“Actually, tonight is the last show,” he said.
It took her a few moments to get his meaning. He’d done this. He’d arranged for the theater to play the show an extra night.
“Oh, my God, that’s—”
“Amazing? Panty-dropping? Awe-inspiring?”
She laughed. Underneath the expensive suit and the sleek haircut, Nikolas was the same. Of course he was. A man couldn’t change who he was in a few hours. No one could. And she wouldn’t want him to.
Erica released a slow breath. “I was going to say that is really nice of you.”
“That’s all?” His scarred brow rose in a teasing arch.
She opened her mouth to reply with a flirtatious comment of her own but then pressed her lips together instead. “I can’t do this, Nikolas,” she finally said after a long moment. “I—like you too much. It’s killing me to see you here knowing you’ll be gone from my life again in a few hours.”
Nikolas’s face settled into grave lines. “I don’t have to be gone.”
Her heart stopped in her chest. Then started again. “What do you mean?”
“In less than a month, I take over as head of the U.S. division of Andromeda Shipping,” Nikolas said. “I’ve spoken to my father and told him that I will run the division from the New York office, and I’ll run it the way I see fit. All the Stephanides holdings on that side of the world are mine, Erica. But all that would mean nothing if you weren’t in my life.”
She stared at him in shock as he continued.
“I never expected to feel like this for anyone,” he said, briefly looking at her, then away. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you put a spell on me.” He paused. “You didn’t put a spell on me, did you?”
She shook her head. If anything, he was the one who had bewitched her. “Nikolas—”
But before she could say anything, he grabbed her hands and pressed them together between his.
“I’m no good at this type of thing.” Nikolas looked away from her and toward the band, which was playing a lively song and inviting the restaurant guests to get up and dance. Then he turned his eyes back to Erica. “I’ve never been so captivated by a woman until you.” He visibly swallowed. “I know if I let you walk out of my life today, I’ll never see you again.” Nikolas touched her face. “I don’t want that.”
Erica stared at him, unable to believe what he was saying. Her pulse drummed an excited tattoo in her throat.
Nikolas’s hand fell away from her cheek. “If I’m alone in this, I’ll take my foolish declarations and—”
She leaned across the small table and kissed him. He hesitated for a moment before he kissed her back, parting his lips and sweeping his tongue into her mouth. Erica trembled, her body warming for him as the arousal stroked between her thighs in a familiar and heady magic. Long moments later, they drew apart, both of them breathing heavily.
“You’re not alone in this,” she said.
Even in the darkening arbor of the restaurant, she could see the happiness flashing in his eyes, the fierce joy in his that echoed her own. They reached for each other again and held on tight.
* * * * *
LIQUID
CHOCOLATE
Velvet Carter
Dedication
Mario B.G., you are indeed the sweetest chocolate ever!
Acknowledgments
Although Liquid Chocolate bears my name,
I work closely with my agent Sara Camilli,
who is the best in the business!
A big thank you to my new publishing family Harlequin,
and especially to Shannon Criss, thanks for adding
the final touches to Liquid Chocolate.
As always, I’d like to thank my family and friends
who understand when I have to go underground with
my characters and live in their world!
And to you the readers, thanks for all of your support and
I hope you enjoy Liquid Chocolate as much as
I enjoyed writing it!
All the Best!
Velvet
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter One
“You like that, baby?”
“Oh...yeah,” Mika exclaimed.
Mika couldn’t hold back as Blaine flicked his tongue faster and faster, bringing her to a heated climax. Her back arched and her eyes fluttered closed as she surrendered to his oral magic.
Blaine brought his head from underneath the covers, and looked at her with her eyes shut. “Don’t go to sleep on me. That was just for starters.”
Mika glanced down at him and bit her bottom lip. He was so handsome—with caramel-colored skin, coal-black wavy hair and beautiful warm chestnut eyes—that merely looking at his face was a major turn-on. “Aren’t you going to let a girl catch her breath?”
Blaine eased up, until his body was covering hers. He leaned on his forearms in order to considerately not put his entire body weight on her. “I’ll give you a few seconds, and then it’s on to round two.”
“Only a few seconds?”
“One, two, three...”
“Wait a minute, you’re counting too fast.”
Blaine pressed his rising manhood against her groin. “You feel that?”
Mika swallowed hard. “Yes.” She could feel his penis growing and the sensation was turning her on, causing goose bumps to spring up on her skin. There was no sense in trying to resist him. Her desire for him was too strong to deny.
“All this is for you,” he said, pressing harder against her. “Can you handle it?”
“You bet I can.” Mika opened her legs a bit wider, inviting him in closer.
Blaine took hold of her chin and softly kissed her lips. He then parted her lips with his tongue.
The moment Blaine’s tongue touched hers, Mika took ahold of his head and gently pulled him in closer. Their tongues began dancing together, one exploring the other. Their passionate kissing went on for minutes until it was no longer enough.
Blaine roamed his hand over her taunt stomach, touching her smooth skin. He worked his way to the waistband of her thong and gently pulled it off. He reached between her thighs and found her moistness. He rubbed her clit with his index finger and didn’t stop until she started to moan.
“Ohh...that...feels...divine,” Mika said, the words coming out of her mouth in spurts.
Blaine kept his finger on her private pulse. At the same time he worked his mouth up her torso. He kissed his way between her breasts. He took her right breast in his mouth and sucked and kissed until it hardened. He then turned his focus to her left breast and sucked and licked until it also firmed from his efforts.
The sensation created from him sucking her breasts while at the same time giving her digital stimulation drove Mika mad. She whipped her head from one side to the other. She twisted and bucked from his delicious touch. Mika tried to hold back, but her orgasm was coming hard and strong. She bit her bottom lip, trying to stifle her screams.
“Don’t hold back baby.” Blaine increased the pace of his finger. “I know you wanna come, don’t you?”
“Yes... Yes!”
Blaine slipped one finger passed her clit, into her wetness. He added more pressure and didn’t let up until her w
arm juices covered his fingers.
“Don’t stop... That’s it... That’s it!” Mika yelled out, no longer able to control herself.
“Oh...” She panted, trying to catch her breath. “You are a bad, bad boy.”
Blaine flashed her a devilish smile. “Now you’re ready for round three.”
He reached across her chest, opened the nightstand and took out a condom. He then tore the foil wrapper with his teeth, and took out the extra long latex. He slowly rolled the condom onto his throbbing member. He then took hold of her leg and lifted it around his waist.
As he was guiding his manhood into her moistness, Mika heard a buzzing sound. She tried to ignore the annoying noise but it kept getting louder.
Mika popped open her eyes. She couldn’t believe that her alarm clock had sounded before she and Blaine reached the pinnacle.
“Damn!” Mika sat up against the headboard. She unraveled the twisted covers from around her body. Mika was beyond frustrated. She was having the most erotic dream about the stranger. She had seen him on several occasions, committed his face to memory and longed for his touch. Though, she hadn’t formally met him yet. But that didn’t stop her from submitting to him in her dreams.
“Oh, well, so much for wet dreams.” She climbed out of bed, padded across the carpeted floor into the bathroom. She showered and readied herself for work.
Mika stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She secretly hoped that today would be the day she would finally have the courage to introduce herself to the man in her dreams.
Chapter Two
Delicious Chocolate Bar, a gourmet confectionary shop on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile that catered to the residents and businesses along the Gold Coast, was abuzz with activity. Following the Christmas season, Valentine’s Day was the second busiest holiday for the trendy adult candy store and bar. Customers who didn’t live in the area came from far and wide to experience co-owner Mika Madison’s liquid chocolate blends.
A trained confectionary chef, Mika had studied in France at Le Cordon Bleu, excelling in their Pâtisserie program. After graduation, she left the City of Lights for the Windy City—her hometown—and partnered with Fritz, her childhood friend, to open Delicious Chocolate Bar. Fritz was the business manager, and flamboyant host, while Mika donned her chef’s jacket and toque, creating the unique chocolates—both liquid and solid form—surprising customers with the unusual combinations of roasted-pork-belly bon bons, chipotle-flavored peppermint patties, rose-petal chocolate crisps and lavender truffles to name a few.
Out of all the concoctions, her favorites were the liquor infused liquid chocolates that she made for the bar. Her flavored martinis ran the gambit, from white chocolate, to ginger infused dark chocolate, to chocolate pear, to raspberry chocolate, to chai-flavored chocolate. She hand made each flavor and infused the chocolates with vodka, rum or tequila. Mika loved spending time in her test kitchen concocting interesting combinations. Since she was both childless and man-less, she had plenty of time to devote to her craft. She often spent late nights at Delicious working on new flavor combinations for her cookbook, instead of going home alone to sit in front of the television mindlessly flicking channels.
“Two days and counting,” Fritz announced, bouncing into the all-white kitchen. Fritz was openly gay and proud of it. He and his partner, Oskar, had been in a relationship for nearly eight years, and happily cohabituated in an opulent, Liberace-style loft.
Mika turned away from the industrial stove where she was stirring a kettle of dark chocolate with fresh mint. “Two days and counting for what?”
“You must really be in chef mode with your mind on cooking instead of on our first annual singles’ Valentine’s event.”
“Oh, that,” Mika said, without an ounce of enthusiasm. Mika was not looking forward to being alone on one of the most romantic holidays of the year. Normally, Sweetest Day and Valentine’s Day didn’t get to Mika, but this year was different.
Her best friend, Dana, was newly married. Once partners in crime, they had made a pact years ago to spend Valentine’s together if they didn’t have dates. In years past, Mika and Dana ordered in pizza and watched old kung-fu movies. They were both Bruce Lee fanatics, and had seen every movie that the master of martial arts had ever made. Now that Dana was married, she and her husband were going to spend the evening together, leaving Mika flying solo.
“Okay, Debbie Downer, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh, don’t give me that. I can tell by your lackluster tone that something’s up, so spill.” Fritz was relentless and rarely took no for an answer.
Mika sighed. She wasn’t the complaining type, but knew that if she didn’t tell Fritz how she really felt, he would keep bugging her and she didn’t feel like being hounded by him all day. “It’s nothing really. I’m just feeling a bit lonely. This is the first Valentine’s Day in years that I’ll be by myself.”
“But you won’t be alone. You’ll be here at the singles’ party.”
“Yeah, I know, but it’s not the same. Even though Dana and I are just friends, it was still nice to spend the evening with someone who is special in your life. You probably forgot what it feels like to be alone, since you and Oskar have been together for so long.”
“Oh, hon, I so remember all those holidays I spent by myself, longing for that special someone. I’m thankful every day to have Oskar in my life. I have my Mr. Right. Now we have to work on finding you Mr. Right, instead of Mr. Right Now.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Mika asked, giving Fritz a quizzical look.
“Come on, missy, you know precisely what I mean. Remember, all those blind dates that I set you up with?”
Mika turned around to the kettle and continued stirring. “Of course I remember. Just about every good looking guy that came into the shop last year who wasn’t gay or married, you somehow arranged a date for me. What are you trying to insinuate?”
“I mean you only went on one date with each of them. Let’s see, where should I start? Oh, I know, I’ll start with the handsome model from Aria Talent Agency. He was perfect. Tall, beautiful beyond belief, with the body of life. After the first date with him, you stopped taking his calls. That was Mr. Right Now, number one. So tell me what could have possibly been wrong with him?”
“He was as dumb as a rock. He was all brawn, and no brain. He couldn’t even string two proper sentences together, let alone hold an intelligent conversation on world views. If I just wanted someone to look at, he would have been perfect. Does that answer your question, Mr. All Up In My Business?”
Fritz dramatically rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “Okay, point taken, but what about Mr. Right Now number two?”
“Who, the commodities trader?”
“Yes, he was handsome and smart. So what was the problem with him?”
Mika turned the burner off, removed the kettle from the stove and poured the chocolate mixture into a stainless steel mixing bowl. She rubbed her hands down the front of her white smock and continued. “Yeah, he was smart all right, but he was also a prick. All he talked about was how much money he made on a daily basis. And that he was so rich, he could have any woman in the world. He said I was lucky that he wanted to spend time with me.”
“He said all of that on the first date?” Fritz asked astounded.
“Yep, he sure did.”
“Now I understand why that was your first and last date with him. I can’t stand pompous men who think they are superior just because they have a ton of money.” Fritz paused for a moment, and then said, “Hey, what about that guy who comes in every week and orders expensive boxes of chocolates?”
Mika knew exactly who Fritz was talking about. He was the man who starred in her erotic dreams. “That tall slim guy, with the caramel-colored skin and jet-black curly hair?
What about him?”
“Yes, the good-looking one. I’ve seen you stealing glances at him from the kitchen door.”
Mika didn’t say anything for a few seconds. She had been busted. “Dang, Fritz, do you see everything?”
“I sure do, missy. Hey, why don’t I invite him to the singles’ event?”
“We know his name from the order forms. Other than that, we don’t even know the man.”
“So what? I’ve waited on him a few times. That should count for something,” Fritz said, trying to justify his point.
“For all we know he comes in every week to order chocolates for his girlfriend or wife.” Although Mika had fantasized about him, she wasn’t the type to break up a relationship. “Please don’t invite him on my account. Agreed?”
Fritz sighed. “Okay. But I still want you to find happiness. We’re not getting any younger, and I don’t want to see you grow old alone.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find Mr. Right. I still have time, it’s not like I’m applying for my AARP card anytime soon.”
Fritz walked over, gave Mika a tender hug. “Okay, whatever you say.” He then went back to the front of the store.
Once he was gone, Mika sat at the long white counter and thought more about their conversation. Although, she didn’t want to admit it, Fritz was right. It was time that she found someone to settle down with. Fritz had Oskar, Dana had James, and she had...no one.
Chapter Three
As the owner of a boutique ad agency, charismatic Blaine Chess met beautiful women on a daily basis, as they came into the agency to audition for various commercials. Models strutted in with their portfolios full of glossy shots hoping to not only land a gig, but to also catch the eye of the handsome owner. Blaine had a strict policy of not dating the talent anymore. He had learned the hard way that mixing business with pleasure was a recipe for disaster. When he first opened the agency a few years after college—with a hefty investment from his mother—he used it as his personal playground. Blaine toyed with the models as if they were life-size Barbie dolls. He would have two to three dates a night with different women. He’d start off the evening with an early dinner with one woman, drop her off home and then pick up date number two. They would have drinks at some swanky lounge and if the chemistry was right they would end up in bed together. If by chance he wasn’t feeling her vibe, Blaine would take her home and call date number three. He thrived on the excitement that the variety of women brought.
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