This Love's Not for Sale (6 page)

“And I
will, after you’ve prepared something sweet for me. I hope you can cook, Ms. Norris. I’m in the mood for something sweet but light,” he said resolutely, digging his heels in. He loosened his tie, took his jacket off and draped over the back of the chair, making it very clear that he wasn’t going anywhere. “Something fruity and light,” he added.

“You’re fruity
and light in the brains,” she mumbled, making her way toward her bedroom.

“What was that
you said?” Tucker asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nothing. If I’m going to cook, I need to change,” she replied.

“Don’t change on account of me. I’m growing quite fond of your choice of attire - booty shorts and all.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you are.”

Lilliana kept moving when Tucker’s voice resonated loudly.

“
Ms. Norris, I thought I made my wishes clear. Do. Not. Change.”

Lilliana turned expecting to see a harsh look on Tucker’s face, but instead
she was greeted with soft brown eyes that danced with mischievousness. It was quite a becoming look for him. So he wanted a show did he? Sure. Why not?
She hadn’t been made to feel like a woman in so long, she welcomed the challenge.
Let the games begin
.

Tucker watched with satisfaction as Lilliana dug out several items from her refrigerator and cupboards. When she bent down to retrieve something from a lower cabinet, he could’ve sworn she swung her ass his way. She stood slowly and peeked over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes at him. So she was teasing him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her ass that was fit snuggly into her tight shorts. Her smooth, firm thighs were calling to Tucker and his mind was racing with all sorts of ideas of things he wanted to do that little body. Surely she knew what she was doing to him wearing something like.  Lilliana swayed her hips again and it occurred to Tucker that Lilliana obviously had no idea the danger she was placing herself in by poking the untamed wolf with a stick.

As she began to
peel some apples, he moved behind her quietly, brushing up against her purposefully.  He happened to glance towards the refrigerator where he spied his business card underneath a small round magnet. He liked that she had kept it and had it prominently displayed, that is, until he found it taped down the center. He held it out questioningly with a light laugh. Lilliana pretended not to see him and simply shrugged her shoulders.

“I have no idea
how that got there,” she commented monotone.

“Riiight,” Tucker chuckled. “It looks like you might need a new
one. You can’t see my amazing tricuspids with this tape in the way.”

Lilliana giggled.
“It’s bicuspids. Anyway, I said you have amazing
molars
, not bicuspids. Molars are in the back of your mouth, just for your information. But now that you mention it, your bicuspids are quite spectacular, as well. It’s hard to believe you never had orthodontia.”

“My parents never had enough money for that sort of indulgence,” he said softly as he replaced the mended card back on the fridge.

“Mine either, but working for a dental office has it perks. I had braces as an adult.”

“
A mouth full of metal? Real sexy. Tell me, though, how does one go about giving head with braces on?”

Tucker’s expression was that of genuine curiosity, and
Lilliana smiled and shook her head. “Very carefully.”

Tucker’s eyes widened and he contorted his face as if frightened. “I should hope so.”

Tucker opened the refrigerator and began to snoop around, taking note of her preferences in snacks. Many of the same items that were in his refrigerator were also in hers. Same likes in foods and music?
Interesting
.

Lilliana eyed Tucker dubiously.
“So in addition to being bossy, you’re nosy?”

If she only knew.
“I am officious in all things, Ms. Norris; not just in business, but in my private life as well. I’d love nothing more than to show you just how bossy I can be behind closed doors,” Tucker flirted.

“
I don’t need to be given orders, thank you. I’ve done just fine on my own without having a man lording over me.”

Tucker doubted that very much. Lilliana
clearly needed to be dominated or maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part. “I beg to differ. I think you not only need a man to take charge of you, I think you
want
it, but not just any man… ”

“Wow. You’re a piece of work,” Lilliana huffed,
keeping her eyes on the apple in her hand as she peeled it slowly.

“You bet your booty-
shorts wearing ass I am, and I’m just the piece of work that’s going to show you how much you need to be commanded.” Standing directly behind Lilliana, Tucker breathed on her neck. “For starters, you’re doing this all wrong, Lilly. Let me show you how.”

***

Lilliana’s body stiffened in surprise to the sudden closeness and her breathing quickened. Tucker’s voice was low and throaty, and the moisture of his breath tickled the hairs on the back of her neck. She had never allowed anyone to call her Lilly, but the way Tucker said it, gritty and raw, and so damned sexy, she didn’t dare deny his use of the nickname.

Tucker
removed the small paring knife from her right hand. He gripped his left hand over the top of hers while it held on tightly to the partially peeled apple.

“
Forces darling
- stop fighting them,” Tucker exhaled into her ear, referring to the song playing in the background as he skimmed the blade over the apple bit by bit. Starting at the top of the fruit, he guided her hand in a rotating fashion, leaving a decorative strip of peel when they were finished.

“See how it’s done?” he w
hispered, grinding his hardened dick into her bottom.

Lilliana’s heart beat wildly in her chest when she felt how much Tucker wanted h
er. When his thigh brushed her hip, she felt a jolt of electricity and her senses piqued. She hadn’t felt a man’s touch in so long that it felt foreign to her, but, God, how she had missed it. Lilliana closed her eyes for only a moment, fully conscious of where his warm flesh touched her. His large hands were so strong and rough, Lilliana wondered what other kinds of magic they could work. When they finished with the first apple, he removed his hand from hers, laid down the knife, and placed his palms on the counter face down.

“Now show me
how well you can follow orders. Peel it, Lilly. No mistakes. I want it perfect, just like you.”

Tucker’s vo
ice was different than before - deeper, more hushed, and authoritarian. Yes, she did want to be under his command, as much as she hated to admit it to herself.  Lilliana felt far from perfect, but she accepted the compliment and purred with his praise. It had been far too long since a man had spoken so sweetly to her.

Trying to
simmer the heat in the room, Lilliana attempted to engage Tucker in conversation while her trembling hands peeled the apple.

“Tell me, d
o you get your ass kicked often?”

Tucker laughed softly in her ear.
His laugh was deep, warm and rich, and made her pulse skitter.

“No, not often,” he said, nuzzling his nose into her hair.

“Do you sleep with married women often?”

“So you’ve hea
rd the rumors,” Tucker murmured, undeterred.

“Do you?”

“No, Lilly, I don’t sleep with married women often,” he replied, moving his hands from the counter to her waist.

“Or do you mean
often enough
?” Lilliana prodded.

Squeezing Lilliana’s
waist tightly, he responded firmly, “Stop talking, Lilly, and do as you’re told.”

Li
lliana’s hands shook even more thinking about the things she wanted him to do to her body with those beefy, skilled hands. She pushed her ass back into him and got the response she yearned for: a low growl ending with a sigh. She steadied her hands the best she could to show Tucker that she could follow his instructions.

***

Tucker could hear the gulp of Lilliana’s hard swallow. He had only expected something to eat from his visit, but this little layover was turning out far better than he had anticipated. Good music, a beautiful woman with an ass like an onion that could brings tears to his eyes, cooking for him and doing what he had instructed her to do. How lucky could a man get?

As Lilliana
began to peel the fruit just as he had demonstrated, he grabbed her shoulders and sunk his teeth into the soft flesh on the nape of her neck just hard enough to leave a mark without drawing blood. She tasted heavenly, salty, and clean. Lilliana let out a high-pitched moan and her hands began quaking.

When she paused, Tuck
er licked the crook of her ear and said softly, “Continue, Lilly.” He liked the shortened version of her name. It suited her better.

Doing as she was told, Lilliana
finished and began on another apple. Pleased with how well his new pet was following his directions, he inched his mouth down her spine and slipped her shorts down to her ankles, exposing her bare ass. It was absolutely fucking flawless - round and firm and nothing less than glorious.

“Tucker,” Lilliana said
uneasily as she began to turn around.

Tucker gripped her hips firmly, holding her in place so that she couldn’t resist him or move.

“Hush, Ms. Norris,” he snarled as he bit into her ass cheek. Lilliana squealed and he licked and nibbled her other cheek in response.

Just as he
began to ease a finger into her pussy, Lilliana said more ardently, “Tucker, please.”

Tucker slid her shorts back up and spun her around. Her eyebrows were
furrowed but her eyes were languorous.

“T
here’s no need to beg,” he teased as he leaned in to kiss her.

He wanted to taste her lips so badly his cock throbbed with
an intensity he hadn’t felt in ages.  Just as his lips touched hers, her hand came up between them and she pushed against his chest firmly, forcing them apart.

“Please, stop,”
she uttered breathlessly.

It had been so long sin
ce a woman had said no to him, Tucker was mildly dazed. He stepped back and scanned her body. It was obvious by her rapid breathing, her thighs clenched together, and the fuck-me eyes she was throwing his way that she wanted him, so what was the problem?

As Tucker and Lilliana stood watching each other
, the next song on the CD began and Tucker’s eyebrows went up.

“Ho
w apropos,” he kidded Lilliana about the title of the song.

“
Let’s elope
? I don’t think so. I may be horny but I’m not dense.”

“Where’s your sense of romance?” he asked.

“Romance is dead.”

Tucker’s eyebrows knit together and he ran his hands through his hair.
“How long do you plan on doing this, Lilly?”

“Do
ing
what
?” she asked, gripping the counter behind her for support.

“Pretend
ing like you’re not attracted to me.”

Lilliana sighed and shook her head. “
I’ve already admitted that I find you attractive, but that doesn’t mean I have to act foolishly and do something I’ll regret.”

Tucker laughed. “I promise that your experience with me will be enjoyable, not regretful.”

“You’re so full of yourself, aren’t you? I know your type and the last thing I need is to get involved with someone like you.”

Tucker’s
cheerfulness was gone in a flash. What the hell did Lilliana mean by that? “And what
type
is that?”

“Like my ex-husband.”

Had Lilliana really just compared him to that douchey motherfucker Adam? No fucking way. Tucker clenched his jaw, straightened up, and glared down at Lilliana. “I’m nothing like that man. I worked hard to get where I am and to earn my own way, never once relying on my parents for help. And I never,
ever
, cheated on my wives. Anyone who says otherwise is a God damned liar,” Tucker barked.

Suddenly Lilliana looked
remorseful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to compare you…,” she said in a whisper as her eyes scanned his face for forgiveness.

Tu
cker wanted to be pissed, but the look of sadness in Lilliana’s eyes touched him. She might never admit it, but Adam had hurt her deeply and her defense mechanism of pushing men away was glaringly apparent.

“Finish making whatever it is you’re making. I have something for you in my car. I’ll be back.”

***

Tucker walked out without saying anything more and Lilliana was left feeling horrible. She swore she would never compare anyone to her
useless ex-husband. From what little she had read about Tucker, she knew they were worlds apart in their upbringings. The last thing she had read about Tucker was that he began supporting his parents after their farm went bust. It was a noble thing to do and something her selfish ex-husband wasn’t capable of.

Damn Tucker for being so
enticing. She wanted him but she knew she was kidding herself to think that being with a man like Tucker McGrath would be anything more than just sex. And her heart just wasn’t ready for that kind of punishment.

Lilliana
forced herself to finish her task. She brought out the flour, brown sugar, walnuts, oats and her secret ingredient mayo. She felt so bad for her remark and by the legitimately hurt look in Tucker’s eyes, she hoped her meager apple crisp would make up for her harsh attitude and sharp tongue. 

Just as she
was placing the dish in the oven to bake, she heard a melodic chiming coming from the porch. She set the timer and went out to see where the tinkering was coming from. When she stepped onto her porch, Tucker was arranging a wind chime he had hung near the porch baluster. It was colorful and appeared to be made of hand-blown glass and brass.

Lilliana
stood watching while Tucker struggled to hang the decorative chime, stunned at how very attractive he was. Upon closer inspection, she could see the farm boy in him with his strong hands, well-defined biceps and muscular thighs and calves. But it was his smile and eyes that gave away his true upbringing. She had always wanted a home-grown, farm boy to call her own; someone with Midwest values and charisma. She had given up long ago trying to find that.