Can't Buy My Love Read online

  I pictured the man and how he’d looked at me in the hall. Not like I was the fat girl who got picked last, but like I was prime rib at the local steak house. Little flutters in my tummy started.

  “Ladies.” I turned and inclined my head regally. “I know this must seem awfully frightening to you. But if it raises money for the children, then I will honor the outcome of the auction.”

  A few of the girls sighed and actually looked impressed. God, they were easy. Anna just folded her arms across her perky tits and frowned.

  “Well, don’t say we didn’t warn you. If you come back with chlamydia you have only yourself to blame.”

  Now she was flinging STDs at me? Like I was going to actually sleep with Mr. Tattoo?

  All of a sudden, I thought about his rigid biceps under my hands, the way his entire body had looked so hard, so muscular. What would he be like in bed? Would he be wild and dangerous, just like his image? The thought was unexpected and made the fluttering in my stomach turn hot and move down between my thighs.

  “Have fun, ladies.” I shouldered my tote bag and left the room, my heels clicking on the linoleum floor.

  Mr. Tattoo waited for me near the exit sign, watching me as I made my way down the hall. My bravado and excitement slipped a little with each step closer to him. Twenty-four hours. I would be with this man for twenty-four hours.

  “Jessica Davis.” A slow smile spread across his face. “So you’re gonna be my bitch for the weekend.”

  My feet stumbled. He’d just called me his bitch. How the hell was I supposed to react to that?

  “Uh, I guess so. Although you might not wanna call me your bitch if you want to keep on my good side.” I took the last few steps that separated us.

  “My apologies. Trying to be funny. Guess I missed the mark.”

  “Just a little bit. I don’t remember seeing you around the island. You’re not local, are you?”

  He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. “Technically I’m from Augusta.”

  Ah, that made more sense, but what was he doing on Leaf Island?

  “My grandpa was Randal Thomas. He owned Fisherman’s Feast.”

  My eyes widened and suddenly I wasn’t looking at a grown man, but a sixteen-year-old boy who’d loved to attack me with squirt guns. Who’d made me shriek while chasing me with the fish he’d just caught. Who’d been my first kiss so many years ago.

  He nodded. “Ah, so you do remember me.”

  It suddenly seemed hard to swallow. “Yeah, I do.”

  Josh Thomas. Now I recognized him. It’d just been a little hard with the tattoos and goatee. Talk about a change! He used to spend his summers on the island. Man, I hadn’t seen him since the summer I turned sixteen. After he graduated high school and our little kiss was long forgotten. By then he’d moved on to Tina Schillings, who’d already slept with half the teenage boys in town.

  “I was sorry to hear about your grandpa, Josh.”

  He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and offered a brief smile. “Yeah, me too. He was a good guy. I would have gotten down here earlier, soon after the funeral, but some things came up.”

  Somebody passed us in the hall, bumping into me and sending me stumbling up against Josh. Once again, he reached out to steady me.

  “Thanks.” I looked up and our gazes locked. I watched his pupils dilate, heard him inhale quickly.

  My stomach did a little flippy thing again, and I stepped away quickly.

  “Are you ready to go?” His voice had turned gruff.

  I nodded, and my new bangs fell into my eyes. I pushed them away.

  “All right.” He gave a quick nod. “Follow me.”

  He pushed open the door, stepping outside as the sunshine spilled into the hallway of the senior center. I took a deep breath, looking at his silhouette against the bright Maine sky, and then walked outside.

  “So where did you park?” I asked while following him through the parking lot. He glanced back at me with another big smile but didn’t answer my question. We kept weaving between cars, until I saw it all by itself at the end of the row. I stumbled in my heels. It was a motorcycle. A big one.

  “Umm…” I bit my lip.

  “You ever been on a Harley before?”

  “The only bike I’ve ever ridden was my Huffy when we were kids.”

  “Well, then, aren’t you in for a treat?” He laughed and tugged off the jacket he now wore. “You’re going to need to wear this over that tiny dress.”

  “Thanks.” I slipped my arms into his jacket but didn’t bother to zip it up. It hit well past my hips and smelled like him. Leather and sandalwood.

  “Looks good on you. Now this.” He handed me a spare helmet and then fastened his own on.

  I struggled with the helmet, managing to put it on, but the straps part eluded me.

  “Here, let me.” He closed the distance between us and deftly secured the helmet on my head. His breath was warm against my face, the smell of him teasing my senses.

  He didn’t pull away immediately, and the tiny hairs all over my body lifted as I became aware of the differences in our bodies. He was so tall, so muscular, and just so hard everywhere. I felt almost dainty, and I was not a dainty woman by any means.

  “Jessie.” My name was a whisper on lips that hovered just above my mouth.

  I think I moaned, or made some kind of strange sound. His gaze dropped to my mouth and I leaned toward him, closing my eyes. Nothing happened. Then he sighed and the heat from his body was gone.

  “We should go.”

  My eyes snapped open and a blush heated my cheeks. He turned away and straddled the bike. Lord, what had I been doing? Trying to get him to kiss me?

  “Hop on, I’m gonna take you for one helluva ride.”

  His words evoked images of another kind of ride that could’ve been fun. But this would have to do. I glanced down, remembering what I was wearing. Ah, what the hell. After hiking the dress up around my thighs, I swung a leg over the leather seat and sat down behind him.

  He reached back and took my arms, pulling them around his waist. Oh, Lordy, what a stomach he had on him. Definitely not a teenage boy anymore, but a grown man. A very buff grown man.

  My hands seemed to take on a mind of their own and actually started to wander over the taut muscles on his abdomen, which suddenly bounced with laughter.

  Oh, this was embarrassing. He probably thought I was some horny chick that hadn’t been laid in months. Which was true, but damn it, he didn’t have to know that. And I wasn’t exactly desperate.

  Milton down at my office asked me out five times in the last year. I could’ve gotten a date if I really wanted one.

  Grimacing, I laced my fingers together to keep from feeling Josh up again. My nipples were tight now and pressing snug against the leather of his jacket.

  The motorcycle roared to life, vibrating between my thighs. As if I wasn’t getting turned on enough by the man himself, the bike was now going to add its support. Moisture pooled between my legs, and I bit my lip to avoid groaning.

  The bike shot forward. With a yelp of fear, I forgot my loose grasp around his waist and hung on for dear life, burying my face into his solid back.

  The wind whipped at my hair as we tore out of the parking lot and onto the coastal highway. After a few minutes of riding, the fear faded and exhilaration took its place. Adrenaline rushed through my blood and a huge grin spread across my face. I cried out in excitement as he took a corner, leaning the bike through the turn.

  Where was he taking me? I stared out at the ocean, watching the waves that crashed onto the beach just below the road. Swiping my tongue over my now dry lips, I tasted the salty sea air.

  I lifted my head when he steered the bike onto Rockport Street. Ah, so that was where he was taking me. I should have figured it out earlier. Had his gran
dpa left him the house? Josh turned the bike onto the waterfront property and killed the engine.

  I pulled away from him and eased myself off the motorcycle. My thighs still trembled as if I were still riding. Fidgeting with the straps of my helmet, I finally managed to pull it off.

  “How’d you do?” he asked while pulling off his own helmet and hanging it over the handlebar of the bike.

  “That was pretty cool.” I set my helmet down like his on the opposite handlebar and grinned. “Can we do it again soon?”

  “Hell yeah.” He stepped forward and settled his big hands on my hips. “But first, I need to make something up to you.”

  My body trembled, and it had nothing to do with the aftereffects of the bike this time. “Oh, what’s that?”

  “A really bad kiss I gave you when we were kids.” His head lowered, blocking out the sun, and then came the first soft brush of his lips against mine.

  He lifted his mouth just slightly, and his breath was warm against my lips as he murmured, “I wanted to do this earlier, in the parking lot. But I didn’t want to freak anyone out for your safety any more than they already were.”

  He kissed me again, rubbing his lips on mine in a slow, firm kiss that had my knees going weak. When he outlined my bottom lip with his tongue, I opened my mouth for him.

  He slipped inside with a sound of approval, immediately seeking out my tongue with his. He tasted sweet, confident, and dangerous. And I wanted all of it.

  His goatee tickled my chin, more tangible proof at how very male he was. I slipped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He deepened the kiss, sucking on my tongue and sending darts of pleasure straight to the ache between my legs. He finally pulled back, dragging in air while I did the same.

  Tracing his thumb over my swollen lips, he stared down at me with a hooded gaze. “I have to say, Jessie, you sure have grown up.”

  His words sent a thrill of excitement through me. “I have news for you. I grew up years ago.” I licked my lips. “You just weren’t around to enjoy the results.”

  His mouth stretched into a sexy smile. “But I am now.”

  “Yes, you are.” I glanced at him through my lashes, my heart thudding as I stepped past him and headed toward the front door. “And by the way, you didn’t have to make up for anything. You’ve always been a good kisser.”

  Chapter Four

  The inside of the house looked almost exactly how I remembered, even though it had been almost two decades since I’d been in it. The entire house was built in log cabin fashion, the hardwood floors covered in throw rugs. Blue twill chairs and a matching couch were scattered about the room, enhancing the subtle nautical theme throughout the house.

  “Is it yours now?” I asked, as he walked past me toward the kitchen to open the fridge. “The house?”

  “Yeah.” He turned to look at me over his shoulder. “The house and the restaurant.”

  My pulse quickened. Did this mean he was moving here for good? Or maybe he’d just use it as a summer cabin.

  “What are your intentions?”

  He twisted the top off two bottles of beer and carried one to me, his eyes dancing with mischief. “My intentions? What, toward you? I think that’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?”

  Oh yeah it was. Everything about the way he was looking at me showed that he couldn’t wait to get me naked, which was a bit mind boggling in itself, but that wasn’t what I’d been asking.

  “I meant toward the house.” Tilting the bottle back, I took a long sip and tried to look completely casual, trying not to reveal just how hard my heart was pounding. “Thanks for the beer.”

  “No problem.” He mimicked me and took a deep swig himself. I watched the muscles work in his tan neck. “I haven’t decided what to do with the house yet.”

  Ah. Meaning if I did decide to sleep with him in the next twenty-four hours, it could be just a fling.

  Did it matter? Would I want to be serious with him?

  “But the restaurant is still open. Who’s been running it since your grandpa passed away?”

  “I just got back in town last week and have been juggling things. I have the old assistant manager keeping things under control, but he’s moving to Florida.”

  “Oh yeah, Chuck. I heard his daughter just gave birth and he wants to be closer.”

  “Yeah, I can understand that.”

  My thoughts turned to something else that had been pricking at my brain. “Why would you pay one thousand dollars for me, Josh? That’s a lot of money.” I lifted my gaze and gave him a skeptical look.

  “Because you deserved that much.”

  Oh God, I practically melted into a puddle at his words. They were utterly swoon-worthy. And because I knew I was smiling like a complete idiot, I said in my most prim voice, “Well, I should warn you, just because you paid that much, doesn’t automatically mean you get to sleep with me.”

  “Are you going to turn me down? Because you should remember how much I love a challenge.” He set his beer down and a tremor shot through me.

  “I remember.”

  “Besides—” he started walking toward me and I backed up until my butt hit the counter. His arms settled on each side of my body, boxing me in, “—with that kiss in the front yard, it seemed a lot like a green light.”

  My pulse sped up and my nipples hardened again. “That kiss was just for fun. Sex is…”

  “Fun too.” He leaned down and kissed the side of my neck. My knees went weak and the flesh between my legs dampened. I set my beer down because I knew I was going to drop it otherwise.

  “In fact you know what?” He slipped his leather jacket off me and let it fall to the floor, then kissed my bare shoulder.

  I took an unsteady breath. “W-what?”

  He kissed up my neck, to just below my ear. “I’ll bet if I slipped my hand in your panties you’d be nice and wet for me.”

  His words sent shock and flames of fire through my body, and I groaned as he caught the lobe of my ear between his teeth, biting gently before stroking his tongue over it.

  “That’s beyond crude.” My words were husky. Dammit, why couldn’t I sound angry?

  “So am I.” He moved one of his hands to my thigh, pushing my dress slowly upward. “So tell me to stop.”

  Do it! Push him away. But the rational side of my brain was getting its ass kicked by the kinky side. I spread my legs, already anticipating the brush of his fingers over my aching flesh.

  He lifted the dress above my waist, and I could feel the rush of air against my silk panties.

  “Very nice. I never would have guessed you’d grow up to be a black thong type of girl.”

  I could have pointed out that this was my only black thong, and the rest of my underwear drawer consisted of things like granny panties with polka dots on them, but it was so much sexier this way. I made a mental note to do some shopping after this weekend.

  “Well, I’m just full of surprises. So why don’t you try and find them all.” God, where had I learned to flirt like this? My voice even sounded sultry.

  “Well, since you offered.” He held my gaze while slowly trailing his fingers to the swollen center between my thighs. “Mmm, you are wet. And hot.”

  My breath hitched as he pushed a finger, still covered by my panties, inside me. His thumb moved up to rub over my clit and a low groan escaped from my throat. Oh God, that felt good.

  “Do you like being licked down here?” He lowered his head and ran his tongue over my bottom lip, then lifted his mouth from mine a fraction. “Having your clit sucked?”

  My heart thudded heavily in my breast, my panties damp now.

  “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue? Or do I?” He grinned and kissed me.

  The kiss was harder this time as he thrust his tongue fast and deep between my lips. His fingers moved i
nside my thong and he tugged on the curls that shielded my sex, before tracing the cleft with one finger. Getting me hotter, wetter, but not sinking in yet.

  I grabbed his shoulders, digging my nails into his shirt. He laughed, and then pushed his finger deep inside me. Gasping, I let my head fall back against the cupboard.

  “Mmm, you feel real good. Slick and warm.” He sucked my earlobe again and I moaned, growing even wetter. “Like you can’t wait to have my cock inside you. Am I right?”

  Yes! He was totally right. Which was a little bit skeevy, because he’d only been back in my life for an hour, and here I was ready to sleep with him.

  The rational side of me came marching back. Could I really throw all my inhibitions aside to have sex with a man who’d just dropped a grand for me?

  Jeez, he has long, talented fingers.

  Maybe I was acting out a hooker fantasy. Like Pretty Woman. Sort of? Okay, not really.

  “Josh.” I hesitated. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all this yet.”

  “You’re right, I’m rushing you…” His smile turned sly. “What about just this part?” He moved his thumb in slow circles against my clit and it became harder to breathe as my hips rocked against him.

  “Just this?” The words came out on a squeak. “Oh…”

  “I want to watch you come. I want to feel you on my fingers as you orgasm.” He pushed a second finger inside me, fucking me slowly with both as his thumb continued to tease my sensitive nub.

  The pleasure built until we were cocooned in sensation and a soundtrack of soft moans—his and mine.

  I leaned into him, stretching on my tiptoes and clutching his shoulders. He pressed down hard on my clit and sunk his fingers to the hilt and I came with a ragged gasp. My calves tightened and my sex clenched around his fingers as the shudders ripped through my body.

  “That’s it, baby.” He stayed with me, moving his thumb slowly again, easing me down from my peak until I fell back, limp against the counter.

  He pulled his fingers from my body, adjusted my panties, and then lowered my dress back down my thighs. He lifted his fingers to his mouth and licked one that had been inside me.