Beautifully Awake

by Riley Mackenzie

  I sat up in my seat and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of New York City. I was like a kid in a candy store on senses overload. My head bounced from one window to the next, trying to capture every moment.

  “Good Afternoon, Dr. Colton. How was your ride?” Distracted by the stop and go of the city traffic, I hadn’t realized we reached our destination. An older white-gloved man, dressed in dark grey and a matching hat opened his car door.

  “I’m good, Charles, how’ve you been?”

  “Well. Thank you.”

  Chase’s large frame smoothly exited his low riding car to tower over the older gentleman. I unclicked my seatbelt and began to stir, taming my wild hair and righting my pale yellow sundress. Shit. My torn thong was in his pocket. Even I knew pale yellow and bright summer sun was not a combination that worked with no underwear.

  “How long are you staying, Sir?”

  “Just until tomorrow, Charles, probably late afternoon. Can you have the car waiting?”

  “Of course, Sir, and I’ll have your bags brought right up.”

  Chase handed him the car keys.

  “Oh Miss, let me.” Charles flew around the hood to open my door.

  I was not all that anxious to get out. My eyes widened as they locked on Chase’s hungry stare. He smirked and slightly shook his head, making his way around the car.

  “I got her, Charles, thank you though.” Several neatly folded bills exchanged hands and he proceeded to open my door.

  “Have a good evening, Sir, Miss.” Charles nodded in our direction and slipped away.

  “Chase, I can’t get out,” I hissed.

  “Come here, baby, no one will notice.” He smirked again and pulled me from the car.

  “Where are we, anyway?” I swung my bag over my shoulder, bouncing it from front to back trying to decide which area was less offensive. Even more desperately trying not to wonder why this Charles character knew Chase so well. How many other pantiless women had he brought here before? Ugh.

  “My apartment building.” The enormous square structure looked like something out of the Victorian Renaissance era. The brick and sandstone walls decorated with ornate steel balconies and elaborate moldings were stunning. It was a little on the darker side. But the sight of its classic tall beauty took my breath away. Much like the man beside me. “Let’s go inside.” He pinned me close to his side, wrapping his arm low on my waist.

  “You covering me up?” I looked up into his eyes peering down at me from under his shades.

  “I told you. I don’t share.”

  My smile widened and the flush hit my cheeks.

  “Good Afternoon, Dr. Colton, Miss.” We were greeted by a second white-gloved gentleman. First a doorman, second a concierge. A couple episodes of the Housewives were worth keeping in the loop to be refreshed on these unfamiliar high society ways. I put my giant bag in front of me and silently prayed my ass was covered enough by Chase’s arm. I cursed the designer who thought pale yellow, short dress and sun should ever be in the same sentence.

  The elevator ride to the tenth floor was quiet. We nodded politely as other tenants entered and exited, Chase’s eyes only leaving mine for brief cordial sentiments. His stare was heated. The elevator opened to a wide gothic passage leading directly to a massive arched mahogany door. He gently led me forward. My jaw, not so subtly, dropped. Not even two steps through the door and the expansive view of Central Park was spectacular. The unobstructed light shining through the eight enormous windows lining the living room was awe-inspiring.

  “Oh Chase, your view, your apartment, it’s ... beautiful.” I smiled coyly.

  “Glad you like it.” He draped his arm over my shoulders and kissed my cheek. “Go take a look around, gotta make a quick call to check in at the hospital.”

  The towering ceilings and intricate dark wood moldings carried through every room. One as beautiful as the next. The dining room and kitchen looked out on the gabled roofs of the interior courtyard. A gorgeous fountain was surrounded by symmetric circular gardens spanning across intricately placed stone walkways. The detail was fascinating.

  I wandered into his bedroom. The steel grey walls framed a massive antiqued black four-poster bed, blanketed with stark white linens. Overall the room was dark and simply decorated. No personal effects, no frames or photos or family mementos. Nothing revealed the mystery behind the man. But his appreciation for light and color was conspicuous, bringing warmth and coziness. The floor-to-ceiling French doors, defined by deep turquoise silk draperies, led to a terrace full of clean-edged planters overflowing with unique tropical flowers. Aired on two sides, almost every room brought in the outdoor landscape.

  “I promise you we will spend quality time in here.” His voice startled me. “I wanna see how you look on my bed.” He sat on the edge of the massive bed and pulled me between his legs. “Did I mention I really like you pantiless?” He gripped my ass and brought me closer, burying his head between my breasts. “And braless,” he mumbled into my cleavage.

  “Mmm.” My head tilted back, as the first of my thin spaghetti straps fell from my shoulder. The ridge of his erection pushed into my thigh, I swallowed. My nipples tightened as he drew my breast up into his very experienced mouth.

  “Oh, oh,” I gasped. I squeezed my legs together to help relieve the deep ache already forming, or that never really left.

  “You love that, huh, baby? I love to make you squirm.”

  My dress slid to the floor to pool around my heels as he sat back to feast on my body. The heated stare from the elevator returned and his eyes darkened to match his walls. I was hyper aware of my body and the broad daylight should have made me self-conscious. But it didn’t. Every part of me was taut with excitement and anticipation. I was in his room, his space, completely under his control. A control so different from what I remembered.

  “Keep your shoes on,” he commanded. I felt sexy as hell.

  Flashing back to the night we met, I teased, “Thought you hated these shoes.”

  “Unless I can do this.” His hand slid up my thigh and brushed my sex. “Pure torture, baby.” He stopped and pressed a wet kiss below my navel. “You.” Kiss. “These shoes.” Kiss. “Longest. Fucking. Rounds. Ever.”

  I bit my lip as my flesh trembled. He remembered.

  Suddenly I was flushed, and the heat radiated from my sex through my body. I panted, “Mmm. Good, no more ballet flats.”

  “You wear heels like this, just know ... I’m going to fuck you. Wherever, whenever,” he growled.

  I whimpered under a stare so intense I wanted to wiggle. “Touch me, Chase, please.”

  “Ride me, baby ... I want to watch you, watch your body on top of mine.”

  Those words gave me control. I hesitated. I was nervous. I wanted him so bad, but this entered uncharted territory. Selfish fuck-face never let me take control—why bother you don’t get off anyway. Always under him, I stared into empty eyes as he greedily sucked pleasure from me. Shit. I didn’t want Chase to relinquish his power; it was all I knew. I wasn’t ready. Years of someone controlling every sexual encounter haunted me. I stood frozen, caught in a familiar place of torment.

  “Blue?” His tone was concerned. “Look at me, Lili.” Raw and exposed, I looked back into his eyes. “I want you, baby, only you. Give me you.”

  I wanted to do this. I needed to give him me. When he controlled I enjoyed the ride, aroused and wanton, but me controlling was foreign. A place I had never been willingly. My hands trembled. I undid his belt buckle and drew his zipper down, palming his thick length. He was so hard. He shimmied his pants down and flashed a devilish grin, a reminder. Obviously, he was intent on following through with his double-digit nonsense. My boldness from the night before cowered in the corner. I hesitantly rubbed his length and thickness.

  “Chase...” I saw the need in his eyes, but the uncertainty of my actions was paralyzing.

  “Baby, that feels so good.” He read the thoughts stewing in my mind. He wanted me to to
uch him. “Come up here, I need your mouth on mine.” He sensed my apprehension. At his request, I dragged my hands under his shirt along his rigid chest, relishing in the feel of his pebbled nipples to connect our mouths. My touch was his arousal. Wow.

  In one swift motion, his shirt broke our kiss and floated to the floor. I leaned down to press a kiss to his bare stomach. He moaned, deep and throaty. My trepidation slowly diminished. He grabbed a handful of my hair and slid me back up his body. I rubbed my wet and quivery sex along his smooth shaft.

  “Oh baby, you’re soaked.” His lids lowered halfway down with erotic need. My sex throbbed unbearably. It was hard to fathom I did this to him.

  He circled and rolled my nipples in a slow, sensual rhythm until the tiny pearls tightened to an almost painful level.

  “I need you inside me,” I moaned.

  “Top drawer, baby, a condom.” I grabbed the packet and went to hand it to him. “You do it, touch me.” My tremor returned. I ripped the foil and stroked his shaft, rolling it in place. “Sink into me.” We groaned in unison when I plunged down on top of him. His warm mouth wrapped around my breast and tugged my nipple. I clenched around his cock and sunk deeper until I felt it. The tip of his erection stroked my perfect spot. I rubbed him over and over that spot, slowly at first. My breath turned erratic, and I increased the pace. The overwhelmingly delicious sensation started in my toes, my thighs, my breasts, my pulsing sex, until it completely overtook my body.

  “Give it to me, baby.” He tightened his hold on my hips and forcefully bucked, sending me into complete ecstasy. “That’s it. Ride me,” he growled louder.

  “Oh god.” I came with a wild cry. My hips frantically pulsed and bucked. Before I came down from my high, he rolled on top of me. Goosebumps rose across my skin when his warm breath bathed my neck.

  “Hands above your head.” His tone was dominant. It fed my arousal; I freaking loved it. He kneeled between my quivering legs and spread my thighs, wide. He slid back deep inside my sex, easing in and out. “Reach up, grab the bedpost.”

  White knuckled, I braced with needy anticipation. Wanting more. Needing more.

  “Feels ... too ... good.”

  He leaned down and kissed the spot between my breasts. I arched high, urging him on. He dug his strong fingers into my flesh and thrust harder and faster. I couldn’t think. All I felt was the heat between us. Half mad with insatiable lust, my body matched his every thrust.

  “So fucking tight, Blue.” His thick erection swelled even more, but he was holding back, trying not to hurt me. His desire to protect me jolted me to the core. My sex ached. My heart ached. I wanted all of him. Everything.

  “Please, Chase. Don’t hold back, I need you, harder!” I pleaded, hoping he abandoned his self-control. As if my words were a shot of adrenaline to his chest, he powered inside with brutal force. My climax built with his deliciously punishing rhythm. He reached down and rubbed and squeezed me. The pressure, the insanely intense pressure, took me over the brink. “Chase, Chase!”

  He pumped twice more, powerful and punishing pumps, and buried his face against my shoulder, biting down hard. His pelvis glued to my sex and he released fast and hard. I loved every second of it. He rolled us onto our side and discarded the condom.

  “That was amazing,” I panted. Amazing didn’t even begin to cut it. Was there a word for mind-blowingly hot? For perfect?

  He tucked me into his side. He was drenched with sweat; we were drenched with sweat. “This is only the beginning, Blue.” He kissed my temple. “Now, let’s get cleaned up, beautiful, before I actually tie that hot body to this bed and my small town girl misses a day in the city.”

  I wasn’t sure what sounded better—being tied to this man’s bed or being called his girl. Damn, I liked the sound of both.

  “You were hungry, huh?” He laughed.

  “Um. I worked up an appetite, and besides, I’m pretty sure it aids in the healing process,” I quipped, popping the last bit of my insanely delicious crab cake sandwich into my mouth.

  “Baby, I think we can both agree. You’re all healed.” He mischievously raised his brows. This man was sexy.

  “So where to next, Dr. NYC?”

  Not that I was in a rush. Ocean Grill was situated right across from the Museum of Natural History and Central Park. Our quaint sidewalk table provided the perfect view to people watch. It screamed NY, but not in an obnoxious touristy way. I loved it and Chase knew it.

  “How’s a little shopping sound? I know a boutique on Fifth Avenue…”

  In general, anything with the word boutique was totally out of my price range. And I knew enough about Manhattan to know anything Fifth Avenue was definitely out of my league. Crap.

  “How about Bloomingdale’s?” Still a little above, but I felt like splurging.

  His phone vibrated, luckily distracting him enough to agree with me. “Sure. Sounds good.” He held his phone up. “I’m gonna grab this.” I nodded. “Hey Ash, long time no talk.” His silver eyes brightened as his mouth curved slightly. “Yeah, I’m in town for the weekend, came in this morning.” He leaned on his elbow and grabbed his forehead. “That’s tomorrow ... no fucking chance ... yeah, yeah, I know. You’re going?” He leaned back in the chair and gazed toward the park. “Hey listen, let’s not talk about this right now ... you have plans tonight? Great ... there’s someone I want you to meet. Why don’t you swing by and meet us for a drink. How’s eight ... Asiate ... yeah, yeah you’ll meet her tonight. Later, Ash.” He ended his call and met my curious stare.

  “That was a good friend, Asher. Don’t get to see him much. He’s in town too, do you mind if we grab a drink with him before dinner?” He continued without waiting for my response. “I can cancel. I should’ve asked you first, but I really want him to meet you.” His nervous banter was adorable. This was a totally new side of him. My heart fluttered, he genuinely cared for my opinion. And he wanted to introduce me to an old friend? The flutter got faster.

  “Chase, I would love to meet him. Really. It sounds like fun and maybe I can learn a bit more about Dr. Mystery.” I winked. “Why doesn’t he join us for dinner too?”

  “Baby, if he wasn’t my best friend, we wouldn’t even be having a drink. Not sharing.” He chuckled. “Let’s get out of here.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Come.”

  The rest of the afternoon, Chase dazzled me with all things New York. He redefined shopping. It was alarmingly clear that money was not an issue to Chase. At all. I grew up poor, but spent enough time around Sierra to recognize serious wealth and not be intimidated by it. Money was just that. Money. It bought things, not people. And definitely not happiness.

  I was, however, a little surprised at the level of Chase’s wealth. We weren’t talking successful neurosurgeon wealth, but more like mega-millions winner wealth. And he was beyond generous. By the second store I gave up attempting to pay. There was zero chance I was winning that argument.

  I’d be totally lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his over-the-top shopping spree. But Dr. Rich didn’t hold a candle to Dr. Sexy, Playful or Affectionate.

  Four very large and very heavy shopping bags later, I was one very spoiled girl. Too spoiled. I told him half a dozen times that his generosity made me uncomfortable. The first time his response was a little odd. “I can’t spend it or give it away fast enough, baby.” As if “it” was a dirty word. The other five times he ignored me and grinned. Dr. Rich liked what he liked and didn’t take no for an answer. To hell with price tags. And it just so happened, Chase definitely liked heels. Oh-my-god killer heels, to be exact. Despite my best protest against the holy shit, this could be a down payment price tag, I was the proud owner of my first pair of slingback camel peep toe Louboutins. And because I was spoiled, a pair of classic black patent Jimmy Choo pumps.

  The kid inside me couldn’t wait to call or text Sierra, but Chase rubbed off on me. This was our time. No interruptions. I wasn’t in the mood to share either.

  “So which
pair are you wearing tonight?” Hmm. I loved his voice.

  We strolled through Central Park with our hands entwined, sipping iced coffee. Somehow not carrying any bags. Dr. Colton, would you like your purchases delivered to the Dakota? What did that even mean? They’ll be waiting for you when you get home, Miss.

  “Why do you care?” I retorted.

  “I don’t. But I might need to reserve the table by the bathroom in case we need to excuse ourselves.”

  “You’re such a tease.” I batted my eyelashes and definitely blushed.

  “I’m not teasing. If you don’t stop doing that, I’ll take you on that park bench.”

  My breath caught and I giggled. I clasped my arms around his waist and kissed his chin. He matched my embrace.

  He glanced at his watch.

  “Am I boring you?” I loved how lighthearted our banter had become.

  “Never, Blue, but we should head back if we’re going to be on time.” Add Dr. Punctual to the list. He tugged my earlobe into his mouth and sucked. “And I want to make sure I have enough time to up your tally before drinks.”

  While biting my tongue and gripping my thighs together, Chase easily added one to my tally on the cab ride back. My thong count, on the other hand, decreased by another.

  “Hmm, this is starting to become a habit.” He stuffed my ripped thong into his jeans pocket. I slunk from the cab, careful not to spread my legs too far apart, silently thanking Sierra again. She’d insisted I borrow her adorable cocoa halter dress for the summer season. At least I changed my dress from earlier and avoided replaying the light colored fiasco.

  “Chase, I realize you like me pantiless,” I whispered, getting onto the elevator. “But I think you’ve ruined at least five pairs and it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours yet.” He laughed out loud and the tenant in the front of the car peeked over her shoulder. “Shhh. You’re disturbing the tenants and I would really like to be invited back.”