2SpiceRack_bundle Read online

  Special Ellora’s Cave Book Bundle

  Spice Rack

  by

  Karen Stivali

  Karen Booth

  Lily Harlem

  Decadence

  Love Plus One

  Joy Ride

  ISBN: 9781419982040

  Decadence

  Karen Stivali

  A book in the Spice Rack series.

  In eight years of marriage, Eric Carlson has never forgotten to kiss his wife Jessica goodbye—until this morning. As Jessica runs her errands, all she can think about is the missing kiss. When Eric calls to tell her he thinks he left the toaster oven on, she rushes home, annoyed and afraid their house may be burning down. Instead of smoke and flames she finds Eric, looking hot and sexy as hell as he prepares fresh waffles.

  Eric knows he and Jessica have been drifting apart. He’s bought the hot new product everyone’s talking about—the Spice Rack, guaranteed to spice up your love life. The jar he opens advises them to “Spend a decadent day indulging all your senses.” With the whole day ahead of them, a fridge full of tempting treats and the house to themselves for a change, that’s exactly what Eric intends to do—in the kitchen, on the washing machine, wherever the mood strikes. And Jessica’s got a super-steamy surprise for him too.

  A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

  Decadence

  Karen Stivali

  Chapter One

  He didn’t even kiss me goodbye. Jessica knew it was silly to get upset over something so minor, but she couldn’t help it. In the eight years they’d been married, she couldn’t remember another morning when Eric had forgone the farewell kiss. Sure, the kids were running amok, a sea of backpacks and lunchboxes, but that was normal. Eric saying goodbye with a wave was not.

  “See you later.” He’d thrown her his trademark sexy grin. She’d stood still for a few seconds, holding the door open as the kids piled out of the house, waiting. And…nothing.

  While queued in the drop-off line at the elementary school, she flipped open the vanity mirror. She didn’t look like a beauty queen but at least she’d showered. Her skin was clear, her cheeks even a bit rosy from gardening the day before. She grimaced. I should have brushed my hair. Dark hair, wavy and out of control, pulled into a loose ponytail paired with t-shirt and yoga pants. I look like a teenager. Not exactly sexy. Frowning at her reflection, she heard the car behind her honk.

  “Mom, pull up, it’s our turn.” Timmy, though only seven, had been a backseat driver for nearly five years.

  “Sorry.” She inched the car toward the orange drop-off cone and stopped. “Have a good day, guys. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Mom,” the chorus of three came from the backseat as they scrambled out the door.

  Taking a last quick glance in the mirror, she snapped it shut and eased back into the parking lot. As she was about to turn onto the main road, her cell rang. XXXXX, Eric’s ringtone. She fumbled in her purse and slid the purple case open. Holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder, she pulled onto the street, not wanting to get beeped at a second time this morning.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Eric said. “Can you do me a favor?”

  Sighing, Jessica shifted to keep the phone in place as she changed lanes. “What’s up?”

  “I know you said you were going to the grocery store, but I need you to stop home first. I think I may have left the toaster oven on.”

  “Can’t you go check?”

  “I’ve got a really important meeting this morning. I need you to do it. Please?” She could hear the smile in his voice. The charming, irresistible smile to which she’d never been able to say no.

  “Fine.” Even if you didn’t bother to kiss me this morning.

  “Thanks.”

  Did he just chuckle?

  She hung up and tossed the phone back into her purse. Great. Now I have to go all the way home, which means I won’t get to the store for another hour. Not that it was a huge deal. With all three boys in school this year she had her days to herself. She’d been looking forward to that for years, but it wasn’t as fun and freeing as she’d expected. All the same responsibilities were there. The house still needed to be cleaned, dinner still needed to be made, laundry was always piling up. And she always had a stack of work on her desk. Freelance graphic design was the perfect work-from-home job and she could do it any time of day or night, but lately she felt as though everything was getting away from her. Somehow she’d had more structure to her days when the kids were home than she managed to have with them in school all day.

  As she turned onto her block she couldn’t help but look for signs of smoke pouring from her windows. God, I hope he didn’t really leave the toaster oven on. What the hell was he even using the toaster oven for? Eric ate cereal for breakfast, though now that she thought about it she hadn’t seen him pour himself a bowl this morning. She’d been too distracted by the fact that he was wearing only pajama pants as he plodded around the kitchen. She’d been so busy the past few weeks with back-to-school shopping and beginning-of-term projects they’d barely spent any time together. Seeing him bare chested, hair tousled from bed, reminded her that it had been a while. Too long. Her stomach fluttered from a combination of longing for Eric and fear that her house might be burning.

  Jessica slammed the door of the minivan shut, breathing in deeply to see if she could catch any hint of smoke in the air. Nothing. As she opened the front door, another scent greeted her instead. The incredibly delightful aroma of…waffles. Why does the house smell like waffles? She rounded the corner into the kitchen and saw the waffle maker on the counter with Eric poised before it, faded jeans slung low on his narrow hips, a t-shirt clinging to his muscular back, dark hair still damp from a shower hanging loosely into his eyes. A wave of heat washed over her, settling between her legs. Her mouth watered from thoughts of more than just a bite of the waffle Eric was lifting out of the grates.

  “Perfect timing,” he said, grinning so wide the dimples on his cheeks were positively cavernous. Blue eyes twinkled at her, full of mischief.

  “What are you doing?” She tossed her purse onto the counter, mystified.

  “Celebrating Mother’s Day.” He plucked a strawberry out of the colander in the sink, swirled it in a bowl of what appeared to be freshly whipped cream, and approached.

  “Mother’s Day is in May. It’s October fifteenth.”

  “I know.” He held the plump red berry close enough that she felt the gentle brush of cream melting against her lips. “I was thinking it was something we should celebrate more than once a year.”

  She curled her tongue around the cream-covered berry and gave a quick suck before biting off a piece.

  The moan Eric emitted sent a tremor rolling down her body, making her knees weak. His lips were on hers before she finished chewing. The sweetness of his velvety tongue blended perfectly with the fruit and cream. This was already better than any Mother’s Day she could recall.

  “Yum,” she murmured, swallowing. Before she could speak, Eric’s mouth was on hers again.

  Jesus. He coaxed her lips apart with slow, gentle licks as he deepened the kiss, easing his fingers into her hair, tipping her head back so her body instinctively arched toward his. The enticing bulge in his jeans pressed into her hip, shifting lower as he bent his knees to grind against her. What’s gotten into him?

  Eric trailed his hands to her waist, walking her backward until they reached the cupboards. He lifted her onto the counter with such ease she felt weightless. She wrapped her legs around him, tugging him closer. His tongue continued its maddening exploration of her mouth, making it impossible for her to think of anything other tha
n the pressure building between her legs. She ached to feel his skin against hers. To have him inside her.

  Sliding her fingers beneath his t-shirt, she skimmed the rippled muscles of his back. Heat radiated from his smooth skin.

  Eric’s strong thumbs shifted the elastic band of her yoga pants lower and she arched her hips toward him. Long warm fingers inched inside, teasing for just a second before slipping between her delicate folds. A groan escaped her as she pressed into his hand. Her muscles clenched and released, trying to draw him even nearer.

  His mouth returned to hers. Slow. Delicious. His tongue worked hers in drawn-out circles as his thumb swirled around her clit. Dizzying, breathtaking swirls that spun her mind into a blur of pleasure. Oh god, yes. She moaned again and Eric slid his mouth down to her neck, nuzzling the sensitive spot just below her ear as his hot breath caressed her throat.

  “Eric,” she whispered, clutching at his broad shoulders.

  “Come for me, baby.” His voice was deep, raspy, filled with desire. He increased the pace of his fingers, bringing her to the brink and keeping her teetering on the mind-blowing edge. As much as she wanted to stay in that moment, prolonging the anticipation forever, she couldn’t. She braced her arms behind her, vibrating from head to toe. With one intense shudder she felt the orgasm tumble through her so hard her hips lifted off the countertop. Eric steadied her with a firm arm along her back as she bucked hard against his hand. His lips continued to work on her neck, soothing her as she drifted back to earth. He eased his fingers from her swollen flesh and she instantly missed his touch.

  “Ready for some waffles?” The sexy smirk on his face made him look more handsome and devilish than she’d ever seen him. She was ready for whatever he had to offer.

  Eric couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he watched Jessica get the juice out of the fridge. Her legs were clearly still wobbly. He returned to making waffles. The sugary toasty smell filled the air, tempting but not enough to distract him from the demanding presence making itself known beneath his jeans. He wanted this day to be about Jessica but he was already looking forward to finishing breakfast so he could whisk her upstairs to finish what they’d started. What he’d started. Round one of a day full of what he hoped would be a whirlwind of fun.

  “Not that I’m complaining,” Jessica said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. “But what brought all this on?”

  He leaned his head back and kissed her cheek, his lips brushing against her hair. She had the sweet, sleepy scent she always had after she came. God, she smells good. “I told you. I wanted a day to celebrate you.”

  He placed a waffle on the cooling rack and poured more batter onto the hot pan.

  Should I tell her or will she think it’s stupid?

  “What?” she asked, reading his mind as usual.

  “I saw an ad in one of your magazines, for the Spice Rack.”

  Her dark-brown eyes bugged. “Seriously? The ‘spice up your love life’ jars?”

  “Yep. Ordered a set last week. Thought it might be fun.”

  “And it suggested waffles?”

  Eric chuckled. “Not exactly. There are three rows to choose from. I opened a jar from the ‘sweet’ row and it said ‘Spend a decadent day with your lover, indulging all your senses.’ Sounded like a good idea.”

  “Which sense is this? Taste or smell?”

  “The waffles are taste. But you smell fantastic.” He burrowed his nose into her hair, breathing deeply.

  “Sweet talker.” She looked up at him through her thick, dark lashes. Bedroom eyes. The thing that had drawn him to her the first time they’d met.

  “You’re what’s sweet,” he said, going in for a kiss.

  This hiss of the waffle iron made him pull away, though it was the last thing he wanted to do. Pulling her down onto the kitchen floor was more what he had in mind, but he reminded himself to take it slow. They had all day and he planned to use every second to its fullest potential.

  With a plate of waffles in each hand, he gave her another quick peck then headed for the table. “Let’s eat.” We’ll need our strength to make it through the rest of the day.

  Chapter Two

  Just as they finished eating the phone rang. Jessica groaned. “It’s my mother, I have to take it.”

  “I know. Go ahead.” Her mother had been recovering from a hip fracture and a mild heart attack and he knew Jess was constantly worried about her. He put away the leftovers and loaded the dishwasher as she spoke. Her brow was furrowed, her shoulders tight. He hated seeing her so stressed. He was placing the cube of detergent in the machine when she hung up.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, she just wanted to let me know the visiting nurse had been there this morning. And she was complaining that the light bulb blew out in her staircase again. I think I convinced her not to try to change it herself.”

  Eric hit start and reached for her hand. “How about if you call her later and tell her I’ll stop by over the weekend and take care of it?”

  “You don’t have to do that. I can call a handyman.”

  He tugged her closer. “I’m a very handy man.”

  Jessica pressed against him, reminding him that he’d been hard through most of breakfast. “You are indeed. Very handy.”

  He slid his fingers beneath her shirt and lowered his lips to hers. “How about we go upstairs and continue celebrating?”

  She ground her hips against him and nodded. “Good idea.”

  Following her up the stairs, he watched as her curvaceous ass swayed with each step. “You should wear those pants all the time.”

  Giggles purred out of her. “If I’d have known you were going to seduce me I’d have worn something sexier than yoga pants.”

  “There’s nothing sexier than the way your ass looks right now.”

  He ushered her into their bedroom and pressed her against the wall. A shudder ran through her and he knew she was as filled with anticipation as he was. She stroked the back of his neck then trailed her hands to his chest. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

  Eric wasted no time shucking his t-shirt and stepping out of his jeans and boxers. His cock bobbed, eager for Jessica’s attention. “I believe you’re the one wearing too many clothes. But I can fix that.”

  He inched her shirt up, making sure to rub against both nipples as he eased it past her full breasts. Stiff peaks rose through the thin pink fabric of her bra.

  Tossing the garment aside, he kissed his way down her chest and reached around back to unhook the clasp. She gasped when he took one firm, dark nipple in his mouth, twirling his tongue gently before sucking. The sigh that escaped her sent tingles down his spine. “So fucking sexy.”

  She answered with another shudder. Her eyes were closed, head pressed back against the wall.

  He knelt and slipped his hands inside the waistband of her pants, teasing the delicate skin just along her hipbones before he slid the fabric down. Her warm, sweet scent filled his nostrils as he breathed her in. “God, I want you.” He kissed his way back up the length of her body until he reached her mouth.

  Her lips met his, hungry with desire as she wrapped her hand around his cock. She stroked, slowly, her touch so light it felt like silk. He dragged his lips to the soft spot below her ear, licking and nipping until she moaned.

  She whispered in his ear. “I have a confession to make. The other morning, when you went to work late, I came upstairs to put away some laundry and I saw you.”

  Saw me? Eric’s cheeks heated and he swallowed hard. He pulled away enough to look at her. “What do you mean?”

  Jessica averted her eyes as she traced a lazy path down his chest. Her fingertips, smooth and dainty, left a trail of fire in their wake as they journeyed southward. The satiny skin of her palm smoothed over his shaft, circling his swollen head before sliding down to cup his balls. “Doing this.” Curling her other hand around him, she stroked, long and slow, up from the base, h
er index finger slicking the bead of moisture from his tip before heading down again.

  Christ, she saw me. In twenty-some years of jerking off, he’d never, to the best of his knowledge, been caught by anyone. His heart pounded, his discomfort only partially muted by the mesmerizing rhythm of her hand. Up and down. Swiveling over the head. Jesus. She really did see me. She’s never moved her hands like that—that’s how I do it. His cheeks burned hotter as the pressure in his groin grew. His own stroke applied by her hands was driving him wild. Still, what must she have thought? How long did she watch?

  Jessica leaned closer and kissed the base of his throat, just above the center of his collarbone. He was certain she could feel his pulse against her lips and it beat double time in response to her movement. “I didn’t intend to spy. I was bringing towels up from downstairs. You looked so incredibly hot I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

  Hot? She thought it was hot? His cock twitched in response and she paused, squeezing just hard enough that he groaned. Words still weren’t possible.

  “I watched the whole time.”

  She pressed his erection flat against his abs, tracing her thumb back and forth against the sensitive ridge. His breath hissed out. He’d always thought being caught would be humiliating. A nightmarish combination of shame and explanations. Jessica shifted so she was straddling his thigh. Her hips gyrated, rubbing her wetness against him. His throat was so parched his voice rasped. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I didn’t want you to get mad or feel embarrassed.”

  Fair enough. “How did you feel?”

  A sly smile lifted one side of her lovely mouth. “Excited.” Her hips made another enticing circle against his leg.

  “How excited?” He pressed his thigh harder against her crotch, loving the sensation of her grinding on his bare skin.