Since the move, a lot of progress had been made. The room on the opposite side of the double front doors from his office had transformed into Jade’s office. She loved the cherry wood desk and matching bookcase already there. Explaining that a therapist always kept a closer path to the door than that of any client, parent, or guardian, she and Chase had moved the desk along the wall to the right of the door. The bookcase set close to it, waiting for Jade’s textbooks, therapy books, and reference books, which Katy planned to bring.
To the left of the door, below the sentimental quilt with the Triple C Ranch brand in the center, Jade’s loveseat matched the red in the wordsA Good Ride. With windows behind the loveseat and wingback chairs from her living room, her plush carpet lay on the hardwood floor in front of them. The yellow chairs had small, red poppies in them, and Chase had already ordered her a red leather desk chair.
Her kitchen table for two and matching chairs sat along a wall and would work well for therapy activities with her clients. In the adjoining room next to her office, the mahogany table, once used for quilting with the cane-backed office chair behind it, would make a nice receptionist’s desk.
The movers had set up Jade’s bedroom furniture in the empty bedroom upstairs that she thought would be best for it. As it turned out, it had been the bedroom Chloe had used as a girl, and that made Jade happy.
After the moving van had pulled away from the ranch, Chase had found Jade in the master bedroom in the ‘her’walk-in closet next to the ‘his’ walk-in closet. Her closet and chest of drawers had been in disarray, but no longer empty. Her sensational smile in the middle of her clothes chaos made his heart sing as he’d chuckled. He’d eventually tugged her out of the closet, which she said was as big as the bedroom she’d had as a little girl. They’d headed to the kitchen, where Teresa had left them a dinner they could eat when they got around to it. They had worked hard unpacking and arranging, and it was late by the time they dined on the footlong ham and cheese subs, chips, and brownies for dessert.
Tonight, they were done unpacking, and empty boxes had been tossed. After dinner, Chase had taken his shower first, and clad in his boxers, he’d gone back to the kitchen for wine so they could celebrate all they had accomplished. With a bottle of Pinot Noir and two glasses, Chase headed through the great room. Soft yellow light flickered beyond the French doors. When he entered the bedroom, he noticed a box, which had arrived via a delivery truck earlier, was now empty. Scented candles in decorative glass jars glowed from both nightstands, a dresser he was now sharing with her, and the cedar chest. Setting the bottle and glasses on the nightstand at his side of the bed, he poured the wine. Picking up the candle there, he read that it was a spicy mixture of clove, sandalwood, and peppercorn.
“Jade?” he called after the blow dryer stopped. “Somebody’s trying to burn down the ranch with a candle calledCowboy’s Reward.”
The bathroom went black, and sultry music softly floated to him. Chase sat down on the bed, swung his legs onto the mattress, and stacked his hands behind his head as he leaned against the headboard. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness amid the candlelight, an exquisite woman slowly danced into sight.
“We’re gonna burn down your bed, cowboy.”
“Let’s do it, buttercup.”
A glittery, black mask hid the upper part of her gorgeous face. Green eyes seared him through oval openings as black fringe dangled across her dainty nose and delicate cheekbones. Blond hair flowed long and loose around her sensational body clad in snippets of black lace. She stepped onto the cedar chest, where three candles glowed, the brightest one between her black, silk feet. His blood pumping red hot, Chase’s eyes moved up the shapely legs to a triangle-shaped patch of black lace between slender thighs. Barely concealed, her innocence unexplored when they’d met had since been discovered, mapped, and custom molded to him.
“My Taylor-made fit,” he said, aching for her.
She gracefully twirled away from him, showing no mercy and no lace. A thin, black bra strap and an even thinner black G-string burned into his brain. Flipping her hair to her back and facing him again, she leaned forward and grabbed her silk ankles. Tilting her chin up nearly spilled her full breasts out of the patches of black lace covering her cotton candy nipples. His fingers and palms itched.
Reaching to the bedpost on her side of the bed, she grasped it and stepped from the cedar chest onto the mattress. Wrapping a leg around the post and in perfect sync with the music, she swung herself in a full circle. Once, twice. Sliding down and then up the post, she released it and walked across the end of the bed. Snaring the bedpost not far from his bare feet, she flung her head back and whirled around the post. Once, twice. Straightening and wrapping an arm around the post, her eyes blistered him with a sassy glimmer as her tongue glistened pouting lips.
“C’mere,” Chase groaned.
“No,” Jade whispered.
Kissing her index finger, she slowly trailed it down her neck, collarbone, and chest. Reaching her breasts, she unsnapped the front closure of the bra. He’d not been expecting that and watched as black lace slipped away to reveal beaded nipples and ivory skin. He knew how sweet those pink tips tasted, and his mouth watered.
“Aww…c’mon,” he pleaded as her bra dropped between his feet. He reached for her, and she shook her head. “Please?”
“No,” she murmured.
With a tantalizing deep knee bend, she placed a hand behind her, and there was a faint snap. As she stood up, in a magical move, she pulled the black lace from between her legs. She dangled the G-string and then tossed it on his chest. The V-shaped flesh between her thighs brought him to an agonizing, fevered pitch. Grasping her G-string, he crooked his finger, but she shook her head.
“This is torture, little girl. What do I have to do?”
“Strip, big boy.”
Chase swung his legs off the bed and slid his thumbs into the waist of his boxers. He tugged them down until they caught on his engorged manhood. Jade licked her lips and waited. He pulled the waistband forward and dropped his drawers along with her G-string. As he stepped out of his shorts, she knelt on the bed. When her delicate hands wrapped around the hard length of him, he bowed his head and watched as sweet red lips made rock-hard inches disappear. Just when he thought he couldn’t take another warm, wet slide, she let go and stood up again.
“Come here,” he groaned and snatched her off the bed.
She wrapped his waist in black silk and pressed his body to hers. Her arms twined around his neck, and his mouth closed over hers. Putting one knee, both hands, and then his other knee on the bed, they sunk into the mattress with him on top. Chase nibbled his way down her magnificent body and kissed her where the single patch of black lace had vanished with a snap. She gasped, arched her back, and clutched the sheets with both hands. His tongue tasted and dipped, spreading her thighs wide.
“Mmm, Chase,” she moaned, “yes.”
Kissing his way back up her body, he slid his hardened inches between her velvety, soft folds. When he plunged into her gripping warmth, she pushed against him. Pulling almost out, she met his every forward thrust. Harder and faster. Again and again. Hearing her moan his name and feeling her orgasm squeeze his hard length, Chase buried himself to the hilt.
“Jade,” he groaned, releasing deep inside her. It was so damn good. He had met his match. He loved this woman, and he was happier than he’d ever been in his life. It wasn’t just the way she had pleased him tonight that told him she loved him too. It was a million little things, like when she smiled at him, it always reached her emerald eyes. No matter when she said his name, it always sounded sexy. And when she reached for him, her touch always conveyed desire only he could quench. Other women had needed him. This woman wanted him. There was a difference. Jade was sweet therapy to his once cynical soul. After the last throb of ecstasy, Chase gently slid her black mask off. “Youare full of surprises.”
“Said the kettle to the pot.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
