She began to fidget, and sat gazing at the stacks of bills on the table before her. Shit. It was time for him to go.
He reluctantly got to his feet. “It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you any longer. If you’ll give me your number, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She moved over to the counter where the phone sat, to scribble her number on a notepad. She was actually giving him a second chance. He blinked several times to clear his eyes, pocketed the square of paper she handed him, and reluctantly followed her to the front room.
CHAPTER 40
A bubble of happiness steadily expanded inside of Larissa until she felt as if she would burst. Chase had flown clear across the country to tell her he had feelings for her. There really had been some serious chemistry between them. She wasn’t crazy, masochistic, or suffering from any freaking psychological syndrome. And not only was he giving her forty-thousand dollars, he might actually move to Charleston! Maybe she should pinch herself to see if she were dreaming.
In the front room, Chase pulled the curtain aside and peered down the street. Having nearly forgotten how truly handsome he was, she found she couldn’t take her eyes from him. “What are you looking at?”
“Checking to see if Brendon’s still out there.”
“‘Still out there’?”
“He followed us in his car while we walked. Looks like he finally gave up and left.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Wasn’t important. He’s understandably worried about you.”
The way he stood gazing down at her was making her breathing malfunction. She knew she should say something, do something, but so much emotion swirled through her she could barely think. The only thing she could come up with was, “Thank you again for the money,” wincing at how lame she sounded. “It wasn’t necessary, but I do appreciate it.”
“After all I put you through, it was the least I could do.”
The air between them seemed to grow thick and electric, as expectant as right before a thunderstorm. She knew she should open the door but — oh god — she didn’t want him to leave. In all honesty, it probably was better that they take things slow and get to know each other. She stood there gazing at his broad chest, unable to meet his eyes.
“Larissa, thank you again for seeing me.”
She licked suddenly dry lips, aware she was breathing heavily. “Thank you for coming.” Crap. Couldn’t she say anything that didn’t make her sound like a moron?
When she made no move to open the door, he stepped hesitantly toward her and her breath caught as he wrapped his arms around her. Her arms came up to circle his waist as she relaxed against him, finding a long-delayed and exquisite sanctuary in his strong embrace.
When she inhaled, the masculine scent of him charged her body with a flush of pleasure. He shifted slightly, causing her swollen nipples to brush against his chest, and her knees nearly buckled as desire surged through her. She closed her eyes, shuddering at the deliciousness of it, even as her throat grew tight with longing.
They stood there unmoving for several moments, holding each other. When her breath hitched in her throat, he asked, “Are you crying?”
She pressed her face closer to his chest. “No.”
He took her chin in his hand and lifted her face to his. “You are crying.”
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
“So you’re happy I came?”
She nodded, and smiled through tears. “Very.”
The relief in his eyes was obvious. “You’ve no idea how nervous I was.” He clasped her face between his hands and leaned down to give her a light kiss on the lips. Her arms tightened around him, and she stood gazing expectantly up at him. He kissed her again, his lips lingering on hers this time. She pressed the length of her body against his, feeling his muscular chest rise and fall with each breath. When he spoke, his voice was husky with desire. “I’ve missed you so much, Larissa.”
“I’ve missed you too.” He slid his fingers into her hair and kissed her again, this time with a tender violence. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue met hers. He grew hard against her and, when her breathing grew erratic, she broke off the kiss to whisper, “Please don’t go.”
“If I stay, I can’t promise I’ll have much self-control.”
“Chase, you won’t need any.”
She gasped as he swept her up into his arms and carried her down the hall, remembering the way to her bedroom.
He lowered her feet to the floor and took her in his arms again. While he kissed her, he reached in between them and unzipped her jeans. As he slid them down her legs, she pulled her tee shirt over her head and quickly removed her bra.
He sank to his knees before her to help her step out of the jeans now puddled around her ankles, then tugged his shirt off and cast it aside. There was the sudden shock of his naked skin against her own as he pulled her against him, pressing his face to her abdomen. His voice, deep and resonate, seemed to brush along the length of her spine as he murmured, “Ah, Jesus, you’ve no idea how I’ve longed for you.”
“I think I do,” she replied, her own voice husky with desire. When she laid her hand against his cheek, he covered it with his own and turned his head to kiss her palm. Still on his knees, he began running his hands over her breasts, arms, stomach, thighs, hips, bottom, as if learning the feel of her again, his touch searing her skin and filling her veins with liquid fire.
He placed both hands on the tops of her thighs, to either side of her mount of Venus. “Widen your stance, and turn your knees out.”
“What?” she said, startled by the request. “Why?”
He placed his two thumbs on her outer labia, and gently traced opposing circles, making her eyes close in a rush of lust. “Just do it.”
After a moment of hesitation, she did as he asked. He lowered himself so he was sitting on his calves between her legs. “Chase, let’s lie on the—” She broke off suddenly as he buried his face in the juncture of her thighs. “Oh!” She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Oh-h-h-h-h!”
It seemed as though every drop of blood in her body instantly rushed to her groin. His mouth and tongue were a liquid heat that made her lower abdomen tighten as hot, tingling pleasure spread throughout her. When she moaned and swayed on her feet, he slipped both arms between her thighs to cup her bottom with strong hands, steadying her.
Her body quickened, her breathing grew rougher and more ragged and, when her legs began to tremble uncontrollably, he pulled away, causing her to cry out in disappointment as her sex throbbed and ached for release.
He rose with a rippling of muscles, and devoured her lips with an exquisitely sexy kiss that tasted of her. Backing her slowly toward the bed, he eased her down crosswise onto the mattress and raised her legs to plant her feet flat on the mattress. He then peeled out of his shoes and slacks, his eyes never leaving her body.
Penis erect and throbbing, he knelt beside the bed. Once again at eye level with the most intimate part of her, he spread her thighs to expose her fully to his gaze, drinking in the sight. No man had ever done such a thing to her and she felt a pang of self-consciousness. “What are you doing?”
When he raised his eyes to hers, the expression in them was so intense, so hot, that her breath caught in her throat. “Looking at you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re so beautiful. You should see yourself. You look like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.” He placed his hands again on her mound and massaged lightly in small opposing circles that made her whole body flush with a trembling heat and soon had her moaning softly. Then his head dipped down, his mouth closed around the little nub of exquisitely sensitive flesh, and she forgot all about being self-conscious.
He gently made love to her with his mouth, making her body hum like a tuning fork. Before long, she was moaning and clutching the bedspread and writhing so frantically that he draped his arms across her thighs to keep her pinned to the mattress.
/> When her body was once again on the very edge of orgasm, he abruptly stopped. She cried out in dismay as quivering spasms rippled through her belly. When she tried to arch her body up to meet his mouth again, he drew back. “Not yet.”
When he joined her on the bed, she immediately rolled on top of him, relishing the solid feel of him beneath her. She straddled him and, holding his face between her hands, kissed him deeply. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs circling and teasing her nipples, making her eyes roll back as shudders rippled the length of her body.
When she rose up to guide him to the slippery cleft between her legs, he uttered, “Uh-uh,” and rolled them over so that he was atop her.
His lips found her throat, and worked their way down to fasten gently on one nipple. She groaned and arched against him as a shower of sparks cascaded down to settle as a searing ache between her thighs. He switched to the other, and when she was once again writhing beneath him, he suddenly stopped and moved down her body slightly, to rest his cheek on her belly.
“What are you doing? Don’t stop.”
“I’ve dreamed of this for the last three weeks. I don’t want to rush.”
“Well, I don’t want to wait.”
He chuckled and kissed her belly, making the muscles in her abdomen jump and quiver. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to.”
“You’re a cruel and heartless man.”
He raised his head to give her a rakish grin. “You have no idea.”
She was way past the point of self-consciousness. “Chase, I’m begging you. Stop teasing me.”
He rose up to kneel on the bed between her spread thighs. His penis was so engorged with blood it looked about to burst. Grasping it with a hand that trembled slightly from his own pent up passion, he slid the broad, purplish head up and down the slippery cleft between her legs. “Can you feel how wet you are?”
Her “Yes” was a breathless whisper.
He continued to tease her, lightly pressing the head against her opening so that she could feel the hard insistence of him. When she scooted toward him in an attempt to impale herself, he drew back slightly. “Uh-uh.” Still gripping himself, he lightly traced small circles around that most sensitive spot, drawing out the anticipation until she thought she’d lose her mind.
She gripped the pillow on either side of her head, writhing unashamedly. “Chase, for god’s sake, stop tormenting me. I cannot bear anym—oh-h-h-h-h,” she finished as his solid hardness slid into her with an exquisite slowness that felt as though it would split her asunder.
“Is this what you want?”
“Yes,” she whispered, and then arched her back and breathed “Ah-h-h-h!” as he pressed deep.
He drew back as slowly as he had entered. When he slipped completely out of her body, she cried out in dismay, “Why are you torturing me?” Attention riveted between her legs as he once again circled the little nub with the broad tip of his penis, he didn’t respond. She closed her eyes and arched against him. “Chase, please.”
“Please what?”
“Please, ple-e-ease, fuck me.”
“Now that’s what I want to hear,” he said, voice tight with arousal as he thrust himself back into her. He stroked slowly in and out, until there wasn’t a single rational thought left in her head. Wrapping her legs around his waist to allow him to penetrate even deeper, she dug her fingers into his shoulders and begged, “Chase, promise you won’t stop again.”
His voice was ragged with passion. “I couldn’t stop now even if I wanted to.”
He seemed to reach her very core with each stroke. Her soft moans and utterances filled the room as her body quivered and clutched at him. She had to be dreaming — nothing real could possibly be this good. The pleasure consumed her until nothing existed, not her, not Chase, not the bed beneath them, just pure sensation.
It grew so intense that, for the space of several heartbeats, she stilled completely, not even breathing.
And then her entire body convulsed with the mother of all orgasms.
Rather than the normal peaks and valleys, it remained steady and unbearably intense, and went on and on and on for what seemed like several minutes, until she actually lost consciousness. Apparently, for only a matter of seconds because, when she came to again her body was still pulsing and contracting with the aftershocks. As it finally began to subside, Chase cried out with his own orgasm.
Overwhelmed not only with the unbearable pleasure he’d given her, but also with feelings she refused to name, tears welled from beneath her closed lids to trickle hotly down the sides of her face.
When he rose up on his elbows to gaze down into her face, she raised her hands to cover her eyes, embarrassed by this show of emotion. He gently moved her hands aside, clasped her face between his hands and gently thumbed away the wetness. “I hope those aren’t tears of disappointment.”
“Don’t make jokes.”
He kissed her as jolts of pleasure continued to send tremors through them both. “Mad at me for torturing you?”
“Oh. My. God. I’ve never … I never knew that …” Enveloped in a lassitude so complete that she might never move again, she took a deep, shuddery breath. “All I can say is: Anytime you want to torture me, I’ll be your most willing victim.”
* * * * *
Chase had no idea how many women he had made love to in his lifetime, but he did know he’d never felt anything like what he felt now. He couldn’t even remember what Cheyenne, or Michelle, or any of the others looked like. For him, there was only Larissa.
Clasping her hips to him, he rolled them over onto their sides. She draped her upper thigh around his, clutching his hips to hers to keep him in place inside her, her soft curves molding to his hard body as if they were two halves of a whole. Tears clumped her lashes together in long, black spikes as she blinked at him, green eyes languorous and dazed.
“So-o-o-o,” he said. “I guess that night in the motel was just a fluke. There is no chemistry between us.”
A smile warmed her face. “No, I guess not.”
He caressed her breasts, circling her nipples with his thumb, all the while devouring her with his eyes. “I just hope your neighbor didn’t hear all that screaming. If she did, by now she’s called the police to report that you’ve been murdered.”
A blush crept over her cheeks and she smacked his shoulder. “If I got a little loud, it’s your fault for torturing me. So when the police start pounding on the front door, you can answer it.”
He wrapped his arms about her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Jesus, Larissa. You don’t know what you do to me.”
“If it’s anything like what you do to me, I think I have some small idea.” After a moment, she asked, “Do you think you’d like living here?”
“You’re here, so how could I not?”
She raised one hand to trace the long-healed scar that slashed across one chiseled cheekbone. “You’ve no idea how much time I spent trying to envision the face beneath the ski mask.”
His response was totally deadpan. “Then I imagine your first sight of me in the line-up was a cruel disappointment.”
She pasted on an expression of contrition. “I have to admit that, upon realizing I’d seduced a gargoyle, my first impulse was to confess all to Agent Jarvis.”
“Still a fucking comedienne, I see.”
They both laughed, then grew quiet as the phone beside the bed rang. After the second ring, the answering machine clicked on. There was a moment’s silence while the machine played its answering message, and then Brendon’s voice came over the speaker. “Larissa, if you’re there, pick up.”
“If I don’t, he might get worried and call the police.”
“Then by all means, answer it.”
They were still on their sides, with him still deep inside her. To keep him there, she tightened the leg thrown over his hips and reached an arm out blindly behind her, groping for the phone. She found it and lifted the receiver to her ear. “Brendon, I’m h
ere.”
With their faces only inches apart, Chase plainly heard Brendon say, “Oh, thank god. Honey, are you all right? Is the son-of-a-bitch gone?”
She smiled at Chase, and said into the receiver, “I’m fine and, no, he’s still here.”
“Shit, Larissa. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Very sure.”
“Well … I have to admit you sound happy for a change.”
She laughed. “I am.”
“Put him on the phone. I want to talk to him.”
“About what?” she asked, clearly suspicious. Chase held out his hand, motioning for the phone. She frowned at him and covered the mouthpiece. “You can hear what he’s saying?”
“Every word.”
Into the phone, she said, “Okay, here he is,” and reluctantly handed over the receiver. Angling his upper body away from her, Chase pressed the phone tight against his ear. “Yes?”
“Larissa loves you and, if you ever hurt her again, I swear on all that’s holy that I’ll kill you.”
Larissa was watching him closely. From her expression, it was obvious she could hear only his side of the conversation. “Are you serious?” he said into the phone.
“Serious that I’ll kill you? Or serious that she loves you?”
“The latter.”
“I am. She does.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“You love her too?”
“Would I take such a risk in coming here otherwise? I’m extremely sorry for what I did to her. Sparrow told me she was his wife — he even had a fake family portrait of them together — and so, like an idiot, I believed him.”
“Larissa told me about the portrait. You really love her?”
“More than mere words can express.”
“Have you told her?”
“Not yet. We’ve decided to take it slow, get to know each other.” Although the taking-it-slow part wasn’t exactly working out. “After all that’s happened, it’s only natural for you to be concerned for her safety. Despite appearances to the contrary, I assure you I’m no threat to her — quite the opposite, in fact — and, since you two are such close friends, I’d appreciate the chance to prove it. Would you join us for dinner tomorrow?”
The Heart Has Reasons Page 39