The One For Me (Danver #8) (13 page)

Holy cow . . . I think I just had an orgasm
—
or wordgasm.
Huffing, she could only manage an inelegant “Whatever” as he stepped close enough to trail a finger along the seam of her mouth. Without thinking, she parted her lips and touched her tongue to his digit, causing him to roughly inhale.

He leaned down, until his mouth was next to her ear. “You’ve no idea how much I’d like to pull you to the end of your chair then part your legs, remove your panties, and lick you until you scream my name.”

“Yes—please,” she babbled in an aroused daze.

Mark gave a sexy chuckle that sent shivers down her spine. He sucked the sensitive skin of her neck, whispering, “Would that be considered a booty call, Angel? If I had you on my tongue, and then fucked you on your desk—is that what it would be to you?”

“Who cares?” she groaned, wanting to experience exactly what his velvety-smooth voice was describing.

His hand dropped to her thigh, stroking the smooth skin exposed by her dress. “I do, baby. When Denny tells me that you feel demeaned because of the way I handled last night, then I figure we need to clarify a few things before I have you again.”

“O . . . kay,” she managed to answer as he continued to drive her crazy with his maddening touch.

“Listen to me carefully, Angel,” he instructed. When she nodded her agreement, he said, “You were my first choice. I waited for you to arrive as planned, and then when you blew me off, I came to you.” When she opened her mouth to protest, wanting to point out that she’d had an upsetting evening, he tapped his finger
against her lips. “No talking yet. Just give me a nod if you’ve heard and understood what I’ve said so far.” She did as he asked and was rewarded with a “Good girl. Now, as I was saying, we agreed to spend the evening together, so I just made sure that happened when you didn’t follow through. Although I’ll admit that I didn’t handle your revelation about your ex well.”

Crystal gathered her wits enough to say sarcastically, “Ya think? If you’ll recall, you kept questioning me. I didn’t just start unloading everything without encouragement.”

Suddenly, he pulled from her the chair and into his arms. “I know, Angel,” he admitted. “I’m sorry about that. I’m just—not used to something like that happening.”

“Like what?” she asked absently as she snuggled closer, subtly inhaling his spicy, masculine scent. She wasn’t sure if it was cologne or Mark’s natural scent—but it was delicious.

He sighed. “I know this will sound bad, but I’ve never really cared what’s going on in the life of the woman I’m having sex with.” When she went stiff, he rubbed her back soothingly. “You know that I don’t have relationships—at least I haven’t until this point. What I’m trying to say—and I’m making a mess of it—is that everything about you and our time together is new to me. I’ve never had to deal with feelings such as jealousy. Apparently, it turns me into a bit of an asshole.”

Her eyes widened as she stared up at Mark’s rueful expression. “Really? You were jealous? I mean, the girls
thought that you might be—but I didn’t believe it. I mean you’re—DeStudo.”
Why, oh, why must I say one stupid thing after another?
Crystal thought to herself as Mark started laughing.

“We need to pause this conversation until later on this evening, Angel. I’m afraid it’s very close to getting out of hand, and I don’t know how Jason Danvers will feel about your vocal explosion during office hours.”

Wrinkling her nose, she asked, “My what?”

He kissed her briefly, before setting her away from him. “When you come, your voice hits levels that would put an opera star to shame, Angel.”

Before she could reply, there was a knock on her door and Lydia stuck her head in before Crystal could call out to stop her. “Wanted to let you know I was back,” the woman said before her voice trailed off as she noticed Mark. Crystal smothered a grin behind her hand as Lydia straightened, and then brushed a hand over her hair. “Hi, there,” she said in a breathy voice. Apparently, even her boss wasn’t immune to Mark’s considerable charm.

He extended a hand to her. “I’m Mark, and you are?”

“Oh, I know,” she whispered dreamily, before seeming to get a grip. “I—um, I’m Lydia. Nice to meet you.”

“Lydia’s my boss,” Crystal said. “I believe she’s met a colleague of yours, Jacob.”

Mark looked at Lydia curiously. “Jacob’s my right-hand man.” Shooting Crystal a pointed look, he admitted, “He’s doing a lot of my travel now as I’ve found—well, something that’s keeping me home more.”

“Tell him I said hello,” Lydia said brightly before a mortified expression crossed her face.

“I’ll do that.” Mark smiled easily, then turned to Crystal. “I need to get back to my office. I’ll see you at my house tonight around six?” It was phrased as a question for Lydia’s benefit, but Crystal knew it was anything but. He didn’t expect a repeat of last night—nor would he tolerate it.

“Okay,” she accepted. “See you soon.”

When he was gone, Lydia shut the door behind him and held her hand up. Crystal slapped it in a high five, and they both did some juvenile dance moves. “I swear, don’t take this the wrong way, but sweet Jesus, that voice, those bedroom eyes—he’s Mr. Big come to freaking life at Danvers.”

“Calm down, girl,” Crystal said soothingly before a giggle escaped. “I had no idea you were such a pervert. This is a whole other side of you, and I’m kind of digging it.”

“Well, honey, you were a bit repressed when we started working together, and I was kind of screwed up over losing Brett, so I didn’t bother to rock the boat. But now you’ve gone from sitting on the shore to swimming with the sharks, and I’m finding that I’m thrilled to live vicariously through you. Heck, I’m even acknowledging my lust for Jacob. Maybe this year we’ll both shake off the past and do something that makes us happy. Or at the least, have a lot of meaningless sex along the way.”

Impulsively, Crystal stepped forward and gave the other woman a quick hug. “I like your plan. And if Jacob has even a tiny bit of intelligence, he’ll be
knocking down your door to take a walk on the wild side with you.”

Lydia looked thrilled by her comment. “I’m going to do my best to make that happen. And I don’t think you have to worry about that with Mark. The man couldn’t take his eyes off you, and he didn’t give a damn if I noticed it or not.”

“It’s just sex, though.” Crystal felt compelled to clarify things. “He’s interested because I’m like the most inexperienced woman he’s even known.”

Lydia looked at her as if she was crazy before shaking her head. “I can’t predict the future, but all I have to say is if I had the attention of a man like Mark, for whatever reason, I wouldn’t squander it. Go forth my child, have sex—the dirty kind—and live in the moment. People come into our lives for a variety of reasons, and if we’re smart, we take advantage of what they have to offer. Sometimes all we can do is grab on with both hands and enjoy the ride.”

The words struck a chord inside Crystal as she acknowledged to herself that she was constantly trying to fit Mark into some neat category that she could label. Lydia was right; what she had with Mark might not last forever, but that didn’t mean that they couldn’t be good for each other. He’d said several times that she was different for him, and that was certainly true for her. What was wrong with just enjoying the company of a man she desired without expecting fancy words or heartfelt declarations? Happily ever after hadn’t worked out so well before. She’d just do the very opposite of her marriage with Bill and base her
nonrelationship with Mark on sex. If nothing else, it would drive her mother insane.

Crystal drove straight to Mark’s house after work. Before she could knock on the door, it was flung open by a beaming Denny. “Hey—hey, Crystal. Come on in.”

Unable to resist, she smiled back. Something about Denny’s demeanor was infectious. He was a good-looking guy, but that wasn’t his appeal to her. It was the fact that he always seemed so happy. Maybe if she spent more time with him, it would rub off on her. “Good to see you again,” she replied as he shut the door behind her. Then she saw a sight that had her gawking in shock. Mark was standing at the kitchen island in well-worn jeans and a T-shirt, chopping vegetables as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Close your mouth, girl.” Denny smirked as he walked to a barstool and plopped down.

Mark glanced up, giving her a sexy grin. His look went from relaxed to downright scalding as he took in her cut-off jean shorts and fitted tank top. She’d figured since they were staying in tonight that she’d dress for comfort. If the way the cousins were looking at her was any indication, they approved wholeheartedly of her casual attire—possibly a bit too much.
“Hungry, Angel?” Mark’s searing gaze let her know he wasn’t just talking about dinner.

She shifted her knees together before she could stop herself. “I—um, could eat.”
Shit, they’re still staring as if they’ve never seen a woman before.
“So . . . what are you making?” she asked brightly.

“Stir-fry,” Mark said, before adding huskily, “Now come give me a kiss, Angel.” She looked at him uncertainly, chancing a glance at Denny. Mark turned to the other man and snapped, “Go get something from the car.”

“Like what?” Denny asked, clearly playing dumb to harass his cousin.

Mark put his hand on his hips, rolling his eyes. “I don’t give a fuck—just walk out there and stand for a while.” Denny grumbled under his breath, but Crystal could tell it was just for show. He looked vastly amused as he was essentially kicked out of the house. Mark turned back to her and crooked his finger. “Now come here so I can touch you. He’ll be back soon just to be an asshole, so unless you want an audience, hustle, baby.” That got her attention. She crossed the room, and before she could blink, he had her turned with her back pressed against the granite island. “You smell amazing,” he murmured as his tongue licked up her neck. Mark, she’d discovered, loved tasting her.

“It’s soap,” she blurted out, unable to hold a coherent thought in her head. “Plus, I used the matching
lotion as well, so that’s probably what you smell. Although it could be my lip stuff. . . .” She trailed off, realizing she was rambling like a crazy woman.

Lifting his head, he said, “Angel—time’s wasting.” She didn’t need further encouragement. Going up on her toes, in a move that probably lacked grace, she locked her lips on his—and then he took over. His kiss consumed her, and even though she didn’t realize it as he was repositioning her, she suddenly found her butt on the counter and him between her legs.

Crystal shamelessly pressed her aching core against his hardness as he gave her a deep kiss full of tongue and more than a little teeth nipping. “Oh, Mark,” she moaned as she felt his hand pinching her nipple through her lacy bra. “God—yes!” she encouraged as his hand slipped into the back of her shorts before steadily moving toward the front. And for the second time that day, someone walked in while she and Mark were making out like teenagers.

A throat cleared nearby and a voice said, “Maybe you should have mentioned that you were planning to go all the way, instead of just kissing,” Denny called out. “I could have walked around the block or something. Or picked up some takeout, since it doesn’t look as if dinner is going to be ready anytime soon.”

Mark broke the kiss, and Crystal let her legs slide down his body. She could only imagine how they must look to Denny. “I knew I’d regret letting you invite yourself to stay,” Mark grumbled as he threw a carrot at Denny. They teased each other good-naturedly while she settled at the bar, listening to them bicker.
They were very much how she imagined brothers would be like. Mark blustered and scowled, but there was no real heat behind his words. It was obvious that they loved each other and had an easiness between them that spoke of the years they’d spent together.

When Denny came over to throw an arm around her, she smiled over her shoulder at him. “Oh, Crystal, the stories I could tell you about the man you were slobbering all over,” he teased.

“Denny,” Mark snapped with a clear warning in his voice.

“Ah, come on. Sharing is caring. We’ve had some funny moments through the years. Crystal would really get a kick out of the chick who tattooed your name on her—”

“Denny! I swear—”

“Not her?” Denny continued as if he wasn’t in the least concerned by Mark glowering at him from only inches away. “How about the one who sang that Britney song during the big event? What was it? ‘. . . Baby One More Time’? No, wait—‘I’m A Slave 4 U’! Shit, that one was funny.” By this point, both men, and she used that term loosely because they were behaving more like boys, were circling around the island. Mark was yelling threats and Denny was holding his sides while he continued with his trip down memory lane. “No—no, I’ve got it, the one you caught trying to make a mold of your—ouch! Dammit, I’m telling my mom that you hit me with a spatula. Your ass is in so much trouble!”

Crystal couldn’t help it; she doubled over in her seat,
laughing until tears rolled down her cheeks. “How in the world,” she gasped out, “did that girl do that?” She wheezed.

Mark glared at Denny, who yelled, “Play-Doh,” as he ran to the living room for cover.

Mark held his hands up as if trying to plead his innocence. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just messing with you.”

Raising a brow, she teased, “So you’re saying that none of that actually happened, right?”

“Whoops, looks like dinner’s ready. Don’t want to let it burn,” he said hastily as he turned away and busied himself at the stove.

“Good save,” she said lightly, letting the topic go. Oddly enough, hearing about his encounters with other women didn’t really bother her that much. When Denny sidled back into the kitchen and gave her a wink, she felt like she’d passed some kind of initiation test by not overreacting to his stories. Even Mark gave her an easy grin when he set a steaming bowl of chicken stir-fry in front of her. If not for the way his gaze strayed to her breasts for a beat too long, she might have been afraid that she was officially one of the guys now, but it appeared there was no danger of that. As she sat joking and laughing with the two of them, she realized with a pang somewhere in the vicinity of her heart that it would be far too easy to become attached to these men—in fact, she was afraid that she already had grown rather attached.

•   •   •

Mark sat at the bar, sipping a glass of wine while Denny and Angel cleaned the kitchen and picked on
each other like old friends. He wasn’t jealous in the least that his cousin was getting along so well with the woman in his life. Strangely, he felt the most peaceful he had in years. It wasn’t that he and Denny didn’t have meals together often. In fact, it was normal for one of them to cook dinner when neither of them had plans that evening. What was unusual was how seamlessly she fit in with them, as if she’d always been a part of their group. Denny liked Angel, he could tell—and not in a sexual way. His connection from the first had been more of that of a sibling.

After dinner, Crystal had dragged Denny up with her and demanded he help her clean since Mark had cooked for them. His cousin had put up a token argument, saying something about it being women’s work, which caused her to smack him lightly on the back of the head. Mark had smiled, both amused and, fuck it all, enchanted. That was what he was—charmed and entranced by her. He kept waiting for the overwhelming urge to push her away and move on, but it never came. Even when he’d freaked the previous night and had taken off after their talk about her ex-husband, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. He’d spent the day wanting to go to her but trying to resist. Until Denny told him to check his Twitter account. He’d been pissed to see something like that from her—then, strangely enough, he’d been upset that he’d hurt her. Because clearly she’d misinterpreted the cause of his abrupt departure.

He allowed himself to admit that he not only wanted to be in a relationship—he was in one with Crystal. Whether she knew it or not, all things Crystal
Webber captivated him, and he didn’t see that changing anytime soon. When he thought of the future now, she was always there. He didn’t know what that meant, but seeing as he was sitting there calmly watching her flick water at his cousin and had no desire to run, he figured it was a good sign. He knew most people would consider this moving too fast. But to him, this was reaching for something that he’d never dreamed was possible. She was all goodness, light, and maybe even redemption, and he wanted it—needed it—because, after the first night with her had opened his eyes, he knew he couldn’t go back to the meaningless life he’d been living all these years.

A thump on his shoulder suddenly pulled him from his thoughts. Angel stood in front of him with a mischievous grin, holding a towel. Obviously, she’d swatted him with it. He greedily took in the sight of her, looking so content. He wanted to take her to the bedroom and lose himself in her for hours. From the flush spreading across her cheeks, she knew exactly what he was thinking. Never taking his eyes from her, he said, “Good night, Denny.” He heard his cousin laugh softly, but this time he held his playful comments and simply waved before leaving.

“I really like him,” she said softly as the door closed behind his cousin. “He’s a nice guy. I can tell that you two are close. Did you grow up together?”

He took her hand, pulling her closer until she was standing between his spread legs. “Do you really want to chat right now?”

She gave him what he figured was her best poker face, but he could see the corners of her mouth
twitching. “What else are you offering?” And he told her in explicit detail with a few creative twists thrown in and watched her lips form a perfect O. “Talking’s really overrated.” She shrugged. And that right there was yet another reason she had succeeded where others had never tempted him into anything serious. He never knew what she would give him. Sometimes sweet and innocent, then there was sassy, and his personal favorite, purring kitten. She loved to be touched, stroked, and petted. The way her body arched when his hands were on her was one of the most beautiful sights he’d even seen. She responded to his touch as if she’d been made for him. He was becoming so accustomed to the unexpected from her that he barely blinked when she pulled back enough to shed her clothing. “Race you to the bedroom.”

He attempted to sound stern when he said, “Angel,” but he shot to his feet and ran after her. He grabbed her by the waist in the hallway, swinging her up into his arms as she shrieked. “Got you, baby. Looks like I’m the winner tonight.” Looking down into her smiling eyes, he thought those words summed up perfectly how he was feeling about the whole evening.