As his lips caressed her neck, she wondered if this wasn’t a good idea. “Maybe… maybe we should stop.” Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he sucked her earlobe into his mouth.
“Mmm-hmm. You’re right. We haven’t finished dessert yet.” His mouth returned to hers. His tongue slid along her bottom lip. His hands caressed the sides of her body, pulling her firmly up into his body. Her flesh warmed beneath his, responding to his fire.
“Chase?” she murmured against his lips. He raised his head and she forgot what she was going to say at the gentle smile on his lips and the desire in his eyes. That was a look she’d never seen in his movies. Any protests she may have had died on her tongue. She hadn’t really meant them anyway.
“Would you like more dessert?” His finger lightly brushed over her nipple.
A shudder coursed through her. Resistance was futile. “Yes, please.”
Chapter Eleven
Sitting cross-legged on Chase’s king-size bed wearing only his T-shirt, Natalie picked up one of the chocolate-covered strawberries from the tray. She couldn’t wipe the ridiculously pleased smile off her face and didn’t really want to.
Sunday afternoon had never been her favorite day or time. Usually it was reserved for doing laundry or running errands. But after spending the last few hours in Chase’s arms, it was definitely moving to the top of her list. Unfortunately, Monday morning would follow closely on its heels.
She glanced at the open bedroom door. Chase had discovered her weakness for sweets and had promised her the best hot chocolate ever. He’d kissed her soundly before insisting she stay in bed and conserve her energy.
She’d never felt so pampered or so thoroughly loved before. Her muscles and body ached, but it was a pleasant ache. It couldn’t possibly last, though. Tomorrow was Monday, after all.
While this fantasy had been fabulous and she never wanted it to end, Monday changed everything. Back to the real world. Back to being an accountant beneath notice and an actor on the cover of People.
“Whoa, what happened to that smile?” Chase in only a pair of boxer briefs stood in the doorway, balancing a tray. “There it is.” He set the tray on the massive nightstand and joined her on the bed. “I’m sorry to inform you that I’m out of chocolate, but I found some protein instead.”
He produced a plate with a turkey sandwich cut into squares. “Eat. You need your energy.”
She smiled and pushed her glasses back up her nose. “Thanks.” Taking a sandwich, she smiled at him.
He lay down beside her on the bed and rubbed the hem of her shirt between two fingers. The back of his fingers brushed her skin, fanning the ever-present flame.
He helped himself to a sandwich square and a chocolate-covered strawberry. She couldn’t keep her mind from their shared bath last night or the morning spent in this bed.
She picked off a corner of the sandwich and chewed it thoughtfully. “What are we going to do about tomorrow?”
He dragged his finger lazily up her leg. “What about tomorrow?” He kissed her thigh and looked up at her with his lazy grin.
Her heart leapt, and her body responded with a pulsing need. She needed to focus. “Work. Chase, stop that. We need to talk about work.”
He picked up her plate and set it on the table. He handed her a bottle of water and sat up on the bed with her. “What about work?” This time his eyes were serious as he watched her drink.
She almost spilled from the intensity of his gaze. She capped the water before it ended up all over the bed.
“Well?” He took the bottle from her and set it aside.
“Well, what do we do about this?”
He scooted behind her and pulled her back to his front. She leaned her head back against him. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and the other around her stomach, pulling her tight against him.
His voice was quiet and soft when he asked, “What do you want?” His arms tightened around her.
She turned her head so that her cheek rested on his bare chest. His heartbeat echoed in her ears. He made her feel warm and safe and beautiful.
She sighed. She wanted to stay like this forever, but that wasn’t likely to happen. A whole world waited outside those doors. “I…I don’t know.”
“Stay with me.”
“I can’t do that. What about the media?”
His cheek rested against the top of her head. “What if I weren’t famous and a line of paparazzi didn’t hang on my every move?” His voice had an edge to it.
“I-I don’t know. I-I-” She’d almost slipped and said “love.” “I like you, Chase. I like spending time with you, but this can’t possibly work.”
“What if we didn’t go public? What if we kept this to ourselves?” It sounded reasonable, but how many other girls had thought the same thing and ended up as tabloid fodder.
“Has that ever worked? It seems like those relationships always get caught. I can’t be that girl. I don’t want that kind of attention.”
Desperation filled her. She didn’t want to stop seeing Chase, but what choice did she have? She wasn’t made of the stuff needed to be a Hollywood star’s girlfriend. She would be compared to all his ex-girlfriends. There was no way she could measure up against the likes of Alexis Brandt. Eventually Chase would realize the mistake he’d made by being with Natalie.
His arms squeezed her. He shifted them until she lay under him. In the move, the soft T-shirt had bunched up at her waist. He lowered his mouth to hers. Afraid this could be over, she met his lips with all the desire she felt. Her hands grabbed his head to hold it there.
His hands skimmed down her sides to her panties, and her body arched up into his erection. This could be the last time. She didn’t want this to ever end.
He shifted slightly while he retrieved a condom from the nightstand, but his mouth never left hers. His teeth nipped at her lips. He slid into her as his mouth continued to devastate hers. She sighed against his lips, and her body shuddered with longing.
She’d wanted to feel this all her life. The connection, the intimacy. It swelled up within her. How could she ever let this go? But she had to-she wasn’t cut out for his lifestyle.
He lifted his head and gazed down into her eyes. She needed his mouth back on hers. She needed him to move within her and take them over the edge. He was an addiction, and she just needed one more hit.
His eyes searched hers. “Don’t leave.”
Her core pulsed around him. “But-”
“No buts. We don’t have to go public. I want you.” The muscles in his arms shook as he held himself above her.
He moved within her slowly, maintaining eye contact. She could feel him touching her soul as he slowly drove her insane. She didn’t ever want this to end.
“Natalie?”
She met his heated gaze and felt the pressure building within her.
“Stay.”
Her resolve to end it now before it would hurt too much crumbled at the look in his eyes. It was going to hurt when it ended, but she couldn’t bear to let go. She’d take all she could get. Her body shook with her decision. “I’ll stay, Chase.”
His mouth covered hers, and he thrust within her again. Her body convulsed around him as she returned his kiss. Joy filled her heart. His body arched into hers once more before he collapsed against her. Her fingers tangled in his hair as they both drifted back to themselves. Where was the harm in trying?
By Monday morning the weekend rain had passed, leaving everything greener and brighter. Natalie had gone home Sunday, and Rachel hadn’t even missed her. Rachel had asked what she’d done last night, and Natalie had mentioned going out to a movie or shopping or something.