Tasting Candy (7 page)

Without a word, Blade lifted her and sat her on the couch, then stood in front of her.

He had his jeans undone and pushed down his long, heavily-muscled legs before she could blink. Candice stared, engrossed in Blade’s striptease. He wore a pair of tight black boxer-briefs. She could see the entire veined length of his penis. He was magnificent.

And huge. He was so masculine and so strong all over. It took her breath away.

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The bulky material of his jeans bunching around his ankles forced Blade to sit back down, interrupting her show. He pulled off his work-boots, yanked at his jeans, then he was free. Blade picked Candice up again and plopped her down on top of him, as if there weren’t a few measly bits of cotton separating their lower halves.

Candice could feel every rigid inch of him. He may as well have been naked. The hair on Blade’s thighs tickled her, and his throbbing erection pushed into her body. It was erotic and sensual and her panties grew moist.

“Better?” Blade asked with a flirty smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Candice nodded, then wiggled around. Blade’s carnal moan vibrated to her core. She wanted to give Blade pleasure, to give him something to come back for later. She was on fire, and it was clear that he was, too. But she didn’t have a clue as to how to douse the fire raging between them.

“I want…” She stopped, not sure what to say. “To be honest, I’m not sure what I want, which is pathetic for a twenty-five year old woman. I only know I’ve never felt this way before. Never.”

“Good,” he ground out as he slid farther down the couch. He may as well have been lying down, the way he was sprawled. Candice shook her head, trying hard to stay on track—and on top. “It’s not good, it’s bad. I have no idea what to do here.”

Blade’s smile was full of tenderness as he cupped her chin in his palm. “I can make you feel good, Candice, and I won’t have to remove your panties to do it, either.” She bit at her lower lip, still afraid. “Let me take the edge off for you, sweetheart,” he coaxed.

“Yes,” she uttered, breathless. Blade started moving, clutching her hips and sliding his hips upward, pressing into her sex, then back down again. Candice could feel his cock between her labia. When he pushed into her again, deliberately rubbing the head of his cock against her already swollen clitoris, she whimpered.

“That’s it. Just close your eyes and move with me.”

Candice obeyed Blade’s erotic request. Allowing her eyes to drift shut, she rubbed her lower body against his. Their underwear provided little protection, and yet it was entirely too much of a barrier. She had the wild need to feel his hard, smooth cock inside 48

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Tasting Candy

her. She’d had dreams of it, and now she wanted those dreams realized. She held back, torn between her old need to be on guard and her newly insatiable desire to experience every wonderful inch of Blade Vaughn.

In one swift move, he levered himself up and crushed his muscled chest against her breasts, catching her in a tight embrace. He nuzzled her neck, suckling and biting as if he were marking her. Electricity shot through her. She grew frantic, undulating against Blade’s hot, hard body, seeking something just out of reach.

Blade groaned her name, then without any warning, the beginnings of a climax ensnared her. Her scream came from somewhere deep as she gave herself over to passion.

“Give it to me, baby,” he demanded. He stroked his fingers over her clit, plying her through her panties, and Candice went wild.

“Yes, Blade! Oh, god, please!” she shouted, then she was there, flying apart in his strong, capable arms.

“Fuck, baby, me, too,” he growled, as his body went rigid beneath her. Happier than she’d ever been, Candice held Blade tight as his body bucked wildly against hers. It was as if they were of one mind, soaring over that invisible edge together. It was beautiful and thrilling and Candice couldn’t believe they’d never even removed their underwear.

If he was this lethal clothed, what would he be like unclothed?

Long minutes passed before Blade could even think about moving. Coming in his boxers? Not the way to wow your woman, he thought miserably. Then again, his dick had been on high alert for months now. Since he’d seen the shy beauty, he’d been walking around semi-erect. He was way the hell overdue. Blade hoped he could convince Candice that the next time would be better. He’d be able to hold out longer, make it last. This time was a fluke. Obviously.

Blade sat back against the couch, taking Candice’s pliant body with him. He smiled.

She’d worn herself out with her fast, fierce ride. He stroked the dampened skin of her back and she stiffened.

“Don’t tense up on me, sweetheart,” he warned softly.

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Candice rose to stare at him, her face a mix of worry and excitement. It made Blade hot just looking at her. “I need to go get cleaned up, but when I’m done we’ll talk, okay?”

She smiled at him and moved to get up. Blade couldn’t take his eyes off her. She pulled her shirt back on, sans the bra this time, which pleased the hell out of him. A flush rose up her neck to color her cheeks. When she bent to retrieve her jeans, Blade stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Wait,” he demanded. She hesitated, her eyes widening in confusion. “You’re so sexy right now with your body all warm and flushed.” Like a laser beam, his gaze sought the apex of her thighs. He ached to cup her there, to make her promise she would be his and only his. It was a crazy notion.

“I can see your swollen clit through your panties.” He stroked one finger over it then pressed between her fleshy folds, pleased when her body quaked a little. “I promise, one of these days very soon, I am going to taste you.” He stared at her mound and rumbled, “I’ll bet your pussy is as sweet as honey, too.”

She swallowed and her eyes turned dark with arousal. She was in as bad shape as he was; she just didn’t quite know what to do about it. Blade was dying to show her what her small, perky body was capable of.

He left the couch and stood over her. “I’ll be right back.” He bent and kissed her on the lips. Not quite the spot he wanted to kiss, but it’d do for now. Blade grabbed his own jeans and went in search of her bathroom, anxious to clean up so he could get back to the enigma that was Candice Warner.

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Candice stared at Blade’s massive back as he left the room. He had no idea where her bathroom was, and she really should tell him, but she couldn’t quite take her gaze off his delicious backside long enough to get her mouth to work. Good Lord, the man was in excellent shape. Even his butt was muscular.

She chuckled at that bit of silliness, then stopped and wondered at the sound of her own laughter. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time. She had Blade to thank for that.

Lord in heaven, Candice couldn’t believe what she’d just done. Sure, it was a far cry from getting naked, hot and sweaty. But for the first time in a while, she wouldn’t have to rely on her dreams to get her through the next day. Candice had something real this time.

Then a thought occurred. Was Blade thinking of spending the night? She hoped so. It would be nice to lie in his arms all night, hearing him breathe, feeling his heartbeat beneath her cheek. She sighed and tore herself out of her romanticisms, then bent and picked up her jeans. As she was about to pull them on, Blade’s words came back to her.

He didn’t want her to get dressed yet. “What the heck,” she exclaimed, feeling decadent as she tossed her jeans on the chair. She grabbed up the sweating glasses of cola and went to the kitchen in search of fresh drinks.

As she opened the refrigerator, Candice heard the soft rumble of thunder outside.

Lightning split the sky and lit the room. A thunderstorm. She stood motionless, holding the refrigerator door open when she heard the first spattering of rain against the windows.

She hated storms. Her parents had died in a storm. Most times storms didn’t bother her, but on random nights they made her sad. Her parents had had the happiness she felt with Blade and then lost everything with no warning. It didn’t seem fair.

She closed the refrigerator and covered her face, holding back tears. She’d lost so much in one swift twist of fate. She wouldn’t cry, not tonight, not when everything was

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so perfect. Candice vowed she wouldn’t squander her newfound happiness over something she couldn’t change.

Blade found her like that, her shoulders bowed, face in her hands, and it made her sick that he should see her so weak twice in one day.

“Candice?” Blade coaxed gently, touching her shoulder from behind.

Candice swiped at her face and turned to see the tender worry on Blade’s chiseled features. She didn’t want him worrying over her. She wanted him to see her as a strong and capable adult, not a child who needed to be coddled and protected. “I’m sorry,” she said in a soft voice.

“Did I do something wrong, sweetheart?” he asked, clearly troubled that her sadness was somehow his fault.

“No, of course not,” she assured him. “Storms bother me, that’s all. It was raining the night my parents died. The memories are a little hard to take sometimes.”

“I’m so sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice soothed her. “Every once in awhile, when I’m at work, I’ll catch myself reaching for the phone to call my mom and ask if she’s free for lunch.”

“Next time that happens you can call me if you want.”

She touched his cheek. “I’d love that, Blade.”

Blade leaned down and caressed her lips with his. The gentle pressure eased her tension and brought her back to the wonderful here-and-now. Her heart beat too fast, and she tried to calm her raging hormones. He took her hand from his face and placed kisses along her fingertips.

Unable to help herself, Candice stroked his mustache. She’d always loved Blade’s mustache. It made him even sexier, a little rough around the edges.

“You like my mustache or would you rather I shave it?”

Blade’s voice had gone soft as silk. He kissed his way up her arm and lingered at the crook of her elbow, licking at her there. Candice’s legs grew heavy and her body responded to his heated touch.

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“What?” she mumbled, not able to concentrate on his words when his tongue kept dancing along her pulse points.

Blade’s gaze darted to hers and his smile turned predatory. “I asked if you liked my mustache, Candy girl. Most women want me to shave it. Usually my answer is no to that question, but for you, I’d make an exception.”

Her eyes grew big at the horrible notion. “Why on earth would you shave it? It’s so sexy and just so…” The thought trailed off. Candice wasn’t very good at putting her emotions into words.

Blade looked away from her face, apparently satisfied with her answer, and went back to nibbling on her flesh. He reached her shirtsleeve and frowned. “I want you naked, baby. I want you so bad I hurt from it.”

He did sound as if he was in pain, and that wasn’t at all what Candice wanted. “But, you just… I mean—”

Blade chuckled. “You mean because I came in my boxers?” Candice closed her eyes, mortified and aroused at the same time, then nodded. “All that did was take the edge off.

Believe me when I say if you were willing right now, I would have you on this kitchen floor and be inside you before you could blink those pretty blues at me.”

Candice looked down at the white and tan linoleum, then back up at Blade. His face was hard to read, but he seemed to be steeling himself against her rejection. Again. What if she didn’t want to reject him? It was time. Time to put the past to rest, once and for all.

Forcing herself to be brave, Candice reached between their bodies and cupped Blade through his jeans. His eyes widened in shock, and she was ready to cheer when he hardened even more under her hand. It was an awesome feeling having Blade Vaughn all hot and excited.

“I want you, too, Blade,” she said on a soft sigh. “I told you I’ve been having dreams, but what I didn’t say is that they’re wet dreams. Dreams of you and me, and I wake hot and needy. I would very much like to know if you’re as wonderful in real life as you are in my dreams.” She smiled at the intensity in his eyes. “Will you make love to me?” she asked, and then for good measure, Candice added, “Pretty please?”

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“God, yes, sweetheart,” he groaned. “But are you sure? I don’t want to push you.

This is our first date. I can take you out again. We could go to the movies or something.

Besides, I didn’t bring any protection.”

Blade was still being the gallant knight. She loved that about him. Candice allowed her hand to stroke his length and marveled at the way he grew and expanded even more.

“I’m positive, and I’m not being pushed. Just so you know, I’m on the pill, have been since I was a teenager, and I’ve got a clean bill of health. I want you, and I really don’t want to wait for a second date to have you.”

“I’m clean too. I never go without protection and I get checked regularly. But I didn’t want to be tempted tonight.” He bent, lifted her into his arms, and carried her out of the kitchen. “I’m real glad you’re on the pill.”

“Me, too.”

“Where’s your bedroom?”

Candice cuddled closer to him, enjoying the way his chest hair tickled her cheek, and attempted to answer him without sounding all breathless. “Down the hall. Last room on the right.” She could feel Blade’s strong arms under her bare thighs and wondered how someone with so much strength could be so gentle. She knew now it wasn’t a man’s strength that made him mean, but his attitude. Blade had a tender, loving way about him.

He could be hard and unyielding if he wanted to be, but intuition told her he would never harm her. Knowing that made it easier for her to surrender.