Electric! (5 page)

Cassidy shifted away, needing some physical distance for
mental clarity. Chase’s intense gaze and heavenly scent left her head spinning.
And her insides burning.

She said, “Trust me, one kiss and you’d regret having wasted
so much time on me. In fact, I owe you a huge apology for dragging this out.
Like I told you at the country club, I should have said this two years ago.
Better yet, I should have let you kiss me two years ago. You would have
instantly moved on, I assure you.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t get it.”

With a pained breath, she said, “I’m great with men in a
business relationship, Chase. Other than that… I bore them to tears.”

The admission prickled the backs of her eyes.

Chase stared at her, disbelief and incredulity stamped
across his chiseled visage. “
That’s
the excuse you’re going to use with
me? Some bullshit about being a sexual bore?”

She cringed. “Trust me. It’s not bullshit. I have years of
proof.”

He set his glass on the mantel, folded his arms over his
chest and glared at her, challenging her.

Cassidy said, “I’ve only had two boyfriends. Both in
college. Mike was on an academic scholarship and had discovered a breakthrough
in robotics that had every electronics company in the country wooing him. We
had study dates twice a week for two semesters. One night, we decided to take
things a step further. Less than fifteen minutes later, we were both staring up
at the ceiling wondering why the hell we’d crawled into bed together when we
could have been studying.”

The disappointment and dismay flowed through her as acutely
as it had that night with Mike.

She said, “There was no heaving breathing. No moaning. No
groaning. No gasping in ecstasy. Just quiet, polite, boring sex. It was sheer
agony to realize the earth hadn’t moved like it did in romance novels when the
hero and heroine make love.”

Chase’s brow furrowed deeper.

Cassidy continued. “The next year, I went on a few dates
with Jeff. Total brainiac. Honors classes and an accelerated curriculum that allowed
him to graduate with two degrees in just three years.”

“What happened with him?”

Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment. This was mortifying to
admit. “He invited me to his dorm room one night while his roommate was at a
party. Again, no fireworks. It was a complete snooze-fest. A half-hour later,
he blatantly lied and said he’d forgotten that he’d told his roommate he’d meet
up with him. He couldn’t push me out the door fast enough.”

She fought a wave of emotion that rose up.

Cassidy drained her wine and added, “Then I became the queen
of first dates. No problem with men asking me out, I can hook them. I just
can’t reel ‘em in.” She sighed. “When the goodnight kiss comes… I freeze up and
it turns into some tight, thin-lipped kiss that just screams
frigid.
And
that’s as far as it goes. Every. Single. Time. They back up, give me the same
wow,
that was so not worth the dinner I paid for
look and never call me again.”

Turning away, she swiped at a tear, not wanting Chase to see
it.

He remained silent a few moments, then went into the
kitchen. He returned with the chardonnay and poured her another glass. He
refreshed his and put the bottle back in the fridge.

“Whatever, right?” She said, embarrassed by her confession.
She took a sip of wine before returning the glass to an end table. “Just
thought you should know all this effort you expend isn’t worth it.”

“Again,” he said in a low, intimate tone as he stood behind
her. “I get to be the judge of that.”

“Chase,” she murmured with a hint of exasperation.

He stepped around her, so they faced each other. “Two
seconds. I don’t even need the full ten.”

She stared up at him, confused. “What?”

“Two seconds. That’s all it’ll take.”

“For what?”

His beautiful blue eyes glowed in the firelight. “For me to
know if I’ve wasted my time or not.”

Without another word, his head dipped and his lips skimmed
over hers.

Cassidy felt the spark. Against her lips. Low in her belly.
Deep in her pussy.

She jumped back.

He grinned.

“
Oh.
” She lost her breath.

Triumph flickered in his eyes.

Several moments passed, with a nearly palpable energy arcing
between them.

She stared up at him again.

He smirked. A cocky one.

“Yeah,” he said. “That’s what I thought.”

Excitement jolted Chase. He’d known all along that it’d be
hot between them. And just the lightest touch of the lips confirmed he’d been
right.

Absolutely electric!

For several extended seconds, he watched as Cassidy’s
enticing chest rose and fell. He gave her a little time to process the fact
that she might not have sparked with those other men she’d mentioned, but she
sure as hell sparked with him.

Then he said, “Don’t you dare deny there’s serious chemistry
here. Even when we’re just flirting, the sexual tension is off the charts. You’ve
just been ignoring or fighting it all this time.”

Heat lit her amber eyes.

He leaned close to her and whispered, “Busted.”

She opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it
closed.

Chase took the opportunity presented and brushed his lips
over hers once more. A small gasp from her made him move in closer. He cupped
the side of her face with one hand and rested the other at the dip of her
waist.

As much as he wanted to haul her up against him, he knew
better. Cassidy required a bit of coaxing. And he was more than willing to change
up his aggressive tactics and seduce her slowly.

His lips glided over hers and then he nibbled at the corner
of her mouth. She sighed. Her body gravitated to his, her breasts pressing
below his pecs. Chase bit back a groan.

“How about we try a full-on kiss?” he suggested.

She swallowed hard. “Maybe we should leave this as is. That
way, we have a good memory, without me fucking it up.”

He frowned. “You’re doing it again.”

Gazing up at him, she asked, “Doing what?”

“Putting too much pressure on yourself.” His thumb stroked
her cheek as he said, “I understand how driven you are and how perfect you want
to be. But here’s a newsflash, Cass. Nobody’s perfect.”

Her laugh was a hollow one. “My mother was perfect. And…you’re
sort of perfect.”

He grinned. “Hell of a compliment, coming from you. I’m
flattered.”

“Don’t make me regret saying it.”

Without doubt, his look was a devilish one. “No promises
there.”

This time, her soft laugh held amusement. “Your arrogance
knows no bounds.”

“Actually, it does. Otherwise, I would have tried to kiss
you two years ago. No, I’m not perfect. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
And it’s taken me all this time to work up to kissing you, because I don’t want
to mess anything up when it comes to this.”

Her head tilted and she studied him carefully. “You’re not
screwing around here, are you?”

“No.” He knew his expression conveyed his seriousness. And
it was earnest. His head dipped and his lips tangled with hers.

Against them, she said, “I sort of thought that. It kind of
freaks me out.”

“Don’t freak out.” He stared into her eyes. “Cass, it’s not
like I don’t know how much you’ve wanted to avoid this. Hell, consider how long
I’ve let you skirt this attraction. I’ve pushed sometimes. But in the end, I’ve
been cool with your reluctance to travel this path.”

“I know,” she was quick to say. “And I have always
appreciated that, Chase.”

“Okay, so all I’m asking,” he told her as everything inside
him tightened again, “is that you take a small leap of faith with me. I’ve
wanted you for so long, it’s not something that will simply go away. Not even
if you finally gave in to me. What you said at the country club was way off-base,
babe. I could have you a million times over and still come back for more.”

She sucked in a breath. Then she splayed a palm over his
chest and gently pushed him away. But his hand covered hers to keep it in place,
maintaining the physical contact.

His jaw clenched briefly, before he said, “Stop repressing.
Do a little accepting for once, Cass.”

He closed the gap between them and kissed her. He was a bit
surprised when her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to sweep over hers. He was
also relieved. He delved deep as he wrapped an arm around her waist. The other
hand skimmed over the satin covering her ass and he kneaded a cheek as their
kiss intensified.

She ignited his passion so easily, so quickly. His cock twitched
and he tightened his grip on her.

Cassidy didn’t break their kiss. She responded to him with
equaled fervor, the fingers of one hand twisting in his hair while the other
hand curled around his upper arm.

Fire roared through his body. He’d wanted her for two years,
yes, but this was much more powerful than merely lusting after her. This was
real and explosive.

His hand at the small of her back shifted and his fingers
skated up the long line of her exposed spine. She trembled and the blaze grew
brighter within him. He caressed the nape of her neck as he deepened their
kiss. She shuddered again and it drove him wild.

When they finally came up for air, he was breathless. So was
Cassidy. Her chest heaved against his. Her fingers remained threaded in his
hair and gripping his arm. She gnawed her lower lip as she stared up at him,
desire glowing in her amber eyes.

He didn’t say a word. Chase needed her to speak first. To
acknowledge something sexy and significant existed between them.

Eventually, she released her lip. “What if—”

“Stop with the questioning.”

She nodded.

He demanded in a quiet voice, “Tell me what you want.”

“That’s an easy one.
You.
”

Chase could have shouted his “hell, yes,
finally!
”
from the rooftops, but kept his cool.

He kissed her again. A slow, sensual lip lock that ratcheted
the sexual tension and the stakes. His fingers at the nape of her neck released
the hooks of her halter-style bodice. The material slipped between them, down
to her shapely hips. A light push from him caused the dress to drop to the
floor, pooling at her feet.

She tore her mouth from his. “Chase.” Panic laced her voice.

“Shh.” He tugged her forward, so she was free of the satin
surrounding her ankles. Then he took her hand and led her to the leather sofa,
guiding her down onto the fur throw sprawled in the corner.

Without a word, Chase hooked his fingers in the sides of her
red lace thong and dragged her panties down her legs. She lay in the crook of
the couch completely naked, her legs spread, her nipples puckered, her glossy
lips parted.

His eyes traveled back down the length of her luscious body,
his gaze finally landing on her pussy. His fantasy had come to life. She was
wet for him, swollen and glistening.

Chase discarded his suit jacket. He unbuttoned his dress
shirt, pulling the hem from his pants. Then he knelt before her and opened her
legs wider.

Cassidy’s breath hitched.

He didn’t think twice about what he wanted to do to her. His
lips whisked over her inner thigh, making the flesh quiver. His cock surged. He
nipped softly at her skin, working his way toward the apex of her legs.

Cassidy’s fingers raked through his hair again. She said in
a breathy tone, “I won’t stop you.”

Adrenaline pumped through his veins. His thumbs caressed her
labia, then the tips of two fingers rubbed her clit. Her hips jerked and her
eyes closed. His tongue flicked over the knot of nerves, slowly at first, then
with the clear purpose of getting her off.

“Chase,” she said on a hard rush of air. “Oh God. No one has
ever done this to me before.”

And didn’t that just puff out his chest a bit more?

He grazed her moist pink lips with his mouth, back and
forth, then continued the flicking.

Her pelvis lifted and she pressed herself against him. He
responded by suckling her clit.

She let out a sexy squeak of surprise, tinged with
excitement.

He pushed a finger inside her and the arousing sounds coming
from her turned to throaty moans. Making him even harder.

Chase’s plan for a slow seduction flew right out the window.
The more she writhed against him, the more restless he became, wanting to show
her exactly how good this sort of thing could feel.

As she squirmed, his control waned. He worked her hard and
fast. He sensed her need and anticipation peaking. Her hips rolled and her
fingers tightened in his hair.

“You’re going to make me come.”

He put extra effort into doing just that. He licked and
suckled feverishly. His finger pumped inside her. He’d fantasized about this
for so long, it was almost surreal to be with her, pushing her toward an orgasm
that he hoped would rock her world.

From what he’d recently gleaned, Cassidy could use some
earth-shattering climaxes in her life. And he wanted to be the one to deliver
them.

Easing a second finger into her tight canal, he muttered, “Come
for me. Come all over my fingers. Just let go, Cass.”

Her inner walls clenched and released, giving him
crazy-wicked thoughts about how it’d feel to be inside her while she did that
to his cock.

“Oh God,” she murmured in a lustful voice. “You’re
incredible.”

It was all Chase could do to keep from stripping down and
making love to her. Not fuck her. Make love to her. Prove to her that he wasn’t
looking for a one-night stand only. He wanted to send her to dizzying heights
and convince her that it wasn’t to conquer her. Chase wanted so much more from
her than that. He wanted so much more between them than that.

The intense need to pleasure her, make her feel good, bring
her the sort of sexual enjoyment that seemed to have eluded her all this time
was unrelenting.

The tip of his tongue fluttered over her clit and his
fingers stroked her until she panted heavily.

“Right there,” she whispered in a raspy tone. “Just like
that.”

A tremor moved through her body and it spurred him on. He
did everything he could to make her hotter. To make her desperate for him and
everything he wanted to give her.

He continued his ministrations and she writhed and moaned.
This was exactly what he’d imagined earlier in the evening.

When her breathing escalated and short, sharp moans fell
from her lips, he knew she was close—and he wasn’t inclined to hold back. His fingers
plunged deeper. He suckled harder.

Her hips gyrated. She pulled at his hair in a teasing way.

Then she let out a spiked cry. “Yes. Oh God, yes!”

Her hips bucked and he felt her orgasm erupt deep within her
as her body tensed.

“Chase!” Spasms from a powerful release followed.

A crazed combination of relief and exhilaration rushed
through him.

“Holy Christ,” she groaned, her fingers still holding
strands of his hair hostage. He didn’t care.

“Damn you make me hot.” His breath blew against her skin,
and she shuddered once more.

“I can’t believe I let you do that to me.” She shook her
head. Her eyes clouded with a confused look. “No. What I can’t believe is that
I’ve never experienced this before.”

He kissed his way up to her breasts. His tongue swirled around
her taut nipple, and she let out a low hiss.

He said, “You’ve definitely been with the wrong men, babe.
But I’m glad. ’Cause I’m the one who’s going to show you how mind-blowing this
can be.”

Her eyes closed briefly. She chewed on her bottom lip as she
obviously engaged in a mental debate. He went back to licking her nipple.

Finally, she said, “I don’t know, Chase. If we go any
further, won’t that just complicate things between us?”

“They’ve been complicated since I came to MII and got a
hard-on for you the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“Won’t it be awkward at work? Sitting across a conference
room table from each other, trying to focus on business, not the fact that we
had sex?”

“Cass, I already sit across from you at a conference table
and fantasize about having sex with you.”

“
Oh.
”

He palmed her breasts and caressed them, his thumbs teasing
the pebbled centers. Her eyelids dipped again, dark lashes fanning along her
creamy skin. Her head fell back against the pile of pillows in the corner of
the sofa.

Chase rolled and lightly pinched one of her nipples while
sucking the other into his mouth and twirling his tongue around it.

His stomach pressed against her pussy, with him wedged
between her thighs, and she rubbed her dewy flesh against him.

“That’s it,” he whispered. “Take whatever you want from me.”

Her hand cupped the side of his neck while the other remained
threaded through his hair.

“How many times are you planning on making me come?”

He grinned. “I believe I mentioned that at the party. I
wasn’t kidding. Just needed you to give me the chance.”

She let out a lustful sigh. “Okay.”

“Now you’re making me happy.”

His head raised and he kissed her, his tongue tangling with
hers in a hot, erotic dance. His hand shifted to her ass and he gripped it, lifting
her slightly off the cushion and forcing her to grind against him.

Another moan lodged in her throat, turning him on even more.
He hadn’t thought that possible. His pulse was already through the roof, raging
in his head and the vein at his throat. His heart hammered and his cock
throbbed.

He slipped his hand around to the front of her, between them
and stroked her clit quickly and with determination.

She broke their kiss and gasped for air.

He plunged two fingers inside her wet pussy and massaged her
inner walls as the heel of his hand rubbed her swollen pearl.

“God, Chase.” Her voice was low and sultry. Damn sexy. She
clawed at him, her fingertips pressing into his shoulders, then his biceps,
then his shoulders again.

His erection strained his fly and it was a wonder he could
keep himself in check. But he wasn’t done with her.

His lips trailed over her jaw and down her neck. He nipped
at the soft skin and she jolted.

“Yes,” she said on a strangled breath. “Chase. I’m going to
come.”