Seal the Deal (1Night Stand Series) Read online

  She had just been all jiggy with a stranger.

  Oh my. Anne, you trusted him with your body, gave in to your darkest desires so easily. Why? How? This man has a strange way about him yet seems perfect for me. Uh-oh. Trouble.

  Perhaps he really was her soul mate, but maybe she’d let her guard down too quickly. So long as she could keep her heart closed until she really knew him, she’d still have a chance of not falling too hard too quickly. A difficult task, for she felt far too comfortable with him. Heck, she could probably ask him just about anything at this point.

  Anything.

  Chapter Nine

  He poured hot water over a teabag in each of the two mugs, cracked open a single-serve pot of long-life milk, and splashed the white liquid equally over the drinks. A quick stir, then he disposed of the teabags before sliding next to Anne sprawled out on the bed.

  “Thanks.” Naked, beautiful, she propped against the headboard and caressed him with a silky smooth leg.

  He handed her a cup then placed his own on a bedside table. “One tea, madame. Lots of milk, no sugar. Just as you requested. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “Hmm, you do know how tae spoil a woman, but there is one more thing you could do.”

  “And what’s that, my lady?” he toffed.

  “Something I’ve always wanted tae try but was never brave enough tae request such a thing with anyone else. But since you’re feeling generous....” She took a sip of her tea, a cheeky little side smile forming across her rosy-pink mouth.

  “Oh?”

  Clearing her throat, she put her drink down and fiddled with the alarm clock, moved the notepad, then pushed about the hotel-logo embossed pen.

  “Oral.”

  “Pardon? I didn’t quite hear you.”

  Turning to face him, Anne whispered, “You heard me just fine.”

  “You want me to go down on you. I’d love to taste you, make you come while my tongue is buried deep inside you.” He leapt to his knees, eager to please his lady.

  “No, no. Finn.” Anne put up her arms and leaned back. “I mean, erm, I want tae—”

  “Suck my dick? Even better!”

  She cocked a brow. “At the same time.”

  “Eh? Oh, I get it. Yes, I’m up for that. Anything for you.” Something he’d never experienced before, so the idea of Anne being his first rather pleased him.

  She dipped her head, her cheeks turning a pretty crimson shade. “Aye, sixty-nine.”

  “Are you blushing? Oh my goodness, you are. Why? We’ve already had sex at the top of a lighthouse and been strutting in the buff in this hotel room for the last half hour. Why so modest now?”

  “I figured double oral was something teenagers did to fit everything into a limited time frame. I thought you might think me a silly girl for wanting tae try this activity. It’s actually been a fantasy of mine for a very long time. Tae give pleasure while receiving it. I’ve never met anyone as adventurous as you in the sack, no one I felt safe enough with tae ask such a thing, anyway.”

  “Aww, you feel comfortable with me? But your blushing cheeks and hushed voice tell me otherwise. They suggest you’re on edge, gasping to jump me but fearful of rejection. Come here, you sexy, bashful vixen you. I’ll do anything you desire, nor will I ever laugh at you. You’re safe with me, Scottish Anne.” He hadn’t lied. He really would do anything for his lady, and to hear her say she felt safe with him…well, it meant the world to him. And hinted at the possibility of a happy ending to the night.

  He lay on his back, pillow under his head, then maneuvered her so she lay in the opposite direction over him, enjoying how limber and willing she was to do as directed. Hoisting her hips, he nuzzled his head between her thighs so her pink, swollen sex sat over his head.

  “How do you like it?” she purred.

  “Anyway you wanna give it.” He flicked his tongue over her sex. “And take it.”

  Warmth slid down his hard-on, moist, welcoming, as she wrapped her mouth over him. He’d be quite happy to lie back, to savor every touch, every lick, every suck. But he also wanted to hear her climactic squeal again. Parting her slit with two fingers, he stroked her moist, silken mound. Long and slow caresses mixed with hard strokes over her clit. When he did something she liked, she writhed and sucked harder on him, drawing him closer to the edge. Their pace matched, muffled groans growing louder.

  He spanked her bottom then licked the length of her sex. She grabbed hold of his sack, her orgasm released in a strangled cry while her slick juices coated his tongue. She sucked him hard, mumbled away with his length in her mouth. Something about it feeling too good. He wasn’t sure. Didn’t really care. Ready to spurt in her mouth. Got to hold on. Need to last longer. But he couldn’t take the agony of holding his explosion. His balls drew up, tightening, and he filled her warm mouth with his thick cum. She made sweet, soft moans while devouring every last drop of his offering.

  Switching around, she curled up next to him, wiped her mouth, then sighed. “Finn Kneale, you rocked my world.”

  “So you love me?”

  “I said ‘you rocked my world,’ not ‘put a rock on my finger.’”

  “You do love me. You just don’t know it yet.”

  “Aww, Finn, ease up on this whole made-for-each-other thing. Relax. Let fate take care of things. Although I’ve got tae say, if tonight is anything to go by, we’ll be hitched and honeymooning before the year is through. I’m not in a hurry tae let a catch like you get away so easily.”

  “A catch like me, huh? A stunning woman like yourself, I bet you’ve had plenty of fish to fry.”

  “I threw them back before they….” Nibbling on her French-manicured nails, she gazed across the room. “Let’s just say there’s a reason why I’d like tae take us slow.”

  “I’ve been deep fried, twice fried, and totally burned,” he offered, hoping to get her to open up. Poor lass, someone had done a huge number on her. They were a right pair of broken-hearted, fate-reliant lovers. Destined to be together. He prayed she saw it, too.

  “I bet nowhere near as bad as falling for a stupid arse of a doctor, spending a whole year making plans for the future, and thinking life was peachy perfect...then discovering the man of your dreams is already married. With kids. And a feckin’ dog.” She hunched over and rubbed at her ring finger. “A lovely house, too, and his bit on the side. Me. I thought he was the one, I really did. Dickhead even put a ring on my finger.” Her eyes widened, and she brought a hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t meant to blurt out my whole life. You must think I’m—”

  Resting a hand over hers, he kissed her cheek. “Wonderful. I think you are wonderful. And it’s no wonder you’re so defensive, not willing to dive in to let yourself fall in love with me so quickly. What a prick.”

  “So, go on then, make me feel better with your tale of woe. Even the score a little. What’s your story, mister?”

  “My story isn’t too dissimilar to yours.”

  “Tell me, I’d love tae know more ’bout you Finn. Love tae know why you’re still single at, how old are you again? Thirty one, I think your profile said.”

  “You memorized my profile?” A profile I haven’t even seen yet.

  “Did not.” She grinned and glanced away.

  He’d rather revisit the story of the woman who broke him, but it was the least he could do for his soon-to-be savior. “Cliché high school sweethearts. We left the Isle bound for a Scottish college, thought we were going to be together forever. Grow old as a couple. She was my world. But as soon as those diplomas were finalized, and I’d rented a suit, the bitch left me at the altar because she wanted to go back to Port St. Mary. At the time I didn’t. I wanted to make use of my skills, to make a career for myself. For us.”

  “A builder?”

  “No, no. I wanted to be an architect. Had a job offer on the table as an intern. Stupid me, I gave it all up thinking it was what she wanted.”

  “Oh, you poor baby, h
ow awful.”

  “I spent a good few years trying to convince her I’d be happy wherever I was, so long as I was with her.”

  “I’m not even going tae say better tae have loved and all that crap, I can see the hurt you endured still lives on in your heart.”

  “I lost myself, disappeared into work. Couldn’t be bothered with life, buried myself in jobs for my parents.” I was stupid. That’s why this curse took hold. Who knew one broken heart could cause so much damage.

  “But she was your first fall. Those are always the hardest tae recover from.” She rubbed his shoulder, compassion glinting in her deep brown eyes. “But I don’t understand...?”

  “What?”

  “If you were abandoned at the altar by your love, and the pain is still so real for you, why on earth are you in such a rush tae marry me?”

  “Because all that happened so long ago, I’m through with hiding from life. I want to grab it with both hands, grab you with both hands, and hold on for dear life.”

  “Hope you’re not the jealous stalker type?” She stretched her arms around him and nuzzled into him. “I don’t think I have the patience for that.”

  “I promise, Scottish Anne, if you don’t want to see me again after tonight, you won’t.”

  She patted his shoulder. “Hey, if you’ve been gone four years, and you just got back, you must have left the year Port St. Mary got thrashed with the awful storm?”

  “I left soon after.”

  “Terrible, so tragic.”

  “Yes, indeed. I spent many an afternoon up in that tower watching the ocean take out its anger on the shoreline. Used to imagine the waves were my emotions crashing into Rowena.”

  “Rowena, Bethany's daughter?”

  “My runaway bride.”

  “Oh, so that’s how you know her? Why didn’t you say earlier, when I asked?”

  “Because I prefer not to think about her.” He paused, then asked, “Do you have a place you go to forget your worries?”

  “I always go tae the little park on the west promenade when I feel exhausted from life. Sounds crazy, but swinging from bar to bar—”

  “Monkey bars are awesome!”

  Her eyes widened. “Indeed. And the swings make me feel like I’m flying, leaving my shit behind. A good half hour on the swings and then an ice cream from—”

  “Dioli’s. Strawberry is my favorite. And their coffee is to die for. Hell, let’s go now.” Suddenly, his prospects of living to see another day as a human seemed unimportant. He wanted to enjoy the moment. Enjoy Anne. The rest he could deal with, as long as he had tonight to hold onto, to keep him company for as long as he needed the memories to cuddle up with at night.

  “Now?”

  “Yes.” He threw his arms around her and squeezed tight. “Now.”

  “It’s two in the morning. And Dioli’s will be shut”

  “At daylight, then? We’ll go for a frothy coffee and toasted cheese sandwich, and then a play, yes?”

  “Okay.”

  “Race you around the obstacle course.”

  “I said yes.”

  “And see who can swing the highest.”

  “In the morning.”

  She lay back and snuggled under the covers. He slid in beside her, reached around to hold her hand. “And I’ll take you to my family’s farm.”

  “I’d like that, Finn.”

  “Have you been to the chippy here? Their curry sauce is delish. Oh, and there’s a pretty walk I’d love to show you.”

  “Goodnight, Finn.”

  “Yes, sweet dreams, Scottish Anne.” He kissed her cheek and drifted off to sleep, thinking of all his favorite places on the Isle he wanted to show Anne, enjoying the sense of home he felt lying beside her with the promise of a new day ahead.

  Chapter Ten

  Finn glanced at the digital clock: five a.m. How could he have so long with such a beauty beside him? Granted, he may given her an amazing night of sex, she might feel utterly comfortable around him, but whether or not they had fallen in love lay heavy on his heart. He had always placed the two acts together, but his ex-fiancée had taught him otherwise.

  Unlike Rowena, Anne was an easy woman to read. She seemed to want a man with a good heart to share her life. He could be that man. Wanted so badly to be such a man. Damn his stupid curse to hell and back. Whatever he did before this night—before he became a seal—it wasn’t living. Rather more like existing. He knew nothing of life or love.

  “Anne, tell me it’s going to be okay.”

  “What time is it?” She yawned, rolled onto her side, and gazed up at him with her beautiful hazel eyes.

  “Too late.”

  “Too late tae make love tae me? Or too late for coffee and toast at our favorite place?”

  “Too late for anything.”

  “What’s wrong? If it’s condoms, I have—”

  “No, Anne. You misunderstand. I mean it’s too late to start this date again. I’ve ruined it.”

  “On the contrary, Finn. I’ve had such a wonderful time. Besides, our date isn’t over yet.” She climbed on top of him, rubbing her entrance with the tip of his swollen shaft. He sprang to life, letting his body do the talking. Pushing down on her shoulders, he thrust his hips, readying to sink into her entrance.

  “Condom,” she whispered, tugging on his ear lobe with her teeth.

  “I’ve got one more, hang on.”

  If he had his way, he’d throw her on her back and pound her silly until she came over him, until he filled her up with his juices. Stupid move. Stupid. Stupid. He covered his hard dick before being tempted to do something he’d regret. After all, he had no idea if she took the pill or not. He didn’t want to leave her with child if he’d be damned to live out the rest of his days in the ocean, barking and bathing.

  He moved over her, spreading her legs with a knee, burying his length into her. Slow, steady, he penetrated her heat while planting soft kisses over her sweet mouth.

  “Finn, you are amazing. Keep this up, and I’m going tae marry you one day, mister, I am.”

  He froze. Could it be? Did she love him? So fast? Was she really going to save him?

  A loud rapping at the door startled him.

  “I didn’t order room service, did you?” Anne whispered.

  “No.” He glanced at the door, waiting for another knock. Maybe someone had rolled in drunk and mixed up the rooms? The guest might go away if they ignored the ruckus.

  Knock. Knock.

  “Who the bloody hell is it at this time at night?”

  “Finn? Anne?” Bethany’s calm, easy-breasy tones with backbite from earlier were now panicked and high-pitched. Knock. Knock.

  “Can’t this wait until morning?”

  Anne pushed at his chest and whispered, “There might be something wrong with her daughter.”

  Clunk click sounds of Bethany using her room key echoed through the still night. “I need Anne, now.” She flung the door open and flicked the light on.

  “Oh, shit!” Scrambling from beneath him, Anne swore several times under her breath and covered them both with a sheet.

  “I see you haven’t changed much, Bethany. Always were one to barge in unannounced. Couldn’t it wait?” Tsking, Finn failed to see how Bethany had the right to interrupt Anne’s evening. She wasn’t on duty, and at her hotel as a guest. Didn’t this woman know about boundaries? No, as he recalled, she didn’t. She’d caught him and Rowena at it on several occasions. “Or couldn’t you call the doc?”

  “Rowena fell down the stairs and says her stomach hurts really bad. I really didn’t know what to do and she insisted on Anne.” Turning her back to the couple—perhaps to give privacy, but Finn suspected she hid a smirk—Bethany tapped her foot. “I’m sorry I disturbed you, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “It’s okay, Bethany. I understand, but I dinnae have my midwifery bag with me.” Anne slipped into her knit dress and kicked her pair of wet knickers under the bed.

 
; “Can I help with anything?” Finn didn’t want to jump to rescue the chick who gave him years of heartache, but he didn’t like seeing his Anne so flustered. “Name it. What can I do?” Anything but hold Rowena’s hand.

  “Depends on what’s going on…. I could really use someone to run tae my office for my bag.” Pulling her long locks back into a ponytail, Anne scrunched her face and muttered several nonsensical things under her breath. Hard peaks of her breasts strained the material covering them, reminding him she didn’t have any underwear on. Damn it, he wanted to strut right up to her and take one of those nipples into his mouth. Wanted to hear her squeal as he sucked and nibbled on her dark pink nubs. She grabbed her overnight bag and disappeared into the bathroom.

  “Consider me your assistant, at your service,” he called after her. Beats spending a second longer than I have to with Rowena and her sneaky mother.

  He dressed in a snap, aware of Bethany’s watchful glare. Anne returned, dressed and groomed. She dished keys from her purse and handed them over. “102 West Parade, my office is tae the left as you go in the main door. Here, you’ll need this, too.” She scribbled something on the hotel note paper then passed him the pad. “The code tae the alarm system.”

  “Right. I’ll be as fast as I can.” He kissed her cheek then squeezed her hand. “Good luck.”

  Finn had to push his way through a mob of locals gathering around the movie star being prepped for filming in the lobby. Then he ran out onto the street and along the promenade. Took a left onto West Parade and raced past the row of Victorian semis. As remembered, the surgery was right around the corner. Using the code she’d given him, he made his way in the building and located Anne’s office. Quick as possible, he grabbed a doctor’s bag. To be sure, he had a peek inside. Yup. Stethoscope. Was it working? He tested it on his own heart to be sure. Yup. Beneath, he found rubber gloves and cleansing wipes.

  He returned to the hotel in seven or so minutes to find the crowd had tripled in size. It took quite a bit of shoving to get through, but he managed.