Distractions (The Rebound Series) (3 page)

“Okay.
 
Just remember that your cousin’s birthday party is this weekend.
 
Make sure you’re free,” her mother instructed slowly.

Olivia felt a burst of frustration as she rushed to the icing table at the back where Alice and Sarah were furiously piping.
 
“Okay, mom.
 
I promise.
 
I’ll talk to you later.”
 
She didn’t wait for her mom to respond and she closed her phone, tossing it into her apron pocket.
 
She would make it up to her later, but right now she was out of her two most popular flavors with at least twenty customers in line waiting.
 
And they were getting impatient.

Halloween was always busier than usual, but Olivia hadn’t expected an after-work rush this size.

“These are finished,” Sarah called, arranging two-dozen red velvet cupcakes on a sheet and rushing out to the front.

Somehow, with the three of them working away in the back and Lillian up front, they managed to work their way through the line and finish the day with their sanity intact.
 
But once Olivia flipped her open sign to closed, she wondered if she would have to cancel on Alex.
 
Her kitchen was a complete disaster and she didn’t want to ask Sarah and Alice to help since they had already worked so hard.
 
Plus, it was Halloween.
 
They should be with their friends and family, not cleaning up Olivia’s kitchen.

So after she shooed them away, thanking them for their hard work, she fished out her phone from her apron and dialed Alex’s number.
 
It was seven o’clock, but Olivia wondered if he was still working.
 
Probably
, she thought with a shake of her head.

“Hey, darling,” Alex drawled when he answered on the second ring.

Olivia relaxed when she heard his deep voice washing over her, leaning her weight more fully against the counter.
 
“Hey,” she said softly.
 
But then she bit her lip when she caught sight of her kitchen.

Pans and utensils were stacked high in the sink, her counters were covered with bags of flour and sugar, and her floor had distinct white footprints trailing around the room.
 
It was a disaster.

She sighed.
 
“I don’t think I’ll be able to do dinner tonight.
 
Today was absolutely nuts and I’m gonna be here for another couple hours.
 
I’m really sorry, Alex,” she said, as regret raced through her.
 
She had really wanted to see him tonight.

“I can swing by to help you.
 
I haven’t left work yet,” he added.

Warmth unfurled in her chest at his offer.
 
Just the fact that he offered to help clean up a messy kitchen made her heart beat faster, but she shook her head even though he couldn’t see her.
 
“No, Alex, I’ll be fine.”

“You still have to eat,” he countered.

“Oh, I have plenty of leftover cupcakes.
 
Don’t worry,” she teased, smiling.

He sounded amused but determined when he replied, “I’ll come help and then afterwards we can order out.”

Olivia sighed even as her stomach fluttered.
 
Once Alex set his mind to something, he made it happen.
 
“Okay,” she surrendered.

“I’ll call you when I’m out front,” he said before they said their goodbyes.

The next fifteen minutes were spent clearing off counters and wiping them down.
 
By the time Alex arrived, looking as handsome as ever in his suit, the kitchen was looking halfway decent.

At least until Alex raised a brow, eyeing the mountain of pans piled in the sink. “Busy day?” he asked.

“Halloween,” Olivia offered as an explanation, watching as he shrugged off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves to his elbows.
 
She appreciated the golden skin of his broad forearms for a moment before she forced herself to look away.
 
She didn’t need any more distractions.

He grinned suddenly and the sight sent butterflies straight to her stomach.
 
He started towards her, “And I see you’re dressed up as a temptress.”

She rolled her eyes even as she blushed spread over her cheeks.
 
“You’re so cheesy,” she deflected, propping a hand on her hip as she eyed her dirty apron with a frown.
 
She felt like a complete mess.
 
“I’m dressed as an overworked, exhausted baker.”

He reached out to wrap his arms around her waist, tugging her into an embrace.
 
“Mmm, still turns me on though,” he murmured lowly as he brushed his lips just below her jaw line.
 
She sighed lightly as a shiver racked her body.
 
She let herself enjoy his touch for another moment before she remembered that she’d been working in a kitchen for over twelve hours and that she must smell awful.

She pulled away, pushing at his chest.
 
“That’s not happening until I take a shower and eat, buddy.”

He smirked but released her.
 
“Then we better get started.”

Distractions, indeed.

* * * * *

“Alex,” Olivia complained as he placed her on the bathroom counter of her apartment.
 
“I
really
need a shower.”

“And I’m just helping you undress,” he countered, his fingers finding the buttons of her shirt.

They had finished cleaning the kitchen in a little over an hour and had both decided to come back to Olivia’s apartment to order food.

“We should probably call for delivery first,” Olivia breathed as Alex finally popped off the last button.

Alex made a noncommittal sound but backed off.
 
“Fine, I’ll go order.
 
Does pizza sound good?” He asked, gazing down at her.

“You mean you eat pizza?” she teased, thinking of his rock hard abdomen, which she had admired more than a few times in the past week and a half.

His kiss was quick and hard, catching her off guard.
 
His tongue slipped past her lips before she even realized he was kissing her.
 
And just as swiftly, he was gone.
 
“Do I have to punish you later?” he asked hotly, his voice thick.

Her lips parted as she attempted to press herself closer to him, seeking his warmth.
 
“If that’s your form of punishment, then yes.”

He groaned as though in pain and stepped back, fishing out his phone from his pocket.
 
“I’ll be right back.”

Olivia smiled to herself once he left the room to place the order and she turned on her shower.
 
She finished undressing as she let the water warm up and then stepped under the hot spray, sighing in pleasure as the stream hit her aching muscles.

She stood under the spray, tilting her head back to wet her hair as she recalled the previous night when she had discovered Alex waiting outside her apartment.

Her chest ached when she remembered what he had revealed to her.
 
She remembered the way his voice had hardened when he spoke about his ex.
 
She heard the regret in his voice when he spoke about Luke.

He had been cheated on too.
 
But he had also strained a friendship that obviously meant a lot to him.

Olivia jumped when the shower curtain was pulled back, revealing a very naked Alex.

“We have over a half hour before the pizza comes,” he murmured, stepping in behind her.
 
His darkened eyes ran over her naked body, his arousal already becoming evident.
 
“What do you propose we do to pass the time?”

Olivia was sure she was red.
 
The heat from the water combined with her rising desire left no room for question.

She gazed up at him, her heart pounding and her lashes wet from the spray, as she appreciated his masculine form.
 
His broad, strong shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist.
 
A thin line of dark hair led straight to his hardened cock.
 
His thighs were strong, the lines of muscle evident all the way to his calves.
 
Everything about this man screamed physical perfection.
 
It was intimidating, yet arousing, to Olivia.

She reached out her hand to tug him under the spray of water, lifting up on her toes to bring her mouth to his.
 
His bowed his head to taste her lips more fully, his warm arms encircling her body.
 
His desire was pressed against her stomach between them, reminding Olivia that it had been more than a few days since they had last been with one another.

Alex looked delicious when he was wet like this.
 
His hair turned blacker than oil, the contrast making his hazel eyes seem more intense.
 
Droplets of water ran off his strong nose and wet his lips.
 
Her eyes trailed the drops as they made their way down the planes of his body.

If this was how he looked showering, she would gladly pay for front row seats to all of his showers for the rest of her life.

Alex reached out to grab her soap bar off its stand and lathered it between his palms, not taking his eyes off hers.
 
Olivia sighed in pleasure and arched into him when she felt his slippery hands slide up to her breasts.
 
The lack of friction made her thighs clench in frustration as stinging arousal coursed through her.

Watching as she responded to his touch, Alex toyed with her nipples before running his soapy palms down her stomach and over the curves of her hips.
 
Finding his destination, he slid a finger between her lips and lightly made contact with her clit.

Olivia’s hands shot out to rest on Alex’s high shoulders, her legs feeling less than stable as he continued his torture.
 
He leaned his head down to nibble just below her ear and despite the warmth of the shower, she shivered.

Opening her legs wider for him, Olivia watched, dazed, as Alex worked his fingers between her thighs, bringing her to new heights of pleasure.

Olivia zeroed in on Alex’s hardened cock, watching as it pulsed and throbbed with arousal.
 
She reached down and gripped him tightly in one hand, making him buck in surprise as a strangled groan sounded from his throat.

Olivia smiled, liking that she had some form of power over him.

He crushed his lips to hers in response, his tongue dueling with her own.
 
Alex never liked to relinquish his power.
 
He liked to be in control.

But sometimes, so did she.

Her hand stroked him firmly even as his mouth punished her.
 
His fingers never stopped their movements between her legs and Olivia hoped they never did.

Alex groaned when she brought her other hand to his cock, moving both up and down his thick arousal.
 
“Oh God, Liv.
 
Just like that,” he breathed.

Another wave of desire flooded her at the sound of his obvious pleasure.
 
She loved pleasuring him and making him crazed until nothing but his animalistic instinct was left.
 
Olivia liked when Alex was a little rough with her.

As Olivia neared her climax, she tightened her grip on Alex and stroked him faster.
 
His shaft was like hot velvet in her hand.
 
He stared down at her, watching with darkened eyes, as she brought him closer and closer to the edge.

The stream of hot water pouring down on them sensitized her skin.
 
She could feel the rivers running down her breasts, her stomach, her thighs.
 
It was incredibly erotic.
 
But not as erotic as Alex’s fingers as they flicked and stroked her until she was panting with need.

Olivia came before he did.
 
Between the delicious sliding of his fingers inside her and the way he hit her clit just right, she came hard and fast, moaning uncontrollably.
 
Alex wrapped an arm around her back to steady her when her knees shook from the intensity.

But even through her orgasm, Olivia never stopped stroking Alex.
 
As she continued her ministrations, her body still pulsing in the aftershocks of her orgasm, he began to caress her breasts, his gaze slowly turning from longing to beseeching.

After a few more moments, Alex tensed up suddenly and cursed.
 
Streams of his seed began to spill into her hand even as the water washed it away almost immediately.
 
Alex shuddered, groaning as he rode through the pleasure.

Olivia bit her lip as she watched him come undone, milking him of every last drop until he placed his hands over hers.
 
His darkened gaze found hers as he leaned his forehead against hers, trying to catch his breath.
 
“Well, fuck me, darling,” he breathed in disbelief.

She smiled teasingly even as a blush started to spread, “Maybe later.”
 
He half-laughed, half-moaned at her words.
 
“But for now, we should actually shower,” she playfully reprimanded.

“Does that mean I can get you all soapy again?” he asked, his eyes getting heated all over again.

“Nice try, buddy,” she replied, turning her back to him to reach for her shampoo bottle.
 
He pressed himself against her back and Olivia closed her eyes at the sensation.
 
The feel of his wet, naked, warm skin against hers felt heavenly.

They finished their shower leisurely and by the time they stepped out, Alex was half-hard again from all their teasing touches and caresses.
 
Just as Alex lifted Olivia onto her bathroom counter, his eyes glittering with desire, there was a knock at her apartment door.