by Jana Mercy
“I can’t.”
He shook his head in exasperation. “I want to see you again, Adrienne.”
“You see me right now.” She played coy.
He rolled his eyes with a wry grin. “Go out with me.”
“Why should I?”
“You’re upset because I left,” he commented. His eyes watched her every move.
“It wasn’t my favorite moment,” she admitted.
“That’s why you kissed Mel?”
She averted her gaze. “And if it was?”
“I was a jerk. Forgive me.” He flashed his half-cocked grin. The one that weakened her knees.
Forgive him? She closed her eyes. Could she? Could she forget he was helping to destroy what her father had worked so hard to build? She sighed. She had to ignore those things and discover what was going on with Drew.
“What do you have in mind?”
One dimple deepened. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“Dinner?” Her eyebrow rose. “That’s all?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be opposed to leaving the rest of the evening open, just in case something comes up.”
“Namely you?”
His lips twitched. “If we get lucky.”
“Dinner would be nice. As for the rest,” Her gaze raked over his body. “I’m not agreeing to anything.”
“I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”
“Make it seven,” she said just to feel like she had some control over the situation.
Chase called Adrienne from his cell phone. “I’m out front. Get the doorman to let me in, and I’ll be right up.”
“No, I’ll be down in a few minutes.” The stubborn woman told him. “Besides, it’s not seven yet. What if I’m not ready?”
He grinned. He’d dialed her number at six forty-five on the dot. “Are you?”
Her sigh tugged at his heart. “I’ve been waiting for fifteen minutes.”
Chase chuckled at her answer with a slow shake of his head.
No longer was she forbidden. He planned to enjoy her sweet body, and give her just as much pleasure as she’d given him Tuesday night.
Who was he kidding? Other than that initial thrust, she’d been a live wire beneath him, responding to each and every movement. He couldn’t remember a woman ever being so responsive to his slightest touch.
Or maybe, he just hadn’t paid attention with the others.
With Adrienne, he noticed everything.
From her shiny, sassy haircut to those trim ankles he had yet to kiss. He added her ankles to the growing list of places he planned to taste before the sun rose.
When she appeared in the lobby, his heart quickened.
Had to be the anticipation of a repeat of what had been the best sex of his life.
He watched her through the lobby’s floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Her chin was held high. Her hair gleamed, falling to her shoulders in soft waves. A small purse dangled from her shoulder, swinging back and forth with each confident step she made. No long tent hid those fabulous long legs of hers. His eyes traveled from the hem of her swishy skirt to those ankles he’d just been thinking about.
Hunger hit him.
Fierce, demanding, carnal hunger. The kind mere food would never satisfy.
His groin tightened.
Get a hold on yourself, Aaron. You can’t just throw her over your shoulders and carry her back to her apartment like you’re a cave man.
He opened his car door and got out just as she stepped from the building. She spotted him, paused for a second, smiled and continued walking toward him.
“You look great,” he told her as he opened the passenger door. She did.
She also smelled of some enticing citrus scent. Reigning in his Neanderthal urges grew more difficult by the whiff.
“Thanks.” She climbed into the car revealing a tantalizing expanse of her thighs as she did. He caught a glimpse of creamy white. She wore garters again.
Damn, she was going to give him a heart attack.
He closed the door and took several deep breaths before getting into the car.
“I’ve made us reservations at Serge’s. Do you like French cuisine?” He stared at her soft mouth. He’d like something ‘French’ and it wasn’t food.
“French is fine.” Her eyes narrowed in question when he continued to stare. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.
His stomach did that quivery thing again. Hell, maybe he had an ulcer?
“We could just stay here and order pizza later?” Much later. Like for breakfast. Pizza for breakfast should do wonders to cure a man’s ulcer.
“No. Dinner is all I promised. I’m not one of your groupies you can have on demand, Chase. If that’s what you expect from tonight, we should call it quits now.”
He took in a deep breath and slowly blew it out. Her expression was serious. Too serious. Her hands clasped together in her lap. Right about the area of her body where he’d like to be.
He groaned. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to wanting you.”
She smiled, seductive as hell. “Want is okay. Just no touching.”
No touching? Was she crazy?
He’d explode from frustration.
Or die from that bleeding ulcer he was beginning to be convinced he’d developed since meeting her.
“What do you mean?”
“This is a date, Chase. Our first, if you discount the night at the dance club. No touching on first dates.”
“Says who?” Had some talk show hostess come up with this great tidbit of advice?
“Says me.”
“Clarify no touching,” he demanded.
“No first base. No second base. No third base. No homeruns. And absolutely no ‘grand slams’.” She ticked each one off on her slim fingers.
His eyes widened, and he gave a not-so-amused ‘hmpf’. “Sounds like I don’t even get a turn at bat.”
She smiled. “That about sums up the rules for tonight.”
Could a man die from want? From lack of touch?
Chase had begun to think death might be a reprieve from the torture of being with Adrienne but unable to touch her. She hadn’t even allowed him to help her out of the car. Each time he’d went to assist her, she’d stepped away with a naughty smile.
She knew exactly what she was doing to him. She enjoyed every second of this game she played. He felt like the mouse he’d once compared her too. A mouse being toyed with by a sexy feline who knew she held all the cards. Damn.
When had the tables turned? He’d thought he had it all figured out when he’d come to the conclusion that there was nothing standing in his way now that the assistant/virgin thing had been resolved.
Too bad, he hadn’t taken into account Adrienne might not want to repeat their sexual adventure.
He stared at her. She played with her dessert. A raspberry torte. Without a doubt, she continued to toy with his libido, as well. She licked her spoon so erotically he couldn’t even finish his thought. Not without grabbing her hand and dragging her out of the restaurant.
“Is that good?” he asked.
Her lids lowered. “Heavenly.” Her tongue darted out to remove raspberry sauce from the corner of her mouth. Had she gotten it there on purpose just to torment him?
“Can I have a bite?” Maybe he could have a taste of her sweetness second-hand.
“I thought you didn’t want dessert?” Her eyes twinkled mischievously at him. She put the spoon in her mouth and closed her lips around it.
Oh, he wanted some all right.
Removing the utensil from her mouth, she dipped it back into the dish. Scooping up a generous amount, she held out the silverware to him.
He looked at the proffered spoon, then back at her. Instead of taking the utensil, he leaned closer to her and parted his lips.
Her eyes widened for a brief flash, then she lifted the spoon to his mouth and slid the sweet offering inside.
He let the delicious dish melt in his mouth. Sweet. Seducti
ve. Just like the woman next to him.
His eyes clashed with hers. He expected her to look away from the blatant sexuality he knew shined in his gaze. She didn’t.
Her lips twitched as she withdrew the utensil.
“Good?” she asked as if he didn’t affect her at all.
“I’ve had better.” Ouch. He hadn’t meant to say that. But, hell, her indifference was getting to him. Then, hadn’t it always?
Come to think of it, her attention got to him, as well. Everything about her got to him.
Her pupils darkened. She ladled another bite full, looking at it a moment before raising her gaze to his.
“I’ve not.” Her blue-green eyes bore into him as she added, “At least, not yet.”
Was she slurring his sexual prowess? He’d never had any complaints. Just what did she mean by ‘not yet’. He’d distinctly heard her tell Mel she didn’t plan to go out with him again.
“Just what are you implying?”
“That I plan to taste all life’s delicacies. Surely, you didn’t think I’d stop with raspberry torte when there are so many wonderful dishes in the world.” She ran her tongue over the edge of the spoon removing the last bit of raspberry sauce. “Things like cherry jubilee, banana split, and crème brule to tempt my taste buds.”
Chase went hard right then and there. He knew exactly what she was doing. “Some people never get over their first taste of nectar and tend to always come back for more.”
“Really?” Her eyes mocked him. “I’d think that same old dish would get boring.”
Chase shook his head. Somewhere this conversation had taken on too much of a double-edged meaning. How could he talk about sticking with one partner? He of whom never dated the same woman for more than a few weeks.
“You might be right.” He pointedly looked at the empty plate. “Finished?”
Her lips curved.
“For now.”
Chase pulled up outside her apartment. She’d refused his offer to take her dancing.
Guess that would have shot her no touching rule to hell.
He’d even driven by his apartment complex stalling, hoping she’d change her mind. She’d flat out refused his invitation to show her his apartment.
He parked his car and stared at a light post outside her apartment building.
At this point, he didn’t have a clue what to say.
Adrienne had lost her confident edge. He’d noticed her fidgeting in the soft leather seat.
He envied his car for cupping her enticing bottom. For being allowed to touch.
Pathetic.
“Thanks for dinner.” Her soft words broke into his thoughts.
“You’re welcome.” His words came out abrupt. Frustration evident.
Her lips tightened. “I’d invite you in, but that might not be a good idea.”
“Probably not,” he agreed, making no attempt to hide his displeasure with how the evening was ending.
“Chase,” she began.
Guilt slammed into him.
“Don’t, Adrienne.” He turned to face her. “Don’t say anything. I’m behaving like a spoilt child who’s been told he can’t have a piece of his favorite candy. I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on you.”
“Guess that’s a foreign concept for you,” she mused.
“You have no idea.”
"Surely, Saturn kept you company last night."
Chase’s gaze narrowed. Was she jealous?
He hadn’t been out on a date since the night he’d dropped Starr off at his apartment, a very disappointed Starr. His playboy reputation might never recover. But, he really didn’t care what Starr or any other woman thought. Just Adrienne.
"You might be surprised."
"Meaning?"
"I've not been with anyone but you in over two weeks." Damn, he hated admitting that. Not that Starr hadn’t offered that night. She had. But he just hadn’t been interested. At least, not in her. He’d gone mouse. Maybe he should buy himself some of those ridiculous plastic ears children wore to show he’d joined the club.
"That has to be some kind of record."
"Just what are you saying Adrienne?"
"Women come in and out of your life like there's a revolving door on your zipper."
There hadn’t been that many.
But, hell if he’d admit that in his frustrated state.
"I've never pretended I'm a saint. I enjoy women. Physical pleasure is a natural product of a man and woman spending time together."
He hated how much he sounded like his father.
"I'm not condemning you, Chase." She gave him a weak smile. "All that experience came in handy Tuesday night. I'll have to be sure to always choose experienced men."
"The hell you will," he snapped. The thought of another man delving into her sweet body hit him like a fist in the gut.
"I don’t plan to remain celibate for the rest of my life. I think the first twenty-three years was long enough, don’t you?”
"I don't want anyone else touching you. Just me. Stay away from Mel and every other man." His serious expression eased, and his lips twitched. “Women, too.”
The light from the street lamp cast a soft glow to her face. She didn’t smile at his reference to her supposed homosexuality.
Tough crowd.
"Does that work two ways? Do you plan to curb your midday munchies? I won’t stand in line for your sexual favors."
Midday munchies? Oh, she meant his supposed lunchtime activities with women. He grinned.
"Never that, Adrienne.” Despite her warning not to touch, his knuckles grazed her cheek. She didn’t pull back. “You’re at the front of my line."
She placed her hand over his, threading her fingers with his.
"For how long?" she asked.
How could he have forgotten Adrienne wasn’t a good time girl? Just because he’d seen no problem with them having awesome sex now that she was no longer his virgin assistant? That hadn’t meant she didn’t still believe in happily-ever-after and all its entrapments.
What could he say? He wouldn’t offer false promises.
"I don't know."
"No other women, Chase.” She let go of his hand. “If you want to be my lover, you have to be mine and only mine for the duration of our relationship. However long that might be."
A long pause went by.
He wanted her and if the delectable Starr couldn’t incite him, maybe he could be faithful for the short duration of his relationship with Adrienne. He’d just have to keep their relationship brief so he wouldn’t fall into his father’s footsteps.
"I’ll try."
"Try?" Confusion was evident on her pert face.
He nodded. Try was the best he could offer.
After a too long silence, she stretched to kiss him.
"I'm going to rock your world, Chase Aaron."
With the brief peck of her lips to his, she jumped out of the car.
She sashayed to the entrance. When she reached the glass door leading into the posh building, she took her security card from the dangling purse and tripped the lock mechanism. Opening the door, she turned and gave him a smile that smacked him upside the heart before she disappeared inside.
He shifted the car into drive. With a rev of his engine, he sped away from the building.
Rock his world?
She already had.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Adrienne stood outside Chase’s apartment doorway wondering if she was crazy.
What would he think about her showing up at the crack of dawn like this? Especially after her jaunt from his car last night.
She pulled her long khaki coat tighter around her shivering body. Not that it was cool enough for the mid-calf length jacket under normal circumstances, but she needed to keep what she wore underneath hidden.
She bit her lower lip.
What she didn’t wear was a more accurate description.
What would she do if he had another woman with him? Surely h
e wouldn't have called someone after dropping her off at her apartment last night?