Page 106 of The Cupcake Standard

He shook his head. “I was so busy staring at the rest of you. And your hair hid most of it.” One warm finger trailed along my bare shoulder blade, and he pressed a kiss there.

“It seemed like a pirate-y thing to do.”

“Nah, a pirate would just take out his sword and slice through all these.” He paused, and I felt the top loosen. “But I think I’ll enjoy it, taking my time. Especially…” He turned me so I was facing him, then tugged me onto his lap. “Yes, that’s better.”

Confused, I opened my mouth to ask, but then he pulled another lace, making my bodice loosen even more. His eyes drifted to where my breasts spilled over the top of the gown. The tension grew between us, connected at the apex of my hips and his cock along with his nimble fingers unlacing my gown. It was a tense game, waiting for the moment for my top to fall. I wasn’t sure who would win or lose or what the prize would be, but with each string pulled my panties grew damper and his cock hardened beneath me.

Soon I longed to move against him. My nipples were pebbled peaks that ached for his touch. “I’m sorry I ran away.”

He paused. “I’m sorry I didn’t come after you sooner.”

My heart broke a little at his words, and I threw my arms around his neck. “I’m just glad you did. But more than that, I needed you to realize that you…that we…are worth fighting for.” I kissed his cheek first, trailing more kisses until I reached his mouth where I poured out all my love for him.

He gripped me tightly. He ran his hands along the bodice so the front fell down, baring my breasts. His lips left mine, making its way to one of my aching nipples. When he took it in his mouth, I cried out, arching against him.

“So beautiful,” he murmured, cupping my other breast in his hand, brushing his thumb over my other peaked point. Then he rolled his hips, and I nearly came on the spot. He smirked. “Just like that first night, when you had me pinned.”

As he rolled his hips again, I tilted my head back and went with it. I let go of everything else, trusting Derek, as I truly surrendered.

Epilogue

The bells to the coffee shop jangled, and I waved at Rhonda from where I sat with Gina. Rhonda smiled, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. She looked amazing as always, in an immaculate designer pantsuit with her dark hair up in a sleek French twist. And her Louis Vuitton heels were to die for. She hurried to the counter to order.

It was weird sitting out in the café when I was so used to being on the other side of the counter, but Not Your Average Joe was central to all of us. Plus, they had damn good coffee.

As soon as Rhonda had her coffee, she strode over to us. “Hey, ladies, how is everyone?” She gave me a pointed look since we hadn’t really spoken since the gala.

Gina glanced at me too, her smirk all knowing.

I set my cup down, and let my joy shine out in my full-blast smile. “I’m amazing. Derek’s beyond amazing.” Rhonda wrinkled her nose at my innuendo, but I just laughed. “Thank you guys so much for helping me pull that off. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

They both grinned back at me, but Rhonda’s was lacking.

“So what about you? You left kind of early, and I heard Greg gave you a ride home.” I was still dying to know the story there, but both of them had been shut tighter than a stubborn oyster not wanting to give up its pearl.

Her blue eyes dropped to her coffee cup as she spun it around in her hands, reminding me of when I first met Derek for breakfast. She sighed. “Ever since I broke up with Kevin, I’ve felt…off. It’s not that I miss him,” she was quick to qualify. “I don’t, but I don’t quite know how I fit in my own life anymore.”

The heaviness in her words draped over the table like a coat of cement. There I sat feeling happier than I’ve ever been, and my friend was hurting. I reached over to grip her fingers. “You’ll figure it out. You’ve got this.”

Gina nodded her agreement. “Plus, there’s a certain chauffeur who seems like he’d be willing to give you a distraction any time you need it.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“Greg?” Rhonda frowned. “No, there’s nothing between us.” The disappointment in her words and the way her face fell said she wished there was.

I tucked that observation away for later. “So what happened after the gala?”

Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, and she ducked her head. “He drove me home, nothing unusual there.”

My snort came out before I could stop it, both Gina and Rhonda staring at me. I shrugged. “I mean, there had to be something. Greg told Derek he’s not working for him anymore, that he’s going back to work for you.”

Rhonda’s blush intensified. “I guess there was a moment.” She looked above my head, seemingly lost in a memory. “When I went to get out of the limo, my feet tangled in my dress, and I fell. I thought I was going to smash face first into the pavement, but he caught me.” Her words were on the breathless side, tumbling out faster and faster. “He had me brace myself on his shoulders, then he knelt down and untangled my dress.”

She was a million miles away and I exchanged a knowing look with Gina. There was definitely something between those two, and I couldn’t wait to see where it went.

I turned to Gina, wanting to hear the latest on her and Josh while I kept one eye on the time. Derek had to travel to Canada again this weekend, but this time I was going with him.

After way too much coffee, a heap of well-wishes and a flurry of goodbyes, I made it back to the apartment at precisely two-thirty p.m., just like I’d promised. Derek sat on the couch near our bags, and he looked up as I walked in. His blue eyes sparkled when his gaze landed on me, then he popped to his feet. I strode over to him, tilting my chin up for a kiss. He didn’t disappoint, his mouth claiming me like he always did. My Captain.

Would it ever be enough? Would I ever get to the point of having stable knees when his lips met mine or when he flashed me that megawatt smile? He pulled away, grinning down at me.

I linked my fingers behind his neck, smiling back at him. I sure as hell hoped not, but I was willing to spend forever finding out.