| |
Walking into Joe’s that night felt like walking into home. The smell of the donuts and the fresh coffee hit her, and the day just melted away. She smiled to herself and practically floated up to the counter.
“Chelsea! I was worried about you. It’s good to see you. I have a beignet with your name on it!” Joe exclaimed the minute he saw her.
Chelsea looked around the shop and her mood dropped slightly. She had to admit that a part of her wished Marcus was there and stealing her beignet again.
No! This was her decision and she was sticking to it. She took her beignet and coffee that Joe slid across the counter to her. Sitting at a table against the wall, she opened her book and flipped to the last page she had read.
After twenty minutes of attempting to read, she closed the book and scanned the shop again. It was empty and Joe had already turned the ‘Closed’ sign around. Why did she suddenly feel extremely lonely? Had Marcus really gotten under her skin in just the few days that they had known each other? This couldn’t be happening.
Putting the book in her bag, she thanked Joe and stepped out the door. A long hot shower and a good night’s sleep was exactly what she needed. She needed to get her life back on schedule. She’d feel much better then. Who could live like this?
When she reached her little home, she sighed in relief. It had been a long day. She threw her keys in their assigned bowl and hung up her jacket, undressed and placed her clothes into the hamper, and stepped into a hot shower letting the day’s events washed down the drain.
Lying down in the bed after putting on her pajamas, she sank down into the soft linens thinking that she had finally found the peace she had sought all day. That was until she closed her eyes. All she saw was him. His beautiful smile and those eyes staring back at her. She was not going to be able to sleep like this. She could still feel his hands on her skin, his breath. Her body still longed for him.
Chelsea sat up and screamed to herself. “This is insanity!”
Lying back down, her lids shut again. She let her hand brush over the soft cotton fabric of her pajama top, just grazing her breasts. She rarely touched herself like this, but the memory of Marcus’s touch was too much.
She allowed her hands to wander under shirt to cup her breasts, gently pinching at her nipples. Her mouth opened in a gasp slightly as she remembered the feel of Marcus’s mouth wrapped around each one. Slowly, her hand lower and slipped under the elastic waistband of the pajama bottoms and her cotton panties.
There was no denying it. Marcus had gotten under Chelsea’s skin, and the frenzy that she worked herself into was proof of that. Lying in a pool of sweat, Chelsea stared up at the ceiling and contemplated her life. She was so out of balance and, for the first time, she didn’t seem to mind.
Rolling over, she picked up the cell phone next to her bed and fired off a text message. She didn’t know if he’d get it tonight, but she had to take the chance, or she’d never do it. She knew herself too well.
So, if I worked for our sister company...
It only took a couple of minutes before her screen lit up to inform her that she had a new message.
You’d be here in my bed instead of in yours.
She had to admit, it did seem like a much better proposition than staying at home alone.
Then what am I doing here?
I’ve been wondering that all night. Should I send a car?
Chelsea sat up and flipped on the light on the nightstand as she swung her legs over the edge of her bed.
I’ll be ready in an hour. I need to take another shower.
Another shower?
Chelsea grinned playfully to herself.
I made myself hot and sweaty.
She could be wrong, but it seemed like there was a pause before the next message came through.
I think you’ll need to tell me about that when you get here.
Knowing that she was absolutely torturing him at this point, Chelsea added:
You just think about that while you wait for me, okay?
An hour later, Chelsea was winding her way through the city streets in the back seat of Marcus’s car. The leather seats felt cool against her bare bottom. After her shower, she’d just thrown a trench coat over her naked body. She knew it was cliché, but she thought Marcus would appreciate the joke.
As they pulled up to Marcus’s house, the front door opened wide and Chelsea could see his shadow against the light of the foyer. Her heart began to race. So many changes in such a short period of time. She knew she was doing the right thing, but it was all extremely overwhelming.
The driver opened her door and helped her out of the car, exposing a great deal of leg. Heat rushed through Marcus’s body and directly to his core. This woman just might be the death of him, and she didn’t even seem to realize it. When he saw her strolling up the walkway in a trench coat and heels, he had to correct himself. Maybe she knew exactly what she was doing.
She got to the door and grinned wickedly at him with a wink.
“Evening Mr. Teresi. You invited me over. Are you going to let me in?” she asked coyly.
“Chelsea, are you wearing anything under that coat?” His voice was almost scolding, but his tone was curious and playful.
She raised an eyebrow and pulled the collar of the jacket to one side, exposing her bare shoulder and collarbone.
Grabbing the front lapels of the coat, he pulled her into his arms and wrapped them around her tightly. His lips found hers in a searing kiss that burned her mouth with passion. When she finally was allowed to come up for air, she smiled warmly at him.
“Well hello to you too,” she said with a laugh.
Marcus just answered by scooping her up in his arms and kicking the door closed with his foot.
He carried her down the corridor slowly, his mouth desperately and hungrily devouring hers the whole way to his bedroom. As soon as he set her on her feet in front of the bed, he pulled on the belt of the coat. She playfully struck at his hand.
“No. You just watch,” she said.
Marcus groaned, but stepped back and watched as she slowly untied the belt of the trench. One by one, she painstakingly unbuttoned each button. To Marcus, it felt like an eternity. He just wanted to touch her skin. To feel her silkiness under his fingers. He was right, she was killing him...very slowly it would appear.
When she finally dropped the coat to the floor, she laughed. “I know it’s a little trite.”
Staring at her in just the heels, Marcus approached her and wrapped his arms around her. He lifted her off the floor and laid her back on the bed.
“It was one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice throaty and passion laced.
***
Hours later, as Chelsea laid curled in Marcus’s arms and he ran his fingers gently through her hair, he softly kissed her forehead. “So, does this mean that we are good? Are you either staying with our company or going to work for my partner? We will make it work either way.”
Chelsea rolled over onto chest and stared into his chestnut eyes. “Let’s talk to your partner about what I can do there. I’m still not comfortable being your girlfriend and working for you.” She let out a small giggle. Girlfriend. That seemed like such a strange word to her, but I guess that was exactly what she was now.
Marcus kissed the tip of her nose. “We’ll find you the perfect position,” he said with a wink.
Chelsea rolled her eyes and kissed him. She could get used to this. Glancing over at the clock, she raised an eyebrow.
“We have just enough time for you to go to Joe’s and get us beignets.”
Marcus picked up his cellphone. “Are you kidding me? I am not getting out of this bed now that I have you in it.” Dialing his driver, he instructed him to pick up beignets and coffee from Joe’s and deliver them to the bedroom. Chelsea chuckled into Marcus’s chest the entire time.
As Marcus hung up, she glanced up at him. “You are insane.”
“Yes, and you are crazy about me.”