Chapter Nine

 

Constantine took in the glorious sight of the nude woman on his desk. Her pale-blue eyes held mysteries he wanted to discover. His wildest fantasies didn’t compare the beautiful reality of her body. Small, perky breasts and slim hips offered perfect handfuls of soft flesh. The manicured strip of dark hair above her wet and waiting pussy were sights to be worshipped.

He couldn’t wait to taste her. And yet, her shy tentative movements and inability to fully relax piqued his curiosity. Could she truly be as inexperienced as her awkward fidgeting indicated?

“Chloe.” Her name passed through his lips like a kiss. “Haven’t you ever pleasured yourself in front of a lover before?”

A pale-pink blush started at her chest and spread up her neck. One small hand fluttered to her shoulder before reaching higher to push a few strands of hair behind her cute little ear. Her teeth nibbled on her bottom lip.

Going still, she blew out a sigh. “I don’t want to turn you off.” Her striking gaze darted to his and then onto the overhead light fixture. “But I’m not usually, um, this adventurous.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.” He slid the tip of his cock between the slick lips of her pussy. “You intrigue me.”

A soft moan indicated her pleasure at his movements.

He leaned forward and tweaked her nipples, pinching them lightly between his thumbs and index fingers. The action caused her to gasp a quick breath. Her tongue moistened her rosy lips.

“Please,” she whispered. “I need you inside—”

A quick thrust slid him partially into her wet heat. The tight muscles of her inner walls offered resistance. Exquisite, tight resistance. He pulled out and she frowned.

He chuckled. “Oh, yeah, I want to drive in you hard and deep.” His voice rumbled deeper than normal. “But I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Hurt me.”

Fire burned in her eyes, turning the light blue into a molten supernova on the verge of exploding. Her chest rose and fell with each breath and her fingers gripped the edge of the desk. She squirmed, hitching her legs around his waist and trying to spear him with her sweetness.

“Hold on,” he said, steadying her hips and using pure willpower to keep her from succeeding. “I want to work you back to your peak first.”

He lowered to his knees and went in for a taste. Her delicious musky flavor caused his cock to harden further. The light tang of her pussy when he plunged his tongue inside spurred his lust. Fingers stroking her in the same spots she’d preferred earlier had her pushing against him for more.

When her moans reached a new level, he held steady, forcing her over the edge of ecstasy. Before her cries of pleasure eased, he slid his cock into her spasming center. His thrusts came harder this time and he entered her fully in three strokes. The tight heat of her pushed him faster. He wanted to slow down to savor the act. But her muscles clenched and she cried out again.

The sound of her orgasm and the bliss on her face sent him over the top. He pushed inside hard. Once, twice, three more deep thrusts joined them. His balls jerked and emptied with a stream of the most intense pleasure he’d ever known.

Collapsing over her small, quivering body, he rested his head in the crook of her shoulder. They both panted and worked to regain normal breathing.

Once they’d settled, he went onto his elbows and swiped her juice from his chin. “You taste like heaven,” he said, kissing her mouth and trailing his tongue along her throat. “Being inside is unbelievable.”

“You’re pretty unbelievable yourself.”

A soft blush crept over her throat. He nuzzled into the pink skin and kissed her hard. He wanted to leave his mark. Stake a claim to this sweet, unique beauty.

She twisted to avoid the love bite.

Love bite? What was he thinking? A glance into her pale moonlit irises caused the truth to hit him like a sucker punch in the guts.

He was lost. Completely helpless from her charms.

Chloe’s innocent abandon after her initial shyness wasn’t something he could walk away from. She was special. And he wanted her.

Not for a mere sex act. Not for one office fantasy fulfilled. Not for one night.

He wanted to learn everything about her. Help her embrace her naughty side and explore her untapped sexuality. Show her what dwelled beneath his surface.

Most of all, he wanted to stare into those pale-blue eyes every night and every morning. The thought of any other man holding her sweet body under theirs caused a fierce rush of possessiveness.

He wanted her all to himself.

“Constantine,” she said, her voice more confident. “I never knew having a one-night stand could be so … liberating. Thank you for opening my mind.”

A one-night stand? His heartrate accelerated and a cold sweat broke across his brow. “This doesn’t have to be for only one—”

Her mouth rose to his and silenced him.

They kissed. A long, tender dance of tongues eagerly exploring a new love.

He wanted more.

She pulled away. “I need to get up now.”

He stood, removing his condom and wrapping it in a tissue before tossing it in the trash. By the time he zipped his pants, she stood fully dressed and finger-combed her hair.

“Thank you,” she said, her mouth puckered to one side as if she wanted to say more but couldn’t.

“This doesn’t have to last only one night.”

Her head tilted and her brow pinched in confusion. “But we’ve already done … it. There’s no foundation other than great sex to build on.”

He cupped her cheek. “Relationships have been built on much less.”

She moved away and grabbed the door handle. When it didn’t turn, she cast him a glance over her shoulder, but didn’t meet his eyes.

He was being dismissed. His stomach plunged to the floor. His lungs lost the ability to process air. His heart cracked, but he forced his feet into motion.

A flip of the door lock and there was nothing to keep her from leaving. He held open the door and she walked out. Away. Leaving him as if he meant nothing.

What was he supposed to do now?

A few quick paces took him to the two-way window. His forehead pressed against the cool surface. A silent plea for her return stuck in his throat. He followed her swift progression to her friends at the bar. She whispered something to Jill and the couple stood to go.

Chloe walked with her head held high to the front door.

She was leaving. Without a final glance in his direction. She had to know he was watching.

His chest ached. How could she affect him this deeply in such a short time?

Kyle held the door and her blonde friend stepped outside.

If Chloe left, without glancing toward the mirror, there was no hope. But if she stopped, paused for the briefest of moments, and turned in his direction. He would do whatever it took to win her heart.

Air filled his lungs and he froze. He couldn’t exhale. His heart could not pump out another beat.

She moved into the doorway of the exit. Her right foot hit the cement sidewalk. Then she paused.

Her sweet face turned and stared straight into the mirror. Into his eyes. Into his soul.

When her beautiful lips curved into a broad smile, his heart restarted. Hope bloomed. They weren’t finished.

Their story was only beginning. Whatever it took, he would win her heart.

Forever.

****

Out in the bar, he ordered a round of drinks on the house.

“And what are we celebrating?” Tyrese asked. His wise, brown eyes twinkled in a way that suggested he already knew the answer.

“Let’s drink to the future,” Constantine said, raising his new favorite beverage, one of Ty’s chocolaty Mary Janes. “To endless possibilities.”

The genius bartender raised a clear glass of ice water and glanced along the chrome-topped bar to the red-headed woman Constantine had seated there earlier. “Yes, I will certainly drink to the endless possibilities of this life.”

They clinked glasses.

“By the way,” said Ty, handing him a business card. “Chloe’s friend gave me this for you.”

He flipped over the vintage car dealer’s card with Jill’s name and number. On the back, in pen, was Chloe’s name and a phone number. His nights pining for her return were over. Now he could be proactive.

Constantine pocketed the card and sipped his delightful concoction. He made a mental list of ways to romance his dream woman. Once she understood the depth of his desire for her and how serious he was about continuing their relationship, Chloe would have to admit they were good for each other. Great sex was a bonus.

But what a fabulous bonus to receive. She held him spellbound. And a life with her was the only thing that made sense.

Now, all he had to do was convince her that she couldn’t live without him.

How hard could that be?