by Sarina Bowen
She nipped his lip gently between her teeth and shook her head. “I’m not waiting for the spin cycle, MacIntyre.”
Chase reached between them, wanting to torture her as much as she was torturing him. He pressed his thumb against her center through the rough fabric of her jeans. She rolled her hips in response. “Where should we take it?” He dipped his fingertips below the fabric to play along the elastic edge of her panties and she hissed in a breath.
“Kitchen table? Sofa? I’m not all that particular right now.”
“Now that you mention it, the washing machine seems sturdy enough to me.” Nina squeezed her legs around his waist, bringing their bodies into closer contact and Chase nearly lost it. “Although we might need just a—”
Nina’s legs loosened around his hips and her legs slid to the floor. The loss of her heat was nearly devastating until he saw the flame of passion still burning in her eyes and in the devilish smile on her expressive face. She unsnapped the button on her jeans and hooked the fabric under her thumbs. She kicked the wet pants out of the way and stripped off her top to stand before him in a nude lace thong and pushup bra.
She reached for his jeans, popping the snap and sliding the zipper down, down, down. The back of her hand brushed against his erection and Chase’s stomach clenched.
“How did I know you would be commando?”
Sweet, controlled Nina had just a touch of sass and vixen in her. Chase grabbed the tail of his tee and tossed it over his head. Then he grabbed a condom from his pocket before shucking his jeans.
“I’m a reckless Southern California boy who spends most of his time cooped up in sound booths with the hottest rock band on the planet. When I have five minutes to myself, I like to get to it as quickly as I can.”
She took him in her hand, rubbing her thumb over the satin head of his penis. “A man who has a plan. I like that.”
Chase put the condom on the dryer and then picked her up, positioning her lace-covered mound over his erection and resting her hips on the edge of the washer. “A well-prepared plan is the key to success,” he said before kissing her chin and running his tongue over her jaw. “My father taught me that.”
“We’re not talking about our fathers, remember?”
He sucked her earlobe between his lips and gently bit down. It was just as sweet as he’d imagined. “How could I have forgotten?” He hooked his index finger through her thong, pushing the wet fabric to the side and allowing his cock to probe her entrance. Soft and wet. Inviting. Waiting. Nina rolled her hips. Waiting impatiently, he decided as he took her nipple into his mouth and moved his hand to the other to pinch and roll it under his palm. Her skin was the perfect blend of sweet and salty and he couldn’t get enough. She wriggled her hips and Chase abandoned her breast to hold his hands at her hips, bringing her center in line with his.
Nina skimmed her hands over his shoulders and down his chest to play with his pecs before moving farther down his torso. His dick strained toward her small hand and when she squeezed her fist around him, Chase groaned.
“Now, Chase. I can’t—I don’t want to wait.” She stopped talking and reached for the condom, opening it with shaking hands. She smoothed the latex over him and Chase closed his eyes, trying desperately to hold on to his control. “Now,” she said.
Chase obliged. He pressed into her opening, feeling her velvet heat through the thin covering. He squeezed her perfect butt in his hands.
“Sweet mother,” she whispered and began to ride him, pulsating her hips as he surged forward and clenching her internal muscles as he withdrew. Nina’s mouth found his as he pushed more deeply inside her, her tongue mimicking his thrusts. Her hands played with the hair at his nape and her lace-covered breasts scraped erotically against his bare chest.
“Holy fuck.” His words were barely a whisper as his penis finally found her G-spot and Nina clamped down on him. He probed farther, found the sweet spot again and pressed his member against it. Nina’s hands clenched against his head and then she shattered, her velvet walls pulsating around him, milking him, inviting him farther into her wet heat.
She arched her back and gasped. Chase surged forward like a runner nearing the finish line and followed her over the cliff.
Chapter Eight
Friday morning dawned clear, the only traces of the storm that raged through L.A. being a few puddles on the walk outside the back door. Nina leaned against the wrought iron railing on the terrace outside Chase’s bedroom and watched a few drops of water drip from low-hanging branches to plop into the puddle.
She stretched and the tee Chase loaned her last night brushed against her thighs. Somewhere in this massive house she needed to find her own clothes. But instead of moving off the terrace she snuggled the warm coffee mug to her chest and leaned against the railing.
Whistling reached her ears and she angled her head toward the sound.
She sipped the coffee and closed her eyes. Couldn’t she be oblivious for just a little bit longer? She hadn’t even had twenty-four full hours yet. Their last scheduled appearance was tonight. This afternoon’s board meeting was soon enough to wake from the bubble she’d been in since Chase showed up at her office with the offer of a picnic lunch. The smell of eggs and toast wafted through a downstairs window.
Her tummy growled and she padded back through the doors and down the stairs into the kitchen. Chase whistled low at the stove, flipped an egg and then caught it back in the pan. Shirtless. His back muscles rippled with every movement, drawing her eyes down the reverse-V of his shape to his well-muscled backside, clothed in thin cotton sweatpants. Her mouth went dry.
A man who knew how to take a woman in the laundry room. And the shower and finally the bed and who knew how to cook? He was a computer matchmaking program’s wet dream.
Nina shoved everything, save the naughty thoughts tempting her with kitchen sex, from her mind. She could think about work, the plan and getting over Chase MacIntyre later. Much, much later.
“I was wondering when you’d make it downstairs.” Chase nudged one of the pans on the stove, turned down the burner and then swung around to face Nina. A sexy smile stole across his lips. “Good morning.”
Nina saluted him with her coffee mug. “Thanks for the coffee.” She carefully placed the mug on the counter and then leaned her hip against the cabinet. “Good morning.”
“One of the best mornings I’ve had all week.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Nina grinned at him. “Me, too.”
Chase’s hands were hot, burning through the fabric of the well-worn tee as if it were nothing. The last remaining shred of her sanity screamed at Nina to go and find her clothes, call a cab and call off the showcase tonight. But since she’d already explained to that last sane piece of herself that she was taking this moment out of time and riding it for all it was worth, Nina ignored the voice and allowed herself to be trapped by Chase’s icy blue eyes.
And then those strong lips were on hers and she didn’t have to work to shut out Sensible Nina because all reason fled.
Chase skipped right over the light caress she’d imagined. Instead his lips devoured her reasons to pull away. To stop this insanity. He nibbled on her lower lip as if tasting the finest wine. With their bodies pressed together, she felt his erection rise between them and it thrilled her that he reacted to her body so quickly. His hands cupped her neck and then her jaw, holding her head in place as he tasted and touched. Her mouth fell open of its own volition and his tongue slipped inside to taste more of her.
She couldn’t resist a few tempting swipes of her own tongue against his. Or working her fingers down over the ridges of his abs to play along the waistband of his sweats. His stomach muscles jumped beneath her hands and Nina smiled. Couldn’t resist a side trip to the north to feel his small nipples beneath the flat of her hands. She tweaked the hard flesh.
“Sweet mother of God,” he whispered into her mouth. One hand worked its way behind her head, grasping her hair t
o pull her head back, giving him more access to her delicate skin. His mouth traveled from her lips and over her jaw to the sensitive spot just below her earlobe. He nipped and then ran his tongue over the area to soothe the burn. His hands circled her waist and lifted her to the counter, making her collarbone the perfect height for his hungry lips.
Chase nibbled there for a moment while his hands explored her torso, her breasts. One hand squeezed her nipple, pulling it and sending jolts of pleasure to her core while the other teased her ribs. “We’re not going to make it out of this kitchen,” he mumbled against her skin.
Nina braced her hands against the counter so she wouldn’t melt into a puddle on the granite top and then hooked one leg around his hip. “Why don’t we see if Kitchen Sex beats Laundry Room Sex?” His mouth continued to work against the sensitive skin at her shoulder. Lord, the things he could do with his mouth.
And then she couldn’t not touch him, weak spine be damned. His attention to detail strengthened her resolve to be an active part of their last morning. She wouldn’t allow him to just touch her, she would touch back. She teased the hard muscles of his abdomen, allowing her fingers to barely brush beneath his sweats and then pull back to play along his ribs. Over the small of his back. His skin tightened at the touch.
Chase pulled away from her slightly, his eyes muddled with lust. “Nina, I need—What the hell?”
The smell of burning breakfast and the loud beeping of the smoke alarm finally made it through Nina’s muddled brain. Chase jerked away from her, reaching for the pans and tossing them into the sink beside her. He grabbed the flexible faucet and before Nina could hop down, he doused the pans—and her—with cold water. Smoke rose from the sink. Fitting, Nina thought, since she’d been burning up with passion just a moment before. Chase flipped off the burners and waved a dishtowel before the smoke alarms.
Finally the kitchen was quiet again. He looked at her sheepishly.
“That’s the third shower I’ve managed to give you in the past eighteen or so hours.”
Nina shrugged and shook her head as she eased off the granite counter. “And now I’m a little cold and my shirt is wet.” She turned away from him, grabbed the bottom of the shirt and tugged it over her head. She shot him a look as she started for the door. “As interesting as kitchen sex can be, I’m a girl who needs order. Reason. Even numbers.” Nina crossed her arms over her chest and turned to face him. “I’m thinking we should make it an even four showers, don’t you?”
“Baby, I’ve never admired that smart mind of yours more.” He was across the room in a heartbeat, tossing Nina over his shoulder and taking the stairs two at a time.
Chase flipped on the taps in his enormous en suite and all six shower heads came to life, pounding against the Italian marble inside. He kicked his pants aside and crooked a finger at her as he stepped inside. “You coming?”
“Probably several times.”
He chuckled and doused a shower ball with gel before rubbing it across Nina’s bare back. Between the hard water pounding against her front and Chase’s hands working his magic on her back, Nina wasn’t sure where to turn. She settled on tilting her head and allowing the jets to cascade over her.
“If I recall correctly, I rescued you right back.”
“As any good princess is wont to do.” He turned her to face him and began working the ball over her stomach to tease the undersides of her breasts. Nina arched her back and grabbed the other shower ball to return the favor.
She worked the soap over Chase’s shoulders and abs until he was a mass of bubbles. His erection stood at attention between them and she reached for it as he tweaked one of her nipples.
“I think it’s time for a rinse, don’t you?”
He nodded and turned her to face the showerhead. Chase adjusted all six heads on her body, rinsing the soap from her and teasing her at the same time. He covered one breast with the flat of his palm while the hard spray lavished attention on the other.
Chase moved behind her, snuggling his hips against her ass so there was no doubt where this shower was leading. As if there could have been any doubt after her proclamation in the kitchen. He walked her forward to another showerhead sitting lower along the wall and adjusted it so that it pounded against her center. Nina arched forward, bracing her hands on the wall and her feet against the floor as Chase took her from behind.
“God, Nina,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re so tight.” He pressed into her opening and the feeling of him filling her while water from the shower pummeled against her was Nina’s undoing.
“I can’t hold out. God, Chase.” She shattered, but Chase didn’t stop. She didn’t want him to.
As he filled her time and again, her desire grew until she was riding a new wave with him. Chase’s hands spanned her hips, holding her in place as he drove into her and then he was gone. For a split second, Nina was alone in the shower and then Chase flipped her around, lifted her to his hips and pressed her back against the wet shower walls. He took her mouth as he took her body, pounding into her like the waves pounded into the beach yesterday afternoon. She was right there with him, riding the passion, taking everything he offered and offering everything she had in return.
Chase’s lips trailed over her jaw and down her neck as he pressed her harder against the wall. Nina tightened her legs around his waist, her body tightening around him, begging for release. And then she was soaring. Not caring when or if she might land on solid ground again.
* * *
A long time later they finally got around to breakfast. Chase started a new batch of egg-white omelets and Canadian bacon. Nina sat at the kitchen island watching him work the stove. He whistled a melody under his breath, liking the way she watched him. He was looking forward to doing a little watching of his own once the food was cooked.
“What’s that melody?”
He shrugged. “Nothing, yet. Just something Nate and I have been working on when he can drag himself away from my sister and Star Power.”
Nina snagged a leftover pita chip from the day before and crunched. “Did you ever sing?”
Chase plated the first omelet and handed it across the island before sprinkling cheese on the second. He had, and he’d hated it. “Not really. High school talent shows when Nate couldn’t find anyone to back him. It was never for me. I can deal with a few photographers—”
Nina snorted. “More like a horde.”
“Horde-schmorde. A few interested faces on a red carpet are completely different from ten thousand people inside a single arena, all paying fifty bucks and expecting something new and different and just for them every night of a tour.” He scratched at his wrist then plated the second omelet and joined Nina at the island. “As I said on Monday, I like my life just the way it is.”
“Is that a not-so-subtle hint to stay out of your business life?” She cocked her head to the side and then closed her eyes in satisfaction. “Maybe you should forget the managing and the music and just start your own restaurant. This is a killer omelet.”
“If ever there is a trend for omelet-only restaurants, I might consider it.” He forked some egg to his mouth and chewed. Not bad. Would have been better with real eggs instead of the substitute-in-a-box the staff left when his parents went back to Beverly Hills. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. Since their clothes were still drying from last night and the only food left after they had made love at midnight was a few pita chips, he’d made do.
Nina elbowed him. “You’re good at a lot of things. You write music. You’ve elevated Nate and the band to the top act in the western hemisphere. They’ll be a global phenomenon in no time. And you can cook. Definitely a well-rounded California boy.”
“What can I say? I attended private schools and had a liberal arts education.”
She put her hand over her heart. “And modest, too.”
“Completely self-taught on that one. I’ve found the ladies like a man who takes charge but then pretends the good things that come fr
om it are happy accidents.”
They finished breakfast in companionable silence. Finally Nina looked toward the laundry room and, right on time, the buzzer signaled the end of the cycle.
“We should really get going. I have to be beautiful and intriguing on the red carpet tonight for this incredibly sexy, modest guy who’s helping me pull something over on the tabloids.” She stood but before she could move away, Chase hooked his fingers through hers.
“I don’t want tonight to be the last night.”
She smiled, a little curve to her lips and a light dancing in her eyes. “I don’t, either.”
“So we’ll see where this goes after tonight?”
Nina nodded and stepped forward to stand between his thighs. She lifted a hand to his chest and he knew she could feel his racing heartbeat through the thin cotton. Her answer was important, more important than he had imagined it could be only five days ago.
He waited. Nina caught her full lower lip between her teeth and stared at him, eyes wide as if she might see something she had missed up to this point if she could only see more of him. Chase had no idea how to help her see him. See through the celebrity that he’d learned to wear like a comfortable jacket.
See a man, waiting to hear words he never thought he would want to hear.
“My life is kind of crazy right now. I’m going to try to buy Wright Attraction from my father’s company. There’s a board meeting at noon and I’ve been summoned.” She squeezed his hand. “What I’m trying to say is that I don’t know how much time I can take away from the office. This week has been wonderful but—”
“You’ll convince him. And we’ll keep the tabloids off the scandal as long as it takes.” Chase interrupted, pulling her against him. “But from here on out, it’s real. Whatever we can give, we give.” He liked her, he realized, more than he’d liked anyone—save his family—in his entire life. Lily’s words rang in his ears.
When you open your eyes to everything Nina can be, don’t run from it this time.