by Nicki Night
“We never could get them to move here with us,” Mrs. Chandler said, shaking her head as if the effort was exhausting.
“Maybe one day,” Mr. Chandler added, patting Mrs. Chandler’s hand.
The tender way he regarded his wife made Serenity smile.
Chris looked at his watch. “I need to get Serenity home.” He stood and stretched. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
“Good night, dear.” El wrapped her arms around Chris and then Serenity.
He gave his father a firm shake and kissed each sister.
“I need to head out too. Donovan’s flight gets in around nine thirty,” Chloe said.
“He’s been traveling a lot lately, hasn’t he?” Mrs. Chandler asked.
“Yeah. They’re finalizing plans for their second hotel in Puerto Rico. You all have to come down with us for the grand opening. Serenity, have you been to Puerto Rico?”
“Not yet, but it’s on my list.”
“Then you should come with us. My fiancé and his partners are opening up a new resort there. It’s going to be amazing.”
They were all talking as if Serenity and Chris were already an official item. “That sounds wonderful.” Her noncommittal reply was polite, but this was day one of meeting the family. She wouldn’t allow her hopes to climb too high. Chris had some proving to do, but Serenity had to admit that he was off to a great start.
“It was great getting to know you, Serenity,” Chloe said, grabbing her purse.
“Ditto!” Jade said, standing, as well. She gave Serenity a kiss on her cheek. “I’m out of here too. Gotta get up early tomorrow. Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad.” Jade continued her round of kisses.
After everyone had said their goodbyes, Serenity and Chris were back in the car, heading toward her house.
“You have a really nice family.”
“They’re pretty cool. My sisters can be a pain in my butt sometimes, but they come in handy.”
“What?” Serenity giggled. “You’re so wrong for that.”
Chris laced his fingers between hers. The energy between them was pleasantly familiar as if they’d been seeing each other for several years. She’d never imagined that responding to his message on a dating site would lead to this moment, this week or this day. He had actually introduced her to his parents. That was a huge step considering the small amount of time. This relationship was going somewhere fast. Besides the identity glitch, she was enjoying the pace. Chris was right—when it felt right, time didn’t matter.
Cocooned in companionable silence, Serenity watched the scenery go by like a silent film. Her hand was still in Chris’s. She couldn’t help but feel like she’d happened upon a prince. He was handsome, charming and apparently had grown up in a darn castle, by Serenity’s terms. She could get lost in his family’s house for days. She glanced over at him. His eyes were glued to the dark road. Though he hadn’t turned to her, he smiled and squeezed her hand, acknowledging her attention. Serenity rested her head against the chair, closed her eyes, sighed and smiled.
She awoke disoriented. She looked up and saw that Chris had parked facing the door to her apartment. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Yep. You snore like a hibernating bear!”
Serenity gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth. Her face burned with embarrassment. “Really?”
Chris laughed. “No. I was kidding.”
“Chris,” she whined. “Did I really?”
“No, you didn’t.”
Serenity swatted him. “You’re so wrong for that too.” She adjusted herself in the seat and squinted at her watch. “How long have we been here?”
“About ten minutes.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You were sleeping so well—and beautifully.”
A demure smile spread across her lips. “It was nice meeting your family.” There was more she wanted to say about that but held her tongue. What did this really mean for them?
“I’m glad you had a good time.”
A yawn escaped her, and she quickly covered her mouth. “Oh! Excuse me. I guess I should get going. Thanks for a nice day. Dinner was great, and meeting your family was amazing. Your sisters are hilarious.”
Chris pushed his door open, rounded the car to the other side and offered a hand to help her out.
“Thanks.”
They walked the few steps to her doorstep and faced each other. Their gazes met and locked for several silent moments. Chris leaned forward. His kiss was like the brush of a feather. Despite the softness, electrifying currents shot through Serenity, igniting a hunger. She reached a hand behind his back and pulled him to her.
He slid his arms around her back and kissed her deeper. “You know what I like about you?”
“What?”
“You seem so unfazed by your own beauty.”
She blushed. “Thanks—I guess. Was that a compliment?”
Chris nodded. She giggled, still flush from his comment. He swallowed her laugh with another kiss. Immediately, those flashes of electricity returned. Chris kissed her like he’d never let go. She certainly didn’t want him to. She held on tighter. He pulled her closer. They kissed, breathed, reconnected and continued that pattern. Despite the coolness of the spring night’s air, warmth rose in her. Lost in the kiss, she’d temporarily forgotten where she was. The instinctive moan rising in her throat pulled her back into reality. She ended the kiss to catch her breath. Arching her back exposed her neck. Chris planted a trail of kisses there.
“Come inside,” she whispered.
“Serenity.” His voice was low and husky.
She put her finger across his lips. “I want you to come inside.” She knew what she was asking. The promise indicated by the way he kissed her was the catalyst for her boldness.
“Are you sure?”
Serenity returned a breathless “Yes.”
He kissed her one more passionate time, generating an elevated level of heat between them. She fumbled with the keys, slipped them into the lock and swung the door open. Without parting, they walked through the door, connected by a kiss. She kicked the door closed and turned the lock.
A wave of urgent passion shot through her. A hungry need compelled her. Serenity tugged at his jeans. In haste he fumbled with his belt until his pants slipped down to his ankles. She pushed his shirt up, exposing his taut chest. She kissed his nipples. Chris pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it. Bare-chested, he drew her closer, removed her shirt and swiftly unclipped her bra. She pressed her exposed breasts against his torso. His rigid erection strained against her stomach. Their skin was hot to the touch.
Serenity groaned in anticipation. Chris unbuckled her jeans and shimmied them past her rounded hips. She removed her mouth from the sweet savor of his lips and looked around.
“Over there.” She pointed to the dining table.
He stepped out of his dangling pants and placed his foot on the seat of hers so she could remove them, as well. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his back. Moisture pooled at her center as he carried her to the table and laid her down. He moved a chair aside to give them clearance before turning his full attention back on Serenity. For a moment, he just stared into her eyes as she lay with her back against the teak wood. His smile spoke of his appreciation. He touched her as if he were handling a precious work of art, fingering her lips, neck, breasts and navel with gentle caresses. His lips explored the same path hers had on him the moment before. Serenity squirmed under the blazing trail he’d left against her skin. She moaned again.
“Are you sure?” Chris asked.
Serenity nodded her head. She knew what she was doing, and she knew what she wanted.
“Wait here.” After another peck on her swollen lips, Chris left her there for a quick moment in search of his p
ants. Digging in his pockets, he retrieved a square foil package and returned to her.
Her loins pulsated in anticipation of him. He tasted her. Serenity’s breath caught when his tongue flicked across her bud. He learned her quickly, responding most to the gestures that produced hisses, groans and gasps, repeating them until a sharp orgasm ripped through her, rendering her immobile for a moment. He lapped at the juices flowing from her until she was too tender to stand his touch any longer. Seconds later, she wiggled from his gasp, panting and convulsing. She pushed him away. Immediately he sheathed himself and entered her. The walls of her womanhood clenched around him. He released a guttural grunt.
He started with a deliberate grind, maneuvering himself in circular motions, the pleasure so intense she thought she’d burst into thousands of tiny pieces. She grasped at the table. Her body reacted of its own volition. She milked his erection with a snug grip, matching his motions. He groaned, increasing his tempo a notch. Leaning forward, he pressed his chest against hers and nibbled on her lips as he drove himself inside her in long, deep measures. She threw her arms around him, and her touch must have taken him higher.
Chris pumped with a new level of urgency. Serenity panted and squeezed him tighter. He applied a distinct groan to each thrust, which grew louder and longer until they strung together like one long guttural note.
“Oh,” Serenity chanted over and over again.
Chris called her name. Her “ohs” turned to “ahs,” adding harmony to their erotic song—a crescendo of ecstasy led them to the edge of sanity. Temporarily blinded by the intense pleasure, Serenity saw white flashes of light. Her body trembled as she gushed a blissful release. Chris bucked wildly and then pushed himself inside as far as he could manage. Body spasms arrested his mobility as life emptied from him. He shuddered and collapsed on top of her, breathing as if he’d finished a marathon. She wrapped her arms around him tighter. A few random tremors flowed through him. He kissed her molten skin until their heart rates descended to a normal pace.
He picked her limp body up and carried her to the bed. She lay curled in his arms with her back to his protective chest. She was glad she’d given him a second chance and couldn’t imagine being in a better place.
Chapter 20
“What did you do to me?” Chris tried to sound serious.
“What do you mean?” It worked. Serenity seemed alarmed.
“I think you put something on me.” He laughed. Hearing her voice on the phone made him wish he could see her face.
“Oh!” Serenity sucked her teeth. “Silly. You made me nervous. I should ask you the same thing. I didn’t want you to leave last night, even though I was still exhausted from not getting any sleep the night before. I’m going to have to ration myself with you.” He heard her yawn.
“Don’t start that.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m tired, and it’s all your fault. What time did you even leave last night?”
“You mean this morning.”
“Well, yeah. I guess.” She chuckled. The sound was like a warm caress to his ear.
“I have to be honest with you. I have never, ever—” he stressed “—stayed over at a woman’s house two nights in a row for any reason. This whole thing has me...” Chris stopped abruptly. His emotions confounded him. The things he wanted to say had to be conveyed in person.
“What?”
“We’ll talk about that later.”
“You’re being mysterious again, Mr. Chandler?”
Chris chuckled. “I called to ask about your schedule tonight. I want to take you somewhere.”
“I have a meeting with my board. We should be done around eight. Why? What’s up?”
“How about I pick you up at eight thirty?”
“Sure. Are you going to give me more information?”
“Of course not!” He laughed, imagining those pretty lips of hers fashioned into a defiant pout. “I’ve gotta run. See you tonight?”
“I guess.”
“Ha! You’ll know soon enough. Oh, and check your social media profiles. Good day, my lady.”
“Okay, Mr. Chandler. See you later.”
“Eight thirty,” he confirmed.
“Enjoy your day,” Serenity said before ending the call.
It was those simple gestures that enticed Chris, drawing him to her hard and fast. Something as simple as bidding him an enjoyable day held so much substance. He couldn’t remember any of the women he’d dated offering caring sentiments so naturally. It reminded him of what seemed to be missing from his generation’s interactions. His parents shared these sweet exchanges all the time. He realized then that he wanted what his parents had, and it hadn’t seemed possible until now. She’d awakened him to a new reality. He actually wanted her to enjoy her day too, to know how her day went or to find out how she was feeling. Chris vowed to make sure he did the same going forward. This was new, but he liked it.
Chris pulled into the lot at his family’s company, shut off the engine and sauntered into the building. Starting his mornings with Serenity set his days in motion the right way.
“Good morning, Chris. You’re looking awfully chipper today,” Clarissa, the receptionist, said. They’d managed respectfully playful interactions since she’d first started a few months back. “In fact, you’ve been rather chipper for a couple of weeks now.” She tilted her head and looked at him skeptically. “What’s her name? I bet she’s really pretty. Is it someone here?”
“Ha!” Chris shook his head. “Bye, Clarissa.” He continued inside the office.
“You’ll spill the details sooner or later. Maybe I’ll meet her when she comes to meet you for lunch one day,” she continued to his retreating back.
He could hear her giggling even after the door was closed. Chris knew she was being more than inquisitive. Clarissa had been enamored with him from the start. She’d never crossed any inappropriate boundaries, and he’d made sure to never send her any mixed signals. His days of sleeping with staff had ended a while ago. He’d matured upon reaching the side of his twenties that rounded closer to the thirties.
He’d also learned a very valuable lesson about mixing business with scandalous pleasure after an in-office affair had turned messy. A starry-eyed admin he’d been bedding had mistaken their intense trysts for love. She’d lost it one day when another woman he’d been seeing showed up for a surprise lunch. Casey had acted out so badly that his father ended up firing her on the spot. He was furious at Chris for messing around with other employees and promised that if it ever happened again that Chris would be the one without a job. Chris took his father seriously and, from that point on, he hardly made eye contact with female employees—especially new ones.
He headed to his office, removed his suit jacket and tossed it over the back of his chair. He walked to the windowed wall and looked out over the winding walking path flanked by lush greenery. Employees often enjoyed their lunch on the benches placed along the path. He focused on the footbridge reaching over the Japanese pond. He often took to a bench to think critically about strategies, like the one he and his sister needed to come up with to maintain sustainability during the closing of the major supermarket chain.
He thought about strolling along that path now to work out his feelings. He was half kidding when he asked Serenity about what she’d done to him. Never had he felt so sure about a woman in his life, and never had he been so confused by his feelings. He’d told her that time didn’t matter, but it did. How could he feel so strongly about a woman in such little time? Especially after meeting her in the one way he thought he’d never find a woman—online.
Chloe and Donovan’s relationship had moved fast, but they’d known each other for decades. Chris hadn’t known Serenity for three full months but felt like he knew her before he’d met her. She was that woman he’d imagined but wasn’t sure exis
ted—the one who defied the hollow, superficial options he thought he’d end up settling for. He couldn’t see himself letting that go.
He thought about getting Kent and Ray on the phone but turned on his heel and started toward his father’s office, quickly covering the distance to the opposite end of the floor.
Three quick raps got his father’s attention. Bobby Dale spun in his office chair to face Chris. With the desk phone propped between his ear and shoulder, he held up one finger and then waved Chris in. Scratching a note across a sticky pad, Bobby Dale ripped it off and stuck it below the keyboard on his laptop. A moment later, he ended the call after a hearty laugh and promised to put a meeting on his calendar.
“What’s up, son?” Bobby Dale focused on Chris sitting across from him.
“Hey, Pops. You have a minute?”
“Always got a minute for you. What’s up?”
Chris took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “It’s about Serenity.”
His father sat back and lifted his chin. “Nice girl. What about her?”
Chris took a moment before speaking. “I’m not sure...” He paused, reframing his comment. “When you feel a certain way about a woman, should it matter how long you’ve known one another?”
The older man raised both brows, leaned forward and smiled. “You like this woman, huh?”
“I do. I already know that she’s nothing like anyone I’ve ever dated.”
“That’s usually an indication. I felt that way about your mother when I met her.”
“How did you know she was the right one?”
Bobby Dale reared back and chuckled. “I just knew I couldn’t see myself without her.”
“But we haven’t been seeing each other for long at all.”