Love Match (4 page)

“Can a woman ever be prepared for a man like you?”

Her legs moved restlessly on the bed beneath him but the
teasing look on her face faded when he dragged the head of his dick over her
pussy. She was wet and perfect, her flesh silken, and Ace knew he could fuck
her this way and she’d love it but he wanted her crazy for him. He needed to
know that when she got in her car tomorrow and drove away that her body would
still be pulsing with the satisfying fuck he planned to give her.

He wanted her to love him and to remember.

“Well let’s just see, Chloe. Are you prepared?”

She opened her mouth but didn’t answer. He went to his knees
between her splayed thighs and slowly pulled his hand up the stalk of his cock
and pushed it down again. Her gaze locked on the manipulation, her tongue
streaking out to dampen her bottom lip. “Look at how hard I am for you. I get
this way every time I look at you. Even when you smile, I want to throw you
down on the closest horizontal surface and fuck you until you scream my name.”

Ace traced the opening of her pussy with the tip of a finger
then sent another to join it as he breached her. As he’d thought, she was
drenched, her slick flesh prepared for sex. Vaginal walls gripped his fingers
as he thrust them deep, working her over, and her eyes drifted shut. Her back
bowed from the mattress in her eagerness for more but Ace didn’t want her this
way. He wanted to build a seductive memory that would torment her until she
admitted she loved him.

His fingers were wet from her juices when he withdrew them
and flipped her body until her belly pressed against the sheets.

“Umm—”

“Shh. You have the best ass, Chloe. Let me look at it.” His
palms traced the firm globes then drifted higher to tease the small of her back
and her spine. Bending low, he settled his lips at her nape then breathed into
her ear. His aching cock was pillowed against her fine butt. “I’m going to fuck
you until you scream for me and then I’m going to give it to you again. If
tonight is the last night I ever have with you then, by damn, I’m going to make
it memorable.”

Ace nipped the lobe, his own personal exclamation mark on
the statement, then teased her neck and her back with the edges of his teeth.
Lower and lower he trailed biting kisses until Chloe’s breathing quickened.
Wanting to thrust deep more than his next breath, he gripped her hips and
lifted until her ass was right where he wanted it. He placed her hands around
the rungs of the old-fashioned headboard and, leaning over her back, kissed her
fingers. “Hang on,” he murmured. “Hang on tight and don’t let go.”

She didn’t respond but then the only response he needed
would come when he brought her to earth-shaking orgasm. Ace planned to be right
there with her.

Still kneeling on the bed behind her, he looked his fill,
enjoying every inch of her lush body. Her skin was pearly perfection. Reaching
down, he filled his hands with her breasts. Hard, tightly drawn nipples pressed
against his palms. Taking his time, he pinched them lightly then harder as tiny
cries filled the air. Ace released her nipples then moved into
fuck me
territory. He stroked her creamy pussy with his fingertips then felt her go
still when he dragged his tongue over her. Over and over he plied her flesh,
finding her clit and drawing tiny circles around it.

She needed more, he knew. A firmer touch followed the slow
tasting when he pressed the swollen knot of nerves with the tip of his tongue
then sucked it into his mouth. Ace kept a hard grip on her ass as he plundered
and when Chloe quivered, he savaged her pussy, sucking the clit with
alternating soft and hard pressure. Her cries grew louder as she flew apart
from the assault. Her flesh pulsed beneath his tongue but he didn’t linger. Ace
wanted to feel her pussy spasm around his cock before he brought her up again.

Moving quickly, taking advantage of her vulnerable position,
he guided his cock to the entrance of her pussy then slammed deep. Chloe
screamed sharply, her pussy squeezing around him spasmodically as he held
himself still. Pleasure rolled through his stiff dick and settled in his balls.
They were drawn up high and hard, resting against the soft skin of her ass.
Moving was both a blessing and a curse as sensation gathered at the base of his
spine, engaging him body and soul, prompting him to fuck her hard and deep.
Faster and faster he thrust until they trembled together at the edge of a
pleasure so deep there were no words.

No words.

Ace’s head fell back as he absorbed each sensation, each
sigh, each quiver into his pores. His cock throbbed as the pressure built and
tingles raced over him from toes to scalp. Gritting his teeth against the need
to blast his cum into her, brand her, make her his forever, he fought the urges
until finally the fight was gone. In a wild burst of pleasure, he lost control.
It was the most powerful orgasm of his life. Lights flashed and flared behind
his closed lids and he roared as lust ripped through his body in a blinding
surge.

Beneath him, Chloe joined him, her body clutching his cock
and holding him deep as he came. Sobs broke from her lips, heaving from her
chest, and Ace couldn’t bear it. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and
rolled with her until they lay back-to-front on the bed. “Shh. It’s okay, baby.
It’s okay.”

But deep in his heart, he knew it wasn’t. She would leave
tomorrow and take his heart with her.

Epilogue

A month later, back home in Texas, Chloe sat curled at the
end of the couch with the phone pressed to her ear. She’d been chatting with
Lindy for the past thirty minutes. Once they’d reconnected at the reunion,
they’d parted with hugs and laughter, each promising to stay in touch. So they
had.

She picked at the frayed hem of her cutoffs and sighed.
“Yeah, I’ll tell you the minute I hear from him. I’ve talked with him many
times since we got together at the reunion, but honestly, Lindy, I just don’t
know. Maybe he’ll change his mind about the whole relationship thing.”

“Never,” Lindy answered on the other end of the line. “He
loves you, sweets. I know it.”

Chloe laughed. “You have to say that. You’re my best
friend.”

“Yeah, well, your best friend would never lie to you
either.”

Memories of that long ago summer morning still had the
ability to bring her to her knees. She’d never thought of herself as the kind
of woman who would crave raunchy sex but suddenly she was a happy addict. Ace
had tested the bounds, pushed her and still, through it all, refused to tell
her how he felt about her. Was there a future for them? It was hard to know.

“Know what’s pathetic?”

“What?”

Chloe shifted her position on the couch and lowered her
voice. “My body still feels him. I know it’s weird but when I think of him and
what he did to me for that series of days and nights, I tingle from head to
toe. It’s pitiful.”

“Sounds like it could be love to me.”

“I watched the entire US Open on television trying to catch
a glimpse of him.”

“The US Open?”

“Yeah, it’s one of the top Grand Slam tennis tournaments of
the year. One of the biggest and best. Anyway, I’ve been scanning the sides of
every match looking for him. It’s dumb because he’s not a player anymore. He’s
the guy taking the pictures. Now why on earth would I think I might catch a
glimpse? I feel like a damn stalker, hungry for any little peek at him.”

“Has he suggested you get together?”

“Not really.” Chloe’s eyes burned as she fought tears. She
hadn’t grieved so much since losing Scott so tragically. For sure it was a
different kind of sadness but every bit as real. “He mainly gave me his
itinerary. The tournament in New York has been over for a few days but he’s
heading to Rome soon. Lord knows when or if I’ll ever see him again.”

“You will, honey. I know it.”

“I hope you’re right. I can’t think. Can’t sleep without
dreaming of him and those days we were together. I need to snap out of it and
get down to the business of living again.”

Once she was off the phone, she looked down at the floor
where Alyssa was busily stacking odd-shaped multicolored blocks. She pushed
thoughts of Ace to the back of her mind and focused on her daughter. “What’cha
buildin’, cookie?”

Her four-year-old looked up and frowned. Her white curls
were tangled and needed a good brushing. “A castle. Can’t you tell?”

She cocked her head and considered the project. “Oh yeah. I
see it now! That’s cool, sweet pea. Now listen, why don’t you get all this
stuff picked up? Grandma is going to be here in two shakes.”

“Think Grandma and Grandpa will get me some ice cream? Or
popcorn? We can fix it in the mitrowabe. Ooooh. Yay!” Alyssa drew her words out
dramatically and widened her big blue eyes. Yep. A diva in training.

Laughing, Chloe stood and helped her daughter load the
blocks into a plastic shopping cart. “Knowing your Grandpa, you’ll have both,”
she said, mentally rolling her eyes. Her folks spoiled their only grandchild
like crazy.

“Will they let me watch movies all night long?”

“Uh-uh, doll. Not a chance, and don’t even suggest it.”

Just then the doorbell rang and they both looked up. “That’s
Grandmaaaaa,” Alyssa cried, running for the door.

Chloe smiled and dumped a half-dozen more blocks into the
cart then looked up at the sound of a masculine voice. Frozen in the act of
pushing her hair out of her eyes, she saw Ace standing on the other side of the
screen, grinning at her daughter. “You must be Alyssa,” he said.

“Hi. I’m not s’posed to talk to strangers.”

“Good idea, munchkin.” He looked up and gave Chloe a sexy
grin. “I figured she’d be the spitting image of her beautiful mom. I was right.
Hi, Chloe.”

Her mouth went dry at the sight of him, but she finally
gathered her wits enough to invite him in. Just looking at the man made her
brains fly right out of her head.

Once he was seated and introductions had been made, she
watched him chat it up with her talkative daughter. It was actually fun
watching them interact because, damn it, if she ever chose a man, it would have
to be someone who was suitable for both of them. She and Alyssa were a package
deal, after all. But as she watched the two of them together, she realized she
had nothing to worry about when it came to her daughter.

Alyssa didn’t really remember her dad. She’d been too young
when they’d lost him. She was open and cheerful and accepting of people and
she’d obviously taken to Ace, who was busy pulling a quarter right out of her
ear, much to her daughter’s fascination. Alyssa’s giggles mingled with his
heavy masculine laughter and Chloe thought she’d melt into a big happy puddle
on the floor.

Roughly thirty minutes later, her mom had picked up Alyssa
along with her bright-red Hello Kitty suitcase and they’d headed out the door
for the prearranged sleepover. Chloe closed the door behind them and leaned
against it to look at Ace.

“You were a hit with my daughter,” she whispered.

Ace stood and held his arms out to his sides. “Hey, what’s
not to love?”

And wasn’t that just the plain truth?

Emotion wrapped around her heart and squeezed tight. A pulse
pounded in her throat as she swallowed. “So, um, what are you—?”

“Doing here?” He stalked toward her and pressed her to the
front door. “I missed you. When I realized that I couldn’t get through fifteen
seconds without thinking of you, I knew I had to hop a plane.”

His mouth found hers. His kiss was full of passion, hunger
and homecoming. She loved him so much in that moment that tears burned behind
her eyes. Clinging to him, she wrapped her arms around his back, noting the way
the muscles bunched beneath her hands. His tongue swept deep and she returned
his kiss with an abandon she’d only ever felt with him.

Ace wore faded jeans, and his hard cock pulsing behind the
fly caught her immediate attention when he pressed himself to her front. Slowly
he rocked all that luscious hardness against her pussy and the feel of it was
so delicious, it dragged a low moan from her throat. As he dry-fucked her
against the door, Ace settled his lips against her ear. “I couldn’t. Stay.
Away. God help me. You were with me in my heart every second, Chloe.”

“Ace,” she whispered. “Oh, honey.”

He bent his knees as he rocked against her again, giving her
more over-the-top friction. Her knees felt like jelly and it was a miracle her
legs could hold her upright. Then suddenly standing wasn’t an issue as he
lifted her up and looked around the room. Dark eyes filled with lust and hunger
searched every doorway. “Where is it?”

She didn’t have to be told he wanted to find the closest
bed. “Through that door and to the right,” she gasped. Clinging like an eel,
she held on, her legs wrapped around his waist, her pussy pressed tight against
his belly. He carried her until she smelled the scent of lavender that
permeated her bedroom. She’d shared this room with Scott, but that had been a
million years ago and she was ready to live again.

Then, before she could draw another breath, she was flat on
her back on the bed, gazing up into Ace’s hard, hungry eyes. He cursed low, a
muscle flexing in his jaw as he concentrated on unsnapping and unzipping her
shorts. In a flash, he had them off.

“This is what I want. The sweetest pussy on the planet.” He
traced her slit with a long finger. Her panties were so wet they were hardly a
barrier to his touch. Bending low, he sucked her distended clit through the
silky fabric and her back bowed as sensation raced through her center. Ace
pushed her tee shirt up, baring her belly, splaying his hands across it. Odd
how pale she was when compared to his darkness. And then his teeth scraped her
clit delicately and all thought fled her brain.

Finally he dragged the tiny panties down her legs and
reached for her tee shirt. When she was naked and displayed for him, he
whistled low. “Damn, I’m lucky.”

“’Bout to get luckier,” she gasped.

With a groan, Ace kicked out of his shoes and jeans and
pulled his shirt over his head. Chloe’s mouth watered at the sight of all that
lean muscle and rangy strength. He bent to pluck a condom from the pocket of
his jeans and without another word, rolled it on. He went still, his eyes dark
and teeming with some unnamed emotion. Lust practically rolled from his body to
hers. Chloe shivered.

Ace leaned forward and came toward her on the bed. Chloe
panted and shook, but managed to scoot backward until she was supine in the
middle of the bed. Grinning at her, Ace snagged a couple of pillows, flipped
her over and shoved them beneath her belly until her ass was basically up in
the air and very much on display.

“Um, not very dignified,” she managed.

Behind her, Ace laughed darkly. “Fuck dignified. I love your
ass.”

She opened her mouth on a retort but it died on her tongue
when his big hands settled on her butt. The slow massage began simply enough
but then his mouth joined in the play. Awareness rolled through her pussy and
she was suddenly drenched from the force of her passion. Her inner thighs grew
wet. Ace drew her legs apart and sent his fingers over her slippery flesh.

“Ace. Take me, Ace. Please.”

“Shhh. You’re so wet. Let me touch you. Give me a minute.”

He opened his mouth over her pussy from behind as his hands
continued to play over her the base of her spine and her ass. When he stiffened
his tongue and buried it deep in her body Chloe whimpered, helplessly backing
up against his mouth, needing more. Ace thumbed her clit as he fucked her with
his tongue. It was too much. She felt vulnerable, completely at his mercy.

And she wanted more of what she now knew was his favorite
sexual position.

When he drew her clit into his mouth to suck, she came with
a shudder. Shockingly she went over the edge once more and when a low sound
broke from her throat, she felt the broad head of his cock breach her. Sliding
deep and hard, he filled her up. Quivering muscles clasped him and Ace’s
answering groan shook her. She could spend the rest of her life giving pleasure
to this man. And receiving it too. Oh yeah, she loved that idea.

Grabbing her hips, Ace yanked her up and pounded his cock
deep then deeper. His fingers gripped her flesh with punishing force but she
didn’t care. Everything he did felt like heaven to her.

“So long,” she whispered. “So long I’ve waited for you.
Ace.”

The words hovered in the air then Ace went still. She sensed
him gathering then he began to thrust harder, faster, pistoning into her with
brutal force. Ace moaned low as he came and Chloe danced along that razor-sharp
edge until she followed him with a cry of her own.

Moments later, they lay together beneath the covers,
cuddling as if the last ten years had never separated them. Darkness settled,
coating the room in shadow. Chloe buried her nose in the crisp hair of his
chest and breathed him in. “So you missed me, huh?” she teased.

Ace snorted and drew her close. “Jeez! You figured that out,
did you?”

“Mm. I might be a dull-as-dirt accountant but I’m pretty
smart.”

“Are you smart enough to know that I love you, Chloe? I’ve
thought of nothing but you since you drove away that morning and I have the
attention span of a gnat. Every minute spent away from you is too long.”

Chloe went still for a moment before finding the courage to
look Ace in the eyes. Surely her wildest dreams weren’t coming true? Were they?
Sincere brown eyes gazed back at her. His smile was meltingly gentle.

“Do you love me, Chloe? Even half as much as I love you?”

“Oh, oh, honey,” she gasped as joy rose up to swallow her
whole. She kissed him, loving the way his arms went around her to hold her
close. “I love you.”

“Think you could take a leave from that exciting accounting
job of yours to travel the world with me while I take my pictures, Chloe? You
and Alyssa?”

“What?”

His arms tightened and he rolled with her until he hovered
over her. “She won’t be in school for a couple of years. We could travel around
as a family. See the world.” He went quiet and she noted the first hint of
nervousness swim in his eyes. “I mean, if you want to, of course. If not, I’ll
just make sure and come home to you when my work is done. I’ll play it any way
you want but I’d like us to be together for a while and test the waters.
Starting over is never easy and I know Scott’s death was hard on you but,
honey, being with you again made me realize that life is too short to turn your
back on something so real.”

Tenderness swamped her. She smiled. “Are you sure about
this, Ace? You want us to come with you? Although my job handling people’s
taxes is just a cooler-than-heck job, I think traveling the world sounds much
more interesting.”

“You’ve read my mind. We can live on the coast or here. As
long as I’m with you. Wanna take a chance with me, darlin’?”

She paused, loving the moment, loving him. She smiled and
reached out to drag her finger along his lip. “Yes. Oh yes, Ace. Welcome home,
honey.”