Designed for Love (7 page)

     
Not
willing to keep her waiting, he took a fortifying breath and carried their plates
into the dining room. He was glad to see that she had chosen the seat beside
one of the ends of the eight person table, allowing them to sit close. Offering
her a plate, he set his at the head and asked, “Is wine okay?”

     
“It’s
perfect.” Then looking from him to the food and back, she finished with, “It’s
all perfect.”

     
Winking
at her, he went back to reclaim their glasses and silverware then returned and set
things before her and sat down with his own. He waited until she sliced her
meat and tasted it with the plump mushroom and sauce.

     
“Oh,
my goodness, Vincent, this is so good.” She was practically moaning as she sat
with her eyes closed, savoring the food.

     
Clearing
his throat, he stifled a groan. “I’m glad you like it.”

     
Opening
her bright eyes, she beamed him. “I do.” She ate a potato and zucchini then
began, “Can I assume that you’re not married since you brought me to your house?”

     
Swallowing
his bite of food, he said, “Chelsi, I’m not married. Just to clear everything thing
up, I’ve never been married, and I have no children.”

     
An
emotion passed along her face, and Vincent couldn’t define exactly what it was
because she looked down at her plate and continued eating. He wanted to believe
that what he saw had been some form of relief. Did Chelsi want more from this
dinner and their reunion than she claimed like he did? He only hoped that was
the case.

     
“So
tell me. How does a man who has no children and no wife decide to open a chain
of stores for pregnant woman and babies?” She lifted her glass and took a sip
of her wine while watching him.

     
“Okay,
I have to confess. I have a secret harem in
Madagascar
.”

     
“And
do all of those beautiful belly dancers please the great boss sultan?” She
played right along.

     
Leaning
forward, he met her gaze. “All other women may dance, but only
one
is beautiful above all others. And
only that
one
can please me and stir
my desires.”

     
When
her eyes darkened to a medium brown, he knew she understood who he was talking
about. Her.

     
Setting
her wine down, she bowed her head but couldn’t hide the blush filling her
cheeks or the tremors of her hand as she began eating again.

     
Guiding
the conversation back towards safer ground, he answered her question. “Tamara,
Zeth’s wife, is always pregnant.” he chuckled. “No, that’s not really true. She
has only had two in seven years and is currently pregnant with her third.”

     
Her
laughter joined his. “My sister and one of my brothers have kids. Marsha, my
brother’s wife, has been pregnant every other year. She just had her fourth.
God only knows if they are done.”

     
The
conversation steered his mind back to the mini fashion show. It brought up the
same images he’d been trying to stifle. A vision of what Chelsi would look like
pregnant with his baby.

     
“Well,
Tamara came to me during her last pregnancy about the idea of a designer
boutique that not only catered to pregnant woman but children as well and
having not only clothing, essential baby items, and books, but a nurse educator
on site as well.”

     
“So
it combines the baby stores with the maternity stores, topping it off with the
nurse hotline. It would keep customers faithful to the store for a longer range
of time and build a trust with the medical professional on site.”

     
Damn,
he forgot about how sharp Chelsi was mentally. During the years he’d dated a
lot, and most of the women had been just pretty faces who were happy to be seen
on the arm of a rich man.

     
“Exactly.
This time when Tamara found out she was pregnant, she sent Zeth to my office to
threaten me. I believe her exact message was ‘Vincent, if you don’t get the
business started, I will never cook for you again’.” He picked up his wine and
drank from it.

     
“Not
much of threat since you cook so well yourself.”

     
“She
tossed in not allowing me to be the godfather of the third baby like I am for
the other two.”

     
“Oh,
the true carrot that was dangled before your eyes.” She grinned. Finished
eating, she set her fork down and sat back.

     
“So
I got myself in gear. I love Shawn and Zachary and can’t wait until Mahalia
arrives.”

“They’re
your family.”

     
It
wasn’t a question, and there was no need for him to answer. Zeth had been a
constant in his life, and when his friend married Tamara, she’d folded right in
and treated him like a brother and uncle to the children. His best friend was
also the only one who knew how deeply it had affected him to respect Chelsi’s
wishes for them to part after the summer and concentrate on school. In the
beginning, he’d felt like half a man without her.

     
“How
about a walk now that your stomach has been satisfied?” He got up from the
table, collected their plates, and headed to the kitchen.

     
She
followed behind him with their glasses. “That would be a great.”

     
He
was glad she agreed. He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, but
being indoors with her was driving him quickly towards sexual insanity.
Hopefully the night air would restore his physical urges to a more tolerable
state.

Chapter Six

     
Summer
was coming to a close, and it was now cooler at night, Chelsi rubbed her arm,
feeling the raised goose bumps on her skin. Her reaction wasn’t because of the
night air but the man beside her. A slight breeze carried nature’s scent and mingled
it with Vincent’s rich, spicy aftershave as they stood on his flagstone patio
before his pool and hot tub.

     
Holding
her hand, Vincent had taken her along a trail as they discussed her career and
all the different paths she’d followed to finally become second designer to
Peter Densa. They’d been standing there for a few minutes just silent and
listening to the night sounds around them.

     
Chelsi
didn’t mind the quiet. She’d always felt centered around Vincent even when they
were teenagers. They could go for long drives in her car and not talk, just
enjoy being in each other’s company. The years hadn’t changed that.

     
It
also hadn’t dampened her desire for him. The kiss in his boardroom and the one
in the kitchen were proof. If he would’ve suggested they postpone dinner until after
he’d carried her upstairs and satisfied her sexual need, her body would not
have complained. Hell, at this point her mind wasn’t voicing any protest,
either.

     
Glancing
at the strong, confident man beside her, she asked the question that had been
plaguing her mind all night. “Why aren’t you married? You’re a successful
business man who I’m sure has not led a celibate life over the last twelve
years. How are you still single?”

     
Squeezing
her hand, he said, “First, there haven’t been that many women. I’ve always been
selective with who I allow in my life and especially in my bed.”

     
She
was glad to hear that he hadn’t turned into some million dollar playboy. “None
of those
selected
women made you want
to see them in a white dress?” Her mind forced her to ask the question, but her
heart screamed it didn’t want to know the answer. She didn’t want to know if
he’d ever loved anyone else. That love, in her mind, would have been greater
than the puppy love they had in school. The latter love would’ve been built
from a mature relationship.

     
“There
was one woman that I considered marrying.”

Oh God, he had
found love.

     
“What
happened?” Her throat thick with emotion, she had to look away from him. She
couldn’t breathe, and the pain in her chest grew.

     
“The
woman turned me down.” His thumb stroked the back of her hand. “
Lydia
knew I
was only asking her because it made good business sense. So we ended the two-year
relationship and stayed friends.”

     
Friends.
He still kept the woman close in his life. Did he hope that things would resume
one day between them? After all, he said the woman had ended the relationship
not him.

     
“Chelsi,
look at me.” He tugged her hand until she faced him.

     
When
she looked at him, he cupped her face and searched her gaze. “I’m no saint.
Hell, the only angel I’ve ever known is you.” He blue eyes shone bright in the
lamp lighting fixed around his patio. “What
Lydia
and I had was in the past.”
Stepping closer, he brought his body against hers. “In the present, right now,
there is only one woman.”

     
“Who?”
She had to ask because she had to hear it. At that moment, she wanted nothing
else but a confirmation that he still cared for her. Even if it was only
physical desire, she needed him to want her.

     
“You.”
His hand left her cheek and caressed down her neck then stroked her above the
collar of her dress. “I want to make love to you, Chelsi.” His torturous, seductive
hand glided back up and played along her bottom lip making it tingle. “Say
yes.”

“Yes.”

     
Vincent
paused as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. Then in a blink he took
action. Scooping her up into his arms, he lowered his head and kissed her. This
kiss was unlike the wild, blinding obsession at his office or the gentle
passion he’d shown her in the kitchen; instead it was a determined ardor. This
one displayed his skill and dedication to her pleasure.

     
Out
there in the back of his grand house, he took his time. Holding her body firmly
against his chest, he dipped into her mouth and claimed her. Moaning, she
wrapped her arms around his neck and gave back in full measure.

     
She
wasn’t sure how long they stood out their devouring each other orally, but
finally he pulled back. Moving toward the house, he carried her as if she
weighed nothing. She was even surprised how well he maneuvered the sliding glass
door open then glided it shut with his foot. He never broke eye contact with
her, and every few feet he placed a peck either on her lips, her neck, or her
ear.

     
They
hadn’t toured the house before their walk, and at that moment she could care
less about the architecture or the designs and decorations of the rooms they
passed through on their way to his room. At the bottom of the stairs, he gave
her another soul shaking kiss then another on the top landing.

     
By
the time they arrived at his room, she was trembling with need. The desire to
feel his body naked and pressed along hers was maddening. Vincent laid her on
the bed then knelt at the foot of it, his knees pressing into the mattress, and
lifted her foot, removing one of her heels then the other. Once both shoes
dropped to the floor, he kissed the tops of her feet then moved to the ankles
and placed his lips there.

     
Alternating
from one leg to the other, Vincent kissed and licked his way up to her knees.
Looking down on her, he said, “You are beautiful, Chelsi.”

     
As
she looked down the length of her body while lying prone in the center of his
massive bed, her heart fluttered at his words. Her body had changed, filled out
since high school. It was nice to know that he liked the new Chelsi. “Thank
you.”

     
His
hands circled her knees, tickling the backs. “Are you sure you want to do
this?”

     
She
didn’t have time for doubt. If she allowed her mind to concentrate on why this
shouldn’t be happening and all that stood between them, she’d run out
screaming. “I just want to feel right now. I don’t want to think. Make
everything go away but this moment, Vincent.”

     
For
a second, he just held her gaze. There was something in his sexy blue eyes. She
worried that he would disregard her request and press her for answers, but he
didn’t.

     
“It
would be my pleasure.” Giving her a wicked, crooked smile, he slipped his hands
under her dress and slip and removed her panties without pause.

     
As
he parted her thighs, she glanced down, hypnotized at the sight of his hands
caressing her. Those warm, long fingers looked perfect against her skin, like
they belonged there. She always enjoyed the contrast of their two skins. They
looked right and perfect.

     
He
traced a line along the center of her thighs with his tongue slowly making its
way to the place she desired his attention the most. When she thought she
couldn’t take one more moment of wait, he blew a light burst of cool air along
her clit. Her body trembled, and all the blood rushed to her core.

     
“Shouldn’t
we get undressed?” she mumbled.

     
“No,
I want to please the birthday girl first.” His heated gaze, eyes almost dark
blue with desire, watched her as he settled in position between her legs.

“Happy
birthday to
me
.”

     
“Smooth
and wet—I’m a lucky man.” A quick swipe of his tongue had all thoughts falling
from her mind, fast and unguarded, like boulders over a cliff. He swirled around
the taut nub, playing with it.

     
She
lifted her hips from the bed, begging him to stop the teasing.

     
Chuckling,
Vincent continued. Unhurried, he dragged his tongue down her slit. When he
reached the opening of her sex, he burrowed inside. Her walls tightened around
him as he pulled out then dove in again. In and out, he fucked her until she
was thrusting her pelvis up to meet his face. His strong hands gripped her
thighs, raising her up and pressing them wide. Placing her sex on display. She
didn’t care as long as he didn’t stop pleasuring her.

     
Continuing
his actions, he moved up between her labia, licking and suckling her lips on
the way to her clit. His hold on her thighs kept her immobilized, restraining
her movement. The grip kept her from being able to work her sex against his
mouth and come. Control, a new side of Vincent that hadn’t been there when they
were teens, turned her own.

     
She
was so wet with need she could feel her own juices running down between her
cheeks. Moaning, she wanted to plead with him to give her satisfaction, but she
held back.

     
Taking
her clit into his mouth, he drew in the throbbing peak. Her hands began a
search for purchase then finally plowed into his thick wavy hair. When he
flicked her rapidly with his tongue, brushing along the left side of her clit, she
came. Screaming and thrashing, she bucked against his mouth.

     
Shudders
wracked her body erratically as he gingerly licked her sex, collecting the
cream of her pleasure as if it were his favorite treat. As the tremors became
mild vibrations, Vincent pulled her up to a seated position. Leaning forward,
he offered her his mouth. Not forcing her to receive her juices, he sat and
waited.

     
With
him only a breath away, she took in her own heady scent, an aromatic spice and
a reminder that he’d selflessly brought her to a sensual haven. She didn’t
hesitate as she cupped his cheeks and bowed her head to him. Their kiss was
carnal, explosive and left them both gasping for air.

     
Her
sheer, pale blue dress and its lacy black under-slip were over her head in a
flash. In her peripheral vision, she saw the light crepe material float to the
ground.

     
Vincent’s
voracious blue eyes skimmed along every nude area of her body now revealed to
him.

     
“I
have seen you naked so often in my dreams, Chelsi, but no memory could do the
reality of you justice.”

     
Warmth
flooded her body at his words. Vincent had dreamed of her. The knowledge made
her heart swell and pound in her chest. Maybe he had missed her as much as she
yearned for him.

     
Palming
her breasts, he fondled them and pinched her nipples until they became erect
between his fingers.

She
gasped at the sharp, erotic pain.

“You
like that?”

“Yes,”
she panted.

     
He
squeezed again, and she closed her eyes and pushed her breast into his hands,
enjoying the attention.

     
“I
bet you’ll like this better.” Leaning down, he took one globe into his mouth, circling
and plying the sensitive tip with his tongue.

     
“Oh…”
she cried out. Her sex began to throb again. Squirming on the bed, she told
him, “I want you undressed.”

     
Her
nipple popped out of his mouth. Smiling seductively, he rose. “Your wish is my
command, sweetheart.”

     
Anxious,
she waited as every article of clothing fell from his body. First his shirt,
revealing broad shoulders, a wide, smooth chest and taut abs. Wow, the man was
in shape. Seeing his chiseled form made her feel a little self conscious. Her
body had changed a lot over the years and not necessarily for the better in all
places.

     
“Put
your arms down, Chelsi.” His hands stopped on the button of his pants as he
assessed her. “You’re vivacious and sexy. I don’t want you to hide yourself
from me.”

     
She
didn’t even realize she had moved and covered herself. Lowering her arms, she
would let go tonight and give him her body, but other areas hidden in her heart
she would keep concealed.

     
“Better.”
That sexy tilted smile showed up on his mouth again as he began to unfasten his
pants. He toed off his shoes then his slacks hit the floor followed by his
boxer briefs.

     
There
he was—all toned, tanned, and hard. His thick cock curved up, hovering away
from his abdomen. The sight of him in all his nude glory made her mouth water.
Getting up from the bed, she crossed the plush carpet. Before him, she said,
“You’re beautiful.” Giving him the same compliment he had given her.