Something's Gotta Give (Tempered Steel Book 3) (4 page)

“Please calm down, Chance. I’m trying to get to the bottom of this,” Georgia replied.

              Ironically, it only seemed to fuel Chance’s anger. “Listen, Peaches, I worked construction for quite a while at various other jobs before this. I’ve heard quite a few really obnoxious phrases in my time, but this kid--” He pointed at little Patsy, “--could give a merchant marine lessons in gutter talk.”

Georgia knew she had to be missing something. “You’re absolutely positive she called you that?”
Where in the world had she heard such language?
“She has trouble speaking still, you sure you didn’t misunderstand something she was saying?”

Georgia thought back to the lunch table.
Patsy was sitting at the table… No, beating on the table… calling him…
Suddenly Georgia began to laugh. Tears rolled down her cheeks, startling the child in her arms, but after her initial surprise at her teacher’s mirth, she began to giggle right along with her. Georgia brushed the tiny tears from Patsy’s cheeks and gave her a big hug. As Georgia looked over at Chance’s scowl, she started laughing again. It was just too priceless!

Chance was fuming now. Feeling completely helpless in the face of her obvious laughter at him, and not liking the feeling of being the butt of some kind of joke that was over his head, he could only stand there stiffly, with his fists clenched, waiting for her to provide the punchline.

Of course, had it been any other woman laughing at him this way, he would’ve simply cut her with a wicked rejoinder and stalked away. But this woman was his love. She had gotten under his skin from the moment he touched her. In the past week, she had wheedled her way straight into his heart. There was no way he could walk away now. So he used the only weapon he could come up with to make her blush and shut the hell up. “Keep that up, Peaches, and I’m gonna have to kiss you to keep you quiet.”

Georgia immediately closed her mouth. He had issued that seductive threat so intensely that she knew he meant it. And while the thought of that sexy mouth slanting over hers, put her libido into overdrive, her mind was still able to realize that down that going down that particular path was trouble. She wanted his kisses to mean something more than a clever way to shut her up. She wanted his kisses to mean a lot more if she was being completely truthful.

“Go on in the house and see Missy Dee,” she whispered in Patsy’s ear, and the little girl scooted off her lap, giving Chance a wide berth.

“I’m sorry for laughing, Chance, but once you hear the reason, I’m sure you’ll understand. Patsy wasn’t cursing you. She has trouble enunciating clearly, so she’s often misunderstood. She was still hungry. She wanted another helping of… chicken casserole.” Georgia bit her lip to keep from laughing. His expression was priceless, but she refrained from laughing this time. His ego had already taken quite a beating this week.

Chance didn’t know what to say. He was thoroughly embarrassed. All the things he said, the way he acted, his righteous indignation, all because he didn’t take the time to listen carefully to what the child was saying. His complete and total mortification was over chicken casserole? Well now she knew he had a temper. So now what? Apologize? Definitely. “Sorry, Peaches. All I can say is it’s been a hell of a week.” He hung his head and looked at her from behind his lashes with a shy grin.

Georgia melted. He stood there looking so chagrined as he asked for her forgiveness. His clothes were rumpled and stained from the kids. He had worked so hard this week trying to help her, putting up with the children’s little pranks.

Not to mention the sweet care he had taken with her. Somehow, he had found out her favorite dessert was cheesecake. Everyday, he had Desserts and More, the little pie shop in town, deliver a different cheesecake, just for her. When she had mentioned to Missy Dee that she was in sore need of a pedicure, Hailey Lewis had showed up at naptime ready to give the ladies an impromptu pedicure.

He had charmed Missy Dee with her favorite chocolates. And thanks to the Coalson brothers, the daycare now had an honest to goodness basketball court. She didn’t think she could love him more, but every little thing he did, just confirmed what her heart had known. He was perfect.

Well, everyone had a breaking point, she surmised.

Apparently Chance’s was chicken casserole.

              She nodded her head in acceptance of his apology, and she tried one more time to control her laughter, but it bubbled forth, causing her to hold her sides. Her eyes filled with tears of joy again. She really tried to stop herself but it was useless. It was just too funny. She crowed. She guffawed. She snorted as she rolled off the chaise lounge, onto the ground.

Chance watched Georgia’s enjoyment at his expense and felt his heart expand. She was so full of life and love she was bursting with it. She simply had to let herself go once in a while. For the first time this week, she was forgetting to be polite, but distant, and she was treating him with the same love and warmth that she gave to her kids. He wanted that so badly. Suddenly feeling like a kid himself, he bent down and grasped her hand. “Falling at my feet again? You’re shameless, you know. Absolutely shameless.”

Chance laughed when Georgia swatted his hand away as she gained her feet, while still chuckling over his humiliation. She took a step forward and her ankle gave way sending her tumbling into Chance’s arms. “I feel a certain déjà vu here, Peaches.”

“No, you feel my bottom, now move your hand,” she responded smartly, then laughed at his incredulous expression.

She had flirted with him! Chance had realized exactly where his hand was, but her remark sent him careening into a wall of desire. She was more comfortable around him and Chance knew this was his moment. “I can think of something better to do with that lovely mouth than laugh at me,” he whispered, just before his mouth came down on hers, giving her no opportunity to reply or move away.

Chance tasted her sweetness and yearned for more. His desire for her was actually growing into a physical pain that would not abate. He held her close, one arm encircling her waist, the other hand caressing her cheek. Such softness, like the velvet skin of a peach.

His hand trailed over her collarbone and came to rest on the side of her beautiful breasts pressed against his chest. His hands ached to lift her shirt and explore. But he knew it was too soon. In an effort to gain some measure of control, his arm once again skirted downward to her waist, then slid down to break away completely, but she wiggled against him and his hand came into contact with her bottom once again.

He squeezed gently. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. His hand skimmed lightly over her luscious curves. She didn’t turn away. She even snuggled closer against his growing erection. His hands began to wander over her smooth skin, the color of a split peach. God he loved peaches. He loved her.

Passion, white-hot and blinding, ricocheted throughout her nervous system to puddle in Georgia’s lower regions. For a timeless moment, she gave in to the delicious feelings like he had reduced her to the night of the fire. With wild abandon, she matched his kiss, her tongue darting, dancing, and twirling with his until she felt faint.

Georgia moaned and Chance grew bolder, cupping her bottom with both hands and bringing her up closer to press against the juncture of his thighs. She circled his waist with her leg and grabbed at his silky black hair with both hands. He felt so good to her. All hard male and soft lips, making her forget where she was, concentrating only on how good he was making her feel. And the feelings were coming fast, too fast, too intense, to be described as anything other than soul shattering.

The sound of rustling branches was her only warning that they were no longer alone. “Chance and Miss Peaches sitting in a tree, K I SS I NG,” a squeal of giggles accompanied that remark, as four little faces peaked out from the tree to make fun of the entwined couple.

At the first sound of childish voices Georgia came back to earth with a crash. She whirled around, ignoring the twinge in her ankle and frantically tried to think of something to cover her embarrassment. She shooed the children away with fluttering hands.

              She turned to Chance. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” she whispered.

Georgia noticed Chance’s eyes burned brighter with desire as he heard her words. “Maybe not now, darlin’. But you’ll know soon enough. Trust me.”

She was confused by what he meant by that remark. Then she noted his devilish grin.  She began to shake. She finally understood exactly what he had meant. And what Chance wanted. Heaven help her. Chance wanted her complete surrender.

CHAPTER THREE

Friday night Georgia limped up the stairs to her bedroom eager to change her sodden shirt. Baby Bodie had unfortunately decided to toss back the contents of his bottle all over her. She was desperate to get out of the wet shirt and bra and get rid of the smell. She flung the shirt and bra off into the laundry basket as she hastened to give herself a small bath in the sink before her six o’clock appointment. The Baxters, Trent and Stacy, had a newborn baby boy and were looking into daycare services. Georgia had always liked Stacy. She was a few grades ahead of her in school, but Stacy had always treated her well.

Now Trent, well, that was a different matter. He had pushed her up against the porta-potties one night at the football game, holding her head while he tried to thrust his tongue in her mouth. She had kneed him in the groin to get him off of her, and she hadn’t forgotten about it. But if he had changed for the better, and could see his way into forgetting that embarrassment in order to give their child good daycare services, she supposed she could forgive him. But if he tried something like that again, she was introducing him to Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson.

Georgia came out of the master bathroom, topless, and moved into the bedroom to grab a bra from the drawer of her dresser. Usually the soft mint tones of her bedroom soothed her, but lately all she could think about was what Chance would look like prowling like the great beast he was, in her feminine space.

She glanced at her figure in the mirror, pausing a moment to take stock of her heavy breasts that sagged just a bit already. The areola was a light brown and her nipples were large, not perfect and not pretty like a model. She shook her head. She just didn’t understand why Chance wanted her. She wasn’t picture-perfect, her curvy body was soft not firm, and she was almost as tall as he was. She let the bra drop back down onto the dresser and took her breasts in her hands, examining them. She always felt like a cow with udders.

She heard a gasp and a thud at the door, and she turned swiftly, grabbing the bra to cover herself. Chance stood in the doorway.

She screeched, “Don’t you knock? What do you want?” She was horribly embarrassed and hastened to try and don her bra but the damn thing just wouldn’t work.

Chance stepped forward tripping over the champagne bottle he had just dropped, and kicking the roses strewn haphazardly over the carpet. Another surprise for her?

“Don’t.” He growled as he wove his way toward her.

Georgia reacted to the velvet in his voice. She didn’t know how he did it, but all he had to do was open that sweet sexy mouth and speak in that dark velvet voice and she melted.

“Don’t cover yourself. Let me see.” He reached out and took the bra from her numb fingers, tossing it on the bed as he feasted on her body.

Georgia watched Chance’s face as he took her hand. His eyes grew dark, his face taut with desire. There was no way she could deny that. Unconsciously, she righted herself, straightening her shoulders, which thrust her breasts out, her nipples all pebbled, showing her eagerness for his touch.

Shouldn’t she protest?
No. She wanted this like a dying man wants another breath.

Chance licked his lips, and Georgia immediately wished she could feel them on her body. “I’m going to kiss you. And then I’m going to lift and hold your breasts and feel their delicious weight in my hands.”

He stepped even closer. “And then going to trace my finger around your areola.”

              They were now toe to toe and his eyes took on a smoldering look. “Then I’m going to touch your nipple. I’m going to rub it against the ball of my hand. It’s going to get so tight and so hard that when I pinch it, you’re gonna come right then, Peaches and you’re gonna come with a scream.”

Desire slammed through Georgia like a tidal wave. Her stomach clenched. Her insides quivered. She wanted him to do everything he described and more. She couldn’t deny it and she didn’t want to.

“Nothing to say, Peaches?”

She stared at him, shocked to her core.

“Okay, then give me what I want. Place your hands behind your back, lacing your fingers together.”

She couldn’t help but obey that sensuous voice. Lacing her fingers behind her back, she thrust her breasts out, her nipples touching his shirt. She swallowed hard.

She expected Chance’s hands to glide along her breasts, but instead he cupped her face, tilting her up to look into her eyes.

“Don’t you want to touch me?” Her voice wobbled in shame. Perhaps he was teasing. People liked to tease her.
Poor Georgia, no momma, no papa, no one loves her
.

Chance drew his hands through her strawberry blonde curls. “I am touching you, Peaches. I’m touching you now.” He ran his finger along her lips. “Open.”

When she obeyed, his finger thrust inside. “Now, suck.”

She did as instructed. She licked and sucked on his finger as he continued to talk. “One day, this will be me, my cock. I’ll have you every way, Peaches, and you’ll have me.”

              He pulled his finger out, now moist, and glided it down her chin, down her throat, to the curve between her breasts.

And then, too soon, he pulled it away.

She heard that seductive promise, felt the cool breeze from the fan hit her damp skin and she shivered.

“Now, I’m going to kiss you, Peaches, and I’m going to do everything else I promised as well.”

Chance gripped her hair, lightly tugging, as he slanted his mouth to her lips, lavishing her with his tongue. This was no gentle kiss like before. He devoured her. He showed her exactly what he could do with his tongue, with his teeth, and she reveled in it. Just when Georgia thought she would faint from lack oxygen, he let up, and she panted, unable to draw a full breathe. He was doing all those wonderful things he said he was going to do. He kissed her chin, her collarbone, and between her breasts.

He took a step back and she felt bereft. She looked up at him in askance.

“You watch me, Peaches. You watch what I’m going to do to you.” He turned her to the dresser mirror. His finger trailed between her breasts, circling one fully and then encircling the other. It tickled and she giggled.

He smiled. “Oh, Peaches. That’s just the beginning. I’m going to make you squirm and beg,” he said with a devilish grin.

The same finger that had been in her mouth, now lightly traced the areola of first one breast and then the other, all the while locking her in his gaze.

She tried to close her eyes to enjoy the sheer sensuousness of it, but he commanded her to open them again. “You watch. You keep those gorgeous eyes open. Or I’ll stop.” He took his finger away and stepped back. She felt his loss in her entire system.

She hitched a sigh and he grinned. “You want me back, Peaches? Open your eyes and watch.” Both hands now lightly traced the outside curve of her breasts, the flat of his hand coming up to feel their way, then turning to hold them within his palms. They overflowed in his hand, heavy full, with pebbled nipples. “You have the most beautiful breasts I’ve ever seen, Peaches. They were made for me, for my hands, my mouth, my cock.”

He looked up at her blushing face and smiled. “Don’t say anything. Just feel. And watch.”

He held her firmly against him, her back to his front, as he gradually reached out and lightly grazed her nipples with his fingers, then pinched them slightly. She felt it to her core. Her breath hitched and came out in a seductive sigh. She didn’t know she could want so badly from a mere touch.

“That’s it, Peaches. Just feel. Did you like that?” His hands barely grazed the edge of her nipples. One little move and he would do it again, give her that exquisite pleasure. But he stopped and looked at her until she answered him.

“Yes,” she sighed.

Chance flicked her nipples with his thumb once again. This time, she moaned. He circled his thumb around it, just barely skimming her nipples. Georgia gasped. It seemed like all the little nerve endings in her breasts were in direct correlation to her womanly core. Again and again, he forced a sweet torture on her until she wanted to scream. She wanted his mouth there now.  She shifted from one foot to the other, trying to ease the ache between her legs.

“What’s the matter, Peaches? Did you want something else?”

She stared at those magical hands, feeling safe within his arms, while he circled around and around her breasts, and she wanted more.

“More,” she panted. Chance grinned at her discomfort, her begging so sweetly.

“More what, Peaches? More this,” he began to rapidly flick his thumb back and forth against her nipples. She pressed her legs together to ease the ache, but it wasn’t enough.

“More. I. Want. More.” She begged, one syllable words all she could manage. She let her head fall back and he stepped away. Her head came forward and she opened her eyes again.

“Keep your eyes open, or I stop, Peaches. What more do you want?” He said with a seductive grin.

“I want,” she closed her eyes for a second, and then opened them wide. He wouldn’t do anything until she told him. And she began to feel the seductive dance that they played was going to end too soon.

“I want your tongue,” she breathed out.

“Where, Peaches? Where do you want my tongue? Do you want me to kiss you with my tongue, lips and tongues together?” He kissed her and it was heaven but not nearly enough.

As he drew back, she said, “No, I want your tongue on my… on my breast.”

With a wicked smile and still keeping his eyes on her, he leaned down, stuck his tongue out and gently licked around her breast, coming closer to her nipple, but never touching.

“Chance, please,” she sobbed.

“What, Peaches? You said you wanted my tongue on your breast. Did you want something different?”

She couldn’t help but sigh. There was no way she was going to end this now. She was so close, so close to climax. “Tongue my nipples,” she breathed out and then looked at him with wide eyes.

Chance’s gaze darkened as he leaned forward. Keeping his eyes on her, his tongue twirled around her nipple, giving it a firm lick. She squealed. When he did the same to the other breast, she thought she would come unglued.

Holding her legs tighter, rubbing her thighs together to try and assuage the ache within her, she kept her eyes on Chance as he did it again and again.

She was so close. She was there… right there. She just needed…more. She pulled his hair pushing him closer, her voice took on a husky tone. “Suck my nipple, Chance. Suck it,” she cried. She felt him smile. He took her nipple even deeper into his mouth. This was not the gentle tug. She felt the edge of his teeth. It was all she needed to send her over the edge.

Then she felt his hand on her other breast as he gave that nipple a pinch. The sheer pleasure, on the verge of pain, increased as she climbed even higher. Her legs gave out, but Chance caught her as her orgasm rushed through her.

And he was right. She screamed. Chance swallowed her cries with a devastating kiss.

Gradually coming back to her senses, she felt loved and cherished in Chance’s arms. He kissed her tenderly and led her over to the bed. “I’ll be right back,” he murmured against her lips. He headed for the bathroom.

“Georgia, honey, the Baxters are here. You need to come on down.” Missy Dee’s voice wafted up the stairs into Georgia’s room. With a jolt, she’s sat up just as Chance came out of the bathroom, zipping up his pants.

“I’ve got to go. Baxters are here,” she mumbled as she fumbled with her hair, trying to put it into some semblance of order. Reaching for her bra, Chance calmly walked over and helped her clasp it.

              Turning her around, he took her face in both of his hands. “Calm down, sweetheart. It’s going to be fine. Just relax.” He sweetly kissed the tip of her nose.

Still on shaky limbs after her earth shattering release, she hastened over to put on her shirt.  “I am,” she hastily donned her T-shirt as she stepped back. “I’m sorry, you couldn’t…,” she flushed with embarrassment.

“Georgia, honey. It’s okay, actually it was more than okay. You came alive in my arms and I’ll never forget that.” He rubbed her arms as he pulled her close against his chest.

Just for a moment she needed to sink into his strength, letting it envelope her, and she put her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. You didn’t… I mean, I can’t… I’ve got to go.”

“Oh baby. Don’t you worry about me. You were so hot in your passion, I came like a teenager. Why do you think I went to the bathroom to clean up?” he said with a smile.

He kissed her forehead, then swatted her ass. “Now go get’em, baby. I’ve got to meet my brothers at one of the new sites for a security check. Sam’s installed some new equipment. We’re going to catch that bastard before he destroys anything else.” He frowned as his mind flitted to the damage the arsonist had done to his brother’s dream.

Georgia glanced back at Chance in her bedroom. He looked like a great beast stalking back-and-forth, but he gave her a grin. She didn’t really know what to do after this, but she knew she had to get downstairs.

Chance smiled at her blushing face. “It’s okay baby. I’ll call you later.”

With the nod, she closed the bedroom door and he heard her running down the stairs. Chance walked over to the pink overstuffed chair sitting in the corner. He tested the arms and bounced up and down a little on it, thinking of all the ways he could have Georgia in this chair alone.