Thrill of the Chase (Dangerous Love) (6 page)

E
rin didn’t need to mark her calendar or program her computer to remind her, she just instinctively knew that the anniversary of her rape had arrived. She and Dr. Cahil had talked about the upcoming anniversary at last week’s session. Erin leaned against the elevator wall and thought about its significance.

It’s just another day. No big deal.

Erin hadn’t heard the term Thirsty Thursday since college and was disappointed that people were still using it, especially grown-up people with grown-up jobs. But apparently the saying was alive and well, as Tori, her coworker, asked Erin to celebrate Thirsty Thursday with her and another employee from the research department.

“We plan on hitting Fire tonight. Come with?”

The elevator was packed, and it seemed to taunt her as it stopped at each floor, giving her ample time to give Tori an answer. Erin was pretty sure things couldn’t get any worse until the elevator doors opened, putting her face-to-face with Chase. As usual, he looked incredible in his suit and tie, and again his scent wafted over to her, always tempting her, making her needy and unable to think clearly. Erin’s cheeks were on fire with a blush that he surely noticed. But his smile disappeared as their eyes locked and was replaced with desire. His heated blue eyes appeared to darken until they matched his navy tie perfectly. Clueless Tori continued her conversation as if Erin wasn’t in the middle of a paralyzing state of arousal and longing for her boss, a man whom she needed to stay away from for both their sakes.

“Pick you up around eight? Tori asked.

Pick…up…what? Erin hadn’t been paying attention to anything Tori was saying, not since Chase had walked into the elevator and disabled the part of her brain that allowed her to deliver coherent responses.

So Erin did something completely asinine, something that she knew she would regret, and nodded, her eyes still locked on Chase.

“Great!” Tori squealed like a little girl.

What the hell did she just agree to? Shit. Erin shifted her gaze to Tori, completely prepared to clarify that she would not be joining her at club Fire tonight or any night, but the elevator doors opened and Tori escaped before she got the chance.

Fuck.

Chase had also stepped out of the elevator, but not before flashing Erin one of those grins that left her both frustrated and hungry for what she knew would shatter her completely.

Erin had no right to be frustrated. Chase had adhered to their agreement. It had been two days since she had said good-bye to him, two days since they had almost lost it in his office and given her two nights’ worth of vivid and mind-blowing dreams. She had awoken both nights and again this morning wet and aching with need.

He had kept his distance and made no attempt to contact her. So, when she saw the lust in his eyes when he looked at her in the elevator—when she saw that the desire, the heat, had not dissipated, she was intrigued and undeniably pleased that she had caused it.

And she could only imagine what he saw in her own gaze. But she didn’t know how to look at him any differently, or if it was even worth trying to suppress her longing. The smile he had given her as he left told Erin that he was more than satisfied, if not completely aroused.

H
e had stayed away, though it almost killed him to do so. Chase could tell that Erin wanted him as much as he wanted her. He could feel it whenever she looked at him with those haunting blue eyes. But for some reason, she kept him at arm’s length and it was beyond frustrating.

What the fuck was he doing? Why wasn’t he listening to that voice in his head that had steered him correctly for the past year? The one that told him it was safer to date multiple women, screw them and move on. The one that told him not to get attached to another woman because she would surely hurt him, maybe not right away, but down the road, when he least expected it.

Chase knew he shouldn’t go, that if Erin spotted him it was likely he would come across as some sick stalker. But something told him to go to Fire. Something wasn’t sitting right and he couldn’t put his finger on it. He arrived at the club around nine o’clock and found a dark nook off the main bar. From that vantage point, he could see her at one of the tabletops on the far side of the club. The woman named Tori was trying to convince Erin by pulling gently on her arm to join her and two guys on the dance floor. He couldn’t read her lips from that distance, but it was obvious Erin was letting Tori down easy and that she didn’t want to dance. Tori gave Erin a pouty face, turned on her heel, and took the dance floor by storm.

The waiter had just cleared their table of two empty glasses and two beer bottles when Chase noticed Erin resting her head against her hand. Her eyes were droopy, as if she was tired or on her way to being wasted. Chase intercepted the waiter and threw a fifty on the tray he was carrying. “How many drinks has that girl had tonight?” Chase asked, pointing to Erin.

“This was her first drink of the night and she’s been here for at least forty-five minutes.”

It didn’t make sense. Chase watched her stumble off her stool and shuffle to the back of the club, toward the restrooms. All apprehension about her seeing him vanished and he pummeled through the crowd to reach her. Erin was walking down a narrow hallway when she tripped over what appeared to be nothing. Chase caught her right before she took a header onto the tiled floor. He gathered her in his arms without a word and continued out the back door to where his Bentley was parked.

His driver opened the car door and Chase gently placed her in the backseat. He sat down next to her and directed his driver to take off. Without warning, Erin straddled him and snuggled into his chest. Her fingertips brushed over the ridges of his abdomen, making his cock stiffen instantly. At any other time, he would have been more than willing to let her ride him, allowing him to sink deep into her tight heat.

She started to kiss his neck and when she nibbled close to his ear, she whispered, “I want you inside me.”

He almost came on the spot, though he knew he wouldn’t take her, not here, not now. “Not like this, Erin.”

She whimpered as if she was disappointed and nestled into him once more. “Don’t you want to touch me? I need this. And I want you to give it to me.”

She was making it extremely difficult. He disregarded her question with one of his own. “Did you have any drinks before you came to the club…or take anything?”

Erin’s eyes began to close. “No, just the one.” Her voice trailed off and her breathing had changed. At first he thought she was falling asleep, but when he listened to her shallow breaths he knew something was terribly wrong.

“Erin, wake up. Erin!” He jostled her, but she was in some sort of dreamlike state, mumbling and saying things that didn’t make sense.

So when he told his driver to turn the car around and go to the hospital, he was shocked to hear her whimper, “No hospitals!” Though her eyes were closed, Chase could see the tears flowing down her cheeks.

Chase was torn. He knew she needed medical assistance, but as he watched her cry, begging him not to take her to the hospital, Chase withdrew his cell phone and dialed one of the few people he could trust.

“Robert. Yes, I need your assistance. Twenty-five-year-old female, no known health concerns. I believe her drink was drugged.” Chase looked at Erin and was immediately filled with fear. The crying had ceased and she had slipped into a deep sleep, one from which he could only pray she would awaken.

H
ow much was in her system?”

Erin recognized the voice but her surroundings were foreign. The enormous king-sized bed that she must have slept in appeared miniscule in the massive bedroom. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Chase standing next to a window that overlooked a beautiful skyline and talking on a cell phone. “Chase?” Her voice sounded froggy and weak, even to her, and he turned when she called for him.

“She’s awake,” he told the person on the other end of the call. “See you in a few minutes.”

Chase placed his cell phone on the nightstand beside the bed and sat down next to her. Erin rose to a sitting position, but immediately knew that it was a mistake. Her head pounded and her vision was a little blurry. This was without a doubt the worst hangover Erin had ever experienced.

How much did she have to drink? How much alcohol had been in her system?

And for the first time, Erin couldn’t remember. Couldn’t remember anything about last night. Erin’s eyes gravitated to her attire and she flinched, knowing that she definitely didn’t go to the club in a man’s t-shirt and black lounge pants. “How did I get here? Did we…” Erin couldn’t finish her thought. She was too embarrassed.

“I found you at the club and brought you home. And no, we didn’t do anything. You slept here. I slept over there on the couch.” A pillow and blanket were strewn about on the oversized loveseat, and she sighed with relief.

“But I don’t remember you being at the club.” Erin pulled her knees to her chest and laid her head in her hands. Why couldn’t she remember?

“What’s the last thing you
do
remember?” he asked, his voice steady, yet gentle.

Erin shook her head, hoping to dust the cobwebs off her brain. “I remember sitting at the table with Tori, Jonah and his boyfriend Greg. We ordered a round of drinks. I think I had a cosmopolitan. I always order that when I plan on having a one-drink night and have no intention of extending my stay.”

“Can you remember anything else?”

Erin sat in silence for a moment, trying to think of what came next, but nothing surfaced. Absolutely nothing. She just shook her head and closed her eyes. After a moment of self-pity, Erin stood up, in search of a bathroom. But the moment she became vertical, Erin instantly felt like she was going to vomit. Erin ran for what she hoped was the master bath. Luckily, she had made it in time and was hugging porcelain within seconds.

Chase was crouching behind her and holding back her hair as she emptied the contents of her stomach into his toilet. This wasn’t happening. Her boss wasn’t fisting her hair as she squatted on her hands and knees in his oversized t-shirt and lounge pants! A knock at the door interrupted her humiliation for a split second. But Chase ignored the person at the door, giving Erin his full attention. Three heaving episodes later, Erin finally felt like she had nothing left and it was safe to ask for a toothbrush and a glass of water. Chase disappeared and returned a minute later with the items she had requested. “Erin, I’ll be just outside the door. Dr. Marshall is here and he wants to talk to you, make sure you’re alright.”

“What? Doctor? I don’t need a doctor for a hangover, Chase.”

His eyes were like steel, serious and unwavering. A chill slithered down her spine as he uttered his next words. “You don’t have a hangover, Erin. You were drugged last night.”

E
rin liked Dr. Marshall immediately. He reminded her of Professor Farrell and she couldn’t dismiss a twinge of regret—or was it guilt?—that she had not been in touch with the man who had counseled her through some dark days.

“You gave us both a scare, young lady,” the doctor said as he returned the stethoscope to his leather bag.

“How do you know I was drugged?” It sounded like a ridiculous question, considering she couldn’t remember anything and had just spent the morning throwing up, but Erin had a feeling Dr. Marshall could provide her with a concrete answer to her question and hopefully some insight into her missing hours from last night.

“Although you were in and out of consciousness last night, you were able to provide me with a urine sample.”

Oh God. Erin felt her stomach churn once more. He must have sensed her mortification, because he did not elaborate on how he obtained her urine, and simply patted her hand like last night was no big deal.

“I tested it for several things, in fact, but it came up positive for GHB.”

Erin’s embarrassment morphed into anger as she came to the realization that someone at that club had slipped her one of the most powerful date rape drugs on the market. But she felt more than pissed off, she felt violated…again.

The doctor sat down on the bed, held her wrist, and took her pulse. Satisfied, he laid Erin’s arm back down, but not before giving it another pat with his hand. “It was fortunate that you ran into Chase last night. That drug can leave one completely incapacitated and vulnerable to…well, to men that do not respect women.”

It was difficult to dismiss the warmth in the doctor’s voice as he spoke of Chase. Erin looked at the bedroom door. Though he was nearby, it would be next to impossible for Chase to hear her if she kept her voice low. Erin didn’t know if she would have another opportunity to learn more about the mysterious and godlike CEO. “How long have you known Chase?”

“All his life.” The doctor smiled and reached for his bag on the floor.

“Are you family?” Erin knew the question was personal, but she really didn’t care at this point.

“Practically.” With a sly smirk, he continued, “Now it’s your turn. How long have you known Chase?”

“Almost a week.” Erin’s face flushed with embarrassment. She knew what he probably thought. Didn’t take long for you to hop into Chase’s bed and become just another notch on his expensive bedpost, huh?

“Interesting.”

That wasn’t the response she had expected.

“I beg your pardon?” Erin didn’t say it with sass, but with curiosity, hoping he would clarify.

“I was here last night, checking your vitals, ensuring that you remained stable. But Chase, well…he never left your side.” He stood up and walked to the door. But before he left, the good doctor said, “What I find intriguing is that I have never in thirty years seen him so shaken.” Dr. Marshall winked at her and left before she could respond. Erin could hear the two men exchanging words in the hallway and then the opening and closing of an elevator.

Chase walked into the bedroom a few moments later with a tray in his hand. “Hungry?”

Erin didn’t think it was possible to consume food after her productive date with the toilet this morning, but her stomach had a mind of its own. It rumbled on cue, and Chase smiled. “We’ll start you off with something safe: dry toast and tea,” he said.

He laid the tray over her lap like she was some hospital patient. Erin reached for a piece of toast and took a bite. She could feel him staring at her, as if she were going to combust at any moment. And as much as Erin wanted to tell him to stop treating her like an invalid, she was grateful that he had gotten her out of that club and sought medical attention. Erin kept her smart-ass comments to herself and simply said, “Thank you.”

She scarfed down the toast in record time and took a sip of tea. Erin figured that she might as well get it over with and ask Chase how she ended up at his penthouse. “I don’t remember seeing you at the club last night. When did you get there?”

Erin’s mind must have been compromised all morning, because only then did she notice how incredibly sexy Chase looked. Barefoot, he sported dark jeans with a simple white t-shirt. The subtle scent of his cologne mixed with pure, virile male made Erin all too aware of her own sad and disgusting appearance. Erin pulled the covers closer to her body. “I arrived around nine, minutes before I found you in the hallway at the back of the club. You could barely stand at that point, so I carried you out of that place and brought you here, though I had every intention of taking you to the hospital.”

The mention of a hospital made Erin grow pale. The last time she had been to a hospital was the night of the rape, when she had agreed to a rape kit and answered the police’s embarrassing questions. “What made you bring me here instead?”

Chase ran his fingers through his hair, and even in the state she was in, Erin could imagine those fingers running their way over her body. Suddenly, a vision of her straddling Chase in the backseat of a car flashed in her mind, and she wondered if that actually had happened or if it was just a replay of one of many fantasies she had about Chase. “You were adamant about not going to the hospital.” He paused for a moment and then asked the question she had hoped he wouldn’t. “Why?”

Tread lightly. Make it believable.

“Hospitals just creep me out. Always have.” Keep it simple. A lot of people hate the sights and smells of a hospital.

Chase stared at her, as if analyzing Erin’s every move, dissecting the tone and possible double meaning of her words. “You begged me not to take you to the hospital.”

Nope, he didn’t buy it. Shit.

“And when you began to cry, I just couldn’t get you home fast enough.” Erin wanted to melt right there. He was being so sweet, so attentive.

“I find it hard to believe your excuse that hospitals repel you. You were going to be a doctor, remember?”

Sweetness gone.

Erin shook her head, but kept her eyes down. She was a shitty liar. So it was best that she keep her mouth shut. Erin pushed the covers back and got out of bed. Again, the room started to spin. “Can I use your shower?”

Erin could see his jaw clench. Obviously the conversation was not over in his mind, but he remained a gentleman and helped her to the bathroom. “Are you steady enough to stand in the shower, or will you need my assistance?”

His question forced her to look him in the eye. There was a hint of a smile, but she knew that he wasn’t taking advantage of the situation. He could have had her every way possible last night and no one would have been the wiser. “I think I got this. Thank you, though.”

Famous last words.

Erin was in his shower for only a few seconds when she thought she saw the multiple shower heads rotating, proving that her equilibrium was off. Erin reached for the railing, but missed and went down, hard. Chase threw open the glass door, his face panic-stricken.

“Christ! Did you hit your head?” He stepped into the shower, clothes and all, and picked her up.

Mortified, Erin just shook her head. She couldn’t be more exposed. Naked and recovering from a drug-induced state. “That’s it,” Chase said. “You will let me shower you. And then you will go right back to bed.”

“Chase, this is, this is…”

“What? Embarrassing? I have seen or touched most of your body already, Erin. I can handle it if you can.”

Erin could smell a challenge when she heard one. She reached for the railing, successfully this time, to steady herself and then she looked at him. The water was pouring over her body and soaking him through as well. He wore that smirk that got her heated and thinking very naughty things. “I can handle it.” Surprisingly, she sounded confident, in complete contradiction to the throbbing between her thighs.

He started with her hair. His fingers gently massaged her scalp as he worked in the shampoo and then the conditioner. Erin kept her eyes closed most of the time, but when she did have those momentary lapses of judgment and looked at him, Erin was amazed that his gaze did not wander to other areas of her body. He seemed to be in complete control, his attention focused on the task at hand. He rinsed her hair and then began lathering her body with soap, which Erin determined complimented his cologne in an extraordinary way.

The shower sponge moved in hypnotic circles on her back, and she felt him draw closer. Chase moved her hair to one side as he washed the back of her neck. His touch was tender and soothing. His touch made her feel…safe. It was this realization that allowed other emotions in, and she let her desire for him take hold. He was just inches away…and she was losing it. He turned her around and it was then Erin noticed that he too was struggling with the challenge he had proposed. His erection was even more prominent through drenched jeans, and she felt her breath catch. Erin’s gaze lingered there, but it was disrupted by the first touch of suds and steady hands on her breasts. She looked at him and noticed that the playful smirk had been replaced with intense desire. His fingers were meticulous as he soaped up her full globes and brushed over very firm nipples. Erin allowed a soft moan to escape, which prompted his own breathing to stagger.

With sponge in hand, he navigated south. This time her body didn’t stiffen as it had in the limo that first night. She wanted his hands to touch her there. But it had to be on her terms. Without a word, Erin took the sponge from him and soaped it up thoroughly. He watched her move the sponge in slow, circular motions over her well-trimmed mound, and into each fold. She swept the sponge across her clit and she nearly came from the sensation. Her body was so wound and ready, and she groaned with satisfaction and want.

“Erin, you’re not playing fair.” His voice was gruff, as if in pain. He kept his hands to his sides, though his fists were clenched.

Erin slipped one finger into her tight entrance and massaged her clit with another, and immediately felt the climax building. Breathless, she answered, “No more games.”

That was all the invitation he needed. His hands found her waist and he kissed her against the shower wall. With her help, he tore his shirt right off his body. She unbuttoned his jeans and inched them down, exposing his throbbing length. Erin licked her lips, wanting his cock in her mouth, wanting him as needy as she was. She just hoped she could please him. She had never done this before. Reading erotic romances had given her an idea what to do, where to touch and lick, but nothing could have truly prepared her for Chase Montclair. But it was worth the risk.
He
was worth it.

Erin sank to her knees, cupped his balls in one hand and wrapped the other firmly around his shaft. His entire body undulated and he groaned. “Erin, oh God!” Not that she needed it, but the sound of his anticipation gave her the encouragement to take him deep. She stroked the underside of his cock with her tongue, sucking and licking the salty liquid that seeped from the head. “Ah, suck it hard. Oh, you feel so good!”

Erin couldn’t get enough. The sounds he was making were an aphrodisiac for her. She could feel her cunt grow wet with need, but all she wanted was to please him. His cock swelled, growing thicker between her lips as it hit the back of her throat with each forceful thrust. The thought of them in the shower, the image of her on her knees taking him deep while he rammed into her mouth, taking what he wanted, only made her more crazed.

“You take it so good…your mouth. Ah,
Erin
!” His voice was a guttural growl. Semen exploded into her mouth, which at first was overwhelming, but she quickly adjusted to the onslaught and swallowed each and every drop. Erin licked him clean and stared up at him. At first, she thought he was going to lift her to her feet. Instead, he placed her on the shower bench, parted her legs with a sense of urgency, and began to lick her clit with such precision that she knew she would come very soon. Erin screamed his name as his tongue speared her, and she heard him groan in satisfaction. Erin grabbed his hair and rocked into him. “Chase, harder, more, more!”

Erin felt his fingers on her cunt, but this time she didn’t freeze. She still needed some control, though, and she laid her hands over his, guiding them inside her. “You are so tight and wet for me.” The combination of his two fingers inside her and his tongue lapping against her sensitive flesh in that deadly rhythm drove her straight to the edge.

“Come for me, Erin. Now.” Erin never thought she would be able to come on command, or that it was even humanly possible, but then the warm rush of pleasure poured over her, and her orgasm took hold in unremitting waves.