Recipe For Seduction (A Madewood Brothers Novel) (Entangled Brazen) (13 page)

He groaned the moment he was buried deep. He stilled for a moment, his hands running across her body, clamping onto her breasts and hips. And then he moved.

Slowly he thrust, the union of their bodies the most intimate experience she’d ever had. Somehow, not being able to see him made it even more intimate. The rest of her senses blossomed. The smell of their sex. The taste of his lips still sweet with dessert wine. The sound of skin against skin. It propelled her enjoyment to a mind-blowing level she’d never experienced—an experience she didn’t want to have with any other man.

He quickened his pace as his fingers found her clit. He touched and circled her swollen bead, and she knew she wouldn’t last much longer.

His sweat-slick body lay against hers as he whispered her name in her ear. His hands found the sides of her face and he kissed her long and thoroughly. Exhilarated, enlivened by his kiss, she floated to a place of pure satisfaction.

The blindfold across her eyes was whisked aside, and for a moment the dim light of the room was blinding. She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust. And when she finally focused, Finn’s beautiful face stared back at her.

His body continued to move on top of her, heavy, damp, the most wonderful feeling in the world.

Once again, he whispered her name. Her arms ached, her legs tensed, but it all added to the pure ecstasy of the moment.

She flew higher and higher, her head pushing back against the mattress. With two more strokes, she broke. Her body contracted, arching her away from the bed, tightening her bonds.

He roared out his release moments later, and with the blindfold removed, for the first time, she saw his face as he came. Satisfaction and desire, ecstasy and gratitude, all stared back at her when he opened his eyes in the blissful aftermath.

He slumped over her and buried his head in the crook of her neck. She wished her hands were free so she could stroke his hair, run her fingers up the middle of his back. Still, there would be time for that later. But how much more time? They couldn’t continue this game forever. When it was over, and they went their separate ways, how would she feel?

But the moment his lips touched hers, she feared she’d be willing to give up all her future plans…for only a few more days in his arms.

Chapter Eight

Veronica held her arm up in the air, twirling her finger as she had been instructed to do. The jet boat lurched to the right and spun 360 degrees, sending the category five rapids up and over the sides and front of the jet boat. She squealed, along with everyone else, as she shook her head, flinging water from side to side.

“This…is crazy.” She gulped and gasped for breath as another surge of water splashed over them. “How did I ever let you talk me into doing this?” she yelled over the rushing sound of the waves, her heart beating double time in her chest.

Finn leaned over and planted his hand on her thigh. “I can be very persuasive.” His warm breath heated up the skin on her neck. Despite being smack in the middle of the rapids of Devil’s Hole, he still had the ability to fire up her insides.

But her desire was short-lived when she screamed, her stomach flip-flopping as the jet boat rammed into another wave and plummeted back onto the surface.

He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Afraid of a little water?”

Maybe.

Yes.

She was definitely afraid of
this
water.

They had been fooled at first. The tour had started off with the scenic route along the river from their starting point at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Bored with historic facts about the Niagara gorge, she had thought back to the night before. And it was a good thing the ride had come equipped with a cool breeze because she had overheated at the thought of Finn thrusting his cock into her mouth. It may not have been possible for her to see the real image last night, but her imagination had done just fine on its own.

But then the boat had blasted into Devil’s Hole and the scenic route turned into an action-packed ride that only the most dedicated of thrill-seekers would appreciate. And now, here they were, facing the white-topped rapids together.

Funny how a little brush with death could put things into perspective.

If they ever made it out alive, she would never complain about Cal again. She would never be selfish. Never again want to forge her own path without her family firmly by her side.

What if she died? Cal would always think she had wanted him gone—out of her life. But that just wasn’t the case. She loved those damn kids. Had loved them every minute of every day since they’d arrived on her doorstep eight years ago.

Plunging headfirst into tumultuous waves had sparked an epiphany. She was being an obsessive mother. And she had to stop. She needed to loosen up and untie the apron strings. To start having fun. Not only on her own, but also with Ali and Cal. Together, as a family. It wasn’t all about raising two productive members of society—although she had been tasked with that responsibility, and she took it seriously. But the kids were nearly adults now. Maybe they all needed to take a break and just relax. Especially Veronica.

The boat crashed over the rapids, sending a wall of tsunami-force water over her head and swirling around her feet. She gripped the top of Finn’s hand that held her thigh and squeezed for dear life, comforted by the fact that he was by her side. Keeping her sane while she battled exhilaration and fear.

She looked over at him just as she shook off another drenching, and he was already looking her way. His hand tightened on her thigh and he grinned, his sparkling eyes confirming exactly what she had needed.

Finn was there to support her. Not to save her. She had to battle her fear of these rapids on her own. Just as she had to deal with her family situation—with the wall between Cal and Mark, and with Ali being out on her own for the first time ever.

And just like that, Veronica’s pounding heartbeat slowed. The sound of the churning water and screams of the other passengers fell into the background, and Finn’s face held her mesmerized.

She leaned in as far as she could while being strapped into her seat, and he met her halfway, brushing his lips over hers. Her hand closest to him lifted and settled on his cheek, pulling his face closer as she tried her best to keep their kiss going despite the surge and retreat of the boat. And just as he deepened the kiss, a surge of water fell over them. They both gasped for breath under the wall of water. She pulled away and watched as he blinked water from his eyelashes, sending it trickling down his face with the flutter of his lids.

The trip took an hour in total and when all the passengers were soaked to the bone, the captain finally returned the boat to the dock and tied up.

As they made their way up the pier to collect their things, Finn guided her forward with a hand to the small of her back. Just a simple gesture, but the feelings of longing and comfort it roused within her reaffirmed she was getting in too deep. Her emotions were swirling too fast, just like those rapids, into a relationship she shouldn’t want.

She heard a splatter of water hit the dock from where he wrung out his T-shirt. His raspy voice whispered in her ear, “That wasn’t so scary, was it?”

The ride had been scary as hell. But her biggest fear had nothing to do with the rapids, and everything to do with her realization she was falling more in love with Finn than she’d thought possible. But revelations aside, the boat ride had been exhilarating and she would definitely do it again.

“It was awesome.” She gathered her hair in her hands and squeezed. Everything was soaked, right down to her panties. “It’s definitely on my list of things to do every time we visit here.”

“Ali and Cal would love it, too. We should bring them next summer.”

He was making plans. A year from now. Where exactly did he think their relationship would be in a year? Definitely not married with children. He would probably have a family of his own by then. So why was he making plans with
her
family?

“Excuse me.” On their way back to their car Finn slowed beside her and stopped a young couple. “Would you mind taking our picture?”

They nodded eagerly, and Finn handed over his phone.

He pulled Veronica close, threading his arm around her back and under her arm, gripping her waist tightly. A gesture of possession, right there in the parking lot for anyone to see. But no one would, not anyone from their lives. Not his brothers or her siblings. Their relationship was a secret. A naughty, pleasurable secret that would soon come to an end.

The motor of the jet boats roared in the distance and they both smiled as the couple took turns as photographer, each thinking their skill better than the other’s.

When they were finally satisfied, Finn took back his phone and smiled as they checked out the photos. “Perfect.”

The first picture was sweet. His chin rested on the top of her head and his easy smile stretched from ear to ear. With the way his arms wrapped around her body, they looked as if they were always meant to be together. As if they were always meant to be here, in this place, safe in each other’s arms. A sight she could get used to—Finn being hers alone.

“Now we have something to remind us of our romantic weekend.”

She didn’t need a photo to remind her of their time together. Finn had imprinted every lick of desire, every burn of lust, with every mark he’d made on her body. With every heated gaze, and every sizzling touch. She would remember this weekend forever.

Finn continued to swipe his finger across the screen of his phone, scrutinizing the pictures. “Maybe we should delete this one.”

Her eyes darted to the screen and she cried, “No!”

The photo staring back at her was more revealing. It was an action shot before they had settled into each other’s embrace. Veronica was looking up at Finn, her hand resting on his chest as he smiled and spoke to the couple. But it was her expression caught on camera for all eternity that scared the shit out of her.

Love
. It was written all over her face. And not the look of love she had seen whenever she’d gazed in the mirror thinking about Finn as a teenager. No, this look was the real deal. Head-over-heels. Honest-to-God love.

“Where’d you go?” He pushed away the wet strands of her hair plastered across her forehead.

She shook her head, peering up at him, and smiled. “Just a little shaken up from the rapids.”

He nodded but gave her a curious look, then kissed her temple. “We should probably check out of the hotel. Head back home,” he said as he pulled her into a hug, his hands clasping at her back.

She didn’t want to go home. Not yet. She was having too much fun. Nothing about this boat ride had been sexy. Nothing about this ride had been built on desire or stimulation, or even a fantasy. But…wasn’t that what their time together was supposed to be all about? Sex?

“I might have an idea.” She winked. “How do you feel about Ferris wheels?”

There were many naughty things they could do on a Ferris wheel. Things that consisted of her hand down his pants or her face in his lap. It all depended on how far he wanted to go. But there was one thing for sure.
She
would be calling the shots. And nothing was going to get in her way of keeping the focus on their erotic game.

Right now, at this very moment, everything was perfect. But that didn’t stop the niggle of fear that had taken up residence in her gut. The one that confirmed it wasn’t his bed she’d be willing to give up her future for…it was his heart.

…

“These things are creepy. I refuse to go in there.”

Finn squared off at the entrance to the wax museum and stared down the fake celebrity greeting him.

“Now who’s the big baby?” Veronica came up behind him, slipping her arms around his body and pressing her chest to his back. Her nipples poked through the fabric of his T-shirt, urging his cock to press harder against the front of his pants. “Afraid of a little wax?”

She was trying to beat him at his own game. He’d coaxed her into getting on the jet boat despite her reluctance, and now she was using sex to get him to play voyeur with a bunch of wax dummies.

“I thought you wanted to go on the Ferris wheel?”

She kissed the space between his shoulder blades, then her lips found the back of his neck and she flicked out her tongue. “The night is still young.”

His body shivered, but he wasn’t going to give in so easily. Something had happened on the boat. Something that had distanced her, pulled her away from the moment. And he was going to get her to spill. Even if it meant holding out on her game.

“If you play along, I’ll make it worth your while.” Her hands ran up his abs and settled against his pecs. “I’m going to lick every inch of skin on this beautiful torso.” She circled her fingers around his nipples and he stifled a groan. “Starting here.” She splayed her hands across his abs, letting her fingers ripple against the six-pack he worked hard to maintain. “Then along here.”

His head fell back and he closed his eyes, letting her warm, sensual touch overtake his senses. But only for a split second. They were in public, after all. And although they had a deal, not everything they did had to be about sex. He’d realized that on the boat when she’d looked up at him with such confidence, such presence. As if she’d known exactly where she was headed. And in that moment he’d feared her destination might not include him.

He pulled away and faced her. “And here I thought I was the persuasive one.” He winked and dipped down to plant a kiss on her lips.

They had checked out of their hotel at Niagara-on-the-Lake and had checked into a small inn and spa two minutes from Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.

He wasn’t sure if suggesting a weekend away alone had been his best idea ever—or his worst. On the one hand, he’d enjoyed every minute they’d spent together, in bed and out of it. But it also confirmed that the feelings he had for Veronica were more than just a game of seduction.

“Come on, Finn.” She raised up on her toes and stilled, her eyes dancing with excitement. “Life just isn’t complete without seeing a wax Frodo Baggins.”

He grabbed her waist and pulled her up against his body. “But I’d much rather walk through the haunted house across the street.” Wasn’t that the better idea? An excuse to keep her close, to keep her plastered against his body and beat her at her own erotic game?

He turned to the gray brick building. Green and white strobe lights flickered from inside and an evil laugh echoed across the street, which was bumper-to-bumper with traffic.

“You got the jet boat, I get the celebrity wax museum. Fair is fair.” She winked and pushed him again, this time right past the box office and into the museum.

He was going in. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. And it had been a long time since he’d seen her this happy, this relaxed. And as much as he’d like to believe his exceptional skills in the bedroom had contributed to her transformation, he knew it had more to do with her being away from home. Free. Unfettered. Not responsible for anyone or anything.

“You owe me big-time for this, little one.” He cringed as they walked past an exhibit that would forever taint his opinion of the Indiana Jones franchise.

She grabbed his hand and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “And I plan on paying up in a very interesting way.” She licked at his earlobe. “I hope you’re up for it.”

Oh, he was up for it. And if she made one more sexy move with her tongue he was going to be up for it right then and now.

Thirty minutes—and too many creepy wax figures—later, they emerged onto the street. Finn was on a high, not from enjoying the museum, but from the infectious sound of Veronica’s laugh. She had loved every minute. Now she was leading him into the arcade.

When they had converted far too much money into tokens, her first destination was the Wheel of Fortune game. “Get ready to have your mind blown. I am so good at this.”