N. Walters - Craving Candy

He’d had several long-term relationships with women who wanted a monogamous partner without all the ties and hassle of a “real” relationship. They’d all been intelligent, perfectly nice women who’d been focused on their careers and hadn’t been looking for more in a man than a willing partner for sex. All of the relationships had eventually ended amicably as all three women had been ready to move on with their lives and he hadn’t been willing to offer more. So he lived alone, and at forty-one, he was content with his life and proud of what he’d done with it.

But none of that changed the basic fact that he had a hard-on that wasn’t going to dissipate any time soon. What he really wanted was a woman. His woman. Closing his eyes, he pictured her in his mind. She’d be curvy and soft with eyes the color of rich chocolate. She’d smile at him with her pouty cherry-pink lips as she flicked her cinnamon-colored curls over her milky-white shoulder. One corner of his mouth kicked up in a smile when he realized he was using food, specifically baking ingredients, to describe his perfect woman. But after all, they were his stock and trade.

His cock twitched and he reached down and wrapped his hand around it. Slowly, he moved it up and down the hard length, all the while imagining it was her touching his body.

Her hands would be small but eager as they grasped him, squeezing tight. She’d use her other hand to cup his scrotum and massage his balls. His breathing got deeper as he relaxed into the daydream.

Then she’d smile at him, a wicked smile that made her eyes gleam with mischief as she knelt in front of him. Lowering her head, she would lap at his cock with her tongue, swirling it around the tip. He could picture her pink lips sliding over the hard length as it disappeared into her mouth. Ever so slowly, she’d pull back, tracing her tongue over his pulsing erection.

Groaning, he pumped harder and faster as he imagined her hand working up and down his length as she continued to suck him off. Her breasts would be plump, tipped with large pink nipples, and they would sway with every movement she made. She’d moan and arch her sex against his leg, drenching it in her juices. Damn, but she’d taste fantastic too. He knew she would. A combination of sweetness and musk that would be addictive.

A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead and into his eye, but he ignored the sting. He was so close to coming. His balls drew up tight to his body as his hand continued its frantic rhythm. His cock seemed to swell even larger as he pumped harder, imagining her mouth sucking him deeper. Lucas’ whole body jerked as semen gushed from the tip of his cock and he came onto his stomach. The daydream flickered away and his dream woman disappeared back into the mists of his imagination.

As he lay there panting for breath, his hand dropped away from his cock. Physically, he felt better, but there was an emptiness inside him that yearned to be filled. Liquid began to drip down his side and he swore. Sitting up quickly, he grabbed the towel out from under his body and used it to clean himself up.

Dawn was breaking as he pushed off the weight bench and headed back to the bathroom, dumping the towel in the laundry room as he passed. Sleep was definitely not going to happen now. He shoved a hand through his short hair, yawning so wide that he felt his jawbone crack. Pushing all thoughts of his restless night out of his mind, he focused on the coming day.

A shower was his first priority. Then it was back to work. He had a ton of baking to do this morning if he wanted to get everything done in time for the party that would launch Coffee Breaks in its new location. Work had always been his salvation and this time would be no different.

“Girl, you need to get laid.”

Candy Logan burst into laughter at her best friend’s pronouncement. Shaking her head and smiling, she turned her attention back to the papers strewn across her desk. She knew the address she was looking for was buried somewhere in there and she didn’t have much time to find it.

“I’m serious, Candy. You need something else in your life besides work.”

“You’re supposed to call me Candace.” The words were automatic, as much a reminder for herself as it was for her friend.

“I don’t know why you want to change your name all of a sudden. What’s wrong with Candy?”

Giving up hope of getting any peace and quiet until she’d placated her friend, Candy sat back in her chair and stared at the other woman. With her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face, Missy Sinclair was a formidable presence. At six feet tall, with dark ebony skin and piercing brown eyes, Missy was gorgeous enough to have been a fashion model. People literally stopped in their tracks when she walked by— or sauntered by, as the case may be. Missy never hurried anywhere unless absolutely necessary. She was also the best friend a girl could ever have and the two of them had been close since they started working at TK Publishing six years ago.

“People don’t take a woman named Candy seriously.” She’d heard every joke and innuendo in the book growing up. For some unfathomable reason, her mother had saddled her with a name that always made her the butt of jokes.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, ignoring the brewing headache as she tried to remember where she’d put that address. “And I want to make the most of this promotion.” She’d been promoted to publicist, and this new project was the first she’d handled on her own for the company. Up until now, she’d been an assistant publicist— more a glorified secretary, actually. She was flying solo on this one and there was no way she wanted to screw it up. But nothing had been going the way she planned.

“Once people get to know you, they don’t care about your name. You’re damned good at your job.” Missy pushed a lock of dark brown hair out of her face and sighed. “And I still think you need to get laid.”

“That’s your answer for everything, Missy. Sex.” It was easy for her friend to suggest that, but then, she didn’t have any trouble getting dates. Candy hadn’t had a date since… well, she didn’t even want to try to remember the last time she managed to have a date with a man who even remotely interested her. Too many of her friends had set her up on blind dates and she’d sworn off men altogether after the last fiasco.

“No, it’s not.” Missy gracefully lowered herself into the seat in front of Candy’s desk and crossed her long, shapely legs. “Sometimes chocolate will do the trick.” She grinned mischievously. “But this situation definitely calls for sex.” She paused for effect before continuing. “When was the last time you even heated the sheets?”

“Just before Gary and I split over a year ago.” She slapped her hand over her mouth, unable to believe she’d just blurted that out.

Missy didn’t miss a beat. “See, I’m right. You really do need a night of hot, sweaty sex with some hunk. Practice safe sex and nobody gets hurt, but you’ll certainly feel much more relaxed about things.”

Candy chuckled in spite of herself. Missy always did know how to make her laugh and help her gain perspective on a problem. “I don’t have time to relax. What am I going to do about Lucas Squires?” She switched topics easily, knowing Missy would drop the subject. For now. “He won’t take my phone calls and I can’t leave a message because he doesn’t have an answering machine. What kind of person doesn’t have an answering machine or some kind of message manager in this day and age?” She took a deep breath when she heard the frustration in her own voice.

“Obviously a person who wants to be left alone.”

Candy scowled. “You’re not helping. I know he wants to be left alone, but as a publicist for this company, I’ve got to get him to do some promotion for his new book. It’s due out in two months and I haven’t been able to set up any kind of advance publicity at all that involved the elusive Mr. Squires.” This was her own very personal pet project and she desperately wanted it to succeed.

“It’s not your fault that he’s being reclusive.”

She knew that Missy was right, but it didn’t make her feel any better. “But I do feel responsible. I was the one who brought this project to the company in the first place.”

It had all started innocently enough at a downtown Chicago art gallery. Candy had fallen in love with the work of local painter, Katie Benjamin, and had attended the showing. She’d been thrilled to meet the artist and even more thrilled a few months later when Katie had called and asked her out to lunch. Over dessert, the other woman had produced the rough draft for a cookbook and asked Candy’s opinion.

She’d been enthralled by the idea of the book from the beginning.

Filled with original artwork from Katie— everything from simple line drawings to elaborate oil paintings— it was, quite simply, gorgeous. The text of the book consisted of recipes for all manner of desserts and treats as well as anecdotal stories about Coffee Breaks, a well-known local coffee shop. It was only after they’d talked for a while that Candy had come to realize that Katie had compiled the work, but the person behind the recipes was Lucas Squires, the owner of the shop.

Fired with enthusiasm, she’d convinced the editors at TK Publishing to take a chance on it. They loved the idea of combining the artwork of an up-and-coming artist with the recipes from a popular local coffee shop. They figured it would be a hit with locals and tourists alike and would have mass appeal as well. The recipes went from the simple to the complex, but there was something for everyone.

Now the book was close to release and management was pushing for advance promotion to coincide with the grand reopening of the new Coffee Breaks location. They wanted local television and media coverage, and she had yet to be able to track down Lucas Squires long enough to say one word to the man. It was frustrating, to say the least.

She was damned good at her job, but he was quickly becoming a mark on her otherwise unblemished record. And that, she could not allow. She knew she could do this job. After all, she’d done most of her old boss’s work before finally being promoted after years of hard work. There was no way she was going to allow Lucas Squires to ruin everything she’d worked for. All she wanted was a few hours of his time over the next few months. That certainly wasn’t unreasonable to expect considering the money her company had put behind this project.

“Earth to Candy.” Missy waved her hand back and forth. “I recognize that look and it means you’re up to something.”

Candy jumped. She’d been so lost in her thoughts, she’d all but forgotten that her friend was still sitting there. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She pasted an innocent look on her face, but Missy just laughed at her.

“I know you too well to be fooled by the ‘I’m not doing anything’ look.”

Placing her hand over her heart, she shook her head sorrowfully. “I’m so misunderstood.” Missy laughed but made no motion to leave, and Candy knew she wouldn’t budge until she knew what was going on. “Okay.” She leaned back in her own chair. “There’s a party this afternoon, by invitation only, to celebrate the fact that the new location of Coffee Breaks will be ready to open its doors next week.”

“And you know this because…” Missy’s voice trailed off.

“Katie just happened to send me an invitation.” She felt a large smile spread across her face. “And Mr. Elusive has to be at his own party, right? All I have to do is corner him and keep at him until he agrees to give me a few hours of promotion time.”

“Very sneaky. I like that about you.” Missy glanced at her watch, sighed and stood. “I’ve got to get back to work, but take it easy at the party. Maybe he’s got a reason for avoiding you. Maybe he’s just shy.”

Candy nodded. “Maybe.” In fact, she had a picture of the man in her head. She knew he was in his early forties and she figured he was short and probably balding. He also spent most of his time in a kitchen, so he was probably portly as well. She could relate to that as she was no lightweight herself, perpetually trying to shed that last ten pounds that would never go away and sat right on her hips and belly.

“I’ll call you tonight for the scoop on the success or failure of your party crashing.” Missy wiggled her fingers goodbye as she strolled out the door.

Turning back to her desk, Candy dug through the pile in her in-box. She was sure she’d tossed the invitation in there when she’d gotten it. Ah ha! She plucked the creamcolored envelope out from between two magazines and waved it in the air. Today, she would meet the infamous Lucas Squires. He’d soon find that he could run, but he couldn’t hide from her.