Envious (17 page)

“I…” She stared at him as though she couldn’t find the words to respond.

“Don’t say anything.” He silenced her with a kiss when she tried to utter a protest. One day she would respond with the same certainty, but that wasn’t that day. She was still reeling from having her world turned upside down. It wasn’t the time to ask her to feel what he was feeling. “I just wanted you to know.”

Chris secured the condom before lying beside her. “Close your eyes.” He watched her comply before his hand skimmed her body, making thrill bumps rise on her soft skin. His body begged him to get to the main event, but he wanted to put her first tonight and every night, to prove to her that she deserved to feel cherished. Slipping his finger through her slick flesh, he watched the last of her reservations slip away as she gave herself over to him.

“Ahhh…” She squeezed her eyes shut as she swivelled her hips, trying to coax him into finishing her off. But he wasn’t interested in the culmination when he was having so much fun witnessing her trek into oblivion. She climbed higher, soaring to a place where the only thing that mattered was how fast he could stroke her. “Chris…” She gripped his wrist. “I’m…”

“Gorgeous.” Her bright blue eyes shone against her flushed cheeks when she opened her eyes. He thought he’d never seen a more striking reflection of intimacy. She was giving herself to him, trusting him to take care of her and give her what she needed. He circled her slick bud until her body pulsated with need. He watched her shatter, thinking he wanted to be there to pick up the pieces every time. He didn’t want her to be alone ever again.

“Wow,” she whispered, reaching for him.

He covered her body with his and braced his weight on his forearms. He had so much he wanted to say, yet the words lodged in his throat. Kissing her deeply seemed the only way to convey his message. As though she felt the same way, she kissed him back, moaning into his mouth when the frenzied pace of their kissing stirred her desire again.

As she guided him inside of her, her eyes locked with his. “Don’t move.”

He had no intention of moving when the experience was already perfection. She fit him like no one else ever had. Her body welcomed and encircled him, making him realize the sharp contrast between sex and making love. He’d loved—even made love—before, but it never felt like that. His body was sending him the message that his search was over. He’d found his other half, the one who could make his life complete.

“I just need a minute,” she whispered. He could tell she was struggling to make sense of what was happening between them as her body stretched to accommodate his. “Wow, it’s never… I mean, I’ve never…”

He realized she was on the verge again, and he had the power to push her over the edge. Moving gently, creating just enough friction to set her off, he let her body lead the way. It wouldn’t be long before her heart got with the program and realized he was the man who could make all of her dreams come true. His tongue probed her mouth as his body rocked, coaxing another orgasm to ripple through her before she’d had time to catch her breath. He could tell her responsiveness shocked her, but he was pretty sure she’d never had a man so fixated on her pleasure before.

By the time she came down, she was panting and chuckling as she wiped a hand over her slick forehead. “Are you trying to finish me off?”

“Hell no, we’re just getting started, baby.” He picked up the pace to punctuate his point. Her mouth formed an O, and her eyes widened. He grinned, finding the humor in her response, until she retaliated by clenching him in her tight heat. Being on top didn’t mean he was in control.

“If you’re trying to make me cry mercy…” He dipped his head, trying to regain control.

“I love having you at my mercy,” she whispered, contracting around him as her tongue flicked across his earlobe. “I love knowing that I can drive you crazy.”

“You’re drivin’ me crazy all right,” he muttered. A stream of curses filtered through his head. He wanted it to be incredible for her, and he couldn’t give her that if she made him surrender too soon. She relented, giving him a little room to breathe so he could talk himself off the cliff and get his head back in the game. “You’re bad.”

She pouted. “That’s not what a girl wants to hear.”

To divert her attention away from torturing him, he scattered open-mouth kisses on her neck and collarbone as he thrust in a steady rhythm that would break a less-focused man. Her cries of pleasure were music to his ears, and he found a cadence that would give her pleasure without doing him in. “You like?” He knew she couldn’t form a coherent sentence if she tried.

“Yes, God, yes.”

He grinned and braced his hands on either side of her head. He eased back so he could watch the pleasure play out across her face. That was a mistake. Witnessing her hunger for him was the hottest thing he’d ever seen. Her lips were moist and parted, her hot breath slipping through her pouty lips in little gasps. Her eyes were glazed, her cheeks flushed, and a sheen covered her soft curves as her tousled blond hair fanned out on the pillow.

“I want to make you feel the way you make me feel.” She ran her hands over his chest. “Crazy.” She circled his flat nipples with her thumbs. “Out of control.”

He couldn’t contain the shudder moving through him. No question about it, she was destined to be his un-doing, in and out of the bedroom. “You’re about to get your wish.” He clenched his teeth as she milked him until his body contracted… and he submitted to the woman who owned his heart.

Katie was nervous about meeting Chris at his office the next day. After their incredible night together, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it be awkward between them or would he be anxious to extend the intimacy, even in front of his employees? She was about to find out.

He crossed the lobby to meet her. He was dressed in a pair of faded jeans, boots, and a button-down shirt. Remembering all the carved muscle under those clothes made Katie blush and wonder whether they could sneak into his office and lock the door before their meeting with the realtor.

“Hey baby,” he said, pulling her into his arms for a passionate kiss.

Katie broke the kiss just in time to see the young receptionist share a curious glance with the uniformed security guard standing at his post by the elevator. She couldn’t seem to care that they were making a spectacle of themselves as she wrapped her arms around Chris’s neck. He couldn’t put a respectable distance between them even if he wanted to. “That was some greeting.”

“I’d kinda like to pick up where we left off last night,” he whispered, his strong hands moving to the small of her back. “What’s say we bag this meeting and check into the hotel across the street instead?”

Katie giggled as happiness bubbled inside her. “What would your employees say?”

“Who the hell cares?”

She loved that he didn’t care what other people thought of him or them as a couple. It was time for her to let go of other people’s judgements too. He was right; who cared what anyone else thought of their relationship? Chris made her happy. Happier than she could ever remember being. “As much as I love that idea, we don’t have a lot of time if we want to get this pre-school up and running in time for the new school year.”

With a dramatic sigh, he pulled his keys out of his pocket and reached for her hand. “You had to rain on my parade, didn’t you?”

She leaned in. “Hannah’s with her dad tonight. I could make it up to you at my place, if you’re interested?” She wasn’t normally so bold, but if it meant a repeat of last night, Katie was willing to put her pride on the line. Not that she thought Chris would reject her. Judging by the light in his eyes, he couldn’t wait to be with her again. Being in a relationship with a man who wore his heart on his sleeve and let her know he was crazy about her was so nice.

“It’s a date.” He turned back to the receptionist. “Sara’s already left for lunch. If anyone needs me, just a take a message, okay? I should be back in a couple of hours.”

“You got it, boss.” She shot a look in their direction that let Katie know she wasn’t pleased to watch her sexy, single boss going on a lunch date with another woman.

“Do you get that a lot?” Katie asked once they were outside. She’d never been the jealous type, but the predatory way women looked at Chris stirred her possessive instincts.

“What?” he asked, leading her toward his Mustang.

She knew he usually drove his truck to work. He must have brought the car for her benefit, knowing how much she loved it. She never ceased to be surprised and thrilled by his attentiveness. “Your employees… flirting with you.” She cringed when she realized she sounded like a high school girl worried about her boyfriend cheating on her with a rival cheerleader.

“Not since I told Bob it would cost him his job if it happened again.” He grinned as he tossed his car keys at her.

She rolled her eyes. “I saw the way that girl at the front desk looked at you. She obviously has a thing for you.”

He held the driver’s door open for her. “So what? I don’t date my employees.”

“Ever?” She slid into the car and fastened her seatbelt.

He leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips that eradicated her doubts. “Ever.”

“Good to know,” she said, touching his cheek. She loved the way his stubble felt. It reminded her of how it felt last night when he’d scratched her sensitive skin in the most delicious way.

“You keep looking at me like that, and I just may haul you across the street to that hotel after all.”

“How’d you know what I was thinking?” The evidence must be in her eyes or at least obvious in her shallow breaths.

“You were thinking about last night, about the way it felt…” He gripped the edge of the doorframe as he nuzzled her neck. “I’ve been thinking about it all morning too. I’ve been useless at the office.”

She looped her arms around his neck with a contented sigh. “Maybe we should think about rescheduling this meeting.”

He chuckled before kissing her neck and pulling away. “Don’t tempt me, woman.”

The drive to the realtor’s office was short, but Katie enjoyed every second behind the wheel of the powerful automobile.

“Look at you.” Chris laughed as he squeezed her bare thigh. “You look like a kid on Christmas morning when you’re driving this thing.”

She spared him a glance at the stoplight, her eyes raking his sexy body. “I guess that’s one more thing you and I have in common. We both like it fast and hard.”

He groaned, shifting in his seat. “I walked right into that, didn’t I?” Katie smiled as she accelerated, tossing her long blond hair for the benefit of the male driver beside them who was blatantly checking her out. “I saw that.”

“What?” Katie asked, tongue in cheek. She knew Chris noticed the other driver. He hadn’t been subtle in his perusal of her or her ride.

“That jerk-off was checking you out, and you were encouraging him.”

“Sort of like the receptionist at your building was checking you out?”

“Yeah, but I don’t encourage her.” He looked like a sulky child as he lowered the volume on the classic rock blaring from his over-priced sound system.

“You don’t have to.” Katie sighed and stole another glance at him. “You just have to breathe the same air as these women to make them think they have a chance with you. Especially since you lost the wedding band.”

“Katie,” he said softly, “I’m not interested in anyone else. I hope you know that.”

She believed him, but suppressing her occasional pang of jealousy wasn’t easy when she saw one of the neighbors flirting with him or one of his employees staring at his backside. “I’m sorry. I’m being silly. This is all kind of new for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“This whole jealousy thing.”

“Come to think of it, I don’t ever remember you being jealous of Lee. I mean, when we’d all go out together, other women would look, but I don’t think you noticed half the time.”

“I guess that speaks volumes, doesn’t it?” she muttered. She was in way too deep with Chris already. She had to slow down and figure out where they were going before she lost her heart to him… if it wasn’t too late already.

“It says that you and I are on the same page.” When she pulled into the realtor’s parking lot, he waited for her to find a parking spot and cut the engine before he reached for her. “I’m here because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be and no one else I’d rather be with.”

Her heart melted a little when he gave her the reassurance she needed. “Thank you for saying that.” She watched him kiss her hand and thought that falling in love with him would be the easiest thing she’d ever done. “For the record, I feel the same way.”

“Good.” He kissed her cheek. “Now, let’s go buy that building.”

***

The negotiations were painless,
Chris thought as they left the realtor’s office less than an hour later. The broker was a motivated seller, and they’d settled for less than Chris was willing to pay. That left more money to outfit the business to make it the most exclusive and sought-after pre-school in Nashville.

“I’m so excited,” Katie said, squeezing his hand. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”

“Believe it.” He thought he would do just about anything to make her smile like that. “I’ve got a buddy in the construction business, Tucker Brooks. I’m gonna ask him to come out and have a look at the building tomorrow, see what he thinks it would take to get this job done.”

“Do you think he’ll be able to complete it in time for us to host an open house in August? Prospective parents will want to see the school before they commit.”

“Tucker usually handles big projects,” he said, opening the driver’s door for her. “I can’t promise he’ll be able to do the work himself. He’s pretty busy. But if not, I’m sure he’ll be able to recommend someone trustworthy who can get the job done on time and on budget.”

After closing her door, Chris walked around the front of the car, watching her slip her sunglasses in place. It was no wonder the guy in the pick-up truck beside them couldn’t keep his eyes off her. She was a sight to behold; that long blond hair paired with those long tanned legs peeking out from beneath a short black skirt was enough to make a man’s mouth water. Chris shot the poor sucker a grin before he eased into the passenger’s seat. He could afford to be magnanimous since he knew
he
was the one who would be sharing Katie’s bed.