Saved (Real Men Crave Curves Book 5) Read online

“Welcome to Sherry’s Place,” Jesse said as he slid his arm down around my waist in a protective gesture. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait from some cherry pie.”

  The wink he gave me sent shivers down my spine and I took a deep breath to calm my nerves as my savior led me up to the diner’s front door.

  Jesse

  I could feel Lucy shiver under my touch and I felt a hot jolt of longing shoot through me. It had been a long time since a woman had done that to me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the hell out of it.

  I’d been pleasantly surprised when she’d accepted my invitation. But the truth of the matter was I’d meant it when I’d told her I wouldn’t accept a refusal.

  Even though I’d only known Lucy for a short time, I already felt drawn to her in ways I hadn’t felt for as long as I could remember. And it wasn’t just her delicious curves that were pulling me toward her.

  She just seemed more real than the women I’d dated before. I couldn’t put my finger on the exact reason why I felt such a connection to her. It was more than our shared traumatic experience, I knew that much.

  Hell, I’d already shared more about myself with her than I did with any of the setups Janet had arranged for me. That had to mean something, didn’t it?

  All I knew was I was invested in Lucy. I wanted to make sure she stayed safe. And I wanted to see if I could make her flash that beautiful smile again. I figured a piece of pie was as good a place to start as any.

  The bell over the door to Sherry’s Place dinged as I pushed it open and held it for Lucy to walk through. It smelled of rich comfort food inside and I breathed it in with a happy sigh.

  A waitress in an old-school uniform with an apron greeted us. “Table for two, hon?” she asked as she grabbed a couple of menus from a nearby stack.

  I nodded. “A booth in the back, please.”

  Lucy and I followed the waitress to a far corner and sank into the comfortably worn bench seats. She handed us our menus and told us she’d be right back with our waters.

  “This place is great,” Lucy said as she looked around. “I wish I’d known about it before. It reminds me of my favorite diner back home.”

  “Yeah, it is great,” I replied with a smile. “I stumbled on it right after I moved to the city. My condo is just around the corner.”

  “I’m impressed you can afford a place around here.”

  “Well, I do alright for myself. But I want to know more about you. Where’s home?”

  “A little town in Ohio,” Lucy said and I could read nostalgia clearly on her face. “My parents were against me moving to New York. I’m starting to wonder if they were right.”

  “You can’t let one asshole change your mind for you. If you followed your dreams here, you should keep on fighting for them.”

  I watched Lucy’s face light up in a smile. “It was my dreams that led me here. That much is true. Maybe you’re right about giving the Big Apple another shot.”

  “Oh, I think you definitely should. After all, following your dreams is one of the most important things you can ever do. Plus, I know I just met you, but I have to tell you the truth, Lucy. There’s no chance I’m letting you give up and leave now…”

  Chapter Four

  Lucy

  Jesse is confident without being cocky. That’s a brand-spanking new experience for me when it comes to men. I know I should probably be wary of this virtual stranger, but I find myself drawing closer and closer to him as we eat and talk.

  “If there’s anything better for the soul than a piece of homemade pie, I don’t know what it is,” Jesse said as he took a big bite. “Sweet Jesus, that’s good!”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the production he made as he chewed. He squeezed his eyes closed and made little moaning sounds. I might have made it seem like I took it as a joke, but those noises sent shivers through me, and I had to work hard to keep myself calm as I took my own bite of cherry pie.

  “By God, you’re right,” I said after I’d finished chewing. “That’s the best pie I’ve ever had. And I come from Amish country!”

  On another guy, the smug satisfaction on Jesse’s face would have been infuriating. But he somehow made it seem adorable. I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

  After he’d taken several more bites of pie, Jesse set his fork down and looked at me intently. “So, Lucy Thomas, go ahead and tell me more about yourself.”

  I was caught a bit off-guard and started to choke on the pie in my mouth. I coughed and reached for my glass of water, watching as Jesse shot to his feet and made his way over to my side of the booth.

  “Are you alright? Do you need the Heimlich?”

  His face was awash with concern, but I’d managed to get my pie down, and I held my hands up and shook my head to let him know I didn’t need saving. Not this time.

  Jesse sat back down but he still look worried, so I tried to set his mind at ease. “I’m fine, Jesse, I promise. Just had a scary moment there, but I’m glad to know I have a choking expert around.”

  I was happy to see that sexy smile of his return. “I don’t know about being a choking expert, but I learned a thing or two during my time in the service. Now, I spend my days in an office, instead of on missions.”

  “That sure sounds like an adrenaline downgrade,” I said with a laugh. “What is that you do now?”

  “Oh, nothing exciting. I run Harris Advertising Agency.”

  My jaw dropped open. “You own HAA?”

  Jesse grinned. “You’ve heard of it?”

  As if my night hadn’t been crazy enough, I realized the man that had rescued me also happened to run the company where I’d dreamed of working for years.

  “Heard of it?” I managed to squeak out. “I’d sell my soul to get an internship at the Harris Ad Agency, let alone be able to work there.”

  Jesse threw his head back and laughed. “As flattering as that sounds, I don’t think it would take a deal with the devil to get into HAA.”

  His eyes twinkled as he looked at me and I felt my insides twist with longing. This man was just full of surprises, and I had to focus my entire being on playing things cool.

  “Well, I haven’t had any luck getting in so far,” I admitted as heat rushed into my cheeks. “I send over samples of my stuff every month or so, in hopes of gaining the interest of the hiring team.”

  Jesse looked suddenly serious and leaned forward to stare intently into my eyes. “What kind of stuff do you send, Lucy?”

  I filled him in on the design work I’d done since coming to New York and tried to keep my level of blushing to a minimum. It wasn’t easy, seeing as I was sitting across from a king of the advertising world.

  “Your work sounds impressive,” Jesse said and I felt as if my heart would burst out of my chest. “I’d love to see it for myself.”

  “I’d be happy to grab my laptop and bring it to the office sometime. But…”

  My eyes welled up with tears at the thought of having to be alone in my apartment after the night’s traumatic events.

  Jesse’s eyes softened and he immediately took my hands in his. “But, what? What’s wrong?”

  I tried to get away with just waving my feelings off with a shake of my head, but the older man wasn’t having any of that. He held tight to my hands and asked me again what was wrong.

  I admitted that I was afraid to be alone and was taken aback by his sudden smile. He was back to being the bright, confident hero he’d been since I’d met him.

  “That’s easy enough to fix,” Jesse declared. “You’re coming back to my place with me, and that’s all there is to it.”

  Jesse

  Once Lucy admitted that she was afraid of being alone, I knew there wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d leave her that way. Not that I’d wanted to beforehand, but she’d just given me the perfect reason to spend more time with her.

  “You know how I feel about taking ‘no’ for an answer,” I said as I gave her my
most charming smile and squeezed her hands. “My condo has plenty of room and I live alone, so you won’t be bothering anyone. Plus, my building has a state-of-the-art security system, so safety is no issue.”

  “Oh, I already feel safe being around you,” Lucy said and I watched her eyes go wide and her cheeks flame up once more. “I, well, I just meant, I, uh…”

  “I know what you meant, honey,” I replied softly. “And I’m happy to make you feel that way.”

  Lucy’s face went blood red and I felt my cock stir in my pants. She was just so sweet and vulnerable. I wanted to take her into my arms, crush her to my chest, and claim her mouth with my own.

  But I didn’t want to scare her off with moving too fast, too soon. I could tell she wanted to go home with me and feel more secure, but I could also read the hesitation on her face.

  “Let me take care of you, Lucy,” I said gently.

  She blinked back her tears and nodded slowly. “Alright, I guess it will be fine, as long as you have a guest room.”

  I laughed and stood up in triumph. “Hell, honey, I’ve got two. You can take your pick.”

  Lucy’s eyes widened and then she laughed. “Well, okay then, Mr. Advertising King.”

  I dropped her a wink and threw a couple of bills down onto the table to cover our pie and a tip. And then I held out my arm for Lucy and we headed out the door.

  “It’s a beautiful night,” I said and took a deep breath as we strolled toward my condo building.

  “Yes, but a little chilly,” Lucy replied and I instantly put my arm around her and pulled her close. She snuggled up against me as if she’d known me for years and I smiled to myself.

  I could feel her sneaking glances up at me as we walked and that just made me want her more. As if her curves and beauty weren’t enough, she was as sweet as could be, too.

  “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me tonight, Jesse. I don’t normally believe in luck, but I sure seem to be on a roll.”

  There was unadulterated awe in her voice and I laughed softly before pulling her in even closer. “The luck’s all mine, honey, trust me on that.”

  It didn’t take us long to wind up at the front door of my building and I waved to the doorman as he let us into the lobby. I could tell Lucy was as impressed by the opulence as I’d been when I first saw it.

  “It’s definitely a step up from living in Army barracks,” I said as I pressed the button to call the elevator down. “Hell, there are times I actually feel guilty about how much I have.”

  “Oh, but you shouldn’t! You’ve built one of the top ad agencies in the world, and I’m sure that took quite a lot of blood, sweat, and tears on your part.”

  “You know what? You’re right,” I replied as the shiny elevator doors opened for us. “The only thing that’s missing is someone to share it all with…”

  Chapter Five

  Lucy

  I felt like I was in the middle of a dream. Not only had Jesse hugged me close on the walk over, but now he was hinting at so much more.

  I watched as he removed his keys and unlocked the penthouse level. That made me feel even more as if I was dreaming, and I had to fight back an excited little squeal as the elevator began its controlled ascent to the top floor.

  “It’s been a long time since I brought a woman home with me.” Jesse’s deep voice filled the small space and I could hear the raw longing in it.

  My body reacted instantly and I could feel heat building at my core. I looked at him and saw that he was staring at me so intently, it was as if he could see straight into my soul.

  Feeling both scared and electrified, I found myself moving into Jesse’s arms as if I’d belonged there from the first moment I’d met him. He pulled me in closer and I could feel his heart pounding inside his chiseled chest.

  I looked up into Jesse’s face. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to go home with a man.”

  With those softly spoken words, Jesse brought his hungry mouth down on mine and kissed me with a passion that almost burned my lips.

  Everything other than being with him in this moment fled my mind, and I moaned into his open mouth as he pressed me back against the cool metal of the elevator, sending the vibration of the machinery up my thighs and wringing a groan of desire out of me.

  I could feel Jesse’s need pushing hard into my hip, and then he had a hand on my breast, kneading my flesh as his mouth moved from mine and traveled down my neck, setting me on fire as it went.

  “God, I want you so bad, Lucy,” he groaned into my skin. “Hell, I need you, honey.”

  I was so overwhelmed by the sensations of what he was doing to me, I couldn’t even reply. All I could do was moan and tilt my head back to give him access to more of my neck.

  But that wasn’t enough for Jesse. He pulled away, took my face into his hands, and looked deeply into my eyes. “Tell me what you want, honey. Tell me what you need. I want to hear it come from that pretty mouth of yours.”

  I was already panting and had almost turned into a puddle of desire. I was putty in Jesse’s hands. Stranger or not, older man or not, I realized that I liked what he was doing to me. And that I wanted more.

  I read Jesse’s eyes and saw more than lust in them. I saw caring and compassion. My rescuer was turning out to be that elusively perfect mix of take-charge and a soft touch that I’d always craved in a man.

  I took a deep breath. “I want you, too. All of you.”

  Jesse closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, I saw they were flooded with satisfaction and heat. He leaned in and claimed my mouth with his own again and I practically purred in his embrace.

  Just then, there was a soft ding and the elevator doors opened to reveal a posh hallway. Warm light from the overhead recessed fixtures bounced off the wood furnishing and plush carpeting.

  “Home, sweet home,” Jesse said with a grin. And then he scooped me up like I was as light as a feather and carried me into his luxury condo.

  Jesse

  I know I should at least give her a tour of my place or offer her a glass of wine. Something to show that I’m not just after getting her into bed. But I want her too badly.

  Lucy is different than any other woman that’s ever turned me on. And in all the best ways. She’s sweet and smart and creative. In other words, the opposite of anyone from my disastrous blind dates.

  And sure, she might be quite a bit younger than I am, but those curves of hers are just too juicy to ignore. Simple as that. I couldn’t stop myself from claiming her as my own if I wanted to, and I most definitely did not want to stop.

  I carried her down the hallway, through the living room, and into the master bedroom. Her body was vibrating with desire in my arms and I could still taste her on my lips. But I wanted so much more.

  I laid her gently on my California king mattress and turned on one of the bedside lamps. I wanted to see Lucy in all of her glory. I wanted nothing between us but air, and I could tell by the look in her eyes that she wanted the same thing.

  “Get naked for me, honey. I want to see all of you.”

  Lucy’s hands trembled but she did what I wanted, and when she’d finished stripping, what I saw took my breath away.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful, Lucy,” I growled. “I love every gorgeous bit of you.”

  She blushed deeply and tried to cover herself with her hands, but I wasn’t having any of that. I pushed her hands back to her sides, took another few moments to enjoy the show, and then whipped my own clothes off. I couldn’t wait any longer to feel her bare flesh against mine.

  I knelt on the edge of the bed and crawled my way over to Lucy’s lusciously curvy limbs. I pressed my lips into the flesh of her thigh and kissed my way up to where it met the other one.

  She smelled and tasted as sweet as a peach, and when my mouth reached the object of my desire, we both moaned in satisfaction.

  Lucy’s hips bucked as my tongue darted out and parted the moist heat at her ce
nter. She cried out my name as I sucked her clit in between my lips and rolled the tip of my tongue around it.

  I buried my face in between her legs and felt them trembling as I licked, sucked, and nibbled harder and faster. I needed Lucy to come the way a starving man needed a meal, and I wasn’t going to stop until she coated my face in her sweet juices.

  My cock was throbbing and dripping, but Lucy was the center of my universe right then, and when she clenched my head with her thighs and called out my name, I smiled and moaned with satisfaction as she writhed below me.

  I couldn’t wait to be inside of her a second longer. I slid up Lucy’s body and pressed my still sopping mouth to hers in a long kiss.

  And then I shifted my hips and slid my cock home with one smooth motion, giving myself over to the sensations that flooded through me as Lucy’s deepest muscles tightened around me.

  Chapter Six

  Lucy

  When Jesse’s pants had first come off, it took my breath away. He was so big and hard, it was almost scary, but there was no denying I wanted that perfect specimen of a cock inside of me.

  I was still trembling from what he’d done to me with his mouth when Jesse gave me what I wanted and slid deep inside of me. I could still taste myself on his lips as he plunged into me, and it almost drove me crazy with desire.

  “Sweet Jesus, you feel so good,” Jesse groaned as he ground himself into me. He looked down into my face with eyes that were bleary with carnal contentment.

  All I could manage was a smile between moans as Jesse picked up the pace and started hitting all the right spots with his magic cock. His thrusting became harder and faster, and I felt my back arch and my eyes roll back into my head.

  Before I knew it, I was crashing into my second intense orgasm of the night, and Jesse was pumping his load inside of me. I found myself craving every drop, and I wrapped my legs around his back to keep him as deep inside of me as I could, for as long as I could.