Seducing the Chef (At First Sight #1) (9 page)

She moaned. “Slow seems wrong.” She slid her hands beneath his shirt and stroked his back.

He backed toward the couch and sank into the cushions pulling her atop him. She edged his shirt toward his head. His nipples beaded beneath her assault.

“We need to slow down,” he said.

“How? Why?”

“Damned if I know.” He shifted position and stretched out on the couch. She moved until she sat on his thighs. “I’ve missed you.” He slid his hands beneath her shirt.

She drew a deep breath laden with his scent. “Since I stormed away you’ve been a constant in my thoughts.” She leaned forward and stroked his chest. “What about this dinner you invited me to share?”

“Later.” He pulled her shirt over her head. “Roses. Great minds.” He thumbed the centers of the flowers painted on her bra.

Spirals of heat spread from his touch. “We need to talk,” she said.

“We will.” He pulled her against his chest. “I need you. I need to be inside and hear you cry my name.” He ran his tongue over her lips. “Open for me.”

She did. His tongue laved her mouth, thrust and retreated. She matched him stroke for stroke and rocked against him. He caressed her denim covered thighs. “Greg.” She murmured his name against his mouth.

She pulled free and rose. On the coffee table she saw a pile of condoms. She grabbed one and opened the foil. When she turned back to the couch he’d stripped. She deftly sheathed him and pulled off the rest of her clothes.

He rose and caught her in his arms. “I need you.” He lowered her to the plush carpet.

“I desire you.” As he slid home she released a deep sigh. “This feels so right.”

“Sure does.” He leaned forward and kissed her.

He began a slow dance on her body. She wrapped her legs around his hips. His strokes were smooth and even. Pressure built as the tempo of their movements quickened.

The burn began. Allie dug her nails into his shoulders. He slid his arms around her as though trying to fuse their bodies into a single unit. Her cries grew louder. His guttural sounds formed a foundation form those pouring from her throat. She ignited. Her body tensed and waves of fire sent her aglow.

“Now, now.” She pressed her heels into his buttocks pulling him tighter.

“Mine,” Greg roared.

“Mine.” Her inner muscles pumped his shaft. He gave a low cry and collapsed atop her.

For a time they clung to each other. Their gasping breaths slowed. Allie stroked his sweat-drenched skin. She wanted to speak of love and forever but she wanted him to speak first.

He rolled to his side. He rained kisses on her face. “Each time is better.”

“I know.”

He rose on an elbow and looked down at her. “I want you in my life for the next hundred years.”

“Are you serious?”

“No matter how long I’ve searched I haven’t found another woman who suits me more.” He pulled her to her feet and handed her the tee shirt she’d removed.

“What if our passion burns away?”

“I doubt it ever will. If that happens we’ll find new ways to kindle the fire.” He kissed her forehead. “Ready for the meal I planned as a means of seduction.”

She pulled on her clothes. “Absolutely. I’m starved.”

With his arm around her waist he led her to the dining alcove, poured wine and lit the candles. He raised his glass. “To us.”

She touched hers to his and echoed his words.

From the yeast dumplings to cold cherry soup, the salad and the veal entrée Allie savored every bite. “You are a fabulous chef.” When he presented the wind cake and coffee served with a dollop of whipped cream she sighed with contentment. “I still want to do a spread for Good Eatin’.”

“And I want you to do one.”

She tasted the cream, berry and cognac mixture. “My dad’s against the idea.”

“So is my mom.”

“Did you know years ago they were a couple?” She sipped the coffee.

“So I heard. She was really against us but she’s mellowed a tad.” He ran a finger along her arm. “On one level I don’t care what she things but I want her blessing.”

She nodded. “Makes two of us wanting parental acceptance.” She met his gaze. “Where do we go from here?”

“To bed.”

“That’s a given. I meant how do we solve the parent problem?”

“I wish I knew. We met, fell into lust. We’ve moved beyond. I’m in love with you.” He clasped her hand. “I’m not going to let a feud from the dark ages mess us up.”

“Me either.” Allie smiled. “Frankly I’m over my head in love with you. Love seems to present a problem.”

He rose. “Let’s clean up here and go to bed.”

“At nine o’clock?”

“Did I say we were going to sleep?”

“Guess not.” She gathered some of the dishes. “Before we become involved in other more exciting matters, let’s end the feud. I’ll call my dad and invite him to meet me at the Coffee Mug at nine thirty for breakfast.”

He chuckled. “I imagine I could ask my mom to do the same. She won’t make a scene in public.” He closed the dishwasher.

“Dad might but I’ll handle him.”

He draped an arm over her shoulder. “Phone calls and then there’s another present for you in the bedroom.”

Allie pulled her cell phone from the side pocket of her overnight case. She called her father and heard the message to leave her name and number. “The Coffee Mug. Be there, please. This is vital to me.” She pulled a rose from the vase.

* * *

Greg dialed Five Cuisines and heard his mother’s voice. “Mom, I need you to do something for me.”

“Are you ill? When Mike told me you weren’t working I nearly left and drove over.”

He groaned. That would have covered he and Allie with a large problem. “Just needed a night off. Could you meet me at the Coffee Mug tomorrow morning at nine thirty? There’s something I need to tell you.”

“It’s her.”

“Now isn’t the time for a discussion. See you tomorrow.” He hung up and clasped Allie’s hand. “She won’t be able to resist satisfying her curiosity.”

“Hopefully my dad will get the message.”

When they reached the bedroom Greg started the action movie he’d rented this morning. He stripped off his shorts and pulled the spread back. Allie stopped and sliced into the bed beside him.

“Is this my present?”

He shook his head. “Later. Just relax.” He slid his arm around her. She lightly brushed the rose over her skin. He turned toward her. “Tease.”

She arched a brow and ran the rose across his chest. “Did I exhaust you earlier?”

“Not for a moment.” He rolled toward her so she could feel his erection. “Guess the time is right to put my friend to work.” He handed her a bottle of body oil and sheathed himself.

“Good idea.” She ran the rose along his erection.

He sucked in a breath. “At your pleasure.”

“No yours.” She opened the bottle and sniffed. “Sage and lemon. On your stomach. I’ll give you a rubdown to remember.”

He laughed. “Only if I can return the favor. How long do you think we can avoid reaching for more?”

“Ten minutes tops.”

“I’ll go for twenty. Ten each.” He plucked the rose from her hand and rolled onto his stomach. “You any good at this?”

“Remember the foot rub?”

“Yeah. Where did you learn?”

“From Good Lookin’. My sister edits the magazine. Once a year she runs an article on massage and has an expert demonstrate.”

When she straddled his thighs he sucked in a breath. Could he last five minutes? She slid forward and rested her bottom against his. “You are so hot.”

She laughed. “And becoming more so.”

He smelled the herbal scent of the oil. Her warm hands touched his shoulders. Greg wanted to purr. He felt knots dissolving. She moved from his shoulders along his spine. He groaned. When she reached his buttocks his total relaxation failed. She slid her hands to his thighs.

“Enough,” he growled.

“Not much more.” She continued until she reached his feet. “Do you want me to do the front?”

“I would say yes, but it’s your turn. Any more rubbing and I won’t be able to do my share.” He sat up and reached for the oil. She lay on her stomach. He dribbled oil on her back.

She yelled. “You’re supposed to warm the oil in your hands before applying.”

“I’m a beginner. Next time I’ll do better.” He smoothed the oil over her skin. “Silk over silk.” He kneaded her shoulders and used his thumbs as he stroked her back. His hands curled around her ribs and caressed the sides of her breasts. How he wanted to hold them in his hands, to touch them with his tongue. He reached for patience but her soft murmurs didn’t help.

When he reached her butt he massaged the cheeks. Her moans made him catch fire. He couldn’t wait. He flipped her to her back and slid inside. He caressed her nipples.

She groaned. “Don’t stop.”

“Never.” He fell into a rhythm of advance and retreat.

Their breaths escalated as did the sounds escaping their throats. He strained and increased the tempo. He would burst. With a cry Allie spasmed. At the same moment he shouted and erupted.

He rolled from her and kissed her. She clung to him.

“Here’s to a long life together.”

“I want that but we have that major problem to solve.”

“The parents.” He pulled the covers over them. “We’ll win them over.” She curled against him. Parents or not he wanted her to be part of his life forever.

* * *

Allie woke with her head on Greg’s shoulder. He brushed hair from her face and kissed her nose. “I could become used to this.”

“Count on it. Time for us to dress and meet the dragons.”

“They may disown us, especially since the feud ends with us.” She slid to the edge of the bed. “Let me take a quick shower.”

“I’ll shave while you do.”

After showering Allie dressed. A short time later Greg joined her in the living room. She reached for his hand. “Ready for this?”

“Hope so.” He squeezed her fingers.

As they walked up the hill their fingers laced. At the Coffee Mug she found a table beneath the awning. The brought sunlight promised a lovely day. Her stomach clenched. Would the parents turn the day gray?

“Coffee and a cinnamon roll?” he asked.

“What else?”

When he returned with their breakfast he smiled. “Why so glum?”

“What if they’re stubborn?”

“We dig in our heels.” He winked. “They don’t have to live with each other. We’ll shoot for tolerance.”

Allie straightened. “Here comes my father.”

“And my mother is about to appear.” He grinned. “Ready for the clash of titans?”

Peter Blakefield reached the table first. “Allie.” His eyes narrowed. “And your friend is?”

“Greg Ramsey, owner of Five Cuisines.” Allie smiled.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Peter asked.

Allie moistened her lips. “No joke. The feud is over.” She looked at the older woman who had just reached the table. “Dad, I think you know Mrs. Ramsey.”

Greg rose and pulled out a chair. “Mom, join us.”

Mrs. Ramsey sat. “Ms. Blakefield.”

“Call me Allie.”

Greg nodded. “Mom, remember that you owe her an apology, especially now you know the truth about the past.”

Mrs. Ramsey nodded. “I’m pleased to meet you. Sorry I misunderstood.” She grasped the coffee mug.

Her father slid into the chair next Greg’s mother. “Glad to hear that.” He stared at Allie and Greg. “So how do you plan to end the matter?”

Greg cleared his throat. “Allie and I will be living together.” He raised her hand to his lips. “In six months or so we’ll tie the knot.”

“Are you sure?” Stella Ramsey asked.

“As sure as I was when I opened Five Cuisines.”

“Allie, are you?” Peter Blakefield asked.

“Get used to the idea.” Allie turned to Greg. He caught her mouth in a searing kiss.

Peter chuckled. “Guess the feud ends today and the Blakefield curse takes over.”

“The what?” Stella asked.

“When a Blakefield falls in love it’s forever.” He set his cup down.

“Would you like to look at Five Cuisines?”

“I’d like that.” He rose and offered his arm. “Lead on.”

As the older couple walked away, Allie clasped Greg’s arm. “That went well. Did we miss something?”

“Probably.” He raised his coffee mug. “I have to go. Want to help me in the kitchen? I promise not to be a tyrant if you join me.”

“That would be fun.” She gathered the trash. “Tomorrow, come to the city and we’ll arrange the photo shoot.”

“And pack your clothes. You won’t make me a liar. You are moving in.”

“Yes,” She grinned. “Will we have time for kisses at the restaurant?”