by Loyd, Sandy
Jason nodded. “Seems I’m not the only one who has a taste for luxury.”
“Luxuries should be used. Not stuck in drawers.”
Claire shrugged and sat in the chair he pulled out. She purposefully ignored his heady male scent that still lingered when he moved to sit next to her.
Like all the other times she’d been this close to him, a sudden sense of awareness rushed through her bloodstream. That current of electricity was back as the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Every cell in her body recognized him, all emphasizing one truth. She found him attractive on every level.
She picked up a fork and began eating, not quite tasting what went into her mouth, and praying her face didn’t show any of her inner turmoil.
Except utensils hitting the plate, there were no other sounds.
“You have some beautiful things.” She eyed the silver salt and pepper shakers while running a finger over the etched crystal of her Waterford water goblet, feeling much more relaxed.
“Without someone to share them with, that’s all they are. Things.”
“Then I’m glad you’re sharing them with me.”
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather share them with.”
She offered him a genuine smile as another flush of warmth spread through her. The food seemed to go down easier after that as companionable silence surrounded them.
Jason cleared his throat sometime later. “You do know you’re not leaving here for the rest of the weekend, don’t you?” he asked in a nonchalant manner before taking a sip of coffee.
“What?” Claire almost choked on the bite she was chewing. Her gaze flew to his face. She swallowed hard at his unreadable expression.
“I said—”
“I heard what you said.”
“Perhaps you didn’t understand?”
“I understand perfectly.”
“Then I don’t see a problem.”
He pushed his empty plate to the side and shoved his chair back, folding his arms as he stretched out extra-long bare legs. Deck shoes covered his sock-less feet.
Sexy as all get-out, Claire thought, zeroing in on his muscular strength.
Oh yeah. The man definitely had a knack for rocketing her pulse rate, shocking her, and acting completely unfazed at the same time. She smiled inwardly. If Jason thought he could unsettle her, he’d soon find out she could do some shocking of her own. She’d watched Crystal for too long not to have learned a few tricks.
“What if I don’t agree?”
“You do.”
His arrogance sent a surge of irritation through her. Jason’s manner seemed just a little too confident. That she’d been entertaining similar ideas of finishing what they’d started last night had no bearing on her thoughts right now. Carl had always been so sure of her actions, and she’d never be such an easy mark again.
While rising, she took the linen napkin off her lap and placed it on the table.
Much like the day before, he kept his eyes trained on her as she climbed onto his lap, only his heated gaze held none of the wariness. Today, it held challenge. Claire was determined to meet that challenge. Yet at the same time, she also needed to wipe that smug, satisfied look off his face.
“You seem so sure of the outcome,” she said softly before letting her lips graze lightly over his.
His erection sprang to life underneath her bottom. It felt decadent to know she was the cause.
“Do you see a different one?”
His whispered voice filled her ears, sending pinpricks of sensation rushing through her system. One hand rested on her waist, clasping her firmly in place, while the other went to her neck, holding her head steady.
When Jason lifted his groin slightly, pressing into her warmth in a rhythmic motion, her mind clouded, distorting her original intent as a sea of emotion engulfed her with more sensation. He tasted her mouth, his tongue circling, barely touching her lips with his just a fraction of an inch away. All while still pressing himself against her again and again.
She moaned, drawing closer to orgasm as he kept to his mindless not-quite kisses for what seemed like forever, not letting her pull away or catch her breath the entire time their bodies rose and fell together.
His kisses grew bolder, more insistent. Strong hands pulled her closer while his mouth and tongue seemed to consume her, demanding a response. He didn’t give her a chance to think, would only allow her to feel. And boy, could she feel. Sensations slammed into her, each more wonderful than the last, turning her whole body into mush.
Lightning-fast heat flared, sizzling along extremities to end at fingers and toes, setting her on fire. Any thought of challenge vanished. Need and want overwhelmed her. The desire to have him inside her took precedent. She hastily undid his shorts, releasing his full arousal, and touched him, allowing her fingers to have their fill.
His fingers touched in return. Stroked. Caressed. Ignited more fire in her belly.
“Take off your shorts. Hurry.”
The sense of urgency in his command had her quickly shedding the unwanted clothing. Somehow she was able to pull his shorts free as well. She looked down, spying her blouse and bra open, and had no idea of when he’d unfastened them. His lips and tongue found hers again.
Claire moaned into his mouth. The pleasure washing over her because of those fast hands and amazing lips was too intense. He knew exactly where to touch . . . exactly how to kiss.
While he expertly fondled her breasts, molding, squeezing, adding to the heat building inside her, she groped, found him, and then guided him toward her. Now that he was fully inside her, she was suddenly taking the ride of her life. She felt each stroke, each one impaling her deeper than the last. She leaned back in his lap, bearing the ecstasy with every thrust, too caught up to do anything else. The mindless, exquisite torture went on and on.
Then Jason stilled his plunges to a slow rhythmic sliding in and out, and drew her closer. Taking her mouth with his, his tongue and lips explored. She never knew such sensual tension could emerge from kissing alone. She moaned aloud, so totally aroused . . . on the brink. He kept her there, backing off when she got close to the precipice.
Finally, he released her lips. His mouth and tongue laved and nipped a trail to her breasts, where he spent luscious moments kissing and biting. He began thrusting again, this time with more force.
Claire couldn’t hold on to the pleasure as it burst from her soul in one big eruption. Sensation after sensation flooded through her in waves of sheer bliss. Jason’s loud groan resonated against her skin as she felt his release.
Chapter 30
Jason felt a sense of loss when Claire finally sat up. His hands stopped her from going too far. “I suppose you’re proud of yourself,” he whispered once he could think clearly.
She leaned back and gazed into his eyes. “A little,” she replied in a breathless voice. “I met my objective.”
Grinning, he tugged her forward for a kiss and spent lazy minutes working on her mouth. The split second he hardened inside her, he broke free. He had no intention of staying in this uncomfortable position any longer than necessary. The lady set his blood on fire, and he wasn’t sure he could control the sudden urge to have her again.
“You met your objective?” His hands moved gently over her back, stroking. He chuckled. “We just made love on a frickin’ chair. That was your objective?”
“For your information, it was never my plan to make love on a chair.”
“Oh? Could’ve fooled me.”
She gave him a sly look. “I only wanted to leave you hot and bothered.”
“I’m still hot and bothered.”
He nuzzled her chin, trailing his mouth and tongue along her jawline until she fully opened, exposing her neck. Then he kissed his way to her ear, sucking and laving. When she moaned, his tongue plundered.
Finally, he whispered, “Care for an encore?”
“We’re still on the chair.” The words came out in breathy little puff
s of air.
“You complaining?”
“No! It sounded like you were.”
The teasing quality in her voice had him grinning into her neck.
He broke contact and leaned back, eyeing her with amusement. The joke was on him, though, because seeing that flushed face with full lips begging to be kissed made him realize he was in a precarious position. If he didn’t get off this chair fast, they’d be at it again.
He bent his legs to push off the chair and stood, gripping Claire tightly.
“What are you doing?” She giggled, clutching his arms.
“Wrap your legs around me and hold on. Think we can make it all the way upstairs?”
“Put me down!” She squealed, giggling harder. “I’m heavy.”
“You’re gonna fall if you don’t hang on.”
Her legs encircled securely around his middle as she seized his neck with locking fingers. Her unrestrained laughter sent signals directly to his groin, letting him feel every step he took.
Finally, he made it to the bedroom, running the last ten steps before falling onto the big, sprawling bed with her still wrapped around him. He caught her eye, and they both dissolved into fits of laughter.
Soon the laughter died. She looked at him. The desire mirrored in that heated jade gaze had him filling her. He couldn’t stop his hands from plowing through that glorious thick hair. He bent his head and caught her lips with his, nipping and sucking. In moments, he was no longer in control as his hips pumped of their own volition. He felt every thrust being gripped tighter before finally following her into another explosive orgasm.
When Jason could think again, he planted his upper body on his elbows and lifted off her, taking the majority of his weight with him. Rolling onto his side, he moved them both without breaking contact. He found he wanted the connection.
Claire expelled a soft breath as her head landed into that perfect spot on his shoulder.
He was too sated to move. Still, he couldn’t stop from hugging her, and ran his fingers languidly up and down her arms because of this urge to touch her. For long moments, he did nothing but stroke. Her skin felt so soft, so tender.
With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes.
• • •
Claire must have fallen asleep again because the next thing she knew, Jason had lifted her and was carrying her toward his bathroom.
Candles lit the darkened room, casting shadows over the walls. Brown paper covered the floor, protecting their earlier handiwork.
He moved to sit with her on the edge of the whirlpool tub. Steam rose from the bubble-filled water, adding a sauna-like warmth to the room.
Confused, she glanced questioningly at him. Seeing nothing in his expression, she squirmed.
“What . . . ?”
His finger rested on her lips.
“Shush. Don’t think. Just feel,” he whispered, pivoting while she sat in his lap. He planted his feet before slowly sinking with her into the tub, submersing them both in the warmth.
Their slow, languid lovemaking gave her no choice but to obey his soft command.
They thoroughly christened his bathtub, then drank wine and made more love. For the rest of the night, Claire felt everything and then some.
Chapter 31
While driving home early Monday morning, Claire only vaguely remembered the events of the past forty hours because a shroud of pleasure coated the memory. Her body felt sore, a good sore that meant she’d gotten a good workout. And boy, what a workout.
Carl had always been more than a satisfactory lover, yet he never required anything more than physical response. Jason required everything, took everything, and gave back even more.
He was sensual, loving, and full of surprises. From the moment they’d made love in that chair, he’d kept her up, as if she’d been on some kind of sexual drug.
Their parting had been bittersweet. When he’d leaned over to kiss her good-bye through the window of her car, a pang of disappointment had hit her. She hadn’t wanted to leave, and he hadn’t wanted her to. But they both needed space. And time.
After stepping into her house, she saw the light flashing on her answering machine. She hit the button and headed for her bedroom while listening to Crystal’s clear voice.
“Where are you, and why aren’t you picking up your cell? I thought we could do lunch. Call me.”
She felt her pocket, pulled her cell phone out, and turned it on. The voice mail signal blinked back.
While walking past the mirror, she caught her reflection. A Mona Lisa smile lit her face, one she couldn’t seem to hold back. That wasn’t the only thing she noticed. A stranger gazed back at her—a totally satisfied stranger.
Hugging herself, she walked on air to her closet to change for work. She didn’t need a shower. She and Jason had tried his out this morning. It worked.
An hour later, Claire sat at her desk and punched in Crystal’s cell number.
“It’s about time you called me back.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Hope he was cute.”
“How do you know a guy’s involved?” Claire set her cup of coffee on the desk and leaned back, then smiled when Crystal sighed heavily into the phone.
“First, you weren’t home all weekend.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I only left one message, but I called several times. Last one at two thirty this morning.”
“I could’ve been on my boat.”
“No. Then you would’ve answered your cell and called me back. Which brings me to reason number two. Only one reason to turn off your cell, and that’s if you don’t want to be interrupted. I can only think of one reason for that. A man. I just hope it wasn’t Carl.”
“No. He’s definitely history.”
“Thank God for that.”
“Why were you looking for me?”
“I don’t know. I felt like talking. When I couldn’t get a hold of you, it became an obsession.”
“Still wanna talk?” Claire asked, feeling like doing some talking of her own.
They set a time and place for lunch that day, and she hung up.
• • •
When Claire arrived at the restaurant, Crystal wasn’t there yet. “I’ll have a glass of your house red,” she said, sitting in the chair the waiter pulled out and thinking of Jason. As he’d predicted, she’d acquired a taste for a glass of wine with meals.
The smile she still sported broadened when the waiter placed a glass of the dark red liquid in front of her. She sighed and looked around, wondering why everything seemed brighter.
“You look happy.”
She glanced up at Crystal’s voice as her sister pulled out a chair across from her and sat.
Crystal gave her a sly grin. “He must be good in the sack to bring out that satisfied smile.”
“Does it show?” Claire asked, holding on to her smile.
“A little. But that’s because when I look at you, it’s like looking into a mirror. I know all the signals.”
The waiter appeared behind Crystal, and she gave him a cursory nod. “I’ll have Buffalo Trace on the rocks.” When he left, Crystal’s expectant gaze moved to hers. “You gonna tell me who?” she finally prodded.
“Not yet.” Claire hugged herself. “It’s still too new.” She reached out and fingered the stem of her glass, and then glanced up at Crystal, noticing the small gleam in her eye. “You seem pretty satisfied yourself.”
“Maybe. But it was only instant gratification. Nothing permanent.”
“You sure?”
Claire eyed her critically. There seemed to be something in her sister’s gaze that sent a rush of sadness through her. Then she shrugged. Not Crystal. “Too bad. He sounded sexy.”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t.”
They spent a few minutes discussing business, moving on to chitchat.
The waiter brought Crystal’s drink and took their order before leaving.
After depleting t
he list of small talk, Claire cleared her throat. “I’m glad you called. I’m glad we’re meeting.”
“Oh?” Crystal’s smile widened. “I see you got a hold of Jason. You’ve obviously been talking to him.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know. Process of elimination. There’s the fact that you called asking for his address. And now you seem different. More open with me. A chat with him might’ve cleared up a few things between us.”
“We talked and he had some interesting things to say.” She lifted a shoulder in an unconcerned shrug. Lowering her gaze, she fidgeted with her wine again, keeping her focus centered on it, while feeling her twin’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Oh, my God! He’s the guy, isn’t he?” Crystal shrieked after her silent observation.
“Now you’re prying.” She fiddled with her hair while fighting to keep her feelings from showing in her expression.
“Now I know I’m right.” Crystal laughed. “This is too much. Did you spend the weekend with him?”
Claire took a sip of wine, hiding her embarrassment behind her glass. But after spying Crystal’s amused grin, she realized she hadn’t succeeded.
“Is it that obvious?” Her smile tugged free and she finally gave up all pretenses.
“Only to me. Way to go, CeeGee!”
In a flash, Claire’s smile diminished and pain shot out from some hidden spot buried deep within her at the use of the old nickname, another past game they used to play, referring to each other by their initials, mainly to confuse those around them.
“What happened to us?” she whispered, meeting her twin’s laughing eyes . . . eyes identical to hers.
Crystal sighed and her hand covered Claire’s, squeezing. “Growing pains?” She broke eye connection and stared silently at her drink before looking up. Their stares locked again. “I don’t know. All I know is that I’ve missed you.”
“You have?” Warmth spread from Crystal’s hand that still covered hers.
“Yes. At least once I got over being so angry with you. Unfortunately that took two years too many.” She hesitated. “I never came on to Carl.”
Claire knew her sister spoke the truth. The honesty in that gaze wouldn’t let her believe anything else.
