A Baker's Delight (McKenzie Cousins Book 7) Read online

  “God,” she moans. “I’m not like this.” I hear fear in her voice so reluctantly; I straighten her clothing and give her a soft kiss on her nose.

  “Believe it or not, but neither am I.” I move and kiss her lips. “Please have dinner with me, Sofia? The chemistry is too strong between us to be ignored.”

  She turns worried eyes up to mine. “I don’t want to be used.” She straightens her spine. “This can’t ever happen again.”

  “Sofia—”

  “I’m busy.” She runs back into the bakery and I’m left at my car with an uncomfortable mess in my pants, wondering what the hell I’m doing.

  Something I do know is that I’m not using her.

  Of course she’d think I only wanted to sate my lust for her, and in the beginning that was true.

  I’m afraid Sofia McKenzie is going to become important to me.

  3

  Sofia

  “What am I doing?” I mutter at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

  My palms feel sweaty and my heart is franticly beating behind my breastbone as I try and get over my anxiety.

  Shane is persistent and after this afternoon, I’m not surprised. My body was saying one thing while my head was saying something else entirely. I really do want to be with him, but I’m afraid. Not just because I don’t want to be used, but also because my heart is already involved. It has been from the first moment we met. I don’t have any experience at being with a man and Shane is a powerful one, who isn’t afraid of anything. He certainly isn’t afraid of telling me what he wants me to do to him, or what he wants to do to me.

  Part of the attraction is his confidence and the take-charge attitude that comes across with just one glance from his dark eyes.

  Nerves flutter in my belly while I’m grabbing a jacket and my car keys. Am I making a mistake going to his home? Is he going to think I no longer mind being used? It’s much more than that and I’m not sure where my own confidence has come from tonight. I have to do this though. I have to take a chance for once in my life. I mean, anything to do with cooking and the bakery then I have abundance of confidence, but my personal life not so much.

  Pulling my apartment door closed, I quickly make it to my car and out of the underground lot and into the miserable night. Rain pounds down as I drive out of the city, focusing my concentration until I slow at the turning onto Shane’s property.

  The large house sits in a dip and can be seen from where I’ve slowed to a crawl. Lights appear to be on in every room downstairs, and the horse statues at the end of the driveway are lit in a soft glow. Drawing forward, I finally start to wonder the wisdom of just showing up when I see other cars parked by the house.

  Perhaps I should have called first.

  Chewing on my lips, I find myself climbing from the car and heading for the front door. I nervously glance down at myself and feel like a fool. Under my raincoat, I’m wearing black thigh-highs, lacy black thong and bra set. Shane had said how much he’d wanted me and he’d shown me today what magic we could make together so I’ve decided to bring out the naughty side of myself. I may dress conservative on the outside, but under all my clothing, I like pretty things. Now though, I’m thinking I should have worn a dress at least.

  While I’m working up the courage to knock, the door flings open and Shane’s mother is stood glaring at me. “Sofia!” she says surprised. “I had no idea my daughter had invited you.”

  The way ‘you’ drips off her tongue as though I’m a piece of dirt on the floor while she looks me up and down, tells me she has a problem with me.

  “I didn’t know there was a party. I just need to grab something I left the other day while I’m on my way home from dinner at my parents’ house. I’ll go around back.” I quickly take off for the back of the house cursing myself for the lie.

  I could hardly say I’m here to seduce your son.

  Still cursing, I enter the house through the utility room and find that I’m frozen in place at the sight of Shane leaning in very closely to a woman I haven’t seen before. Unfortunately, I’m an idiot and gasp into the silence, drawing their attention.

  I’m unable to hide the hurt I feel, my anger beginning to build, which it eventually does as I look at Shane and see surprise on his handsome face. It isn’t just that, I notice how uncomfortable he is and as much as I want to stay and put him on the spot in that way, I don’t.

  I do an abrupt about turn and race back outside as fast as I can on the high heels I’m not used to walking in.

  “Sofia! Wait!” Shane shouts, gaining on me.

  I look behind to see just how close he is and then I’m falling. My heart’s frantic as I put my hands out in front of me to catch myself, but not before pain rips up my left leg. Rain soaks me to the skin and my ankle throbs, having been wrenched as I fell.

  Shane drops to his knees. “Sofia! Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.” He tries to shelter me with his large body, and then I feel his hands on my ankle. “Sprained.” His hands linger and caress up to my knee, his gaze lifting to mine. Curiosity is in his, but I’ll be damned if I tell him why I’m here, or let him see what’s under this jacket.

  Clearing his throat, he scoops me up into his arms and starts striding toward the house when I suddenly realize he’s taking me inside, and panic. “No.” I flare my arms, but all that does is make him grip me tighter. “Put me down. Now.”

  He pauses. “You twisted your ankle and banged up your knee. You won’t be able to walk.”

  Tears of frustration run down my face. “I don’t want to be anywhere near you right now.”

  Frowning, he places me on a chair in the kitchen and glances to where he had the woman pressed up against the wall and then back to me. A light seems to go off in his head. “It wasn’t what it appeared. I promise you.”

  “I don’t care. I just want to go home.”

  “Now you’re sounding like a petulant child.” He moves behind me. “Let me take the jacket and I’ll find you a towel…but first I need to take a look at your knee.”

  “No thank you.” I clutch the lapels to my chest. “I’m not staying.”

  “Stubborn!” He curses and paces around his kitchen while I shove my hand into my jacket pocket and pull out my cell, which is luckily undamaged.

  Pressing quick dial ‘5’ I glare at Shane while listening to the ringing tone.

  “Who are you calling? I’ll take you home.”

  “No you won’t.”

  My brother, Ryan answers. “What’s up?”

  “I think I’ve sprained my ankle and need a ride home.” I wince. “I don’t suppose you can come out and get me?”

  “Where are you?”

  I give him the address. “Thanks, Ryan.” I hang up the call.

  “Whose Ryan?” Shane sits in the chair opposite.

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” I reply, refusing to look at him.

  He sighs, drawing my gaze, as he runs his hands through his hair. “Veronica has been after my money for a while now, so what you saw was me letting her think she’d finally worn me down, only to tell her to back off and leave me the fuck alone.” He offers me a wry grin. “Of course you didn’t see that because you’d already fled.”

  “Money?”

  “She’s more interested in my money than me.”

  “I think you underestimate your charm.”

  “Is that so? So you forgive me then?” He leans across the table and tries to gather my hands. I move them into my lap.

  “It’s been a long night,” I say, muffling a yawn. “I’ll just let my brother take me home and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

  “Ryan’s your brother?” His gaze freezes on my face.

  “Yes.”

  “Phew. That’s good.” He looks me up and down, his frown deepening. “So, why are you here?”

  I feel a hot blush creeping on to my cheeks, and decide this new naughty Sofia is going to be honest so that he knows what he could have
had tonight. “I thought I’d surprise you, and show up in my thigh-highs,” I lean over the table and watch him swallow hard, “and I thought you might like my new lacy thong and bra.” His breathing has become heavy so I sit back into the chair. “But I guess you had other plans, huh?”

  “You don’t really mean that.” He frowns, unsure. “Do you?”

  “About what I’m wearing under the jacket or that I’m going to let my brother take me home and you won’t get to see or touch me at all?” I raise a brow, trying to ignore the throbbing in my ankle and the way Shane is currently looking at me; as though he’s the big bad wolf and I’m his dinner.

  “You really came out here…for me?”

  “Yeah, and it didn’t turn out too good so I’m going home and won’t be trying this again any time soon.”

  “Sofia—”

  “Leave it Shane. Please. I’ve had enough for tonight.” I turn my head as my brother walks into the kitchen.

  Ryan looks between Shane and I before lifting me from the chair and carrying me out to his truck, all without a word to Shane.

  “I’ll get you home, bandaged, and dry and then I want to know what is going on because I’m guessing you’re wearing a lot less than I am beneath that jacket.” Ryan slams the truck door before climbing in his side. “Just don’t talk because I’m angry.”

  It isn’t until I’m home and tucked into bed that I curl in on myself and cry tears of humiliation, and frustration. Mainly humiliation. The one time I decide to try and seduce a man, I fall flat on my face.

  4

  Shane

  Sofia McKenzie baffles me.

  First she’s telling me she won’t allow me to use her, and then she’s showing up at my house dressed to seduce. I’m not sure what changed between this afternoon and this evening but I like the change. I could kick myself in the ass for missing that opportunity with her. But for the way I chose to get shut of Veronica, I could be in bed enjoying the beautiful Sofia.

  I need to make it right between us.

  Why wait until morning?

  Exactly! Why wait until morning?

  “I’m going out and you all need to leave.” I snap my fingers and dash upstairs to grab my car keys.

  “Well really, Shane.” My mother’s voice follows me up the stairs and I grin, finally having an excuse to kick them out.

  Jogging back downstairs, I refuse to give my mother and her husband who dropped in unannounced with Veronica, an explanation for my hasty departure. I do insist, “I’ll see you out. Now.”

  “Why are you being so rude?” my mother questions as I usher her out of the house, knowing her husband, George will follow.

  Veronica takes up the rear as I set the alarm and lock up. “I don’t have to explain anything to you. You turned up here unannounced and expected me to cater to you and your friend.” I glance at Veronica and back to my mother. “I suggest next time, you leave her behind otherwise you won’t get in the front door.”

  I unlock my car and jumping in, roar down my driveway, feeling exhilarated for the first time in a long time.

  In no time at all, I’ve bribed the security guard on her building, who I happen to know, and I’m banging on Sofia’s apartment door. “Sofia,” I whisper. “Open the door.”

  “Shane?” She takes the door off the security lock and then she’s standing before me, rumpled from sleep in a large T-shirt. “What’s going on?”

  The only way I can think of answering is by cupping the back of her head and slamming my mouth down on hers while backing her into the apartment. Her mouth takes as much as it gives, and every blood cell in my body travels south giving me a monster of an erection. My rigid flesh strains against the zipper, desperate to feel the swollen wet sheath of the woman currently returning my kisses with one hell of a punch.

  I kick the door closed and blindly reach behind me to engage her lock before my hands get busy, slipping beneath the shirt she’s wearing. “This needs to come off.” I wait for her to agree before I make another move.

  Sofia blinks at me a few times. “You still want me after the ass I made of myself tonight?”

  “What the hell! You got hurt, Sofia. You didn’t make an ass of yourself. I wanted you to stay…even before you’d told me what you were wearing.” Grabbing her butt, I lift her up and she has no choice but to wrap her legs around my waist.

  Pressing her against the wall, her hands reach for the buttons on my shirt while I slide my hands upwards, taking her shirt with them. I nearly bite my tongue when I reveal the lacy lingerie she’s still wearing.

  “I’m not as experienced as you think,” she whispers, moaning, arching her chest into my hands as they skim over her back and down to her rounded ass and back up.

  I toss my shirt to the floor and quickly get my hands back on the sexy woman who has my body burning up like an inferno. “I like that you’re not experienced.” I nuzzle into her neck. “That means I can be the first to show you how to let yourself go.” My hands unsnap the clasp of her bra and then I’m looking down at her bare breasts. The mounds are smooth and firm, as pale as the rest of her, but the dark nipples are hard tight buds that make me quiver when I bring her against my own chest.

  Sofia wraps her arms around me in a hug so fierce I’m not sure I’m going to be able to let her go. This woman has gotten under my skin and the more time I spend with her the more time I crave.

  Carrying her through to her bedroom on legs that feel weak as a baby’s, I realize this woman has the power to bring me to my knees, which I’m not sure I like. I’m the one who is always in control and the idea that I’m no longer, unsettles me. Not enough to walk away though. At least tonight I don’t have that will power. Sofia is beautiful and enticing, and her innocence has me bewitched as I stare down at her nude body. The scrap of lace between her thighs hides nothing from my gaze.

  “You have too many clothes on.” Sofia’s eyes trail over my body, leaving goose bumps over my skin, and when she arches up, her pussy rubbing against my cock, I lose all sense of control.

  “I need to be inside of you now!” I fiddle with my belt and pants and within seconds my hand is wrapped around my dripping cock while my other rips her thong from her body. I glance up and notice Sofia’s eyes on my rigid flesh before she meets and holds my gaze. “Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me.”

  Her hands reach out, pulling my body closer. “I’m desperate to feel you inside of me.”

  I feel her fingernails dig into my ass and then I’m guiding my cock toward the lips of her pussy. The broad head of my shaft slowly breaches her entrance and my eyes cross as pleasure shoots up my spine. “So tight.” I grit my teeth. “So wet.” I push in deep while holding myself rigid, hoping I don’t come before I can pleasure her.

  Sofia’s warmth surrounds my throbbing shaft, her eyes drift closed when I hold steady, allowing her to adjust to my size. I push slowly and my eyes widen in shock. “You’ve never done this before?”

  “No,” she groans, her hands gripping me tightly. “Please don’t stop. I want you.”

  Closing my eyes, I already know I’m not going to stop. Not just because my cock is hard beyond belief for this woman, but also because I want to be her first. I want to be the one who gets her first pleasure wrapped around his dick. No one else will ever have the chance. I growl at the thought of anyone else touching her. Her eyes widen in surprise.

  “I’m not stopping.” I dip my head and wrap my mouth around a gorgeous nipple, suckling hard.

  Sofia gasps and moans, and I take advantage of her pleasure and thrust hard through the barrier that no longer protects her. She arches and clings to me, tears on her lashes.

  I hold still and spread soft kisses over each eyelid and her beautiful face. Her eyes find mine and I smile down at her as a hand strokes up from my ass along my spine. “You feel good.” She squeezes her channel tightly around my cock and stars explode behind my eyelids.

  “Are you okay if I move?”

  “Oh
yes.” Her eyes light with mirth. “I want to experience everything with you.”

  Groaning at her words, I bury my face into her neck and slowly rock out to the tip before I slowly slide all the way back inside her tight body. The long slide of my cock feels amazing and causes excitement to rapidly rise to the surface.

  The writhing woman beneath me isn’t helping to prolong our pleasure, but when she suddenly stills before shuddering in my arms, I lose any sense of time and come so hard that I can’t catch a breath. Her body pulsates tightly around my jerking flesh, sucking every last drop of release into her own body. The guttural sound that escapes my mouth is loud to my ears as I gasp for breath against her, feeling the tiny pulses continuing to pleasure me.

  “Wow,” Sofia mumbles. “I’ve never felt anything like that before.”

  Sliding from her body, I feel the loss the moment I slip free, but ignoring that, I wrap her into my arms and roll her so she’s lying on my chest, her face buried in my neck. “You felt and feel amazing.” I’m not sure why I can’t admit to her that tonight was a first for me too. Not the sex, but in the way I feel being here with her. My release had been far more explosive than anything I’d felt before, and if I’m honest, that scares me.

  She lifts her gaze. “Is it always like that?”

  I force myself to hold her gaze, and lie, “Yes.”

  The smile slowly starts to slip from her face as she searches my eyes before she quickly buries her face into my neck once again.

  I’m a bastard for letting her think that I’ve experienced the pleasure that we shared before, but in a way I haven’t lied. In truth, I know loving this woman in the way I have tonight, will always feel this way—only with Sofia.

  What I want to tell her is to sleep in my arms and I’ll be here when she wakes, but what actually comes out of my mouth is something I know will hurt her, I just can’t stop. “I need to leave.” I slide out from under her and avoid looking at her while I dress.