesh of her hips and sink myself impossibly deeper inside her, hitting the spot that makes her lose control. Her body convulses around me, and I let my own release take hold. Leaning over to cover her, I hold Molly tightly, as we both ride out our orgasms.

  Sooner that I’d like, reality takes hold, the breeze picks up, and we separate. Molly takes a moment to right her skirt, then reaches farther into the car and grabs a small bag. Turning to face me, she smiles. “Pull into the garage, that’ll be faster than putting the top up. And we have the house to ourselves all night. Meet me inside. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  I don’t hesitate for a minute. A few months ago, I definitely would have. But Molly scrambles my brain with need in the very best way. It’s never been like this with anyone else. But it’s so amazing with Molly, that I can’t see myself ever wanting anyone else.

  I’m nervous, even though I know that’s ridiculous. My purchases today weren’t entirely impulsive. I’ve been thinking about them for awhile. And maybe I’ve always been a bit curious, and it just took Ev to bring out that side of me?

  I planned to show him what I bought when we got back to my place today, but we couldn’t even make it inside the house. I’ve never been so overcome with desire for anyone but Ev. He makes me lose my mind and my inhibitions.

  Either way, right now, I’m lying naked in my bed, save for a few scraps of lace, and my hands are bound together with silk ties. The idea of being bound like this has intrigued me for weeks, ever since Ev and I crossed the line in the basement bathroom of Mahady’s. I’m too much of a novice to tie myself to the headboard without doing actual damage, so I’ll leave that part to Ev. I have no doubt he’ll be up for the task.

  I hear the creak of the front door, and a few seconds later, I hear the lock latch into place. “Molls?”

  “Back here,” I call. The rustle of shopping bags and the clip of footsteps grows closer, and my heart beats faster. My nervousness is gone, anticipation in its place.

  Stepping into my bedroom, Ev puts down my two shopping bags and reaches up to loosen his collar.

  “Thanks for bringing those in,” I say, drawing his attention to the bed. And to me.

&n
bsp; “Fuck. Me.”

  “I was kind of hoping you’d fuck me.”

  “Christ, Molly. I’m like a goddamn teenager around you.” He stalks toward the bed, unbuttoning his shirt as he gets closer. His chest is muscular, but not overly so. A dusting of hair covers his chest and trails down below his belt. My hands itch to touch him, but, of course, that’s impossible.

  As if sensing my need, he finally notices my arms stretched out above my head and bound at the wrists.

  “Fucking hell.” He traces my haphazardly-tied wrists with one hand and cups his dick with the other. Taking a moment to undo his belt, he asks, “How?”

  “As best I could, without help.” I smile. “When we were at Mahady’s a few weeks ago, do you remember how you tied—”

  “I remember every second of it.” His heated gaze wanders over my body, as he steps out of his pants and boxer briefs and sits next to me on the bed. “You want more of that?”

  “I do. So, when we were downtown today, I bought these bindings. Not sure if you know this, but it’s actually pretty hard to tie yourself up. I had to use my teeth. And even then,” I wiggle my wrists, “they’re a little loose.”

  He trails kisses up my arm. “Easy fix.” Deftly, he unties my clumsy knot and reworks it. Pulling on it, he looks directly at me, “Good?”

  Even that gentle tug, that taste of restraint, has my body humming with desire. “Yes. Perfect.”

  “Is this enough for now?” he asks, fingering the tails of the fabric. “Or do you—”

  I nod, before he even finishes the question. “Tie me to the headboard.”

  “Damn it, Molly. You’re killing me.” He stretches out and expertly loops the ties through the rail.

  “I’m not going to ask how you got so good at this.”

  He takes a moment to test those knots as well. Satisfied, he covers my body with his own and laves attention on my breasts. I cry out, no longer caring where or how or with whom he got his practice.

  “Jealousy works on you, Molls.”

  “I am not jealous,” I defend weakly. “Now, get back to what you were doing. Less talking, more licking.”

  “Yes, ma’am. But before I get back to the task at hand,” he palms my breast to punctuate his words, “I just want to be sure that you don’t need to know that I’ve never done this with another woman? Just want to make sure you don’t care that you are the first, the only, woman I’ve ever tied up. In my mind and in real life. I’m a sailor, Molls. That’s why I’m good with knots. But, fuck, honey, you make me want to learn so much more.” As promised, he turns his attention back to my body, working me to a frenzy with just his tongue on my breasts.

  I’m writhing beneath him, my body dripping with desire. I spread my legs wide, a signal to him that I’m ready for more, but he ignores me. He’s infuriating, but so damn sexy, too. It’s like he has this plan for my pleasure, and he won’t deviate from it, because he knows what I need more than I do.

  “You want something, Gorgeous?” he teases.

  I’m barely capable of coherent speech; he has me so worked up. “Yes,” I manage to pant.

  “What’s that?”

  “Uhhnnhhh...” It’s all I’ve got. I can’t concentrate when he does that swirly thing with his tongue. And I think my senses are heightened because my hands are bound.

  “Hmmm.” He nods his head. “Good idea.” And with no more warning than that, he spreads my thighs far and high. Leaving my breast with a pop of his lips, he puts his face between my legs and kisses me there. His fingers join his tongue, and before I know it, I’m screaming his name at the top of my lungs.

  Leaving me no time for recovery, he strokes his dick with his sticky, messy, sexy fingers, and slides inside me with ease, despite his considerable size.

  One orgasm rolls into the next, as I lie back and let the pleasure of Ev’s attention devour me. He pumps in and out, saying sweet words with each thrust. Just when I think I can’t take anymore, he rubs my clit with his palm, and sends me over the edge again, quickly following with his own release.

  “Christ Almighty,” he mumbles, several minutes later. “You trying to kill me, Molly?”

  I smile. “Hell no. If I killed you, who would satisfy me?”

  “Fair point.” He stretches out and unties me gently, raining kisses over my slightly sore wrists. “Do you have any lotion handy?”

  “Yea, in the basket by the sink.”

  Gloriously naked, Ev disappears into the bathroom for a few minutes and emerges with a warm, damp cloth and my favorite citrus lotion. After tending to me with care, he looks at me with a serious face.

  “I’m gonna ask you something, Molls. And I want you to say yes.”

  Immediately, I’m on high alert. What the hell? This doesn’t sound good. There’s no way he’d be asking me that question, right? Not when he knows how I feel. Still, I play it off, play it cool. “You can ask, but it doesn’t mean I’ll say yes.”

  “There’s my sassy girl. Alright, here goes: Come to Dallas with me.”

  “What?”

  “I need to go to Dallas in a couple weeks. I’ll be there for four days. The last trip was torture without you, though phone sex was a definite plus. Come on, say yes. We’ll have fun. I only have two meetings scheduled and one dinner. Be my plus one.”

  Everything in me is screaming to put the brakes on this. For some reason, traveling together seems like crossing a line. But light BDSM isn’t? Jesus. My head’s a mess. He can see the indecision on my face and takes advantage of it.

  “Nothing permanent about it, Molls. Just two adults indulging in hotel sex, hot tub sex, all-the-sex. But not airplane sex. I barely fit in those bathrooms by myself.”

  I smile. “Dallas, huh? I’ve never been.”

  “Yep. It’s a great city. Or so I’ve heard. I’ve only ever been there for business, so I can say with confidence that the hotel conference rooms are lovely.”

  I don’t know if it’s sex overload or his charming smile, but for some reason, I say yes. I mean, it’s not a major commitment, right? It’s just a weekend away. It doesn’t mean anything. At least, that’s what I tell myself.

  I’m not usually one for sleeping late, but I’m also not too proud to admit that Molly wore me out last night. A glance at my phone tells me it’s quarter to ten, so I roll out of bed and head to the bathroom, unsurprised that Molly is already awake, and probably curled up with a hot cup of tea.

  A few minutes later, still clad only in my boxers and two days’ worth of scruff on my face, I wander into the kitchen, but only Clover, the odd-looking hairless cat is there. She stares at me in that creepy way that cats do, so, naturally, I glare back.

  The teapot on the counter is mostly full and still pretty hot, so I pour myself half a cup. Coffee is my preference, but I need the caffeine, and I can’t be picky.

  Stepping into the dining room, I see Molly seated at the head of the table, concentrating on her phone. And, yes, I take a moment just to stare. Half of her blond hair is piled up on top of her head in a bun-knot thing, the rest hangs neatly to her shoulders. Her glasses are perched on the end of her nose, and she’s got a pen sticking out of her mouth. The tank top she’s wearing is doing a blessedly terrible job of keeping the ladies locked and loaded, and her yoga pants cling to every curve.

  Fuck.

  I haven’t been awake five minutes, and I could take her right here in the dining room. Just as I’m debating that genius idea, my stomach makes an unholy growl, startling Molly into laughter.

  “I guess I need to feed you, huh?”

  “To be fair, you made sure I worked up quite an appetite last night.”

  “True. I have granola bars, but I’m guessing that won’t cut it.”

  “No, but it will tide me over while I throw on clothes and walk to the car. You up for brunch?

  “I wish. I’ve got a million things to do today, so I don’t have time.”

  “Anything I can help with?”

  “Sadly, n
o. Unless you want to mow my Uncle Ed’s grass?”

  “If that’s what you need, sure. And does Uncle Ed, by chance, have a riding mower?” I smile and sit down next to her.

  “Nope. But I was just joking.”

  “Don’t you have a brother in high school? And isn’t that what high school kids do, mow the lawn?”

  “Yea, but Winn is my stepbrother on my dad’s side. And Uncle Ed is my mom’s uncle. And yes, that’s what kids usually do, but I’m guessing you and Elaine didn’t? What, did you have a gardener?”

  I take a sip of my now-cold tea. “We did. My parents still do, but I have used a lawn mower before, at least a few times.” She looks at me as though I come from another planet.

  “Don’t give me that look. As you know, I’m on the road half the year, so I used to use a lawn service. Now, the condo complex where I live takes care of lawn maintenance. But, seriously, I can figure it out.”

  “No need. I’ll get to it later today.” Her phone buzzes, and she takes a quick glance. “Damn it, I need to run and pick Lily up at Communion class and run her over to soccer. On the way back, I’ll grab bagels. What do you like?

  “I can come with you—”

  “You’re half naked, and I’m already late. Besides, I’m meeting my dad there, and I am not answering the barrage of questions that will surely come if you and I pull up to the soccer field in your Porsche.

  “Fair enough. And I’d love a salt bagel toasted with veggie cream cheese.”

  “Done.” She grabs a hoodie from the hook by the door and slides her feet into her sneakers. “Be back in 45.”

  I stride over to the door and kiss her on the lips. She wasn’t expecting that, but I find that I like keeping Molly on her toes. “I’ll shower and see you back here in a bit.”

  “That’s probably a good idea. Stella shouldn’t be home before noon, but you never know.”

  I figure that leaves me time for that granola bar Molly mentioned, so I grab one from the pantry and resume my seat at the table. Two bites in, I hear Molly’s phone buzz with a text. And if it’s buzzing, that means she left it here. She’s probably panicking, but there’s not much I can do. I certainly can’t text her.