by Ciara Cole
As head chef, Sean had always been passionate about every aspect of ownership of his very own restaurant—creating seasonal menus and weekly specials, and taking responsibility for training and developing his kitchen team members. Sean was all about using great quality ingredients, and took pride in his keen palate for flavors and awesome presentation skills.
But in that moment, he waved the offending intruder aside. His Senior Sous was expected to have a good understanding of all the very same aspects it took Sean to handle the kitchen. In fact, Sean paid him well to efficiently assist Sean in the run for excellence every single night. And for now, the kitchen would just have to do without Sean. All he cared about was Rachael.
Chapter Five
Once outside, Rachael began to feel calmer for the first time since she’d seen Sean. Turning to Allen, she apologized for ruining his dinner.
“Don’t apologize. I noticed you were jumpy about something,” he said gently. “Your private life is very much your own, but I have always admired you, Rachael. You’re a strong woman, considerate and beautiful.”
“Allen…”
“And I’m not too blind to see, you might not really picture me in the romantic light.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Seriously, don’t be,” he said with a smile. “I thought to at least give it a try once before I decided.”
Something about his tone caught Rachael’s attention. “Decided what?”
Allen sighed. “The museum proposed an assignment for me to obtain certain artifacts, which may take me out of the country for a few months. I wavered on taking up the option, mainly because I felt I needed a window of at least giving things a try with you. Like I said, I think I can tell that’s not going to happen in that regard.”
“If you decide to go, I’ll really miss you. You’ve become like a mentor to me,” she said.
“I guess I’ll have to make do with that. And who knows? In a few months when I get back, things might have changed.”
Rachael seriously doubted it, but she couldn’t start debating it out there in front of the restaurant. Next, Allen asked where she’d like him to drop her off, but Rachael shook her head in refusal. She was wary of spending unnecessary time with Allen even if it was just a drive in his car. She couldn’t afford the chance he might try to put more pressure on her to date him. What if he decided he could still make another try?
She firmly told him she could make it well on her own, and after a minute of making sure she could find her way from there, Allen reluctantly left. Rachael saw him drive off and only then gave a sigh of relief.
That feeling was short-lived. The one person she was definitely dreading to face again now showed up, emerging from within the restaurant. It was Sean, and he was making his way to where she stood with determined strides. Not giving herself time to think, Rachael shot off half-running, trying to hail the first cab she saw.
Her hurried pace was her undoing, causing her to lose her footing. She cried out as she began to fall face-forward into the pavement, only to get her arm snapped up, righting her in an instant.
Once she regained her balance, Sean released his strong grip. Rachael turned to him reluctantly, her heart racing fast not just from the near-brush with danger, but Sean’s presence itself.
“Thank you,” she said through mumbled lips. She could barely meet his eyes, and then brought herself up short. Just what did she have to be ashamed of? She hated to show Sean any sign of weakness, not after all these years. Squaring her shoulders, Rachael drew her gaze up to defiantly hold his. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Sean was about to say something in reply, when her cellphone chimed, indicating she had a text. Rachael took the phone out of her purse and saw it was from Allen. A smile crept on her face as she read the message:
I really enjoyed our dinner tonight. See you at work tomorrow and try to get some sleep.
“Was that your date? He’s the one who’s got you smiling?” Sean asked in a tone that was more a growl.
“I don’t have to answer to you. You’re my ex, Sean. I owe you no explanation about my personal life. But just to humor you, yes, that was my boss whom I just happened to have dinner with. Bye.”
It was like breathing through a pillow. Everything about the atmosphere felt heavy and damp. So did her steps as she turned around to walk away. On the third step she found Sean overtaking her movements to stand in front of her with an outstretched arm.
“I’ll drive you home,” he offered, more like demanded.
Rachael shook her head strongly. “I don’t…” Despite her negation, something sharp and unexplored clenched tight beneath her abdomen. Something needy. But she couldn’t give in to it. “I’m not interested. Sorry.”
Her own words became harder for her to believe as Sean tugged her close up against him, giving her a whiff of his cologne made more potent and masculine by his natural essence.
“It will give me a good excuse to prolong our time together, me giving you a ride home,” Sean leaned in to whisper just below her ear. Her whole body weakened at the sensation of those words. “Why do we have to act like strangers?”
“Maybe because that’s what we’ve become?” she snapped at him, giving a hard push to free herself from his all too enticing hold. How could she still find him so attractive? “I’m not fit to play the role of your distraction. You might be a fancy chef, but do you have to be so damn cocky?” she accused, irritated. But her reaction to him was weakening her in a more and more alarming way. “Just…let me go. Seeing each other again was just a stroke of luck—why drag it out?”
“Rachael…,” Sean sucked an impatient breath through his teeth. “Did you really come here not knowing who I am?”
“I don’t get out much,” she said coolly. “Just who exactly are you?”
“If you want to find out, then don’t think of leaving my sight anytime soon.”
“You’re not thinking this through,” she said, her expression pained. Without realizing it, her hand was spread over his chest, trying to shove him away. Once she became aware of this, she gasped and was about to duck away from him when he crashed his lips on hers.
It lasted barely a few seconds, with Rachael standing there in shock as his mouth hungrily claimed hers. Regaining her senses, she pushed at him roughly, and he let go.
“Oh God,” she gasped, feeling out of breath. “What are you doing?” She wrapped a hand over her mouth and looked around at passersby, who thankfully didn’t pay them that much attention. Why couldn’t he just let her walk away?
“Contrary to what you might believe, I have thought this through. I just need you to…” he paused, raking his fingers through his wavy hair. “Get as caught up as I am in what’s happening. It’s always been like magic between us.”
“You always get what you want, don’t you?” Rachael asked hotly with her head spinning. Her mouth felt dry and yet wet with anticipation. What the hell was happening to her? A glancing kiss from Sean and she was in more heat than she had been in years?
Sean didn’t immediately respond and simply reached out to take her arm. The grip was gentle this time and almost soothing as he caressed his fingers into her skin. Warm fingers, capable fingers. She imagined the many culinary creations he’d crafted with those fingers, just as she remembered the orgasms he’d crafted within her with the same.
When he saw she didn’t yank herself from his touch, he took that as acquiescence.
“That’s my Rachael. Come on.”
He led her to the parking lot to locate his ride, a very sleek and sexy Aston Martin that had Rachael blinking. Was she really going to get into the car with him? Just like that?”
When he silently held open the door of the low-slung automobile, Rachael didn’t protest. Maybe she was still in shock, or drugged by some unseen, all-powerful influence. Maybe it was just Sean, and the way he made her want to give in to him no matter how she tried not to, and how much she hated herself for not being strong enoug
h to resist.
If she was really honest, there was a part of her that was curious to find out how far she could go. Now that fate had brought them together so incredibly, could she really afford to back out without discovering where all this could lead?
***
“My home,” Sean said. “At least whenever I’m in San Francisco.”
They stood before the open doorway of his hilltop residence. Rachael almost hesitated to take the needed few steps inside. At last, she plucked up the nerve and walked in, after which Sean followed. The click of the door locking behind them was as final as a gavel landing heavily to give judgment. I’m making a big mistake, she thought frantically.
His place looked just like one of those million-dollar homes she’d only ever glimpsed in magazines. Not like she was even surprised. The neighborhood itself looked every inch a billionaire’s playground, and “affordable” would definitely not be a word used to describe any of the properties there.
The finest art on the walls, endless views of the bay from the windows, and just the hushed extravagance of the home was breathtaking. Apart from the multiple living rooms and bedrooms, the place boasted a home theater and gym, two wine vaults, and a home office. There was even an outdoor kitchen on the roof in addition to the enviously huge and fabulous one in the open plan sitting area.
If she’d wondered about how Sean lived, well, now she knew. It couldn’t be farther from Rachael’s far more modest lifestyle, as her monthly salary couldn’t have a hope of getting her a place like this even if she worked a decade.
Now that thinking might be over the top, but what part about tonight wasn’t? She still couldn’t believe that she’d run into Sean at long last. Wasn’t it just hours ago she’d been reminiscing about their times together?
“Congratulations. Looks like you made it,” she said laconically, fresh from being given a tour of what she could only call a mansion. “You obviously worked hard to get here, so it’s not like I’m hating.”
“I know you aren’t. That just wasn’t your style,” he said. “And thank you.”
He offered her some wine, which she declined. The atmosphere had become strained with Rachael unsure what would happen next. Why was she even still here? Did she love playing with fire?
Without another word, he stepped forward and skimmed his fingers down the smooth, brown skin of her arm. Touched her like he’d never even stopped. She hated whatever it was that gave him such confidence.
Rachael instantly backed away from Sean, and in the process, hit the coffee table with the back of her knees. She tripped and almost went crashing into the glass. Almost too quick for her to even register, Sean grabbed her to safety for the second time that night.
“If you can’t bear that much for me to touch you, then I guess I was wrong and you were right. There’s no need to prolong this,” Sean said almost angrily as he abruptly let her go and stalked a few paces away as if to give her space.
Rachael was angry too. She wanted him too damn much! And that was why his touch always made her act so disharmoniously.
“I think you’re well aware just how irresistible a man you are, Sean. This isn’t about you. I’ve simply made it a rule of late to avoid entanglements, even if just physical.”
As she spoke, she saw her words mollified him a little, and it took a few deep breaths for her to gather the boldness to add, “But maybe for tonight, I can afford to bend my own rules a little. After all, it’s been a while since we met. And just like you pointed out before, it’s not like we’re strangers.”
She padded her way over to him. Slowly she set her hand on his shoulder. “Sean,” she said as his eyes seemed to gleam with lightning-flash intensity, “If it’s catching up you brought us here to do, why don’t we get down to the main part?”
God! What was she? A freaking teenager in a Katy Perry video? Well…maybe she was, Rachael thought. She’d all but offered herself up to her ex-boyfriend—the man who’d broken her heart in unrecoverable pieces. The father of her seven-year-old daughter, Leila. Oh no.
He pulled up her chin so their eyes were somehow level—not really, though, since he was still a head taller than she was. “No second-guessing, Rachael. I missed you too much,” he warned, that velvet Irish voice making her vagina folds start to throb.
“If this has to happen, let’s save the tender talk,” Rachael blurted. Even as she said those words with confidence, she couldn’t deny the obvious shudder coursing through her body. Her heart was palpitating. She wasn’t running on alcohol or even blood. This was adrenalin, with massive shots of red-hot desire.
She didn’t want to think about the past, not right now. About how she’d let him in, had given in to her urges and loved him in every complete shape and form. And how he’d turned everything to dust when he chose to no longer have anything to do with her.
She’d been a fool to ever trust him and give her heart over to him—what was one more mistake? At least it would be on her terms. She needed this, and she was going to have it. This was her taking what she wanted without care of what Sean thought or felt. She just had to quench this fiery storm inside her…
Chapter Six
They’d made it to the master bedroom, which was more like a majestic suite, complete with a whole glass wall facing the shoreline. Rachael had seen the other bedrooms and, though large, they weren’t quite as grand as this one. It was the perfect setting for her one stolen night of abandonment.
In between open-mouthed, eating kisses, they undressed each other with hasty hands, Sean almost ripping off her dress. Rachael didn’t do a great job either with his shirt buttons, as some could be heard clattering to the floor. He didn’t seem to mind about them, though.
Needing to catch her breath, Rachael broke off the kiss and then stared deeply into Sean’s face, seeing the same billowing flames of lust that mirrored in hers.
She pulled him by the hem of his boxers and the next instant pushed him on the bed, moving lithely to straddle him.
“What the fuck,” he worded thickly, surprise giving way to humor as Rachael giggled. The laughter between them slowly dimmed, however, as Sean’s big hands started their treacherous climb up the sides of her hips.
“You’re as unexpected as I remember,” he murmured as his thumb skittered to touch the satin lining of the bra cupping her breasts.
Oh shit. This was really happening. Rachael felt dizzy. Sean’s expert hands unhooked the clasp at the back, and Rachael instantly felt the pull of weight as her mounds fell into his hands.
“They’re definitely bigger than I remember. I’m almost tempted to ask if they’re real—but of course they are,” he rasped, squeezing them and inspecting the size of her melons. He tweaked the sleeping buds, elongating them in an instant between his fingertips. The action sent tremors of almost unbearable pleasure-pain shooting through her body.
It felt good, Sean playing with the tingling buds, making her feel a searing twang as he frisked her chocolate tips with those expert fingers. Those long-rested hormones were going crazy from his touch, and she didn’t want him to stop, no matter how it ached, making her wince slightly.
“Fuck. I’m sorry. You’ll tell me if it gets too rough, will you?” he grunted while he pulled himself up the bed, taking Rachael with him. He grabbed a pillow and jammed it behind his back, and Rachael made to give him an answer, but his mouth was already latched onto one of her breasts.
His tongue and lips gave so much attention to her nipples, as if the nub would melt like ice cream if he slowed down. Rachael couldn’t even tell whether to moan or yell because her brain got so scrambled while Sean pulled her nipple in his mouth to give it a good suction. It had been too long since she’d felt like this.
Rachael instinctively leaned forward, too eager to feel much more. She rested her swollen breasts on Sean’s face, his warm breath caressing the wedge of her cleavage and making her ache…throb…twinge in spots down below. Grinding against the hump of his erection, she gasped and almos
t lost it. She just needed to keep rubbing. Couldn’t stop. Couldn’t stop rubbing! Oh God, more.
The harder she rubbed against him to gain more friction, the harder his bulge became as it singed the lining of her sheer, damp underwear that was wet beyond salvaging.
“Sean…”
Her moaning his name was what it took to make him suck her nipple more strongly than ever, sending electric spasms through her every nerve. Sean rolled her swollen nub between the snag of his teeth over and over, while with a buck of his hips he slipped his briefs down his thighs. The next moment had his now prominent bulge standing erect below her moistness.
“Oh. Oh God.” Rachael looked down, shuddering at the sight of the big, velvet-like head connected to a long and fat member. Oh shit. She had almost forgotten just how massive he was.
“Up,” he said.
Her head shot up to look at him with her mouth gaping, almost speechless. “What—?”
His answer was to grab her ass in his big hand and lift her while his other hand positioned his tool. “Down. Slowly.”
Rachael obediently lowered on him a fraction at a time, her eyes locked with his. They both felt it, her muscles parting to make access for a sensation so inestimable that the only way to encompass it was to get swept in the moment and simply…damn.
“Oh Christ,” Rachael said in a chant, engulfed within the sensation of hard flesh being absorbed by soft flesh.
If she thought it was too much already, Sean picked that moment to take the other nipple in his mouth. Jesus, he wanted to kill her.
“Shit. You’re almost too tight, love. Why’s that?” he groaned, a pleasurable strain in his Irish burr. “Don’t tell me…”
Sean pulled his face up from her breast, sultry eyes narrowing and then glimmering as if a light bulb just went off somewhere. “How long has it been for you? Tell me.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Why should he care? She needed this. Right now.