by Candis Terry
Her heart gave an unexpected twist.
She’d been hoping that tonight he’d be impressed enough with her cooking to tell her he had a place for her in his restaurant.
“And no matter how damned attracted to you I am”—his darkened gaze searched her face—“I can’t promise you anything more than this one night. In any way.”
The disappointment of not snagging the job tonight dissipated when he openly admitted he was attracted to her. The feeling was on-fire want it, need it, gotta have it mutual.
“Parker?” Despite her outward confidence as her fingers toyed with a button on his shirt, butterflies battled like fighter planes in her stomach. “May I call you Parker? Or would you prefer I call you Chef?”
“Depends on what you’re going to say next.”
“I’m obviously attracted to you.” And she was. Foolishly so. Common sense told her to stop. Back away. Keep this on a professional level only. But all the hormone related circuits in her body were clicking on full charge, and common sense became completely null and void. She wanted him. And she wanted him bad. “So how about we say the audition and the business part of tonight is over. Whatever happens next is strictly off the clock.”
“Then please”—a smile that turned her inside out lifted his sexy mouth—“call me Parker.”
“How about”—she trailed her fingers down the short row of buttons on his Henley shirt—“we just stop talking altogether?”
“I like where you’re going with this.” He lifted her fingers and kissed them.
“So we’re on the same page?” she asked. “One night. A good time. Then tomorrow it’s back to business?”
“Definitely.” His hand on her waist slipped a little lower and lust darkened his eyes. “One night only.”
“Right here?” she asked.
“Right now.”
She slid her hand up his sleeve and enjoyed the warm, thick muscle beneath the soft fabric. “Then shut up and kiss me, Parker.”
His name left her lips on a brief sigh as he pulled her against his hard body, lowered his head, and did just that.
He pulled her closer, settled his hands on her butt, and urged her to the toes of her boots. His firm, warm lips opened against hers and he fed her deliciously wet, breath-stealing kisses. His tongue tangled with hers. Teased and tempted her to lose absolutely all control.
When she curled her arms around his neck, he rocked his long, thick erection against her, proving that anything going on right now only had to do with one man, one woman, and a whole hell of a lot of sexual promise.
He shifted her around until the dining table pressed into her backside. Then he moved between her thighs, lifted his head, and cradled her face in one hand while the other gently cupped her breast. “Right here?”
“As quickly as possible.” She curled her fingers into the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. Unable to resist, she pressed her lips to the ripple of abdominal muscles. His warm skin smelled fresh, like soap, cotton, and desirable male.
Desire raged through her blood and consumed her as she looked up at him. “I want you, Parker. I want you now.”
He held her face in his large hands. “I’m not looking for a fast fuck, Gabriella. My body might disagree, but I don’t care if you have somewhere else to be,” he added in a deep, sexy tone that vibrated against her breasts. “One night is all we have. So I’m taking my time.”
Lust and heat darkened his eyes. And while he claimed to be in no hurry, he wasted no time in unbuttoning her chef’s coat and tossing it to a chair before he laid her back on the table.
He looked her over, softly touching her here and there—the sensitive skin in the crook of her arms, the palms of her hands, her face, her breasts, and between her legs. When he leaned in and trailed a line of scorching kisses down the side of her neck, every cell and nerve in her body came alive. All she could do was grab his shoulders and hold on.
“By all means, take your time,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“That’s good.” His breath rasped hot and moist against her ear while his talented hands snuck beneath her dress. “But these panties are.”
The significance of his words vibrated between her legs as he moved down her body, kissing her through the fabric of her dress until he stood between her legs wearing a smile dripping with naughtiness. Slowly he eased the dress all the way up her thighs until her black lace panties were exposed.
“Mmmm.” He lowered his head and kissed her stomach, then he moved lower and kissed the inside of each thigh. “Even better than I’ve been imagining.”
He’d been imagining her naked?
Oh, they were definitely on the same page.
His finger traced over the lace edges then dipped beneath to teasingly touch her skin before he curled a finger and tugged the scrap of fabric down her legs.
“The boots?” He lifted a dark brow. “They stay.”
A shudder of anticipation rippled over Gabi’s body as he drew the panties down over her boots and stuffed them in the back pocket of his jeans.
She grinned. “Keepsake?”
“Just the start.” He planted several hot, slick kisses on her abdomen. “I plan to take a whole lot more before the night’s over.”
At any other time with any other man, she might feel self-conscious being spread out like Thanksgiving dinner. But the sexual heat in his eyes shoved her apprehension right off the table.
His hands slid up her legs and settled beneath her. Then he pulled her toward him until her bottom was at the edge of the table.
When he leaned down to kiss her mouth, the denim of his jeans touched her bare skin and his erection pressed against her mound. The pulsing heat tempted her to wrap her legs around him and rub against him until she came.
Before she could move he slipped from her embrace and paid attention to her breasts with his mouth over the fabric of her dress. Beneath his skillful caress her nipples peaked and ached for the warm, wet recess of his mouth, skin to skin.
He whipped the dress over her head and tossed it on a nearby chair. He did the same with her black lace bra and before she knew it, aside from her boots, she was completely naked on the table where she’d just served him dinner.
“Damn.” Smiling, he shook his head slowly. “I hope you’re up for a long night.”
“I hope you’re up for it.” She sat up, cupped her palm over his erection, and gave him a good squeeze. He pushed against her hand and she smiled.
“That should tell you I am.”
“It does. But I’m also a very . . . visual person.” She pressed her lips to his bare chest and swept her tongue across a flat brown nipple while reaching for his zipper. “And since your towel gave me only a hint, I’m eager to see the entire package.”
“I’m all yours.” He held his hands up in surrender.
She did appreciate a man who didn’t mind handing over the reins when she wanted to exhibit a little control.
Like a slow tease, she lowered the zipper on his jeans and pushed the pair of black boxer briefs down his slim hips and perfect ass. His erection sprang free and she curled her fingers around him.
“Impressive.” And he was. Very. Suddenly she felt very greedy.
For a moment he let her touch him, stroke him, and test the weight of his testicles. Then he took her hands off of him and laid her back on the table.
“Did I pass?” he asked, mirroring her earlier question.
Nodding, she licked her lips.
“Just a yes? Let’s see if I can gain some extra points.”
Without hesitation, he skated moist, hot kisses down the side of her neck and then he cupped her breasts in his hands. Her back arched when he licked, and sucked, then blew warm air across her peaked nipples.
When she moaned he smiled against her cleavage.
“Are you a good girl, Gabriella?” He covered a nipple with his mouth, sucked it hard, then released it with a pop. “Or do you like to get a littl
e dirty?”
The question heightened her awareness and raised goose bumps on her skin. Her fingers shoveled through his long hair and she lifted his head.
“I want good.” She pressed her mouth to his. “And dirty.”
“My kind of woman.” He slipped from her grasp to kiss and lick his way down her body.
Each touch of his mouth and tongue sent fire through her veins. She ached and throbbed for more. And just when she thought she couldn’t stand the delicious torture, he was between her legs. He touched her, played with her, made her moan out loud. His fingers parted her folds, then he pressed his warm tongue against her clit.
Pleasure whipped through her abdomen and her back arched off the tabletop as his warm, slick tongue lapped up and down and slid into her core.
The more he licked and sucked, the more her heart beat like crazy. As the pressure built and heat skyrocketed, she became a writhing, whimpering mass of need. Release was only a breath away and Gabi feared he would stop and make her beg for more.
But he didn’t stop.
Sensing she was on the edge, his hands dove beneath her butt and he lifted her closer to his mouth. His hot tongue swept in like a flash of fire, and she exploded.
Even as she came, he continued to lick. Her body trembled as she climaxed like never before. Easing the pressure, he continued to lick her until the trembling quieted. Then he lifted his head and those blue eyes looked up at her from across her body.
“That”—she rose to her elbows—“was amazing. But . . .”
He came upright and she sat up.
“I know you’ve got a lot more to show me.” She wrapped her fingers around his erection, gave him a long stroke, and then she cupped his balls in her hand with a gentle squeeze. “And I want more.”
A wicked grin crossed his lips as his hand covered hers on his dick. Together they rubbed the thick swollen head between her slick folds. Her sensitive flesh tingled as he teased her back to life.
Letting go of his cock, he grabbed the foil packet he’d laid on the table.
“Let me do that.” Anxious to feel him inside, she rolled the coiled latex down his long shaft. Then she lay back on the table and held out her arms. “Now, show me how dirty you can be.”
“Are you giving me permission?” He slid his hands up her thighs, her belly, and over her breasts. Desire rushed through her veins as he sucked one swollen nipple into his mouth, glided his tongue along the crest, and gave it a hard pull with his lips.
“I’m giving you a challenge.”
And then they were face to face.
Skin to skin.
“Tell me what you want, dirty girl.”
“I want you inside me. And I don’t want you to stop until I scream.”
“Fuck. Yes.” His hands gripped her butt and tilted her hips. Then he pushed inside her, hard and deep.
Parker closed his eyes and groaned as he gripped her firm ass, and sank into Gabriella’s heat with a surge of heart pounding pleasure. Tension wound low and tight as his thrusts sank deeper. He wanted to fuck her hard and fast. He wanted to hear her scream. He wanted to feel a hot orgasm shoot up the back of his legs and through his cock. But she felt too damn good to go fast. They had one night and he wanted this to last.
She moaned his name and wrapped her legs around him and drew him in tighter like she couldn’t get enough. So he gave her more.
There was no space between them. They’d become one, moving together like a synchronized fireworks display. Hearts pounding in one feverish rhythm.
“More, Parker,” she moaned. “Give me more.”
His balls tightened at the sound of her plea, and he was determined to give her everything she wanted.
“Harder. Please. Harder.”
Jesus, the woman was going to kill him.
Not that he minded going out like this.
He grabbed her hips and pumped harder. She was hot, slick, and tight, and she surrounded him like a fitted glove. The friction was crazy and when her inner muscles tightened around him, he almost lost control.
Almost.
He shifted inside of her to make sure he touched that inner spot he knew would send her over the edge. And he knew he’d found the right place when her breathing increased and her moans became desperate little pants of breath.
“Oh. Oh, Parker.” She surged up, grabbed his ass, and pulled him in tighter. “Oh. My. God!”
A screaming growl broke loose from her throat as she came.
Heart pounding, he broke into out-of-control thrusting pleasure as they came together in a breath-stealing explosion that left both of them gasping for air.
They moved from the kitchen to the bathroom, where he’d bent her over and shown her how dirty and satisfying shower sex could be. Later they ended up in his bed, where she took control and showed him how fucking mind-blowing it could be with a woman on top.
Hours later, thoroughly sated and taking pleasure in the feel of the curvy woman in his arms, Parker finally closed his eyes.
He’d promised her one night only, but damn, she was one of a kind. It was going to be hard to let her go.
But that’s exactly what he had to do. No matter how badly he might want to go back for more.
Gray clouds swollen with rain darkened the morning sky as Parker blinked his eyes open and stretched. The first thing he noticed was the fragrance of a woman. The second thing he noticed, as he reached for her, was that his bed was empty. The sheets where she should have been lying were cold. Which meant she’d abandoned them long ago.
Thunder—unusual for a November morning—rumbled across the sky as Parker swung his legs off the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. He didn’t bother to zip them up as he headed both shirtless and barefoot into the rest of the house to search for her. But before he even reached the living room he knew he was completely alone.
The kitchen had been spotlessly cleaned. Every dish, every pot, pan, spoon, and spatula had been washed and put away. The dining room table, where he’d laid her out and feasted on her body like a dessert buffet, was wiped down and the chairs were put back in place. There was no sign that she’d been there at all except for the faint lingering perfume of her warm, luscious body.
He didn’t know whether to be pissed that she’d left without a word or to laugh because he didn’t have to deal with an awkward morning after. Most of all he worried that she’d made it home safely. He reached for his phone to call and check, then realized he didn’t have her number.
Tossing his phone on the counter, he smiled. He’d been treated to a delicious meal prepared by a delectable woman. He’d had an amazing, unforgettable night of sex. And he’d been spared the whole don’t call me, I’ll call you routine when the sun came up.
Holy shit.
Now he really had to like her.
Too bad he didn’t have any idea of how to get ahold of her, because even though casual sex may have always been his game, he never left a woman’s bed without her knowing how much he appreciated and enjoyed the experience.
Apparently Gabriella didn’t use the same MO.
He crossed the room and glanced outside at the low-hanging clouds and the mist hovering over the river. It was a perfect day to sleep in, or at least stay between the sheets with someone warm and sexy. Since that wasn’t an option, he needed to get moving.
Saturdays were normally a welcome and badly needed day off, but with Groomzilla breathing down his neck and the calendar reminding him that there were only a few weeks until Thanksgiving and then Groomzilla’s wedding, Parker had to get his clothes on and get busy.
An hour later he stood in the center of his soon-to-be restaurant, zipping up his coat to ward off the chill, and helping the construction crew decide exactly where to break out the back wall for the patio doors Lili had suggested.
But even with the roar of a power saw grinding in his ears, thoughts of Gabriella moaning his name as she wrapped her legs around him did not dissipate as fast as he’d expected. Not that
he didn’t appreciate the women he’d been with in the past, but Gabriella had definitely upped the game. Without a doubt, last night had been the best no strings sex of his life.
Gabriella dropped food pellets into Basil’s bowl then leaned her elbows on the counter to watch him eat.
“You know, you really don’t need to be such a Mr. Cranky Pants. I’d be more than happy to get you a friend if you’d give up the whole fight-to-the-death thing.”
The flashy betta fish gobbled up a food pellet and fanned his red tail as if he disputed her comment.
“Yeah. That’s what I figured.”
Fortunately, humans seemed a little more receptive to pairing up. At least once in a while. Even this morning, her body still hummed from last night. Thanks to Parker, every cell, every nerve in her body was as alive as if she’d touched a wild current. His touch had been gentle, possessive, hungry, electrifying. His mouth had created sensations in her body she’d never known could exist. He’d been powerful yet tender. And she’d lapped it up like a starving woman.
The man had lived up to everything her fantasies had created.
Crawling from his warm embrace in the middle of the night had been nothing short of torture. But before she’d stepped foot in his houseboat, she’d made a mental list of things to do and things to avoid at all costs. She’d broken damn near every one of them.
For all intents and purposes, she needed to retract the crazy thoughts floating through her sexually satisfied mind. Thoughts like how she wouldn’t mind a repeat performance.
But that couldn’t happen.
Not only had he made it clear they had one night and one night only, she couldn’t afford to expect or even want more. Not even if the hours they’d spent in each other’s arms, wrapped around each other’s bodies in positions she’d never even dreamed of before, were unforgettable. But no matter how mind-blowing the sex had been, it had nothing to do with the work she wanted to perform in his restaurant.