by Mandy Baxter
When he called her sugar in that slow, honeyed voice, it nearly drove her over the edge. She’d give him anything he asked for, as long as he kept talking to her like that. Her fingertips dug into the flesh at his shoulders as she held onto him like a lifeline. He thrust up to meet her, the sounds of their bodies meeting and parting only adding to her pleasure. The windows fogged in the truck’s cab as their labored breath heated the air. Sweat trickled down Avery’s throat and between her breasts. Down the back of her neck and along the ridge of her spine. She’d never experienced sex in such a visceral, all-consuming way. She was lost to Jase Blackwell. She no longer knew where her own body ended and his began.
Her head lolled back on her shoulders and Avery braced her arms behind her on Jase’s knees. He leaned forward, capturing one aching nipple in his mouth and laved her in time with each thrust. A languid pass of his tongue, followed by the sensual sting of his teeth as he nibbled at the hardened peak.
Avery was mindless. Past the point of reason and spurred only by desire. Her throat was raw from her ragged cries, and she couldn’t even be bothered to care about anyone seeing or hearing them. In this moment there was only Jase. She couldn’t get enough of him. Couldn’t take him deep enough inside of her. Avery rode him with abandon and he gripped her hips firmly in his palms, guiding her actions as he suckled unmercifully at her breasts.
“I’m going to come. Oh, god, Jase, I’m going to come.”
The words were a mantra, building in intensity with each deep thrust.
Avery closed her eyes, shut out everything but the sensation of pleasure building to a fever pitch, the sound of Jase’s body meeting hers and his labored breath. The wet heat of his mouth on her skin and the way his hands moved her hips in a sensual dance on his erection. Her world spiraled, careening into darkness, shrinking until her skin, her very veins were tight and constricted. The wave crested within her and rolled, breaking her apart into thousands of tiny pieces.
The orgasm took her like a riptide. “Jase!” His name burst from her lips in a strangled gasp and he held her tight, refusing to slow his pace.
“That’s so good, sugar. Come for me. Ah, god, you’re squeezing me so tight.” He let out a low moan and Avery looked up to find his expression strained, forehead pinched, and jaw clenched. His hips bucked in a wild thrust and then another before a primal shout ripped from his throat, his body going rigid as the orgasm took him.
“Oh, Christ!” His thighs were like oaks beneath her. He buried his face between her breasts and his thrusts became shallower. “That’s good,” he murmured. “So fucking good.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and leaned back in the seat, pulling her against his body. Avery’s arms were limp, nearly numb from being braced behind her for so long, and her legs were deliciously fatigued and warm. Chills chased across her flesh as Jase caressed up and down her spine in a slow and easy rhythm. His breath was labored and hot against her throat and his lips soft where he planted lazy kisses right beneath her ear. Avery couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to. And right now, she was completely content to stay here, with Jase still inside of her, held tight in his embrace.
“I’m moving into this truck,” Jase said absently, his fingers still traveling the highway of Avery’s spine. “I’m just going to throw a sleeping bag in here and set up camp. And no one else is ever allowed to sit on this seat again.”
Avery answered with soft, sluggish laughter. “I hate to point this out, but there’s no shower in here. After a few days, no one will want to ride in this truck.”
Jase chuckled. “Good. Because I don’t want anyone other than you in this seat ever again.”
Avery’s pulse picked up its frantic pace and it had nothing to do with their previous exertion. Ever again? Like, ever? Jase’s words struck a chord. One that plucked at the thin strings of panic that connected Avery’s brain to her emotions. She’d coached herself to remain detached. Treat this encounter like the one-night stand she was sure it would be. Hell, she’d half expected him to boot her out the door the second he’d come. Wasn’t that the pro-athlete M.O.? Hit it and quit it?
Quiet descended, settling over Avery like a too-warm blanket. Jase continued to hold her, his embrace so gentle, his breath warm on her neck. For a moment, she could almost believe this intimate lie. Jase was still riding the high of his orgasm and that euphoric burst of endorphins that made him think he was experiencing emotions that he didn’t really feel. In the morning his head would be clear. He’d realize that tonight was nothing more than a good time. And Avery was willing to bet that by this time tomorrow, he’d be promising some other woman that no one would ever set foot in his pickup truck again.
Texas chivalry, y’all.
“Are you cold?”
Of course Jase would assume the tremor that ran the length of Avery’s body was due to the cold. He held her tighter, cupping her shoulders and ribs in his large palms. The contrast between them was laughable. She could only imagine what people would say if they saw them together. Her petite five foot, four inch frame was dwarfed by his six and a half feet of towering bulk.
You don’t have to worry about it, Avery. There’s a snowball’s chance in hell you’ll ever be seen out in public with him. She was a waitress, for Christ’s sake! The withdrawn, accident-prone girl who worked at his team’s private parties. All she would ever get from Jase Blackwell was a drive home and an amazing few minutes in the front seat of his truck. Her mother would be so proud.
God. What have I done?
* * *
Avery’s demeanor cooled with the air. The chill soaked right into Jase’s chest, permeating his bones. Now that she wasn’t driven by lust, was she having second thoughts? Regrets? The thought that she would soured his stomach, because he regretted nothing.
Jase wasn’t some blushing virgin and he’d never make apologies for that fact. He’d experienced all that life had to offer and then some. But no woman had ever managed to get under his skin like Avery had. Hell, he’d spent close to ten thousand dollars over the past week on dinner parties he didn’t even want to attend just to get a glimpse of her. To exchange even one word with her.
He’d never expected things to go this far with her tonight, but Christ Almighty he was sure glad that they had. She was perfection. Every straight line and voluptuous curve of her body was made for him. True, he didn’t know much about her, and his mom would slap him right upside his head if she knew that he hadn’t properly courted Avery before … um … giving her a ride in his truck. But Jase had never been much for convention. So they’d gone about this a little backward. So what? They had all the time in the world to get to know each other. Jase wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’d better take you inside, sugar. You’re shivering.”
She hadn’t answered his initial question but from the slight tremor that shook her, she had to be chilled. Her fingers idly teased the strands of his hair where they brushed the back of Jase’s neck. His cock stirred inside of her, growing harder by the second. He wanted her again. And as much as he would’ve liked to resume where they’d left off, Jase had been taught better than to be a selfish dick. Avery was cold and their position in the truck couldn’t be all that comfortable for her. True, his tall, bulky frame was cramped as well, but he would have fucked her in a clown car if she’d asked. Who cared about a leg cramp or two? The pleasure Avery had given him trumped any of his previous sexual encounters. By miles.
She deserved better than a wild toss in the front seat of his truck like they were a couple of horny teenagers, but Jase wouldn’t take back what happened for even a Super Bowl ring. Avery shifted, rising up on her knees. He couldn’t stand the thought of being separated from her just yet and hugged her tight, easing her back down on his cock. “Don’t leave,” he murmured into her hair. “Not yet.”
Avery gave a nervous laugh, her tension rippling over Jase’s skin. Her voice was shy, tentative when she said, “I don’t want to give my neighbors any more of a
show than they’ve already gotten. Besides, it’s late. You probably have an early practice tomorrow and I don’t want to keep you.”
Was she brushing him off? Because he sure as hell felt the bite of bristles in her words. “Not that early.” He planted a kiss below her ear and she stiffened. “At least let me walk you to your apartment.” Where he’d do his damnedest to seduce her into a repeat performance.
“Oh, no. It’s okay.”
In a heartbeat she’d gone from fiery and passionate to cool and shy. Had he misinterpreted her earlier? No. She’d wanted him as much as he wanted her. There was no doubt in his mind. She pulled away and he let her this time, gauging by her nervous behavior that she needed a little space. “I want to walk you,” he said. When her body left his, Jase ached with the need to pull her back to him. Jesus, what was wrong with him? Tonight was supposed to be about scratching an itch and nothing more. The good-luck fuck Carson sent him after in order to get his game tight. “I won’t take no for an answer, sugar.” He should have let her out of his truck—and his life—right now. Clean with no strings attached. Instead, he was trailing after her like a calf with a lead rope around his neck.
One wild romp and he was under her spell.
An awkward silence descended as they took a few moments to put themselves back together. The air in his pickup was thick with Avery’s scent and his body responded, his cock still thick and hard as he tried to zip up his jeans that frankly, weren’t cooperating. Avery’s gaze caught his and her expression brightened as the sweetest shy smile curled her lips.
“Having a little trouble with your pants?” she asked in a playful tone that did nothing to calm his raging hard-on. Damn. Her strange combination of unsure and unabashed turned him on. So unlike the mewling, overconfident groupies he was used to.
“More like a problem with my body,” he replied sheepishly.
The comment earned him the pleasure of Avery’s soft laughter and his gut clenched. She finished buttoning up her shirt, and Jase found himself drawn to the motion of her fingertips as they hovered between the breasts that he’d just licked and sucked in a greedy rush. If he didn’t have her again soon, his body was likely to implode from the pressure. “Ready?” he asked, his voice still rough with passion.
She let out a barely audible sigh. “Ready.”
Jase got out of the truck first so he could help her down. His hands lingered at her waist, his fingers digging in as though anchoring his body to hers. Avery cleared her throat and he let her go. Classy, dude. Way to rock the intense vibe. It was a wonder she wasn’t sprinting full speed for her front door.
They stopped at the door to her apartment and she fiddled with the hair at the nape of her neck as though nervous. Christ, a kiss good-bye was nothing compared to the downright dirty things they’d done in his truck.
“Good night.” So sweet.
“’Night, sugar.”
Jase leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Avery’s mouth.
“Thanks for taking care of my car.” She leaned up, kissed him again.
“I’ll let you know when it’s fixed.” One more kiss. And another. This one deeper, intense.
Avery unlocked the door and eased it open before winding her fists in Jase’s shirt. She took a step back and then another, dragging him through the door.
Well, whaddya know. His night wasn’t quite over yet.
SIX
“Be sure to wait for your cream to reach one hundred and ninety degrees before adding the lemon juice,” Chef Isaacs, the head pastry chef, said as he strolled through the maze of cooking stations. “If you add it too soon, your cream won’t thicken properly and we want perfect, creamy mascarpone to result.”
Avery checked the thermometer as she continued to stir the heating cream, her attention only half on today’s lesson. Memories of the previous night assaulted her, heating her blood and sending a renewed sense of warmth through her limbs. Once Jase walked her to her apartment, her resolve had crumbled under the onslaught of his kisses along with her plans to keep him at arm’s length. She didn’t regret her decision for a second, either. Their second time had been better than the first and though he’d left shortly after, Avery had floated toward sleep on a cloud of bliss that carried her over into morning. Her limbs were still deliciously heavy, her body sated. It should be illegal to feel this good without an ounce of guilt.
Hands down, the best night of her life.
“Be sure to stir constantly,” Chef Isaacs continued. “You will begin to notice that your cream is starting to foam as it reaches the near-boiling point.”
And though washing Jase’s masculine scent from her body was the last thing Avery wanted to do, she’d reluctantly showered, removing every trace of him from her this morning. She figured her fellow students would appreciate it if she showed up to class clean. Personal hygiene was pretty damned important in the food industry. Besides, no one wanted to advertise that they’d spent a wild night in bed, even though Avery had earned some serious bragging rights.
Jason freaking Blackwell. Ho-ly cats.
The sound of cream sizzling on the burner pulled Avery from her thoughts and she scrambled to turn down the heat as her pot boiled over. “Too hot, Ms. Lockhart,” Chef chided as he passed her station. “You’ll have to start over and heat it to the proper temperature before you add the lemon juice now.”
“Yes, Chef.” She felt the eyes of her classmates on her as she set the pot of scalded cream aside and mopped up the mess. This wasn’t the first time she’d made a spectacle of herself after spilling or dropping something, but for some reason, she was more embarrassed than usual. As though everyone around her knew every dirty thought that had distracted her focus. God, she was such a loser.
How could she possibly concentrate while images of Jase’s perfect body butted their way into her thoughts? It was hard enough to convey an aura of confidence without the distraction.
“Someone’s got her head in the clouds today,” Kristie remarked as she measured out a tablespoon of lemon juice and added it to her cream. “Don’t tell me, Billion Dollar Blackwell gave you the private tour of his bedroom after everyone left last night.”
Avery cringed and her friend’s eyes widened to the size of serving platters. “Oh my god,” she exclaimed, nearly tipping her own saucepan over in the process. “He did! You slept with him!”
“Shh!” Avery seethed, looking around to make sure no one overheard. “I’m not trying to share the details of my love life with the entire room, Kristie.”
“Maybe not,” she remarked, “but you sure as hell better share them with me. Spill.”
Avery checked the temperature of her cream to make sure it had cooled to one-ninety and put the saucepan back on the burner as she measured out a portion of lemon juice. “It just sort of happened,” she said. Usually, she wouldn’t have thought twice about divulging to Kristie the dirty details of her romantic encounters, but this was different. Jase was a secret she wanted to keep to herself. “My car wouldn’t start and—”
“Ah!” Kristie exclaimed. “So lucky. I wish my car was a piece of shit.”
Avery cut her a look.
“What? I so would have loved to have been stranded in his driveway. I take it he gave you a jump?”
She laughed as Kristie waggled her eyebrows. “He’s actually really…” Sexy? Amazing in bed? Built like a freaking Greek god? All of the above. “Sweet,” she finally said. “Nothing like what I expected.”
“And…?” Kristie looked as though the suspense might cause her to spontaneously combust.
“And what?” Avery said with a laugh.
“Are you going to see him again?”
Definitely not. Last night couldn’t be anything more than a one-night stand. Avery knew it was best to cut her losses now before she got too involved and gave Jase the opportunity to hurt her like she knew he’d inevitably do.
“I doubt it.” She kept her attention on the saucepan in front of her. “I think last night
was a once in a lifetime thing.”
“All right, everyone. Your cream should be properly thickened by now and can be transferred into your sieves. Be sure to line them with cheesecloth first, people.”
At Chef’s instructions, Avery switched gears, preparing for the step that would separate the whey from the cream and make the mascarpone cheese. Tomorrow they were making tiramisu, and she wanted her mascarpone to come out perfectly. She’d yet to impress Chef Isaacs and she was desperate for her instructor to see beyond her scattered appearance and clumsiness. On the flip side, she’d tried not to think too hard about last night, but Kristie had managed to send Avery’s already frazzled thoughts into overtime. Jase didn’t ask for her number. He didn’t even say he’d see her later. Why should it matter if she never saw him again when she’d convinced herself that she didn’t care either way?
“Oh god.” Avery brought her hand up to her face, completely oblivious to the fact that she still held a spoon in her fist. The spoon smacked her forehead, bathing her face in too warm and too thick cream that clung to her face like plaster. “Ow! Ow, ow, ow.” She grabbed a towel and wiped her face, rinsing it under cool water before wringing it out. Of all the bone-headed, clumsy …
“You’ve got it bad,” Kristie said as she helped to wipe down Avery’s hair. “That boy’s got you tied in knots.”
One night with Jase Blackwell, and Avery was as good as ruined. So much for emotional detachment. That plan had backfired in a grand fashion. “No, I don’t.” Just because Kristie could see it didn’t mean Avery was about to admit it. “I couldn’t care less about him.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” Kristie returned to her station and began to ladle her soon-to-be cheese into the sieve. “You just keep telling yourself that, Ave.”
She would. Because she didn’t think her heart could take being broken by Jason Blackwell.
* * *
Hands down, it had been the best practice of Jase’s entire football career. The offensive staff as a whole had been beyond impressed with his performance and convinced that he was ready to start tomorrow’s game. And despite the fact that his place on the team finally felt secure, up until last night there had still been a nagging insecurity that Willis would be starting their first game of the playoffs and not him. So to say that he was relieved was the understatement of the year. Avery really was his good-luck charm.