Easy Kisses (The Boudreaux Series Book 4) (18 page)

A big part of my life is here.

“If you’re needy then so am I,” I reply honestly. “I enjoy you, Charlotte. I’m not ready to be away from you, and there’s no need to be. I can continue to work remotely. I also need to write my book, and I can do that anywhere.”

“Okay. As long as you’re sure.”

“You’re stuck with me, love.”

She smiles, and then looks over my shoulder and her eyes go wide. “Oh! I want to check this place out!” She pulls over and cuts the engine. “Kate has been in this shop and loved it. The owner came in my store a few weeks ago, and she’s just the sweetest thing. Do you mind if we go in?”

“Of course not. Let’s go.”

“Beau lives above this place, and Eli and Kate live next door.”

“Do they own the block?” I ask.

“Actually, they do,” she says with a smile and leads me in the shop. It smells like…well, all kinds of things. There are frilly soaps and lotions, herbs and oils.

A petite blonde is standing behind the counter, unpacking a box. She’s wearing a flowy sundress, humming to herself. She looks up with happy blue eyes when she hears the bell above the door.

“Charly,” she says with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“Hi, Mallory,” Charly says. “I have been meaning to stop in, and we were just driving by. This is Simon.”

“Hello,” Mallory says and nods.

“Pleasure.”

“What are you in the market for?” Mallory asks and sets the box aside. There’s suddenly a loud thump from upstairs.

“What is Beau doing up there?” Charly asks with a frown. “Wait, he’s usually at work right now.”

“He’s not up there,” Mallory confirms. “It’s Miss Louisa.”

Charly stops cold. “He has a
woman
living with him?”

“No. Well, not a living woman, anyway. Miss Louisa has been here for about a hundred years.”

I wrap my arm around Charly’s shoulders. “So it’s haunted then,” I reply.

“Oh, yes,” Mallory says with a nod. “It’s hard to find a place around here that isn’t. This is New Orleans, after all.”

“Have you seen her?” Charly asks, looking up to the ceiling. She shivers and leans into me.

“Several times, but she doesn’t show herself often. I’m sure your family hasn’t seen her, but they may have heard her. I know Beau has because he’s constantly accusing me of making the noise.”

“What does he say when you explain that it isn’t you?”

“Charly, I’ve never met your brother in person, but he doesn’t seem like the type to believe in ghosts.”

Charly laughs beside me and shakes her head. “You’d be right. Is he giving you a hard time?”

“He’s just difficult now and then. He’s nothing I can’t handle.”

She pushes her blonde hair over her shoulder and winks, and I believe she can handle just about anything thrown at her. There’s an air about her that’s just a little…different.

“Ah, but you believe in ghosts, don’t you, Mr. Simon?”

“I’m from England, darling. Of course I do.”

She nods.

“Do you see ghosts often?” Charly asks, shivering again at the word. Mallory smiles, but her eyes are sober.

“I like you, Charly. I don’t want to scare you off with paranormal talk.”

“You won’t scare me off. I like you too,” Charly says.

“Well, I do see things quite often that can’t really be explained by science. I see Miss Louisa about once a month, and there’s plenty to see in the Quarter in general.”

“Does Miss Louisa talk to you?”

Charly shivers again.

“No, she just looks sad. I don’t ask her questions, I just smile and let her know that she’s safe here.” Mallory takes Charly’s hand and frowns suddenly. “You’re terrified, honey.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You’ve seen some things,” Mallory says, surprising me. She knows things, all right. Her eyes look like she’s seen more than she’d like to share. “You don’t have to be scared. The spirits around you are kind.”

“I have spirits around me?” Charly squeals, her eyes wide.

“We all do,” Mallory replies with a chuckle. “You have problems sleeping. I have just the thing for that.”

She turns to the wall with essential oils and pulls down a small brown vial. “This is vetiver. Just put one or two drops on the soles of your feet and rub them together at bedtime. It’ll help you sleep like a baby.”

“Really?” Charly uncaps it and sniffs, then scowls. “It doesn’t smell good.”

“No, but it works. Here, take some lavender as well, and that’ll cover the smell of the vetiver.”

“How much do I owe you?” Charly asks.

“This is on me,” Mallory replies. “Those shoes you sold me are divine, and I was the talk of the wedding.”

“It’s not nice to outshine the bride,” Charly says.

“Well, then I guess the bride should have bought her shoes from you.” Mallory bags up the oils and passes them to Charly.

“I think we’re going to be good friends, Mallory.”

“I hope so,” Mallory replies. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Simon.”

I nod and guide Charly back out to her car. “Are you okay?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be okay?” Her hands shake as she starts the car.

“She spooked you.”

“I’m a grown woman who lives in the ghost story capital of the world,” she says with a roll of the eyes, but she’s not fooling me. “I’m just fine.”

“If you say so.”

***

“Did you hear that?” Charly asks that night as we lie in bed. This is the third time she’s asked me in ten minutes.

“No,” I reply and hug her close. “Go to sleep.”

“The vetiver isn’t working.”

“Because you’re too busy listening for ghosts,” I reply and kiss her forehead. “How long have you lived in this house?”

“About five years.”

“And have you ever heard anything before?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, there you go. Your imagination is working overtime. Now go to sleep.”

She settles against me, and just as I’m about to drift off, her head jerks up. “Don’t tell me you didn’t hear
that
.”

“Okay, that’s it.” I roll on top of her and pin her to the bed, my face buried in her neck.

“What are you doing?”

“Refocusing your attention, since you won’t let me go to sleep.”

“You can sleep. I’m sorry.” She gasps when I pull her nipple between my teeth. “Oh, that’s nice.”

I grin and pay the same attention to the other breast, then slide down her body. I push her knees up beside her ears and lick her, from anus to clit, twice, and then I push inside her in one fast thrust.

“Oh my god!” she exclaims and wraps her legs around my hips, holding on tight.

“Maybe this will help empty your mind.” I plant my thumb on her clit and watch her go wild as I fuck her hard, pressing the base of my cock on my thumb.

“Jesus, Simon.”

“That’s right. Just me, Charlotte. Just me and what we have together.”

She’s clutching onto my shoulders, and arches her neck back as she comes apart, moaning my name.

I pull out and flip her over, pinning her hips to the mattress. I spread her cheeks apart enough to see her glistening pussy, straddle her legs, and push inside her again.

“Fucking love this angle,” I growl and bite her shoulder. She’s white-knuckling the sheets, biting her pillow. I fist her hair and pull back slightly, just so I can see her gorgeous, flushed face. “Your pussy is so bloody tight.”

“Your cock is just big,” she replies between gasps. “God, you’re hitting my spot in just the perfect way.”

“Like this?” I ask and push harder, making her moan.

“Fuck me,” she moans.

“Oh, I am, love.” God, she brings me to my knees. Whether it’s hard and fast or soft and sweet, I’m lost in her. I can’t get enough of her.

Her pussy clenches down on me as she comes again, and I follow her over this time, the orgasm shooting along my spine, sending electricity through every part of me.

“Damn, you’re amazing.”

“You were doing all the work,” she says, still catching her breath. Finally, I roll off of her and she manages to roll onto her back. “I think I’m going to pretend to be afraid more often. The benefits are spectacular.”

“You weren’t pretending, darling,” I reply and suck her nipple into my mouth, loving the way she gasps. “You taste delicious.”

“I bet you taste delicious right now.”

With a wicked look in her hazel eyes, she takes my semi-hard cock in her mouth and sucks me gently.

“Fucking hell.” My hips jerk, and I’m already at full attention again. God, she’s sucking herself off of my cock.

It’s the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

“We taste good,” she says with a satisfied smile. “And look at that. You’re hard again.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

She tilts her head to the side as she rises over me, as though she’s considering my question. She takes me easily inside her and begins rocking back and forth, milking me with those strong as hell muscles of hers.

“I think I’ll do this.”

“I won’t complain.” I grip her hips and guide her up and down, but suddenly she takes my hands in hers and pins them over my head, kissing me lightly. She licks my lips, down my jaw and to my neck where she nibbles leisurely, all the while riding me at a slow, even pace.

“I like this,” she breathes. “I love feeling you inside me, against me.” She bites my shoulder. “But do you know what I like the most?”

“Tell me.”

“I like the look on your face while you fuck me.”

“What look is that?”

“Surprise. Happiness. Lust.”

I sit up, easily breaking out of her hold and wrap my arms around her waist, picking up the pace. “I never stop wanting you, Charlotte.”

“You’re the only one who uses my full name, you know.”

“I’d better be the only one to do a lot of things.” Her eyes find mine in surprise. I fist her thick dark hair in my hand and tilt her head back, giving me access to her smooth neck. “I’m the only one.”

“Yes.”

I push up hard, making her gasp.

“The
only fucking one.
”

“Yes, Simon.”

She comes around me, then collapses against me, breathing hard, eyes closed. I lie back, cradling her on my chest, and smile when she simply drifts off to sleep, unaware of the creaks and groans in the house around us.

Chapter Fourteen

~Charly~

I feel dumb this morning. My house is
not
haunted. I was just all worked up because of what Mallory said yesterday, and well, because that shit does freak me out. I’m quite sure Gabby’s inn is haunted, and probably every other building in Louisiana.

But not my house.

I’ll have plenty of time today at work to lose myself in other thoughts and by tonight, I’ll be back to normal.

Although, maybe I should pretend to still be scared because apparently, that gets me some good sex.

“What are you grinning about?” Simon asks as he walks into the bedroom. I’m getting ready for work, and he’s pulled the clothes he’s been wearing for a couple of days back on.

“Nothing important.”

“You look like you’re cooking up some sort of scheme,” he says.

“Maybe I’m just happy,” I suggest.

“Perhaps,” he concedes and kisses my neck. “Or maybe you were thinking about last night.”

“Are you a mind reader?” I ask and playfully elbow him in the ribs.

“You wound me,” he says, rubbing his ribs as though I’ve broken them and makes me laugh. “I really need to go back to my hotel room to change clothes. These are starting to stand on their own.”

“Why don’t you just bring everything back here,” I suggest calmly, as if it’s no big deal at all, but my stomach is turning. “If you’re going to stay longer, there’s really no need to keep two places.”

“Are you sure?” His eyes narrow as he watches me closely, and I nod. This is a big step for me. I’ve never suggested that anyone come stay with me for any length of time.

But I don’t like the idea of Simon keeping his things somewhere else. He should be here, with me.

“Here’s a key.”

He accepts it, then takes my hand and kisses it tenderly.

“You’ll hardly know I’m here,” he says, his eyes dancing with mirth.

“Right.” I laugh and shake my head. “You’re kind of hard to miss, Simon.”

“I blend quite well.”

I laugh now and cup his cheek in my hand. “Given that I can’t seem to stay away from you, I doubt that I’ll forget you’re here. But I want you here. So please make yourself at home.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” We’re grinning foolishly at each other when his phone rings.

“Sorry, I have to take this.” He frowns and accepts the call. “Hello, Mum.”

He walks out of the room, not bothering to lower his voice, and I can’t help but listen.

“No, I won’t be calling her.”

I sit on the edge of my bed.

“Because I don’t want anything to do with her. I’m sorry that she’s going through that, but it’s no longer my problem.”

There’s a pause and I hear him sigh.

“Yes, I know how you feel. You’ve made it quite clear. I’ll make myself clear. I would rather you didn’t speak to her, but I can’t control who you choose to talk to.”

His voice has gone hard and cold. I’ve never heard him like this.

“Mother, I didn’t tell you everything that happened because it was none of your business. But I will say this, please consider the source when she’s crying on your shoulder. Well, then I guess I’m heartless.”

What the hell? Simon is the least heartless man I know!

“Listen to me. I’m not going to bloody call her. Ever. That part of my life is closed. Have a good evening, Mother.”

He ends the call, and I wait for what seems forever for him to come back. When he doesn’t, I walk into the sitting room to find him sitting with his head in his hands. He looks…
defeated.

I cross to him and rub circles on his back.

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t like arguing with my mother,” he says softly. “And it seems that we argue more than anything lately.”

“What do you argue about?” I ask, not at all ashamed to pry.

He lets out a humorless laugh and stands, pacing away from me, then back again. He rubs his neck and I sit, waiting for him to work out whatever is torturing him.