Page 123 of Bake the Town Red

“More.” I push against him. I have to face him, show him how much I need him. “Ty.”

“Dahlia.” He doesn’t allow that, not my Tyler. With his erection pressed to me and his hand on my throat, he leads me to the numbered cupcakes I have left on display. “Choose one. Choose one for me.”

My desperation for him stings like a spider bite. It’s loud like a crow’s caw. An owl’s hoot. It’s as lethal as a snake coiling around my body, attempting to crush my bones.

I’d kill someone if I don’t have him soon.

That’s how much I need Tyler.

He needs me just the same. Now that I have a view of the front door, I see that he’s flipped the sign toClosed, allowing us a few moments of privacy.

Fuck. He’s driving me insane. I grind my ass against his crotch, ignoring the cupcakes.

Ignoring his order.

“Do you need me spanking you so you’dpick one already?”

“You could’ve said I’ve missed you instead of manhandling me.” I’m being a brat. And Tyler’s dark chuckle tells me he loves it. “Like normal people do.”

“And here I thought it was obvious.” His hand slides from my throat to my breast where he inked me. Squeezes. Caresses. “Thought it was clear I missed you every hour of every day when we were apart.”

“Tyler.”

“Choose.”

I reach for the Boston Scream. “You’ve loved me all those days too?”

“Fishing.” His lips curve in a smile on my neck. If I’d turn around, I’d come face-to-face with a wicked grin. No doubt about that. “But yes. Every minute. Every millisecond.”

Before I break down and cry from being so ridiculously happy, I pluck out the cupcake I have chosen for him.

“Remember this one?”

“Fuck yes, I do.” Tyler bites my throat. Sucks on the skin and sends shivers up my spine. “I remember it was the last one Grams baked for you. She could hardly walk, but she made it her mission to do something special for your eighteenth birthday.”

“She had you deliver it to my apartment.”

His hand slides down my front, below the display window. Where no one can see. Where I need him the most. He shoves my panties to the side again. Slips three fingers, find the soaking part of me, driving deep.

“I planned on taking you that night.” His tongue, teeth, and fingers assault me repeatedly. “Then I saw you there,baking the same fucking cake to celebrate your own birthday with us. You were sweet. Too fucking sweet for me to fuck you then and there. And I was your guardian the day before. I couldn’t. Wanted to so fucking bad, and couldn’t.”

“You hugged me that day”—moan—“a lot.”

“Had to.”

My eyes close. Whoever strolls in front of Sweet DeNights will have a view of a dark man towering over me. Let them watch. Meanwhile, I’ll be here in our own little world.

“Is that why you licked my nose?”

“Yes.” He pinches my clit, then he’s back to stretching my pussy with his fingers. “It wasn’t the right time. You and I, I had to make sure everything was just right.”

“Because you loved me.”

“Because I loved you.”

I’m quiet after that. Quiet while I focus on how good everything feels. Quiet while time ticks by.

The fucking time.

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