A New Year's Toast Read online

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  A New Year’s Toast

  A New Year’s Toast

  Milana Howard

  www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

  A New Year’s Toast

  Milana Howard

  Copyright © 2011 by Milana Howard

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including but not limited to: printing, photocopying, faxing, recording, electronic transmission, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the authors or holders of the copyright.

  This book is a work of fiction. References may be made to locations and historical events; however, names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and/or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, events or locales is either used fictitiously or coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

  Published by

  Beautiful Trouble Publishing, LLC

  PO Box 61

  Colfax, NC 27235

  www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

  Cover Art: Marteeka Karland http://www.marteekakarland.com/

  Editor: Cindy Davis, http://www.fiction-doctor.com/

  Proofreader: Novellette Whyte

  http://authorgurunovellette.blogspot.com/

  Formatter: Savannah J. Frierson, http://sjfbooks.com/editing/

  E-book Conversion: Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/

  ISBN: (e-book) 978-1-61788-182-4

  To a New Year filled with peace, love, and romance. Many thanks to the BTP family!

  —Milana

  Note about eBooks

  eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving away eBooks is a copyright infringement. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author or Beautiful Trouble Publishing.

  Caveat

  This work of erotica contains adult language and sexually explicit scenes, which are smoking hot. This book is intended only for adults, as it is defined by the laws of the country in which the purchase is made. Keep this book out of the hands of under-aged readers.

  A New Year’s Toast

  “What are your resolutions for the New Year?” The sultry, slightly accented female voice asked over the radio.

  “My resolution is to avoid the two-fifteen when it’s jammed up beyond all fucking reason.” Cooper Nevins spoke the bitter words to himself within the confines of his SUV. No matter how hard he tried to get home in a timely manner, five o’clock traffic always prevented him from doing so.

  Of course, in this particular instance, he was especially in a hurry since he had to take a shower, get dressed, and drive to his best friend’s house. From there they would leave to attend her company’s New Year’s Eve party. He could remember exactly how excited Stacey sounded when she begrudgingly asked him to be her plus one. Their earlier phone conversation lingered in his mind.

  “Dammit, Coop, I know it’s last minute, and if there was anybody else I could ask, you know I wouldn’t be bugging you to go with me. Hell, I wouldn’t even be going if I wasn’t obligated to show my face, shake hands with the bigwigs, and kiss their asses for keeping the station afloat.”

  He could practically see her eyes roll through the phone. She absolutely detested asking for a favor. After her lightning speed ranting, he’d replied, “You know I’ll do it for you.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that. Thank-you, Coop. You’re a godsend.”

  “Can I hear that last part a bit louder and with more enthusiasm?”

  “Shut-up, you over-sexed psycho. Just be here by seven.”

  As he navigated the congested highway, he cranked up the radio to drown out the obnoxious honking of the road-raging drivers surrounding him. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, cleared his mind and paid special attention to the words being spoken by the female deejay. “Now that we’ve reached this pivotal point of the year, the post-Christmas season wrap-up, what are your hopes and dreams for two thousand twelve? I’d love to hear from my listeners how you’re going to bring in the New Year. Call in to your most gracious host and tell me all about it.”

  The louder volume was ironically soothing since the voice being broadcast was that of Stacey Rosario, known to the listening public by her popular Las Vegas radio show. She was known to him as his lunatic best friend. The enticing, deliberate way she spoke over the air waves was in sharp contrast to her rapid fire delivery when she asked him to accompany her to the radio station’s holiday gala.

  Something about her demeanor changed when she was in her professional mode. Her smooth words and rhythmic tone were like music to his ears. He shifted in his seat. Hearing Stacey speak infused his entire body with the sensation of arousal.

  Unfortunately for him, she’d long ago drawn the line of being friends with boundaries. Friends with benefits would’ve been quite ideal for him, but he knew she wasn’t ready to wage the battle of sexual intimacy for fear of sacrificing their friendship. Reflecting on their relationship, Cooper saw that sex was the one and only thing that stopped them from being an official couple. Tonight, that would change.

  At home, he downed a shot of whiskey to loosen up a bit. If he knew anything about Stacey, she wouldn’t automatically roll over and be his girlfriend just because he decided the time was right. He had to prepare himself for the possible consequences.

  After he got out of the shower to browse his closet, his cell phone rang. He picked it up from the charger on the nightstand. Since he was in a hurry, he thought about letting it go to voice mail. It was his friend Nathan calling, so he’d make an exception. “Nate, what’s up man?”

  “Just seeing what you had going for the night. Thought maybe you might want to meet up at Votives for a drink and game of pool.”

  “Nah man, I can’t. I’m going to Stacey’s company party tonight.”

  “Oh shit, that’s tonight? Fuck.”

  “Why don’t you have date night with your girl?” No answer. “How’re things going with her?”

  “Same shit, different day. Hence the reason to meet up.”

  “I see. Sorry, but I really gotta go.”

  “Alright. You better not keep Stacey waiting. She’s the one chick that doesn’t bow down and kiss your pretty boy ass.”

  “Eat shit, fucker.”

  “Same to you. Later.”

  After mulling over which suit to wear, he finally left for Stacey’s. Now that he’d made up his mind to have her, he realized exactly what was at stake. Fuck it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

  ***

  Stacey didn’t know why it was taking her so long to get ready tonight. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that this was one of the rare occasions she’d be wearing something other than jeans. As the youngest and only female sibling of five older brothers in a large, close-knit Dominican family, she was more at home in sweats than skirts.

  Never before had she spent so much time fussing over her hair and make-up. Luckily, her cousin Amara had stopped by to help style her long black hair into a loosely gathered French twist. She decided to keep the cosmetics to a manageable minimum of eyeliner and a swipe of berry lipstick.

  The plunging neckline of the wine colored gown she’d purchased from Amara’s boutique seemed a bit risqué, but her cousin insisted it flaunted her slim physique. A bigger plus was that the tailoring of the dress allowed for her to be comfortably braless. She surveyed her reflection in the mirror. Yes, this was the perfect dress to show her colleagues a more polished ve
rsion of herself. If you’re in jeans and a T-shirt for three hundred sixty-four days, it should blow everybody out the water to see you done up on the very last day of the year.

  Cooper’s car pull up outside. Her stomach flip-flopped in excitement. The sensation surprised her. With a final spritz of perfume, she greeted him at the door. “You’re right on time.”

  Allowing her eyes to roam for a moment, she couldn’t deny how handsome he looked. Decked out in a midnight blue suit with his light brown hair slicked back, Cooper was more dashing than ever. His aqua blue eyes sparkled from a face that appeared to be freshly shaven. As he stepped through the door, she caught a whiff of his cologne. The scent was created to strip down defenses.

  “You look radiant tonight, Miss Rosario. Planning on seducing your way to a promotion?”

  She grinned. “Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment. We should be on our way.” When she bent to grab her purse and keys from the table by the door, she felt a pinch on her ass. Whirling around to face him, Cooper’s expression registered smug satisfaction.

  “I won’t apologize. It’s practically begging for attention.”

  “You better keep your paws to yourself tonight, Mr. Nevins. This is a professional social event we’re attending.” Her tone was to admonish, but she couldn’t stop a smile from forming on her lips.

  “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” He assisted her with her coat, holding it open as she put her arms through the sleeves.

  “Don’t let the dress fool you. I’ll drop-kick your ass if you get out of line.”

  “Now, there’s the Stacey I know.”

  ***

  At the party, Stacey made the rounds to mingle with all the important heads of the station. She felt Cooper’s large, warm hand on the small of her back as she introduced him to her co-workers. She chatted with several colleagues, and then separated from the crowd to use the ladies’ room.

  On the way to rejoin the festivities, she stopped at the bar for a glass of wine. Her eyes scanned the room to find Cooper sitting alone at their table. Maybe it was watching from a distance without him knowing, or maybe it was the in vino veritas factor, but she was suddenly struck by his sex appeal.

  How could she let him slip past her radar? Easy on the eyes and possessing the ability to make her laugh, Cooper had all the bells and whistles any woman would find desirable. Perhaps tonight was the night to ring the bells and blow the whistles. She strutted to him with newfound purpose.

  “I haven’t shown you the studio since the remodel, have I? Want to take a look?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let’s take one for the road.” She grabbed an unopened bottle of champagne from the center of the table while Cooper picked up their glasses. As she led the way down the hall, she didn’t fail to notice how his eyes glittered mischievously.

  The indiscernible chatter of the party was abruptly cut off when Cooper closed the studio’s soundproof door. A few silent moments passed, emphasizing their privacy. To distract from the butterflies fluttering in her stomach she chattered about the changes that’d been made. “See how the lighter color makes the room appear more open and spacious?”

  “Yes. Looks great. Did you pick the color?”

  Stacey nodded. At the moment, with him in the room, her work space seemed oddly smaller. Somehow his presence rendered an intimate mood. She watched him glance around and grew flustered when his gaze landed on her.

  It was as if he could see through to her soul. To take refuge from his wicked stare, she turned away and fidgeted at the switchboard. She felt him come up behind her, his chin over her shoulder and his chest pressing against her back.

  He reached in front of them to the panels of switches she operated on a daily basis. “What does this one do?” He gestured to one of the larger buttons.

  “That connects me to a live caller.” She took a deep breath. The nearness of him was distracting from her plan to seduce him.

  “And this one?” By pointing to the row directly in front of her, his arm encircled her waist.

  “Cues up the next song.”

  “How about this one?” When he asked the question his mouth was mere inches from her ear. His hands meandered on a deviant path from the switchboard to the apex of her thighs. He pressed his thumb against the silk of her dress, gently rubbing it on the heat between her legs.

  Stacy turned to face him. His eyes met hers. “If we’re going to do this…” Looking pointedly to the adjoining lounge area she continued, “...we might as well be comfortable.”

  “I like your way of thinking.” He scooped her in his arms and carried her into the area that served as a green room for her guests. He deposited her on the plush sofa and sat beside her. One of his hands tangled in her hair while the other grazed circles over the hardening points of her nipples. His mouth kissed a trail from her neck to her earlobe and lingered there.

  With so much pleasure coursing through her, she could barely hold back her desire to rip his clothes off, jump on him, and ride him into oblivion. However, if this was going to be their first time, she wanted to savor every minute. She pulled away from him just enough to lift her hands to the collar of his shirt. “If I do this…” After undoing his necktie and unfastening each button of his shirt from top to bottom, she looked directly into his eyes. “Where will it lead?”

  He raised a brow. “Only one way to find out.”

  ***

  Cooper finished what Stacey started. He removed his dress shirt and the undershirt beneath it, then proceeded to unzip his pants. Judging by her widened eyes, he knew that he held her attention. Now wearing just a clinging pair of black boxer briefs, there was only a thin layer of material left to disguise exactly what was being offered.

  An idea forming, he briefly left the room and returned with their glasses of champagne. He set them on a side table by the couch. Sitting beside her again, he pulled her onto his lap. Fortunately, the high side splits of her dress allowed her to easily straddle him.

  He released the clasp of the halter from her neck and yanked the fabric of the dress down to her waist. As he caressed his hands up to the middle of her bare back, he hoped to persuade her to lean back in his grasp. To his delight, she followed suit. He gave a gentle pull to her hair as he kissed his way from her lips down to the depth of her cleavage.

  While admiring the peaks of her chest, Cooper was reminded of why he wanted the champagne within arm’s reach. He swirled a finger in his glass then traced the sparkling wine around the shape of her nipples. Her eyes fluttered closed as he sucked on the deep brown crests. With the stem of the champagne flute in his hand, he poured several drops of the effervescent liquid over the space between her breasts. He was careful to catch every drop with his tongue before they pooled at her naval.

  Hypnotized by the lushness of her thighs, he pulled the thin strip of her panties to the side. Stacey’s arousal was apparent by the dewy moisture that coated his fingertips. He glided his fingers further inside her. The suction of her inviting wetness turned his dick into an iron pole of hardness. He held her soft hands in his and led her to open the front of his boxers to free him from confinement.

  With her hands wrapped in his, he guided her to stroke his nine inches of solidity. Their mutual hold on his most sensitive extremity was a sensual feast, but he felt the need to release her fingers. He wanted Stacey to explore his body at her leisure. Her hands slid up his chest and came to rest at his shoulders. Meanwhile, he took the throbbing head of his dick and grazed it along the slick folds of her pussy. The lusty moan that escaped from her lips was enough to push him over the edge.

  The warmth that radiated from her eyes transmitted a clear signal of readiness that he immediately understood. He entered her inch by rock hard inch. Carefully thrusting into her sweet, sacred heat, she opened and clung to him in a way that brought heaven to earth. She must’ve felt the same because she ground against him with passionate intensity.

  Each time Cooper pushed into her, he r
ealized how much he wanted her to feel his love. He cherished every second of their coupling. Her body melding with his was exactly how he wanted to bring in the New Year. No more boundaries between them, now was the time for friends to become lovers. He kissed her lovingly and paused in the act only to say what was in his heart. “Stacey, take what’s yours.”

  ***

  She claimed him. And what a man to claim! In his arms, she felt so safe and secure. Why had she denied herself the pleasure of his embrace? There were more than a few times she’d wondered what it would be like with him. He was so damn cocky and sure of himself. Now that she’d discovered what that attitude of his would bring sexually, she was certain she’d become addicted to their love-making.

  Stacey worked her hips to meet his thrusts until a climactic orgasm shook her to the core. He must’ve held back on his release to experience hers because he suddenly stilled within her. Rippling waves of ecstasy flowed from the tips of her fingers to the soles of her feet when his dick rhythmically pulsated.

  After they descended from euphoric heights, Cooper cleared his throat as if to make an announcement. “There’s a new woman.” He smoothed a hand through his hair and kept it at the crown of his head.

  She leaned back from him in disbelief. “You waited the whole night to tell me this?!”

  “I waited because I knew you wouldn’t be ready to hear about her until now. See, this woman doesn’t know how amazing she is, even though I tell her every chance I get.”

  Catching his meaning, she knew she was that woman. “I know I come off like a ball-busting bitch, but I don’t want to end up alone, Coop. Our friendship means so much to me. I don’t want to lose it.”