Afternoon Delight (6 page)

In the faint light, his expression looked sheepish. “Uh, we need to stop. In my rush to get here, I didn’t have a chance to take care of things.”

He wanted to stop? What for…? Oh.

“It’s okay. I have protection in my purse.”

Chris grinned at her. “You really did think I was a sure thing, didn’t you?”

She shrugged while returning his smile. “I was feeling unusually confident when I called you, so…”

“So, hurry up and get that condom.”

Rei rolled off the bed and scrambled for her handbag. Within seconds, she’d returned to the bed and tossed several strips of foil packages onto the
comforter. Chris looked at her, then at the dozen condoms and back at her.

“Your confidence is going to kill me for sure.”

She laughed lightly at the irony. Actually confidence—a lack of fear and a sense of daring—was going to save her. “What a way to go, huh?”

Rei hooked her panties with her thumbs and yanked them down her hips. She tossed them over her shoulder and flopped onto the bed while Chris shed his trousers and underwear. She heard a tearing sound as he opened a condom wrapper. Then he was beside her again, the heat of his large body raising her already soaring temperature.

He nuzzled his mouth over her right breast, alternating wet kisses and greedy suckles, as he positioned himself between her legs. The hard length of his rigid penis prodded her most tender flesh. She shivered in response, in anticipation and need. But just when she thought—hell, she hoped—he would pin her to the bed and ravish her, she felt him tense.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have been so rough.”

His mouth had been near the crescent-shaped scar on the underside of her breast. Now she tensed as well, the sexual mood in danger of breaking. Damn it, she didn’t want to have to explain and suffer his pity. “I don’t want you to be sorry. I want…” To be treated like she was normal and healthy.

“What, Jade?”

Hearing the name was all it took to give her the
courage to say something she’d never dared to before. “I want hard, fast, furious, mind blowing sex.”

Even in the dim light she saw the bright gleam of his smile. “Whatever the lady wants.”

All rational thought vanished in the haze of lust along with any insecurity or self-consciousness. Rei opened herself to him, hooking her ankle over his calf and giving him freer access to her center. The tension in the muscles of his arms and back were her only warning before he pushed himself into her tight, wet passage.

She gasped, arching her hips as her body adjusted to his thickness and length…. And then he moved. Oh how he moved, plunging and withdrawing at a deliberate pace set to slowly drive her crazy.

When he levered himself onto his elbows, she raised her head to watch. It was incredibly erotic to both see and feel his thick shaft as their bodies joined and separated. He pulled back, inch by inch, then slowly squeezed forward again, making her shudder with the fulfillment of it.

She let her mind shut down and instead listened to her body telling her what it needed. And right now it, she, needed everything that Chris was doing to her. Again she experienced the first wondrous aching in her belly. Chris must have felt it also because he quickened his pace, increasing the glorious grinding pleasure.

Wrapping her legs tightly around his thighs, her hands clutched at the sweat slick muscles of his back.
She barely recognized her own voice. “More, Chris. I want more.”

He didn’t need her encouragement. Slipping his hands beneath her hips, Chris drove into her, each stroke stimulating her more than the last. Feeling wild and wanton, she reveled in the hard, fast thrusts. She’d never felt so out of control and she loved the freedom of it. Her body was on fire, her vaginal muscles clenching around his pulsating shaft.

He filled her again and again as she writhed beneath him, urging him on with breathless moans and restless hands. The pleasure became so intense that her climax was all but ripped out of her. He pistoned his hips, driving heavily into her heat. Her body clenched around him as a guttural moan ripped from his throat, and he exploded inside her.

Breathing hard, Chris dropped his head to the mattress but carefully supported his weight on his arms. Rei lay beneath him with her eyes closed, her body languid but her mind racing. Wow, the saying was true, she never knew sex could be like that. When she’d decided to seduce a stranger, she hadn’t anticipated how it would make her feel.

Desirable, powerful and, oh, so sexy. With Chris, she’d been able to ask for and get exactly what she wanted, without a single worry about what he thought of her. In fact it had been incredibly liberating to let him take her while she simply let herself enjoy the experience.

But she’d felt something else as well, an unex
pected connection. Why had this man been able to satisfy her, more than satisfy her, in ways that none of her past lovers ever had? Why did she feel as though she could relax and trust him when logic deemed it entirely too soon?

And what happened now? It would be a mistake to let down her guard, to allow this encounter to be anything but physical. She had no idea what she would be facing in the coming weeks. But she knew from past experience that she couldn’t expect him to stick around.

C
HRIS DIDN’T
usually indulge in casual sex, but he might just have to change his mind on the subject. Something about Jade’s asking for “fast, furious and mindless” had freed his more primal urges. He’d wanted not only to protect and pleasure, but also to dominate and impress.

Beside him, she whispered softly, “Wow, I never knew it could be like that.”

He grinned at the ceiling. She sounded pretty impressed. He turned his head to press a kiss to her temple. “A lot depends on the chemistry you have with your partner.”

“I guess I’ve never had the right partner before.”

She leaned over to trace the edges of his mouth with her tongue. He parted his lips, inviting her to go deeper, but she seemed content to slide her mouth slowly across his. He gently nibbled on her plump lower lip until finally she thrust her tongue forward and explored his mouth.

She shifted on top of him, brushing her soft lips over his neck, making him quake as desire burned along his nerve endings. The universe narrowed to the places where their bodies made contact. He felt the heat of her skin against his, the rasp of her pebbled nipples on his chest and the rough silk of her pubic hair brushing his belly.

There was no way he was ready, not yet anyway. But, oh man, the way she was wiggling felt good. He’d just have to slow her down so he could recover and then—she’d moved down to take his left nipple into her hot mouth. The wet tugging sensation sent a bolt of lust right to his groin.

Her tongue blazed a hot, wet trail from his chest, along his abdomen and down to his groin. She eased lower, nipping his belly, licking his thigh and finally darting her tongue over his cock. He dragged in a breath, gasping at the shock of that wickedly intimate kiss.

“So, Chris, when do we start round two?”

He was fully erect and more than aroused. He closed his eyes briefly, lost in the sensations her touch elicited. Then he felt her mouth gently sucking the tender flesh in the crease of his hips and discovered a new erogenous zone.

“Right now.”

He pulled her roughly into his embrace and claimed her mouth, kissing her long and hard, a kiss she returned with equal enthusiasm. Pressing his body to hers, he rubbed one thigh in between her
legs, stroking her. He breathed in the musky scent of her desire as he felt the dewy soft folds of her labia against his skin.

Already he was rock hard. He hadn’t thought it was possible so soon after the last time. Reaching out blindly, he grabbed another condom off the strip without losing contact with her lush mouth. As soon as he’d protected them, Jade got to her knees and swung one leg over to straddle him.

A slow ragged sigh escaped her throat as she sank down onto his rigid shaft. Flexing his hips, he slipped easily inside, burying himself to the hilt. He thrust into her, slowly, deliberately. She rocked her pelvis back and forth to increase the friction until he couldn’t distinguish his moans from hers.

Then, arching her back, Jade braced both hands on his thighs, changing the angle of penetration. He grunted as the new position increased the pressure on his cock and intensified the pleasure. She tossed her head back and laughed, but her laughter quickly turned into squeals when he pressed his thumb to her clitoris.

The erotic massage to her most sensitive core sent her into a frenzy. Chris lay beneath her, sweat drenched and grinning while she rode him like a thoroughbred at Bay Meadows racetrack. He felt the change inside her, felt her body tighten around his shaft, and he increased the pace.

She continued to ride him and he rode the storm of mind-blowing sensations as she came hard, and then came again. Pushing deeper, pumping harder, he
called out a moment later and shuddered over the edge of his own release.

His heart thundered in his chest and he lay beneath Jade’s glistening body, gasping for breath. Her skin smelled of flowers and satisfaction. Exhausted and spent, Chris wrapped one arm around her waist and gently rolling her off him. Tucking a pillow under her head, he kissed Jade’s love-swollen mouth then dragged the comforter over them.

Yep. There was definitely something to be said for finding the right partner.

H
E MUST HAVE
drifted off because he awoke to hear the jangle of a key ring. Chris opened his eyes. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed the sun was barely approaching the horizon. Then he turned over to see Rei fully dressed and pulling on her coat.

So, this was it. Whatever they had started was already ending. It shouldn’t have bothered him.

“You’re leaving?”

His sleep-roughened voice seemed to startle her. Poised beneath the entryway light, he saw the resolve in her expression. “Yeah, I am. Why don’t you get some more sleep? Check out isn’t until eleven o’clock.”

“Why don’t you come back to bed and not sleep at all?” He tried to keep it light but his chest tightened at the thought of her walking out. “Were you even going to say goodbye?”

She dropped her gaze and at least had the decency to look embarrassed. “I have to…I’ve got to go.”

Pushing the covers aside, he swung his legs off the bed. “If you’ll hang on a minute, I’ll get my clothes and buy you an early breakfast.”

“Thanks, but no.” She moved closer to the door.

As he approached her, he saw her eyes roam over his naked body and seized on the attraction between them. “Listen, I know this was probably supposed to be a one-time deal. But it doesn’t have to be.”

She shook her head before he’d even finished the offer. “We agreed, Chris. So I don’t think we should plan on dating.”

“No, not dating. More like…seeing each other.” He kept his hands at his sides with an effort. He wanted to touch her, to connect somehow, but didn’t think she’d welcome it. “We don’t have to make any promises, just be open to the possibilities and in the meantime have some good, safe fun.”

The corners of her mouth lifted in an odd smile. “What makes you think this is safe?”

“The lack of illusion and the absence of commitment. We can simply enjoy each others’ company, explore our desires and take our time deciding about the rest.”

He caught the sudden anguish in her expression before Jade reached for the handle and turned away. “Thank you for a wonderful night. I’ll never forget it.”

Chris grabbed the edge of the door, careful to keep his naked body out of view. “Wait, I don’t have your number. How—”

“I’ll call you.” She threw a quick smile over her shoulder and slipped through the opening.

“Jade—”

Chris raked both hands through his hair and sighed.

She was gone.

Sunday, April 13th

“T
HIS HAS BEEN
a pretty great weekend.” P.J. bit into one of the Vietnamese lobster and prawn spring rolls and moaned.

Rei speared a pan-grilled scallop from the bed of endive and watercress. “Yes, it really has.”

They were having a light Sunday supper by the infinity pool in the Nob Hill Spa. Rei had treated them both to a day of
longevity, serenity and tranquility
services. The soothing rhythms of Spanish guitars seemed to drift out of the water. She smiled contentedly and gazed out the window at the spectacular colors over the cityscape from Huntington Park to the Bay.

“So what’s going on with you, Rei?”

She looked away from the sunset to find P.J. eyeing her shrewdly. “Nothing’s going on. I’m just enjoying the view.”

“I’m your best friend, honey. Don’t bother lying to me.” P.J. set down her fork. “You act relaxed after all the prodding and pummeling today. But, from your expression, you still seem like you’re on edge.”

She should have known Peej would notice her mood. And she’d pegged it correctly, too. Rei felt liked she’d been both caged and set free by Dr. Solís’s call.

A part of her wanted to share the burden she was carrying, but the other part intended to keep her fears to herself. As stupid as it sounded, Rei didn’t want her to worry. Especially since P.J. would mercilessly harangue her into the doctor’s office and she just didn’t want to face that yet.

“It’s nothing, Peej. I just have a couple of things on my mind that’s all.”

“You’re thinking about your anniversary, aren’t you?” P.J.’s blue gaze softened. “You’re finally taking that List of yours seriously. Is that why you dragged me out to play tourist yesterday?”

Rei shrugged casually and chose one of the glazed plantains from her plate. “I’ve lived here all my life but had never visited those places before. Since you hadn’t, either…”

“Uh huh. As afraid of heights as you are, I still can’t believe you didn’t throw up when we got to the middle of the bridge. Why would you force yourself to go across if something wasn’t going on with you?” A slight frown appeared between her golden brows.

“Stop borrowing trouble, P.J. I just like your company and your friendship, okay?”

“Okay.” But P.J. still looked skeptical, with lines of concern bracketing her eyes, as she started eating again.

C
HRIS MADE
a conscious effort not to scowl at his client. It wasn’t Marvin Carrington’s fault he was in such a bad mood. Oh sure, the weekend had started off great. What could be better than meeting the woman of your fantasies and then having that sexual fantasy come true? But he’d crashed back to reality much faster than he’d expected.

How the hell could she just walk off into the night after that? He regarded himself a pretty good lover, considerate and giving. He’d tried to make his time with Jade memorable and, for him at least, it had been the best sex of his life. The whole seduction had affected him more than he’d planned.

Okay. Maybe he was blowing things out of proportion and all it had been was just sex. But, damn it, he’d felt…something.

Stunned and rejected and oddly hurt. Yeah, he knew he had no right to feel used. He and Jade had agreed up front about what they wanted and the terms had been clear. But that didn’t stop him wanting to see her again. It didn’t stop him from checking every now and then that his cell phone batteries were charged—

He startled, realizing his client had been trying to get his attention. “Sorry, Mr. Carrington. What was your question?”

“I was asking about the match profile. Do I have to put up a picture right away?”

Chris looked at the nice but chubby, balding chiropractor and smiled reassuringly. “No, not if you don’t want to. You can wait until you connect with someone.”

How long did that take anyway? Was he mentally exaggerating the bond he felt toward Jade?

“Great.” Mr. Carrington’s shoulders slumped, as if he didn’t believe it would happen either. “That will give me time to find a professional photo studio.”

“Don’t do that, Marvin. Just choose a picture from your family album. That’s the best way to let people get to know the real you.”

He scoffed. “The real me? The real me hasn’t been on a date in almost a year.”

“There is somebody for everybody, Marvin. The key to finding that person is being yourself. Remember, you’re a great guy with a lot to offer a woman.”

“Thanks.” He nodded gratefully then continued reading the brochures.

Chris made a mental note to follow up if Marvin decided to use the service—he might benefit from a little coaching. Hell, he could use a little coaching himself right now. How was he supposed to forget a woman whose image had etched itself onto his brain?

He leaned back in his chair and glanced through the two-way mirror. Lara, the office manager, was at the entrance shaking hands with a tall blond woman. The prospective client was a real looker, and even the
light gray business suit she wore couldn’t hide that fact that she was built like a centerfold.

A woman like that needed a dating service? Then again, every guy from the mailman to the mayor probably hit on her. It was possible she wanted to find a man who appreciated more than her looks. He turned his attention to the short brunette Lara was greeting now. There was something familiar about her….

She was dressed in a dark blue pantsuit, her hair tightly wound into one of those complicated French styles. When she turned, he saw that she was Asian. She wore wired-rimmed glasses and an impatient expression. Her face looked bare except for pale lipstick—Chris jerked upright—and a beauty mark.

“Are you okay?” Marvin asked.

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine.” With an effort, he tore his eyes away from the window. Marvin gave him a quizzical look. “Did you have any other questions?”

“Actually, I was wondering how the e-mail thing works. Do I have to come here every time I want to check it?”

That couldn’t possibly be Jade. Could it? How did she find him. His card only had his name and cell phone number. Focus on Marvin. Focus. “Oh, um, remote access. The e-mail is set up as an intranet, but you can access it remotely through a secure section of the Lunch Meetings Web site.”

Marvin picked up the next brochure and Chris swung his head back to the window fast enough to give himself whiplash. Lara was leading the two
women to her office. Now he’d get a good look when they passed by.

“What about the billing schedule, Chris. How—”

“Hang on a second, Marvin.”

Lara and the blonde were engaged in conversation, but the brunette glanced at the mirror as she walked past. The plain white shirt and dark jacket couldn’t camouflage her innate sensuality. The glasses couldn’t obscure the liquid chocolate gleam in her big brown eyes. And nothing in the world could hide that luscious come-and-taste-me-baby mouth.

That was his Jade, all right. And damned if she was going to need a dating service.

A
FTER
L
ARA
V
OIGT
explained how to activate the computer program and took their lunch orders, she left them alone in one of the café’s partitioned cubicles. Rei clicked on the “create profile” button to begin the compatibility process. The first screen asked for contact and credit card information.

P.J. reached into her purse. “Hang on, let me get my American Express. This was my idea, so I’ll pay for it.”

“We just sat through the whole presentation. Why do I have to go to the trouble of setting up a profile?”

“The owner wants to open two other locations. The Board of Directors has dismissed me as a clueless Paris Hilton clone. So in order to convince them to let me invest in Lunch Meetings, I have to show them how well the service works.”

“I still don’t understand why the Board’s opinion matters. Your father left Hollinger/Hansen to
you.
”

“Daddy left me controlling interest, with the stipulation that I have to consider his cronies’ advice on all decisions. These guys are a tough sell. That’s why I need you to go through the entire process.”

Rei studied her friend’s innocent expression. “You’re full of it, Peej. You’re just trying to set me up again.”

“That, too. I’ll get a firsthand—or rather second-hand—look at how the business operates and you’ll get to meet some new guys.”

She rolled her eyes before quickly typing in her name, address, cell phone number and P.J.’s card number. The next screen came up for her to fill out a general description—a checklist on a scale of one through five, five being the most true, one being the least.

“Section one of seven? How long is this going to take?”

“Not long if we do it together.” P.J. pulled her chair closer. “Click five for
clever, introverted, perfectionist
and
quarrelsome
. Only click three for
content, humorous, patient
and
communicative.
And, let’s see, put ones for
lazy, arrogant, under-achieving, optimistic
and
passionate.
”

Rei disagreed with the passionate part. Surreptitiously touching the jacket pocket where she’d tucked his card, she thought about Chris. About the gleam of desire in his eyes and delicious softness of his
mouth. About that naughty little thrill he’d somehow known about. She thought of the incredible night they’d spent together and the memory made her thighs clench against a ripple of wanting.

She’d hoped for good sex and gotten better than she’d imagined. Her pulse beat a little faster as she recalled the way his hands felt on her body and how he felt inside her. Remembering the expression of utter bliss on his handsome face, Rei felt proud of herself, knowing she’d made him as crazy as he’d driven her.

Was Chris really such a good lover, or was it because of her own change in attitude? Maybe their coupling had been so good because there was no emotional investment, no strings or complications. Because she didn’t feel the need to impress him or to worry what he would think of her after having sex “on the first date,” the sex had been the best she’d ever had.

When she’d told Chris she would call, it had been an empty promise, a kiss off to smoothly end the awkward parting. But twice today she’d almost dialed his number. Now that her inner bad girl had been unleashed, it seemed that side of her didn’t wanted to be shut away anymore.

“I’m checking a four on that last question.” P.J. looked at her. “I know you’re doing me a favor, but this isn’t going to work if you’re not honest about your answers.”

Honesty changed with circumstance, though. Rei wouldn’t have considered herself passionate before.
Chris had awakened that side of her. Who would look at the conservative Commissioner Davis and guess what “Jade” had done Friday night?

“I can be passionate, damn it.”

“Put a five next to
stubborn.
”

Lara came back to their cubicle ten minutes later, bringing chicken salads and glasses of iced tea. “How’s it going, Rei?”

“I’m only on section three. There are a ton of questions and they aren’t all that easy.”

“Successful relationships take work.” Lara smiled before turning to leave. “Don’t forget to create a user name and password for your e-mail account.”

“What do you think, Peej? Should I use my real name?” Rei took a bite of her salad.

“That’s up to you, but personally I’d use initials or a nickname. Even with the background check, you never know who might be contacting you.”

“Okay, then. Um, how about RLD49?” P.J. smirked. “You and your football.”

“I know it’s been a decade since the 49ers made the Super Bowl, but they have a great lineup this season. Their time is coming, trust me.” Rei set up her new e-mail and moved on to the next set of questions.

The
Personal Characteristics
section asked her to rank things like, “I feel guilty if I am not being productive” and “I have a high level of desire for sexual activity.” The
Important Qualities
part asked her to indicate the traits she sought in a partner. The
Vital
Attributes
questions required her to check off her values, beliefs and relationship skills.

Thirty minutes later, Rei finished the extensive set of questionnaires and hit the “save” button to send her profile to the database.

P.J. smiled at her with a combination of mischief and sincerity. “Here’s hoping you find the love of your life.”

C
HRIS CLOSED THE DOOR
to his office, barely able to keep from slamming it. Marvin’s application process had taken longer than planned so he’d missed any chance of confronting Jade before she and her friend had left.

He’d had to casually ask Lara about the appointment to find out which of the women had applied. Now that he had Rei Davis’s name, he could read her profile summary and maybe figure out why she’d given him a false identity.

Since his computer had the main server access as well as monitoring override ability, he was able to immediately pull up her file. He noticed that she’d left her occupation blank. Also the mailing address and billing address were different.

What was she trying to hide?

If it were anything criminal, the background check should find it. Beyond that, he’d have to investigate on his own, a prospect he eagerly looked forward to. Jade’s name might be a fake, however the attraction between them had been real…. Real hot. She sure
hadn’t hidden her desires or her passion, not that first night in the bar nor the night they’d gone to bed.

His throat suddenly felt tight and his face was getting hot. He knew it was ridiculous to feel jealous—he only just met her—but he hated the idea of anyone else being with her, touching her the way he had. The way he wanted to again and again and again.

On a whim, Chris started the compatibility search engine to see which of his clients the computer thought she should be paired with. The search would take a few minutes, so he got up and went to the credenza for a glass of water.