Julian opened a bottle of his favorite red Moscato and filled two glasses halfway. When he returned to his bedroom, Chandra was emerging from the bathroom. She stood still, as if frozen in place.
“Wine?” He lifted a glass.
“Please.” Chandra dropped her handbag on the dresser and accepted the glass of wine.
She took a healthy sip, then sucked in a deep breath. She was reluctant at the least—terrified at worst.
Julian had dreamed of having Chandra Valentine in his bed since the day they’d met. But the night of mind-blowing pleasure he’d envisioned couldn’t happen if she was as skittish as a cornered rabbit. He wanted them both to remember this night fondly.
So a literal Netflix and Chill night it would be.
“Why don’t I give you the penny tour?” he asked. A subtle attempt to get them out of the bedroom, so she’d be more comfortable.
Chandra set down her glass roughly and stalked toward him, her eyes filled with heat. She ran her palms down his navy shirt. “Later?”
“You’re sure? Because as much as I want this...I need you to know there’s absolutely no press—”
Chandra’s mouth was suddenly on his, her fingers pressed to his back.
Julian set down his glass of wine, too. He kissed her, eager to taste her mouth again. His hands glided down over her firm, round bottom as he tugged her against him, his hardened length pinned between them.
Chandra tugged his shirt from the waist of his pants and fumbled with the buttons, her hands trembling slightly. As the kiss escalated, they undressed each other with a growing sense of urgency. One garment after another drifted to the floor between frantic kisses. Finally, bare bodies pressed together, they tumbled into his bed and climbed beneath the covers. Julian trailed kisses down her neck and chest, his tongue teasing one of the beaded tips.
She arched into his touch, a soft murmur emanating from her lips. He’d wanted to taste every inch of her soft brown skin. To know what sounds she’d make as he swirled his tongue around her dark brown nipples. Had wondered how Chandra would react when he feasted on her—and he couldn’t wait any longer to find out.
Julian kissed his way down her body. Over her soft rounded belly, which tensed as he sank lower. Over the neat tract of dark curls at the apex of the thick thighs that had teased him all night.
He pressed a kiss to the glistening swollen flesh between her thighs. Then another and another. Julian spread her with his thumbs, loving the shallow breaths and increasingly desperate murmurs each swipe of his tongue elicited.
Chandra moaned, her hips undulating and her fingers spiking into his hair as she rode his tongue until she shattered. Her body tensed and she dug her heels into the mattress as she muttered his name again and again.
As beautiful as Chandra was on any given day, she was even more beautiful sated. Her dewy skin glowed. Her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath.
If he got to see Chandra fall apart like that every day for the rest of his life, he’d never tire of it. Julian kissed the junction of her neck and shoulder.
Chandra’s bashful smile made her even more beautiful.
“God, I love that smile.” Julian stroked her cheek and her smile deepened.
“Do that again and I guarantee you’ll see a lot more of it.” Chandra flashed him a wicked grin as she stroked his stubbled chin.
Julian’s tongue glided along his lower lip, salty with the taste of her, and he winked. “Is that a personal challenge? Because from the moment I saw you in those sparkly stilettos tonight, I’ve been imagining them dangling over my shoulders with my mouth on that—”
“You, Dr. Brandon, have a filthy mind and a deliciously dirty mouth.” Her hands trailed up his chest. “And I’m definitely here for it.”
He devoured her mouth with a hungry kiss as her hands moved down his back, her fingernails grazing his skin. Julian reached inside the nightstand and tore into the box of condoms. He ripped open a packet and sheathed himself.
He savored the sensation as he inched inside her, loving how snugly her body enveloped his. As if they were two pieces designed to fit together.
Chandra’s lips parted on a soft gasp once he was fully seated, and he captured her mouth in a kiss. He moved his hips slowly, determined to appreciate every single moment of this. But as with every taste of her sweet lips, every delicious sensation of pleasure that rolled up his spine only made him desperate for more of her.
When he lifted her leg over his shoulder and ground his hips against hers, Chandra’s murmurs turned to soft moans, then insistent pleas. Finally, she called his name, her muscles tensing and her back arching. Her inner walls clenched his heated flesh, pulling him in deeper as she reached her climax.
He kissed her hard, swallowing her cries. Her nails dug into his skin, as if she was marking him as hers. His hips moved until he, too, tumbled over the edge, Chandra’s name on his lips. Julian heaved a sigh and collapsed onto the bed beside her. He gathered her in his arms, their labored breathing the only sounds in the room.
Julian kissed Chandra’s temple. “Meeting you is the absolute best thing that’s happened since I returned to town.”
“We’re supposed to say that seeing our families is the best thing that’s happened since we’ve been here.” Chandra grazed his nipple with her thumb and dropped a kiss on his chest. “But just between us...same.”
Chandra was funny, smart and beautiful. He’d loved every moment he’d spent getting to know her. But he wanted to know more—everything there was to know about Chandra Valentine. Her history. Her hopes for the future. What she liked for breakfast. And all of the ways she liked to be pleased.
Chandra would return to San Diego in a week. A week with this amazing woman could never be enough. But if it was all he had, he’d enjoy every moment he got to spend with this goddess who made his spine tingle and his heart skip a beat.
Julian’s eyes fluttered open to the sound of water running in the bathroom. Chandra stepped into the darkened bedroom fully dressed. She sifted her fingers through her disheveled hair.
He propped himself up on one elbow and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “You’re leaving? I was hoping to impress you with my breakfast skills.”
“You cook?” Chandra arched an eyebrow.
“My repertoire is limited, but the things I do cook are damn good. Like my variations on French toast.”
“Such as?” Her interest was piqued, giving him the slightest hope that she’d crawl her fine ass back into bed with him.
“Crème brûlée French toast, churro French toast, banana bread French toast...”
“You’re a regular French toast connoisseur, aren’t you?” Her kiss-swollen lips, bearing only a hint of her lip gloss, formed a reluctant smile that tugged at something in his chest. “Would’ve figured you for a bacon guy.”
She wasn’t wrong. He had six pounds of bacon in his freezer. But she didn’t need to know she’d read him right. Again.
“If you stay, I might surprise you in a few more ways.” He grabbed her hand, tugging her closer.
“I didn’t think you’d want me to stay. I mean, I assumed this was just—”
“A one-night stand?”
“Well, yes.” She shrugged. “I’ll be gone in a week.”
“Then we should make the most of that time.” He pulled her onto his lap, peppering her neck and shoulder with kisses.
Chandra made a purring sound that vibrated in his chest. He fought the urge to strip her naked and take her again. Remind her that he was a grown-ass man whose stroke game and tongue skills were on point, given how fervently she’d called his name each time he’d taken her over the edge.
“As tempting as that sounds, I really do need to get back. I came here to check on my dad and spend time with my siblings. It would be rude if I spent my entire vacation banging the town’s baby doctor.” She gave him a teasing smile, followed by a quick kiss. Then she retrieved her ballet flats and sat at the foot of the bed to put them on.
“Fair point.” Julian groaned. “I’ll drive you over to the winery.”
“I’ll call a car service.”
“Sweetheart, this is Magnolia Lake, not San Diego. There won’t be any car service available at—” he glanced at his watch “—one forty a.m.”
“Right.” Chandra furrowed her brows, and her mouth twisted as she assessed the situation, which only made her more adorable. “Then I’ll just call my—”
“Chandra, I brought you here. And I’m going to deliver you home safe and sound. Just like I promised your dad.” He got out of bed and pulled on his boxers.
“Thank you.” The smile she flashed was almost shy. He could swear his heart did a somersault in his chest.
What the hell is this woman doing to me?
If he had good sense, he’d drop Chandra at home, thank her for a wonderful evening and wish her safe travels without any intentions of seeing her again. She didn’t want to get serious, and the complications of a relationship that would tie him to Magnolia Lake were the last thing he needed.
But apparently, he lacked a sense of self-preservation.
When he pulled into the driveway of the old winery and turned off his engine, he kissed Chandra good-night. But the kiss didn’t feel like a goodbye.
“I realize you came here to spend time with your family,” he whispered between kisses to her full, lush lips. “And that you’ll only be here a few more days. But I’d really like to see you again before you leave, Chandra.”
Chandra nibbled on her lower lip, then nodded. She pressed a final kiss to his lips. “I’ll try.”
Julian got out and opened the door for Chandra. Her fancy heels were hooked over the strap of her purse.
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
“That isn’t necessary. I texted Naya. She left the back light on and the door unlocked.”
Julian forced a smile to mask his disappointment that their evening was officially at an end. “Then text me to let me know you got inside safe. Here...” He held out his hand.
When Chandra unlocked her phone and handed it to him, he scrolled to her contacts, added his cell phone number, then typed in his information. Julian handed the phone back.
“Text me once you’re inside safe and sound, or I will knock on that door to make sure you’re all right.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Chandra slipped the phone into her bag.
“I look forward to seeing you again.” He kissed her.
“Good night, Dr. Brandon.”
“Good night, Ms. Valentine.” Julian sighed quietly as he watched Chandra strut toward the back door of the winery.
He climbed back into his SUV and waited patiently until a message appeared on his phone.
I’m inside. Thank you for a lovely night under the waning gibbous moon.
He added her number to his contacts, then turned around and pulled out of the drive.
Maybe neither of them was looking for a relationship. But perhaps they’d stumbled into one just the same.