Tempting Chase_Burlap and Barbed Wire

by Shirley Penick

  He grabbed a bottle of her favorite wine from the liquor store while he waited for the pizza. And since it was right there, a little flowering plant from the florist on the corner. He grinned knowing she would love both of them.

  When he got back to the store her evening clerk had arrived, so she told him goodnight and they went up to her apartment.

  “I bought you a plant.”

  “I see that. Why did you?”

  He grinned at the clever idea he’d thought up to explain buying it. “I thought it could be our pact’s witness.”

  She snickered. “Our pact’s witness?”

  “Yeah like we make our pact and every time we see the plant it reminds us of it.”

  “Oh, I get it.” She got plates out and set them on the table. “So, what does our pact look like?”

  “Well, the way I see it, is we promise to stay friends no matter what.” He opened the wine which was a chilled white wine, so no breathing required. “If one of us wants out of the relationship the other promises to understand. That we keep the other person’s best interest in mind at all times, but that doesn’t mean you are trapped forever with me if you want out.”

  She opened the salad and divided it between the two of them and opened the marinara cup and set it between them with the breadsticks. “I guess that sounds reasonable. Not very romantic, but reasonable.”

  “You want romantic? I can do romantic.” He handed her the glass of wine he’d poured and then brought her other hand up to kiss her knuckles.

  She laughed. “Riiiight.”

  “I can try, but the point of the pact is a call for unity between us, before we move our relationship from friend to lover.” He dunked a breadstick into the marinara and took a big bite whiles she speared her salad.

  “I suppose that’s true, having us unified in thoughts and expectations will go a long way toward maintaining our friendship regardless of where this road takes us.”

  He waved his fork at her before he stabbed at his salad. “My thoughts exactly.”

  They continued to talk through their ideas on the relationship change as they ate salad and breadsticks. When they finished those and moved on to pizza they realized they were also finished with that topic and started chatting about the upcoming rodeo and town celebration.

  He’d chosen not to enter the rodeo competition this year, whining about getting older and not wanting to go up against a cranky bull. Last year he’d been up against an enraged giant and he’d gotten a little torn up.

  “It’s a young man’s sport.”

  She laughed. “And you’re all of twenty-seven. One foot in the grave for you, old man.”

  He flicked her on the arm. “I saw you all pale-faced and worried about me. In fact, didn’t you tell me I was getting too old and needed to stay off those mean critters?”

  She looked away. “Maybe, but I can still reserve the right to tease you.”

  “Fine by me.”

  Chapter 20

  Katie was a little nervous about the next portion of the evening. They’d been very sensible and talked through their expectations. But now that they were winding down on dinner her thoughts had turned to sex. Moving from the kitchen to the bedroom was a strange transition. She didn’t know what to do next.

  She jumped up from the table and started clearing it, putting the left-over wine and food away. Chase loaded the dishwasher and then stopped her as she went back to the table.

  He pulled her into his arms and held her.

  She was practically quivering.

  He rocked her in his arms. “Shhh it’s all right, it’s just you and me. We don’t have to do anything in particular tonight unless we want to.”

  She relaxed in his warm embrace. “I want to, Chase. I just don’t know how to make the transition. Singing for you in my flirty dress to a sexy song was easy. Sitting eating pizza is not exactly enticing.”

  He tipped her chin up and kissed her slowly, reverently. Then little by little he ramped up the heat, one tiny bit at a time. He had her panting by the time he pulled back and started feathering kisses over her face. Her eyes, her nose and her cheeks. He nibbled and nipped at her earlobe and she shivered, so he did it again before kissing her neck down to her shoulder. He licked a path of fire at the base of her neck, over to the other shoulder, and repeated his actions in reverse, until he ended back up at her mouth.

  She grabbed him by the hair and attacked that warm mouth with a passion of her own. When they came up for air she realized he’d nudged her all the way into her room. She hadn’t even noticed.

  “That was sneaky of you.”

  “Not sneaky, just taking the anxiety out.” He fastened his mouth back on hers and ran his hands over her body. She purred in the back of her throat, it was delicious in every way.

  Katie reached for his shirt and yanked it open, a woman had to love cowboy fashion. Snaps were so much quicker than buttons. She put her hands on all that warm flesh. His muscles bunched as she caressed each one. When she ran her fingers over his nipples and pinched them she felt his cock leap in response. Untucking the shirt from his jeans helped her to reach his back where she gave each muscle the same attention as the front.

  He shrugged out of his shirt. “You have entirely too many clothes on, pretty girl.”

  She looked down. “You might have a point.” She yanked her work polo shirt over her head and tossed it on the floor, giving him a view of her lacy bra. “Better?”

  He hummed and cupped both breasts, running his thumbs over her nipples. “Much.”

  Lightening shot from her nipples throughout her whole body, pooling in her stomach. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra, pulling the straps down her arms until she was free. Chase took a good long look.

  “So beautiful.” He caressed her breasts and then bent down to pull one turgid peak into his mouth, as fireworks shot through her body. She gripped his hair to keep him right where he was.

  He chuckled, and the vibration caused more sensations to rise. He switched to the other side and gave it the same attention, while she held on for dear life.

  “Chase.”

  He hummed sending more vibrations through her. “Right here, darling.”

  She yanked on his hair pulling his head up to fasten her lips on his clever mouth and pressing her chest up against his. The feeling was exquisite. He hugged her close, so she assumed it was good for him as well.

  She ran her hands down his back to grip his ass and pull him in closer.

  He groaned as she rubbed against him. “Still too many clothes.”

  “I couldn’t agree more, let’s lose them. Race you.”

  He laughed as he pulled back to fumble at his fly.

  She yanked her zipper down and pushed both the jeans and her panties to the floor in one quick move, kicked them to the side then pulled her socks off, having left her shoes at the door when they came in.

  Chase grumped. “Not fair. I have a button fly which is already strained and cowboy boots on.”

  He looked up. “Although I’m not complaining given the delightful vision before me.”

  He reached for her and she pushed his hands away. “Not until you’re naked too. It’s not fun for just one of us to be unclothed.”

  He gave her a sly look. “Oh, I could make it fun for you.”

  All sorts of naughty ideas flashed in her brain and caused more heat to pool in her belly. She blushed. “I suppose you could.” She waved her hand at him to keep him moving.

  He grinned and finally got the rest of his fly unbuttoned. He yanked off his cowboy boots and socks then pushed his jeans and shorts down, stepping out of them. When he stood back up his erection stood out from his body and he had a handful of condoms.

  She grinned and took one of the condoms and ripped it open. As she rolled it on his cock she spoke to it. “Well hello, are you ready for some fun?”

  Chase barked out a laugh at her, while at the same time got harder and more aroused. He didn’t think that it
was possible to laugh with so much fire shooting through his veins, but she managed to cause both of them to happen at the same time.

  He wondered how much that had to do with their friendship and being so relaxed with each other, and how much of it was just Katie’s fun-loving personality. She squeezed him, and he couldn’t think any longer at all. He had no choice but to follow her as she drew him back with her toward the bed. He now had firsthand knowledge and the experience of being led around by his dick, and he found he didn’t mind it one little bit.

  She let go of him to shove the extra pillows on the floor and tug the comforter and blankets down to the foot of the bed. He got an excellent view of her very fine ass as she did that. The woman was built like a goddess, she was a pocket Venus with her small stature and lovely curves.

  She climbed on the bed and patted the mattress in invitation. He didn’t have to be asked twice. But he didn’t move next to her, instead he started at the end of the bed at her toes and kissed and nibbled his way up her body. She squirmed and tried to cajole him into hurrying. But this was his first time with her and he was determined to wring every bit of pleasure out of the experience.

  When he got to her pleasure center he didn’t stop and linger, but continued his way up her body until he reached her lips, where he gave her a long lingering kiss.

  She panted. “Stop teasing. I want you inside now.”

  He shook his head. “But I have so many more areas to explore.” He started to move back down her body.

  She grabbed his hair and yanked. “Oh no you don’t. I want you inside now. You can explore later.”

  She held him firmly and looked so fierce he relented. He didn’t plan to leave tonight, so she was right, there was plenty of time for more exploration.

  He sighed dramatically. “If you insist.” Crawling over on top of her he nestled between her legs. She took him in hand and guided him into her body. She was hot, and wet, and tight. He pushed into her and her body took him in and made room for him. When he was fully seated within her, she tilted her hips, wrapped her legs around his waist and he slid in deeper. He groaned in pleasure, then started loving her with long smooth strokes.

  She met him stroke for stroke as they climbed the hill of passion and pleasure together. Slowly it built until they could contain the sensations no longer, and they crested the hill and flew. His body spent, he pressed her into the mattress. When he regained his strength, he tried to roll off of her, but she held him tight with arms and legs.

  “Not yet,” she said breathlessly.

  “But you need to breathe.”

  “I will in a minute, but I like you where you are.”

  He pushed up onto his elbows, so he could stay there and let her breathe at the same time. “How’s that?”

  She smiled up at him, a sexy siren of a smile. “Perfect.”

  He felt his cock twitch in appreciation. She squeezed him with her inner muscles and his cock twitched again. “Now you stop that, bad girl. I need a few seconds before I’ll be ready for round two.”

  She squeezed him again. “I’m not sure all of you agrees with that assessment.”

  He put his forehead to hers. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

  “Nope just getting my money’s worth.”

  He laughed. “What money is that?”

  She slapped him on the ass. “It’s an expression, Chase. You don’t have to take everything so literal.”

  “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “What wasn’t supposed to happen?”

  “Having fun and joking around while laying here, still inside you.”

  She leaned up and kissed his nose. “Of course, it is. We are still the same people we’ve always been, so there will have to be laughing and silliness, naked or not.”

  “I suppose you are right and I was wrong.”

  “I’m glad you’ve discovered that early in this relationship. It speaks well of the future,” she said primly.

  He laughed and rolled them over, so she was on top, where he could tickle her.

  She squirmed. “Stop, Chase, no tickling during sex.”

  He felt his body start to respond to her squirming. “Hey, you’re the one who said we had to have fun and laughing. Besides now all your wiggling has encouraged my body to get ready for round two.”

  “Oh goody, let’s switch out the condoms so we can get after it.”

  He chuckled and sat up. “Have you always been so insatiable about sex?”

  She shook her head sadly. “Nope, it’s all your fault.”

  He grinned as he tossed the used condom in the trash and retrieved a new one. “Can’t get enough of me?”

  “Don’t get cocky. Last time you did that I won twelve dollars off of you.”

  He rolled the new condom on and groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

  She patted his chest. “It was good for you.”

  Growling he lunged at her. “I’ll show you good for me.” He snagged both of her wrists pulling them above her head and encircled them both with one hand, while the other explored her curves and hidden treasures. He kissed her neck, and ears, and throat, while she quivered at his touch. The scent of her arousal filling the room.

  When she started to beg him to stop, he covered her mouth with his, and let his hand bring her to climax, twice.

  Chapter 21

  In the morning Katie woke slowly with Chase spooning her from behind. One hand was wrapped around her breast. The man had worn her out last night. She’d never believed in multiple orgasms, until he’d firmly proven her wrong. He’d used nearly every portion of his anatomy to bring her to climax after climax. She was so relaxed she wasn’t sure she had enough strength left in her body to even be able to climb out of bed. She had some aches and tenderness from all the sexual gymnastics, but it was the best kind of soreness and she hoped to repeat it often.

  But it was time for her to get ready for work. She didn’t want to leave the warm bed and the warm man, but duty called. She tried to ease away from him, but he tightened his hold and kissed her shoulder.

  His voice was gruff with sleep when he asked, “Just where do you think you’re going, little miss?”

  “To the shower and then to work.”

  He looked over her shoulder at the clock. “It’s early, you don’t open for an hour and I pawned off my early chores on my brothers, so I could come in later. Stay here and let’s fool around some more.”

  “As much as I would like to, I don’t have time. I have to shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and be down there to open…” she looked at the clock, “…in fifty-eight minutes.”

  “Tell you what, I’ll grab us both breakfast from the café, then we can fool around now, or in the shower, maybe both, and you’ll still be to work on time.”

  “You drive a hard bargain, but I don’t think we’ll have time for both, so you can meet me in the shower.” She pulled quickly away and scampered into the bathroom.

  They wasted a lot of water and just barely got clean, but it was the very best shower in the history of showers, in her opinion anyway.

  She was grinning as she unlocked the door and he walked across the street to get them breakfast. It was so natural the two of them being together. There had been no awkwardness like normally happened the morning after sex. It had been free and easy, just like sleepovers they’d had in the past only this one included shower sex.

  She was having the time of her life and she suspected he was enjoying it too. It was early in this new phase of their relationship, but she couldn’t see any reason that would stop them from a more permanent one. Better to not count her chickens before they hatched, however. She would just enjoy where they were going and not think about the future.

  They stood behind the counter to eat, so they weren’t in the way if customers came in, he’d brought tea for her and coffee for himself. She liked one scrambled egg with a tiny bit of cheddar cheese on top and he got a three-egg omelet with as much meat as they cou
ld pack into it, ham, bacon, sausage. He completed his breakfast with hash brown potatoes and wheat toast and then split a cinnamon roll with her. She loved cinnamon rolls but never indulged in them unless he was with her and would eat most of it. So, it was always a treat when they had breakfast together.

  Three women came in just as they were finishing up, so she gave him a small peck and sent him on his way. Before the women were fully checked out, he came back in, and he looked fit to be tied. She hurriedly finished ringing up the women, so she could find out what the problem was. As the door shut behind the women she rushed over to him where he was talking on his cell.

  “Yeah at Katie’s. I’ll wait. No. I didn’t touch anything. I know the drill.”

  He punched disconnect. And turned toward her. “All my truck tires are flat.”

  “What? All of them? That’s ridiculous. No one has four flat tires.”

  He raised an eyebrow, but before he could say anything she clued in. “Oh, someone did it deliberately.”

  He nodded.

  “But why?”

  “That’s a darn good question.” He frowned and was silent for a moment. “I can’t think of a single person who would do this, can you?”

  She tapped her lip as she tried to think or a possibility, then shook her head. “No. I can’t. Did you piss someone off recently?”

  “Not that I can think of. Do you have an old flame that would be jealous?”

  She laughed at that, she hadn’t even been out on a date in over a year. “No. I don’t have all that many old flames. Do you have one that would be pissed to see your truck at my place all night long?”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and pulled on it. “No. All my most recent girlfriends are married or moved away.”

  “It’s a definite malicious attack. So, if it’s not an old flame of yours or mine, who else could it be.”

  “I can’t think of anyone I might have pissed off lately, other than those two guys that attacked you, and they’re still locked up in the city jail, waiting for whoever won the coin toss to prosecute them first.”