A Precious Inheritance

by Paula Roe

  He was still taken with her breasts, his tongue running over first one puckering nipple, then the other, tweaking them gently with his fingers then his teeth, his muffled appreciation hot against her sensitive flesh. She shuddered, shifted from one foot to the other as the heat between her legs became uncomfortably warm.

  “Chase,” she whispered, then hitched in a breath as his hand swept over the small of her back to settle on her jeans-clad bottom. She felt his mouth curve, pressed up against one swollen breast.

  “Mmm?”

  “Please.” She finally looked down…and sucked in a gasp as she met his eyes over the swell of her breast. His lips parted and his tongue flicked out, licking her nipple as his gaze boldly held hers.

  “Please what? Please do this?” He bared his teeth, grazing her responsive flesh then grinning as she shuddered. “Or maybe this?” His lips pursed and he blew gently on the tight nub, sending another tremor racing down her back. “Or…this?”

  He shifted one knee, swiftly thrusting it between her legs, and Vanessa gasped at the intense pleasure coursing through every intimate part. His hand followed, cupping her through the denim, and he shuddered.

  “You’re warm. So incredibly warm.” With skillful fingers he plucked open her button fly, his lips on her neck. She held her breath, her head spinning as his fingers grazed her through her panties.

  “Take these off.”

  He’d read her mind. She quickly kicked off her boots then wriggled out of her jeans, shoving the entire mess across the tiles before she eagerly returned to him.

  He dragged her in for another kiss, the heat searing her nipples into painful nubs. She tried to ease herself by rubbing across his chest, but it only made things worse.

  She felt him chuckle, his mouth on her neck.

  “I fail to find my discomfort funny,” she breathed.

  “Discomforted, are you?”

  He nibbled her collarbone and she shuddered. “Very much.”

  “Then I’ll have to fix that.”

  His hand went to her panties, his large palm cupping her warmth, drawing out a sigh from her.

  “Open your legs, Vanessa.”

  It was a shockingly intimate command, but one she immediately responded to. His fingers drew the elastic aside and dived down, parting her curls, then her most intimate folds.

  She sucked in a breath then let it go in tiny stutters. Inch by agonizing inch, with his gaze locked on hers, he gently slid inside her.

  Everything trembled, her heart spilling over into almost painful ecstasy. “Chase, please!”

  In response he captured her mouth with his, stifling her protest as he gently rocked her forward then back, his fingers deep inside her as the palm of his hand rubbed and teased her engorged flesh.

  And that’s all it took, a divine moment, Chase’s hands and mouth and suddenly she was there, right on the edge, and the view was breathtaking, everything she’d expected and more. Yet before she could find sweet release, he withdrew.

  Her eyes sprang open, a protest on her lips, but in the next instant he reached inside the shower and turned on the faucet full blast.

  His eyes, dark with passion, locked onto hers as he quickly stripped, the water pounding down behind him. How had she ever thought he was closed off, devoid of emotion? It was practically sizzling from him, barely contained beneath all that smooth muscle and a multitude of internal scars.

  And when he was finally naked, she let out a slow, steadying breath.

  He was all hers.

  “Come to me,” he said softly.

  She did.

  Chase nearly lost it right there. Her red hair spilled over her shoulders, that ridiculously sexy bra bunched down to her waist, revealing the most beautiful set of breasts he’d ever seen. They fit perfectly in his hands, those dark pink nipples just right for his mouth. She tasted amazing, of passion, lust and innocence rolled into one.

  As the steam began to spill out from the shower and swirl around them, he leaned in, placed a kiss on one nub and grinned as he heard her breath jag in. Her nipple puckered and tightened under his tongue, and he groaned. The air grew heavy with the scent of desire and he looked up to see the flush creep up her cheeks again, her lips still plump from his kisses.

  “I’m all yours, Vanessa. Now, let’s get wet.”

  He went slow, even though his body was desperate for completion. He undid her bra and it fell away, then with both hands he tugged her into the shower. Water crashed down over him, then her. As it soaked her hair, ran over her shoulders and breasts, he placed soft kisses along every faint line the bra had made on her skin, his fingers following the damp trail as Vanessa sighed in pleasure.

  He slowly nibbled her hip bone, loving the way she moved beneath him, her murmurs of encouragement, eager for more.

  He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her soaked panties and slowly, sensuously, slid her wet underwear down her thighs, past her knees until he finally tossed them to the tiles.

  He skimmed her calves, ran his hands back up her legs then her thighs. A gentle mass of red curls lay at the juncture and he breathed in her womanly scent, cupped her bottom then looked up.

  She was looking straight down at him, water cascading over her face and shoulders, rivulets coursing around her breasts, one thin stream peaking over the tip of her hardened nipple. He was so aroused he burned.

  Until she shifted, parting her legs, and Chase stopped breathing.

  They both paused in that moment—an eternity—and their eyes clashed, widened.

  “Chase… My coat. In the left pocket…” She bit her lip, looking so adorably uncomfortable, so imperfect, that his heart cracked open a little bit more.

  “You always carry condoms in your coat pocket?”

  Her blush stretched his grin wider.

  “No. Just for you.”

  When her eyes, her oh-so-serious eyes met his, he nearly crumbled.

  Stepping outside the shower, he grabbed her coat, rummaged in the pocket with wet, trembling hands. Finally he pulled out a foil packet, ripped it open and attempted to pull on the condom, cursing softly as anticipation made him clumsy.

  Her hand on his shoulder stilled him. “Let me.”

  He turned, the sting of frustration battling with embarrassment, but she simply smiled, took the condom from him and expertly eased it over his throbbing length.

  His breath seared his lungs and he fought for control. Damn.

  He couldn’t wait any longer. With a groan, he nudged her against the shower wall, wrapped one of her legs around his waist and pushed deep inside her.

  Vanessa flung her head back with a triumphant cry and every muscle, every vein in her body dissolved in pleasure. She tightened her arms around him, her heavy exhale-inhale on his neck giving him trembling pause before he slid halfway out, then plunged back into her warmth with a wrenching groan.

  His blood sang. He filled her totally, completely and his senses reeled from overload—slick water on their skin, the murmurs of pleasure and his name on her tongue, bathing him in sweet desire. And the incredible, amazing…excruciating joy of making love to her.

  He was exposed and raw, every inch of skin sensitive and throbbing for her touch, so he crashed his lips on hers with a satisfied groan then thrust his tongue into her mouth. She writhed against the tiles and met him, mimicking his movements, possessing him, claiming him in the most primitive way possible, sending his blood rocketing. He shifted his weight, hands beneath her bottom as he yanked her other leg around his waist. When she locked her ankles at the small of his back, he rocked into her, keeping time, pushing deeper, faster, until ecstasy began to well inside.

  Chase tried to hold back, but through the haze of passion, he felt her muscles clench him and knew she was nearing climax. Even though his legs were screaming and his arms ached, he gritted his teeth, gripped her bottom and kept going.

  Almost there… His breath huffed out, the water battering his shoulders and back as deep inside, the f
amiliar swell of release began to gather and tighten.

  “Chase…” Her eyes sprang open and those wide green depths, riddled with ecstasy, unmanned him. They stared deep into his very soul, bearing witness to the most intimate of embraces as he spilled himself into her with a wrenching groan.

  His hands went to the wet tiles, desperately trying to hold them both up as he shuddered over and over.

  Good Lord, that was…incredible. He buried his face into the crook of her neck, tendrils of her fiery hair clinging to his cheek. She throbbed and pulsed around him, her skin slick against his, her nipples digging into his chest. When she tightened her embrace with a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and stayed right where he was, determinedly ignoring the cramp that had set up in his legs.

  Eventually, regretfully, he withdrew. In silence they soaped each other up, rinsing off under the steady stream before Chase finally turned off the faucets.

  They dried each other, at first tentatively, then with slower, knowing strokes. Those strokes became touches, then kisses, then Chase was pulling her into the bedroom. Vanessa caught a glimpse of luxurious carpet and heavy brocade drapes in the dimly lit room before they got to the crumpled bed.

  Then he commanded her entire focus.

  He sat on the bed and pulled her close to stand between his knees, then began at her ankles.

  As his large, firm hands smoothed over her calves, massaging the muscle beneath, her breath hitched in pleasure.

  “Feel good?” he murmured, his voice husky.

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Just wait, it gets better.”

  She matched his grin with one of her own. “Oh, I’m sure it will.”

  He dragged his hands up to her thighs but wasted little time there, preferring instead to cup her bottom, kneading and squeezing as his breath got heavier and more ragged.

  It stunned her, this kind of power she had over a man like Chase. He could have any woman he wanted and yet he wanted her, was aroused by her, Vanessa Partridge, working single mother of two.

  Thick desire surged, making her impatient and eager for his touch. As if sensing her mood, Chase’s hands stilled and his gaze went to hers, eyes dark with passion.

  “I want you.”

  That just about undid her, her entire body taut as she did as he asked.

  “Come forward. Put your knees on the bed.”

  She was way too wired, her skin aching for him, the anticipation building to an unbearable level. How she managed to get her legs on the edge of the bed, she’d never know. But she did and soon Chase had eased them around his waist while his manhood throbbed hard between them. Then he shoved his hands under her bottom, lifted her up, maneuvered her until she was poised above him and their breaths mingled for excruciating seconds while they kissed.

  He took his time kissing her: long, deep, lingering kisses with lots of tongue and hot breath until every single cell in their bodies pulsed with urgent desire.

  Without warning he plunged her down and her sharp cry of ecstasy bounced off the bedroom walls. He filled her completely—so hard, so hot. Every inch of skin where they connected was wet with desire, from their eager mouths, to their torsos, to deep inside her very core. When he gripped her, rocking her back and forth, back and forth, a groan of pleasure ripped from her lips, quickly silenced as he covered her mouth with his.

  Yes. Oh, yes. She moved with him, her arms wrapped around his neck, hips rocking, lips devouring, the air punctuated with sensuous sounds of skin on skin and murmurs of desire. And soon, she began to feel the glorious waves of orgasm swell.

  Then Chase stopped.

  Her eyes sprang open on a groan of frustration. “No! No, keep going!”

  Chase clenched his teeth as she wriggled against him. “Wait. Stop, baby. I need to—”

  To her shock he pulled out, then quickly flipped her on the bed.

  Vanessa dragged herself up on her elbows. “What are you—”

  “Shh.” He put his hands on her knees, stilling her. “You’ll like it, I promise.”

  “I liked it the other…ooooooh!”

  He’d pushed her legs apart and his mouth had fastened onto the most intimate part of her sex.

  Everything exploded, her hips bucking off the bed in shocked delight. His tongue licked long, languorous stokes, whipping her up into a frenzy of desire. And just when she thought she could take no more, his teeth grazed across those swollen folds and she cried out in rapturous joy. With her head flung back, her fists clenching the sheets and Chase’s tongue diving in and out of her wet core, she came.

  She barely had time to recover, the shudders racking her body before she felt him slide up, his lips on her belly, over her waist, before pausing to lick one peaked nipple.

  Bliss. He massaged her breast, his warm palms rubbing each hard nub into almost unbearable hardness. And heaven help her, she was still aroused by that. And when he spread her legs wide and slid inside, a deep sigh of contentment rushed out.

  He filled her up physically, mentally, spiritually. It was almost a divine experience, having him move inside her, watching the play of emotion across his face as she stared deep into his eyes. His breath bathed her skin, his mouth swooping down for a lingering kiss.

  They made love slowly this time, like two familiar halves of one whole. Each caress, each kiss, anticipated, welcomed and returned. And when Chase eventually achieved release, Vanessa reveled in the comforting intimacy of his body pressing hers into the bed, his throbbing manhood still buried inside her.

  It felt like an eternity had passed before Chase finally slid from her. But instead of moving away, they remained in a tangle of limbs, staring up at the ceiling in groggy exhaustion.

  Gradually, the gentle sounds of their heavy breathing slowed and the air began to cool.

  She could lie like this forever, with nothing but his damp skin and their intimate scent perfuming the air.

  “Come with me to New York,” he said suddenly.

  She blinked and met his serious eyes. “What?”

  He pulled back on his elbows. “Come with me to New York.”

  “This weekend?”

  “No, right now.”

  She laughed. “Are you being funny?”

  Chase remained silent and unsmiling.

  Oh. “You’re serious.” Her head began to spin. “I need to get up.” Her hands went to his chest and slowly, agonizingly, he pulled away from her.

  Her body cried out at the loss and she dragged her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. “Chase, I can’t. I have a job. And the girls.”

  He reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, making her shiver. “Bring them with you.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  He stilled. “Why not?”

  “They’re babies and need routine with minimum disruption. I can’t spring a new city and new people on them without preparation. And I’ve already left them twice in a month and…” She sighed. “I can’t drop everything and run off with you.”

  He frowned. “I’m not asking you to drop everything.”

  “So what are you asking?”

  He dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m asking you to come with me to New York. Does it have to be more complicated than that?”

  Ah, but what if she wanted complicated? What if she wanted something more than just a fancy New York trip? What if she wanted Chase permanently in her life?

  But that’s not what he’d offered.

  Vanessa’s stomach twisted in uncomfortable realization.

  “Chase, I can’t just up and leave my job on a whim. I won’t.”

  “A whim.” His expression clouded. “I see.” When he pulled back, her heart pounded in worried alarm. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions and assumed you’d want to spend some time with me.”

  Her heart pounded in alarm. “I do! But there are other things to consider too, like my job, and how it will impact on the girls.”

  His eyes narrowed. �
��You don’t want me in their lives?”

  A wave of anger hit her and she swung her legs to the floor, dragging the sheet to her in swift jerky movements. “That is not what I said! But you’re assuming a lot when I can’t afford to—”

  “I have money, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “And that’s your money, Chase. Not mine. And anyway, this isn’t about money. You’re expecting me to drop my commitments and I spent too many years living under my father’s roof to—”

  His face darkened. “I am not your father.”

  “Then stop acting like him!”

  As soon as the childish, hateful words were out, she wished she could stuff them back. But the damage was done.

  They stared at each other in shocked silence, until Vanessa stepped forward, clutching the sheet to her trembling body.

  “Chase—”

  “No, I get it.” He reached for a pair of pants and jerked them on with cold, painful dignity, snapping the fly together swiftly. “It’s fine, Vanessa.” His sharp bark of contemptuous laughter made her flinch. “I guess I should’ve seen it coming. Someone like you—” his eyes scathingly raked her from head to toe “—and someone like me. It’d never work.”

  “Chase, please! You’re—”

  “You need to leave.” He shot her one last look then strode over to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

  And Vanessa was left confused and alone, the room growing ever colder as her heart silently shattered at her feet.

  Twelve

  Chase woke slowly, reaching out to where Vanessa should have been and finding only an empty, cold mattress. His eyes sprung open and he sat up, glancing over at the clock—9:10 a.m.—then dragged a hand through his hair as last night came crashing back.

  She was gone.

  His heart plummeted, the solid beat echoing the tight throb in his head.

  Damn. With a groan he swung his feet to the carpet, took a deep breath and stood.

  His world remained a jumbled mess, even as his breath began to return to normal and memories flooded in. The feel of skin. The dark passion in her eyes. Her beneath him, surrounding him, filling him.