Business and Pleasure (Lavender Lace, Book One) Read online

  Business and Pleasure

  Lynn LaFleur

  First in the Lavender Lace series.

  Marci Bayne, president of a successful media company, refuses to get involved with an employee. She doesn’t consider it professional, especially after an affair with one ended badly. Enter her new vice president, hunky Keefe Donegan with his black hair and blue eyes, and she’s a goner.

  When Marci visits Lavender Lace, a store run by Celtic goddess Ashlyn, she can’t resist the sexy lingerie. Ashlyn convinces Marci to be brave and buy something new, something a man wouldn’t be able to resist.

  Keefe is delighted to discover the sexy underwear beneath the president’s business suit. He’s even more delighted to find the sensuous woman inside the president. Their lovemaking is hot and passionate, but he wants more than sex. He has to convince Marci that business and pleasure are the perfect combination.

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Business and Pleasure

  ISBN 9781419924224

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Business and Pleasure Copyright © 2009 Lynn LaFleur

  Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book publication September 2009

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Business and Pleasure

  Lynn LaFleur

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Nordstrom: Nordstrom, Inc.

  Pepsi: Pepsico, Inc.

  Reeboks: Reebok Sports Limited Corporation

  Seahawks: Football Northwest LLC

  Prologue

  Ashlyn Flanagan tilted her head to the side and looked at the sign from a different angle. She wiggled her mouth back and forth. Something simply wasn’t right. The sign itself was perfect, a soothing lavender background with dark violet lettering in a scripty font designed from her own handwriting. It had taken the sign maker three times to get the coloring right, but he’d finally succeeded. And yet…

  “Another of your romantic adventures, me love?” a masculine voice whispered in her ear.

  She would know that lilting Irish brogue anywhere. Joy coursed through her body, a prelude to the pleasure she knew would come later. Smiling, Ashlyn turned to see Llyr grinning at her. The sight of the Celtic god of the sea always made her heart flutter in her chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Where have you been?” She released him, but clasped his hands to keep him close. “I haven’t seen you in months.”

  “Takin’ care of me duties, lass.”

  “Since when do you have duties? Don’t you have dozens of little gods and goddesses who work for you?”

  “Aye, but I still have to oversee those dozens. ‘Tis a full-time job lately. I’m wearing meself down to nothing.”

  Ashlyn looked at his shoulder-length coal black hair, his sky blue eyes, those dimples that made her knees weak when he smiled. Llyr was six-feet, one-inch of broad-shouldered, husky male who had captured her heart five hundred years ago. “You don’t look like you’re wearing yourself down to nothing.”

  Llyr dipped his head. “I thank ye for the compliment, but I could use some time off to relax and recuperate.”

  The wicked gleam in his eyes told her exactly how he wanted to relax. That would be fine with her. She hadn’t experienced Llyr’s incredible lovemaking in much too long. “Would you like to go back to my house?”

  He smiled, flashing those dimples along with his white teeth. “’Tis a grand idea ye have, darlin’. But first…” He looked up at the sign above the door. “What is Lavender Lace?”

  “My new lingerie store.”

  “Lingerie. Those frilly undergarments women wear that get in the way?”

  Ashlyn giggled. Llyr had always said women’s underwear had been invented to aggravate men. “Bras, panties, slips, garter belts, pajamas, nightgowns, and other goodies. I have everything a woman could want to entice her man.”

  Llyr slid one hand down to her buttock and squeezed. “Your skin entices me, lass. That’s all I need.”

  Quickly grabbing his hand, she pulled it back up to her waist. “We’re on a public sidewalk, Llyr.”

  “Then take me someplace private. I’ve a yearnin’ to touch ye all over.”

  Ashlyn had the same yearning about touching Llyr. She loved his body. He had the perfect amount of hair on his chest and stomach to tickle her fingertips. Muscled arms and thighs and a nice big cock completed the package.

  But first, she wanted his opinion. “What’s wrong with the sign?”

  A frown turned down the corners of his mouth. “What sign?”

  “The one above the door. The sign maker made it exactly as I designed it, but something isn’t right about it.”

  His chest rose and fell with his heavy sigh. “Ashlyn. I haven’t been with ye in months. I’m here now, ready and willing to ravish ye. ‘Tis not the sign I’m thinkin’ about.”

  The word “ravish” sounded delicious. “I suppose you could look at the sign later.”

  His smile returned. “A grand idea.”

  “My car is nearby.”

  “Lead the way.”

  * * * * *

  Ashlyn offered to let Llyr drive. He declined, saying he hadn’t driven an automobile in several years, plus she knew the Seattle area much better than he. Once on their way, she knew exactly why he let her drive. He tortured her every mile to her house. A tickle of her earlobe. A brush of his thumb across her nipple. A dance of his fingertips on the inside of her thigh. By the time she pulled into her garage, her pussy was wet and her body on fire for him.

  She didn’t make it any farther than inside her kitchen when she attacked him. Pushing him against the door, she kissed him passionately while rubbing his hard shaft with her mound. He returned kiss for kiss, his hands sliding up and down her sides. With each pass, the heels of his hands brushed the sides of her breasts.

  Llyr ended their kiss and cradled her face. “Are ye hungry, darlin’?”

  “Very.”

  “I shouldn’t have stayed away so long.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have. Stop talking and kiss me.”

  He made a tsking noise. “So impatient. The buildup is worth it, don’t ye think?”

  “You teased me all the way over here. That was my buildup.”

  Leaning closer, he whispered into her ear. “Are ye nic
e and wet, darlin’?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Then take me to your bedroom so I can find out for sure.”

  Walking would take too much time. Ashlyn snapped her fingers. One moment they stood in her kitchen, the next they stood by her bed.

  A cocky smile curved Llyr’s lips. “You are hungry. Let me help ye.”

  A twirl of his forefinger and their clothes lay on the floor. Ashlyn stuck out her lower lip in a playful pout. “I wanted to undress you.”

  “Takes too much time.” He tugged her against him and moaned when their bodies touched. “Bare is much better.”

  Bare was definitely much better. She especially liked that glorious hard cock pressed into her belly. She crawled on the bed and motioned for Llyr to follow her. Stretching out on top of her, he rested his weight on his elbows.

  “I’ve missed ye, lass.” He brushed her nipple with the tip of his finger. “I’ve missed holding ye, touching ye.” He shifted his hips, sliding his rod along her creamy labia. “Being inside ye.”

  She moaned at the feel of his cock brushing her clit. It wouldn’t take much more than a few strokes and she’d come. “Don’t make me wait, Llyr.”

  “Never, darlin’.”

  Clasping her buttocks, Llyr slowly slid into her channel. “Ye weren’t lyin’, lass. Yer pussy is so wet for me.”

  Ashlyn closed her eyes with a contented sigh. Other lovers had come and gone over the centuries. She had no doubt other women occupied Llyr’s bed too. They’d never made promises to each other, never pledged undying love. But when she was with Llyr, no one else mattered. After five hundred years, he knew her body perfectly, as she knew his. They could drive each other to orgasm over and over and still want more.

  She knew the climb toward the heavens would happen quickly. She’d been without him for too long. He stared into her eyes as he moved inside her. Ashlyn placed her feet flat on the bed so she could meet every thrust. Each movement grazed her clit exactly the way she liked.

  “Do ye need more, darlin’? Do ye need me tongue?”

  “In round two. Just keep… Mmm, yes… Just keep moving like that.”

  Ashlyn gripped his buttocks. She pumped her hips faster, driving his shaft harder inside her every time she moved. Oh, she had missed this so much! The feel of Llyr’s skin against hers, his hands on her body, his cock so deep inside her. Any thought of duty completely disappeared when she was in Llyr’s arms.

  The tingling started in her toes. It moved up her legs and whooshed through her chest before the pleasure exploded in her pussy. Her inner walls gripped Llyr’s rod with each contraction, as if trying to pull him farther inside her. She dug her fingernails into his ass and cried out when another tremor passed through her.

  Llyr bit her neck. Goose bumps erupted across her skin. He thrust once, twice, three times. His body trembled and he growled low in his throat. Another thrust and he lay still on top of her.

  Sweat glazed his skin, releasing the scent that was uniquely Llyr. She could stand blindfolded in a room full of men and she’d find Llyr by his scent. Ashlyn ran her hands slowly up and down his spine while his heart slowed. She so loved touching him.

  Llyr raised his head and smiled at her. “Ah, lass. ‘Tis always good with ye.”

  “And quick.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “The first time, anyway.” Holding her close, he rolled to his back so she lay on top of him. His softened cock remained nestled inside her. “We’ll savor round two. And three.”

  “Planning on staying awhile?”

  “As long as y’ll let me.”

  Ashlyn sat up so she could touch his chest and stomach. As a god of the sea, Llyr spent many hours in the water. Although he could change his appearance any time he wished, she knew all his muscles were real and came from swimming. He had the most incredible body she’d ever seen.

  She tickled his navel, and giggled when he jerked.

  He scowled. “Watch it.”

  “It amazes me that you aren’t ticklish anywhere on your body except your navel.”

  His scowl faded and the devilish light returned to his eyes. “’Tis only ticklish when ye touch me with yer finger. Yer tongue doesn’t bother me at all. Ye can run it all over me body and I won’t chuckle once.”

  “Such willpower.”

  Grinning, he tucked one arm behind his head. Ashlyn admired his bulging biceps and the tuft of dark hair beneath his arm. She never tired of looking at him.

  “Tell me about your new store.”

  She’d gladly talk about Lavender Lace to anyone. “I officially open next week, on Saturday.”

  “And will ye be meddlin’ in people’s love lives again?”

  “I do not meddle,” she said, lifting her chin. “I help. There’s a difference.”

  “’Tis silly of me not to know the difference.”

  She knew he teased her, as he’d done many times in the past. Still, she felt she needed to explain what she planned to do. “Mortals need a lot of help with their love lives. So many people don’t even talk to each other. Men, especially, don’t talk.”

  “Men can’t get a word in because women talk all the time.”

  He flinched when she raised her fist. Eyes twinkling, he pulled her fist to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I love to get yer ire up.”

  “And you do it so easily.”

  Llyr laughed. “I do have a talent.” He entwined his fingers with hers. “So, ye have all those frilly undergarments that women like to wear.”

  Ashlyn nodded. “I have lingerie in every color, but I’m featuring purples, orchids, and lavenders.”

  “Which just happen to be your favorite colors.”

  “Exactly. There’s no reason why I can’t try out some of the lingerie first.”

  One black eyebrow rose. “And who might ye be tryin’ them out on? I told ye all that fancy stuff isn’t necessary for me.”

  “But you aren’t always here, Llyr. I do date other men.”

  “And take them as lovers.”

  Ashlyn shrugged. “Sometimes, just like you take other women as lovers.”

  “Aye, that I do.” He cradled her breast and circled her nipple with his thumb. “But I’ve a soft spot in me heart for ye, Ashlyn.”

  Everything inside her melted at his sweet words. “I have a soft spot in my heart for you too.”

  He continued to caress her nipple, sending pleasant little zings to her clit. “So what do we do about it?”

  “The same thing we’ve done for centuries—pleasure each other.”

  She leaned over and kissed him…a soft, tender kiss that spoke of her feelings. She and Llyr could never be together, not as a normal couple. He had too many duties that kept him away from her. Her duty was to help people find love, or rediscover the love they’d lost.

  His cock stirred inside her. Ashlyn deepened the kiss, stroking her tongue across his. He slid his hands down her back to her buttocks. He gripped them tightly and arched upward, driving his hardening shaft farther inside her.

  Llyr nipped the tender skin below her chin. “I think we should start round two. What do ye think?”

  Ashlyn moaned when he began a gentle thrusting. “Oh yes.”

  Chapter One

  Marci Bayne glanced at her watch for the fifth time. The line moved slower than a snail today. Jennie’s Java was busy, as always, but the usual three baristas weren’t behind the counter. She saw only two, which explained why the line moved so slowly.

  If she didn’t need the jolt of caffeine so badly, she’d give up and leave. She’d never make it through her morning meeting without her double-shot latte.

  The barely-out-of-his-teens boy took her order without offering an apology for the long wait. If he worked for her, he’d be on his way to the unemployment office instead of flirting with the girl behind the counter with him.

  She wondered whatever happened to manners.

  As president of Marshall Media, she could set her own hou
rs. More often than not, she was the first one at work and the last one to leave. Not today. She had almost two hours before her meeting and planned to spend that time right here, savoring her coffee.

  Paper cup in hand, Marci turned to find a place to sit. Every table was occupied.

  Well, hell.

  She looked around the room for someone she knew whom she could join. She passed over a young redheaded woman pecking away on a laptop. Marci’s gaze quickly snapped back to her. She’d seen the redhead in here several times. They’d exchanged smiles and hellos. Perhaps she wouldn’t mind if Marci joined her.

  Marci refused to think about how rude it would be to interrupt the woman. She only wanted some time to enjoy her drink and relax before her upcoming meeting. Straightening her shoulders, she approached the young woman. “Excuse me.”

  The redhead glanced up, a faraway look in her eyes. Guilt swamped Marci when she realized the woman had been deep in thought. “I’m sorry to bother you.”

  She focused on Marci and smiled. “No problem. What can I do for you?”

  “This is probably incredibly rude, but there aren’t any empty tables today. May I sit with you if I promise not to disturb you?”

  She quickly glanced around the room. “Wow. It is busy today.” Smiling again at Marci, she motioned toward the chair across from her. “Sit, please.”

  “Thank you.” Marci sighed as she sank onto the padded chair. She wore heels every day, yet her feet were always happier when she sat. “Don’t let me disturb your work.”

  “You aren’t.” She pressed a couple of buttons on the keyboard and closed the computer. “I was just making some notes.”

  Marci guessed the redhead to be in her late twenties or early thirties. That didn’t mean she couldn’t be in college. “School notes?”

  She laughed. “No, book notes. I’m writing a book.”

  Marci sipped her latte. The caffeine traveled straight to her brain cells and kicked them awake. “You’re an author?”