Penny didn’t think twice, submitting to his demand. She guided the plump crown between her lips, licking his seed.
“I’ve never…ah, Penny. You’re fucking amazing.”
“This is mine,” she told him. The power shifted as she swallowed him all the way down to his root. His fingers went loose, releasing her locks. Penny sucked the length of his shaft and then removed it from her mouth. “Say it.”
She flicked her tongue over its head, teasing him. Penny’s breath quickened as he plunged into her again. Her core convulsed around his fingers, and she knew she wouldn’t last long. But if she never saw this man again, he’d remember that she owned him. He’d never forget her, no matter how far he lived from her.
“Say what?” he grunted.
“Say it, tell me this cock belongs to me,” Penny growled. Somewhat cognizant that she’d gone feral, she pressed his head to her lips, waiting for his response. Something about Chase transformed her into a sultry, wanton woman and the satisfaction of knowing she could make him tremble drove her to give him pleasure.
“Oh God…fuck yeah, this cock is for you, only you, darlin’. Take it…take it all.”
“Yes.” Penny exhaled, plunging his cock into her mouth.
She rolled to her side, hips rhythmically thrusting as his fingers fucked her pussy and thrummed her hooded bead. A garbled cry escaped her as she seized in pleasure.
“Penny…I’m gonna come,” he warned.
Refusing to let him retreat, Penny reached around his hips and dug her fingernails into his ass.
“Oh shit….yes, yes…ah…” Chase bellowed as he erupted.
Sated, she slowly released him from her grip, the tremors of ecstasy subsiding. Penny squealed as Chase slid next to her, bringing her into his embrace. Inhaling his sea-tinged scent, she pressed her lips to his chest.
As she lay in his arms, she knew that while she may have mastered the master, Chase had stolen her heart. The sexual words they’d confessed in passion had meant nothing. Like an illusion come into clarity, she realized she owned nothing. She fought the shroud of melancholy that threatened to destroy their remaining hours together. Closing her eyes, she cuddled against him, yearning for a future with her unattainable lover.
Chapter Eleven
As Chase lifted his glass to his lips, he gazed upon Penny. He’d told her she looked stunning, but words did little to describe her beauty. The elegant blue tie-dyed chiffon swept down her back to her feet, with its mini-dress front revealing her long tanned legs. Over the shoulder draping accentuated her tanned shoulders. As his eyes devoured her, he resisted the urge to touch her sun-kissed skin, leaning back into his chair.
As the band played, her eyes darted to his. Her infectious smile warmed him straight through to his heart, and he began to rethink his experiment. To call it a success or failure couldn’t describe what had happened to him. It didn’t matter that they’d just met. Penny Travis was not and would never be a forgotten, carefree affair.
While he loved Evan like a brother, they’d fought when they’d returned from diving. Chase had insisted he wouldn’t hurt Penny, but Evan argued that she’d already developed feelings for him. He’d played it off, telling him that he and Penny had decided to keep things light. But nothing could be further from the truth. Despite her denials and casual responses, he detected the sadness in her eyes whenever they mentioned leaving paradise.
Chase had been profoundly affected by their dive. Even though she’d lost focus, she’d trusted him completely, allowing him to share with her the exquisite unique environment that few humans were privy to seeing, his world. Unable to let her slip through his fingers, Chase planned to ask her the question again, the very one to which she’d refused to answer; would she consider moving?
It was insane for him to ask, he knew. She’d have no reason to throw away her entire career for a man. But ignoring what he believed was developing into love simply wasn’t an option. At one point, he’d agreed with her, telling her he didn’t believe in soulmates. But every single time they had a conversation, made love, it felt surreal. Domination turned into submission and back again. Humor melded into heartfelt discussions, where he ended up revealing more about himself to her than he’d ever told anyone. Their last day together was quickly approaching. If he didn’t take action, they’d soon be three thousand miles apart with no hope of a future.
The band transitioned into a ballad, and he stood, extending a hand to her. A broad smile crossed her face as she accepted, following him onto the dance floor. He pulled her close, and they swayed gently to the island beat.
“I don’t want to go home,” he heard her say. Her voice wavered as she spoke.
“I don’t want to go home, either, darlin’. But alas, we do have to return to reality.”
“This has been the best time of my life,” she confessed.
“Penny, this thing between us…I don’t want it to end.” Chase pressed his lips to the top of her head as they danced. “We’re going to have to talk.”
“It’s complicated.”
“That it is.”
“We could try to see each other a few times a year. You said you come to New York.”
“I do.”
“We could Skype. Facetime?”
“True, but long distance relationships are hard on the heart. I can’t expect you to date only me when we don’t get to see each other.”
“Yes,” she whispered, disappointment in her tone.
“On the other hand…” Chase stopped dancing and gently tilted her chin up so her gaze met his. He stared into her blue eyes for several seconds as if he were searching her soul. But in truth, he was looking for answers that were already inside him. “I wouldn’t…I don’t want you seeing anyone else. I want this…us.”
“Chase, I don’t know how…”
The music grew louder, and people flooded the dance floor. As the din blared around them, Chase only heard the sound of his heart pounding as he bent to kiss her. With passion, he captured her lips, imparting the emotion he’d kept hidden. Penny returned his loving kiss, and he swept his tongue against hers, tasting his sweet lover. In each other’s arms, it was as if they were the only two people in the room.
Chase registered the sound of the MC rousing the crowd, his voice booming into the air, and he slowly broke away from Penny. The intensity of the moment didn’t falter, however. As Chase’s eyes locked onto Penny’s, he was certain about his course of action; he’d ask her to move to California. He’d present his best argument to the lawyer who valued logic and set out to win the case and her heart.
Chapter Twelve
As Chase opened the door to his villa, a butler ushered them into the candlelit room. Penny covered her mouth in surprise, taking in the sight of the twinkling lights. Vases filled with tropical flowers adorned every available surface. The scent of Asiatic lilies permeated the air, and she took a deep breath, reveling in the sensation. From red ginger-lilies to orange and blue birds-of-paradises, the plethora of colors created a magnificent floral rainbow.
“You did this?” Shocked, she turned to Chase, who gave her a sexy smile.
“Do you like it?” He beamed.
“Yes, it’s unbelievable. Why?” She reached for a bud, sliding its soft petals between her fingers.
“No matter what happens, I want you to know how important this time has been to me. It’s not just about the sex either…although that’s been pretty spectacular.” He laughed, but his smile faded as he took her hand in his. “I’ve never met anyone like you…ever. Not at home. Not on vacation. I don’t know how this will end come Saturday, but tonight, I want you to know how much you’ve meant to me.”
“Chase…I…” Penny’s chest bloomed with emotion, and unexpected tears brimmed in her eyes.
“Hey, darlin’. No tears. This is supposed to make you smile.” He brought her palm to his lips.
“Sorry…I just…thank you.” She glanced at the flowers, and her eyes met his. “No one has
ever done anything like this for me. It’s not just the flowers either. It’s everything. This week has been the most amazing time of my life. Back on the dance floor. What you said,” she paused, and licked her lips, “I wouldn’t want to see anyone else. I want you to know that. I know we’ve only known each other a few days. It’s crazy, but I mean it.”
“I don’t want you to see anyone else, either,” he confessed.
“My job…I don’t know, when I think about everything we’ve done this week, how you make me feel, I only know I don’t want it to end. I’m not talking about vacation. I mean us.”
“I don’t want us to end either.” Chase wrapped his arms around her, and brushed the tear from her cheek.
Silence hung between them as they gazed into each other’s eyes. His soft lips met hers, and Penny’s body flared with arousal as he branded her with his scorching kiss. His fingers traveled to her back, unzipping her dress, and it pooled around her feet, leaving her bare. As he swept her into his arms and laid her onto the bed, Penny surrendered to the love she swore she tasted on his lips, yearning to tell him how she felt. The sound of the crinkling protection was all the warning she had before he slowly penetrated her. She moaned into his mouth, delighting in the sensation, and wrapped her legs around his waist, accepting him.
They spoke no words as their bodies communicated the passionate feelings they were both afraid to express, and she lost herself in his love. Penny arched into his thrusts, his pelvis grazing over her clit. As he increased the pace and pressure, her pussy tightened around him, and she shuddered as her climax rolled through her. Simultaneously, Chase came with her, calling her name into the night.
Penny quietly fought the tears she knew would come. She concealed her reaction, focusing on the bright full moon that shone through the windows. Strong arms came around her waist, his lips to her temple, and she brought her hands over his.
“Thank you for tonight…for everything,” she whispered.
“I didn’t think this could happen on a vacation,” he responded as if he hadn’t heard what she’d said.
“Neither did I.”
“I wasn’t looking for someone.” Chase took her hand in his, and drew small circles in the palm of her hand with his thumb. “Going back to reality is going to be difficult, for sure.”
“Yep. As much as I love what I do, I don’t feel like going back to the courtroom.” Penny changed the topic, aware that he wasn’t talking about work.
“It must be hard working long hours. It’s not like I haven’t done it, but I’m not always in the office.”
“It’s not like it hasn’t paid off. I’m doing well. At least I thought I was.” Penny considered what she was really doing in New York. Was she willing to say good-bye forever, to give up the chance of a lifetime to be with someone she could love, build a future with?
“And now?”
“I don’t know. Coming down here, having a chance to step back from it all… I feel like I’ve been wasting time. The other day, you mentioned kids.”
“Yeah?”
“I want kids too, but I had to stop thinking about it. I kept thinking to myself, ‘how can you want children when there’s no one in your life?’ Still, I want a family someday.”
“Me too, darlin’.”
“But don’t you see? That’s never going to happen for someone like me if I don’t change. Something’s gotta give.” She sighed, unsure if she should be confessing her innermost secrets to him. “Having some time off…it’s given me a new perspective, is all.”
“I know how you feel. I think about this vacation and how it’s affected me. I’ve traveled many places, but I’ve never met someone like you.” Chase placed his lips to her hair and spoke softly. “And now that I have, it has me thinking, reconsidering what I’m doing. We may have only known each other a few days, but I’ll never forget this. Being here with you…you’ve changed everything for me.”
Penny allowed his words to resonate. They quietly held each other, absorbed in their contemplation. Indulging in her fantasy, Penny closed her eyes and imagined a life with Chase Abbott.
*
Penny blinked her eyes open, a stream of sunshine warming her face. She reached behind her and fingered the cold sheets. Her disappointment that Chase no longer warmed her body was soon replaced by pleasure as her vision focused on the plethora of flowers. Despite their impending departure from paradise, having to part ways with Chase, she’d never felt so loved by anyone. Instead of trying to rationalize away the million reasons why she shouldn’t fall for him, she decided to embrace the situation for what it was.
Sometimes, life couldn’t be explained. It was unpredictable, both brutal and generous, and instead of denying the love in her heart, she’d own it. Regardless of her emotions, things would come to a head. Either they’d find a solution, a way to be together, or they wouldn’t. If he didn’t want to see her after she confessed how she felt about him, it would make no difference to the outcome. With her fragile and vulnerable heart already in his hands, she was helpless to stop the inevitable. After everything Chase had said and done, optimism ruled her mind.
Penny donned a bathrobe and retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Chase’s whispered voice bled through the screen door, and she wondered if someone was in the villa with them. Something about his hushed tone warned her not to eavesdrop, but curiosity got the best of her as she saw him on the veranda, talking on the phone.
“Raine, I’m not doing this with you now. I told you I was going to be away for a few days. When I get back, we’ll work things out,” he said. “I’ll be home soon.
Raine. His ex-girlfriend, Raine? Penny’s stomach lurched, and she hid from his sight, her back against the wall. Her pulse raced as she listened to the conversation.
“No, I’m not lying. I just told you what we did. Evan and I dove the hole. We may go back again today. Yeah, it was cool.”
Is he still seeing her? He lied. Oh my God, how could I have been so stupid? Tears pricked her eyes as he continued.
“Yes, I’ll see you as soon as I get back. Everything’s been arranged.” Chase paced. “Sure I miss it, but duty calls.” He rested back onto a lounger, pushing his sunglasses over his eyes, and blew out a breath. “Would you stop it, already? I’m not hiding anything. What am I doing down here? What do you think I’m doing? Relaxing is all. Look Raine, I’ve gotta go. I want to get in another dive before I leave.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I promise as soon as I get home, I’ll take care of it for you. If you don’t want to wait for me, call the service. Yeah, yeah, you know I’m the best.”
His laughter resounded through the air as he paused to listen.
“Okay, then you’ll wait for me. My flight gets in Saturday night. I’ll have time. No, don’t worry, we’ll do it soon enough. All right now. Take care. Bye.”
Penny swallowed the sob that formed in her throat as she tiptoed out of his villa. As soon as she reached her hotel room, Penny called the concierge and arranged for a taxi. By the time she reached the lobby, she had booked a flight home. She slid into the backseat of the cab and shoved her sunglasses onto her face. As the tears rolled down her cheeks, she slowly erected the emotional wall she’d carefully built so long ago. The familiar barrier was like a pair of well-worn sneakers, not terribly attractive but exceedingly practical.
She told herself that broken hearts healed. She’d throw herself into the mountain of work that she knew waited for her. Love was for fools, and she had twice learned the merciless lesson. Chase was wrong. She’d always been an excellent student. It would be a cold day in hell before she ever let herself fall for someone again.
Chapter Thirteen
Chase sat in his office, bouncing the ball against the wall. He’d thought long and hard about why Penny had left him. He’d been an idiot for accepting Raine’s phone call. He’d simply been enjoying a fine Caribbean sunrise, watching the waves roll in as the dolphins frolicked in the peaceful morning surf.
When his phone buzzed, he’d considered not answering, but with the samples on the way, he’d wanted to make sure they’d arrived. Instead of discussing the specimens, Raine had called to discuss her latest breakup and her need for him to check out a malfunction in her favorite dive equipment.
At the time, Chase hadn’t given much thought to the conversation until he’d discovered Penny had gone missing. After several attempts to contact her on her phone, he’d called the concierge to see if she’d arranged for a spa appointment or excursion. When he learned she’d left for the airport, it only took seconds of shock to put the pieces together. He surmised that she’d overheard his phone call, and assumed he was still seeing Raine.
His first instinct had been to hop a plane to New York City, but he soon grew angry that she’d thought so little of him not to even give him a chance to explain. After returning home, he immediately missed her infectious laugh, the warmth of her in his arms. He considered that his experiment had not failed. He’d tested Penny all right. Indeed, she was adventurous like he’d expected. But so much more than that, she’d woven the threads of her being into his heart. On their last night on the island, he’d known on the dance floor he couldn’t let her go, and two weeks later, not a damn thing had changed.
Drastic times called for drastic measures. Chase suspected she’d be pissed when she found out what he’d done. He tapped his pen on Evan’s desk, silently rehearsing his argument. A knock alerted him to Evan’s presence. He stood in the doorway wearing a broad grin on his face.
“It’s done. She’s here.” Evan approached and handed Chase an iPad.
“Excellent.” His eyes fell to the screen, his heart pounding as he caught sight of her fidgeting with her phone. “You put her in my office?”
“Yeah, you know Garrett’s going to kick both our asses for this. Already have two text messages from him.”
Garrett Emerson, CEO of Emerson Industries, was a friend, but he wasn’t at all happy that they’d let Penny onto the executive office floor without a valid appointment. The fact that she’d been allowed to stay led him to believe that Garrett wasn’t as angry as they’d initially thought. Although Garrett was traveling, he could have put an end to it at any point with one call to security.
