by Gina Gordon
“Is that all for us? There’s enough food to feed ten people.”
He turned off one of the burners. “I like leftovers.”
After scooping the pasta out of the boiling water, he tossed it in the pan with the garlic and pancetta. Once it was coated he removed the pan from the heat and poured in a mixture of egg and parmesan cheese. Mouth-watering carbonara. He slid the pasta into a serving bowl and finished it off with some fresh ground pepper and parsley.
“Mmm…” Sterling’s moan of delight did something to his insides. Made them jump and tighten—pulsate. “Pasta is my weakness. I could eat it every day for the rest of my life.”
He laughed. “Of all the things, you pick the easiest and the cheapest.”
“I’ve never really had the opportunity to eat many fancy things.”
If that was the case, he was going to have so much fun. “Well then, let me introduce you to a new world of culinary excellence.” Another platter emerged from the fridge. “I hope you like oysters. Shucking these babies took forever. It seems I’ve lost my touch.”
“Oysters?” Her face curled up in disgust.
He stilled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Have you ever had them?”
She shook her head.
“Then don’t judge until you have.”
She straightened her shoulders and wiggled into the kitchen stool.
“Oysters are an aphrodisiac. In fact, many of the things we’re eating tonight are an aphrodisiac.” It wasn’t a coincidence.
“Why, Jack Vaughn, are you trying to hit on me?”
He smiled. She used almost the same line he had used on her that night on the boat cruise. “Not trying, babe. I am hitting on you.”
She straightened in her seat, a fearful look washing over her face. What had changed since their last time together? He wanted her now more than ever. Good thing he’d decided on an aphrodisiac theme, because he needed all the help he could get.
He placed the pasta bowl on the bar and took his seat on the stool.
A strand of hair stuck out from her clip and he brushed it behind her ear. His finger slowly continued down her neck. She tilted her head to the right, opening herself to his touch. When he reached her jawline he ran his finger across to her lips. “Are you ready to eat?”
Sterling gave a soft sigh. “Yes.”
He positioned her stool closer to face him, zigzagging their legs, his knee brushing her core. She inhaled quickly. He affected her—he had no doubt. But he wouldn’t push her into anything she didn’t want. “I promised, Sterling. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
She smiled lightly, and let her gaze fall away to the counter.
“Chin up, eyes closed.” He placed the shell of the oyster on her bottom lip. She tensed but she let her head fall back. When he tipped the shell, the oyster slid into her mouth. Her nose crinkled and her lips pursed but she gulped, swallowing it down hard.
“It’s like phlegm. It’s like phlegm going down your throat.”
He laughed. “I take it you don’t like oysters.”
She shook her head and grabbed the glass of water beside her.
“At least you tried it. That’s all I asked.” He grabbed his another shell and shook the bottle of Tabasco, covering the oyster in spicy sauce. He tilted his head and slurped it down. When he looked over, she was disgusted just watching him eat one.
“I guess we’re skipping over the first course and getting right down to course number two. Ready to try something else?”
“Definitely ready.”
He popped up to remove the offending oysters and put them back in the fridge.
For the second course, he scooped the piping hot pasta into the small bowl. “Second course, my lady.”
“Thank you.”
He poured a glass of wine, an Australian chardonnay, to go with the pasta.
She devoured everything in her bowl. He loved that she ate. In his experience, most women were salad eaters, or they didn’t eat at all.
When the pasta bowls were cleared, he placed a small piece of steak and chicken on her plate. The asparagus was next, then one of the braised pears. “Eat up.”
She smiled and moved her stool closer to the bar. He poured a second glass of wine to go with the steak and chicken—a cabernet sauvignon from California.
The sounds she made when enjoying food were the same sounds she made during sex. His pants grew tighter with every soft sigh; he was already on edge. He could only hope that his overt attempt at seduction worked, because the musical moans that came with her every bite didn’t help to tamp down his desire.
By the end of the main course Jack’s libido was on overdrive. He shook himself out of his lustful haze and walked over to the freezer to grab a container of sorbet. “This will cleanse your palate for dessert.”
“There’s dessert?”
“Of course there is. It’s my favorite part.” He wiggled his eyebrows. He desperately wanted to serve himself up on a platter for dessert. But he went the traditional route. “I must admit,” he said, “I cheated a little. One of the desserts I stole from Cole.”
She giggled. “It’s the thought that counts.”
He gestured to the sorbet in front of her. “Go on and take a spoonful.” While Sterling tried the sorbet, he cleared the platter and dirty dishes, leaving them in the sink to clean up later.
“Oh, is that chocolate mousse?” she asked while he removed a glass bowl from the fridge. “Yum.”
“It is.” Chocolate was, after all, an aphrodisiac. “And we also have—” he reached back into the fridge and pulled out the dessert he’d stolen from Cole “—this.”
“Hmmm…what is that?”
“Dulce de leche. If it sucks you can blame Cole.”
She laughed. “I doubt it will suck. Your brothers are just as good as you…if not better?” Sterling gave him a playful grin.
“You mean almost as good as me.” He leaned across the counter. “I have moves my brothers couldn’t even imagine. In and out of the kitchen.”
She stuffed another spoonful of sorbet into her beautiful mouth, smiling around the utensil, but not before he saw her shiver.
Her very smile made his insides quiver. When Sterling was happy, he was happy. Add to that her moans and groans, the swipe of her tongue against her lips tasting his food—it was all too much to take. It was like watching her experience food for the first time. And he didn’t want to stop there. He had the opportunity to be her first in many areas, not just in the culinary arena.
He placed a bowl of mousse on the counter and settled into his seat beside her.
She scooped a huge dollop out of the bowl and let out a mewl of pleasure when the spoon touched her lips. He could only imagine how her tongue swirled and swayed inside her mouth around that utensil. Just as it would if it was him between her plump lips. Luckily, she was a messy eater. “You have some chocolate on your lip.”
“Oh…”
Before she wiped away the small dot, Jack grabbed her hand. “Allow me.”
He rubbed his thumb along the side of her lip and removed the chocolate. Her body quivered under his touch. Instead of retreating, he took it one step further and leaned in, licking along her bottom lip. He heard the clatter of the spoon on the counter, then her hand grabbed at his thigh.
Green light.
He pressed his lips against hers, gently, enjoying the sound of her tiny whimpers. Her fingers flexed on his thigh and her free hand threaded through the hair at the nape of his neck.
“Wait,” she whispered. “We didn’t finish dessert.”
“I’m having my dessert right now.” He gripped her biceps and stood over her, pushing her against the edge of the bar. “Besides, I like to play with my food.”
They locked eyes for a moment. Sterling gave him a slight nod, granting him permission, letting him know she wanted this, too. Victory.
Jack grabbed the hem of her tank top and yanked it over her head. She li
fted her arms and it came off in one fluid motion, dropping behind her. She wore the same white lace bra she’d worn earlier that week. But it didn’t last long on her body. He unclasped it and let it slide down her arms.
When she leaned back, gripping the edge of the bar for balance, he cupped her round breasts. Bending forward, he took one rigid peak into his mouth and suckled before moving back up to her mouth. He nipped her bottom lip, then proceeded down the opposite side of her body to the next pebble, lavishing it with attention. Just when he intended to move to her other breast her finger blocked the way, a thick dollop of chocolate mousse on the tip.
He intended to lick the chocolate off her finger, but Sterling quickly pulled away. When he looked up, he was greeted with a shy grin offset by a wicked gleam in her eyes.
After his second attempt to capture her finger she brought it to her mouth. Her tongue darted out and licked the tip, then her plump lips captured her finger. She whimpered—or maybe it was his own whimper…he couldn’t tell over the rush of heat that raced through his body. He knew all too well what she could do with those lips. But he could play games, too.
Reaching for the bowl of mousse, he scooped a dollop with his finger, then circled it around her rosy nipples.
“I like where you’re going with this,” she murmured, and licked the remaining chocolate from her finger.
He sucked one nipple coated in chocolate, swirling his tongue around the peak. With his hands splayed across her back, he drew her tighter against his mouth.
“Jack?” Sterling moaned, a low groan that came from somewhere deep. Her hands fisted in his hair and he knew she was holding back, keeping herself from pushing his head down to the place she needed it the most.
He looked up as he switched to the other nipple and caught her eyes rolling back just as they shut tight. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips parted. It had been so long since he’d seen a woman let go from pleasure. But this woman still had a ways to go.
“Do you like what I can do with my tongue, Sterling?” He lowered, bringing himself eye level with the heaven he knew waited for him. Not stopping for her answer, he put his hands to work and undid the top button on her pants. Her stomach jumped with every slow release of the teeth of her zipper.
He slid her pants down, taking with them her sensible cotton thong, revealing creamy, soft thighs he couldn’t wait to feel gripping the sides of his face. When her pants hit the floor, he straightened, letting his body glide against hers while he pulled his own shirt over his head. He loved the feel, the heat, of her nakedness against him.
He pushed aside the dessert plates—one fell over the edge into the sink with a clatter. She jumped when he grabbed her bottom and lifted, placing her on the cool granite. Making a circle with his finger, he motioned for her to spread across the length of the breakfast bar.
Her body and face gave away her nervousness; she shook with every slight movement and refused to make eye contact.
Jack moved to the end of the counter and grabbed her feet. Her toenails were a perfect pink, her skin as soft as satin. He snaked his hands up her calves to her knees, where he spread her legs open, revealing her tender flesh.
She leaned back, resting her hands palm-down behind her on the counter. Her breasts jutted out, tiny smears of chocolate still covering her skin.
He moved up, his thumbs sliding across the inside of her thighs, but he bypassed her center. Taking her hips, he dragged her forward until her bottom rested just at the edge of the counter. His tongue licked at her breasts, then he captured her lips.
Something took over when Sterling was around. Something animalistic. Primal.
“Jack?” Her voice shook, just like her body. “I can’t lose this job.”
He tensed. Putting her in this position wasn’t being the better man.
Letting out as much sexual frustration as he could, he exhaled deeply. He may want her in the most physical way possible, but not if she wasn’t one hundred percent on board.
“You’re beautiful.” Jack nipped at her lips, slow, lazy kisses. “And I want you. So very badly.” He cupped her face. “But you have to know that this is completely separate from the job I’ve hired you to do.”
A soft smile appeared on her face. “Are you giving me permission to sleep with the boss?”
“You have my full permission.” He slipped his hand between her legs. He wasn’t surprised when he found her hot and slick. “Mmm…just the way I like you. Ready.”
“Jack?” She bit her bottom lip. Desire burned in her eyes but her face expressed her hesitancy.
He leaned in, whispering in her ear, “You’re always ready for me, Sterling.” Placing openmouthed kisses along her jaw, he moved toward her neck, locating the spot just below her ear, and bit down.
Her head fell back, exposing the long line of her neck.
“Our arrangement is about having fun. Doing things that excite you.”
His fingers moved inside her folds, rubbing her tender flesh. When his other hand rubbed at her clit, she shuddered.
“Does this excite you, Sterling?”
“Yes.” A long, low moan escaped from her throat. “God, yes.”
She stumbled back, her hands skidding against the granite, but she let herself fall away, opening her legs wider and raising her hands above her head, luxuriating in his touch.
“Beautiful,” he whispered against the soft skin of her stomach.
Jack reached into his back pocket and pulled out the condom he had planted for this exact purpose. She whimpered when he pulled his hands away to put it on. But never ceasing to amaze him, Sterling picked up where he left off, and brought her hand between her legs.
“Hurry, Jack. I need you.”
He unzipped his pants and fumbled with the wrapper, but regrouped quickly. When he was sheathed, he positioned himself at her center.
She stroked his cock a few times before placing the tip at her opening to guide him inside, slowly, ever so gently, until he was buried to the hilt.
Never in his life had he thought he’d find something that brought him as much pleasure as cooking, but here it was. Here she was.
He moved inside her, picking up speed with every stroke. His hands latched on to her hips as he thrust. Sterling’s hands found her nipples, tugging at the stiff peaks.
“Faster,” she pleaded. “Harder.”
Jack was always one to give a lady what she wanted.
He moved his hips faster, the sound of flesh slapping flesh echoing in the kitchen. Sweaty skin squeaked against granite, and his knees banged into the counter. But he didn’t stop.
He couldn’t stop.
Sterling let her hand glide down her body and she reached for him. He grabbed her arms and pulled her up, fusing their bodies together as he pumped into her over and over. When their lips collided, he found his heaven.
Maybe expanding Chicago wasn’t where he belonged. Maybe he belonged with Sterling. It felt right. And she was worth sticking around for.
“There is so much I want to show you, Sterling.”
Her fingers curled around his nape and when he pumped harder, her nails dug into his skin. “I don’t need anything from you, Jack.” She moaned. “Just you. Like this.”
Something tightened inside him at her words. He didn’t have to pretend with Sterling. He never had to be “on.” He was just Jack. He was good—just as he was—because she wanted nothing. But for the very first time, he wanted to give a woman everything.
The countdown to his release had begun. “So close.”
“It’s all right.” Her hands moved from his neck to his cheeks. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Before she had even finished her sentence, the waves of release had rippled inside him. He tensed, his cock pulsing in a mind-blowing orgasm that triggered hers, her muscles tightening and clenching around him while she shuddered in his arms.
When their sweat-soaked bodies had recovered, Jack took Sterling’s face into his hands and gazed into her
satisfied eyes.
Having Sterling one more time didn’t mean their deal was back on, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to survive the next three weeks without her in his bed.
He was just going to have to do everything in his power to convince her that this was a damn good idea.
Chapter Nine
The week had gone by in a blur and Sterling’s new favorite day had finally arrived. Saturday. Madewood Day.
Although things had escalated last week to a level she hadn’t intended, it was the best sex of her life. Jack Vaughn was impossible to resist and he didn’t have to do much coaxing to get into her panties again.
After they did it on the counter, they continued to feast. There wasn’t much food left by the time midnight rolled around. That’s when they took the party to Jack’s bed, where he pleasured her two more times before the sun came up.
Waking up next to him in the morning had been her favorite part, and before he left for work he had brought her breakfast in bed. But then he was gone, leaving Sterling alone to contemplate the gravity of her actions.
What would happen now that she’d slept with her employer? Again. She was making things much more complicated than they should be. This job was about money. Money she needed to secure her future. And she hated to admit it, but her heart might also be at stake. If she wasn’t careful, Jack was going to conquer that, too, just as he had her libido. This situation was so screwed up.
So then why did “screwed up” feel like the most awesome thing in the world?
Sterling was working in the closet when a booming voice from the main floor made her jump.
“Jack!”
She tensed at the sound of the strange man’s voice as it grew louder, closer.
“Jack?”
She poked her head out of the closet, a nervous tremble in her stomach, but she sighed in relief when she recognized the man. “He’s not here.”
“Shit.” Cole grabbed at his chest. When he saw her there, he smiled. But he still looked concerned, shaken. “Sterling. You scared me.”
