At just that moment, Spencer and Mona walked into the kitchen. A knot formed in Raina’s stomach and she tried to erect a wall of defense against the potency of Spencer’s maleness, but it was futile. He looked scrumptious. “Good evening, ladies.” Spencer smiled warmly at Summer first before resting his dark eyes on Raina after they’d traveled over her body.
“Mr. Davis.” Summer and Raina spoke almost simultaneously.
“Ms. Newman. Ms. Martin.” Spencer nodded curtly as he walked toward her. “Do you have anything I can taste?”
“We sure do,” Raina replied, a little too excitedly for her liking. “I have this delicious curried butternut squash soup. We put it in a shot glass for ease.”
Raina handed Spencer a shot glass and when he grasped it, his hands made a point of coming into contact with hers. His eyes raked hers for what seemed like an eternity before he let go.
Spencer put the glass to those sensuous thick lips of his, lips that had stroked her into orgasm after orgasm, and Raina’s insides instantly lurched with excitement at the memory.
“Delicious.” Spencer licked his lips as he placed the glass on counter. “I’m sure the rest of the meal will be equally delicious. I’ll see you both soon.” He nodded at Raina and Summer again before leaving the kitchen.
Raina was rooted to the spot and Summer called her out on it.
“Hello.” Summer waved her hand in front of Raina’s face.
Raina blinked several times. “What?” she asked, annoyed.
“What?” Summer stepped backward. “The sexual tension was spilling off the both of you in droves. When he licked his lips, I thought you might expire. Poor Mona and I felt like we were intruding.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Raina moved away to the sink to rinse off some vegetables for her duck breast.
“You can deny it if you want,” Summer said. “But things between you two are far from over. In fact, I think they are just getting started.”
Embarrassed, Raina kept her back to her friend, not because Summer was wrong, but because she knew she was right. If she could see it, feel it, just how long would Raina be able to keep her feelings for Spencer at bay?
The rest of the evening continued smoothly and without event. Periodically, Spencer stopped in the kitchen to have a taste of the next course. He particularly seemed to enjoy her pan-seared duck breast with plum reduction. And he just about licked the plate when he tasted their bourbon bananas Foster.
Each time Spencer came to the kitchen, it became easier and easier, and slowly Raina began to relax and enjoy cooking like she usually did without the anxiety of wondering what his next move was going to be.
By the time dessert was over and the guests were enjoying coffee and brandy, Raina and Summer finally took the time to have a seat and have a drink to the evening’s success. They’d already packed up all the food and now it was just a matter of cleanup, especially now that most guests had departed.
“Great job, partner.” Summer clicked the champagne flute she’d procured from one of the servers against Raina’s, then set it down on the counter bar.
“Back at you,” Raina replied, taking a seat beside her. “We make a great team.”
“Always have,” Summer said, sipping her drink. “And now that we’re doing so well, we should start enjoying the fruits of our labor. You know, take some time for ourselves.”
“We can’t back off now. We’re hot. Did you see how many guests asked for our cards?” Raina pointed with her flute toward the lounging area. “They loved our food.”
“True, but there has to be room in our lives for more than just this business.”
Raina frowned. She didn’t like where this conversation was going. “Like what?”
“Like that fine man in there.” Summer pointed to the lounge. “There’s no reason you two can’t explore a relationship.”
Raina put down her flute and jumped off her bar stool. “That’s not possible.”
“Why is that?” a masculine voice said from behind her.
Raina closed her eyes and wished the floor would swallow her up whole. How long had he been standing there? He had a habit of eavesdropping.
Raina opened her eyes and watched Summer rise from the bar. “Um, we should really start to clean up.”
“Leave it!” Spencer ordered.
“Mr. Davis—” Summer began, but Spencer must have given her a look. Raina had never seen Summer cower before.
“Summer, I think it’s fine for you to leave now. Don’t you think?”
Summer looked at Raina and although her eyes were downcast, Raina nodded her agreement. Reluctantly, Summer grabbed her purse from underneath the island counter and left the room.
Slowly Raina turned around and lifted her eyes to meet Spencer’s. “You really shouldn’t boss people around like that.” She attempted to sound light, but it came off somewhat forced.
Spencer didn’t speak; he just rolled up his sleeves, headed to the sink and began washing dishes. Raina had expected a fight and didn’t know how to react. She stood there woodenly until he glanced at her and said, “You wanna help?”
“Oh, yes, I’m sorry,” Raina said and sidled next to him. She helped rinse off the dishes he’d washed and set them on a rack to dry. “I’m sure you have staff that could do this for you,” she commented.
“I do,” he said but didn’t offer further explanation and continued scrubbing the pots and pans.
Raina wondered when they were going to have it out and the waiting was driving her crazy. She’d expected the Spencer who’d come into the shower and ravished her on the bathroom floor. She wasn’t expecting this calm and cool Spencer, and it unnerved her. Was he purposely trying to keep her off-kilter?
* * *
Spencer regarded Raina when she wasn’t looking. She’d anticipated that he would act caveman and come on strong, but this time he was actually trying to heed Ty’s advice. He was going to try talking to her calmly and rationally about the future.
When he was finished with the last pot, he handed it to her, rinsed off the sink and wiped down the counters. He turned to lean back against the counter as she put away the remaining dishes.
“Would you like a drink?” he asked.
“I have one.” She motioned to the glass of champagne on the counter.
“I meant a real drink. A glass of brandy, perhaps?” He walked over to a cabinet and reached inside to produce two tumblers.
“I suppose that would be fine,” she said, taking a seat at the island. She removed her apron and set it on the counter.
He hoped so. Brandy had a tendency to relax people, and he needed Raina relaxed and unguarded. He walked over to the bar in the adjacent room and poured two generous glasses. He returned to the kitchen and handed Raina one.
“You did a great job on the party,” Spencer stated, taking a sip of his brandy and leaning against the counter opposite Raina.
“Are we really going to make small talk?” Raina asked. “I doubt that’s why you sent my ride home. Why don’t we just get to the heart of the matter?”
That was fine with him. Spencer was ready to face the situation head-on, but he wanted to do so with a modicum of decorum. “All right,” he said and sauntered toward her.
Spencer came to stand in front of Raina, getting closer until they were inches apart. “So why don’t you tell me why you and I won’t work.”
“Why don’t you tell me why we would?” Raina countered.
“Let’s not play games, Raina.”
“I’m not,” she replied. “You’re a rich former NBA star turned sports agent with women lined up at your door. Why would I knowingly walk into that scenario?”
Spencer nodded his head. So she wanted to use his playboy reputation as an excuse. Fine. He intended to knock down ever
y excuse she put in their path. “Have you seen me with any women recently? Or photographed with any women?”
“No, but that means nothing. Athletes are known to hide their women. You wouldn’t be the first.”
“True, but I don’t want any other women, Raina,” he whispered. “Just you.”
“You want what you can’t have because it’s new and different, but as soon as the newness wears off you’ll be on to the next new plaything. I won’t be your latest woman du jour.”
Spencer slapped his glass down on the counter so hard that some liquid spilled on the counter. “Ah, so I’m just a playboy looking to use you for a good time? Is that really how you see me?” He’d hoped in the short time that they’d known each other that she thought better of him.
“I don’t know you,” Raina said. At his frown, she rephrased. “At least not well enough to form any real opinion.”
“Have I done anything that would make you not trust me?” Spencer inquired. Raina’s silence told him he was making some headway. “I’ve been open and honest with you about what I want, haven’t I?” He took her brandy tumbler out of her hand and placed it on the island, using his other hand to cup her backside and pull her off the stool and bring her toward him. “But you keep resisting me.” He stroked her cheek. “Why do you keep fighting me, fighting yourself?” He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across the tender spot at the nape of Raina’s neck.
“You’re not playing fair,” she murmured against him.
“I know,” he said, suckling her neck and then moving up to lick her earlobes and blow warm air on her dampened skin. “I want you to give in to me.” He rubbed the thickness of his erection against her center and began massaging one of her breasts through the cotton T-shirt she wore.
“I can’t,” Raina whispered.
“Yes, you can,” he murmured. He didn’t wait for a response. Grabbing her by the buttocks, he lifted her in the air and sat her down on the island counter. There was no more time for decorum. There was only time for action. He yanked the T-shirt over her head, leaving her in only a satin bra and jeans. His mouth chartered every inch of her lips, slowly and leisurely, before his tongue finally pressed for entry inside her mouth. She parted her lips, and his tongue thrust inside her mouth and tangled with hers. He groped for the zipper on her jeans as he made love to her with his mouth.
Then he moved back ever so slightly so he could pull the jeans from her long, lean legs. He tossed them to the kitchen floor. He kneed her legs apart and settled between them. His mouth slid down her neck and his took a teasing bite at the spot on her neck that joined her shoulders before arriving to her breasts. He pushed aside the satiny fabric of her bra and lowered his head to her naked breasts.
Raina held his head in her hands as he used his tongue to roll and lick one breast and then the other until they became erect underneath his expert mouth. Raina began to moan and shift on the counter as he sucked her breasts like they were exotic pieces of ripe fruit.
Spencer was eager for more and moved his hot hands lower until they came into contact with the satin of her briefs. He pushed the tiny scrap aside so his fingers could tease her already slick feminine folds. She was wet for him and her clit was firm. She opened up wider for him as his fingers guided their way in and out of her moist petals. When she began to twitch, Spencer knew he wanted nothing more than to taste her sweet nectar. In seconds, he’d lowered himself to his knees and replaced his fingers with his tongue. He held her hips in a strong clutch and tongued her until she was on fire, breathing deeply, moaning, twitching, begging him to enter her.
“Spencer...” she said through ragged breaths. “Please...”
“Tell me you need this as much as I do,” he rasped against her feverish thighs, looking up at her.
“I need you...”
Spencer lifted his head, rose to his feet and kissed her neck while Raina swiftly tore at the buttons of his shirt, sending several flying through the air. The buckle of his belt was next, and his pants fell to the floor while he fumbled putting on a condom.
Raina scooted forward on the counter and wrapped her legs around Spencer. He pushed aside the tiny strap of satin again to plunge deep inside her. Her fingers dug into his naked backside as Spencer closed his eyes and began pumping into her. She didn’t know it, but she owned him. He’d never met a woman who could give herself so freely to him as Raina did. He thrust inside her urgently and she met each of his thrusts until his pace began to both sate and exhaust him.
When neither of them could take any more he gave one final thrust. Raina cried out softly, but he muffled her cries by covering her mouth with his. Small eruptions happened inside his body unlike anything he’d ever encountered. He wrestled with it at first and then eventually gave himself up to the pleasure and sank against her as her head fell back against the granite.
Several moments passed before Spencer eventually disengaged himself from Raina and reached down to pull his pants up. He started to button his shirt, then realized several buttons had popped off in their hasty union. He’d been so eager to be inside her that he hadn’t even taken Raina to his bedroom and made love to her properly like he’d intended. Instead, he’d just taken her like a horny schoolboy right there on the kitchen counter.
Where had his calm gone? Ty’s words had certainly flown out the window. But had they made any progress? He doubted it. All he’d done was make her crazy with sex. And, yes, Raina understood the intensity of their passion, even shared it, but was that enough to show her they could have a future together? A future with Zoe?
Raina slowly rose from the counter. He could see she was embarrassed as she glanced down for the jeans he’d discarded earlier in a hurry.
“Raina...”
“God, what are you doing to me?” Raina said, slipping into her jeans and zipping them up. “And why do we keep ending up here?”
He wasn’t sure if she was speaking to him or thinking out loud. “Was that a rhetorical question?”
She turned to glare at him. “I...I’ve never been this...this woman before...so, so wanton for sex with no regard for when or where. You are a bad influence.” She pointed at him. “It’s exactly why I need to keep my distance. I have no self-control. No filter when it comes to you.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” he asked.
“I like to be in control. I have to know what’s coming.”
“I know.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not,” Spencer responded. “But you can’t control everything, Raina. You can’t control this...us.” He motioned to the two of them.
“So you keep showing me,” Raina said tartly.
“What are you so afraid of?” Spencer asked. “Why do you keep running away from me? Don’t you see that I want to be with you?”
“I...I...” Raina glanced around for her shirt.
Spencer saw it lying near the table nearby and he blocked her path as she tried to move past him. “Stay with me tonight, Raina,” he pleaded, bracing his arms against hers. “I promise you it won’t be like before. Give me a chance to show you how good it could be between us. How soft and gentle I can be again.” He caressed her cheek with the palm of his hand.
“Spencer...don’t do this to me,” Raina murmured in a low, throaty voice. Her words said she wanted to leave, but her body hadn’t moved a muscle.
“Please, Raina,” he said.
When she didn’t utter another protest, he lifted her into his arms, walked through the foyer and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom.
Chapter 11
Hours later after Spencer made love to her slowly and reverently, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Raina awoke and it was still dark out, which meant she hadn’t been asleep long. At first she was disconcerted and she thought it was because she wasn’t used to sl
eeping in a stranger’s bed, but then she realized that wasn’t what had woken her up.
Spencer was thrashing around on the huge king-size bed and calling out his brother’s name in his sleep. He seemed to be in the throes of some of kind nightmare.
“Spencer...” Raina reached out to touch him and Spencer shot straight up and glared at her. “Spencer!”
He blinked several times as if he was trying to focus on her before shaking his head and snapping out of the nightmare. “Are you okay?” he finally asked.
“I am,” Raina replied. “But I don’t think you are.” She touched his chest, which was damp with perspiration. “You were screaming out Cameron’s name.”
“Oh, that,” Spencer said as he pushed up several pillows so he could lean back on them. “That’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Raina asked incredulously. “I don’t think so. You were yelling out his name. Wait a second.” She paused as she watched him. “You’ve had this nightmare before, haven’t you?”
Spencer nodded.
“For how long?”
“Years. Since the accident.”
“Years?” Raina was dumbfounded. How could he go on having the same nightmare? “Have you talked to anyone about it?”
“I’ve been shrinked to death,” Spencer replied glumly. “And seeing them hasn’t stopped the nightmares from occurring. It seems that they’ve gotten worse, especially of late.”
“It’s because of Zoe, isn’t it? Finding out about her has stirred up all those emotions.” Raina took a stab in the dark at the root cause.
Spencer shrugged. “Perhaps, perhaps not.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Raina asked.
“Not particularly.”
Raina was sure he didn’t want to appear weak, but for Raina it was the exact opposite. It showed her that Spencer was human like the rest of them despite his aura of confidence and strength. It made him more approachable, like when she’d learned about his mother.
A Chance with You Page 12