Paws for a Kiss (Canine Cupids Book 1) Read online

  Bev forced herself to relax, listening to the water crash against the porcelain, inhaling the steam, smelling Mack's woodsy, spicy scent. "Water."

  "What about it? The shower?" His voice was soft, whispered just for her.

  "Yes."

  "Are your clothes on? Am I in there with you?"

  Bev shivered, leaning her head back against Mack's chest. "I'm naked, but I'm alone. I know you're coming. I'm waiting for you, ready for you."

  She felt her hands lifted over her head, her shirt slipped off. Embarrassment shot through her, but she refused to succumb, instead focusing on the touch of the cotton sliding over her body. Something brushed against her nipple, but it was a fleeting touch, almost an accident. A soft touch against her waist, and then her sweatpants were sliding down her body, down her thighs, and over her feet. No hands touched her, just the soft cotton.

  The scratchy sound of the shower curtain being opened startled her, and she imagined the empty shower waiting for her, ready for her. A strong arm wrapped around her back, and another slipped under her bare legs, scooping her against Mack's solid chest. The thrill of skin to skin contact sent charges of electricity through her, all of them meeting at the junction of her thighs.

  Water cascaded over her, the moist heat vibrant on her hyper-sensitive skin. Mack steadied her on her feet, and then he was gone. She was alone in the shower, the only touches on her skin the pure liquid of nature.

  "Now what?" His voice was so close, he had to be right next to her, but when she reached out, there was nothing but air. "Uh, uh. You have to tell me what's next."

  Bev took a step back under the spray, letting the water stream over her hair and over the curves of her body. She could imagine the rivulets parting around the swells of her breasts, dripping off her erect nipples. "You sneak in," she whispered. "I don't know you're here until I feel your hands mix with the water and soap, sliding over my skin."

  "What part of your skin?" His voice was ragged and she heard his shorts land on the floor. "What do I touch first?"

  "Soap. Soap over my breasts, down my stomach, over my thighs, making your hand super slippery."

  She let her head drop back, waiting for his touch. But it didn't come. She groaned, realizing he was playing out her fantasy exactly, making her wait for him, not letting her know when he was going to appear.

  Cold dripped on her left nipple, jerking her breath away. Then on her right nipple, the same sensation. Shower gel? When his hands closed around her breasts, she forgot about everything except his touch. He kneaded the flesh, his hands slipping over the skin just as she'd imagined. She could almost see the bubbles of soap on her body, seductively hiding her nakedness.

  "Mack." His name burst out of her lips as she felt his hands slide over her stomach, teasing, massaging. "I don't think I can stand up."

  "Hold onto me," he ordered. "Grab my shoulders."

  Bev fumbled for him, but all she found was air. "Where are you?"

  He said nothing, but his hands closed over her wrists, guiding her hands lower, settling them on his shoulders. She realized he was kneeling in front of her, his face even with her core, where all the heat surging through her body seemed to be gathering, building and building.

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders, leaning on him while his hands caressed her stomach. Another jolt of coldness and fresh suds formed, mixing with the hair between her legs. Suds dripped down her legs, but she could only focus on his touch, rubbing, lathering the tuft of hair, his thumbs occasionally darting lower, as if accidentally brushing against her most sensitive areas.

  "My legs are shaking," she whispered. "Let me sit down."

  "Do you sit down in your fantasy?" He sounded so husky, so intense.

  "No, but..."

  "Then you stand." His hands slid down her legs, across the front of her thighs to her knees. Then they moved to the inside of her leg, trailing upward against the dripping suds, forging a path toward their goal.

  But his fingers stopped just outside her pulsating core. She groaned, moving her feet wider to make room for him. But still he didn't touch her.

  "Mack..."

  "I'm your fantasy, Bev. I can only do what you tell me."

  "Touch me. Please."

  "Where?" He was making circles on the inside of her thigh, so close to where she wanted him. "With what? My hands? My lips? My tongue?"

  "Anything!"

  "No, Bev. This is your fantasy. Tell me what to do." He sounded strained, as if he was having trouble waiting for her orders. Power surged through her, raising her excitement to another level. Mack was at her mercy, unable to satisfy his own urges until she gave him permission. Sexual power. It was so heady, unbelievably exhilarating.

  She wanted more. "Stand up."

  Her hands still on his shoulders, she felt him rise to his feet, unquestioning, at her command. "Give me the most passionate, sexiest, most penetrating kiss you've ever given and use your hands the best way you know how while you're doing it."

  A deep growl reverberated from him just before he possessed her lips, sucking her soul from her body. His hands dug into her buttocks, pressing her against him. Hardness pressed against her stomach, and she knew she wanted him inside her.

  But not yet. Her fantasy wasn't finished yet.

  "Pour some shampoo in my hand."

  Breaking the kiss for only an instant, but keeping his hand crushed against her bottom and his pelvis pressed against hers, Mack filled her hand with shampoo, the cool liquid a sharp contrast to the heat rising all around them. "Kiss me again."

  Her body trembling from his kiss, she lowered her hand, sliding it across his hard stomach and below. She flipped her hand over, letting the cool shampoo drip on his hardness. He flinched and sucked in his breath. "Bev."

  "This is part of my fantasy," she whispered. "To know I can make you as excited as I am." She folded her hand around his shaft, her palm sliding easily along the soapy bubbles.

  Mack groaned. "If you want this fantasy to go all the way, you better stop that right now."

  Bev shivered at the power she had. Never had she felt like this, never had she wanted to be in control, and yet, at the same time, she was helplessly at his mercy.

  "Touch me now, Mack."

  "Where? How?"

  "Between my legs. With your hands, your fingers, your mouth. With everything." Was that specific enough? She wanted it all, wanted to be driven to heights that made her feel like her body was shattering into a million pieces. Already, she was almost there. She just needed to be taken over the edge.

  She gasped as his fingers plunged inside her, expecting the seductive teasing touch he'd been doing. His name moaned off her lips and she groped for his shoulders, her legs wobbling.

  It was just what she wanted, just what she needed. She moved her feet apart until they were against the edges of the tub, bracing herself. He moved his fingers again, playing, teasing, possessing.

  He shifted their position, a quick move that suddenly resulted in a position that had so much potential… And then she felt his lips push apart the folds of her skin, sucking, his tongue flicking. Everything. He was giving her everything. The pieces started to shatter, her body tightening around his fingers.

  "No, not yet." He pulled away, and the pieces rejoined, shaky and vibrating, but still intact.

  "Mack?"

  "We're doing this together." And then he was on his feet, kissing her, showering her neck with love. "Hang on to me."

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, her body trembling, her mind spinning in a blur. His hands slid down her lower back, over her bottom, gripping her. "Ready?"

  "Oh, Mack. Yes." She gripped tighter, hanging on desperately while he lifted her high up, crushing her against his chest, suckling her left breast. He teased her into an intense, amazing desire, until her entire being was completely focused on him. When he finally grasped her hips and shifted her position, excitement raced through her.

  It was time. She was ready. She'
d been waiting for so long, and now it was time…

  He slid inside her, driving deeply, her body welcoming him, accepting him, drawing him in further. Her insides swelled, threatening to explode through skin, bulging, soaring, fighting for release.

  And then it happened. Her body, her mind, and her soul seemed to shatter into millions of pieces. He whispered her name, his arms crushing her against him, holding her as if she were his greatest treasure. Her body tightened around him, blistering with heat, shooting sparks all the way to her toes. Her body convulsed, completely out of her control, held safe by his powerful grip.

  "God, I love you," she whispered, against his neck.

  His arms tightened suddenly, and she knew he'd heard her.

  But he didn't answer.

  Chapter 19

  Bev awoke to the smell of fresh coffee and a feeling of utter physical satisfaction.

  "Hey, sleepyhead."

  She tilted her head to find Mack propped up next to her in bed. He was wearing cut-off sweats and had his computer on his lap. In bed. Mack. She suddenly realized she was naked under the covers, and remembered the night before. The shower. The fantasy. Holy cow.

  "Don't go getting embarrassed on me. You are incredible." He slid the laptop aside and scooted under the covers, pulling her on top of him as he gave her a delicious kiss. "Good afternoon, Bev."

  "Is it afternoon already?" She nestled against him, sighing with contentment as he pulled her tight. She loved Mack, and making love with him had been beyond her wildest fantasies.

  Love. She'd told him she loved him.

  He hadn't said he loved her back.

  But he was still here, kissing her, snuggling with her. He hadn't run away, panicked that she loved him. Did that mean he loved her, too? Or thought maybe he did? Or just wasn't sure what he thought but wasn't ready to walk away?

  Or maybe the sex was so great he wasn't going to feel guilty about breaking her heart.

  No, he wasn't like that. He was still in bed with her only because he felt something for her. The question was, what? Did he even know yet?

  "Well, we didn't go to sleep until late morning, between making love and then doing some work on the business plan." He began massaging her bare bottom. Her stomach began to tighten and a ball of heat formed between her legs. "So, I pulled together a lot of the things we talked about and wrote it up in a standard business plan format."

  "You did?" She propped her head up on her elbows and gazed at him. "Has anyone ever told you that you are the nicest man ever?"

  Mack grinned. "Actually, no."

  "Well, you are. Thank you."

  He looked like he wanted to say something, but then shook his head. Had he been contemplating talking about love? She would have to wait. There was no way she was going to push him on it, if for no other reason than to spare herself having to hear that he didn't love her back. Let the fantasies continue. Unbelievable sex. Letting herself fall in love. Allowing herself to believe he loved her back, just as much, just as irrevocably as she loved him. Letting someone help her out the way he was.

  "So, want to look at the business plan?"

  She blinked, his question bringing her back to the present. She'd forgotten about the ten-day deadline for a few minutes, about how desperate she was, and how little time they had to get the business plan to Jez. "How long do we have?"

  "Just a few hours."

  Her stomach lurched in sudden fear. "Okay." She sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. "Show me what you did."

  She leaned over him to look at the computer, belatedly realizing she was completely exposed from the waist up. She started to grab for her shirt, and then realized she didn't mind, or feel embarrassed. She smiled, realizing that he made her feel comfortable in her own skin for the first time in her life. She smiled at him, "Thank you."

  He frowned. "Aren't you mad at me?"

  "Why would I be mad at you?" How could she be mad at the man she loved for doing what he had to do? Everything was different now. Bev propped two pillows behind her and pulled the computer onto her lap. "So, what'd you do here?"

  Mack shut the laptop. "Where's the Bev that I've grown to fear? The one who won't let me get away with being a jerk?"

  She patted the top of his head much like she'd placate a dog. "I'm still here, but we don't have time for that right now."

  He pushed the laptop aside and rolled over her, pinning her down. "Did you mean it when you said you love me?"

  "Um…" Bev gulped. "I thought you weren't going to bring it up."

  "You love me, so you'd never keep going with the ten-day closing if you were me, but I have to go ahead with it. After last night, if I could change anything, I would. You have to believe me."

  She touched his face. "Mack, I understand."

  It was as if he couldn't stop, like he had to unburden himself. "You think I'm a horrible jerk, don't you? How could I make love to you and still do the ten days? I can't apologize for making love to you last night. I'd do it again a thousand times. But I don't want you to hate me." He grimaced. "To tell you the truth, I tried to talk Whittle out of the ten days. It's the first time in my life that I've ever doubted my job."

  Her mouth dropped open in astonishment. For her, he'd doubted his job. "That's the most romantic thing I've ever heard."

  "I'm just being honest."

  "That's why it's so romantic." She entwined her hands behind his neck. "The reason I'm not mad at you for the ten-day thing is because I've realized that you're not a jerk. Inside, you're the kind of man a girl could fall in love with."

  He stiffened. "Don't try to make me into something I'm not. I can't be what you want."

  She shrugged. "Suit yourself." He loved her. She had no doubt anymore. His career was his life's goal, and he'd doubted it for her. He loved her. Maybe he'd figure it out eventually...but she'd have to let him do it on his own. When he was ready, he would know. She didn't know whether it would change anything, though, and she knew that as long as he put his work over the people in his life that were still alive, it would never be enough for her.

  She didn't know how it would end.

  Mack frowned. "What does that mean?"

  She sighed. What was she supposed to do? Threaten him into changing? That would never work. And in truth, could she really expect him to change the priorities that had defined him his entire life? She couldn't do that to him. Not now. Not ever. So, she gave him a non-committal smile. "It means we have less than two hours to get the business plan to Jez's husband. I need her money, Mack." She saw his hesitation, his desire to continue the conversation about their relationship, so she added, "You aren't going to let me down, are you?" She winced when she saw the guilt in his eyes, but it worked.

  He gritted his teeth. "Give me the computer."

  Bev swallowed hard to suppress the lump in her throat as Mack settled next to her with the computer. Her life would never be the same. She had a feeling, neither would his. But she wasn’t sure it was in a good way.

  Everything she'd ever wanted was so close…and so was complete heartache.

  She didn't know which was going to win.

  Chapter 20

  Bev slumped against the cement wall, a thirty-pound bag of dog food at her feet. Could a week of the most amazing lovemaking of her life atone for the fact that in two days she was going to have to take her animals to the shelter? This should have been the best days of her life, being adored and supported by Mack, both emotionally and physically. They hadn't talked about love again, but had lived in the present. Enjoying each other, during the small time they had together between his long hours at work and her two jobs.

  She was hopelessly in love with Mack now, her heart fully in his hands. They both knew it, but neither had brought it up. At some point, something had to happen.

  Bev looked around the shelter, at the gray cement walls she loved. There were only two days left, and Jez still hadn't called, even though she'd left an amazing business plan with Jez's husband. She a
nd Mack had each tried to call her and left messages, but she hadn't called back. The message was clear. They were out of options.

  The animals were back in their pens, Mack's house still a complete disaster from the invasion. He'd hired an entire cleaning staff to tackle it, but it was hopeless. Stains on the carpets, chewed antiques and total destruction of his flowerbeds. And the cats had shredded some of his couches. The place would have to be completely overhauled.

  And Mack didn't even care. The man was genuinely more focused on her animals than the state of his property. Though his house oozed wealth, obviously it was a place where children would be permitted to be themselves.

  Children. She was thinking about children with him now. Was she an utter fool? She wished she knew.

  "Bev? Are you here?" Mack's voice echoed around a corner.

  She grinned, her heart lifting at his unexpected visit. "Aisle three."

  Janey ran around the corner, leaping into Bev's outstretched arms. She hoisted the dog onto her left hip so she could embrace Mack with her other arm. "Mack!"

  He rounded the corner, looking sleek and sophisticated in his navy suit. She took a step toward him, desperate for a hug. As horrible as her battle was, at least she didn't have to face it alone. She had found homes for many of her animals, so she was down to twenty dogs and five cats, but she'd turned away countless others, knowing where their owners were taking them instead. It was horrible.

  Her elation faded away and she stopped, as the short beastly man of her nightmares appeared behind Mack. Mack grimaced, mouthing an apology before he spoke aloud. "Bev, you remember Whittle?"

  Tension sprung into her shoulders. The nasty little bald man was standing next to Mack, his chest puffed out with smug pride. She nodded, not trusting herself to be polite if she opened her mouth.