Blackmailed Into Bed (17 page)

At least while he was busy at that, he wouldn’ t be feeling her up, she thought with distaste.

Not that she was opposed to Chase groping her under the right circumstances. She just didn’ t think they should be messing around beneath the tablecloth during what was supposed to be a business dinner. After warning her to be on her best behavior, shouldn’ t he be more careful of his own actions?

The meal passed without incident, and with Chase and Mr. Hasslebeck spending a good deal of time discussing business. Elena had just begun to breathe easy again when the coffee and desserts arrived, only to feel that telltale tickling once again.

Glancing over, she found Chase sipping his coffee, which he held in his left hand. His right was beneath the table… and crawling steadily upward.

“ Excuse me,” she said, pulling the cloth napkin from her lap and setting it beside the small plate holding a delicious-looking chunk of tiramisu as she got to her feet. “ I’ m just going to run to the restroom.”

Without waiting for a response, she retrieved her purse and headed for the rear of the restaurant. Once inside the ladies’ room, she rested her hands on the edge of the counter and took several deep breaths, gazing at her reflection in the mirror over the sinks. Behind her, a stall door opened, and the only other person in the restroom smiled as she walked up, washed and dried her hands, then left.

As soon as the door closed behind the woman, Elena shook herself, tore off a piece of paper towel, and wet it with cold water, dabbing her chest, her forehead, the nape of her neck.

She might not approve of what Chase had been trying to do out there, but that didn’ t mean it had no effect on her. One touch of his hand and she melted like snow on the first day of spring. Even now her knees were as weak as cooked noodles and her nerve endings were fluttering with unfulfilled desire.

The ladies’ room door swung open again, and she quickly straightened, pretending to be just finishing up so no one would think she’ d been hiding… even if that’ s exactly what she was doing.

She smiled and turned to greet the woman who had entered on her way out. Her face fell when— instead of another woman— she found Chase leaning nonchalantly against the closed restroom door. His mouth curved with satisfaction, his eyes burning with devilish intent.

“ What are you doing here?” she asked harshly, her fingers tightening on the damp paper towel in her hand.

Reaching behind him, he flipped the bolt on the main door, locking them inside, then took a menacing step forward. “ What do you think?”

She took a step back, her hip bumping into the countertop. “ You can’ t be in here,” she told him in what she hoped was a stern voice. “ This is the ladies’ room.”

He kept walking, leaning over to check for feet visible under the stall doors. Then, when he found them all empty, he straightened and turned his attention fully on her. “ I know what it is. And I know what I want.”

It was clear from his expression that what he wanted was her.

She’ d never seen him like this before. Passionate, yes. Eager. Determined. But he’ d also always maintained a sense of control that seemed to be missing at the moment. As many times as they’ d made love, and as hot as they’ d been for each other, he’ d never been driven to lock them in a public bathroom and take her while guests— his guests— were waiting to finish their dessert.

“ Chase… ”

She held out her hand, even threw the balled-up paper towel at his chest. He only chuckled and continued stalking forward, already loosening his belt buckle.

She twisted, intending to leap for the locked door, but he caught her, pulled her around and pushed her against the row of sinks.

“ Chase, no. We can’ t.”

“ Oh, yes, we can.” His mouth covered hers while his fingers made short work of his slacks and then moved to the bottom of her skirt. “ We just have to be quick and quiet about it.”

He lifted her enough to hike her skirt to her waist, then set her more fully on the counter. His thumbs hooked into the sides of her garter belt and panties, pulling the delicate garments down to her ankles with one swift yank. She thought she heard something tear, but couldn’ t find it in her to care.

She hardly had time to breathe, let alone think, as he pried her legs apart, then closed the short distance between them and filled her to overflowing.

She gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders, her thighs clutching at him as tightly as they could from such an awkward angle. He thrust hard and fast, his mouth scouring her face and throat, his hands dancing over her breasts and spine and buttocks— anywhere he could reach.

Her hips tipped to meet him, her need matching his own as they built rapidly toward climax. She’ d never been taken so roughly, so spontaneously, before. She’ d never wanted to be taken that way. But now… oh, now, she knew what she’ d been missing.

Everything in the world faded away except Chase and what he was doing to her. His hands, his mouth, his rigid length… all conspired to drive her over the edge.

With a barely suppressed shriek, she came, her body convulsing, her fingertips digging into his upper arms, her teeth biting down on a mouthful of his expensive Italian suit jacket to muffle the sounds she couldn’ t help but make. A second later, Chase stiffened, following her over and into the abyss.

His chest rose and fell against hers for several long minutes, then he straightened, took a step back, and began rearranging his clothes.

Startled by his sudden withdrawal, and self-conscious of her disheveled state, she hopped down from the counter and started redressing herself.

“ We shouldn’ t have done that,” she said, fighting to get her garter belt and stockings back in place without stripping completely and starting over from scratch. “ What will your friends think?”

“ They’ ll think we took a little longer than usual in the bathroom,” he told her, rebuckling his belt and tucking in the tail of his shirt. “ Either that or they’ ll think we sneaked off to the coat room for a quickie. Which isn’ t far from the truth.”

He grinned, but there was no warmth in his eyes. A chilling sensation crept through her bones, heightening her senses.

“ Chase,” she said slowly, running her hands over the front of her blouse and sides of her skirt, checking the buttons and seams and even her jewelry. “ Why did you do this?”

“ Do what?” he asked distractedly, glancing past her into the mirror at her back and running his fingers through his slightly rumpled hair.

“ This.” She waved a hand, her voice growing stronger as her suspicions grew. “ These strong-arm, neanderthal tactics. Following me to the restroom and locking the door. Having sex on the counter while your dinner guests wait and wonder where you are.”

“ What about it?” he asked, sounding cockier than ever. He finished fiddling with his hair and clothes and met her gaze. “ I wanted you, and since you agreed to be my mistress for the foreseeable future, that means I can pretty much have you any time and anywhere I like.”

Without waiting for her to respond, he spun on his heel and marched to the door. He flipped the lock, pulled on the handle, then said over his shoulder, “ I’ ll see you back at the table.” The door eased shut behind him.

Elena stared after him, speechless and wondering when her life had begun to spin so far out of control.

Yes, she’ d agreed to be his mistress. She’ d even enjoyed it after the initial uneasiness had worn off and she’ d realized what kind of man Chase Ramsey really was.

But what she’ d just seen was not the man she’ d come to know. It was the side of him she’ d met that first day in his office, but hadn’ t encountered since. She’ d thought that part of him was gone, transformed into something more, something different, because of their growing affection for each other.

Apparently, she’ d been wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong. And she couldn’ t pretend it wasn’ t.

Her hands shook as she picked up her clutch, her fingertips as cold as though she’ d been sitting in a walk-in freezer for the last ten minutes.

She couldn’ t do this anymore. Couldn’ t play the part of his mistress when her emotions were so much more involved than that. And she wouldn’ t stick around and be treated like a common whore by the man she’ d fallen in love with.

Twelve

F rom the corner of his eye, Chase saw Elena reappear at the rear of the restaurant, skirt the dining area and march straight out the front door. She didn’ t glance in his direction or even stop to leave a message with the hostess about her premature exit.

For a minute, he considered going after her. Dragging her back to the table, if necessary, and demanding she fulfill her end of their bargain.

But then, he couldn’ t really blame her for ducking out early. He hadn’ t exactly been a gentleman with her in the ladies’ room.

And that was as it should be. He refused to feel guilty for doing what they’ d agreed upon from the very beginning, especially when he knew damn well she’ d been just as hot and eager as he had. The memory of their fierce, frantic coupling still rang through his veins, making him want to track her down and take her all over again.

Which didn’ t bode well for his decision to put their relationship back on the right track. He was finished being led around by his raging libido. Finished being manipulated by wide eyes and pouting lips.

Elena might be beautiful, and she could certainly be both sweet and seductive, but she wasn’ t worth losing his soul.

Was she?

He watched until she disappeared from sight, then turned reluctantly back to the couple seated across from him. Creating an excuse for Elena’ s absence, he told the Hasslebecks she hadn’ t been feeling well before dinner, and that something she’ d eaten must not have agreed with her, so he’ d called a cab and sent her home. He wasn’ t sure they believed him, but he also didn’ t care.

Then, feigning an interest he didn’ t quite feel, he wrapped up the evening as quickly as possible, put the amount for the entire meal on his gold card and left a generous tip for the server. Parting company with Mr. and Mrs. Hasslebeck in the lobby, he headed for his car and drove home.

He didn’ t feel remorse for the way he’ d treated Elena. Didn’ t miss having her near or want to track her down just to hear her voice again.

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

He didn’ t. And he was damn tired of her invading his thoughts twenty-four hours a day.

Pulling into his driveway, he cut the engine, slammed the car door and stalked into the house.

He was better off without her.

First thing in the morning he’ d have Nancy call Elena and find out if she was still willing to go along with their bargain. If she was, then he’ d have to make it clear that he expected her to be where he wanted, when he wanted. No more of this flitting off just because she got her nose out of joint over something he did or said. As his mistress, she didn’ t get a say in his behavior.

And if she wanted out, that was fine with him, too. It might even be a better turn of events for both of them.

Of course, if that was the case, then his first order of business would be to put the wheels in motion to buy out Sanchez Restaurant Supply.

Either way, he was bound to win.

Too bad he didn’ t feel like a winner.

He tromped upstairs, his feet dragging like lead weights at the ends of his legs. He loosened his tie and shrugged out of his jacket, draping both garments over the back of a chair as he entered the master bedroom.

His bedroom, although it didn’ t feel quite as safe and comfortable as it once had. Before Elena had spent the night there… in his house, in his bed.

Even though she wasn’ t there, her presence lingered. Her perfume, the sound of her voice. He could smell her in the air, on the towels in the bathroom, on the sheets and pillowcases beneath the heavy comforter. He could hear her husky laughter everywhere he went, inside the house and out.

With a frustrated growl, he finished stripping on his way to the shower. Hot water did nothing to smooth the sharp edges of his lousy mood, and cold water did nothing to calm the arousal building steadily through his system.

What did he have to do to get her out of his head, out of his life?

He slapped his hand against the wet tile, letting beads of water pelt him directly in the face, wishing it could wash away the sick, gnawing ache in his gut as easily as it did dirt and sweat.

Just as he was stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel, the phone rang. He thought about ignoring it, letting it go to voice mail, but at the last minute wrapped the towel around his hips and lunged for the nightstand.

“ Yeah,” he answered shortly.

“ Chase,” came the low, feminine response.

He didn’ t need the caller to identify herself to know it was Elena. His muscles immediately tensed, every cell in his body alert with physical longing.

“ This is Elena,” she continued matter-of-factly. “ I’ m sorry, but I won’ t be able to continue with our agreement. I— ”

Her voice cracked, and deep in his chest he felt something crack, too.

“ I just can’ t. I’ d ask you to reconsider your plans to take over my father’ s business, but I know it wouldn’ t make much difference, so I guess I’ ll have to live with that. Goodbye.”