by Ashlyn Chase
"Do you know how much money I make?"
"No, and don't tell me. I know sports figures make a lot. Besides, it's rude to ask someone about his or her salary."
He couldn't help but grin. Apparently, she didn't realize it was a matter of public record that he had signed a three-year contract for ninety million. He liked knowing it didn't matter to her.
Next he showed her the "Green Monster."
"I've heard of the 'Green Monster,' but I thought that's what attacked me during the stupid auction."
Jason chuckled. "At least you admit it. No, it's affectionately called the Green Monster because of its size, and… well, it's green. It's hard to see color at night. Some powerful batters can belt a ball right over it and out of the park."
"Really? Holy crap. Have you ever done it?"
"No, but I'm working on it."
While she stared at the field, he stood behind her and stroked her arms. He was trying to make this tour as exciting as he could for a non-fan. Happily, his enthusiasm must have been contagious because she asked a few intelligent questions and didn't yawn once.
He pulled her warm body against his chest and his erection nudged her backside. "See what you do to me?" he whispered in her ear.
She shivered, tipped her head back, and rested it on his shoulder. "Mmm… I guess you really forgave me."
He could almost hear her smile.
He trailed his finger up and down her arm. "You're my girl, Merry. Little disagreements happen between couples. It doesn't have to end things. Besides, you and I are just beginning."
She turned in his arms. Gazing into his blue eyes, she asked, "So, what did you mean when you were talking about taking our relationship to the next level?"
"I think you know." Jason planted soft kisses down her neck to her shoulder. She cupped his jaw and drew him to her lips for a long, deep kiss.
His hands wandered—one up and one down until he held her breast and cupped her bottom. His thumb brushed a nipple and she groaned. When she cupped his balls through his slacks it felt so good he wanted his pants to magically disappear.
After kissing and exploring for a few minutes, Jason walked Merry backward to the comfortable-looking couch, lowering her back zipper as he moved. She found his belt buckle and opened it. He kicked off his dress shoes and then fumbled with the buttons on his shirt as she shrugged out of her dress.
They made out for another several minutes. At last, they nudged each other's underwear off, and the two of them faced each other with only skin between them. Jason swooped in for a long kiss, and then lowered her gently to the sofa.
"You're beautiful," he murmured in her ear.
She took his cock in her hand and stroked. "So are you."
He loved the sensation of her hand gripping his rod, and then she found his ball sac with her other hand and gently squeezed. "Ohhh… I won't last if you keep doing that. Tell you what. Ladies first."
He shifted her onto her back and gently squeezed her breast. Strumming her nipple with his thumb, he took the other one in his mouth. She moaned as he suckled her. She grasped his cock again and caressed it while he did a thorough job on her left breast. Her touch sent prickles of electricity wherever she stroked him. When he moved to her right side, he slid his hand to her mons and she arched into him.
His fingers explored her pussy as he suckled again. Her slick folds indicated her readiness, and even as desperate as he was to be inside of her, he wanted to make it last and show her what he could do.
He circled her clit with one finger. She writhed and whimpered, obviously as desperate as he was for more. He inserted first one finger, then two, sucked her breast deeper and stroked her G-spot. She gasped and rocked with the motion of his finger.
He broke his suction on her breast and slid downward to lick her. He didn't stop what he was doing with his fingers, since she seemed to enjoy it. In fact, he increased his speed and licked as she arched her back, moaning louder. At last, he fastened onto her button and…
"Oh, God!" she yelped. She vibrated in his arms and cried out. It was all he could do to stay on her sweet spot as she bucked and shattered.
When her body melted, completely limp, he crawled up beside her and smiled with deep satisfaction. She panted heavily and looked dazed. Delighted with her responsiveness, he simply waited for her to recover.
Eventually she managed to focus on his face and spoke breathlessly. "Dear God…"
"Nope. It's just me, Jason."
She cracked a smile and started to laugh. "Sorry, easy mistake."
He grinned and swooped in for a short but meaningful kiss. "Let me know when you're ready for more."
She glanced down at his cock, now hard as a spike. "Soon. How did you do that? I mean, find my G-spot and everything?"
"Years of curling these long fingers around a baseball, I guess."
"Man… I've never—I mean never felt anything like that before."
He flipped up onto his knees. "There's more, you know." He dove for his pants and extracted a condom.
"I know… and I want it." She parted her thighs. "Do you mind if I just lie here and let you do anything you want to my boneless body? I promise, next time you'll be first and I'll wait for you to recover."
He chuckled. "I don't mind at all." He rolled the condom on, tapped her knees a little farther apart, and settled between them.
"I was just kidding," she said. "I won't make you do all the work." She bent her knees, took hold of his shaft, and guided him in.
Even though she was tight, she was so well lubricated he was able to slide in all the way to the hilt. Ah, heaven.
He started a slow rhythm, which she matched by lifting her hips. She closed her eyes and let out another long moan.
"Are you okay?"
"Mmm…" She sighed. "Feels good. So good."
"Yes it does…" And it did. Better than usual—even though he hadn't been sensitized by oral foreplay. If he had been, he wouldn't have made it this far. Her warm tight channel hugged his girth perfectly. He was afraid he might be too large, but she seemed able to take all of him.
The familiar ball of urgency at the base of his spine demanded he increase his pace. He did so, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. She kept up with his pace just fine. She even opened her eyes and smiled at him—a soft, lazy look pervaded her hooded gaze.
"I love you, Merry," he said. Where did that come from? He hadn't intended to make that declaration, but it slipped out with ease.
Before she could respond, he closed his eyes and increased his pace again, now pounding into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and panted heavily, but not in an uncomfortable way. He spasmed and jerked several times as his orgasm overtook him. He rode the jolts of bliss all the way to the last aftershock, then collapsed beside her.
***
Merry had floated through her shift the following night. She knew Jason was out with Ms. Skinny-dyedand-surgically-altered, but she didn't feel insecure. There wouldn't be a second date… because he loved her. Her! Merry MacKenzie of dinky little Schooner, Rhode Island. They had taken their relationship to the next level and then some.
She wondered if he had expected her to say the words when he did. At the time, she could barely breathe, never mind think and talk. And afterward, they did a quick clean-up and scooted out when Jason wondered if security had hidden cameras in those luxury boxes. Bubba seemed like a nice guy, but was he nice enough to turn his head? Was any man able to look away from live porn? Très doubtful.
In the car on the way home from Fenway Park, they made small talk. He asked her if she had plans for Thanksgiving. Of course, she did. Who would cook the turkey for her family if she wasn't there? One of her sisters-in-law would bring a couple of side dishes and the other would bring pies, but neither one of her married brothers had room for a big get-together, so everyone came "home" for the holidays. Merry had been preparing a big holiday dinner with all the fixings since she was seventeen. Once her older brothe
rs had found wives, she had some help.
Jason said he'd always gone home for Thanksgiving and Christmas too, but it was easier when he lived in Minnesota. Now that he was in Boston, he might choose one or the other and stay for a few days.
She wondered if he was hinting at an invitation to her house, but she had to think about it. She was sure her family would be okay with it—hell, they'd be thrilled— but would her little brother tell all of his friends and impose upon her ten more mouths to feed? Absolutely. And they'd set upon poor Jason like vultures.
She could always invite Jason and say nothing to her family about his accompanying her. Yeah, that's what she'd do. And now she had an excuse to see him. No key to the penthouse, it was much too soon for that, but she had his cell phone number.
Maybe she'd wait until her day off to call him. Yeah, Monday would be soon enough. What little ESP she had wasn't sensing any dire portents or even warning bells. She'd show him she trusted him completely by not trying to get hold of him first thing Sunday morning. But if he wanted to see her, of course that was another matter. She'd not only let him in, she'd throw him down on the couch and have her nasty way with him.
***
"I'm telling you, Ralph, he said there's a ghost in that apartment. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. After all, I stumbled over a box that I swear wasn't there when we walked in."
Ralph opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. "Someone probably came in after you and you didn't hear them. Maybe they had something in the box they needed and just forgot to put it away."
"They were our boxes, Ralph, and no one else has the key. You never believe me!" Dottie threw her hands in the air.
"About ghosts and vampires? No, I don't, because they don't exist, sweetheart."
"Well that's too bad, but I'm going through with the séance. If you won't come with me, I'll just invite some of the other tenants in the building. I'm sure they'd be interested in knowing if the building is haunted."
Ralph rolled his eyes. "Better ask Jason first. He might worry about the negative attention a claim like that would invite. You'll have every freakazoid breathing down our necks, taking pictures and feeling for cold spots."
"Fine. I'll ask Jason first."
Dottie grabbed the key card to Jason's apartment and stormed out. She slammed the door for extra passiveaggressive emphasis.
Riding the elevator to the penthouse, she hoped Jason would okay the idea. Having a séance would be the most interesting thing to happen to her since she had to sell off her computer to pay bill collectors. Boredom had set in long ago and anything that sounded as if it might have been exciting in 1899 would be a welcome relief.
Fortunately, he opened the door when she knocked. "Aunt Dottie. Is everything all right?"
"Well, yes and no. I'm fine, dear. Unfortunately, apartment 3A is haunted." She brushed by him and squatted on his white sofa.
He stood there, confusion knitting his brow. "Um, excuse me? Did you say haunted?"
"Yes. The professor who lived there and moved out wants his security deposit back. He said we didn't disclose the fact that the place was haunted. He had a psychic come in to verify it."
"I see. And is there something you want me to do about this? I'll gladly refund his security deposit."
"Oh, I already did that. Actually, I hadn't deposited the check yet, so I just tore it up. But there is something you can do to help."
Jason scratched his head. "Okkaaayyy…"
"I want to hold a séance. I mean, it would be silly just to take one person's word for it, right?"
Jason shrugged. "I guess… Do you know anyone who can conduct a séance?"
"Yes, and I have it all set up for tonight. I've been assured that she has an unparalleled reputation and the utmost professionalism. In other words, she won't breathe a word of it to anyone—no matter what she finds."
A smile curved one side of her nephew's mouth.
Oh, please. If he starts laughing at me too, so help me…
But all he said was, "Thank you for being sensitive to my need for privacy, Aunt Dottie. I really appreciate that. So yes, go ahead with your plans."
"Oh." Relief washed over her. He wasn't a doubter— just concerned for his precious privacy, as usual.
"Who will be attending this séance?" he asked.
She stood and returned to the doorway, knowing enough to get out before he asked too many questions.
"Well, so far it's you and me. I'll check with the rest of the tenants to see who can come. Apparently the more we can find, the better it will be. Since they've all sworn to protect your privacy too, I figured you wouldn't mind…"
He nodded. "Sure. What time and where is it going to be held?"
"In apartment 3A. Six p.m. I'll get Ralph to set up a table and some chairs. I'll just have to see how many will be coming, first."
"Knock yourself out," he said with a smile.
Now he's making fun, but we'll see how he feels if the table floats and the electricity goes off. A shiver of excitement trailed down her spine at the thought of something dramatic and extraordinary happening in her otherwise dull day.
Chapter 6
MERRY HAD BEEN DANCING TO SANTANA IN HER KITCHEN when she heard the knock on her door. Her heart leapt, hoping it was Jason. Really, who else could it be? The outer door hadn't opened and slammed, so it must be someone from the building. She rushed to her door and threw it open.
"Dottie?" Crap. What a disappointment. "Oh, um… Is something wrong? Was my music too loud?"
"No, dear. There's nothing wrong. Well, not with you, anyway." She smiled in an insincere way that made Merry's internal warning lights flash. What now? The elevator whirred in the background.
"I just stopped by to invite you to a get-together in apartment 3A tonight. Six p.m. Can you make it?"
Oh, God. She wants to have a tenants' meeting or intervention or something. "What kind of get-together, Dottie?"
"Well, it's a séance. I think I discovered why we can't keep that apartment rented."
Hairs prickled on the back of her neck. "You mean it's haunted?"
"Yes, we think so. Jason and I do anyway. Ralph is…" She rolled her eyes and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. Her eyes suddenly narrowed at Merry. "You do believe in spirits occasionally remaining on this plane, don't you? Because of unfinished business or they don't know they're dead or something…"
"I—um… I think so. There have been some weird sightings at a couple of hospitals I've worked in and I've seen some shows about it."
"Good! It's unanimous." She seemed exceedingly pleased. "We'll see you at six, then?"
"I'm afraid I have to work tonight. But I have tomorrow off. Can we do it tomorrow?"
"Sorry. I booked a medium for tonight."
The elevator stopped and Jason stepped out. "Oh, good. You're home," he said, smiling at Merry.
She grinned.
Dottie backed away from the door and sighed. "Well, I'll let you two lovebirds be alone." She winked at Jason and headed up the stairs.
Merry wondered what he had told his aunt, but simply opened her door wider for Jason to enter. He kicked it closed behind him and swept her into his arms. "Did you miss me?" he asked and lowered his mouth to hers.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his heated kiss. "Mpha… mbbt."
He broke the kiss and leaned away so he could see her face. "What?"
"I said, 'maybe a little bit.'"
They grinned at each other, then Jason lifted her effortlessly into his arms. "I might have thought about you once or twice too."
Carrying her to the bedroom, he nuzzled her neck and said, "There's a lot of time between now and whenever you have to leave for work, and I intend to spend all of it making love to you."
Kissing her tenderly, he lowered her to the bed. A wonderful warm fuzzy feeling swept through Merry as he covered her body with his—like a security blanket. His hands wandered to her breast and his mouth traveled to her
neck.
She arched and whimpered as he massaged her breast. Even through her clothing his loving attention felt good, but she couldn't wait to lose the layers separating them.
"Jason," she whispered.
He didn't stop kissing her. "Hmm?"
"Let's take these clothes off. I'm suddenly burning up."
He broke his string of kisses long enough to look up at her and grin. "Can't have that now, can we?"
He reached for the zipper of her jeans and dragged it downward, slowly—sensuously.
She yanked the hem of his T-shirt and managed to drag it off over his head. She couldn't wait to touch him, skin to skin, so she fastened onto his nipple and sucked.