by Jana Mercy
Adrienne drank in his lavish attention. Her thighs clenched and unclenched at the sweet torture his mouth reaped. Moisture gathered, then overflowed in sweet, rhythmic ripples.
“Oh wow.” She couldn’t hold her praise in. How could she when he’d just dropped her over a waterfall and drenched her with pleasure?
Chase dropped to his knees.
Her eyes sprung open.
He knelt before her reverently. His gaze rose. Torrent emotions swam in the sea green depths. She made no effort to hide the shimmering desire reflected in her own gaze.
It was too late for that.
She wanted him.
Needed him.
She belonged to him.
He pulled the dress down her hips, letting it fall to the floor in a silky black puddle. As her black satin panties and thigh high stockings were revealed, a sharp intake of his breath thrilled her. His hands gripped her hips as his eyes worshipped.
Goosebumps dotted her skin.
“Cold?” his voice, deep and husky, asked.
She shook her head in denial. Lack of heat didn’t cause the prickles of sensation covering her. He did. Her body blazed so hot she might melt.
He smiled, then ran a finger over the edge of black satin. His touch bordered on torture it created such exquisite sensations. Over and over he lightly caressed her swollen femininity until she could stand it no more.
“Please,” she begged.
Chase’s fingers slid under her panties, slipping first one, then another, inside her tight body. Her muscles convulsed around his fingers as he propelled her into an overwhelmed pleasure frenzy. Just when the tension built to the point her stomach twisted into a tight knot, he leaned forward, pushed her panties aside and stroked his tongue against her.
She melted into a pool of quivering feminine Jello, right then and there.
“Chase,” she gushed, falling over ecstasy’s edge. He laved her aroused flesh as she rode her orgasm in total abandon. Her breathing ragged, she cried out his name time and again.
When he rested his forehead against her stomach, she vaguely realized her fingers still tangled in his glorious hair.
Was she dreaming?
Moisture beaded in her eyes at the torrent of emotions raging through her. She bent and kissed the top of his shiny head.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“No, Thank you, Adrienne.” He stood, scooping her in his arms in one fluid movement. “You can thank me again later because I’m not finished yet. Which room is yours?”
She knew what he asked. God, but she knew.
She closed her eyes, breathing in that heady scent so distinctly his. She should tell him to leave, tell him she wouldn’t be a pawn in the games he played with Mel, tell him she wasn’t who he thought she was. If she went through with this, if she made love with Chase, he might never forgive her for not telling him the truth before hand.
She had to stop.
“The one at the end of the hall to your left.” She blinked. Her body had taken over, locking reason far away. She gave in to the power he effortlessly wielded over her. It was useless to try to resist the male potency of Chase Aaron. More experienced women had tried, and failed.
“I need to make love to you, Adrienne.”
She opened her eyes as he gently laid her down on the flowered bedspread.
“Is that what you want?” He turned on the bedside lamp. Soft light illuminated the cream colored room. Chase’s pupils narrowed as he waited for her answer.
She scooted up on the pillows stacked on her bed.
She wanted him.
His lids lowered in an exaggerated blink.
“Say it,” he coaxed. “Say you want me as much as I want you.”
She stared at him. Tension coiled in every muscle of his body as he stood next to her bed. His pulse throbbed in rapid succession at his neck. His eyes implored.
Afraid her vocal cords wouldn’t work, she nodded.
“You have to say the words.” His voice strained as if he struggled to keep his control. “I have to hear you say this is what you want.”
She could bear no more.
She’d face tomorrow when it came.
“I want you, Chase. Please,” she rasped.
“Please, what?” he prompted. First one button, then the next gave way to his finger’s deft movements as he undid his shirt. Her eyes followed the rapidly growing expanse of exposed male chest.
“Love me,” she whispered. The last button released. His shirt quickly came off, landing somewhere in her bedroom floor.
Her breath caught and held at the image he made.
She had to touch him.
Her fingers trailed down his muscled torso, worshipping each well-defined sinew. He snared her hand as it came to his waistband, pressing her palm against the bulging length still trapped within the confines of his clothes.
Her eyes widened at his size.
Her legs instinctively tightened, protecting her femininity.
A throaty sound escaped him. His hand left hers to stroke down her cheek.
“I’ll make this good for you,” he promised. “Trust me.”
Despite the threat his manhood made to her chaste body, she believed him.
He removed his shoes. Her shaky fingers helped undo his pants, helped as he slid them to the floor.
When he was naked, he stood at the edge of her bed allowing her to visually inspect him.
She did. Long and hard.
Heat flooded her face when his erection strained toward her, but she didn’t look away.
Only when her gaze met his again did he join her on the bed.
He kissed her slowly, seductively.
She met his kiss with a trembling passion threatening to burn her alive. His mouth paid lavish homage to her untutored body, sending her up in gasping flames.
He started with her mouth and worked his way down with expert lips, teaching her body the secrets shared between a man and a woman. She twisted and writhed with pleasure as he licked her breasts to rigid peaks. His tongue trailed to her navel, making spiral traces into its depths. Her hips rose instinctively in response to his actions.
He traveled lower, sliding her panties off. Parting her thighs first with his fingers, his tongue gently glided across her slick womanhood. He teased her with his tongue and fingers until she panted, pleaded for his body to be inside her.
“Are you sure?”
How could he ask? Didn’t he know she’d die if he didn’t get inside her?
“Please, Chase. Please, now.” Decorum and inhibitions long ago vanished, she begged him to take her.
He reached for his pants in the floor, removing his wallet. When he rolled back over to face her, his hand held a square package.
Adrienne blushed. In her naivety and excitement, she’d forgotten all about the possible repercussions of sex.
Thank God, Chase remembered.
But then, he was the one with all the experience.
She had a moment’s doubt. Was this what she wanted? To give herself completely to him? Knowing he would never love her and would probably hate her when he learned of all her deceit?
God help her for her stupidity, she did. She wanted this moment in time of being his sole focus, the center of his world. Even if tonight was all she’d ever have.
Surely, one night was better than a lifetime of regret?
He put the condom on and positioned himself above her. His arms supported the bulk of his weight. His length nudged her.
“There’s no going back once we do this. Are you sure?” His voice was low, desperate.
She could hear his need for her answer to be an affirmative one. He barely contained his own desire. His unexpected shiver, as he continued to hold himself above her, sent lightening through her.
“Adrienne, please, tell me this is what you want.” This time his voice broke. Her heart swelled. She wanted this man more than she’d ever imagined possible.
Want seemed such a
mild word. She needed him. Needed his body to be part of hers.
“Yes, I want this. I want you, Chase. Please come inside me. Make me a woman.” Your woman, she silently added.
His gaze bore into hers as he entered her, breaking through all barriers to his complete burial deep within her tight vault. She clamped down on her lower lip, muffling her cry.
Her entire body stiffened in response to the pain, but then, he began to move. Their gazes remained locked together. Pain disappeared as if it had never existed, replaced by a sense of wholeness unimaginable.
For the first time in her life, she felt complete.
She feared nothing. There was nothing she couldn’t do. Chase Aaron completed her, made her invincible.
Her hips lifted to his powerful thrusts. Intuitively, her legs wrapped around his strong, lean hips to hold him deep within her. Her body grinded with his in rhythmic cadence.
It didn’t take experience for her to know Chase enjoyed their coupling. Every stroke, every caress, every moan of pleasure told her. His moans. Her moans. It made no difference. She couldn’t tell the difference at this point. They were one in every sense of the word.
“I…don’t…want…to…hurt…you,” he said each word with effort, as if he called upon every ounce of control he’d ever possessed, and still it wasn’t enough.
“You’re not,” she assured, greedily impelling her hips up to take him even deeper. Her tight pelvic muscles squeezed around his hardness.
“Adrienne,” he cried. Shuddering, he gave a series of frenzied, domineering thrusts as he drove into her. His powerful release shattered her.
She exploded beneath him. With him.
He collapsed onto her, kissing her lips in a brief smack, then rested his glistening forehead against her.
Her body tingled. She pulsed with fulfillment. With Chase. Emotions ran so high she barely noticed the tears running down her cheeks.
She’d done it. She’d given herself to Chase, completely and irrevocably.
Her hands held his sweat slicked body tight against her. Her legs encircled his. His body rested deep within her. Where he belonged.
She turned to kiss his cheek. His face now rested in the curve of her neck. He felt so good lying on her. She reveled in the magnitude of what had just passed between them. The marvelous feelings they’d shared.
“Am I squashing you?” he asked as he rolled off her body.
“No, you weren’t,” Adrienne said. Disappointment filled her as the rush of air cooled her just-exposed damp skin.
His tone wasn’t what she’d expected. Hadn’t he felt the miracle of what they’d just experienced together?
“Did I hurt you? I meant to go slower.” He raked his fingers through his hair.
“You were wonderful. Perfect.” She snuggled against him and wrapped her arm around him, wanting to recapture the magic of moments before. “I never dreamed it would be like that.”
“I’m sorry.” He pulled free from her embrace.
Of anything she’d expected to hear come from his mouth, those two words hadn’t even made the list.
“For what? You didn’t hurt me.” She offered him a small, hopeful smile. “Well, only at first.”
“I had no right. It wasn’t mine to take.” He stared at the ceiling. His entire body was coiled tighter than a spring ready to snap.
“My virginity?” she asked, unsure of what he meant.
“Yes. You should have given it to someone you love.”
I did.
The thought stunned her. But she knew it was true. Had been true for weeks. Only, she’d been in denial, afraid to admit her feelings because Chase was a playboy, and she wasn’t the woman he believed her to be.
“I chose you. I can’t imagine it having been more special with anyone else.” Still, she might be admitting too much.
“Don’t attach feelings to what just happened. We had sex.” His eyes squeezed shut, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Damned good sex, but just sex.”
“I know,” she lied, sensing his broadening withdrawal, both physically and emotionally. She bit in the hurt his words caused.
She’d known from the beginning that with Chase sex was all she’d ever have. It wasn’t his fault it had been so much more for her. She’d be brave. Do the right thing.
She sucked in the pain and let him off the hook. “It’s not like I’ve proposed, Chase. Get over it. I’m not expecting anything from you.”
“That’s good to hear.” The real relief in his voice cracked her heart, but didn’t manage to stop the love for him beating strong.
She lay next to him, listening to his ragged breathing return to a more normal rate. She inhaled the musky smell of the man she wanted to reach out and hold. Forever.
He wouldn’t welcome her touch.
Funny how a man could go from desperate for a woman’s touch to withdrawal in the amount of time it took to reach sexual fulfillment.
“I’ve got to go.” He sat up.
She didn’t move.
“I never meant for this to happen when I came here tonight.”
She propped herself onto her side, needing to see his face. “What did you mean to happen?”
He looked confused. “I’m not sure. Just not this.”
“I don’t believe you,” she softly accused. She could tell her words caught him off guard. “I think this is exactly why you came here tonight. You were determined I wouldn’t loose my virginity to Mel, so you took me yourself.”
The look passing over his face told her everything she didn’t want to know. Everything she’d hoped hadn’t been true.
No response came. The guilty party just reached down in the floor to gather his clothes, and pulled on his pants. When completely clothed, he turned to her, meeting her eyes for the first time since they’d toppled into heaven together.
“I never meant to hurt you.” He closed his eyes, his face drawn tight. Then, he left.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Could it really only be Wednesday? Adrienne asked herself as she tried to hide the dark circles under her eyes with one of the tubes of make-up she’d bought the previous Friday.
Last Friday? So much had happened. She had difficulty believing that less than a week ago, she’d been unaware of what it felt like to be a woman in love.
That’s why she’d pulled herself out of bed without hesitation this morning. She would not cower, nor fade into the background because she’d made love to Chase.
The emotions he’d elicited gave her the strength, the reality that she alone chose the path determining her future. She wouldn’t sit back and let life happen to her ever again. Somehow she’d force this situation with Mel and Drew to a head soon.
During the long hours she’d lain awake, she’d decided to fly back to Chicago as soon as she could arrange time off. She’d meet with Roger, hopefully enlist his help and give him back his ring.
It irked that she still possessed his ring. Not that she’d worn it since leaving Chicago. She hadn’t, but she needed to return it.
In her heart, marrying Roger was a promise she’d never committed to. She shuddered to think of what might have been if her stepfather hadn’t kissed her that day. If she hadn’t overheard his conversation. Probably with Mel.
She gave her image one last look in the mirror. A part of her wished she could finish her business in Chicago today. Instead she’d do the responsible thing, go to work, talk to George and fly out as soon as arrangements could be made with Roger.
She wouldn’t go to her mother’s to stay, but there were some things of her father’s she wanted. Heirlooms that had been passed down for several generations. She wanted to pass them to any future child she might have.
Warmth invaded her.
She hadn’t given the slightest consideration to birth control last night. Had Chase not put the condom on, his baby might be growing within her this very morning. The thought wasn’t repulsive. Maybe it should have been after the way he�
��d left so abruptly.
He’d never made any false promises. He was a love ‘em and leave ‘em man. She’d witnessed his prowess with women first hand over the past few weeks. He hadn’t attempted to deceive her.
But Mel’s words had played through her mind during the night, too. The history of competitiveness between the two men.