Yours for the Night (13 page)

“Cold?” he asked, looking down at her, the streetlights gleaming in his hair. She shook her head. Being with him made her warm all over. “Thank you for taking me.”

“I haven’t been in ages. I needed someone to go with.”

She sensed he was downplaying what a spectacular date he’d given her. It was better than the others for the simple fact that it was what normal people did. Not what a courtesan and her client would do.

“Why don’t you take your daughter?”

“She doesn’t like hockey. I used to take my wife.”

The words fell into a sudden vacuum. His wife. His dead wife. Cars began to fill the street, queuing up to get on the freeway. A deep bass beat out of the open windows of a truck. The pavement swelled with noise. Did he want her to ignore it? Did he want to talk about it?

“You must miss her very much,” she offered, wondering if she should stop clinging to his arm. Yet the moment before had been so good. She glanced at him as he stared straight ahead, chewing on the inside of his cheek as if he were considering his next words. Marianna took a deep breath and made the assumption that he wanted to 79

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open up. “How did she die?” Cancer maybe. Or an accident. Which would be worse to endure, a long illness or a sudden loss?

“She killed herself.”

His flat statement slammed into her chest, literally thrusting the breath from her lungs as if he’d punched her.

Chase didn’t stop walking. Cesar Chavez Park lay ahead of them. He waited for her to ask him why he hadn’t seen something was wrong, why he hadn’t helped Rosie, hadn’t stopped her before it was too late. All the questions he’d punished himself with for all these months. But he needed to tell her. He needed her to know who he was, the crimes he’d committed. Especially after she said she didn’t want to date anyone but him. She blown him away with that one, but he couldn’t have it without telling her the truth about Rosie.

“I’m so sorry.” She hugged tight to his arm. “That must have been terrible for you and your daughter.”

The night air chilled his bones, but her voice, her body pressed to his as they walked, these things warmed him. “Krista is still working through it.”

Sliding her hand down his arm, she laced her fingers with his. “At least she still has you.”

“Yeah, right, she still has me.” He heard the despair seep into his voice.

“That’s why you don’t wear a wedding ring, isn’t it?” she said, her tone rising slightly. “You didn’t think you deserved to wear it anymore.”

“Yes.” He’d removed it because he’d broken his vows. He hadn’t taken care of Rosie. It did something to his insides that Marianna understood. It was almost like a little bit of forgiveness.

She didn’t say a word, just squeezed his hand. They rounded the corner and the lights of the Fairmont blazed before them. It was almost time for her to go. He’d wanted this to be a date. He hadn’t intended sex. But then he hadn’t thought he’d tell her about Rosie either. Being with Marianna changed things for him.

He stopped, pulling on her hand to get her to stop, too. “I just thought I should tell you about my wife before I asked you to spend the night with me at the Fairmont.”

Despite saying she wouldn’t date anyone else, she was still a courtesan, he was still her client—of course she’d spend the night. But he hoped she understood this was different for him. He couldn’t say it, couldn’t explain it. He 80

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just wanted her to get it.

He was used to her in high heels, but in tennis shoes, she seemed so much more petite. After an evening of her clinging to him every time there was a score or a foul or an excuse, her perfume was all over him. She wore the jewelry he’d given her, his ring on her right hand. It wasn’t payment for sexual favors; it was a gift. She wasn’t a fantasy. She was real.

She touched his cheek, smiled. “I’d love to spend the night with you.”

For tonight, she was his.

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12

MARIANNA WISHED SHE’D WORN SOMETHING SEXIER THAN A sweatshirt, T-shirt, jeans, and tennies for their first time. All right, it wasn’t their first time doing it, but the first time naked, in a bed, in private, where no one could interrupt. The first time after he’d told her about his wife. His confession changed things. She wasn’t sure how yet, but in the telling, he’d given her his trust. This was no longer casual sex-for-hire. This was real. Chase unlocked the hotel room door, then stepped aside to let her in. God, how he’d suffered. She needed to make this good for him. Special. The room was cushy and elegant, a thick cream comforter on the big bed, expensive wood furniture, luxurious light blue carpeting her shoes seemed to sink into.

There was only one problem. “Brrr.” Marianna shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Housekeeping had left the air-conditioning on. Chase quickly turned on the heat. “I can warm you up in the meantime.”

Marianna literally flung herself at him. “God, I’ve been dying to get naked with you.” She’d never been so forward or so naughty, but she knew if she didn’t do something quick, she’d get nervous.

Chase laughed, lifted her, and swung her around to the center of the room, right by the bed. “Get naked for me, then.”

“Like a striptease?”

“Or tearing off your clothes. I don’t care how.” He toed off his running shoes as he spoke.

Her heart beating a mile a minute, Marianna grabbed the hem of her sweatshirt, dragged it over her head, and tossed it aside. Her hair floated back down around her shoulders, and she hoped to God it looked sexy instead of messy.

“Your nipples are hard,” Chase said, his gaze brilliantly green and focused.

“It’s cold in here.”

He stepped closer. Her blood heated. “Are you sure that’s the only reason?”

he asked.

The T-shirt was white, tight, and thin as tissue paper. The lace of her bra made patterns beneath the material. His sapphire-and-diamond necklace rested 82

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above the scooped neck. He was close enough for her to scent his sensual male aroma, as he toyed with one breast, then the other. Just when she thought he’d step away and order her to finish stripping, he pinched her nipple hard. Orgasm rushed to her clitoris; she hissed in a breath, and manacled his wrist, holding off the moment. Not yet. She wanted to build toward it. With him.

“Do it again,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from all the shouting. He trailed a hand up her side, flicked the peak of one breast, then, locking his eyes to hers, he rolled both nipples between thumb and forefinger. And pinched. Hard and long. A pleasure-pain raced through her, so strong she felt her knees go weak, and she clung to his wrists, her head falling back. Finally, he soothed her with his palms cupped to her breasts. She searched his eyes. “How did you know I liked that?”

“You told me the first day.”

Marianna couldn’t remember. It seemed so long ago, as if they’d come so far. She’d had little emotion about him that day, at least in the beginning. She was light-years beyond that now. And he’d remembered.

“You like your nipples pinched, too.” The memory came back to her in a flood. Everything about that day swamped her, how he’d tasted, how he’d made her play with herself for him, then helped her. She reached out. He grabbed her hand. “Do mine later. When I’m inside you.” Reaching deep in his back pocket, he pulled out a wad of condoms and tossed them on the bed like a challenge. Or a promise. “Pinch me right before I come.”

“I will.” It felt oddly as if they were making vows. “But first I’m getting naked.” Then she pulled up her shirt with a sinuous roll. He backed off to watch. If it was still cold in the room, she didn’t notice. Chase’s gaze warmed her. She unbuckled her belt, popped the top button, slid down the zipper, then wriggled her jeans over her hips. Bending over, legs straight, she shoved everything off along with the shoes. Then she posed for him, hands on her hips at the high-cut waist of her thong. Thank God she’d at least worn sexy lingerie, because the way his eyes traced her curves melted her bones. She crooked her finger. “Your turn.”

He was faster than her, and he stripped down to nothing. His beauty awed her, from his hair-dusted pecs to . . . “Wow. You’re so big.”

He laughed. “You have seen me before.”

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And taken him in her mouth, too. “It’s a new perspective, getting the whole show.” She circled her finger. “Turn around.”

His ass was perfect as he gave her a one-eighty view. “That’s a very squeezable tush.”

He glanced over his shoulder, laughter lighting his eyes. “You’re ogling me like I’m a sex object.”

“This is not ogling, this is total appreciation.” Before Chase, she’d never really thought about making sex fun, yet he brought the giddy banter out in her. He grabbed her, tossed her onto the bed, amid all the pillows, then came down on top of her. “Show me how much you appreciate me instead of just looking.”

Lord, he felt good, his skin against her flesh, cock pressed between her legs, his weight on her. It had been so long since she’d felt a man’s bulk pinning her to the mattress. “How would you like me to appreciate you?” There were so many delicious ways.

His eyes darkened to the color of a rain-soaked forest. “Suck me.”

She wound her arms around his neck and turned the tables on him. “You should lick me first. As I recall, you’ve been remiss on that account.”

“God, you’re right.” He stopped; something flared in his eyes, then he cupped her cheek and held her still for his kiss.

She closed her eyes and let him consume her. A long, drugging meld of lips, his tongue sweeping in to claim her. He surrounded her, filled her.

“You have too many clothes on,” he finally murmured. It was just her bra and panties. “Take them off with your teeth.”

He chuckled, crawling down her body. Mouth to her nipple, he tugged the lace aside, swiped her with his tongue. He bared the other nipple the same way. Then he lifted his head to gaze at her through his lashes. “I really need to use my fingers for the clasp.”

She huffed and waved a hand imperiously. “All right. If you must.”

Her breasts were bared in an instant, her nipples hard beads from the pinching he’d given them. Suckling one peak, he tweaked the other, then laid a trail of kisses down her belly. Her flesh quivered. This was so much more than they’d done before. The furtive fucks were fun, but she’d craved this. All night. Anything he wanted to do to her. Everything she wanted to do to him.

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Just as she’d instructed, he used his teeth to tug the thong over first one hip, then the other, his fingers caressing her thighs. She lifted slightly, allowing him to pull the minuscule garment down her butt. The crotch clung for a moment to her damp pussy, then he whisked the panty down her legs and off.

“Christ, you’re gorgeous.” His rapt attention all on her pussy, he tested her with one finger, sliding along the crease, then dipping in at the top to tease her clit.

Marianna stifled the moan. Until, his eyes on hers, he sucked the finger he’d touched her with. A shiver raced through her body.

“Lick me,” she begged. She needed his tongue. She needed him. He didn’t move quickly. He made her wait, stroking a hand down her thigh, forcing her to part her legs. Dipping down, he blew on her pussy. Sensation exploded through her as if he’d sucked her clit into his mouth. Her hips twitched. He pinned her down. Then he gave her what she needed, his tongue swirling over her clit.

Closing her eyes, she shoved her hands through her hair and rose to meet his caress, showing him exactly where she needed him. Pushing her legs apart, he seated his shoulders firmly between her thighs and spread her lips, exposing her. Licking, sucking, teasing, he turned her into a wild woman she’d never thought herself capable of being. He filled her as he sucked, a finger, two fingers, and hit a spot like no other. Marianna cried out, rocked, squirmed, panted. Her skin flushed, her pussy wept.

Then her muscles clamped down on his fingers, and Chase drank in her shuddering orgasm, rode it with her, kissed her, licked her, sucked her, until she started to laugh and grabbed his head.

“God, please stop. I can’t take any more.” Tears trickled down her temples. She shoved him off and curled into a ball, her voice half laugh, half cry. Chase gathered her into his arms, her sweet taste on his lips, her soft skin caressing the length of his body, her scent in his soul.

“I don’t think I’ve ever come like that,” she muttered against his chest.

HE WAS ENOUGH OF A SUCKER TO FEEL HIS HEART SWELL. THEN SHE

reached up, held his cheeks between her palms, and whispered, “You need to be inside me. Now.”

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