Highland Fling (8 page)

Chapter Eight

“Are you and Aleck avoiding each other?”

Delonna jumped, spilling half the head on the IPA she was pulling.

“Am I what? Sorry?” She added more beer to the pint and then pushed the handle back up, casting a glance at her friend.

“You heard me.” Kenzie’s gaze narrowed as she tucked the serving tray beneath her arm. “You guys have said like two words to each other, and even then you barely made eye contact.”

Dammit, Kenzie was way too perceptive. Delonna shrugged one shoulder and walked the length of the bar to give the drink to the regular at the end. Only replying to her friend when she returned.

“We’re fine. It’s just been a busy night.”

Kenzie leaned in closer and whispered, “You guys shagged, aye?”

“Kenzie!”
Way
too perceptive. Knowing her ears were turning red, Delonna shook her head. “None of your business.”

“I knew it!”

“No. We did not
shag
.” Oral sex didn’t count as shagging, did it? Officially? Especially when one was so exhausted after a fantastic orgasm that she passed out.

A wave of mortification swept through her again and she heaved a sigh. This morning had been awkward to say the least. Waking up in bed alone, with the windstorm having died down to nearly nothing. A glance at her phone had shown they were due at work in just over an hour. She’d found him in the kitchen and had approached with an apology on her lips, but he’d waved it aside and slid a muffin her way. Then he’d disappeared a second later stating he was going to take a cold shower.

She wasn’t sure if he’d meant it because the power was still out, or because he’d been blue balled last night. Maybe a little of both.

“Well something happened between the two of you. You’ve been acting strange around each other all night.” Kenzie glanced back toward the pool table room. “Are you going to stay with him again tonight?”

“I assume so.” Delonna frowned and shook her head. “Though this is ridiculous. The police haven’t found James or any clue of who my attacker was. We both shouldn’t be forced out of our house—that we pay rent on, dammit—indefinitely.”

“Aye, it’s a pain. But better safe than sorry.”

“That phrase can suck it. I don’t care how applicable it is at the moment.”

“Keeps you from running from the inevitable, hmm?” Kenzie gave a knowing laugh and walked away, much too fast for Delonna to hurl a lime wedge at her or something.

She already had one foot in that “inevitable” doorway. And dammit if it hadn’t felt pretty fantastic. Maybe it was because she’d been so tired last night, and on edge from the storm, but she’d come harder than ever before with Aleck McLaughlin’s head between her legs.

The man was a God at going down.

Her knees went weak and her blood began to pound and she groaned. No, she was absolutely not going to think about that right now.

Drawing in an unsteady breath, she glanced around the pub. It was slowing down, maybe only thirty or so remaining as midnight approached. Kenzie would be off soon, leaving Delonna and Aleck to close.

Despite her protests about having to stay at Aleck’s again, she wasn’t all that bothered really. It had been kind of nice having someone to go home with. To talk to. To do, ahem, other things with. She could get used to this…

No, you can’t.
She wasn’t looking for a new man, and even her days at the pub were numbered. That last thought sent a pang of disappointment through her, which confused the hell out of her.

Yes, she loved this pub like she owned it herself, but that was the problem. She didn’t. It was Aleck’s pride and joy. He would always be the one to hold complete control. To have creative license. To bring in most of the profits.

Which was why she wanted to open one of her own. Well, would open her own once she saved up enough money to do so. Starting from zero was more than a little disheartening, but not completely impossible.

And she was young. People loved to point it out—well she’d just use the cliché statement as an encouraging reminder. She had plenty of time to get this dream off the ground.

Leaving the front for a moment, she made her way into the back office. The door was slightly open and she knocked before pushing it fully open.

Aleck glanced up and met her gaze over the laptop. His brows were drawn together in a frown and he didn’t seem pleased.

“Bad time? I can come back.” She turned, ready to leave, when a female voice stopped her.

“Who’s that, Aleck?”

Delonna glanced around, trying to figure out who it had come from. There was no one else in the office.

“It’s one of my employees, Ma.”

“Delonna?” The voice brightened, her Scottish accent stronger than Aleck’s. “I’ve heard of the lass.”

Ah.
Aleck had been video chatting with his mom.

“I’ll come back when you’re done,” she said quickly, one hand on the door.

“Don’t leave,” his mom argued. “Come around the computer and let me have a look at you.”

Slightly alarmed, Delonna raised her gaze to Aleck and mouthed, “What the hell?”

“Ma.” Aleck’s tone was reproachful. “Delonna must get to work—”

“Nonsense. Send her ’round. I just want to say hello.”

Aleck’s lips twisted sardonically and he leaned back in his chair and ran his gaze over her. “There’ll be no helping it then. Come around, Delonna.”

Oh son of a bitch, really? She had to meet his mom right now? With what had happened last night still running round and round in her head?

Aleck obviously sensed her discomfort because his smile widened. “Unless you’re too busy?” he challenged.

Lifting her chin, she made her way around to the other side of the desk. “Not at all.”

She came around the desk and found herself face to face with Aleck’s mom on the monitor. She’d seen the woman at Sarah and Ian’s wedding, but hadn’t been introduced.

The woman staring back at her resembled Colin and Ian, with their reddish-brown hair. Clearly, Aleck took after his dad.

“Oh, well, aren’t you just the prettiest thing. And young.” Her gaze shifted to Aleck. “She’s quite young for you, don’t ya think, son?”

Delonna glanced sideways and noted he looked a little stricken now.

“She’s not so young as to work here, Ma,” he said tersely, “Twenty-three, aye, Lana?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Hmm.” His mom nodded. “That’s not exactly what I meant, but I’ll let it go. You like working for the pub, lass?”

“I love it here,” Delonna admitted honestly. “It’s a beautiful pub. Fun, with loyal customers.”

“Ah, good then. You realize my husband and I were the first to open and own the place, aye?”

“Yes, I’ve been told.” Delonna glanced at Aleck, and saw his frown deepening.

“All right, you’ve had your fun, Ma. Let Delonna get back to her work. I don’t pay her for idleness, you know.”

Not about to let that fly, Delonna whacked him on the shoulder before she thought better of it.

His mother gave a surprised laugh but didn’t seem shocked or upset. “Nice to meet you, Delonna.”

“You too.” She gave a brief smile and turned to leave, but Aleck touched her shoulder.

“Come back in twenty and we’ll talk, aye?”

Something in his gaze made her stomach do little flips. “Sure. Sounds good.”

With a quick nod, she disappeared, leaving him once again alone.

Aleck couldn’t help but watch her retreating arse, snug in jeans and swinging lightly with each step she took. Memories from last night flitted through his mind and his blood heated a degree.

“I’m still here, ya know, son.”

Shite
. Turning his attention back to his mother staring up at him from his computer, he glowered back.

“Aye, you are. And I’ll have you know your delay tactic in talking with Delonna isn’t appreciated, Ma.”

She shrugged innocently. “I remember her a bit from the wedding, but wanted to be properly introduced.”

“How is Da?”

Her gaze slid down and she shook her head. “He’ll be fine. We weren’t going to tell you, because we knew you’d all worry so.”

“Aye. Can you blame us?”

Hip surgery. His father had had hip surgery last week, and was slowly recovering. If his mother hadn’t slipped and mentioned Da being on painkillers, they might’ve never known.

“And how are you, Ma?”

“A’m fine. Taking a bit of time off of work to help him with the recovery, but I’m doing all right.” The words were said cheerfully enough, but Aleck heard the strain of tension beneath them.

Shite. Why the hell hadn’t she mentioned this to them earlier? Da had complained in the past years about his hip aching, but none of his children had realized it had deteriorated to the extent of needing surgery.

“Are you sure he’s not up to saying hello?” Aleck asked.

“He’s fast asleep from the meds. Unfortunately you just missed him.

“Well give him my love and let him know I’ll call him later.”

“Will do. All right then, son, we’ll chat soon. I love you.”

“Love you too, Ma. Goodbye.”

“Cheerio.”

He ended their video chat and leaned back in his chair. After a moment he pulled out his phone and sent a group text about Da to his siblings. There would need to be a family meeting, and soon.

After they’d all gotten past the cursing and dismay in the flurry of texts, they agreed to meet for lunch in two days. The general consensus being that one of them would be taking a trip to Edinburgh for a week or so to help their parents and ease their mother from having to take the burden on herself.

Colin, right now, seemed to be the most likely candidate.

There was a swift knock on his office door and Delonna poked her head in again. “Hey, you done?”

“Aye.” He set his phone down and leaned back in his chair once more. “Come in.”

When she stepped in and closed the door behind her, his thoughts momentarily slipped from the worry about his da, and to the woman standing in his office.

She didn’t say anything for a moment and folded her arms beneath her chest, seeming to hesitate.

“What was it you needed, luv?”

“I um…wanted to know if you remembered to order anymore of the Thistly Cross Whisky Cask ciders. They seem really popular lately.”

He arched a brow. “Aye. Placed an order this afternoon. Was that the only reason you came back here?”

The office was his place of solitude and business. Generally his employees would wait for him to come out or only come in the back if they needed something immediately.

They both knew her question could’ve waited until he came back out front.

“No. And clearly you know it.” She shook her head, her lips twisting wryly. “I want to apologize for last night.”

He held back any sign of amusement, and couldn’t resist teasing her a bit. “You’re going to have to be more specific. Hogging the blankets?”

“Dammit, you know what I mean.”

Delonna wasn’t really a blusher, but there was a faint hint of pink in her cheeks that fascinated him.

“I fell asleep before we…”

“Ah, yes, that. It’s all right.”

“Seriously?” She looked both dismayed and irritated. “It’s not all right. If the roles had been reversed and you’d gotten yours without me getting mine, I would’ve woken your ass up.”

“You were exhausted,” he assured her gently.

Her shoulders slumped and she nodded. “I really was. I hadn’t slept well in at least a few days. With the stress of my money disappearing, and then the storm… After that orgasm—which was pretty fucking amazing, by the way—my body just gave out on me and crashed. Without my permission.”

To hear her describe her orgasm as “pretty fucking amazing” had his cock waking up and his blood pounding harder. Because now all he could envision was her flat on her back with her legs over his shoulders again and his tongue inside her.

He struggled to keep his cock from reaching full on hard-on status and drew in a slow breath. “I can wait for you, Lana.”

She reached behind her and locked the door. “I know. And you’re pretty sweet about it, but I’d like to make it up to you.”

When she strode toward his desk there was no willing his cock back down. His heart quickened, both in alarm and anticipation.

“Make it up to me? Now?”

“Oh
aye
, boss boy.” She gave a husky laugh and came around his desk. Pushing his wheeled chair back a few inches, she went to her knees in front of him.

Chapter Nine

“Lana,” Aleck rasped, half protesting as she reached for his zipper.

When she pulled him free and into her hands, he couldn’t have stopped her if the pub were on fire.

“Jesus, I think I’m going to start calling you boss
man
.” Her words were low and uneven.

And with that, she took him in her mouth, and all ability to think was gone. Thank God she’d had the sense to lock the door.

Her mouth was hot and wet, her pink tongue quick and talented as it teased him. Shite, but every little move was incredible.

He reached down to grab her ponytail, twisting the soft slippery strands around his hand as she gave him probably the bloody best blowjob of his life. Fast and slow, taking him shallow and then deep. She explored every inch of him, creating a pleasure that was so completely intense. Bringing him right to the edge of ecstasy.

All too soon, he knew he was going to come, and he struggled to remember how to talk. He pushed at her weakly, to warn her, but she refused to move. With her hands on his thighs, she instead took him deeper. Then it was too late. Minutes later she was rocking back on her heels and licking her lips.

“Lana,” he muttered thickly, still in a complete daze. “That was…pretty fucking amazing, as you put it.”

“Good.” Her eyes shinned with pleasure and maybe a hint of self-consciousness. “I think that makes up for last night.”

He caught her arm as she tried to move away, pulling her forward.

“Tonight my cock won’t be in your mouth, but inside your delicious body, luv.” He touched her lips with his thumb, before pressing a hard kiss on them. “But only after I taste you again and have you screaming my name.”

“You are a dirty man,” she whispered, but her eyes shone with excitement.

“Aye. I think we’re a bit equal in that regard.”

“I think you may be right.” Her gaze turned contemplative. “Now, I’d better get back up front before people start talking.”

He waited until she’d reached the door before calling out, “You know, they’re already talking.”

“I do.” She paused and then gave him a lopsided grin. “And I really couldn’t give two shits anymore. You’re worth the risk.”

After she’d gone, he pondered her words.
You’re worth the risk.

They sent a little thrill of pleasure through his spent body, but in the logical side of his brain, the alarm bells started to go off.

This was the first time he’d ever gotten involved with an employee, and “risk” was putting it mildly. But there was no turning back now, and he really didn’t have the faintest desire to do so anyway.

He just hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite him in the arse.

“Did Kenzie already leave?”

Delonna nodded at Aleck’s question, not glancing up from her tip money she counted. A moment later she wrapped a rubber band around it and slipped it into her purse.

“About ten minutes ago. She said to send her love.” She lifted her head to look at Aleck.

He leaned against the bar, arms folded across his broad chest, and a lazy gaze sliding over her. Lazy, predatory gaze.

A shiver of excitement raced down her spine as she thought about his promise from earlier tonight. A promise to basically screw her silly. He’d spoken those enflaming words right after she’d… The image floated through her head of just exactly what she’d done to him.

Had she ever been so brazen? So completely uncaring to her surroundings? So eager to just drop to her knees and give someone a blowjob in the middle of a work shift? Never until Aleck. She’d lost her ever-loving mind. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to regret it.

He must’ve seen the look in her eyes because he unfurled himself from where he lounged at the bar and approached her.

Her quickening pulse jumped even faster and subconsciously she took a step backward. His soft laugh only raised the fine hairs on her arms and sent tingles of anticipation through her.

“Shouldn’t we head back to your place?” she asked, her voice uneven.

“We will in a bit.” He stopped right in front of her and reached out to tug the elastic band from her hair, sending the blonde strands sliding down her back. “I’ve been waiting quite impatiently, all evening, to have another moment alone with you.”

She couldn’t help a breathy laugh. “Did I leave you unsatisfied earlier?”

“Unsatisfied? Silly lass, you left me a melted puddle. I couldn’t move for at least a half hour.” He smiled, running his thumb and forefinger over a strand of hair. “But you did all the giving and I had no opportunity to touch in return.”

Her pulse jumped wildly. “Well, that is a damn shame, isn’t it?”

“Aye.” He moved his hands then to her waist, stroking his thumbs over the sides of her stomach. “And I’ve been thinking about your mouth ever since.”

She inhaled unevenly and lifted a brow. “My mouth?”

“Mmm.” He lowered his head, so their breath mingled. “You have these lush, full pink lips that I love to kiss.”

He brushed his mouth over hers, so lightly that goose bumps rose on her body. She reached to hold his shoulders, not sure she could stand all too well anymore.

“That I love to nibble upon.” He caught her bottom lip between his teeth and tugged lightly.

All too soon he released it and stroked his tongue over the flesh, the gesture both soothing and arousing. Her fingers curled around his muscled shoulders, her nails scraping at him over his shirt.

He lifted his head slightly. “You have no idea how much I want to be inside you right now, Lana.”

There was no chance to breathe before his mouth crashed down on hers, not gentle or teasing, but in a possessive, heated claiming.

She opened to him, meeting his tongue with her own as her blood turned to fire from his aggression and words.

The hands that were at her waist slid to cup her bottom, lifting her easily off the ground so she could wrap her legs around him.

He held her, his tongue making love to her mouth as he carried her over to the pool table. He sat her on the edge, his hips thrusting between hers, making her feel his hardened flesh even through their layers of denim.

The heat between her legs bloomed into a frenzy of fire. She moaned, pressing herself against his thrusts. She wanted him inside her. Now. She couldn’t walk outside into that cold air, drive home and then start over. No. Her body was awake and desperate for his touch. Ready to explode like a firework with a lit fuse.

She pulled her mouth from his and whispered a ragged, “Please, Aleck.”

He broke the kiss and without a word, caught her shirt in his hands to tug it up and off her body. He discarded her black bra a moment later.

“Shite,” he hissed, cupping the fullness of her breasts in his hands. “These have been giving me hard-ons for too damn long now. So lush.” He leaned down and kissed one nipple and it puckered against his lips. “Beautiful. I couldn’t see them last night in the darkness.”

When he drew the tip into his mouth, she cried out and arched her back. He suckled the tip, lightly and then hard. She thrust her fingers into his hair, silently showing him she didn’t want him to be gentle. And then not so silently with her low groan of pleasure when he lightly bit the swollen tip.

He made a low, very-much-male growl and transferred his mouth to the other breast. He’d caught on fast to what she liked, because his mouth was firm and merciless. Sucking and biting, bringing her arousal to fever pitch.

She let out a cry of protest when he lifted his head, but it ended on a gasp as he lifted her from the table and set her on her feet. No words were spoken as he deftly turned her around so her back was to him.

He nuzzled the back of her neck, pressing a kiss against her nape. He slid his arm around her waist and his hand moved to splay over her belly. It rubbed the flesh there and she had a moment of self-consciousness, because it wasn’t a flat stomach by any means. But the insecurity disappeared just as quickly and she relaxed against him, loving the way his breath quickened. Grew deeper.

She rocked her bottom back against his erection and he groaned, his arm tightening around her waist as he thrust against her.

With skilled fingers he unfastened her jeans, tugging them and her panties over her hips and down her legs. She kicked off her shoes and stepped out of the clothes.

While he was fully clothed, she was completely naked. It should’ve made her feel vulnerable. Exposed. But instead it empowered her. With a purr of pleasure she rubbed back against him again.

There was no worry about waiting until they got home anymore. Clearly if he’d stripped her, he intended to have sex here. Maybe even on the pool table. Through her dazed thoughts, she realized that would be a first.

His arm returned around her waist, and he smoothed his hand over her stomach and then downward, to cup the flesh between her legs.

She rose to her tiptoes and rocked back against him. “Aleck…”

“Mmm. Yes, luv.”

He curled a finger into her aching channel and she shuddered with pleasure.

“Oh God, just don’t stop.”

“Wasn’t even considering it.” He added a second finger, sliding them both deep, before bringing one up to touch her clit.

Her body reacted like she’d received an electric shock, jerking and making her mind go white for a moment. He held the reins to her pleasure and wasn’t letting go.

Dimly, while he teased that sensitive spot, she was aware of his other hand caressing her bottom. He squeezed the flesh there, while rolling and pinching her clit.

Her breaths were ragged now, her moans low. She knew how close she was to the edge. The sharp whack and the slight sting of pain brought her back from the cliff of pleasure momentarily. But it rushed right back when she realized he’d smacked her ass.

Shock warred with pleasure and she lifted her head, trying to turn and look at him, but the second smack had her gasping and turning her gaze straight ahead again.

“That’s for making me be quite unprofessional earlier, luv.” His palm connected with her bottom again and she moaned. “Really quite naughty of you to go into your boss’s office and give him a blowjob.”

“I didn’t hear you complain—oh!” Her breathy reply ended on another gasp of shock and pleasure as this smack connected harder.

“I think you hinted to me once about liking to be spanked,” he murmured against her ear. “It looks as if that wasn’t just a frivolous remark.”

No, it hadn’t been. But she couldn’t remember having said that to him before. She must’ve though, because he was here, bending her over the pool table and smacking her bottom. And she was loving every moment of it.

The spanking continued. Light and then harder, all while he continued to play with her clit. The need and heat inside her grew higher and faster. She moved against his hand, both arching into his hand between her legs and the hand that would lash across her ass.

“You look amazing,” he muttered thickly, his lips moving over her nape. “With my red handprint staining your pretty white arse.”

“
Aleck
.”

He caught her earlobe between his teeth and tugged lightly, his finger moving faster between her legs now.

“
Ohmygod
.” She gasped, throwing her head back against his shoulder as she ground against his hand. “So close.”

He smacked her bottom again, hard, and sank a finger deep into her sex. The combination sent her flying and screaming his name as she climaxed.

Her world was out of control, her mind a complete void as ecstasy took hold. Her legs gave out a moment later, and he caught her before she could hit the floor.

Aleck turned her gently in his arms, holding her boneless weight up as he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

He hadn’t been attempting dirty talk by remarking on the beauty of her arse. It truly was amazing. Almost as amazing as the fact that she’d loved getting spanked, because he certainly enjoyed carrying out the act.

Picking her up, he laid her on the pool table. He slid his hands beneath her thighs to pull her forward, so her arse was on the wooden lip of the table. He smoothed his palms down her thighs, staring down at her lush, pale body laid out like a damn present for him. He’d take her here, just like this.

“Wow,” she murmured, her gaze still drugged with passion, “I did not see that coming.”

“The swats?”

Her mouth curled into a lazy smile. “Yeah. You’ve got a naughty side.”

His laugh was tight with the driving need to just take her. “Aye. And it seems you love it.”

“Hell yeah I do. You can spank my ass any day, boss boy.”

She stretched her arms above her head to grab the other side of the pool table. The move lifted her breasts, showing a small mole beneath one.

Unable to resist, he leaned down to kiss it, while cupping the softness of the breast in his palm.

She made a murmur of pleasure and her hips lifted in the silent signal that she needed more. Wanted him.

He straightened and dug into his pocket for the condom he’d grabbed. After undoing his fly and unzipping his jeans, he shoved them and his briefs below his knees.

Relief and anticipation flickered in her eyes. “I thought you were going to make us wait until we got back to your place.”

“That may have been the plan at one point, but the more time went by, the more I wanted you.” He pulled his cock free and placed the condom on it. “I came out of my office ready to fook you silly, lass.”

He heard her breath catch, whether at his words, or from the sight of him so completely hard and ready.

Her lashes fluttered down and she lifted her hips slightly. “Then what are you waiting for? Clearly I’m ready and willing. Pretty damn willing, actually.”

Choking on a laugh, and needing no more encouragement, he slid his hands to cup her ass and pull her forward so he was positioned perfectly between her legs.

He reached down to grasp himself, rubbing his cock back and forth over the glistening pink folds of her sex before slowly sliding it in.

The hot, warm suck of her flesh drew him deeper, and the air hissed out from between his clenched teeth.

When he lifted his gaze from where he entered her, to her face, he saw her lips parted on a silent moan and her eyes closed; dark lashes fanning out over flushed cheeks. Need swelled in him and he thrust deep, filling her completely and wrenching a soft gasp from Delonna.