He’d meant it as a joke and tried to laugh, but she didn’t.
They sat on the edge of the bed and looked out toward the ocean. “You know all work and no play can’t be good for you, Chase.” She took a drink from her bottle. He wondered at the concern in her voice. She couldn’t have known about what happened to him. Not unless she’d called her sister? But since there was no cell reception on the island, he figured that couldn’t be it.
Maybe, despite everything, she did care?
“I mean, we all need hobbies or something to do away from work,” she continued. “I know! You should come by the studio for some dance lessons. I have this one instructor, Veronica, she’s really good at helping people loosen up. Plus, she’s this smoking hot redhead, so that should really help you take your mind off of work, if you know what I mean.”
Chase chuckled. “Thanks, but you will never ever see me on a dance floor. I only do things that I’m good at and I know I’ll never be good at that. Besides, if on the off chance I’d ever consider taking a lesson, the only smoking hot instructor I’d want to put my hands on would be you.”
The moment he said the words, the energy between them shifted. They turned at the same time to look at each other. The moonlight and the glow from the cabana’s lanterns illuminated her face. She’d never looked so beautiful, or so confused.
He couldn’t blame her.
The night of John and Cassandra’s rehearsal dinner, they’d gone from polite conversation about favorite movies to fucking each other’s brains out in a matter of hours. He’d never acted so reckless or so wild before, especially with a woman he’d just barely met. His sexual encounters usually involved three dates and much less alcohol. But there was something about Rio that made him honestly forget who he was. So, when she’d asked him to stay the night in her hotel room and take the morning off from work so they could fuck even more, he’d agreed.
It wasn’t until he’d made it into the office later that he’d realized she’d turned his phone off sometime in the middle of the night. When a major client showed up at the office after not being able to reach Chase on the phone, George had tried to fix things, but only made it worse with his incompetence and lack of knowledge. They ended up losing the client that day and Chase and George spent the rest of the afternoon getting reamed by their father.
In turn, Chase had just grown angrier at his brother. Had George ever bothered to learn about their clients in the first place, he could’ve saved the account. Instead, he didn’t care about business or family obligations like Chase did. George did what he wanted, when he wanted. And Rio, well, she was the type of woman who could make a man forget those obligations. He didn’t need that kind of distraction. Not if he was going to take over the company one day. So, he’d ignored her texts and tried to stay away from her before the wedding.
Then, right before the ceremony, she’d confronted him. At first he’d blamed it on work, but when she kept pushing, he’d lost his temper. “It was just sex. I thought you knew that. I’m sorry if it meant something to you, but it didn’t mean anything to me.”
It had been harsh and he’d thought he actually saw her flinch. To her credit, she’d shrugged him off. “That’s all you had to say. It was a one-time thing, and I’m cool with that,” she’d said. “And, don’t worry, I’m not going to go all stalker on you or anything. Sheesh. Get over yourself.”
For the rest of the night, she’d stayed away from him. Just like he thought he had wanted her too.
And that’s when their awkward dance began. He had to work hard to push away his desire for her—to forget how it had felt to be inside her. And every time he was forced to be around her, the harder it was not to remember. The fact that she always made it perfectly obvious that she’d regretted their one-time encounter did nothing to quell his attraction. It only reminded him to hide it better.
Maybe it was time to stop hiding.
“I’ve missed you, Rio. Tonight has really made it clear to me just how much. I’ve missed talking to you. I’ve missed laughing with you. I’ve missed touching you.”
He moved closer, but she stood up. “Chase, I think you should know—”
“Look, I know I fucked everything up, and I’ve deserved everything that’s happened, but—”
“I’m sorry,” she interrupted him, “but I can’t do this again. I have to go.”
She hugged herself and started back.
His chest tightened and his breath caught in his throat, but not like before. If he didn’t do something or say something now, he’d never forgive himself. And no hospital stay or mandatory vacation could cure regret like that.
So he followed her.
“I was an asshole!” he yelled, making sure she heard him over the crashing waves.
“Yes, you were,” she yelled, not stopping to even turn around.
She reached the villa’s patio first and he grabbed her wrist before she got to the door.
“Rio,” he said when she finally looked at him again.
“I know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work. I don’t want you anymore.”
Her gaze dropped and it was the sign he needed. It was time to stop playing games and tell her what he really meant.
Slowly, Chase pulled her toward him. “Make me believe you,” he whispered as he searched her eyes. “Tell me I wasn’t the one you were dreaming about today. Tell me the memory of me fucking you isn’t what made you touch yourself in your sleep or make those sweet moans come out of that perfect mouth of yours. Tell me one more time that you don’t want me and I’ll let you go.”
* * * *
OF COURSE SHE STILL WANTED HIM.
That’s why she was always so on edge whenever he was around. Her pride wouldn’t let her show him that she still thought about their one night together. So she had done everything to make him believe the opposite.
She didn’t want to want him.
Yet when he stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb and moved his face closer to hers, her resolve to push him away nearly evaporated.
Nearly.
“You said it yourself. We’re too different. We don’t work well together,” she whispered and met his gaze head on.
He pulled her against him fully, and she felt his growing arousal. “I was wrong. There’s one thing we both know that we do together pretty fucking well.”
Chase whispered the last few words against her mouth. When she didn’t protest, he pushed in for a kiss. Warm, soft, and tentative.
It was nice, but nothing she couldn’t walk away from. That is until his tongue swiped her bottom lip and jolted alive every sense, every nerve, making the rest of her resolve shatter in his arms. Sighing, she grabbed his shirt with both hands and kissed him back with fervor. His arms wrapped around her body, hugging her as if she might be carried away by the ocean breeze.
Their kisses turned hard and demanding, almost punishing. As if each of them had a price to pay for withholding such pleasure for so long.
“God, I almost forgot how good you taste. So fucking sweet, like cherry,” he mumbled in between kisses. “I want to taste you everywhere. Please tell me you’re going to let me?”
The thought of him licking her somewhere else made her legs weak in anticipation. “Yes, yes I’ll let you.” She gasped as his hand moved underneath her dress and cupped her through her silk panties. Then he slipped a finger past her thong and inside her slick folds. They both groaned at the contact.
“So wet. Just for me. All for me,” he said into her ear before nibbling on the lobe. “Tell me, do you get this wet when you dream about me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Do you get so wet that you have to touch yourself like I’m touching you right now.”
“Yesssss.”
“Do you wish I was touching your hot slick pussy with my tongue instead of my fingers.”
“Dios mio, yes,” she said on a moan.
“Then I think it’s time to go inside.”
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He removed his hand from between her legs and continued to kiss her as they moved together through the open patio door. When they reached the living room, he helped her out of her jacket and then put both hands on her shoulders and directed her to sit on the edge of a leather chaise lounge.
Chase knelt in front of her and spread her knees open. “I’ve wanted to do this again for so fucking long.”
She finally admitted to herself that she’d wanted the same damn thing.
He pushed her dress up and slid her panties down and tossed them to the side. Then he kissed the inside of each thigh and they trembled in response. When his mouth finally latched on to her, instinctively her hips bucked and she gasped in sheer satisfaction. With one long, slow lick, he set her on fire. She leaned back on her elbows and closed her eyes.
“You taste so good,” he said. Chase grabbed the backs of her knees and spread her open even further. He tongued her clit with determined but quick strokes, each one helping her climb to the top of a rumbling volcano of gratification. And when two fingers pushed inside her, she screamed and finally imploded.
Like the waves outside, pleasure rolled over her body, crashing so hard that they left her trembling in their wake. She was still quivering when Chase picked her up and carried her to his bedroom. Rio opened her eyes as he put her down gently on the bed. Without speaking, he helped her pull her dress over her head and then unhooked her bra.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” he finally whispered before taking one nipple into his mouth. She moaned and dug her nails into his shoulders. After licking and sucking the other breast, he stood up and took off his own clothes.
Her breath caught at the sight of his naked body. She’d seen it before, of course, but two years ago she hadn’t taken the time to really look at it. To adore it like she could now.
“I love the way you’re looking at me,” he said. “Touch yourself like I know you want to.”
She obeyed without hesitation. One hand reached for her breast, still warm and wet from his tongue. The other moved between her legs straight to the tight bundle of nerves. Pure erotic lust zoomed through her as she watched him stroke his erection.
It was almost too much. She couldn’t wait any longer.
“Now, Chase. I need you inside me, now,” she moaned.
He stopped stroking himself and went to the bedside table. He opened the drawer and pulled out a foil packet. She’d wondered for a second if he’d brought them with him to the island, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he was ready for her.
After sheathing himself, he knelt on the bed and spread her legs open. He grabbed his shaft and rubbed the tip over her throbbing clit.
“God, baby, I want to push myself inside you so bad, but I’m afraid the moment I start I won’t be able to stop.”
“Who says you have to stop?” She met his eyes and dared him to answer.
Instead, he slowly filled her. “Dammit Rio, you’re so wet,” he groaned from above her. “And your pussy is so tight. Just like I remember.”
Then he pulled out and pushed himself again. She lifted her hips so he could sink into her all the way and he thrust into her in earnest. He leaned down and took a nipple into his mouth. The rumble of a second orgasm started to build as he pumped harder and faster.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she moaned as she threaded her arms under his and clawed at his back.
“That’s right. Come again for me, Rio. Let me feel your pussy tightening around my cock so I can come too.”
It was the trigger she needed and she raced toward her climax, collapsing at its feet and surrendering to the fall. Above her, Chase threw his head back and shouted. Then his body stilled for a second before finally erupting into tremors. They groaned together and she held on to him until his breathing slowed and her pulse normalized.
Her heart, however, was still beating like crazy even hours later.
Chapter Five
CHASE ROLLED OVER ONTO his side and put his arm out expecting to touch bare skin. He only got a handful of the comforter. He opened his eyes. The other side of his bed was empty.
Rio was gone.
He sat up and looked around the room. There was no sight of her or her dress that he remembered being on the floor next to the bed. The smell of freshly brewed coffee awoke him even more and he smiled. After pulling on a pair of shorts, he made his way to the kitchen, expecting to find his overnight guest in what he hoped was only a towel or sheet. Something he could easily pull off and properly tell her good morning.
But the kitchen was empty and so were the living room and patio. There was no sign of her anywhere. He rubbed his eyes and headed for the coffeemaker. The pot was full and a single mug sat next to it. Inside was a curled up piece of paper.
Chase pulled it out and read the note:
Hey,
Sorry I had to leave without saying goodbye. We totally overslept and I had to run home and get ready for a lunch date with Marco and his mom. I promised I’d go shopping with her at some of the stores on the other island. I’ll be back by dinner. Why don’t you stop by the club and meet me there around eight so we can talk? Thanks for a great night!
Rio
His uneasiness from earlier returned. Although she hadn’t completely blown him off, it still seemed strange that she’d pretty much sneaked out of his villa. At least she had asked him to meet her for dinner. That had to be a sign that she wasn’t regretting their night together.
Or, maybe she wanted to meet with him so she could tell him exactly that?
He tried not to let his mind believe that having sex with him had been part of some sort of master plan to get back at him for what happened two years ago. The more he thought about it though, the less likely he believed it. Rio wasn’t the kind of woman who slept with someone out of revenge. He might not have spent that much time with her, but his gut told him she wouldn’t do that to him.
So, whatever she was going to tell him at dinner, he’d have to listen to and accept. They were stuck together on a remote island, for Christ’s sake. What other choice did he have?
* * * *
A FEW HOURS LATER, Chase walked into the Isla Bonita Bar & Grill ready to see Rio again. He’d spent the day trying to distract himself from thinking too much about what would happen between them at dinner, or after dinner.
When he finally spotted her at a table, everything else in the bar faded away and he focused only on her.
That’s why it wasn’t until he reached the table that he realized she wasn’t sitting alone. Her dance partner Marco, an older woman, and another man sat with her. And they were all laughing and having way too much of a good time.
“Chase! You came!” She stood up and he thought she was going to kiss him on the lips. But she only pecked him on the cheek before motioning to the seat next to her. “Look, I saved this spot just for you.”
He noticed her bright eyes and easy laugh. She was trying way too hard, but for who?
“Hey Chase, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Marco said with a nod. “How are you enjoying your stay on the island?”
He looked at Rio and tried to decipher the look she was giving him. “It’s fine, I guess. I’m not really a fan of the sun, or the sand, or the ocean though, so I’m probably not the best reviewer.”
Marco gave him a half-smile, while Rio laughed out loud. Again, what was with the act? He raised an eyebrow at her when she finally calmed down. “Chase, let me make the rest of the introductions. This is Esperanza, Marco’s mother, and this is Carlo Mancini. He’s a developer from Italy who’s interested in buying the island.”
Then it all made perfect sense.
Chase spent the rest of the dinner trying to talk up the island as much as he could. He knew that Rio appreciated his effort, and she was able to calm down a little and relax. At one point, she even rested her hand on his knee under the table. It stirred his cock awake and right then he was ready for dinner to be over.
Unfortunately, Carlo M
ancini didn’t get the memo.
He kept talking and talking about his resorts in other countries and on more than one occasion invited Rio to stay at them. The more wine he drank, the more flirty Carlo became. His degree of drunkenness was starting to equal Chase’s degree of annoyance. Especially once Marco and Rio started performing. The lust shone in Carlo’s eyes as he watched her move on the dance floor.
After two dances, Carlo apparently decided he’d had enough of watching. He walked up to Rio, grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Marco. Chase jumped to his feet, but she met his eyes and shook her head.
Marco returned to the table and told Chase to sit down. “Rio is a big girl. She can handle herself with a snake like Carlo.”
Although he didn’t want to, Chase took a seat. “Why are you guys wining and dining him? Shouldn’t the owners be doing that if they want him to buy the resort?”
“He’s only one of two developers interested. We found out today that Carlo’s other resorts have onsite dance studios and paid instructors and they cater to couples which means Carlo’s’ company would probably keep the island pretty much the same. The other developer owns more family-friendly hotels and he’s already told the owner his plans to build a ten-story complex in the middle of the island and knock down some of the villas in order to put in more shops and restaurants.”
“So you want Carlo to buy the island.”
“Not just me. The owner and the rest of the staff do too. When we found out Rio was coming, we made sure he’d be here since he’s known for wanting to schmooze with celebrities.”
“And I’m sure it helps that she looks like that,” Chase said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Well, it doesn’t hurt,” he said.
Chase looked over again at Rio and Carlo and his blood boiled. The man with thick leather skin and a too-white smile kept moving his hands down Rio’s back and settling on her ass. To her credit, she’d only let them stay there for a second or two before pulling them back up.
Come Undone: Romance Stories Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran Page 58