“What’s that?” she asked, taking in the two glasses and the champagne bottle in an ice bucket.
“You didn’t strike me as the type of woman who indulges in one-night stands very often. So I wanted to make this … more special.” To her surprise, a red flush rose to his cheeks.
Embarrassment. He’d gone out of his way to make this nice for her and he was embarrassed by the gesture. She stepped forward, more confident in her stride. “What makes you think this isn’t my normal MO?” she asked, truly curious.
“It’s a hunch and I’m usually accurate. Because despite the sexy dress, your speech is refined, your expression was sometimes hesitant, and by the look in those eyes, you’re running from some deep, dark secret. It could be a lousy day, a lost job, but you’re looking to get away from it all. You just don’t jump into bed with strange men every day. I’d stake my life on it,” he said with all the confidence of a cocky male.
“All this from one look?”
He grinned. “I’m a journalist. Observation is my specialty. What’s yours?”
“Interior design,” she said on autopilot, unable to think about anything except this revelation.
A reporter of any kind could wreak havoc with her father’s presidential plans, and despite the hurt and betrayal lingering inside her, she loved the man. All the more reason to keep her real name from Chase.
She inched forward on her high heels. “You must be very good at your job because you’re right. This isn’t an everyday occurrence,” she admitted. One trick she’d learned from her parents was to feed reporters as much truth as possible so as not to make them more wary.
“I like being right.”
She laughed. “Which makes you a typical man.”
“Right now I’d settle for being your man. Drink?” He gestured to the champagne with a sweep of his hand.
His thoughtfulness still pleased her. “I’d rather pick up where we left off and save the champagne till later.” More honesty, Sloane thought. She wanted him as much now if not more than before.
Grabbing her hand, he walked to the oversize chair in the corner and sat down. “Join me.” He tugged on her hand, his meaning clear.
She drew a deep breath and settled one knee on either side of his thighs as she lowered herself to sit on his lap. The bulge in his jeans was obvious, pulsing deliciously between her legs, and his eyes were dilated with restrained need. Sloane didn’t want or need the restraint.
She locked her arms around his neck. “Kiss me, Chase. Make me forget,” she murmured.
“Make you forget what?”
She didn’t want to answer. She wanted him to kiss her instead, so she leaned forward and locked her lips solidly against his.
But when she shifted in his lap and her sex came into intimate contact with his groin, kissing became secondary to overwhelming desire. He stood with her in his arms, his mouth never leaving hers, and he strode into the bedroom. Her heart thudded hard, waves rushing over and around her, as anticipation and need grew.
He placed her on the bed and she came to her knees. They worked together, first unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it aside, letting her revel in his muscular chest. Reaching behind her, he pulled the tie on her halter top, letting it fall forward, revealing her bare breasts. She should have been embarrassed, but his hungry gaze devoured her, and a low growl of appreciation rose in his throat, leaving no doubt he liked what he saw. Then his hands cupped her breasts, her nipples pressing deeply into his palms.
Heated sensations rippled through her and she exhaled a low groan. He reached for the waistband of her skirt at the same time she grabbed for the button on his jeans; between them, they shed their clothing along with their inhibitions.
Sloane found her back propped against the pillows, Chase straddling her waist, one hand holding hers above her head. He locked her in erotic position that aroused her. And she liked the way he studied her, as if he could read her mind and provide every intimate touch she desired.
“I want to be inside you.” His hard length rubbing against her stomach proved his words.
“Go for it,” she said, and her hips jerked upward of their own volition as moisture slickened her thighs and a tide of arousal rose inside her.
“Protection,” he said.
That took her off guard. “Something I need protection from?” she asked lightly. She’d been so caught up in wanting to block out the painful truth she’d learned today, she hadn’t been thinking clearly. “I’m on the pill, but …”
“Hell, honey, with the life I’ve lived, you have nothing to worry about. I just believe in safety first and kids never.” He slid off the bed and strode toward the bathroom.
The knot in her stomach eased. She didn’t know why, had no reason to trust, but she believed him. There was something different about this man. Something caring and uniquely special, she thought.
He returned as quickly as he’d left, and she couldn’t help but admire his physique, the broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the other impressive parts of him standing at attention. No longer distracted by her thoughts, she was now completely focused once more. How could she not be with such a gorgeous man standing over her?
No guy had ever incited such overwhelming, instant lust. Then again, no man had ever looked at her as if he couldn’t get enough. Chase did.
He held the foil packet in his hand and quickly took care of protection; then he came over to her and grinned, that sexy, intense smile causing her to catch her breath.
“Enough waiting, don’t you think?”
She laughed, even as her body burned, on fire with wanting him. “More than enough,” she agreed.
With a low growl, he kissed her. His mouth was hot and greedy and his hands were busy as he nudged her legs apart and poised himself intimately against her. Entry and fulfillment were so very close, but instead of thrusting, he reached down with his hands.
His long fingers dipped inside her, arousing her with his talented touch. She moaned, arching her hips and drawing him in deeper, forcing her muscles to contract around his finger, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted something more.
He must have understood because he withdrew, and then he finally spread her thighs and drove himself deep with one long, satiny stroke. He filled her and immediately brought her close to the edge of climaxing.
So hard, so fast, and he felt so right. She closed her eyes as he withdrew, letting her feel every hard and slick ridge of him before pumping inside her again. She matched his rhythm quickly, the synchronization between them amazing, almost as if they’d been together like this before.
“Sweet heaven,” Chase muttered. No woman should feel this good. Especially not one he just met, one who didn’t know his likes or his dislikes. Yet, she knew all the right moves to turn him on. He saw so much in those green eyes of hers. They’d connected and he felt it in her body, in every slick inch he stroked inside her.
She was feminine and warm where skin touched skin, her nipples hard and arousing against his chest. She met him thrust for thrust, bringing him higher each time their bodies met and he burned with the need to let go. But not alone. He wanted them to be together when they found that ultimate burst of raw sexual satisfaction. Reaching between them, he slid his finger between her moist folds to increase the pressure and make her come.