Jennifer Probst - All the Way

“Isn’t there salt and pepper on the tables already?”

He winced. “Tony refuses to allow it. Said his food is always cooked to perfection and no other seasoning is needed. We’ve tried sneaking it on the tables a few times, but he always catches it.”

Miranda studied the man before her. The composed, multi-millionaire, cutthroat advertising executive had transformed into a regular guy babysitting his family and trying to save the restaurant he didn’t even want to work in.

A strange warmth bubbled up inside her and melted the wall of ice. “Well, then, I guess I better get to work. Do you have a spare apron?”

He shook his head. “Hell, no, you are not going to waitress tonight. I’ll manage and take you home in a few.”

“Gavin, I worked in restaurants during my studies at the culinary. I know what to do, and you need the help. Now, get me a spare apron and let’s finish this up before the Sinatra club decides to go for another round.”

He hesitated, obviously torn. Practicality won and he let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll be humiliated later. Right now, I’ll take the help.”

She grinned. “Apron, please.”

The next few hours whizzed past. She enjoyed the fast pace, and fell into the old rhythm she’d learned at the culinary, balancing speed with quality service, helping clear and turn over tables quickly to maximize profit. Dominick and Tony enjoyed an easy camaraderie filled with jokes that made the evening enjoyable.

Her most fun was watching Gavin.

Like Hook running a ship of pirates, he kept a firm hand on the staff’s tendency to slack off and morph from organized business to family chaos. His perfect suit and tie were now mussed and slightly wrinkled. He snapped orders, performed round after round of checks in the kitchen, the bar, the tables, and the lounge. He kept his father and cronies in line, and a sharp eye on his younger brother. His entire body vibrated with both tension and an energy she knew personally could be focused on any activity he chose. Like sex.

By the time the last patron left, the dishes were cleaned, and the lounge closed, her feet throbbed and she ached to sleep for ten hours straight. Thank God she had a lazy type of job. She gave a silent prayer of gratitude to all the hard workers in the service industry and leaned against the mahogany bar. “That was intense.”

Gavin laughed and waved to his brother and Dominick. “Yeah. I get to do this tomorrow, too. Not to mention meeting the supplier at six am in order to get Tony his ingredients to prep.” He slid into the bar stool beside her. “Thank you.”

She looked up, startled. A flush of warmth crept into her cheeks. “No problem. I kind of enjoyed it. Brought back memories.”

The easy air between them tightened and thrummed with sexual tension. The blood thickened and pumped through her veins with a pure need to touch him. He’d pushed up his shirt sleeves. His arms were sinewy with muscle, covered in golden hair. She ached to run her nails over all that toasty golden skin and dig in deep. A riptide of liquid warmth rushed and settled between her thighs. “Funny, I’ve got my own memories right now.”

“We should go.”

His eyes darkened to navy and seethed with masculine demand and heat. “Not yet. You deserve a reward for saving my ass tonight.”

She opened her mouth and emitted a squeak. Tried again. “How about a discount?”

“Do you think I’m a cheapskate?”

The laugh died in her throat. Suddenly, he was the old Gavin, the dominant lover who took and bestowed bone-shattering pleasure. He reached out and tugged. The stool slid over until she was positioned between his spread thighs. The delicious smell of coffee and smoke and lemon teased her nostrils. Those strong hands settled on her shoulders, lightly, but enough so she experienced the power beneath the gentle touch, the ability to tear clothes and take her hard and fast. “I don’t—I don’t know about this.”

“I do.” He leaned in and stopped an inch from her lips. “One kiss, Red.” His breath whispered. “Please.”

His final plea hit the mark. Just a kiss. On her terms. She could handle it.

Miranda met him the rest of the way. His lips closed on hers.

A moan vibrated through her chest. So different from his usual plunder and assault, he kissed her with a sweetness that broke down her defenses and promised her heaven on earth. His tongue parted the seam of her lips and slid home.

Miranda surrendered.

She opened and gave freely, drunk on his taste and his smell and the touch of his hands on her body. Their tongues touched, played, drank. A burn blossomed deep in her gut and spread. Miranda pressed against him and sought more to slake the need. His hands left her shoulders and he tugged her blouse out of her skirt, sliding his palms over her belly upward to cup her breasts. Her nipples stabbed hard in an effort to be freed, and he obeyed her body’s command, unsnapping the front clasp of her bra.

She bit down on his lip. Her nails curled and dug into his biceps. He groaned and caressed her breasts, flicking her nipples with his thumbs, urging them to tighten and swell and obey his command. She arched.

With a growl, suddenly he lifted her up from the stool and placed her on top of the bar. Never breaking the kiss, he devoured her mouth and pushed her thighs apart. Swollen and ready, she sank into a pit of greed and lust, her body craving release and dominating her usual control. Gavin sensed the change, responding by removing his hand from her breast and sliding under her skirt. Her thighs trembled when he hit the top of her stocking and stroked the bare expanse of flesh between the line of her panties. The scent of her arousal drifted in the air, and like a madman, he lifted the barrier and plunged one finger deep.

She cried out. He swallowed her moans and pleasured her, adding another finger to her drenched core, stretching her channel and rubbing against the hard nub begging for attention. She bucked like a wild woman, too close to the edge, desperate to give him anything. Everything.

“Oh, Jesus, you’re so beautiful. So hot and ready for me. Open wider, yes, like that.”

His thumb rubbed against her clit and his fingers pumped and his teeth sank deep into her lower lip, soothing with his tongue. The orgasm shimmered before her in all its haunting glory.

“Gavin!”

“Come for me, baby. Now.”

Her climax ripped through her body. She screamed but he swallowed the sound. His fingers ruthlessly milked out her orgasm and the aftershocks caused mini convulsions. The pleasure went on until her body wrung dry, and she slumped against him.

Oh. My. God.

The image hit her full force. Spread-eagled on a bar in his family’s restaurant. His erection pounding and pressing against her thigh. The ragged pants from both of them mixing and mingling in the sudden silence.

What had she done?

He slowly removed his fingers, eliciting another aftershock. “I’m sorry.” The words burst out of her like a cannon blast. “I didn’t mean to—I’m sorry.”

His gentle smile rocked her foundation. Where was his push to dominate the scene? The smooth seduction and dirty words that would confirm he’d be buried deep inside of her in the next few minutes? Instead, he tugged down her skirt and shifted his position. “What you just gave me was a gift. A priceless gift. Seeing you shatter in my arms again, touching you, kissing you. That’s enough for me, baby.”

His sensual lips curved in a smirk. “I’m gonna grab a glass of ice water and take you home. Okay?”

She ran a palm down his cheek. “Okay.”

With a quick kiss on her forehead, he lifted her from the bar and set her on her feet. Filled up a glass with ice, guzzled it down, and hit the lights. Then offered his hand to hers.

Miranda took it. Interlaced her fingers with his. And let him lead her out of the restaurant.

“We need you back. Now.”

Gavin rammed his shin into a crate, smothered a curse, and tried not to lose the cell phone tucked between his ear and shoulder. “Brian, I told you. I have official leave for the next two months. I need the time, man.”

His boss’s grumble through the line was not a good sign. They’d been a tight team, and Gavin had worked hard to get to the top, proving himself time and time again to be the man to get the job done. It took a lot to get Brian to finally give him the time off, until he’d been forced to threaten permanent resignation. His boss knew Gavin never bluffed, so he caved. But his constant phone calls ruffled his nerves and poked at his insecurities. The idea of a green associate handling his clients and trying to take his place burned in his gut. Of course, that’s how the world of cutthroat business worked. He’d accepted the game long ago.

God, he was tired.

The thought surprised him, even as he cursed again as lemons toppled over and one bopped him on the head. Who the hell had put the damn citrus fruits on the top shelf instead of the fridge?

Brian’s voice droned on. “I know you’re trying to be a hero and save the family restaurant, but at what expense? Look, Gavin, it’s time I tell you something big. You’re up for partnership.”

Gavin paused mid-stride and gripped the phone. “What? You said MacKenzie wasn’t taking on any more associates.”

“We’re making an exception. For you. Do you want it?”

Triumph coursed through him. Did he want it? Did he sleep and eat and breathe? Years of dedication and shit-taking and endless work finally morphed into the prize of all time. Partnership. “Hell, yes, I want it.”

Brian made an appreciative grunt. “Good. I’ll give you three more weeks. Max. I need you in China.”