Sweet Mercy - Lynn Hagen Page 0,29

instantly fell in love with it.

“Now I just wanted to throw this one in there.” Ford unrolled the second plan, and now Mercy was torn between the two. The second one appeared more nostalgic. Floating lights hung over the counter, which, in this plan, ran along the window. There were cake displays on the wooden counter, an old-fashioned two-drawer desk where the cash register sat with the display case next to that, and the back wall was brick. Instead of sleek tables and chairs, they were replaced with wooden ones.

Looking at the second plans, Mercy could imagine working there as the snow gently fell outside, a warm fireplace crackling, and lovers or friends who were just catching up curled up on the couch in the reading nook area.

New and funky or something that looked like days gone by? With either design Mercy could hear the clink of glasses, the hiss of the espresso machine, laughter, the hum of light conversation, jazz music playing gently in the background, and hell, he might even get a resident cat.

He bit his lip. “Which one do you like best?”

There was still time to change things around if Mercy wanted to.

“This is your baby.” Ford rested his hand on the small of Mercy’s back. “Which one speaks to you?”

Mercy stomped his foot. “They both do!”

With a chuckle, Ford gave him a quick kiss. “We can work on getting the kitchen finished while you make up your mind.”

That kiss ignited something warm in Mercy’s belly. He slid his arms around Ford’s neck and pulled him down, smiling at him. “Your input is important to me. We’re in this together.”

“Oh no.” Ford gave him another quick kiss. “I want this bakery to be just the way you want it. We might be partners, but this is your dream, handsome.”

So much for Mercy trying to get Ford to make the decision for him. It had been worth a try.

“We still have to figure out a name for this place.” Ford peppered kisses along Mercy’s jaw. “I have a feeling you’ve already got one picked out.”

“Since the idea of a bakery came to mind.” Mercy tilted his head back, sighing as Ford’s lips caressed his skin. “Sweet Mercy.”

“I love it,” Ford growled.

The sound sent shivers through Mercy. “Does that fit plan A or plan B?”

“Nuh-uh.” Ford sucked at Mercy’s Adam’s apple. “You’re still not tricking me into deciding.” His lips glided along Mercy’s collarbone as he pressed a hand on either side, trapping Mercy between the counter and his large body.

It was a welcome weight against him. Mercy sighed, never this happy or content in his life. He laughed softly as Ford worked his way to Mercy’s ear.

“Want to fuck you so badly.”

“Not here,” Mercy whispered back. “There’s a big window behind me, if you’ve forgotten.”

“You make me forget anything exists other than you.” Ford gave a low, throaty growl before taking possession of Mercy’s lips in a soul-stirring, passionate kiss that made Mercy’s toes curl. Everywhere Ford kissed him tingled, making Mercy’s cock thicken and pulse.

Mercy squealed as Ford lifted him up by his ass and carried him upstairs. “I can walk!”

“Not letting you out of my arms.”

Mercy thought the door would break when Ford kicked it open. He laughed as his mate carried him to the bedroom and dropped him on the bed.

His laugh stopped abruptly when Ford crawled in and kissed him again, sipping at Mercy’s lips, delving his tongue deep inside Mercy’s mouth.

“Can’t seem to get enough of you.” Ford pulled Mercy’s shirt over his head and tossed it aside. “Want to touch you every second of every day.”

Ford slid his hands over Mercy’s chest. The way his mate looked at him made Mercy melt into the bedding. Sinfully. Reverently. As if Mercy was the only man on the planet Ford was interested in.

Mercy had never been the center of someone’s world before. He knew in that moment that he’d fallen in love with Ford. Those pretty green eyes, that strong jaw, his blunt blond brows. He was a masterpiece to look at.

“So fucking beautiful,” Ford murmured right before he sucked one of Mercy’s nipples into his mouth.

“Oh god,” Mercy moaned and bucked. He needed Ford naked. Now. But he couldn’t pull himself away long enough. Not when his mate sent electrifying pulses through his body.

Then Ford trailed kisses lower down Mercy, circling his tongue around Mercy’s navel, teasing the skin with his teeth and lips. The feeling was intoxicating when Mercy thought of how