One Sweet Taste (3 page)

Chapter Six

Foster
turned the lock on the front door after Becca and Tori headed out. He’d taken
some close-up photos of Luke’s elaborate carving details on the bar, and he’d
promised Ethan he’d lock up. Packing up his camera, he couldn’t stop his eyes from
straying to the kitchen door.

Walk out, Price. You should leave.
But no matter how many times he
told himself to leave her alone, nothing diminished the fact that he wanted
Linzee. She was all he’d thought about in the last forty-eight hours. His
former misery of not winning the prestigious Donovan Award had taken a backseat
to his need for her.

He’d
played the kiss with Linzee over and over in his head. It had been perfect. The
sounds she made at the back of her throat, the way she moaned into his mouth.
It made him speculate more about what kind of sounds she made when she came.
And he wanted to make her come. He’d thought of her in his bed so much in the
last two days, he would swear he was almost insane with the need to have her.
Never in his life had he craved a woman like this.

With
a deep breath, he dropped his bag on the bar. He’d just go talk to her. It couldn’t
hurt to talk to her, right?

When
he pushed the door open, he heard her soft sobbing. He stopped dead at the
sight of Linzee sitting at the island, her hands covering her face as she wept.
His heart immediately ached. He wanted to hold her, protect that vulnerability.
Who had hurt her? Whoever it was, he would fucking kill them.

She
didn’t hear him when he walked around the island, or she would have looked up.

Not
wanting to scare her, Foster stayed a few feet away when he spoke.

“Linzee?
Sugar, what’s wrong?”

Her
head shot up, and the pain in her eyes felt like a dagger to his chest. How
could he care so much about this woman he’d only just met?

“I
… uh … nothing,” she said in a wobbly voice as she wiped tears away.

He
couldn’t take it. Foster stepped closer to her and gathered her into his arms.
She immediately stiffened, and for a moment, he thought she was going to fight
him, pull away. But then she relaxed and her shoulders shook as the sobs began
again. Her arms went around his waist and held onto him like a lifeline as she
cried.

And
he just held her, rocking her gently as he stroked her curls. He kissed the top
of her head, loving the smell of her hair. He’d never look at strawberries the
same way again. His other hand stroked up and down her back as he held her,
lending her his strength.

After
a few minutes, her crying eased, and she pulled away. Her eyes wouldn’t meet
his. She was obviously embarrassed. Foster walked over to the desk in the
corner of the kitchen and grabbed a box of Kleenex, then set it down in front
of her. She plucked a couple and dried her eyes before he spoke.

“Do
you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

After
several moments of silence, Foster thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then
she spoke in a quiet voice. “My daughter.”

Fear
threaded through him. “Your daughter? Is she okay? Is she hurt?”

Linzee
shook her head. “She’s okay. She’s at college. Northwestern. She was going to
drive down for Christmas, but there’s a huge storm.”

He
nodded, beginning to understand. “Yeah, I heard Chicago was getting dumped on.”

“Yeah,
she, uh, she can’t make it.” She cast him a quick glance. “It’s silly, right?
I’m sitting here blubbering. It’s just that I’ve never been away from her at
Christmas.”

“Why
is that silly? I’ve been with my family every Christmas. If I were away from
them, I would be terribly upset. I know it’s not the same as having a child,
but I do understand. I’m sorry, Linz. I really am.”

“Thank
you,” she said, looking relieved. Why was she relieved? Why would she be
nervous to tell him she missed her child? Why on earth would she think he would
view that as silly? Then a thought hit him: someone had really done a number on
her. Linzee was a strong woman, but she had scars. Foster was overcome with the
urge to protect her.

Another
tear leaked out of the corner of her eye, and he reached up to wipe it away
with his thumb. Linzee closed her eyes and leaned into his hand as he continued
to stroke his thumb over the soft porcelain skin of her cheek.

“You’re
so beautiful, Linzee,” he breathed. She opened her eyes to look up at him, and he
felt as though the bright emerald green of her gaze could see through to his
very soul.

Foster
realized how close they were. She was still perched on the high bar stool, her
legs spread, allowing him to stand between them. His left arm was wrapped
around her waist, holding her tight to him, and his right hand stroked over her
face, her hair, as her arms encircled his waist.

Foster
swallowed. He could feel himself growing hard against her, but couldn’t bring
himself to back away and let her go. Leaning down to press his forehead against
hers, he enjoyed the way her arms tightened around him, her legs spreading
wider so the thickness of his cock nestled against her denim-clad pussy. When
her breath caught in her throat, he knew she could feel him against her.

“Linz,
what are you doing to me?” he whispered against her mouth.

Her
hand came up to his chest, and he was afraid for a moment that she might push
him away. But instead, her hand traveled further up until it was around his
neck, urging him to her.

Foster
descended, his lips taking hers. This wasn’t a sweet, soft kiss. This was a
blistering possession of her mouth.

She
wasn’t hesitant like she’d been the first time he’d kissed her. She let her
guard down, holding him firmly to her as her tongue played alongside his. A
groan tore from his throat as his tongue surged deeper. He slid his hands to
her ass and cupped those gorgeous round cheeks, holding her close as he pressed
himself firmly to her. He wanted her to feel what she did to him.

“Foster,”
she said on a half-moan, letting her head drop back. “We shouldn’t.”

But
she leaned her head to the side, exposing her graceful neck. He couldn’t
resist. He traced his tongue down her chin, nibbling at the smooth skin of her
neck. “You’re so fucking sweet.”

When
his teeth nipped, he felt Linzee’s hands clench against his shoulders as she
moaned and ground her body to his as if she couldn’t get close enough.

His
control was slipping fast. Gripping her backside, he lifted her onto the
island, so her face was even with his. She wrapped her legs around him, locking
her ankles at the back of his waist.

He
needed her. Now.

Chapter Seven

At
the warmth of Foster’s lips on her neck, Linzee knew she was in big trouble.
With every stroke of his tongue on her sensitive skin, her body quivered,
melting just a little more in his embrace. She wrapped an arm around his neck,
urging his mouth to hers again. Her other hand went to his waist, slipping
beneath the sweatshirt he wore, and she almost groaned at the feel of his
heated skin.

His
lips explored hers, then trailed over her jaw, down her neck and back up again,
as her hands roamed over his back. She barely realized that she’d begun
thrusting her hips, rubbing herself against the large erection that pressed
against her pussy. “You feel so good,” she said on a little whine. She wanted
him so much.

“Linzee,
sugar.” He pulled away to look into her eyes. She could tell that his control
was slipping just as much as hers was. “I need you. Right here. Right now.” He
searched her face as if looking for an answer. “If you want me to stop, you
need to tell me. Tell me to stop. Because in a few seconds, I don’t know if I
can.”

She
grinned up at him as she trailed her fingers around to his front, enjoying the
way his abs tightened as she stroked his bare skin.

“Don’t
stop, Foster. I don’t want you to stop. I need you inside of me.”

At
her words, something inside of him seemed to break, and he crushed his mouth to
hers in a kiss that told her he was a man who took exactly what he wanted. His
hands flew to the hem of her sweater, and he pushed it up. He separated his
mouth from hers only long enough to pull the sweater over her head.

When
he reached around her back for the clasp of her bra, she stiffened. Her breasts
weren’t young and perky. She was forty. She’d had a child. Saying her breasts
sagged a little would have been an accurate statement ten years ago. But now?
Now, she felt as though she needed to fold the damn things up just to tuck them
into her bra each morning.

“What’s
wrong?” he asked, probably sensing her sudden unease.

She
took a deep breath. How did she tell him she was insecure with her body? She
was sure that was a huge turn-off. “Nothing,” she stammered. “I was just
thinking that we could, um … I don’t know, maybe turn the lights off?”

He
looked at her in disbelief as though she’d just asked him to put on a dress and
do the hula.

After
a long moment, his eyes narrowed. “No, we cannot turn the lights off, Linzee.”

Shit,
that was what she’d figured. He was going to take one look at her and realize
he’d made a huge mistake.

He
curled a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to meet his searching
eyes.

“Sugar,
do you not want me to see you?”

She
took a deep breath. “Foster, my body isn’t what you’re used to, I’m sure. I
mean, I—I’m older than you. My boobs aren’t young and perky.”

His
frustrated sigh silenced her. Finally he said, “No, you’re right.”

At
his words, she jerked her eyes to his. Her ex-husband always told her how
inadequate her body was, but for some reason, it made her want to cry that
Foster might think that too.

But
then he continued. “Your boobs aren’t small and perky. They’re full and
luscious, and gorgeous.”

“Foster,
you don’t have to say—”

“Linzee,
stop talking, or I’m going to take a page out of Luke’s book and spank your
pretty ass. I can see now why he talks about punishment.”

Her
eyes widened dramatically, but she remained silent. Punishment?

“Good.
Now I have your attention. Linz, I don’t want small, pointy breasts. I don’t
want a girl who tries to stay skinnier than I was when I was twelve. I want a
woman. I love your curves.” His hands cupped her bottom. “I love your gorgeous
ass, and I can’t tell you how many times over the last couple of days I’ve
thought about sinking my cock into it. Have you ever had a cock in your ass,
sugar?”

“I—a—you
mean … back there?”

His
face lit with that damn grin, and he chuckled as he squeezed the cheeks of her
ass. “Yes, sweetheart, back there.”

She
shook her head. Her ex had asked her once to try it, but she thought it just
sounded like it would be painful. So why, when Foster mentioned it, did it
sound so damned erotic?

“Well,
that’s not something we’re going to worry about tonight. But soon, Linz. Very
soon.” He leaned down to kiss her again, and began sliding her bra down her
arms. She’d been so caught up in him, that she hadn’t even noticed he’d
unhooked it.

After
her bra fell to the floor, his hands slid up to cup her breasts, and she felt
her breath catch as his rough thumbs stroked over her nipples. He stood back to
look at her, holding both breasts in his hands, watching as her nipples
hardened beneath his touch.

She
had to bite her lip to hold back the moan that bubbled up as her nipples
hardened to the point of pain. She looked at Foster’s darkened eyes and saw
herself the way he saw her. Beautiful.

“Fuck,
you’re incredible. I need my mouth on you.” When he leaned in to capture a
nipple in his mouth, Linzee thought she’d died and gone to heaven. Her hips mindlessly
bucked against his as she held his head to her breast, clenching a fistful of
that raven-black hair. With every strong suck, every scrape of his stubble
along her sensitive skin, a jolt of lightning went from her nipple straight to
her pussy, making her writhe on the counter.

“I
need you,” she whined. “Please, I can’t wait anymore, Foster.”

“Me
either.” In one quick move, he picked her up and stood her on her feet. She
reached to unfasten her jeans, and realized they were already undone. Damn, he
was good. Foster’s hands were at her waist, sliding her jeans and panties down
past her hips until they were at her ankles. She kicked off her shoes and then
stepped out of her jeans to stand naked in front of him. She fought the
instinct to cover herself. She wanted him to see her, wanted to please him with
her body. And she was pretty damn sure she didn’t want to be punished, whatever
that meant.

“Look
at me, Linzee.”

When
she met his eager gaze, she was filled with confidence.

His
eyes were hungry as they swept appreciatively over her body. Foster whipped his
sweatshirt off and quickly unbuttoned his jeans. When he slid them off, Linzee
gasped at the sight of him. His cock pointed straight upward and nearly reached
his navel. And the thickness … good lord. She’d had a child and yet wondered
how that thing was going to fit inside of her.

He
stood as her eyes traveled over him, not moving except to reach up and slowly
stroke his cock from the base to the plum-shaped head. A drop of fluid already
adorned the slit, and her mouth watered at the sight. When she licked her lips,
Foster groaned, finally taking a step toward her.

“The
sight of that mouth is going to fucking kill me, Linzee.” He reached down and
lifted her, setting her back up on the counter. This time when he moved in
between her legs, nothing separated them.