Thorn in My Side (Bunch-A-Blooms Book 1) Read online

  “How are you tonight, love?”

  “Good; tired. The wedding preparations are ramping up, and I’ve had a few other jewelry pieces I finished off, and sent out through the post earlier.”

  “You work so hard.”

  “I have to keep the income flowing. Besides, it’s impossible to say no when the person asking you is a chance to get your name out there.”

  “You think you lack exposure?”

  “I do.”

  “I assure you. After the wedding, you’ll get plenty of that.”

  “It’s going to be insane isn’t it?”

  “The media will be out and about that day.”

  The thought of flashing lights and video cameras in my face make me queasy. That’s not the type of fame I’d ever want to possess. A one on one interview, or article is fine. Constantly being hounded by the press trying to get a story is a completely different thing.

  “Are you ready to open your surprise?” he asks.

  “Yes. You know you don’t have to keep sending me things, right?”

  “I do, but it pleases me and makes you smile. So why not?”

  “I don’t want you to think it affects the way I feel about you. I’m not. I don’t need all of this.”

  Luka laughs. “Only you would protest my courting methods.”

  “I’m just checking in—”

  “And it’s one of the reasons I adore you. I can afford it, and you deserve to be worshiped like the goddess you are, so you need to get used to it.”

  His pretty words are starting to get to me. He delivers them so smoothly and sincerely.

  “I know I have to prove myself to you, Olive. I’m only asking that you give me that opportunity. Now, open your present. I think you’ll appreciate it.”

  There’s a boyish excitement to his words. I take the scissors and cut the string bow wrapped around the beige wrapping paper. I cut away and find a box of my favorite Davenport assorted truffles and an envelope. He really listens to me.

  I groan. “You’re going to make me fat.”

  “There’d simply be more of you to worship. Open the card.”

  I pull a card with the words, You Color my world and giggle. The Color is done in capital letters with bold colors, and the O is a globe full of colored confetti.

  “I thought it was appropriate. You’ve changed my world more than you know in the time I’ve known you.”

  I open the card. Roses are Red; Violets are blue. The candy is sweet, but not compared to you in his personal writing. I giggle. “Thank you. You’ve got a sensitive streak a mile long.”

  “Only for a select few.”

  I believe him. “Thank you, Luka. Can I send you something?”

  “If you’d like. You have my address.”

  “It’s not much, but. It made me think of you.” I’d enlisted the help of Asher to make him something from scratch.

  “I look forward to it.”

  “How was your day?” I ask setting the items on my nightstand as I settle in.

  “Long. Negotiations are a slow torturous process, but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

  “Do you think you’ll get to come home early?”

  “Missing me already?”

  “Fishing for compliments, Luka? So unlike you.”

  He chuckles. “Don’t worry. The feeling is mutual. I still have the work on the new product line, so I doubt I’ll be able to adjust my schedule. I wish I could if that counts for anything.”

  “It does. Tell me about England. I’ve never been, but it’s on my bucket list.”

  “Well it’s wet, and the blokes all talk funny.”

  “Luka!”

  “I’m kidding.” He launches into a description of his favorite places, and I’m transported to a different place. He has a voice made for books. A warm, rich, baritone that paints crisp pictures with is descriptive working. It’s like he’s reading a Dicken’s novel to me. I’m saddened when we have to say goodbye.

  “Goodnight, Luk.”

  “Aaah, there it is.”

  “What?” I ask.

  “The best gift you could give me. My nickname. Sweet dreams, Olive.”

  “Sweet dreams when you go, Luk.”

  I hang up the phone and sigh. Every day I’m a little more smitten. I’m in trouble.

  Luka

  I knock on the door and slip my hands in the back of my pockets. I’m unsure. It’s not a feeling I’m used to. I’m taking a leap of faith. When we finished early, I hopped on a redeye, caught a full eight hours of sleep, and now I’m standing at the door of the woman I can’t get out of my mind. She opens the door and gasps.

  “Luk.”

  She throws herself into my arms, and I catch her, lifting her up. She winds her legs around my hips, and I walk inside kicking the door shut behind me. I spin around, press her to the door and devour her lips. She buries her fingers in my hair, and I tilt my head, starved for more of her. I lock the door with one hand before I cup her rear and carry her to the couch. I sink onto the green beast and she giggles.

  “What?” I ask struggling to focus on more than her swollen lips.

  “I remember how much you hate this couch.”

  “It’s grown on me.” I cup her neck and bring her back to my lips. She grinds against me, and I growl as her heat teases me through my jeans. She stills and covers my hand with her own.

  “You’re wearing my ring.” I peer down at the rectangular turquoise ring she crafted by hand.

  “I am. Thank you for this.” She pulls my hand away and kisses it.

  “Olive Bateman, you’re making it hard for me to be a gentleman.” I grip her hips and squeeze.

  “So don’t, Luka Davenport.”

  “You sure about that, love? Once I’ve had you, I can guarantee you I won’t be keen to let you go.”

  “I don’t want you to be.”

  Her words seal her fate. The last of my resistance snaps like a rubber band stretched to the breaking point. I bite her lower lip and suck it into my mouth as I move her over the bulge straining against my jeans. Her tongue darts out to play with mine. We play a game of cat and mouse. Our tongues tangle, retreat, and slick together as I make love to her mouth, thoroughly. We part breathing raggedly, and I admire the mess I’ve made of her. Her lips are swollen, her eyes are glossy, and her hair falls around her face in disarray. The neat bun that once held her hair off her face was destroyed long ago. I slip my hand under the hem of her off the shoulder moss t-shirt and stroke the softly curved flesh of her belly.

  “You have far too much clothing on, darling.”

  “We should remedy that then.” She holds her arms up, and I yank the material over her head.

  I moan at the round mounds with hard, dime sized brown nipples. Of course, she isn’t wearing a bra. Cupping the handful, I push them together and alternate flicking and sucking them. She undulates on my lap, sending streaks of white hot pleasure through my body. I bite a stiff peak and she bucks against me.

  “Jesus.” I move quickly, laying her across the couch, I strip her bare. I admire the soft curves of her body and run my hand down the length of her frame to her slender ankles. A neatly trimmed triangle of dark hair covers the place I want to be most. I hop up and strip off my clothes like I’m on fire. I need to be skin to skin with this beautiful creature who’s completely ensnared me with her special brand of magic. She props up on her elbows and watches me.

  “Like what you see?”

  She nods. “I do, but I’ve always been more of a hands-on person.” She crooks her finger and beckons me.

  I kick off my shoes and shove my boxer briefs and jeans down my legs. I step out of the material and walk toward her. She rises onto her knees. Her hand grips my base and strokes, and I groan.

  “I like your tattoo.” She licks the small black crows flying from the tree of life I had done for my family. She teases my flesh with gentle nips and suction.

  I shiver. The rhythm she has is jus
t right as she twists her wrists and teases my cock to a hardness I didn’t know was possible.

  “I wonder if you taste this good everywhere.”

  My dick twitches at her words. “Don’t you, d—”

  My words are lost as she engulfs me in the wet heat of her mouth and hums. I grit my teeth as she sucks hard and bobs her head. I grip her hair and thrust deep. She chokes once and opens her throat, taking everything I’m giving her. Her gaze remains trained on me. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

  “Those eyes,” I rasp. I pull free, and she pouts. “Later,” I promise as I reach between her legs and cup her sopping pussy.

  “Is all this for me, love?”

  “Yes.”

  I push two fingers inside her, and she thrusts her hips up and spreads her girl.

  “Good girl. You want it as bad as I do, don’t you?”

  “So bad, Luk.”

  I pump faster, and she rocks with me. Her slick walls clutch my fingers, and I can only imagine how good she’ll feel around my prick. Her body jerks and I smile. I’ve hit her spot. I continue to hit the smooth round spot.

  “Luk, Yes. I’m so close.”

  I bend my head down and suck her swollen clit into my mouth. She screams and convulses as she comes. I eat up her cream, content as a cat as her taste coats my tongue. I swipe her twice more before I move to my jeans and pull out a condom from my wallet. I rip the packet, remove the condom and roll it down my length before I return to her.

  “Are you ready for me, love?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  I climb between her legs and connect our mouths as I drive home. My eyes roll into the back of my head, and I pause to keep from blowing.

  “You feel so good around me, love.”

  She flexes, and we both moan. I place my hands on either side of her as our bodies move together. She pulls her legs back, and I sink deeper with a grunt. I thrust harder and faster, bottoming out as I mark her as mine. No one is ever going to touch Olive Bateman again. My body is a live wire as the connection between us all but hums. Her body trembles and her walls pulse around me.

  “Come for me, love. Squeeze me with that magnificent pussy.”

  She trembles and I grit my teeth as my spine tightens and my balls draw up. Her walls constrict around me as she shatters, and I let go, flooding the condom as she milks me dry. I rest my forehead against her and kiss her softly. One taste will never be enough.

  She gives a quiet chuckle.

  “What?”

  “Still hate the big green monster?”

  “This couch is officially one of my favorite places on Earth now.” I peck her lips, ease out. “Are you on birth control, love?”

  “Yes, Morena.”

  “Good, Then we can exchange test results and move forward without the condoms. I want to feel every inch of you.” I nip her lip and move to dispose of the condom. Whether she realizes it or not; she’s mine now.

  “Was that the last of them?” I ask as she finishes the last petal on the metal rose napkin holder.

  “Thank God, yes it was.”

  The wedding is weeks away and consuming almost any spare time we can scrounge up.

  “Good.” I cup the back of her head and pull her mouth to mine. She opens her mouth, yielding to me as I explore her with my tongue. She tastes like the mint Julip I made and temptation. We’re supposed to be meeting her friends, but I don’t know if we’ll make it when she’s wearing my white-t-shirt and a pair of cut-offs.

  “Oh no, don’t you give me those sex eyes.”

  “Sex eyes?”

  “Ah-ah and don’t thicken that accent of yours either.”

  “Maybe it's in your head, sweetheart.” I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss my way down her neck. “I’m just happy to have my girlfriend back for the day. She’s been working far too hard recently.”

  “Girlfriend?”

  We hadn’t talked about labels, but it's past time we did. I run my thumb over the apples of her cheeks. “Yes, love. I think it’s time, don’t you?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Never been more certain in my life.”

  She smiles and nods. “Alright, Boyfriend. I need to get dressed, so we can meet the others for the Barbecue at Petunia’s.”

  “Later.”

  “No, we need to leave.”

  I capture her lips. “Later. After we celebrate,” I say against her lips. I part them with my tongue and toy with the fringe of her shorts. She leans back against me and wraps an arm around my neck. I suck her tongue into my mouth and slip my hands into her shorts. She moans as I toy with her wet pussy. I gather her moisture and circle her clit. She closes her thighs and circles her hips as I continue to sip from her lips. Her legs twitch, and I continue to rub.

  “I’m going to make you come just like this. I want your pussy aching for me.”

  “It always is,” she whispers.

  “You always say the sweetest things.” I roll her swollen bud between two fingers, and she arches her back and cries out.

  “That’s it, love, let go for me.”

  Her breath hitches and I know she’s close. I circle faster and close my eyes as the sounds of her pleasure wash through me. She trembles and I wrap my other hand around her throat. I stroke the side of her neck with my thumb as she fragments. I remove my hand and suck my fingers, greedy for her taste as she slumps against me and catches her breath.

  “Still worried about being late?”

  “What barbecue?” she mumbles.

  I grin as I lift her into my arms and carry her into her bedroom. We spend most of our time together here. It’s closer to her work, and I crave the warmth of the atmosphere. With the others gone the space is too full of silence.

  We enter the lilac paradise of her room. From the paint on her walls to the throw rugs over the wooden floor and the comforter. I toss her onto the center of the bed and follow her to the center of the bed. She giggles as I roll her onto her back and take her mouth. She toys with my hair and I bite my way down her neck. I could spend days between her legs, but I know we’re short on time. We strip down between kisses and caresses, and I get her on all fours. I drive home and thrust, pulling her to me.

  “Luk.” She rises onto her knees and clutches me around the neck, returning everything I’m giving her as she thrusts back matching me stroke for stroke. I feel the pressure built up inside me, and I reach down to coax her complexion with my fingers. Her body trembles and her back bows as she screams. I sink my teeth into the flesh between her shoulder and her neck as she pulses around me, sending me over the edge. I fill her to the brim and lick at the abused flesh to soothe the sting from my teeth. I collapse beside her, still joined.

  We separate reluctantly, and I roll onto my back.

  “We should get into the shower,” she says sleepily.

  “Maybe after a quick nap?”

  “But the barbecue—”

  “Can wait, love. They know you have a wedding coming up. I’m sure being fashionably late won’t ruin anyone’s plans.”

  She smiles at me sleepily. “You’re right.”

  “Love it when you say that.”

  She swats my chest playfully, and I pull her to me, rubbing her back until I hear the tell-tale steady breathing. She’s a stubborn thing, my woman. I rest my head on hers and admit that I’m in over my head. I’ve never felt this way about a woman and for once I don’t know the next step or how to manipulate things to come out in my favor. She snuggles, burying her face into my neck and I find, with this woman not knowing is part of the adventure.

  Olive

  I can’t believe it’s over. I smile as I watch Rachel and Joseph slow dance. We made it. The vows have been said, the tables are set, and I’m officially just another wedding guest. The wedding went off without a hitch. From the life-sized book to the flower-covered moss purses carried by the bridesmaids, it was a nuptial no one would forget. Even now the tent is a vision. Pink tulle lines the roof of the
tent, becoming a stunning background for the large branches Petunia wove pink and white peony and tea roses in. Floating candles hang down adding light, and wow factor. It gives all the photographers plenty to work with. I’m amazed by the constant camera flashes, and interviews that went on throughout the day.

  Suddenly, Luk’s behavior didn’t seem over the top.

  “We made it,” Luk says, walking up behind me.

  “I don’t know about you, but I want to sleep for a week.”

  He laughs. “Trust me, I’m with you there, love.”

  I turn toward him. “I’m sorry. Here I am whining when you’ve been flying all over the country and doing non-stop interviews.” Their new caramel crunch chocolate line had been embraced by fans, me included. I try not to think too hard on the five pounds I’ve gained since I started dating Luk.

  He wraps an arm around my waist. “May I have this dance?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” I say in a mock southern drawl.

  He escorts me onto the floor, and we began to sway to the music. The contentment in his sapphire eyes makes my heart skip a beat. It’s like I’m looking at a different person. He smiles.

  “What?”

  “Just thinking about how far we’ve come.”

  “It’s been a busy few months,” he agrees.

  We fit in each other’s worlds in a way I hadn’t imagined. He has the Petunia approval. She thinks his pension for making me late is amusing. Heat rises in my cheeks as I think back to the barbecue we’d been nearly two hours late for. He’s light on his feet. A dancer who knows how to lead. It doesn’t surprise me. I’m tempted to ask him if he and all his brothers attended some sort of charm school growing up. They have such old-world qualities ingrained in them. He spins me, and I laugh.

  “You always have to show off, don’t you?”

  “Just trying to impress my lady.”

  “Mission accomplished three months ago.”

  “I can’t rest on my laurels. You might get bored.”

  “You are many things, Luka Davenport, but boring could never be one of them.”

  The song switches to something up-tempo, and he spins me away from him making me laugh. I let go and enjoy his company as we dance, and mingle for the rest of the night. He’d outlawed work after I helped the wedding planner set up the tables. Funny how things have changed. The work-a-holic is getting me to loosen up. It’s amazing how quickly someone can come to be an integral part of your life. We move from the dancefloor to the bar and mingle as we work on our drinks.