Take a Chance Read online

  But really, why would he call her? Between her brothers and her relative innocence at the ripe old age of twenty-five, she was too much trouble for a man like Steve Gladston. He dated women who knew how to take care of him. Gave him wild sex and expected nothing in return. With the attack at work and the incident after their second date, he’d most likely put her in the ‘do not touch’ category and filed her name away in his never-again box.

  Damn. Pessimism wasn’t good for her. Neither was self-doubt, but she couldn’t help it. She’d been born with too many ideas in her head and no way to manage them. It made her a definite multi-tasker, but a skewed companion in general. Only one or two of her friends could keep up with her sudden subject changes during a conversation.

  Checking the peephole had her chest tightening like a rubber band had wrapped around her and then popped.

  Steve Gladston, wide-shouldered, slim-waisted, breathtaking man, was on her front stoop. He looked good enough to eat, a vision of hot man-candy even through the little hole in the door.

  She didn’t need to look down to check her sexy little outfit. Fuzzy jammie pants, an old football jersey from one of her brothers, and slippers with kittens on the toes.

  Seduction material.

  Wasn’t she lucky to be prepared?

  Opening the door anyway, but only a few inches, she showed her face and waited to see what he wanted.

  “Did you at least look through the lens?” he asked, his voice husky and sounding more like a bossy brother than a man she wanted to sleep with.

  She sighed, not sure what she wanted to do with him now. “Yes. I saw your truck in my drive, too. I’m not an idiot. And we’ve had this conversation before.”

  “I didn’t say you were. Are you going to let me in, sweetheart?”

  Maybe she was an idiot, because she wanted him in her home, even when he didn’t call ahead. She stepped back and let the door swing in. He walked into her instead of into the room, pressing every bit of her body against his and holding her in place while he kicked her door closed. When she tilted her head up, he was waiting. His mouth slanted over hers and conscious thought hid while she absorbed the raw desire spiraling from his mouth to hers.

  His hands roamed her body, touching every tingling spot she had until his palms settled on the fleece pants covering her rear. “Soft, but you won’t need these to keep you warm tonight.”

  His hands slipped inside the waistband and he pushed them off. “Hm, commando. I like. Now, I have to wonder what’s under this old jersey.” The shirt landed on the rug and he leaned back.

  An immediate urge to cover her body with her hands rushed ahead of her brain and she crossed her arms. Suddenly naked while he was fully clothed was uncomfortable, but then she remembered the night he’d put her to bed. She’d been bare for him then, too. She let her arms slowly return to her sides and heard his murmur.

  “Good girl, Dena. Thank you.”

  His voice, the deep rasp with a hint of need created the sound of sex and permeated the space around them.

  It took the breath from her chest.

  “I’m going to take good care of you, Dena,” he said in a voice that surrounded her. “You’re mine to pleasure and care for, and I’m going to show you how good it can be.”

  She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move from the spot in front of him, but her body responded without her help. Heat slid from her chest to her belly and lower. His hand cupped her chin and tipped her head back to gain access to the tender skin underneath her jaw and he nibbled his way to her throat. Wet heat stroked inexorably lower until he reached the line of her collarbone. Openmouthed kisses continued, moving south to lick at a nipple.

  She jerked at the sudden tightening sensation and heard a soft chuckle. “So beautiful, Dena. I’m going to enjoy making love to you tonight. Tell me that’s what you want.”

  “Yes.” Barely able to hear the words, she hoped he understood. Her knees wobbled and he caught her, one arm scooping her up under her knees while the other kept her against his chest. His teeth nipped at her bare shoulder and she cried out, the erotic sensation flying along her nervous system like a lightning strike and flaring at each junction.

  Whispered words of praise accompanied light kisses along her jaw while he carried her to the bedroom. His voice was an aphrodisiac. No matter the words spoken, it enticed and seduced, creating moisture and breathlessness and mind-bending desire.

  He didn’t bother with the bedclothes, simply set her on top of the comforter and spread her out for his perusal.

  “Beautiful Dena, I’m going to make you fly for me tonight.”

  His fingers went to the waist of his jeans and he tugged his shirt out and up and over until it lay on the floor next to her bed. “For tonight, and only tonight, I want to hear you scream for me. Understand?”

  She could barely nod while she watched the denim lower in tiny increments toward the floor and a stray thought about her carpet being scorched when those pants landed next to the bed slipped past the haze of desire surrounding her. Two rough fingers reached out to pull her attention back to the moment, tugging at a nipple and bringing on a sharp cry.

  Harsh need etched his face and a bead of sweat formed at each of his temples. The self-control worked at him, but still he didn’t join her on the bed. Out of reach, she could only trace the contours of his body with her eyes, and what a wonderful passage it was. Gorgeously made, broad shoulders were padded with thick bands of muscle, smooth tanned skin fanned across a chest with enough defined muscle to make a woman beg, and a smattering of dark hair crossed his pecs.

  She wanted to play in the curls, nuzzle the light fuzz and nip at his nipples. She wanted to follow the thin line of hair that descended toward the navy band of his briefs. She wanted to see—

  His thumbs pushed under the waistband and shoved down, freeing a long thick, ruddy penis with a broad cap already seeping, one drop of moisture peeking from the thin slit.

  She wanted that. She wanted everything he had to give, but right at this moment, she wanted that bead of moisture. With a surge, she lifted her torso from the bed and licked at the cap of his cock and heard him groan.

  Falling back onto the bed, she smiled up at him. An eyebrow rose, his lips a thin line, and then he said, “We’re going to have to learn some patience, Dena. And some control. Did you enjoy that taste?”

  “Oh, yes.” She smiled again. “You taste delicious.”

  His return smile was quick and elusive. “On the floor.”

  With a step back, he made space for her between the bed and his body, and she rose to stand in front of him.

  “On your knees, doll.”

  As soon as she was in position, he crowded her and his heavy cock greeted her with a nudge in the cheek.

  “Open your pretty little mouth, Dena.”

  All the air left her chest in a rush and a swarm of wild bees invaded her stomach at the sound of his voice. The tone was new to her, tense, deeper in range, and demanding.

  His hand burrowed into her hair and she tipped her head up to look at his face. The intensity in his expression took hold of her mind and body and she shivered, not sure what she’d gotten into and how it would end.

  “Do you want to stop, Dena?”

  She pulled her upper lip into her mouth and nibbled while she considered giving this idea more thought, but they were here now and she did want him. She wanted to know what she’d miss if he walked away from her. She wanted to know what her life would be, even a small part of it, if she stayed in this moment and this experience.

  Filling her lungs, she jumped in with her whole heart. “No, I don’t want to stop.”

  “Good girl.”

  His hips rocked and the broad head of his penis nudged her again. “Take it into your mouth and suck it.”

  Heart pounding, she did as told, hoping like hell she could fake it long enough to figure out what to do. And fast enough to keep him from discovering her innocence.

  “Relax, Dena
,” he said, “and let me set the rhythm. I’ll teach you how I like it.”

  Insecurity swamped her and she leaned back, letting him slip from her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why?” He cupped her chin, and his face, when she looked up, wasn’t angry, more curious than anything.

  “I don’t know how…”

  The flash of a smile as it captured his whole face was a surprise.

  “You’re never given some guy a blowjob?”

  Heat suffused her face when she answered with a short, “No.”

  “Have you ever been eaten?”

  “Ah, I don’t think so.”

  His face flushed and darkened, his eyes half closing. “Sweetheart, I’ll happily teach you everything you need to know about how to please me and how to please yourself. Do you trust me?”

  Chapter 9

  Son of a bitch. He’d never expected her to be so close to a virgin, but, damn. Her lack of experience was a gift he’d cherish. The thought of teaching her how to please him in every way, without any residual habits from prior lovers rolled over him like an ocean wave during a hurricane.

  The woman was perfection incarnate.

  He prepared himself for a long wait, a painful wait, before he spoke. “Wrap your hand around me.”

  She reached out and used her fingers to stroke down the length of his cock, leaving him feeling like a wall freshly painted with a powder-puff. His dick had a mind of his own, bouncing like a divining rod in search of water. Taking her hand, he placed her palm on him and showed her what he needed, letting her slide her fist up and down until he couldn’t take it any longer.

  He loosened her fingers and brought her hand to his mouth for a quick kiss. “Now you’ll use your mouth with the same motion, using your lips and some suction.”

  Burying his fingers in the waves of her thick brown hair, he let her go and let his head drop backwards. He was too close to watch his dick disappear in and out of her beautiful mouth, sure he’d shoot his wad in mere minutes. A man could only take so much of a good thing at one time. Chancing a look, he groaned.

  Her gaze was fixed on his dick, her tongue working her way around the shaft as she pulled back. And then she sucked him back in and started again.

  Time to call a halt. He had no intention of filling her mouth tonight. Curling his fingers into her scalp, he told her to stop. He watched with lidded eyes as he slipped free of her mouth, her lips puffy and wet.

  Fucking beautiful.

  “On the bed. On your back.” He waited until she was exactly where he wanted her. “Good. Don’t move.”

  He pulled open her closet and blinked. The damn thing was almost the size of a bedroom. And she was a little anal about organizing, a row of drawers carefully labeled by content. He yanked open the one marked scarves and pulled four out.

  Time for fun and games.

  Her eyes were the first to go. A little sensory deprivation would go a long way to teaching her control. His fingers played in her hair a minute before he said, “Sit up.” Those dark brown eyes were huge, hazy with lust and unsure about what to expect. “Trust me, Dena.”

  When she nodded, he wrapped the scarf around her head twice and tied a knot on one side, then lowered her to the bed.

  “What are you doing?”

  “No questions, Dena. You trust me or you don’t.”

  Her head moved in the affirmative and he praised her silent response. “Good girl. Now, put your hands above your head.”

  He fashioned a slipknot at one end of a scarf and put her wrist in it, then looped the length of the scarf through the slats of the headboard. “Don’t move.”

  Pressing a quick kiss to her cheek, he went around the bed and secured the other wrist. Her whimper warmed him, a sound somewhere between fear and anticipation.

  Exactly what he wanted from her at this moment.

  He took a short trip to the middle of the bed, his mouth grazing from shoulder to waist in slow, sensual steps while she squirmed. Her feet pedaled on the bed while the need bored into her.

  His slide off one side of the bed made her moan with loss. But she didn’t talk, didn’t complain or whine. All he had to do was watch her body to recognize her desire.

  She gasped when he grabbed an ankle and wrapped the end of a scarf around it. By the time he’d secured it to the corner of the footboard, she was panting and the rate increased while he took care of the other foot.

  “Thank you, Dena, for your trust and the gift of your body. I’ll take good care of you.”

  But first, he enjoyed himself, appreciating her submission by stroking his fingers across every inch of exposed skin.

  He tweaked nipples and suckled hard while she cried out.

  He delved into the wet slit between her thighs and let his fingers play in the soft tissue until it squeezed against them.

  He pressed kisses to her bare feet and worked his way up her legs until he kissed and tongued her core, reveling in the taste of her.

  His cock wept, more than ready for its turn, and Steve moved between her legs. He thrust into her, one long, slow slide of pure pleasure, and enjoyed the ragged cry that was her response.

  Wet heat and hot walls surrounded him, his body aching for release. He wouldn’t last long this first time, but he’d make it up to her. Right now, the urge to move was all that motivated him.

  He slid out with the same slow pace and dove back inside with a little more force, increasing the rhythm with every thrust and retreat until he pounded into her with vigor. So tight, so hard her body shook under him, her cries for more took him to the brink.

  He jerked his cock free of her body and used his hand to finish the job, ribbons of cum leaving his body and landing on hers. She panted and her head rolled from side to side while her stalled orgasm tried to resolve the problem.

  “You look amazing with my semen all over your belly, Dena. You belong to me, now, sweetheart. All mine.”

  His cock never waned. If anything, it got harder, and he pushed back inside her hot body. He could so easily spend the rest of his life with this woman. She made him feel in a way he’d never imagined. Scary to think she’d wrapped him up in emotion in such a short time.

  He paused to loosen the blindfold, determined to watch her eyes as he moved within her. When they finally opened, he recognized the need, the connection between them neither could deny. He wanted her with him when she climaxed.

  “Come for me, Dena. Now.”

  Lord love her, she had one of those long, deep soaker tubs. He set the stopper and opened the taps, adjusting the temperature as the water warmed. For good measure, he added a capful of bubble bath from the bottle closest to the tub. Wetting a wash cloth, he returned to her.

  She was watching for his return, her body loose and sated, his cum still sticky on her abdomen. He cleaned her off and then released her arms and legs. Lifting her lax body, he carried her into the bathroom and settled her on the lip of the tub. Warm arms wrapped around his torso when he leaned over to test the water’s temperature. Dena’s head rubbed against his shoulder, her nose burrowing under his ear, and a wet kiss lingered.

  “Bath time, doll.” He stood and helped her into the water before lowering behind her. Bubbles floated around them, the hot water relaxing both of them.

  “Is it always like this with you?” she asked.

  “You enjoyed it?”

  “Umm hmm,” she mumbled, her brain relaxing along with her body. “Do I have to be tied down next time?”

  Maybe it wasn’t her head that was relaxing. “I like the control.”

  “I liked it, too.” She yawned. “But I want to touch you.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Headstrong and submissive, an amazing combination in a woman, even more attractive than physical beauty, and Dena had all three. Trouble coming his way in spades, but he’d handle it and keep her if he could.

  “Want to do this again. Can we?”

  She wanted to kill him, obviously, but her question didn’t
match the loose feel of her body. Sleep was right around the corner. Time to get dry.

  He stabilized her and left the tub, getting dry before pulling the stopper. She wobbled but managed just enough energy to stand upright while he patted the water from her skin. He put her into bed and snuggled with her until she fell asleep.

  It was too soon to spend the night, too soon to wake up with her and make love again and go to work. She needed time to reconcile what he’d done to her with what she’d known about sex before he came along. And from what she’d said right after, she’d enjoyed it enough to ask for more.

  Yes. Freely given, and soon.

  For now, he watched her sleep and appreciated the soft lines of her face and the sweet scent of her after sex.

  Tomorrow would come soon enough, and he’d be ready.

  Easing out of bed, he dressed and untied the scarves he’d used, putting them back in the closet. With no evidence, she’d be left with memories and supposition. Would she think it was all a dream?

  He left a short note on the inside of her front door and slipped out, locking up as he went.

  Chapter 10

  Dena stretched while the local radio station played in the background, her alarm a minor distraction compared to the interesting aches of her body after a night of Steve’s educational guidance. She felt decadent and spoiled and well-used. God, the man could make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world with a touch and a word. Rolling over into the middle of the bed, she pressed her face in the sheets and inhaled the scent of him.

  The smell of sex and man, one man in particular, surrounded her and she didn’t want to get up. Better to wallow in the memories than drag herself to work and try to keep the smile off her face all day. Her brothers were more than capable of surmising the cause and she could already picture the stern glances and lectures.

  Hypocrites, all three of them. Well, just Simon and Grant. Brent was off doing his military service and sowing a huge load of wild oats, if she knew him. And she did. He was the wild brother she wanted to emulate.