Free Stony Creek Hero [Stony Creek 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Taylor Berke

wasn’t as stupid as his brother Jackson, who was afraid of committing to a woman before Billie. Nope, he simply didn’t see himself with just one woman, even the one he held tightly in his arms who was torturing him by kissing along his neck and ear with reckless abandon.
    “Ben, please make love to me. Here, now. I accept your offer, I accept you, just as you are. Please take me,” she implored sweetly, chipping at Ben’s resolve.
    With a calmness he sure wasn’t feeling, he replied, “Take deep breaths, baby. I want you so badly right now, I am afraid everyone in the restaurant is going to get an earful of today’s special and I am not talking food. Damn, woman,” Ben said, trying to be playful. His attempt at regaining control was being undermined by the radiating pressure of his hungry erection that was straining against her belly. Taking another huge breath, Ben leaned down and hugged her to him more gently as he allowed her feet to slide back to the floor.
    “Lizzie,” was all Ben said softly as he swayed gently with her in his arms. With a sheepish grin, he stood up to his full towering height and, with a pained expression, adjusted the evil monster in his jeans.
    She was really trying to look normal, like she just hadn’t had the most intense pleasure of her life while climbing on him like the ropes in gym class. Getting some control over her blush, she shyly looked back up into his gorgeous green eyes, now dark with unfulfilled desire.
    “Ben, don’t you want me?” she asked, feeling as pathetic as she sounded.
    Ben smiled back down at her and gently threaded his fingers with hers. “Baby, I want to take you in so many ways that when I am done, you wouldn’t be able to walk for a week. However, I am not here to embarrass you or allow you to become uncomfortable in any way, especially with a restaurant full of customers out there. Ugh, girl customers too! You made good on my offer and I promise to make good on your way more tantalizing offer soon,” he said with a twinkle.
    “But Lizzie, I am going to protect you, even from myself. I don’t usually do the dating thing, you know that. For you though, I am gonna give it a try and step out of my comfort zone. Let me have some time to figure this out. It’s going to be okay, baby, I am going walk out first so the gossips don’t get more fuel for the fire, okay?”
    Great, now she was feeling even more confused than she was before. Protect whom, she thought. She watched Ben give her one last smile as he held his hat strategically over his groin area and walked out the door. Lizzie looked down at the wrinkled piece of paper he must have slipped into her hand while she was in her pleasure coma.
    “Holy Hell!” she almost yelled out. In it was a check for $25,000, made out to her restaurant. He was nuts, certifiable really! She made a beeline for her office door and ran down the hallway to catch that crazy cowboy. All eyes in the dining room shifted immediately in her direction as she burst in like a gangbuster.
    “You just missed him, sweetie!” Mabel hollered out helpfully with a devious smile on her face.
    “Did you both have a nice ‘talk,’ honey? He looked very, what’s the word, Julia? Oh yes I know, he looked, well, hungry, when he left,” Millie supplied naughtily.
    Looking sheepish, she looked for assistance from her own table of feminine support but all she found were smirking faces. Well, Billie’s looked a little green actually.
    Maddy thrust a glass of water in her direction as she plopped herself back down. Knowing glances were tossed from one woman to another at her table.
    “What?” Lizzie snapped at them.
    Smiling sweetly, Beth retorted, “Well, you look a little more relaxed than you did when you left, honey. Flushed, hair mussed, you know. You might want to pull your shirt back into place, your bra is showing. Nice lace.”
    “Ugh, you guys are definitely no help to me whatsoever!” Lizzie declared with a huff.
    On cue