Handcuff Me to Your Bed (Single Moms Deserve Happily Ever Afters Book 1) Read online

  And he’d taken me to an upscale restaurant because it was the kind where you had to have a reservation.

  After we were seated, he asked, “Have you ever been here?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  Definitely not.

  This kind of place was the kind that was so far out of my budget, it wasn’t even funny. I looked at the menu. Just the house salad cost half as much as what I spent on groceries every week.

  I exhaled and tried to focus now what to order.

  After a second, I noticed Jeremy looking at me.

  Oh shit, did he notice I was trying not to spazz out?

  “You know what?” he said, setting down his menu. “Let’s get out of here.”

  I quirked a brow. “Excuse me?”

  I knew it. I KNEW—

  “How about we go somewhere less stuffy?” he went on.

  Just as I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, I stopped. Oh, thank goodness I’d stopped myself in time. I tried again. “Uh, actually, that would be great,” I replied, completely surprised at the turn of events.

  Less than thirty minutes later, we sat at a bar at one of my favorite places. I had my favorite margarita in hand, and we were sharing a giant plate of nachos.

  Jeremy picked up a nacho and tried to get some pico on it. “Sorry about the other place,” he said, looking kind of embarrassed. “I have to admit I was worried about impressing you.”

  I smiled. “Really? Why?” I asked, dumbfounded.

  “Really?” he said. “You’re beautiful and funny and agreed to go out on a date with me when you could’ve blown me off.”

  I struggled to make eye contact, focusing on the nachos too. “Beautiful and funny, huh? You got all that from me chewing you out yesterday?”

  He laughed, and I immediately loved it. “Without wanting to sound like a total creep…” his eyes met mine, “that’s the most turned I’ve ever been, I think.”

  I covered my face but laughed. “You are too much,” I said in between laughs. When I settled back down, I added, “For the record, I’m glad we ended up here instead. Much more my vibe.”

  “Yeah?” he said. “Good because that place was gonna cost me half my salary.”

  I almost choked laughing.

  We ordered another round of drinks and finished the nachos while we kept talking and goofing off. I realized I hadn’t laughed that much in a long time and definitely not with a guy.

  Jeremy was great.

  He was easygoing, and he made it easy to trust him and talk to him.

  “Tell me more about you,” he said. “What’s your story?”

  I exhaled. “My story?” I asked, already feeling kind of nervous.

  “Yeah,” he said, his blue eyes focused solely on me. “You said you have a daughter? How old is she? I’m guessing you don’t have a partner or you wouldn’t have agreed to go out with me,” he finished.

  I tried not to think about how we’d gotten so close that our knees were now touching. Or what other body parts I wouldn’t have minded touching…

  “Well,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear. Normally I didn’t share my story with a guy I’d just met, but I was definitely kinda tipsy and there was something about Jeremy that told me it was okay to open up to him. “After a one-night stand during my final year of college, I got pregnant.”

  I waited for a reaction, a flash of judgement to sweep across his face, but it didn’t. At this point, I was very familiar with people reacting like that, but his face remained kind.

  I went on. “I really liked the guy and I hoped we could be more even before I found out I was pregnant. Then all of a sudden, I had a big decision ahead of me. I told him, and he said me he didn’t want anything to do with me or the baby, if I decided to keep it.” I paused, remembering like it was yesterday. “I did decide to keep the baby. Her name is Skye, and she’s my…everything,” I said, wiping a tear away. “There are times when it hasn’t been easy, but I would never take back my decision. I know it was the right one.”

  Jeremy nodded, looking pretty pensive. “Wow,” he said finally. “That’s incredibly brave.”

  With a smile, I said, “Thanks. I mean, it was the scariest moment of my life, realizing I was going to do this alone. But I’ve also been blessed enough to have my parents. They could’ve turned their back on me and I’m not sure I would’ve blamed them, but they’ve been there for me every step of the way.”

  “Still,” Jeremy replied. “I bet they’re not the ones up at two in the morning with a crying baby.”

  I chuckled and raised my glass to take another swig. “That is a really good point.”

  He smiled back and took a drink too.

  It felt odd to sit here with Jeremy, talking about the most vulnerable part of my life, but he hadn’t turned away or started fidgeting with a napkin or all of a sudden made an excuse about an early meeting at work tomorrow.

  We were as close as ever, the fact that I was a single mother of a toddler hadn’t scared him off, and I…was kinda turned on by it.

  “What is it?” he asked. His smile was back. I loved the little dimple he got on each cheek when he did.

  I shook my head. “You kinda remind me of someone who was also named Jeremy. He went to my school, and he was… the biggest asshole ever.”

  Jeremy glanced away for a second and took another chug of his beer. “Yeah?”

  I tried to remember what the other Jeremy looked like, but it was hard. High school had been ten years ago now, and I was sure we had all changed so much. That time of my life felt forever ago. “What high school did you go to?” I asked, more out of curiosity than anything.

  He set his beer down slowly. “Brookside,” he said, turning back to me.

  I nodded. “Oh okay. I went to Lincoln.” Just as I opened my mouth to ask him if he had been a nerd or jock or skater, the bartender announced last call.

  I grabbed my phone. “Shit, it’s eleven?” I also saw a message from my Mom, sent well over an hour ago, saying that Skye was passed out and they were heading to bed and I was free to just pick her up in the morning. Then she’d sent another message after that, saying they were going to bed and please let her know I was okay.

  I sent her a thumbs up with our code word, bananas.

  “You have to go?” Jeremy said.

  I shook my head, glad it was Friday night. “Nope. Skye’s already asleep with my parents. So I’m good.”

  The bartender came over and asked if we were gonna have anything else.

  I shook my head. “Better not.” I could already tell I was gonna have a wicked hangover the next day if I didn’t get some water into my body stat. “Can I get a water, actually?”

  After chugging down sixteen ounces, I made my way to the ladies’ room.

  I headed back to find Jeremy paying our tab. That’s when I noticed how we were the only ones left at the bar along with one more small group of people in a corner booth. They looked about as drunk as I’d felt a few minutes ago.

  And twice as rowdy.

  A few minutes later, we sat in Jeremy’s truck. “Thanks for the drinks and dinner,” I told him.

  He winked at me and turned the ignition. “Of course. I had a great night.”

  “Me too,” I said, suddenly sad that it was over.

  I was tired, but more than anything, I felt…good being around Jeremy.

  In no time at all, we were at my front door. All of a sudden, I was sixteen years old again, nervous after my first date, anxious for that first kiss which might or not be coming.

  Get it together! I told myself.

  I was not sixteen years old anymore.

  If he wanted to kiss me, I’d let him. And if he didn’t, I’d survive.

  Somehow.

  Jeremy took my hands. “Thanks for going out with me tonight,” he said, meeting my eyes.

  A little breathless, I nodded. “I’m glad I took you up on that. And that you didn’t arrest me.”

  He ch
uckled, glancing down and making me practically swoon. He rubbed his thumbs on my hands. “Well, I’d love to do it again. If you’d like to, that is.” He looked unsure as he said it.

  Did this fool really think I was gonna turn him down?

  I grinned. “I’d absolutely love to do this again.”

  “Yeah?” he asked.

  I felt breathless again. “Yeah,” I managed.

  He leaned down toward me, his eyes locked on my lips. I bunched his shirt in my first and pulled him down the rest of the way.

  Jeremy tasted amazing. His tongue found mine, and I was pretty sure I saw fireworks.

  With a small moan, I wrapped both of my arms around his neck. Meanwhile, his arms went around me and he pulled me in close.

  I wasn’t sure how long we kissed, but I knew I didn’t want it to stop, wasn’t ready for it to.

  I pulled back just enough to ask, “Want to come inside?”

  4

  I didn’t waste time with small talk or asking Jeremy if he’d like coffee.

  Grabbing his hand in mine, I led him straight to my bedroom.

  The place in between my thighs practically buzzed with desire.

  I needed him to touch me, kiss me all over.

  After I closed the door, I set my purse down on a bookshelf.

  Jeremy’s gaze swept up and down my torso. “Are you sure?” he asked. “We don’t have to do this.”

  I took a couple of steps back toward my bed and unzipped the back of my dress. I let it fall down around my toes. With my heels still on, I stepped carefully out of the pool of clothing, my eyes on Jeremy the whole time. “I want to,” I replied.

  Jeremy closed the distance between us in two steps, his mouth going straight to mine. His hands explored my body slowly, carefully, like he wanted to memorize every inch of my skin.

  With one swift movement of his hand, my bra came off. He felt my hardened nipples with his fingers, and I couldn’t help but moan.

  He kissed my neck and moved down to my breasts. “Mmm.”

  I pushed him away gently and sat down on the bed. Then I scooted back, my eyes on him, until I could lay down.

  He crawled on top of me. “You’re…incredible.”

  I began unbuttoning his shirt, needing to see him, all of him.

  He let me.

  I undid his jeans, slipping my hand inside to feel how hard he was. I almost moaned again at the size of him.

  Jeremy reached back and took off his boots.

  Next, everything else came off, and I marveled.

  His name wasn’t Officer Thickett for nothing…

  He smiled. “Like what you see?”

  “Oh, definitely,” I teased.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done this with someone, but it definitely hadn’t gone like this.

  Fun and easy and safe.

  He pulled my panties all the way down with an audible exhale. “Mmm.”

  I let my legs fall apart, trying not to think about how wet I was for him. How badly I wanted his mouth on me.

  Jeremy kissed me again, touching and squeezing the swell of my breasts before sliding back down. I could see it in his eyes, what he was dying to do, but he also seemed unsure. “Is this okay?” he whispered.

  “Do it,” I breathed. “Put your mouth on me.”

  He began licking and sucking, and I practically saw stars. I cried out, soft at first and louder as his tongue flicked back and forth and then moved in circles.

  Fuck…

  He was gonna make me climax so hard.

  I gripped the sheets under me in my fists as the intensity of my orgasm built.

  Then he slipped two fingers inside me, moving them in and out. Slowly. Faster. Faster.

  I moved with him, arching my back and not caring how loud I was or if the neighbors heard.

  I was going to explode.

  Hearing Jeremy moan against me did it.

  I gripped his hair and came so hard and so long, like never before.

  Finally, I opened my eyes, breathing hard, not believing how loud I’d gotten or how amazing that had felt.

  And needing more than ever for Jeremy to be inside me.

  He crawled back up toward me, desire more clear than ever in his eyes.

  Still breathing hard, I began stroking him slowly. “I need you inside me.”

  He kissed me all over again and then lifted one of my legs as he entered me.

  I moaned again as he filled me up. Harder as he began rocking against me. The sight of him so focused on what he was doing was such a turn-on.

  Jeremy’s gaze flickered to a light scarf I’d thrown on the bed earlier while I was trying to decide what to wear. He grabbed it and held it out like a rope, the expression on his face turning naughty.

  I grinned. “What are you going to do to me, Officer Thickett?”

  “You’ve been very bad,” he replied. “I’m going to need to restrain you so I can punish you.”

  Oh, I definitely wanted his punishment…

  With a couple of swift movements, he tied me by the wrists. Then he flipped me over and pulled me back by the hips.

  “Mmm,” he said.

  I bit my lip in anticipation, needed him to give me all sorts of punishment. Now.

  He entered me again, and I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip, it felt so good.

  With my hands still tied tight, he began rocking against me again.

  Hard and fast.

  Harder.

  Faster.

  I cried out.

  He slapped my ass and fucked me harder than ever. “Come for me, baby.”

  My mouth fell open as I moaned with pleasure at the feel of him.

  It was too much.

  Felt sooo good.

  I exploded into another orgasm.

  A minute later, he came too, squeezing my ass and hips with his hands as he thrust against me.

  Finally, I collapsed, and Jeremy chuckled, laying down beside me and spooning me. He untied my wrists.

  Slowly, he traced a finger from my shoulder down to my thigh.

  “That was amazing,” I managed.

  He kissed my shoulder. “I agree.”

  I turned around, and he kissed my forehead.

  My eyelids felt so heavy.

  I surrendered to sleep.

  5

  The next morning, I sat straight up.

  Had last night been some whacked out dream or had it really happened??

  I looked down.

  But I was stark naked.

  So it was true…

  I’d brought Jeremy home with me…

  And I’d had the best sex of my life.

  And then I’d passed out.

  My hand covered my mouth in disbelief, not to mention embarrassment.

  I had really passed out?

  I prayed to the gods that I hadn’t passed gas in front of him or done something else completely unlady-like.

  He wasn’t here. That I knew for sure. He’d left and gone home.

  Just when my mind took me back to last night and how incredible every minute of it had been, the alarm on my phone went off.

  COFFEE WITH SEXY AF SINGLE MOMS SUPPORT CLUB!

  Plus there was another message from Mom.

  Mom: Good morning, love. I assume you’re sleeping in. Get some needed rest. We’re taking Skye to the zoo!

  Good thing I’d packed an extra outfit for her.

  Normally they watched her every other Saturday morning for me anyway because I met up with my other single mom friends.

  And I was running super late.

  That alarm was my twenty-minute warning. Usually I was on my way to Mom and Dad’s by now.

  I smelled my armpit. Yep. I desperately needed a shower.

  An hour later, I walked into our favorite place for brunch and coffee, glancing around until I found my friends.

  Alexa waved me over.

  “Good morning,” I said, taking a seat beside her in a large corner booth.
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  Ruby winked at me. “Is it now? You’re not one to be late.”

  Penelope leaned forward, a large coffee in her hand. “We heard someone had a hot date last night,” she teased. “We’ve been waiting to hear all about it.”

  She and Ruby smiled at each other then turned back to me.

  I quirked a brow at Alexa, who gave me a sheepish look. “We don’t keep secrets, right?” she asked defensively.

  Oaklynn, who sat beside her, gave me a wicked grin.

  Rupert, our handsome young waiter came over. He was still in college and we liked to overtly flirt with him and his sweet naive self. “Good morning, Ms. Camila. Will you be having the usual?” Best of all, he was English so he had the sexiest accent.

  He was the type of guy who, given a few more years, would totally be a ten.

  The muscles on his lean shoulders and arms would fill out more, he’d grow a real mustache, and if he was lucky, some confidence. Until then, we saw it as our duty to give him some lessons in love and women.

  I grinned up angelic like at him, batting my lashes more than humanly necessary. “Yes, please.”

  He jotted something down on his notepad, a subtle blush appearing on his neck. “One black coffee and two scrambled eggs with cheese and a biscuit on the side, coming right up.”

  After he left, Ruby turned back to me. Her short blonde hair looked marvelous this morning. Not to mention her make-up. She looked like she’d stepped off the runway. Meanwhile, I looked like a hot mess.

  I’d barely had time to blow dry my hair, much less do something with it. And I’d gone minimal on the make up today.

  Ruby took a sip of her lemon water. “So a police officer, huh? How’d it go?”

  I bit my lip and looked down. “It went…pretty good.”

  Alexa gasped. “You slept with him, didn’t you? I know that look!”

  I glanced around. “A little louder, please!”

  She gave me another sheepish look. She knew me too well.

  Penelope gave me a scandalous expression. “Do tell. Let me live vicariously through you, PLEASE. You know how long it’s been since mama got lucky.”

  I giggled. “Tell me about it. I thought I’d forgotten what to do.”

  Ruby gave me a wicked smile. “That good, huh?”