“What are you up to, Chase?” she whispered, her mouth still close to his.
“Dinner.” He brushed another kiss on her lips. “In my room.”
She pulled back, her brows raised. “I’ve never been in the guest rooms!”
“I figured as much. And as sweet as your quirky little apartment is, I bet you could use some luxury.”
“Luxury and power, Chase Harris? Sounds like a recipe for a romantic suspense novel.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about, so I’ll have to take your word on that.” He got out and opened her door. He liked doing the little gentlemanly things for her. “Dinner should be here in about a half an hour.”
“And what are you plans before?”
“I thought we could have a drink in the lounge.” She arched a brow and he smiled. “Yours could be virgin, of course.” He winced as she laughed at him. “Okay, my bad. That ship has sailed.”
She grabbed on to his arm as they made their way into the lobby, the smile on her face bright. “You’re a funny guy, you know that?”
“I never have been, but I’ll take your word on that too.”
The lounge was located just off the lobby, not far from the coffee shop. It was dimly-lit, but decorated with more paper hearts and strings of twinkle lights. It felt a little bit like being inside a greeting card, but he could deal with it. Carrie, with her red hair and soft red sweater fit right into the scenery.
They found a table near the huge fireplace, a small round thing with two chairs. He held her chair for her, an act which she always seemed to find humorous, and then sat across from her.
“So, virgin huh?” she teased, picking up the small cardboard sign in the center of the table. “I bet one of these chocolate martinis would be great, but then it would just be chocolate milk.”
“In a fancy glass.” He held up a hand to signal one of the servers. “I say you get it with extra chocolate sauce.”
She stared at him for a second, and then caught his meaning. He’d been teasing about extra chocolate sauce the other night in the SOB. Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink and she gave an enthusiastic nod.
Suddenly, the prospect of rekindling the heat from their first night together felt like a distinct possibility.
***
Carrie arched upward towards Chase, craving more of his touch. Drinks had been fun and relaxed. Their room-service dinner had been remarkable. But this? Letting him slowly undress her in front of the flames flickering behind the glass fireplace screen surpassed anything she could have imagined might happen tonight.
The plush carpet beneath her was thick and soft, and the lighting in the room was low. He’d cracked the doors to the balcony, and she could just hear the lapping of the waves on the shore below. Apparently he adhered to the third-date rule as well, and was rapidly sending any thoughts of even a token refusal far from her mind.
“Christ, you’re beautiful,” he breathed, nuzzling the side of her neck as his hands trailed over her breasts. “I thought I might have been remembering that night through beer goggles, but damn.”
She ran her fingers through his thick hair. It was silky and cool beneath her fingers, at odds with the rough edge of his tongue hot on her skin between her breasts. “This feels so good, Chase.”
The pregnancy must be making her breasts extra-sensitive, because every lick and pinch sent heat sparking through her body. He was teasing her nipples now, first one and then the other, until her pulse pounded. She was wearing nothing but a lacy pink bra and panties, her sweater and skirt were somewhere over by the door along with her boots, but by the appreciation clear in his eyes he found her as arousing as she found him. And he was. He was wearing far too many clothes, though.
She placed a hand in the middle of his chest and pushed at him. He lifted his head to face her, a lazy grin on his face. “What is it, baby?”
Leaning up on her elbows, she ran her eyes over him. “You have to catch up, Chase.”
His smile widened. “I told you I was a gentleman.” He sat back, winking as he pulled his thin sweater up and over his head. His gaze fell down to his pants as he unbuttoned and began to unzip.
His chest as even better than she’d remembered, every sculpted dip and ridge catching the low light to make her shiver. She’d been with him already. In several different ways that night over a month and a half ago. She wanted to feel that chest tight against her, the light dusting of crisp hairs tickling and teasing her breasts.
Then he stood and dropped his pants and her mouth went dry. The black boxer briefs hugged his erection, reminding her of just how perfectly he’d fit her. There were sexy dents on either side of his narrow hips, and she couldn’t help but come up on her knees and grab onto his butt as she kissed the middle of his chest.
“Ah, Red.” His fingers ran through her hair now, slow and deep as he sank down to his knees. He brought her face up to his. “I’m going to make you feel so good.”
She ran her hands over his chest now, unable to keep from letting out a purr. “You feel so good, Chase.”
She was on her back again, and her pulled aside the cups of her bra to suckle her. His hand was between her legs, urging her thighs apart as he stroked her. She was so tightly wound now, every stroke sending her higher. Dragging his mouth from one breast to another, he growled and kissed his way down to join his clever fingers.
“Chase!” She gasped as his teeth grazed her through her panties. “Oh!”
And then his mouth was fixed to her flesh, his tongue delving inside as he cupped her butt in both his hands. She couldn’t grab on to a thought as he focused every bit of attention on that tiny, hungry part of her. Trembling, she surrendered as her climax came roaring over her. Her limbs tensed and then sank into the carpet.
Chase was braced above her, a look of masculine pride on his face. “Damn, I could watch you come all night.”
She managed to pull in a breath and let it out with a sigh. “I don’t think I’d survive.”
He stood, holding a hand out to her. “Let’s get on the bed, Carrie. If you can’t walk tomorrow, I don’t want it to be due to laying on the floor.”
She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. Her legs were still shaking, and she leaned against his strong frame. “Just what should it be due to, then?”
He draped his arms around her, holding her tight. “Purely to my loving, baby.”
His erection was hot and hard against her belly and she stifled another shiver. “I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea, Red. We have this, this, heat between us. From the start. Can you deny it?”
“Not at all. But we still don’t know that much about each other.”
His brow furrowed but his hands began stroke her back. “We have a lot to discuss, Carrie. I hear you. And we will.”
“But not tonight?” She held onto his shoulders and came up on her toes. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“If that’s okay with you.”
She thought for a long minute. He made her feel so good. It had been too long before that first time together. She’d half-believed it had been due to her romance drought after Doug and the abundance of alcohol at the wedding, but tonight disabused her of that idea. Chase was an expert at knowing just how to make her forget everything but how good they could make each other feel.
Dropping back down to her knees, she caressed him through the thin fabric of his briefs. He groaned, tunneling his fingers through her hair again. He cupped the back of her head, but not in a way that made her feel trapped. No, his intensity fueled her libido and urged her without words to please him.
He was hot and huge in her hands as she pushed the waistband of his briefs down below his groin. She had never been very comfortable pleasing a man this way, but she just let her instincts take over as she proceeded to drive him as crazy as he’d just made her.
“Damn, Red.” He made that sexy growl again and bucked a little. “Damn.”
> It didn’t take long to bring him to the brink. Teasing him for a while longer just because she could, she finally took him completely in her mouth and showed him some mercy. He never lost his rigid stance, even as he shuddered in his release.
“Carrie, baby,” he rasped.
She came to her feet and kissed his open mouth. “Yes?”
“Stay here with me tonight?”
Her mind spun as she tried to think of a reason she shouldn’t stay with him at the resort. There was no one to really worry about her tonight. Even Mrs. Prattle wouldn’t take much note of Carrie’s absence. She didn’t have to work tomorrow, which was another point to consider.
“I don’t know,” she said, her conviction sounding weak to her own ears.
“Please, baby?”
She heard a tenderness in his voice, but that had to be a result of the stellar orgasm she’d just given him. He looked so sweet, though. As sweet as any guy as hot as he could look nearly naked, that was.
Biting her lip, she nodded.
His smile was slow, but lit his eyes with golden fire.
“Then let’s take this to bed.”
Chapter 8
Chase stretched his arms, the wide bed comfortable beneath him. Carrie was curled against his side, her body as naked as his. He’d never spent the night with a woman since his divorce, and never this close and cozy. Cheyanne wasn’t one for tenderness, but he never blamed her. He had no clue how to reach across the acres of bedding that seemed to be between them after the first few months of their marriage.
The thin curtains at the windows opposite the bed framed the sky beyond. It was getting lighter outside, the morning of Valentine’s Day dawning. He had a bundle of contented woman in his arms, the mother of his baby, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Last night had been amazing, from the love play in front of the fire to holding her close all night.
She stirred and he stared down at her as her eyes fluttered open. “I’m sorry I conked out on you last night.”
He shrugged. “I figured it had something to do with the pregnancy, Red. So I’m all kinds of ready to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
She smiled up at him, brushing a few thick curls off her forehead. “You are a gentleman.” She laughed softly. “That’s a sentence I never thought I’d say while naked and tangled up with a guy.”
He gave her a one-armed hug. “I can’t say another round wouldn’t have been fantastic, but I didn’t go to bed wanting.”
Amazingly, she blushed. It must be something with redheads, because it seemed like every emotion was clear on her lightly-freckled cheeks. Unable to resist, he turned and brought his mouth to hers. Just as he was about to kiss her, a knock sounded at the door. Grunting, he sat up and pushed his hair back from his brow.
“I ordered breakfast,” he told her.
She ran her gaze over his chest and down to where the sheets just covered his dick. “When?”
“Last night.”
Her head tilted. “Before you asked me to stay over?”
“Hey, a guy can hope.”
She didn’t seem too put out by his assumptions, so he threw back the sheets and got out of the bed to walk across the room to grab his pants off of the floor. “Just a minute,” he called towards the door.
Buttoned and zipped, he pulled on his rumpled sweater and opened the door to let in the kid with the meal cart. He’d never been a romance-and-roses kind of guy, but he was glad that the resort had thought of those romantic touches this morning. He tipped the kid, closed the door and checked out the cart.
A simple meal of scrambled eggs, fruit, juice and coffee was elevated by the same fine china and silverware he’d noticed at last night’s dinner. Tiny hearts cut out of glossy paper were sprinkled across the snowy-white tablecloth and a handful of red roses stood in a clear crystal vase in the center of the rolling table.
“That looks lovely.”
He looked up to find Carrie wrapped in a sheet. It draped off one shoulder and her hair was swept to cover the bare skin he saw. She looked like some kind of goddess, all rosy and sweet.
“They do a pretty good breakfast. I hope you eat eggs.”
“I do.”
He poured himself a coffee and pointed to a box of teabags. “I asked for some decaf options.”
Her brows raised. “That’s very thoughtful.”
She sat down on the padded ottoman next to the table, so he settled on the couch across from her.
“You know, I didn’t think to ask,” he said. “Are you sick in the morning?”
She held a piece of toast just shy of her mouth and shook her head. “Not very often. Not yet, anyway.”
“Well, what I know about pregnancy comes from TV shows,” he said.
“Me, too.” He raised his brows and she shrugged. “Only child, remember?”
He nodded. “I’d like to come with you when you go to the doctor.”
Alarm sparked in her eyes. “I hadn’t thought about that, but I guess that would be okay.”
He set his coffee cup down and reached across to cover her hand with his. “Carrie, I’m not pushing. I swear. This is all new for me.”
She nodded. “For me, too.”
The mood had turned decidedly deflated in a hot minute, so he served them from the platter of eggs and bacon and dug in himself. She ate, he was happy to see.
“So what should we do on our first Valentine’s Day?” he asked.
She stared at him for a beat. “Our first?”
He spread his hands in an effort to block the frustration he was feeling. “Look, I know we’re not getting married but we will be in each other’s lives.”
“I know.” Her voice was small and he felt like a complete jerk for pushing her. “What would you like to do?”
He brightened. “How about taking one of the cruises they offer down at the dock? It’ll be a little bit chilly but not too bad.”
She seemed to consider his idea. “I’ve never done that. Been on one of those cruises, that is.”
“Then I’ll make the arrangements.” He winked at her sheet-clad body. “As much as I like seeing you nearly naked, you might want to rethink your wardrobe.”
She laughed at that, and the weirdness between them seemed to dissipate completely. “Okay. Can you drop me home so I can change?”
He nodded. “Sure thing. You might want to grab a couple of things for later, too.”
“Are you asking me to stay over again, Chase? You know I’m working tomorrow.”
The sparkle in her eyes told him she wouldn’t mind if he did. He sure as hell wanted to roll around with her in that big bed again, this time closing the deal. Not that all of the petting, and the best blowjob he’d ever gotten, hadn’t been eye-opening. He just wanted to be inside her again. If his memory of their first time together was any indication, they were perfectly suited in that aspect too.
“I’ll leave the staying-over decision completely up to you, Red.”
She beamed a smile. “Putting me in the driver’s seat, are you?”
Naughty images flashed through his mind, fueled by one particular recollection of her taking control during their first night together. He didn’t even try to hide the desire her words sent flashing over him.
“Hey, if the lady wants to drive who am I to argue?”
***
Carrie sat in Junonia, still amazed that Chase had been able to pull this off. She had no idea how he’d managed to reserve a table for them. The very popular, very well-reviewed restaurant was someplace she never thought she would frequent. The prices alone put it outside her salesgirl salary.
She felt her dress fit in, at least. Buying off season, not that Barefoot Bay really had an off season, gave her the opportunity to build her wardrobe. Just a few dressy pieces for the times Doug had business dinners with clients.
He’d always wanted her to look just right, which should have been yet another clue that he wasn’t the guy for her forever. Still, the scooped-neck
jersey clung in all the right places. She idly realized it was a good thing the weather would be turning warm again soon, since she wouldn’t fit into it again until next winter.
The dinner had been intimate despite the crowded dining area. The food had been phenomenal, though to be fair it wasn’t every day that she dined on a simple yet amazing lobster dish she couldn’t name and a nearly-rare filet that seemed to satisfy the little carnivore she was apparently carrying.
Chase had called the concierge to book their cruise before taking her back to her place to change that morning. Mrs. Prattle hadn’t tried to hide as she watched them through her front window, her eyes bright and her smile wide. It the lady wasn’t such a dear, Carrie would have told her to mind her own business. It was kind of nice having someone look out for her, but that didn’t necessarily mean that she wanted to be watched like a teenager on a first date.
The cruise had been a little bit fun and a whole lot romantic. She was falling for this guy in spite of her best intentions, and she was swiftly running out of reasons to keep him at arms’ length. Figuratively, at least. She hadn’t thought to refuse getting naked with him last night for more than a hot minute.
“So, how am I doing?” he asked her.
“Doing what, exactly?”
“Pouring on the romance, Red.” He leaned back, looking very yummy in his thin gray cable sweater. “It’s what the day’s for, isn’t it?”
Since she’d never had a serious boyfriend for the holiday, she would just have to take his word for it. “Sure.”
He blinked at her. “Are you feeling okay?”
Plastering on a smile, she nodded. “Just a little tired, I guess.”
He sprang out of his seat like his butt was on fire. “Let me get the check.”
Before she could stop him, he was taking long purposeful steps towards the servers’ station to find their waiter. Carrie sat back and sipped at her sparkling cider. Served in a crystal flute, she figured that anybody watching her would think she was sipping champagne. She so wasn’t ready to out her little bundle, and since Shannon left she didn’t really have anybody she was close to. Jocelyn was darn near perfect, but she was still her boss. Carrie’s inner circle was pretty empty, actually.
Barefoot Bay: Giving Chase (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Cypress Corners Book 8) Page 6
