He groaned and slid his fingers behind her neck to drag her lips closer to his. The force of his mouth increased as her hand slid along his shaft, gripping him, moving in an array of friction mixed with a teasing caress.
Her entire body pulsed with need. She arched until his thick arousal lay against the soft swell of her belly. With one hand she stroked his delicious length, with her other she delighted in the small jerks of muscle that trembled across his back. Power zipped through her and she smiled into their kiss, then pulled back to meet his feverish gaze. Her fingers drank in the feel of him and her lips drifted to his jaw and under his chin until he groaned and sought her mouth with his. One thrust and his tongue mingled with hers, branding her, owning her.
His hand slid from her backside to lazily draw circles across her upper thigh, working around toward the inside and the tender skin hidden there. Soft swirls of water lapping around their bodies only added to the pleasure.
She stiffened when his thick finger slid between her folds and gained entrance. Another joined it, then finally a third, filling her, pushing up inside of her until she wanted to scream with pleasure.
He thrust his fingers soft and slow at first, then hard and fast, then back to slow. His thumb worked the nub of her sex, carrying her just to the brink before stopping to let her come back down. She gyrated against him, feeling his hardness tapping against her belly as the water rushed around them in a soothing caress.
Her head flung back and the sunny blue of the sky with soft clouds filled her vision. She closed her eyes to let the undeniable pleasure steal her body. Nothing mattered but Chet. She wanted him inside her, filling her. She wanted him to feel like she did—ready to burst apart into a million pieces and fly into space.
Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he grabbed her upper thighs and wrapped them around his hips. She spread her arms out beside her, holding the curved edge of the pool as he glided her over his arousal.
“Open your eyes, Jill. I want you to see my face like I’m seeing yours.” His sweet breath lingered over her lips.
Tingles burst across her skin at the sound of his voice. She opened her eyes to meet his dark chocolate stare.
“Passion.” Her voice sounded far away.
He swished her hips from side to side. Water slapped against the barrier of the pool in a sensual, deafening cadence. With each pass, the tip of his sex glided across her entrance and she licked her lips, releasing a throaty moan. But he toyed with her until her whole body ached and pulsed for him to stake his claim.
“Don’t tease me.”
His grin melted her insides another degree, if that was even possible. The already hard buds of her nipples peaked further. He bent to suckle one with his warm mouth, tugging at it gently with his teeth.
“Oh…”
Then he was inside her, his length filling her. She rocked her hips in rhythm with his, their eyes locked together, dueling for power as she pushed against his thrust.
Her palms dug into the grainy cement of the side of the pool, the discomfort adding a ruthless force to her legs as she folded them tighter around his hips. His mouth parted and he flung his head back, but he never looked away.
He worked his hips faster, sliding deep inside her, then pulling back so far he was on the verge of breaking their connection, only to fill her again with a confident thrust.
Jill pulled her hands from the cement and wrapped them around the back of his neck. He looked up as she shifted position, then crushed her mouth to his. They drew back, lips still touching, eyes still holding, and it was the biggest turn on she’d ever experienced. The muscles in his jaw tensed with each thrust and his eyelids stood at half-mast over darkened irises.
“Passion.” He spoke against her mouth.
Their bodies flew toward their shared release, both stiffening at the same time. Curls of fire burned through her, starting at her toes and tingling up her legs to engulf her whole body. Her center quivered. The vein at the side of his neck bulged, rapid pulse beats thrummed against his skin as tremors shook him. Shook her.
She fell against him, her lips sliding back and forth over his lower lip before she flicked her tongue at the edge where his mouth curled so easily when he smiled. He tasted so good, so cool, refreshing.
When she pulled back, she saw the lingering remnants of her own lust in his face. Everything became clear, not glossed over with desire. Oh my God, what type of person did she look like? Like a wanton, sex-starved…
“I need to go. Make a phone call.” Any excuse worked at the moment. She’d just had sex with her boss. Jill broke out of his arms, then swam-skipped to the pool steps. His fingertips brushed her upper arm, but she moved out of his reach.
“Jill. Jill, wait.”
“Thank you.” She stumbled up the steps. Not bothering with her towel, she took off—full-tilt—for the stone path leading to the doors of her suite.
…
“Thank you?” Chet repeated her parting words. Now that was a first. He’d never been thanked for sex before.
He leaned against the side of the pool, arms along the edge, chin resting on his knuckles. Jill’s firm bottom wove across the yard. He couldn’t drag his attention away if he wanted to. When she turned back in his direction, he saw the change in color of her skin, blushing from head to toe. She covered her breasts with her one arm, then turned away, spreading the fingers from her other hand to cover her delectable derriere. Funny girl. And sinfully sexual. She whetted his appetite like no other. He wanted her again.
When she disappeared from view, reality hit him. Not good. He preferred living in his fantasyland where real life didn’t interfere. What had they done? Scratch that. What had he done? He’d taken advantage of her. She wasn’t a virgin, for sure, but she also wasn’t the experienced woman-of-the-world he was used to.
Mistake. Women like Jill didn’t sleep around—she was a relationship type of girl. And although his family tried to convince him otherwise, he wasn’t a relationship guy.
Damn Jared for talking him into another blind date. Hell, damn his entire family for thinking he needed to get married because that’s where happiness lived. He was happy…wasn’t he?
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
If he was going to damn anyone, he better look in the mirror first. He’d been the one so focused on bedding Jill he’d asked her to act as his personal chef under the guise of catering his business meetings.
He could easily admit he’d planned Jill’s seduction from the moment he’d realized she was the woman from the restaurant. But once he’d discovered the raw deal she’d had at the hands of her previous male employers, he’d kept his desires under control. Or thought he had.
Healthy, fun, spine-tingling sex he had no problem with. He could only hope Jill wouldn’t expect more.
Or how about more, but nothing long term. Nothing wrong with a summer fling.
No.
He should’ve never let his sexual appetite get the better of him. And he definitely shouldn’t have allowed his brother and Mel to talk him into a date. Though he enjoyed having Jill here, loved her cooking, and even found her humor and conversation oddly comforting, he didn’t want anything more. And he didn’t want to hurt her.
Chet positioned his hands on the edge of the pool and pulled himself out of the water. He strolled to the lounge and wrapped a towel around his waist before sliding a hand through his damp hair. Drops of water sprayed around him when he shook his head vigorously to clear away the remaining wetness and the picture of Jill’s behind from his mind.
He made his way to the stone path that led to her room, then stopped. A conversation with her now wouldn’t be his smartest move. He’d give her some time alone, then make sure she understood that sex was sex. Nothing more.
Niggles of doubt wound through his chest, strangling his breath. Hell, he better start reminding himself of that self-imposed mantra. He didn’t need the complications. If only he could believe his own lies. He turned to head towar
d his room.
No more sex with Jill. No matter how deep the images of her face locked in the throes of passion burned into his mind.
…
“Did we just step back in time? Like to high school?” Mel’s familiar voice steadied Jill’s nerves, even though she could be so exasperating.
“Come on, Mel. You aren’t being much help. Talk me down.”
“Down from where? You’re fine. You do remember how old you are, don’t you?”
Jill gripped her cell until her fingers grew stiff. “Did you hear anything I said?”
“Um, yeah. And so?”
The gritty sound of a nail file irked Jill’s goodwill. “Are you freaking filing your nails while my life hangs in the balance here?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Talk about me being dramatic.” Mel giggled.
Jill pictured Mel’s ring-laden fingers covering her mouth. “After all these years, you’ve rubbed off on me.”
“Well, not everything. Otherwise you wouldn’t be having a cow over sleeping with someone.” Hasty filing resumed.
Jill’s patience thinned. “There was no sleeping involved.”
“Excuse me. Doing the nasty, bumping uglies, the horizontal mamba, the old in and out—”
“Shut up!” Jill pulled the cell from her ear.
“Jeez. You’re acting like you committed murder or something. Yes, you had sex. Oh my God! Calm down.” Mel said. “How was it?”
“Did you start taking testosterone injections?”
“What?”
Jill closed her eyes and sighed, envisioning the confusion on her friend’s face. She’d seen it so many times. Brows drawn tight, one side of her mouth quirked up and her nose wrinkled.
“Well, you’re starting to sound like a guy.”
Mel’s giggle assured Jill she still had her friend. Though, for some reason, Mel had lost her ability to be comforting.
“Jill, its sex. Just sex. Sex, sex, sex. I hate to clue you in, but everyone’s doing it. You didn’t just invent it, you know?”
“Thanks a lot.”
“You’re welcome. A lot. Now listen, just because you sexed it up doesn’t mean you have to repeat it. Unless, of course, you want to. Be cool. Casual. If he thinks you’ve gone all hysterical on him, he’ll flee. And now that my matchmaking scheme has gotten to the good part, I don’t want you messing it up.”
“You’re insane.”
“I told you he was the perfect guy for you, and you’re the perfect girl for him. You’re both just slow to realize what Jared and I could see through a brick wall.”
“Blah, blah, blah.”
“Right back at you. You can thank me when you’re walking down the aisle all dressed in white.”
“I’m going to hang up. You’re blinded by rose-colored glasses.”
“And so are you, you just don’t know it.”
Mel’s giggle jerked Jill to her senses.
“You’re half right. I was crazy to call the person who got me into this predicament, but I’m also smart enough to realize I can handle this on my own.” Jill’s nerves eased, even her palms dried. Okay, she had this covered. She vacated her first plan of steering clear of Chet. They both needed to meet head on and discuss what happened between them like adults. Then she needed to put on her professional veneer and slap herself silly if she even dared to think about touching him again.
Or heaven forbid kissing him. Or letting his hands…
Ugh. He’s your boss! But the thought of his amazing lips against hers as his fingers wreaked havoc over her flesh enflamed her desire to an all-time high.
“Are you okay now?” Mel’s nail file stopped.
“I’m good. As long as I remember why I’m here.”
“To find yourself some love.”
“No, to gain the contacts I’ll need to get my business going with the help of my new friend—I mean boss.”
Mel’s laughter pierced Jill’s ear.
“Friend? Boss? Your glasses must be the deepest shade of red available. Definitely not boss, and friendship is over, you’ve moved to new territory.”
“You’re wrong. We can be friends.”
“With benefits.” Mel squashed back a chuckle, then sighed. “Listen, I’d love to hang on the line and torment you into reality, but Jared’s due to arrive in less than ten and I still need to paint my toenails.”
“No worries, I’m good. I need to work out a conversation in my head, then say it aloud to Chet to make sure we’re still on the same page.”
“Whatever, Jill. I hate to tell you, once you turn that page there’s no going back.”
“Not if you’re determined.”
“You honestly think once you’ve wrestled the snake you can be just friends?”
“Yes.” Even as she spoke, Jill doubted the strength of her word. She’d been fooling herself and fighting an attraction that possessed sinewy muscles of power. No way would she ever be able to think of Chet in any other light but sexual. But damn it, she’d try.
“Why fight it? What’s the aversion?” Mel’s voice grew serious, a rarity.
“Several reasons.”
“Just name me one.”
“For starters, I’m working for him.”
“I’d say it’s more of a you scratch his back, he’ll scratch yours type of deal.”
“Plus, he’s not looking for ties that bind. I don’t want to chase someone who isn’t interested in being caught.”
“You have him all wrong. He just doesn’t know he wants to be caught.”
“Well, maybe I don’t want to catch him. Have you considered he might not be my type?” She almost laughed at her own lie, but bit her lip instead. Attractive, smart, funny, undeniably sexy men who turned her entire being into slush weren’t her type?
Not when they’re your boss.
“Tell yourself another one.”
The smile in Mel’s voice shot a web of unease up Jill’s spine.
Chapter Ten
An hour later, after a shower that didn’t ease any of her tense muscles, Jill left her room. She’d talked herself in and out of searching for Chet, but she couldn’t turn chicken now.
With a little more than six weeks to go, they needed to talk this out so things between them wouldn’t be awkward. There were so many reasons that neither of them should act on their attraction. Chet made it clear he didn’t want a relationship with any woman, and although she’d never broached the subject, marriage and children were definitely something she wanted in her future. And she refused to date someone she worked with—or worse yet—someone she worked for.
Damn Jared and Mel and their matchmaker ways. Just because their working relationship blossomed and bloomed didn’t mean everyone who worked together would be so lucky.
Jill didn’t have sex for the sake of having sex—except when it came to jumping Chet Castle’s bones in the pool. What was happening to her? Was she morphing into a different person? Maybe the old Jill and the new Jill were in combat. She refused to entertain the possibility sex with her boss would happen again. She needed to get the kinks in her suddenly insatiable libido worked out, at least where he was concerned.
He was her boss—her friend—and that line shouldn’t be crossed. Ever.
Her skin prickled with nervous energy as she bounded up the steps toward Chet’s suite on the second floor. She rounded the turn to discover Chet standing at the top landing, his hand resting on the ornate banister. Funny, she had sensed him before she’d seen him.
He’d changed into beige cargo shorts but remained shirtless.
So much for working out the kinks.
In an instant, her heart fluttered as memories of their water aerobics flooded her mind. The way his muscles bunched beneath her palms, how his nipples hardened as her fingertips brushed across them, his lips crushing hers, tasting of passion and promises. But her sweetest remembrance sent a quiver over her flesh. She’d never forget the way his…
Stop it! Pull yourself
together.
“Chet. Can we talk?” She cleared her throat. Her mouth dried up along with the rehearsed conversation she’d played out in her mind. He came down the steps until he stood two stairs above her.
“Perfect plan. I was just on my way to ask you the same thing.”
His smile shot fire to her core, but she managed to relax her death grip on the railing. Chet settled on the step and pulled her down to sit beside him. Coarse hairs from his bare legs brushed against hers, and she regretted wearing the light cotton sundress instead of jeans. She stretched the hem down to put a barrier between their skin. Within seconds the material snapped back into place.
“We’re adults,” she said.
He chuckled. “Agreed.”
She dared a sideways peek at him and licked her lips. She started again. “What happened in the pool shouldn’t have. I find you sexy—”
“Right back at you.”
Her knees wobbled and she held them in place with the heels of her palms, trying to make the sway look natural. “But what happened isn’t how I normally act.”
“I know.”
His hand covered hers and stopped the momentum of her knees. The warmth of his touch sent her pulse soaring but also calmed her.
“What I mean is we can’t let that happen again. I’m not someone that, well…”
“I know, Jill. You don’t sleep around.”
Was I that inexperienced?
His smile softened and a rush of heat infused her face. His fingers pressed into the sides of her knee as he squeezed, and she bit her bottom lip. She might not be one to sleep around, but whenever he looked at her or touched her, thoughts immediately turned to sex. With him.
As if he could read her thoughts—and wanted nothing to do with encouraging her—he pulled his hand away.
“From our conversations I know you’re not that kind of girl.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders sagged. She should’ve been relieved, but disappointment settled in the pit of her stomach. Was that his way of telling her if she threw herself at him again, he’d push her away? If she couldn’t save herself, he would? “After the way I keep throwing myself at you, I don’t know if I’d believe me.” That realization rocked her. She didn’t know why, but the force of her attraction scared her.
Bachelor's Special Page 8
