The Standby Guy (Men of Lakeside) Read online

  Her soft, slow words sent arousal shooting through his veins, but the last time they almost had sex, she’d pushed him away. “What do you have in mind?”

  Her lips lifted in a sly smile. She tugged him close, and he tasted the chocolate on her tongue. “I know we shouldn’t have sex again, but it’s driving me crazy thinking about it.”

  Before she could pull away, Carter rested his forehead against hers. “Who said we shouldn’t have sex again?”

  “Well, I only asked for a practice session, and I didn’t want you to think I was using you for sex…”

  He drew back and laughed out loud. “Use me, Katie Kat. Use me.”

  Her cheeks pinked. “I’m being serious.”

  “I know you are.” He cupped her soft cheek. “We care about each other. That’s obvious. We’re drawn to each other. Two single consenting adults attracted to each other. There’s no using involved. Pleasure, sure. But we won’t be using each other. We’ll be enjoying each other.”

  Her soft chuckle sent tingles along his skin. Her hand on his sent even more. “Enjoying each other? I like the sound of that.”

  He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. “So we have about two hours to ourselves?”

  She winced. “I need enough time to have dinner ready when he gets home.” He knew she’d always be a mother first no matter how much me time she wanted.

  Carter wasn’t cutting his time short with Katie. He felt as if he’d wasted these past couple of weeks while Sean had been gone. All those nights they could have slept together. All the rooms they could have christened if they’d been on the same page earlier.

  But were they on the same page now? He dropped a hard kiss to her lips. This wasn’t the time to think about what they each wanted in the future. This was now, and they had a limited time. She was giving him that hungry look, and it wasn’t for sweets.

  “We’re going to Bud’s for dinner, remember? Sean’ll be with us. We’ll display a united front against the gossip mongers.”

  Katie popped out of her chair. “Oh no. He’ll find out about us dating. We were supposed to be all done with that before he came home.”

  Sean might already know about it. Maybe that’s why he was coming home. Carter got to his feet. “Can’t put it off any longer.”

  “What do we say? Do we tell him it’s all pretend?”

  “Don’t you think that would be more confusing than simply saying it’s something new and we’re taking it day by day, like we told my family?”

  “I don’t want to lie to him.”

  He stepped close and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Would you rather tell everyone tonight that we broke up?”

  She stumbled back. “No. Not with all the rumors going around. I don’t want anyone to think I would cheat on you.”

  He reached for her. “Then let’s keep it simple and stay with the story the way it is. He’ll be okay.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  He tugged her close because he had to touch her again. “That’s settled then. Right now, all I want is to get you out of those clothes.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Then what are you going to do?”

  “To you, you mean? Now? Or once I get you out of your clothes?”

  She nodded, her eyes wide, her lips parted. “Both.”

  “I’m going to kiss you now.” He gave her a quick, hard kiss then moaned. “God, you taste good. I’m going to kiss every inch of your body. Taste you all over. Make you scream when you come.”

  Katie whimpered. “Sean’s on his way.”

  “Then we better get started. Lead the way.”

  Carter grabbed a silver-wrapped candy from the bowl and followed her up the stairs. She was perfect. Soft and curvy. Smart and stubborn. They’d never have stayed such good friends for all these years if their personalities hadn’t been a good match. But now that he’d tasted her passion, he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to go back to the way they were before. And that had been his concern from the very beginning.

  Katie stared at him. She hadn’t moved from her place beside the bed.

  “You need help taking those clothes off?”

  She lifted her chin. “No.” She kicked her shoes off. “Aren’t you taking yours off, too?”

  “Eventually.” He knew they didn’t have all day, but he wasn’t going to rush things. “I’m busy right now.”

  She crossed her arms. “Busy doing what?”

  “Right now I want to watch you get rid of those clothes. Get going or we’re not going to have time to do all the things I have in my mind.”

  She slowly smiled, then stripped off her shirt and tossed it on the chair beside the bed. She shimmied out of her shorts and stood there in her white bra and panties.

  “So pretty. You’re so pretty.”

  She pinked all over. “Now it’s your turn.”

  Carter shook his head, closed the distance between them, and kissed the rounded curves of her breasts. “Kat. Kat. Kat. You’re beautiful.” He cupped the back of her neck and crushed his lips to hers. “Take the underwear off first.”

  She rolled her eyes but stripped out of the bra and panties. “Happy now?”

  “Very happy. On the bed. On your back.”

  “A little bossy, aren’t you?”

  “I told you, I have a plan.”

  She climbed onto the bed. “I’ll trust you for now.”

  “I’m honored that you do.”

  She sent him an amused expression as she stretched out on her back. “Get over here.”

  Carter opened his fist. The candy had softened like he knew it would. He began to peel the foil from the mushy candy.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Indulging our taste for sweets.” He smeared the tips of each of her breasts with chocolate. Then he swiped his index finger through most of the remaining chocolate and brought it to her lips. “Open up.”

  With her gaze locked on his, Katie parted her lips. He slid his finger into her mouth, and she eagerly latched on.

  “That’s it. Suck it clean. Oh shit.” The feeling of her sucking on his finger sent the pulsing, pulling sensation straight to his cock. He moaned her name and then slowly pulled his finger free.

  There was a small amount of melted chocolate left. Carter let her scoop out the rest of the chocolate, then he took her wrist and brought her finger to his mouth.

  So many tastes. Sweet. Salty. Katie. Carter rubbed his tongue along her finger as he sucked off the chocolate, savoring all the flavors. He could have spent the rest of the night taking the time to melt every piece of candy she had in the house, painting her skin, and then licking it off. Letting her do the same to him.

  But they didn’t have all night. Not tonight. He quickly stripped out of his clothes and settled between her legs on the mattress, then let himself gaze at her chocolate-tipped breasts. Not enough time. There’d never be enough time to savor her as much as he wanted to, but he’d do his best.

  The taste of her chocolate-flavored nipples nearly did him in. The feel of her beneath his tongue mixed with the smooth chocolate was a texture combination he’d never imagined. He suckled deeply on one nipple and then the other. She arched her back, silently begging for more.

  Or not so silently. Her moans thickened his blood and hardened his body even further.

  “More, Carter. Harder,” she gasped. He did all he could to obey her.

  She was writhing beneath him by the time he’d licked her breasts clean. Her hips were rocking, and he hadn’t even touched her there yet. Carter sat back on his heels and gazed down on the flesh between her thighs glistening with her moisture.

  Katie looked up at him and caught her lower lip between her teeth. “Carter…”

  “But you’re so pretty.”

  She bucked her hips. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

  He chuckled softly and lowered his mouth to the juncture of her thighs, savoring Katie’s salty flavor. He could have nibbled on her for ho
urs, but as soon as he sucked on her swollen clit, she exploded. Katie’s cries bounced off the bedroom walls. Her body writhed. He kept feasting until her movements began to calm. Her head rolled from side to side. Her hands fisted in the bedclothes. She was chanting his name under her breath.

  Damn. There was no denying it. He loved this woman.

  …

  Carter looked up from between Katie’s knees and grinned. If she hadn’t already lost her heart, she knew it was gone now. It belonged to the smart and funny man with a streak of chocolate smeared across his cheek. As much as she tried to resist, she’d gone and fallen in love with him. She wasn’t going to think about all the reasons that was a terrible thing to do. She’d worry about it later.

  She reached for him. So many possibilities. So little time.

  Katie sat up and nodded to the mattress beside her. “My turn.”

  “My luck.” He stretched out beside her, his muscles bulging in all the right places, his erection thick and smooth.

  She spent a few indulgent moments simply looking at him. Her eyes deserved to enjoy this time as much as other parts of her body, the subtle sculpting of muscles, the dusting of hair on his chest leading all the way down to his impressive erection. She wished she had her camera with her; although he wouldn’t agree to her taking a picture of him naked in her bed.

  She didn’t need a photograph to remember this moment.

  He squirmed. “Do your worst.” Then he bent his arms and placed his hands behind his head as if he were actually relaxing. But she knew better. His jaw was tense. His erection bobbed with the need for attention.

  “I’ll try for the best. For both of us.” She scooted down until her knees brushed his hip. She leaned over to place a soft kiss to the head of his penis. Then she smiled and licked her lips. “So mouthwatering.”

  She took him deep into her mouth.

  Carter hissed, his hips jerking.

  She let out a moan of appreciation, similar to the one she’d voiced in the restaurant when she was eating her brownie sundae. But this dessert-first was infinitely better.

  Katie curled one hand around the base of his erection. She licked up and down, savoring the taste and the smell of him. The heat of his skin and the moans escaping from Carter’s lips enhanced her experience.

  “Sweetheart, you might want to slow that down.”

  She lifted her head and looked at him, his head thrown back, eyes closed, gritting his teeth. “Why?”

  “I’m going to come any minute.”

  “Okay. Go for it.”

  His eyes flew open. “Really? You want to?”

  “I’ve never swallowed before,” she admitted. “Let’s give it a try.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  She grinned and took him deep. Life was all about trying new things. Carter tensed, one of his hands gripped her head, his fingers tangled in her hair. He let out a low groan that seemed to urge her on as it increased in volume. And then he surged. At first she was a little overwhelmed, but then she found her way to accommodate all he was giving her. He sagged against the mattress when he was finished, and she swallowed.

  Carter’s eyes were still closed, but he grasped her shoulders and pulled her up his body so that she was lying on top of him.

  “Okay?” he murmured.

  There was something about sharing this first experience with him that made it even more intimate. “More than okay.” She dropped him a quick kiss. “Um, you have a little chocolate. Right there.” She swept her tongue along his cheek, licking him clean.

  He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and groaned. “I think we have just enough time to grab a quick shower before Sean gets here.”

  She cupped his face and kissed him again. “Great idea.”

  “Katie?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Tell me this isn’t the last time you want to do this.”

  “Sex with chocolate?”

  “Sex any way.”

  Katie pushed off of him and knelt on the covers beside him. “Is it a good idea for us to keep having sex?” There were all these pesky emotions that threatened to burrow even deeper under her skin.

  “Maybe not, but we’re good together, aren’t we?”

  They were so good, and that’s what worried her. “So what are we talking about? Friends with benefits?” Now that she’d acknowledged to herself that she was in love with Carter, the term sounded a little sad. “You want us to agree to be friends with benefits?”

  “Only if you stop trying hook-up with other guys while we’re…benefiting each other.”

  “Exclusive friends with benefits? Isn’t that too long term for you? Too serious an arrangement?”

  “I may have had my share of women, but I never had more than one at the same time. I don’t believe in cheating.”

  She didn’t, either. “Okay, I promise I’ll break up with you before I go barhopping. But if you need to fulfill your rebound duties, the same goes.”

  He stared at her, intense and questioning. “So we still say we’re dating?”

  “I don’t know. I guess for now. What do you think?” She should just come right out and admit she was in love with him. But this didn’t seem the right time. How could she tell him she’d fallen in love with him when he wasn’t even sure he wanted a friends-with-benefits arrangement? He surely wouldn’t want to feel the pressure of love added to the mix. She couldn’t forget he was a rebound guy. Guess her heart forgot that detail when it took the tumble.

  “I’m as confused as you are about all this. Guess it makes sense to keep up the dating story for now.”

  “But either of us are free to request a breakup at any time, right?”

  He chuckled. “Kat, I think that’s how it works for all dating couples.”

  “Are we dating?” The panic came through more than she wanted it to.

  He took the hint. “Of course not. Friends with benefits, right?”

  “Right.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Carter almost told Katie he was in love with her while they were lying there in that soft bed together, their legs tangled, their breaths mingling. But if she panicked when he mentioned the two of them continuing to make love, how would she react if she knew he was in love? If she knew he was beginning to think about having a family. He’d have to wait for a better time.

  Which wouldn’t be now, as the three of them walked into Bud’s.

  Sean had been quiet since he got home. He didn’t want to talk about what was bothering him, but Katie reminded Carter in private that Sean had been the same way since kindergarten. She could never force him to tell her anything. In fact, it was always better not to ask any questions. Act like there was nothing wrong and, when he was ready, he’d spill it all.

  They ordered a pizza and a pitcher of soda, and then the table was awkwardly silent. All around them, the Saturday night crowd was filling up the place. Sean waved at a couple of his friends sitting at a table across the room. One of the things he had mentioned to Katie earlier was that he missed all his friends in Lakeside.

  “Mom, I’m going to go talk to Brian and Jacob, okay?”

  Katie and Carter shared a glance. “Sure,” she said, “but come back over here when the pizza comes.”

  Sean gave her a small smile. “I’d never miss out on pizza.”

  She sent Carter a worried glance as soon as Sean was out of hearing range. “I wish he’d tell us what’s wrong.”

  “He’s probably homesick.”

  “Or maybe he’s heard about us dating.”

  Herb, the retired postman, strode over to their table. He frowned at Katie. “I heard you were picking up strange men at the Bullfrog.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Goes to show you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

  Herb turned and shouted to the group he was sitting with. “Katie’s not cheating on Carter!” He looked at Carter. “I told them Danny didn’t know what he was talking about.”

  “Thanks for str
aightening that out, Herb.”

  As soon as Herb returned to his friends, Katie murmured, “Bet Sean heard that.”

  Carter followed her gaze to where Sean was huddled with his friends across the room, deep in conversation. He placed his hand over hers. “Maybe not.”

  “We have to tell him as soon as he gets back to the table.”

  “We will.” Then he changed the topic of conversation to get her mind off Sean. “I stopped to see Mom and Pop on the way back from Albany.” Carter had talked mostly with his mom, who of course was worried about Pop. He had sat in his wheelchair in the living room, stared out the window, and refused to talk about it.

  “He wouldn’t go to the showroom today,” Katie said.

  Carter nodded. “He mentioned something to Mom that he didn’t want to be put out on display in the showroom like some old piece of salvage.”

  “Oh no, I never thought of it that way.”

  “I know he doesn’t like sitting home, but he doesn’t want to come in and hang out in the back with the guys, either. I don’t know what’s up with that.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t want to be there if he can’t be useful.” Katie glanced over to Sean. “I hate trying to figure out what other people are thinking. Especially people we love.”

  Carter agreed. “We can’t force either one of them to talk. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “We should send Sean over to see Pop. Maybe they’d confide in each other.”

  “More likely, they’d pop a huge bowl of popcorn and watch old westerns all night like they used to.”

  Katie laughed. “Right now, I think I’d like to see that.”

  “Me, too.”

  The pizza arrived, and Sean headed back over to the table. Tall and lanky, he was the spitting image of his father. Sean downed his first piece so quickly, Carter doubted he even tasted it. He grabbed another piece and set it down on his plate.

  Sean cleared his throat and picked at the pepperoni. “So when were you guys going to tell me you’re dating?”

  “Now,” Katie told him with her don’t-mess-with-Mom tone of voice. “We were planning to tell you over pizza.”