Or maybe not.
Stripped and clearly aroused, he slid beside her in bed. His eyes locked with hers, and that quick grin of his, like a cat anticipating a bowl of cream, made her gut clench. No, his expression was more like a dangerous tiger eyeing a gazelle, like he hadn’t eaten in a week. Either way, he was heating up all her good parts again. Then he kissed her so slowly, deeply, and sweetly, that damn if she wasn’t right back on that cliff’s edge, ready to go off like a rocket again.
He moved his lips near her ear, and his warm breath sent a shiver up her spine. “Tell me what you want, Jo.”
He didn’t have to ask twice. She rolled on top of him and held his face in her hands to be sure she had his complete attention. “I want you, Chad. Inside me. Now.” She kissed him, stroking his tongue with hers, rocking against him in anticipation, desperate for release again.
He ended the kiss and laughed. “Not yet, quick draw.” He flipped her to her back and nipped her lower lip, kissed her jaw, and then nibbled on her neck, driving her nuts.
He made it hard to hang on when his mouth wandered lower and found her breasts. His tongue teased and laved at her nipples, making her back arch with desire. The stubble on his jaw scraping the sensitized skin sent bone-melting waves through her again. She groaned in sweet pleasure.
“Now the other side.” He gently turned her over and started laying soft kisses on the back of her neck and down her spine. His warm mouth suddenly lifted from her tingly skin and he said, “You have a tattoo?”
She’d gotten it right after they’d broken up in defiance. “Can we discuss it later, please? I’m a little focused on my other body parts right now.”
“It’s sexy.” He laid his lips on the bird on her shoulder blade and kissed her again.
His tongue tracing the outline of her tattoo made another quick zing shoot up her spine. The man could touch her anywhere, apparently, and make her want him even more. It was just her shoulder, for goodness’ sake. Sex really was better when you were in love.
And there it was. She was still in love with Chad. There was no question about it. Now what the hell was she going to do about it?
His soft kisses down her back and the way his hands kneaded her rear end pushed her deep thoughts away, and her focus returned to her body and Chad’s expert touch. When he finally got to the base of her spine, he lifted her hips up and knelt behind her. Her hopes for an end to the sweet torture soared.
“Talk to me, Jo.” He leaned over and opened the drawer beside his bed and pulled out a condom as she chewed her bottom lip in indecision.
She knew exactly what he wanted to hear. And she did want it that way. It was her favorite position. It embarrassed her to ask for that, but he’d love it if she did, so she whispered, “I want you to take me . . . from behind.”
He leaned his hands on either side of her head on the pillow, and then moved his face sideways in front of hers. “You mean like doggie style?”
“You know I hate that term, Chad.” She couldn’t hold back an embarrassed smile. “But, yes, please?”
“You’re so damned cute.” He kissed her on the forehead, then grinned smugly.
Anticipation nearly had her squeeing with joy as he wrangled on the condom. Then he moved behind her and grasped her hips with both big hands before he slowly slid inside her, letting her celibate-for-far-too-long body adjust to his. He was careful to take his time until she was ready, sliding all the way in and then out while her body clenched uncontrollably around him, making him groan with pleasure. Holding back must be killing him.
He whispered, “I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you, Jo.” Then he tightened his grip on her hips so he could thrust even deeper. It nearly sent her over the top again. She was so close to release, it nearly killed her, but she loved the confusing sensation at the same time. He could always do that to her, keep her right on the edge longer than any other man.
She braced her hands against the headboard as he drilled himself into her, harder and faster, until her back stiffened and she threw her head back to ride the delicious wave of perfect pleasure all the way to the shore.
After two last thrusts, Chad followed right behind her.
Her arms were like spaghetti, so she flopped to the bed, and then all of Chad and his heavy muscles landed on top of her. His heart pounded against her back, and his hot breath warmed her neck. Finally sated, she smiled. “Me either, Chad.”
He rolled off her and nuzzled his face right next to hers on the pillow. “You either what?”
“I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as you either.” She stared into his eyes, searching for what, she didn’t know. They couldn’t be together again. It was just good sex. She needed to remember that.
When sadness filled his eyes, it made hers burn with threatening tears. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. I’d better leave.” She started to get up, but his hand wrapped around her arm to stop her.
“Stay. Or I’ll feel cheap.” He forced a smile. “Besides, I want to hear all about that sexy tattoo.”
She laid a hand on the side of his face. “I can see I made you unhappy. Was it a mistake talking you into this?”
“No. It was the best thing to happen to me in years.” He took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I was just thinking it sucks that we’re both together at this crossroad but need to end up in different places to be happy. And I really do want to hear about that tattoo.”
“I’ll tell you about the tattoo tomorrow.” She laid a soft kiss on his forehead and then got up to go to the bathroom. What he said was so sweet, it made her want to cry again. “I don’t want to ruin my chances for another round if you’re up for it later.”
“That must be some story.” His face lit into a genuine smile this time. “And I’ll be up for as many rounds as you like, babe.”
She hoped so. Because it would probably be the last night she’d sleep with him. As hard as she tried to tell herself it wasn’t true, she still loved him. That became perfectly clear when she finally opened up her heart all the way while he made love to her. But she didn’t want to go through the pain again when he left. Could she stick out the next few weeks, or should she return his money and call it quits sooner before her heart got permanently damaged?
The next morning, Chad ran his finger over the inked phoenix on Jo’s back, recalling the fight they’d had years ago. He hadn’t wanted her to permanently mark her beautiful body, but looking back, he’d had no right to tell her what to do. He’d been a selfish prick back then in so many ways.
And now he felt even more guilty about not coming clean with Jo right at first. That he was her landlord and her banker, and that he knew she needed money, wanted to expand, and had taken advantage of that to get what he wanted—his knee to be fixed and for her forgiveness.
He hadn’t thought he’d have a chance at winning her back, but Jo was someone who could be a real mother to Ryan, and she was his perfect match. He hadn’t thought the next part of the equation through all the way, though. She had a life in Denver and he in San Diego, and neither wanted that to change. Unless he could think of a way she could open up a restaurant in San Diego. Would she go for that?
Jo, still with her back to him, finally woke. “I’ve thought about having that removed a time or two.”
“I think it looks great.” He laid a kiss on her cheek. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Jo rolled over and smiled at him, and all his worry instantly faded away. She was in his bed, beside him, and that was all that mattered for the moment. He hated to think about leaving her again.
“I got the tattoo to spite you. But I had them put it on my back so I wouldn’t see it. Turns out that tattoo is sort of like you. You’re permanently etched on my heart, but soon I won’t be able to see or have you either. I wish there was something as simple as a laser to make what I feel for you go away, Chad.”
His heart soared. “Are you saying you love me too?”
She nodded
. “I do. But I don’t see how things could ever work for us. I was thinking maybe I should give you the money back—”
“No!” Was she breaking things off with him? Panic clenched his gut. He needed to change the subject—quick. “You need that money to expand. Let’s just focus on the time we have left. Last night was fantastic. Right?”
“It was.” A smile tugged the corners of her mouth before she kissed him.
As her tongue made love to his, desire for her welled up inside of him again. He could never get enough of Jo.
When she finally broke their kiss, he grabbed her hand, hauling her out of bed with him, and made his way toward the shower. “I want you one more time. And later, there’s some business I’d like to discuss.”
She arched a brow. “On one condition.”
“Name your terms.” He reached out to turn the water on, but she slapped his hand away. She hated cool showers like he liked.
After turning the water to scalding, she pulled him under the spray with her. “My condition is that you tell me what you’d like me to do to you for a change.”
“That’s a deal.”
Jo stared out the window of Chad’s truck as they neared the cemetery where Bryce had been buried. With an aching heart, Jo did her best to stay out of the conversation Chad was having with Ryan about dogs. Ryan wanted one badly, but Chad was against it. She figured every kid should have a dog to love and care for, but she wasn’t the one who’d be taking care of it in the long run. Unfortunately. She kept her opinion quiet and tried to prepare herself to see the headstone her parents had picked out because she’d been too distraught at the time to do it.
Ryan crossed his arms and blurted out, “You’re just being mean, Chad! Right, Jo?”
Chad reached out and took her hand, giving a little squeeze. “Don’t drag Jo into this, Ryan. She has other things on her mind today.”
“What things?”
She turned around and smiled at Ryan. “Chad and I had a baby a long time ago, but he died before he could come home from the hospital. We’re going to visit where he’s buried to leave him a present, and then we can go get some pizza to celebrate his birthday. How does that sound?” She hoped that had been the right thing to say to a five-year-old.
“Pizza party?” Ryan threw both fists above his head. “Yes!”
“Pizza?” Chad sent her a stern look, but it quickly morphed into a grin. “I guess we can top it with vegetables.”
Jo shook her head. “That’s like ordering a burger and fries and then justifying it with a diet soda. Do what you want, but I want mine loaded.” It was easier to think about pizza than what they were about to do. Instead, she’d look forward to having something fun to do in Bryce’s honor afterward.
Ryan called out from the back, “I want loaded too!”
“Fine. Loaded it is, then.” Chad sighed as they passed through the iron gates.
She poked him in the ribs. “I can remember someone who used to have large loaded pizzas delivered to his dorm room for a late-night study snack. And then eat the whole thing by himself.”
He smiled. “You never wanted any so late at night. But that just proves how young and dumb I was back then.”
Now it was her turn to sigh. “I can’t argue with that.”
Instead of the smart rebuttal she expected from him, sadness settled in Chad’s eyes as they slowly drove the meandering road surrounded on both sides by snow-covered monuments. Finally, he pulled over, so she grabbed the flowers she’d brought and steeled herself for what she needed to do.
She’d vowed she wouldn’t cry. She’d done that for far too long after her baby’s passing.
As she followed behind Chad and Ryan in silence, she glanced up and her heart melted. A small headstone stood before them, decorated for Bryce’s birthday. Mylar balloons in the shape of cartoon superheroes, and a bright happy birthday banner draped across the top.
God, how sweet was that? It made the dam break and her threatening tears fall.
After she laid down the flowers she’d brought, Jo wiped away her tears, and studied the headstone. It was beautiful white marble with winged cherubs and angels carved into it.
Reading the short span of time between the dates of his birth and death brought tears back to her eyes again. Chad appeared at her side and stood silently as she fought the bad memories that threatened to make her fall completely apart. But as she noted the smooth stone, and the lovely carvings, a strange sense of peace filled her. Bryce had been loved. And he was with those angels. She was glad she’d agreed to come.
Ryan slipped between them and took both hers and Chad’s hands. “Did the baby like loaded pizza too?”
Jo blinked back her tears and smiled. “I bet he would’ve.” Another lump formed in her throat thinking of what Bryce might have been like.
Chad ran a hand up and then down her back to comfort her. Then he said to Ryan, “Can you read the letters in his name?”
Ryan had been learning to read, but still struggled with some of his letters. He leaned down to trace them with his finger and called them out one by one. When he called out J-E-N-K-S, she blinked in surprise.
It didn’t make sense that her parents would put Chad’s last name on the headstone when Bryce’s birth certificate had her last name, with Chad as the father. “Did you have something to do with this, Chad?”
“Yeah. I thought it’d be easier for Ryan if things looked like a birthday party.”
“I meant the headstone.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close. “I asked your parents if I could please take care of the headstone and provide the flowers each month.”
Flowers each month? While she’d tried to forget Bryce, Chad had made sure he remembered him. Looked like she’d done it all wrong. “I was actually asking about the last name. But never mind. It just means a lot to me that you care. I wasn’t sure before.”
He shook his head. “I never stopped caring about you and Bryce.”
It made her sad all over again that Chad and Ryan would be leaving soon.
But Ryan was getting antsy, so Jo closed her eyes and silently apologized to Bryce for taking so long to come see him. She vowed she’d be back soon.
At peace, she opened her eyes and turned to Ryan. “Who’s ready for some pizza?”
Ryan raised his hand. “Me!”
“Then let’s go.” She took his hand in one of hers and then Chad’s in the other. “Now I’m curious what business we have to discuss, Chad.” She couldn’t imagine what they needed to talk about.
When he cringed, her stomach sank. “We don’t want to bore Ryan with it, so let’s do it after the pizza party.”
That didn’t bode well.
13
ITEMS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR MIGHT BE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR. OR THEY MIGHT JUST DISAPPEAR FOREVER.
Jo followed behind Chad into his study. Books were interspersed with trophies of gold, bronze, and crystal, marking all of his accomplishments over the years. He’d acted so weird during lunch. Obviously, he hadn’t been happy about eating greasy pizza while he was trying to stay fit for the season, but she’d been pretty sure something else was bothering him.
She’d known for sure when he’d suggested Heather take Ryan to the Children’s Museum so they could discuss whatever business they had privately. Her pizza had turned into a lead ball of anticipation in her gut.
She sat in a chair in front of his imposing desk. “Spill it, Chad. You’re killing me here.”
He wiped his palms on his jeans before he sat in his leather chair. “First, I wanted to ask if you want to go to San Diego with me tomorrow? My team docs and coaches want me to do a light workout before the game. To check my knee for themselves after seeing that video.”
“You might not be ready for whatever they define as a light workout, Chad. Don’t go.”
“It’ll show them how much I want to be back on the field.” He fiddled with a bobblehead of himself that sat on the desktop.
“I can do it.”
She laid her hands onto the desk and leaned forward. “Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should, Chad. I’m asking you, as your PT, to skip the workout. Ask for another week.”
He laid the doll with its bobbing head down again. “I appreciate your concern, but my knee is much better. Thanks to you.” His whole face lit up. “But why don’t you come along and supervise the workout? Then maybe I could show you my beach house, and after that we can have an early dinner at this place I love? We’ll be back by nine. I’d really like you to see how nice San Diego is.”
She’d rather Chad listen to her advice and stay home, but it was his knee, and if he wanted to mess it up again, she couldn’t stop him.
But she would like to see his beach house. And eat in his favorite restaurant, but that’d just make it harder to say good-bye later. “I have a lot to do tomorrow, Chad. But thanks for asking.”
The joy on his face quickly faded. “The offer stands if you change your mind.”
“Thanks. So what do you want to discuss with me?”
“I need to come clean about something that’s been bothering me.” He picked up a worry ball and gave it a squeeze as he paused and gathered his thoughts. “You remember when you and Shelby were looking for a place for your restaurant, and for financing?”
“Yeah? What about it?” The serious tone of his voice made the knots in her stomach loosen and morph into a stampede of elephants.
He stood to pace the room, so she swiveled around in her chair to watch him.
He finally said, “Shelby knew I had some empty retail space. She asked if I would let you rent it and also arrange for the financing you guys needed.” He sat in his chair again and opened a drawer in the credenza. He pulled out a piece of paper and laid it in front of her. “Look familiar?”
Perfectly Ms. Matched (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Series Book 2) Page 13
