Dangerous Race (8 page)

Surveying the suite, Matthew didn’t seem to notice her. He scanned the muted khaki colored walls of the living area and the kitchenette with sink, refrigerator and small table to his left. “Wow, nice room,” he said, taking a few steps forward. “I wish the hotel had screwed up my reservations.” He hit her again with his killer smile.

Chelsea’s stomach tied in knots. She didn’t want to blow this. “Would you like something to eat or drink?”

Matthew shrugged, glancing to the open double doors of the bedroom as he came toward her. “To be honest, not really.” He stopped in front of her and ran his fingers down her arms.

She trembled under his coat, his touch bringing her body to life in a way she’d never imagined.

“Are you still cold?” he asked.

She shook her head and batted the first lob. “I wasn’t cold before.”

Understanding registered on his face. Matthew eased his blazer off her shoulders where it landed in a pile at her feet. His fingers lingered at her collarbone and sent a wave of goose bumps across her skin.

“That is so sexy,” he whispered. His words gave her another round of goose bumps and he grinned. “You’re sensitive.”

She was. Very sensitive. Especially when it came to sex. Running her business nonstop for the past four years had left little room for fooling around. No matter how much she wanted him, she wasn’t sure she could do this. Unlike Kim, one-night stands were not her scene. She backed up a step, her physical needs protesting the move.

Matthew tipped his head to the side, clearly very conscious of her body language. “Maybe I should go, Chelsea.” He retrieved his blazer from the floor. “I don’t want to do anything we’re not ready for.”

The man seemed tuned in to her every thought. She had tall, dark and handsome in front of her and she was about to blow it. On top of that, he was a genuinely nice guy. And he was her connection to Tracey Bradshaw.

“Thanks for inviting me in and thanks for tonight. I had fun.” Matthew smiled, a wistful, it-could-have-been-nice smile, and headed for the door.

Chelsea followed him, a sense of urgency rising fast. Time to take control. Enough cat and mouse. With one quick hand, she pushed the door closed from behind him. His shoulders stiffened.

“Is this what you want, Chelsea?” He turned and heat blazed in his eyes. Desire flared in those brown depths and nearly took her breath away. One strong hand floated over her shoulder and the goose bumps returned. Her breathing faltered. All from one simple touch.

“God,” he mumbled. He dropped his blazer and pulled her in. His lips covered hers in a mind-blowing kiss.

This time she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. She opened for him and their tongues met. He tasted minty too.

They stood at the door, kissing and touching. Chelsea had never been so totally consumed by a man. Not that she had a lot to compare.

He pulled away and Chelsea felt a huge loss and instant chill when his heat disappeared. He ran a hand through his short dark hair, taking a deep breath. “I can’t do this anymore without…” He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. “I’m either staying right now or leaving right now. Which is it, Chels?”

Matthew held his breath as Chelsea hung the do-not-disturb sign. She closed the door, shoved the maid’s lock into place and faced him.

Looked like he was staying. There
was
a God.

The intensity in Chelsea’s brilliant blue eyes seemed tempered with shyness. The contrast turned him on. He took both of her hands in his and walked backward toward the bedroom, slowly pulling her with him. A vein in her neck pulsed in a steady rhythm.

He stopped, had to kiss her again, and his lips crashed down on hers. He tasted the mints from the bar and smelled her honeysuckle perfume. Honeysuckle had never turned him on before. It sure as hell did now.

A voice in his head told him to tread carefully. One false move might find her backing away again. Of course, she couldn’t run if she wasn’t on her feet. He lifted her in his arms and continued to her bedroom, then set her down next to the bed.

Matthew couldn’t remember the last time he’d anticipated being with a woman this much. He eased one red strap over her shoulder, along her smooth skin. “You are so soft,” he murmured.

Her goose bumps returned.

That his simple touch affected her so plainly aroused him as much as her kiss. “I like when you do that,” he said, his voice husky.

“Do what?”

Testing his theory, he traced a finger across her collarbone. “That,” he said, when he got the same reaction.

A nervous giggle bubbled from her lips. “I don’t really have a choice,” she replied. “It happens when you touch me, or say something nice.”

He moved the other strap and more goose bumps rose under his touch. His gaze shifted back to her eyes before his lips brushed against hers. Slowly, he pulled down the zipper of her dress. His fingers grazed her spine and a low, throaty moan vibrated in her throat.

He trailed his mouth to her neck and collarbone, kissing and tasting. “You are amazing,” he murmured against her skin. He took a gentle bite of her shoulder, and she gasped. Matthew lifted his head. Her gaze skittered around the room before she looked at him.

“I’m a little nervous,” she breathed.

Smiling, he grazed his thumb across her jaw. “So am I.” And he didn’t know why. Something about her just blew him away. He moved closer and brushed his lips across hers again. Maybe he needed to start over. Move a little slower. He caressed her silky bare shoulders and arms until the anticipation of more sent all the blood downstairs and he couldn’t wait any longer. He eased her dress apart from the back.

Chelsea pulled back a fraction. “Wait a minute,” she whispered.

He stopped. Didn’t want to rush her. They had all night, and he had no problem taking it slow.

“Can I look at you first?” she asked.

She wanted to see the goods. Okay, he could do that. He smiled, nodded, then pulled his T-shirt over his head and unbuttoned his jeans.

“Stop,” she blurted. He glanced up and her cheeks turned red. “I mean slow down. I want to go slow. I think I need to go slow.”

“Slow is good. Slow is
very
good,” he murmured.

She licked her lips and swallowed, and it took everything Matthew had to stay rooted to the spot. He’d never wanted a woman this badly before.

A whole new wave of chills traveled over Chelsea’s body as she looked at Matthew. He was gorgeous. Dark curly hair couldn’t hide the muscled planes of his chest. She ached to touch the ridges of his abdomen. A line of dark hair narrowed and disappeared under the loosened waistband of his black jeans.

“Touch me, Chels.”

His soft-spoken words were more of a plea than a demand. Tentatively, she reached out and touched the solid wall of skin and hair. His muscles danced under her fingers, a sure sign that he wasn’t unaffected by her touch. It gave her the nerve to continue. She placed a second hand on him, smoothed it down and followed the lines of his stomach.

His clenched jaw and blazing eyes empowered her. Courage swelled and she stepped back, eased her dress off the rest of the way. The silky red material pooled at her feet, leaving her bare-breasted. A scrap of thong barely covered the rest of her. Goose bumps rose as Matthew’s gaze took her in. Contrary to his opinion, she didn’t think they were sexy at all.

On second thought, the way he was looking at her made her feel absolutely sexy. And the bulge in his jeans, oh God, the gigantic bulge in his jeans made her feel…well…totally desirable.

“I can either take off these damn jeans or touch you. Which?”

Chelsea didn’t know what struck her as funny. The way he posed the question or the voice in which he posed it. Try as she might, she couldn’t hold in the burst of laughter that erupted.

Matthew looked incredulous for a second, but he smiled. “What? What’s so funny?”

“I don’t know. I figure…you’re going to do both of those things and it sounded as if you’d only get to do one or the other and…” She had to stop to breathe. “It sounded funny.”

Matthew’s jaw dropped though he continued to smile. “I can’t believe you’re laughing at me when I’m standing here dying to be with you. In fact…” He unzipped his jeans and peeled them off, discarding his shoes and socks along the way. “I think if I wait too much longer, my brain might short circuit and I’ll backfire.”

Chelsea laughed harder. “Leave it to a mechanic to use a car analogy.”

Matthew opened his mouth but no words emerged, only a sputtering of started syllables. Chelsea laughed so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.

“You think that’s funny? I’ll give you something to laugh about.” Matthew stepped close and threw her over his shoulder like an engine he wanted to overhaul. He promptly tossed her on the bed and started tickling her.

“Uncle, uncle,” Chelsea squealed.

“I didn’t ask you to say uncle,” he said, grinning.

“Stop, stop. I can’t breathe,” she panted. “I have…to breathe.”

Matthew looked down at her, his warm hand gentle on her waist. Her smile faded as she stared into his eyes. He eased a lock of hair away from her face and studied her intently.

“What are you thinking?” she whispered.

His gaze searched hers. “That I want to be inside you. I want to watch your eyes when I make you come. Most of all I’m thinking that I want to touch you so bad, I might…”

“Backfire?” Chelsea supplied the word with a soft smile. She loved the feel of him next to her, and really loved the way his hard-on pressed against her thigh. His honesty floored her and she fought her own guilt with the resolve of a princess warrior.

He nodded, but seriously this time. She took his hand and slipped it up to cup her breast. “Touch me,” she whispered.

The spark in his eyes flared high. He shifted his gaze to where his hand rested and he stroked her. “You have the most beautiful body.” He took a nipple in his mouth and she arched into the heat, against his tongue. Sparks rocketed through her system while his hand crept closer to the thong. He fingered the material. “This thing is indecent,” he muttered.

She lifted her hips a fraction, anticipating his touch. “You don’t like it?” she breathed, amazed that she could carry on a conversation as if she’d known him forever, as if they’d been doing this for years.

“I didn’t say that.” His mouth covered hers in a scorching kiss. “It’s indecent…and I wonder if you have more in other colors.” His fingers teased her, made her ache for more.

She moaned and an instant shot of carefree bliss made her giddy. She smiled against his lips. “I do. Would you like to…Oh, that’s good. Oh God, right there.” He’d found her, totally and completely found her hot spot. He knew exactly how to work it, moving two fingers inside her while his thumb rubbed her clit. “Matthew, wait. I don’t want to do this withou…” She tried to hold back, tried to keep from flying apart in his arms. It was way too soon. “Matthew,” she panted, “wait. I want to feel you inside me.”

He kissed her. Hard. A spine-tingling, knuckle-whitening kiss, but he didn’t stop his fingers from their motion. “You will. Next time.”

That was it. Unable to keep it from happening, she erupted around his fingers, came apart at his touch with a strangled moan. Pleasure burst in her center and spread in delicious waves. She bucked and sailed through a timeless cloud while his fingers continued to stroke her. He drew out her orgasm until every last shock had faded, until her world settled and she could focus again.

She blinked in shock. Nothing she’d ever done had compared to that. She’d never soared as high or as long and he hadn’t even…Oh God.

A satisfied smile curved his lips.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen so fast. It’s…it’s been a long time and I guess I was ready.”

Matthew went back to caressing her breast. “I’d say you were more than ready.”

“Speaking of ready.” She placed a hand over his erection still packed in his black boxer-briefs. “I’d say you’re about ready.”

A low growl rumbled from deep inside him as he pressed against her hand. “Good God, girl, you’d better watch yourself.” He kissed her, very wet, total tongue, and she squirmed to get a better angle while she stroked him.

“Mmm, wait,” she gasped. “I need to get a condom for you. Hold on a second.” She tore herself away from him and streaked into the other room. Kim had slipped several condoms into her bag after dinner, citing, “Girl Scouts were always prepared and you should be too.” Chelsea didn’t remember until later that it was Boy Scouts who were prepared. She didn’t know what Girl Scouts did. Well, besides selling cookies. Either way, Kim had been right. Chelsea dumped the contents of her bag on the chair, feeling like an adolescent schoolgirl. She picked up the foil wrappers and turned around.

She froze.

Matthew stood in the doorway, all male, all naked. All stud. He moved toward her with the stealth of a panther. His sleek muscles rippling with each step. His erection jutted out in front of him, impossibly large, undeniably hard. The closer he got the more she backed away.

“Where are you going?” he asked, stalking her. Had he not been wearing a devastating smile, his body language might have scared her. Had he not already proved he was a gentleman, she might have had second thoughts. But he couldn’t help that he had the body of an athlete and the grin of movie star. And she couldn’t deny that she wanted every minute of what was about to happen.

A wall stopped her and she suddenly felt like a small animal about to be devoured by a dangerous predator.

He stepped in front of her. His erection teased her belly. She held up a condom. “I’m afraid this might not fit.”

Matthew took her arms and pulled her close. He was amazingly hard against her. Staring into his sexy brown eyes, she could barely breathe. “We’ll make it fit.” His lips covered hers in another all-consuming kiss.

Chelsea snaked her hand between them and closed her fingers around him. Matthew groaned and pressed her up against the wall. His tongue plunged into her mouth, hot and demanding. His hands slid over her skin, teasing and torturing. The need to feel him deep inside her grew to a breaking point.

He snatched the connected condoms out of her hand, ripped one open and covered himself quickly, tossing the others on the table next to her. Chelsea started toward the bedroom, but Matthew stopped her. “Oh, no you don’t,” he growled. He pressed her against the wall and scraped her thong down the length of her legs.

“Aren’t we going back to the bed?” A sudden thrill zinged along her spine at the thought of sex, right here, right now.

“No, we’re not.” His tongue lined the inside shell of her ear as he lifted her off the ground. Burning heat scorched through her veins. “Wrap your legs around me,” he rasped.

Chelsea did and he hefted her a little higher. With their mouths connected, Matthew eased her on top of him. He was huge and hard, and it had been so long since she’d been with a man, Chelsea went still as he entered her.

Matthew broke the kiss and held her close, his breathing harsh in her ear. “You doin’ okay?”

The fact that he was so in tune with her body, and sensitive to her every move, sent a rippling of emotion through Chelsea’s heart. She squashed it immediately. “Um, I’ve never done this outside of the bed before.” Or with someone so huge.

He looked at her, still only partway in. “Really?”

She nodded. “Really.” And suddenly she worried that her inexperience wouldn’t matter to him. Or worse, that he’d stop completely if it did. It wasn’t as if she intended to blurt out her sexual history to the man
right now.
Or
ever
for that matter.

He withdrew, but instead of carrying her back to the bedroom, he set her on the edge of the table. He kissed her again, slanting his mouth over hers and sealing them tightly together. Almost as if he couldn’t get enough of her. And she couldn’t get enough of him. Every touch sent more heat, more desire, shooting through her. He finally pulled away to watch her as he entered her. Slowly. Surely. Looking right in her eyes, he pushed himself home.

Chelsea had never watched a man’s eyes as he filled her. The whole experience was new, sensual, erotic. It was as if he wanted to make sure she knew who was inside her. The sensation of his slow glide started her on a climb. “Oh God, that is so amazing,” she breathed. He got in as far as he could go and withdrew. Chelsea felt her eyes glaze over, knew she’d embarked on a road never traveled. She inched closer to the edge of the table and started moving with him, needing the hard length of him inside her and wanting to give him as much pleasure as he’d already given her.

Somehow she was wrapped around him again. He held her up from her bottom and she circled her arms around his neck in a death grip. She rocked against him as he moved. The motion became frantic and necessary.

Chelsea’s blood boiled, molten hot, out of control. Slick with exertion, they moved together harder and faster. Every muscle coiled tighter as she hurtled closer to the edge. With his hands gripping her ass, his fingers brushed dangerously sensitive skin. Reflexively, she moved against him harder, took him deeper. The sensation intensified as he continued to tease her with his fingers. Air sawed in and out of her lungs as he filled her over and over again. Chelsea squeezed her eyes shut when the swell pounded through her. She cried out then bit her arm to drown the sound. Still riding her wave, she felt Matthew’s release as he hammered into her one last time.