Chapter Twenty-Four

Carter

Scooping Pepper into my arms, I carry her out of the studio and onto the sidewalk. After I know what’s inside her purse, my cock lengthens and fills the crotch of my pants to overflowing. I have to have her, right now. We barely stop kissing – I can’t stand my mouth to be away from hers for more than a second – and I suck at her lower lip, holding her close in my arms. Pepper moans, pressing her body against mine, nuzzling my nose with hers and burying her face in my neck. When I feel her sharp little teeth nipping at my earlobe, I growl with pleasure.

“I can’t wait to put my mouth all over you,” she whispers.

I love her. I fucking love her so much my heart wants to explode.

I hail a cab and crawl into the backseat, pulling Pepper down with me. After breathlessly giving the driver the address of our hotel, I tug Pepper close and kiss her. My cock strains between us, and my balls tighten and ache to be spent, but I know I have to wait, and that knowledge tortures me. I slip my hand between Pepper’s thighs and brush against her crotch with my fingers until she gasps.

The cab seems to crawl through the Valley traffic and by the time we get back to the hotel, I’m bursting. I throw a wad of cash at the driver without even counting it and grab Pepper, tugging her inside behind me. We scramble into an elevator, and immediately, we’re kissing again. I push Pepper against the wall and slide my hands under her shirt, squeezing her breasts through her thin lace bra until she writhes underneath me. Arousal floods my body, and it’s more powerful than anything I’ve ever felt. This is the first time I’ve ever been in love. Everything seems deeper, more intense. When the elevator doors ding open, I scoop Pepper in my arms and carry her into my room, slamming the door behind us and tossing her gently on the bed.

“You just made a promise to me, Pepper. I expect to get served the entrée that’s on the menu.”

She pushes me back on the bed, and I help her get my shirt and pants off. With a mighty tug, my boxer briefs join the pile of clothes littering the floor. She retrieves the package from her purse and makes a show of ripping it open and shaking the contents into her hand.

“Are you ready for the catch of the day, Chef Caldwell. I’ve been advised that it’s fresh and delicious.”

“Pepper, you’re killing me here. Just suck me off already.”

“So demanding,” she says, leaning back as if she’s going to change her mind. My cock strains its disapproval, curling up toward my torso. “Seems you shouldn’t be so demanding when you’re not in charge here.”

I sigh, knowing I have to capitulate, give her something. “Okay, I’ll try to behave.”

She gives my flank a little pinch, reminiscent of the ones I like to give to her. I’m not sure when the shoe’s on the other foot, that it fits.

Pepper slaps her hand up to her mouth. Before I can feel anything, I hear the sizzling noise the Pop Rocks make as they explode across her tongue. I wonder what it’s going to feel like when she finally puts her mouth on my cock.

Oh my god. My head presses even deeper into the pillow. The sensation of her warm, wet mouth and the exploding candy is more than I can take. It doesn’t take long until I’m writhing underneath her, ready to come.

“Condom,” I choke out. “I want you on top of me right now.”

I hear the foil wrapper open and then she rolls the condom down my length. Pepper climbs on top of me, spreading her thighs and sheathing me inside her tight pussy as I watch her every move. It’s taking everything I have in me not to bark orders like I want with every fiber of my being. Like I do every single dinner service in my kitchen, demanding perfection from my employees and myself. But she’s not my lackey. She’s the woman I love, so I tone it down for her. Anything for her.

Pepper’s face is hot and flushed, and I grab both of her wrists with one hand, pulling her down toward my face so I can nip and suck at her lips. Pepper moans, writhing and twisting, but I don’t let her go. I dip my head to her neck and lick a long, wet trail down the exposed skin, until my mouth lands right above her collarbone. Her breasts are there for the taking, and with my free hand, I yank her shirt up and expose her lacy bra. As gently as I can, I stroke my fingers over her hardened nipples.

“God, Carter,” she moans, throwing her head back as a moan of pleasure escapes her lips.

I want to wait, to torture her, to make her scream with desire, but I can’t. Something about this time carries more desperation than any other before it. My thumbs flitter over her nipples until she shakes. Pepper grinds on top of me, hard, and I take my hand away from her breasts and slide it between our bodies until my thumb finds the hard nub of her clit.

At the new pleasure, Pepper purrs with delight. She begins grinding and riding me harder than ever, rubbing her clit against my thumb with each delicious thrust. The pleasure escalates to a tense limit in my body, and my balls throb as our lovemaking grows more and more intense. Pepper bends down at the waist and kisses me, brushing her damp lips against mine. I can still taste the residual of the Pop Rocks. Strawberry flavor. I shiver with pleasure as my cock twitches inside of Pepper’s body.

“Carter,” Pepper moans, burying her face in my neck and sucking my earlobe. “I love you.”

That’s when I feel her body start to shake and quiver with the force of her orgasm. Pepper throws her hair back and rides me faster, bracing herself with a hand against my chest. She stops for a moment, then shivers all over and moans, filling the room with her gritty voice. Feeling her tighten and writhe on top of me sets me off, and soon I’m grabbing the woman I’m crazy about by the hips as I come. It feels like an explosion in my body, powerful and strong and so delicious that I almost forget to breathe. I buck and gasp, thrusting deep into Pepper’s pussy as my cock unloads inside her.

The room falls silent. Pepper stays on top of me for a moment, then slides off my softening cock, curling up next to me and throwing her arm over my chest.

“That was definitely better than a night on the town,” Pepper says, her eyes fluttering closed. She sighs, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Although now that my cock is sated, I wouldn’t say no to a free steak for my poor, rumbling belly.”

“You would,” she says. But there’s kindness in her voice, and I get the sense that she’s more amused than anything. “What did they give us, anyway?”

Pepper sits up, pulling the sheet over her full breasts, and reaches for my pants. She reaches into the pocket and pulls the envelope out. When she opens it, she blinks, and her jaw drops.

“Holy shit, Carter,” Pepper says. “They gave us a five-hundred-dollar card to Musso & Frank Grill.”

“A steakhouse,” I say, waggling my eyebrows.

“I’m sure they have pescatarian dishes available.” She grins. “Now that you mention it, my belly’s rumbling right along with yours. We should go.”

“Yeah. Let me shower really quick.” I climb out of bed and stretch, smirking as Pepper stares at my naked body like I’m the appetizer. “You wanna join me?”

“As tempting as that is, I should call home. I wanna tell Basil what happened.”

Just as I’m about to walk into the bathroom, my phone buzzes.

“Hey,” I say, frowning and glancing down at the screen. “It’s Barb.”

“Maybe you left something at the studio?” Pepper flops back down on the sheets. Her skin looks creamy and delectable, and her freckles make me want to bite them.

“Maybe,” I say, narrowing my eyes and swiping open the call. “Hello?”

“Hello, Carter?”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“This is Barb.” I can practically feel her smiling through the phone. “Look, I know this is kind of unexpected, but I just had a meeting with the executive producers of Battle, and they had a great idea that I wanted to run past you.”

“Shouldn’t you be calling Pepper?” I say, confused. “She won, remember?”

“Of course I do. This is about Pepper, too, but I wanted to call you first since if you’re not on board, it’s a no-go and nothing changes. Look, the producers think that the two of you should host a show together.”

“Another competition?”

Barb laughs at my expense, and I feel a trace of annoyance. “No. Well, sort of. But not between the two of you. The other producers think that a hosted show, where a married couple of home cooks compete against each other would be a huge hit. Pepper will coach the wife, and you coach the husband. At the end of the show, they’ll compete against each other for fabulous prizes. Isn’t that brilliant?”

“Holy shit.” I look at Pepper, who stares at me with wide eyes. “That is a great idea.”

“I’m so glad you love it,” Barb gushes. “I just knew you would. Now, all I have to do is call Pepper…”

“You know, I can ask her right now,” I say, raising an eyebrow at Pepper.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. We’re, um, we used that gift card you gave us. She’s right here.”

“Oh, good! I’m so pleased to hear that the two of you worked things out.” There’s palpable relief in her voice. “Yes, why don’t you ask her, and then get back to me.”

A lazy grin spreads across my face as I turn to the love of my life. “Sounds good, Barb. I’ll be in touch soon.”

When I hang up, I put my phone on the nightstand and flop back down into bed. “What is it,” Pepper asks. “What happened?”

I take her hands in mine. “Well…as a matter of fact, they decided they want both of us.”

Her mouth makes a perfect little ‘o’ and I can almost see the wheels in her mind trying to work everything out. “Oh yeah? That’s awesome. Wait, like another competition?”

I grin and shake my head. “No, ma’am.” I tell her about Barb’s great idea and watch as her face lights up.

Pepper throws her arms around me and tackles me down into the pillows, kissing my face all over.

“Carter, this is incredible,” she says, her face radiating joy. “It’s like we both won. It’s exactly the perfect compromise.”

I lean close and kiss her full on the lips. “Well, believe it, honey. Because the two of us are going to be stars.”