Sugar (Gimme Series Book 1) Read online

  Sugar

  Gimme Series Novella One

  C.M. STEELE

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments:

  To my husband and best friend who tries to help me stay off the internet but fails miserably. I love you to pieces.

  A special thanks to Elena M. Reyes for giving me the idea for the story and helping me get through it! You made it happen!

  My lovely friends and proofers, Audrey, Evelyn, and Yvette who helped when I was down to the wire on this, thank you!!

  And to my readers…Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

  Copyrighted © 2019

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written expressed permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is purely coincidental.

  Cover design: C.M. Steele

  Cover Image: Deposit Photos

  The use of actors, artists, movies, TV shows and song titles/lyrics throughout this book are done so for storytelling purposes and should in no way be seen as advertisement. Trademark names are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringement of the respective owner’s trademark.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and please purchase your own copy.

  Lucas:

  I want her from the start.

  I’ll have her.

  I’ll worship her.

  The second Lexi steps into my life, she’s out of luck because I can’t let her walk out. Now to find a way to make her feel the same way.

  This is a fun, sexy, fast read full of hearts and flowers with insta-love and lust.

  Happy Valentine’s Day!

  Chapter 1

  Lexi

  I make a dash down the street, hoping the bus sees me, but no luck, and it drives away. “Damn it,” I swear, stopping and taking a breath. It’s been one heck of a start to my morning. My dog thought it would be fun to play outside instead of using his time wisely.

  That’s what I get for having a husky. He jumped in the mounds of snow left over from the last storm we had. Thankfully most of it melted because he used my boots as chew toys last night, so I’m sporting my gym shoes. It’s not the nicest look, but I am comfortable, and thankfully most of the ice is off the main sidewalks.

  I can’t wait any longer, and my fingers are too frozen to search the bus times. The cold breeze chills me to the bone, so I rush into the coffee shop. It’s almost eight. I have five minutes to get to school which means I’m going to miss my calculus class. Who decides to pick a math class at the beginning of the day? Seriously, I had to be insane. My next course isn’t until ten, so I do have some time to relax.

  I step in behind a guy in a long, wool coat, expensive slacks, and shoes. His hair is cut fairly neat, but he has more hair at the top. Not too much, but just enough to look distinguished. I have no idea what his face looks like, but he pulls his phone out of his pocket, and I see that he’s sporting a very expensive watch. He’s got GQ written all over him.

  What bothers me is how curious I am about him. Normally, I hardly notice anyone, and I mean that. I laugh when the news asks if you can identify a certain person to contact the police.

  I’m like yeah, I’m totally useless, but this tall man has caught my attention, so much I can see that he’s got brown hair and he smells wonderful.

  I take a deep breath, loving his cologne. Before I know it, I’m practically riding his back, I step backward one pace before he thinks he’s about to get mugged.

  I’m sure he probably works in one of these buildings nearby. Most people around here at this time are employed somewhere in downtown Chicago. My mind flies to what his job is, that is until he gives me more to look at. As he turns slightly to look at his phone, I catch his profile, and I’m stunned. His face is covered in about two days of manly scruff, even so, I can tell his jaw is strong, and I could swear I heard a slight deep-voiced grumble.

  I could melt on the spot.

  He’s gorgeous and probably married or has a girlfriend that he’s gonna take her on a wonderful dinner where he may give her a diamond ring or earrings to go with a pair she already has. I can just picture the way she’ll sigh and coo with pleasure as she stares at the precious gift that he’ll treat as a small trinket and then he’ll look at her with those eyes, strong and full of love and passion. He’ll reach over with those thick masculine hands, cupping her jaw and lean in for a kiss.

  I groan angrily and mutter, “Fucking hate Valentine’s Day.” Shock and embarrassment cover my face when the magical panty-melting, deep chuckle comes from the man in front of me. The man fantasies are made of.

  Chapter 2

  Lucas

  There are hearts everywhere. There’s so much going on for Valentine’s Day that I’m practically tripping over paper hearts as I walk down Michigan Ave. Every storefront has hearts galore.

  I make it to the nearest coffee shop. Opening the door, I breathe in the heady scent of fresh coffee beans. The line is longer than I hoped, although somehow I expected it would be. Normally I would get a ride into the office, but my driver’s sick, so I decided to use this brisk morning to walk to the office. It’s about six blocks from my condo to the office, and I could use something warm to stave off the cold.

  “Fucking hate Valentine’s Day,” a soft voice mumbled behind me. It makes me chuckle because I’m not the only one annoyed with the overwhelming feeling of being alone on a day of hearts and flowers. It’s not that I don’t enjoy my single status, but it’s like celebrating Christmas without watching kids opening presents with innocent glee.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it that loud,” she apologizes. I turn around, and my mouth gapes open like a fool. I would be embarrassed if she wasn’t as equally affected by me. Her blush creeps up her heart-shaped face, and her tiger eyes widen. I groan as my cock presses insistently against my zipper. My reaction is immediate and intense, making it completely unsettling, but so necessary that I learn her name.

  “Personally, it’s just what I was thinking. I’m Lucas Fox,” I say, sticking out my hand for hers. She shifts her scarf out of the way and gives her hand to me. Fuck, it feels soft and small in my hand. Holy fuck, I want to have it wrapped around my cock. The thought shakes me. Never have I been so damn interested in a woman on sight.

  I want to possess her in every way.

  “I’m Lexi Blake,” she answers, biting her lip and smiling up at me. Those lips beg for mine. She looks so damn innocent, I feel like a wolf ready to devour her pretty ass. Shit, I wonder if she’s too young.

  “Lexi, aren’t you a little too young for coffee?” I teased, hoping to coax the information out of her. I have to know I’m not a fucking pervert.

  “Nineteen and college makes sure I need my fix.” I silently send up a thank you. Now to find out
more about my woman.

  “Sir, can I help you?”

  I turn to the intruder, hold back my annoyance, and respond, “Coffee, cream and one sugar.” I look at Lexi and ask, “What do you want?”

  “You don’t have to,” she tells me like that’s going to stop me.

  “I don’t have to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to. So what will it be?”

  “I’ll have a small coffee cream and extra sugar. I like my sugar,” she adds that last part for me. I bet she tastes like sugar.

  I pay the cashier, and we move off to the side and wait. “So since Valentine’s day is shitty for you, bad break up?” I ask, digging a little deeper.

  “No, I don’t think I’ve had a date since I was in high school. Life is way too busy for that.”

  I can’t contain the satisfaction in that revelation. “It’s good to hear that, but I’m going to take a chance and ask if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight.”

  “You mean you don’t have a hot date already?” I can see she’s trying to wheedle that information out of me, but there hasn’t been anyone in my life in years.

  “I would if you said yes.”

  “Lucas. How can we? It’s Valentine’s Day. Everything will be busy.”

  “Let me worry about that. Just say yes.”

  “Yes,” she replies. I groan because she’s moved an inch or two closer to me like she can’t fight this pulls between us. The only thing that gets in the way is when they call out our order. I grab them, handing her one, then I indecently watch her hands wrap around the cup as if it’s a treasure, groaning inwardly. Fighting the irrational urge to kiss her, I take a sip of my cup. Hell, this is too sweet to be mine. I turn the cup to read the writing and realize that we have the wrong cups.

  “Sugar, this is yours,” I tell her, holding it out. We switch, and she giggles.

  I hold back another groan as she takes a sip wrinkles her nose. She walks over to the sugar and extras counter, opening her lid and pouring in more sugar. Damn, I watch as she adds a lot before stirring it. She takes another sip with a grin that spreads across her face.

  “You really like your sugar.”

  “I know. I shouldn’t, but my coffee is always a must. I’ll run it off later, but there are just some things that you can use sparingly.” The joy on her face is too much.

  “Fuck, you are too cute,” I grunt.

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” It’s a very bad thing right now. I don’t know how my dick could get any harder. If it wasn’t for me picking my full-length coat, she’d know how much I wanted her. It’s throbbing, begging for her to hold it the way she grips that cup.

  I shake my head and lean in so only she can hear me, then I whisper, “No, it’s the fact that I’d like to taste those sweet, smiling lips and that is a bad thing.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” she sighs and takes another sip. With a shrug and not missing a beat, she adds, “Besides, the holiday for kissing strangers is next month.” I release an unexpected growl.

  I growl playfully, going along with her. “Oh, really? Do you kiss strangers on St. Patrick’s Day?”

  “Only the Irish ones,” she laughs, wagging her brows playfully. I’ve never laughed this much in one day let alone in only ten minutes. My heart races just wondering how I could have missed her if my driver wasn’t sick.

  “Wait? Isn’t everyone Irish on St. Patrick’s Day?”

  “So you kiss everyone then,” I challenge, wondering how she can respond to that and she doesn’t disappoint.

  She rolls her eyes dramatically, making me chuckle. “No, that’s silly. You can’t manage that in a day.”

  “Good. Because I would lock you up all St. Patrick’s Day and give you just one pair of Irish lips to kiss.” Realizing we’re creating a little backlog, I lead her to a dark corner of the shop. She looks up at me with questions in her eyes.

  Maybe I’ve gone too far.

  Chapter 3

  Lexi

  I replay his words and every ounce of my being tingles as I take his hand and he leads me over to a small table. I want him to pin me down and kiss me. “I’m sorry if I came off a little crass. Please still have dinner with me tonight.”

  “Why? I thought you didn’t like Valentine’s Day?” I challenge the handsome bastard. It’s sexy when he’s demanding and yet hot as hell when he’s unsure.

  He leans in tormenting me with desire. “I didn’t have anyone worth my time to spend it with. Now, it’s become my favorite holiday.” I’m hoping that he’d kiss me. That’s nuts since we didn’t know each other, but I still want him to do it. Instead, he pulls back and takes a drink of his coffee.

  “So where are you going to school at?” he asks me.

  “Northwestern,” I admit proudly. I don’t tell him that I hate it and I’m in the wrong field, or at least it feels that way.

  “Wow, you are a perfect gift, wrapped up in a tiny little package, aren’t you? Brilliant and beautiful.”

  “I don’t know about all that, but what about you? You’ve obviously finished college, so what do you do?”

  “Sugar, are you trying to say I’m old?”

  “Not at all, but there does seem to be a touch of gray right there,” I tease, reaching up to the edge of his beard. He snatches my hand and kisses the inside of my palm.

  “I can tell you’re going to be a pain in my ass. I’m a Lawyer, and I’m thirty. I work at my family’s firm just down the street.”

  “Oh goodness. So you’re pretty brilliant yourself.”

  “I guess you can say that, but I work hard.” His phone rings in his pocket.

  “You probably need to check that.”

  “Sorry,” he mutters, pulling it out of his pocket.

  “Yes, I’ll be there in fifteen. No, I won’t. I’m getting my coffee now.”

  “Sorry, that was my assistant. I’m late to the office, and they worried that something was wrong.”

  “I didn’t mean to keep you.”

  “Well, I’m only five minutes late. I’m usually in at eight-fifteen.”

  “Wow, not eight?”

  “It’s a thing I have about starting on the hour. It makes the hours seem longer. As much as I want to stay, I have to leave. Please give me your number.” I read it off while he enters it. Then I receive a text.

  I’ll pick you up at seven.

  “I thought you said you didn’t like starting on the hour.”

  “This half-hour has felt like five minutes. I need it to start as soon as possible. Will you be okay? Should I call you a car?”

  “No, I’m fine. I’m going to finish my coffee and jump on the next bus. It’ll be here shortly. Thanks, Lucas. I can’t wait for tonight.”

  “Call me when you get there. And I just can’t stop myself,” he growls, cupping my chin and leaning in. His lips caress mine briefly. “Fuck, you are sweet. Have a good day.” He walks out, and I’m left there in a fog. It takes me a minute before I get wits about me, then I look at the bus schedule. I have twenty minutes before the next bus comes. Normally, I would drive to the campus, but the weather and traffic make it hard to judge how long it will take to get there.

  Chapter 4

  Lucas

  I don't know how I made it to my office. The entire time I fought to turn around and go back to the coffee shop. The thought of her light brown eyes smiling at me eased all the tension I was having. I was so anxious about tonight that I forgot to ask for her address. I don't know where she lives, but I'll figure it out. I go through the revolving doors, then smile at the front desk receptionist. This building is a larger one, but we only have floors two and three. All of our personal offices are on three, and the conference rooms are on the second floor. The building management handles the security, but some of these people have been working here for a long time. Angela’s so taken aback that she stammers out a hello. People at the office call me stone because my face was always hard to read.

  “Mr. Fox, it’s
good to see you. Your father was looking for you. Would you like me to message him or are you going to see him?”

  “I’ll pop by his office. Is there anything for me?”

  “No, Rochelle took it.” Rochelle has been my assistant for several years and is on top of everything.

  “Great. Thank you.” I tap the desk and walk to the bank of elevators, clicking my floor as I get in. A woman rushes to the elevator, so I hold it open.

  “Thank you, sir.” She pushes two and gives me an apologetic smile. I nod because I’m already late. Besides, it looks like she’s one of our clients. I get off on my floor and catch shit as I walk past our glass doors.

  “Hey, bro. No driver today, and you can’t get your ass to work on time?”

  “I make my own schedule. Besides, I decided to stop and get coffee.” I smile like a fool, then step around him and head to my father’s office. We’re half-brothers, and he can be a real ass sometimes. My mom died a year after I was born and my dad married his mom a year later then fathead came along. He’s the exact opposite of me. He laughs all the time which is surprising for a lawyer, but he’s also only in his first two years.

  I rap on my father’s door, and he calls out, “enter.” I come in, and he comes around from his desk, smiling. “There you are. We were beginning to worry.”

  “I’m barely half an hour late,” I remind him.

  “Yes, but you didn’t call. That’s not like you at all,” my dad explains. I have my reasons why I didn’t call, and it’s all because of Lexi.

  “What’s with the grin?”

  I smirk, then come clean. “Nothing, but I’m going to be calling it a day early. I’ve got a date tonight.”

  His jaw drops and his eyes bulge out as he asks, “A date? Are you serious?”

  “I am about her.”

  He crosses his arms and pinches his lips closed. “How come I’ve never heard of her?”

  “I just mentioned her. Now I need to figure out where I can take her.”