Authors: Paige Cameron
Tags: #Romance
She’d been surprised about his covert job, but accepting at this point. When he went on his next assignment with her knowing the dangers, he suspected she’d not be particularly happy.
Her loving had cleared his head of his melancholy mood. She’d made him feel invigorated. Bliss opened her eyes and smiled.
“Sorry I went to sleep on you, literally.”
“No problem. I thought we might take a shower and play some more if you aren’t too tired.” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Me tired? You’re three years older than me, you and Lann. I have lots of energy.”
Bern flipped her over his shoulder and walked to the bathroom. “I’m going to make you regret calling me an old man.”
“I didn’t say old man.”
“You insinuated, which is as good as saying it.”
He placed her in the shower and turned on the water. He laughed when she jumped out of the way of the cold water hitting her. “It’ll get warm in a minute. I thought you needed to be fully awake to keep up with this old man. I’ll be right back.”
He hurried into the bedroom and got a condom out of his pocket. When he returned to the bathroom, he put the packet on the ledge of the shower. The water had warmed, so Bern got in beside her.
She had lathered the soap and took her time surveying his body. She washed his face, his neck, and rubbed her soapy hands across his nipples. His cock hardened at her soft touch.
She scooted down and washed his flat abs, then she kissed his stomach. When she got to his aroused cock, he turned the shower so the water didn’t splash in her face. Bliss glanced at him.
“Do you want me to give special attention to this area?”
“If you’d like to.”
With her sudsy hands, she stroked his cock, and then she caressed his sac. “Give me some water.” She backed off while he rinsed off. She knelt again and took his cock in her warm mouth. He inhaled deeply.
His fingers massaged her scalp through her damp hair while she moved up and down the length of his cock. Her tongue licked the sides and across the crown. He tried to hold back, but her delicate treatment had his brain ready to explode with pleasure.
Bern put his hands under her armpits and pulled her up beside him. She looked puzzled.
“Why didn’t you let me finish?”
“Because I wanted this more.” He sheathed his dick, pushed her against the shower wall, and brought her legs up. She wrapped them around him. His cock nudged at her pussy opening, and then he slowly pushed inside, enjoying the clasp of her tight walls enveloping him completely.
“You feel very good in me.” Bliss kissed him.
Bern pulled out, and then went back in deeper. He moved fast and hard. Euphoria rushed in his veins and desire sizzled straight from his cock to every nerve in his body.
Her hot pussy rippled around him and the scent of her sweet arousal filled his head. He pushed hard once more and held her tight. She trembled and bit his shoulder as she went over the cliff with him.
When he let her legs down, he bent his head to hers. “I may have to admit to being a bit older. If I can make it to your bed, I’ve got to sleep a few minutes before continuing.”
“I don’t mind taking a nap. Mind you, being younger, I don’t really need it.”
Bern laughed. He got out, dried her and himself, then carried Bliss to bed. “I haven’t laughed so much in a long time,” he said as sleep overtook him.
* * * *
Bliss lay and listened to his heartbeat. He and Lann were as different as night and day, and she loved them both. She raised on her elbow and looked at his face. He had demons and Lann didn’t. But he hadn’t let them conquer him.
All of her plans were going awry. They wanted marriage. She’d wanted nothing but her shop, or so she thought. But if necessary, would she give up the shop for the men, or vice versa? Was it possible to have both and be happy?
When Bliss woke, sun shone between the drapes and a warm, masculine arm was wrapped around her waist. She didn’t move, but enjoyed the warmth of Bern’s closeness. The clock on her bedside table read nine. She hadn’t slept this late in years, but they’d made love once more in the early-morning hours. She decided to try and get up without waking him. As soon as she moved, his arm tightened and his cock was getting hard. Bliss turned to face him.
“You woke me up with all your thinking.”
“I did not.”
He grinned. “No, it was your butt wiggling that did the trick. Good morning, sweet thing.”
“And good morning to you, too. It’s after nine. We have to meet Lann at ten.”
“He can wait.” Bern grabbed the condom on the bedside table and rolled it onto his dick.
She trembled when his cock slid into her pussy. Wonderful sensations of heat and pleasure spread through her body with each stroke of his large, hard cock.
“I want to wake up forever with you snuggled close to me.”
Bliss licked her lips and Bern’s eyes smoldered with lust. “You are a persuasive man. I bet you’ve told other women the same.”
“No, I never said ‘forever’ to anyone else.”
His warm body surrounded her, and his slate eyes stared deep into hers. His cock moved in and out of her pussy in a slow, seductive rhythm.
“We have to get up.” She wasn’t ready to admit how touched she was by him and Lann. They were tantalizingly different, and both were good men.
“You’re running scared. Don’t worry. We won’t let you down.” Then he stopped talking and moved fast and hard until she reached the top of a wave of joy and slid softly down the other side. His orgasm hit almost immediately after hers.
He kissed her and moved to take his weight off of her. She rolled to her side and placed her hand on his chest. She liked feeling his pounding heart and knowing she could excite this wonderful, handsome man.
“Get up. We’ll be late.” Bern playfully swatted her butt.
“Now you’re in a hurry.” She huffed, pretending to be annoyed.
* * * *
Bern smiled and watched her naked body disappear behind the bathroom door. He stretched. His body felt rejuvenated and the dark clouds worrying him earlier last night had long disappeared.
He hadn’t slept as well in weeks. Bliss excited him sexually and soothed his inner soul. Whatever it took, he and Lann had to convince her to marry them. He sat on the side of the bed for a few minutes. When he stood, he walked around the room as he usually did to smooth the kinks out of his body. But this morning there were few and his leg didn’t hurt at all.
When Bliss came out of the bathroom, he stood at the window looking out. “Watching the traffic go by?”
“Waiting patiently for my lady. You look especially lovely this morning.” He walked to her and kissed her sweet mouth. “I won’t be long. We’ll stroll to the café.” He ran his hand over her soft skin one more time before going in the bathroom and turning on the shower.
Cool water rushing over his head had him completely awake, and then he remembered his one concern. How would Bliss react to Lann’s generous offer. He worried she might blow up at Lann and consequently at him. He shrugged his shoulders. He’d learned a long time ago there were things you could control, and some you had to leave to fickle fate.
* * * *
Lann had gotten a table for them. He waved and Bliss led the way across the room. Lann stood and pulled a chair out for her.
“You two look remarkably relaxed and happy,” Lann commented.
“We are.” Bern took the seat beside Bliss.
Bliss smiled, but didn’t comment except to say, “I’m hungry.”
“Here comes our waitress. She brought me coffee while I waited for you two. I haven’t ordered yet.”
“We took our time,” Bern said.
Lann looked at his watch. “You must have been a good influence on him to make him late. It’s ten fifteen and the man is usually as reliable as an alarm clock.”
Her face heated as she recalled the last long, sexy kiss Bern had given her before they went out the door. “You love to make me blush.” She kicked Lann in the shin.
“Ouch, I didn’t deserve to be kicked.”
Bern laughed. “Yes, you did.”
“You can’t take sides with her. We have to stand together or she’ll take over.” Lann winked at Bliss.
“After last night, I don’t care if she does.”
“Wow, I am getting jealous.” But the twinkle in his eye told Bliss he didn’t mean it.
She sat back and enjoyed their camaraderie. The two men were obviously good friends, and they liked to tease each other. The waitress came to the table and took their order. She returned quickly with their coffee.
“Hmmm, this is good.” Bliss couldn’t remember when she felt so happy and relaxed.
Lann and Bern looked at her and smiled. “See, we’re good for you,” Lann said.
“Don’t get too smug.” His words made her realize how fast things were changing in her world. She needed to slow down and think clearly. She suspected too many women jumped into relationships fast and regretted them later. Her mother’s life had been indelibly printed on her memory tapes. At the end, her slumped body, sad face, and regrets as her illness took her life had stayed with Bliss.
“You look sad. I’m sorry if my teasing upset you.”
“It wasn’t you. It was a haunting memory.”
“Do you want to tell us about it?” Lann asked.
“Maybe another time. It’s a beautiful day. I don’t want to spoil it with sad stories.”
“Here’s your food. That will cheer you up.” Lann took the plate from the waitress and set it before Bliss. “Eat up, and then we have an appointment.”
“We?”
“You and I, but”—Lann shrugged his shoulders and looked across at Bern—“you can come with us if you’d like.”
“I think I will.”
“What appointment do we have?” Bliss asked.
“You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
“Then let’s hurry and eat. You’ve roused my curiosity.”
Bliss ate quickly. The food was hot and filling. Lann paid the bill as she took her last sip of coffee.
“Ready?” Lann asked.
“Yes. Where are we going?” Bliss stood when Bern pulled back her chair.
“Not far from here. We’ll walk. It’s a bright, cool morning. I like the white sweater with your sexy jeans.”
“They aren’t sexy.”
Bern chuckled. “Lann’s right. Those sparkly things on the pockets make a man want to walk behind you. So if I slow down and follow the two of you, you’ll know I’m admiring your sweet ass.”
“Why, Bernardo Aznar, I thought you were always a gentleman.”
“Gentlemen aren’t saints, sweetheart. And you’d make a saint want to sin.”
Laughing, they left the restaurant and turned north. Bliss strolled by shops and businesses walking between Bern and Lann. Every once in a while Bern would drop back for a few steps and send them into gales of laughter. Happiness threatened to spill out of her.
When Lann stopped at the front door to Sunn’s office, Bliss looked at him. “We’re going to see Sunn?”
“Yes. She’s part of the surprise.”
Thoroughly confused, Bliss walked in behind Lann, and Bern followed her. Sunn came out of her office.
“You’re right on time. Come on in.” She glanced at her receptionist. “I’m not to be disturbed until we’re finished.”
Bliss had been to Sunn’s office a number of times. It was not big, but tastefully done in grays and blues, the colors reminded her of Bern’s eyes. Sunlight from two windows lit the room well. Bliss stopped in the doorway when she saw Alan. He sat in one of the visitor chairs looking angry and unhappy.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Please come in and have a seat.” Sunn urged Bliss to move forward.
“What have you been up to, Sunn?” Bliss frowned at her best friend.
“I hope I’m helping you. One of you have a seat. I’ll get another chair,” Sunn said to Lann and Bern.
“I’ll get it.” Bern got a chair from the lobby and returned.
“Good, we’re all seated. Bliss, Lann has made a generous offer for you and your brother’s ranch. Alan has agreed to the terms.”
“Under duress,” Alan snapped.
“What do you mean?” Bliss turned to her brother.
“He”—Alan pointed at Lann—“insisted on you receiving your share now. I told him I needed the whole amount to leave this town and make a fresh start. This is not how the will was written.”
She glanced from Alan to Lann, who was frowning at her brother. “How did Lann convince you to agree to his terms?”
Tension sizzled in the air. Alan sneered at Lann. “He said he’d pay off the loans and give me the same offer as before if you got your part, otherwise he’d wait and get the land in foreclosure.”
“You and Sunn arranged all this?” she asked Lann.
“We did.” Lann reached for her hand, but she moved it away. “Why didn’t I know what was going on?”
“I wanted to surprise you, if I could get your brother to be fair.”