Christmas Diamonds (19 page)

He was particularly interested in getting something very special for Paula on this trip, short of an engagement ring, but a strong indicator of how he felt about her. If things continued to move in the right direction, Chase felt there was every reason to believe that this could eventually lead to marriage. He wanted nothing more than to have the same loving, committed relationship that he had had with Rochelle. Paula seemed to fit the bill more perfectly with each passing day, unlike others he had dated who were not marriage material in his eyes. Chase sensed that she was someone who had the same strong convictions as he did in wanting to make a life of love and commitment with the right person. Paula was a lady whom he felt he could depend on through thick and thin, and Chase could easily picture himself showering her with endless affection and gifts to her heart and body’s content.

Chase stood at the counter, studying a row of diamond pendants. All were eye-catching, yet only one seemed perfect for what he had in mind. It was a four-prong, platinum, heart-shaped pendant with white and chocolate diamonds totaling one carat.

“What do you think?” the clerk asked anxiously.

Chase pretended to contemplate it further before lifting up the heart-shaped pendant he wanted to surprise Paula with. The diamonds sparkled luminously.

“I believe I’ve found what I’m looking for,” Chase said with satisfaction.

The clerk’s face creased when he smiled. “Excellent choice. I’m sure the lady will melt when you put this around her neck.”

“I think so, too.” Chase imagined that he would take delight showering Paula with diamonds just as he once had Rochelle.
She had never failed to appreciate diamonds as an expression of his feelings for her. Chase felt certain that would also be the case with Paula, who had come into his life when he needed her most. Chase intended to do his part to make sure she was there to stay.

“What’s this?” Paula blinked while looking at Chase’s gift.

“It’s a box of Belgium chocolates,” he said. “I definitely couldn’t let you leave here without trying some.”

She smiled at the gesture. “Thank you. I love chocolate. Maybe even a little too much.”

Chase gave her the once-over. “If that’s true, I can’t see it anywhere.”

Her lashes fluttered. “And just what do you see?” she challenged.

“I see a lady who obviously takes very good care of herself.”

Paula beamed. She was happy to hear that her hard work as a jogger and fitness buff had paid off. She eyed his tight physique, envisioning his body naked. “I could say the same thing about you.”

“Thanks.” He grinned. “I have something else for you, too.”

“You do?” She met his gaze.

“Yes. Close your eyes.”

Paula did as he asked, very curious as to what he might have up his sleeve. She felt him put something around her neck.

“Okay, you can open them now.”

She opened her eyes and couldn’t believe it when she saw the sparkling diamond pendant. “Oh, Chase…”

“You like it?”

Paula turned to him. “I love it. It’s absolutely gorgeous!”

Chase’s eyes crinkled. “A gorgeous diamond pendant for a gorgeous woman.”

She held the pendant, mesmerized by the intensity of the chocolate and white diamonds, and lifted her face to look at Chase. “Thank you.”

“I wanted you to have something truly memorable of our
visit to Antwerp,” he said sweetly. “When I saw this, I knew it was made just for you.”

Paula kissed him. “You’re so good to me.”

“We’re good to each other and for each other,” Chase said as he gazed into her eyes.

“I totally agree,” she said, looking up at him.

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Chase wrapped his arms around Paula and kissed her lustfully. Their mouths stayed connected as she put her all into the kiss and the man behind it. Everything else seemed to be a blur, so focused was she in the moment at hand.

After several hot minutes of kissing, Chase separated their lips, but continued to hold Paula. “So how long are you going to keep me in suspense about what you bought for me?”

Paula licked her lips. “Not long at all. Why don’t you get ready for bed, and I’ll be right with you in a couple of minutes.”

A wide smile played on Chase’s lips. “I’m always up for getting naked to be with you.”

“Me, too,” Paula said shamelessly, though this time she had something else in mind for him.

She was aroused just thinking about his perfect nude body and his full erection aching to be deep inside of her. After another look at her diamond pendant, Paula was even more eager to pleasure her man.

Chase waited impatiently on the bed while Paula was in the bathroom. He was always incredibly turned on at the thought of making love to her. This time, doing so in another part of the world made it all the more erotic and thought provoking. Chase knew without a doubt that Paula was someone he simply would not ever tire of intimately. Did that mean real and sustainable love was not far behind? He wondered if she was asking herself the same question.

When Paula came out, the bathroom light shone on her hot-pink teddy. Embroidered with sequin and a black bow, it was very revealing, with a deep V neckline bordered by Chantilly
lace. The satin fabric clung to every curve of her sexy body, while the thigh-high cut accentuated the length of Paula’s legs.

“Here’s your present,” she said teasingly and turned all the way around to tempt him even more, showing in the process an erotic stretch-lace thong back. “I hope it meets with your approval?”

He salivated. “Oh, yes, I’m more than satisfied.”

“I’ll keep it on all the way through, or take it off when you want.” Paula posed sinuously. “Better yet, I’ll just leave that part up to you.”

Chase grinned lustfully. He loved seeing and touching her naked body, but he also felt she looked sexy as hell in lingerie. “Right now, all I want is you, baby,” he told her in a husky voice.

“Then you’ll have me every way you can imagine,” she uttered, “and maybe even a few ways beyond your wildest imagination.”

“Hmm, I definitely like the sound of that,” Chase murmured.

Paula grabbed a piece of chocolate and climbed atop Chase. She bit off half and then held the rest to his mouth. He took it in greedily. He’d begun to chew when she bent her face down, licked his lips and kissed him passionately. Chase reciprocated as the melting chocolate passed between them.

She lifted back up, arching her back, and began to stimulate his nipples adroitly with her fingertips. Chase shut his eyes and reveled in the pleasure. His hands reached inside the teddy and cupped her breasts, stroking and titillating them. Paula gasped when he squeezed her nipples and gently ran his fingernail over them.

She took hold of his engorged penis, fondling the length of him and playing with the tip. Chase bit his lip, fighting off the urge to come then and there, as he loved when they climaxed together.

Paula spun her body around so her back was to Chase. She lowered her face and went down on his erection. He trembled as her mouth covered him and her tongue teased expertly. With a salacious view of Paula’s backside, Chase was eager
to taste her sweet goodness. He held her buttocks and lifted his head, using his tongue to push past the teddy till he found Paula’s clitoris. He licked and sucked and twirled his tongue while she moaned with pleasure, trembling wildly.

Soon Chase’s mouth covered the entire area of Paula’s genitalia, kissing and sucking even as she did the same to him in glorious sixty-nine. Once the oral copulation had resulted in mutual powerful orgasms, they rearranged themselves on the bed. Still hungry for more of his hot lover, Chase slipped on a condom and climbed on top of Paula.

He slid inside her, penetrating as far as she wanted him, thrusting mightily while she tightened around his erection. Her legs were splayed wide, and their slick bodies pressed together in harmonious movement. They kissed passionately, the scent of their sex intoxicating, raising the intensity of Chase’s arousal to new heights.

“Go deeper,” Paula urged him, lifting her legs off the bed. “Much deeper.”

Driven by her words and his overpowering desire, Chase propelled himself forward in rapid motion, burrowing through the soft, moist walls of her sexuality. His penis conquered the depths within, bringing cries of exultation from Paula.

Chase moaned and quavered with his second climax, leaving him slightly light-headed. He continued to perform determinedly till Paula yielded to her pleasure, her contractions coming in waves. She huffed and puffed, digging her nails into the flesh of his lower back till settling down.

They kissed zealously as the perfect way to finish what their desire had started.

Chase and Paula spent the following day touring Brussels, the largest urban area in Belgium and the capital of the European Union. Paula enjoyed visiting Grand Place, the historic market square; Bruparck, a leisure and shopping center; the Belgian Comic Strip Center and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart church. At one point, they stopped at a
street vendor, and Chase bought Paula a single long-stemmed red rose.

“A rose for a lovely lady,” he said affectionately.

“Oh, how beautiful,” Paula gushed.

Chase flashed his teeth. “Not half as lovely as you are.”

Paula ate it up, feeling like she was the most fortunate woman in the world in being with the most desirable gentleman.

She kissed Chase on the mouth. They held hands as they continued to explore the city. Paula was sure this was all leading to something neither of them could control, and it was more powerful than anything she had ever experienced.

On their last day, they took a scenic candlelit-dinner cruise around the Antwerp harbor. Chase hand-fed Paula, and she did the same in return, finding the experience very romantic. They washed down the cuisine with goblets of sauvignon blanc.

Paula felt the heat of Chase’s gaze. “What?” she asked, fearing she might have food on her face.

He maintained a serious look. “I’m falling in love with you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Really?”

“Yes.” Chase took her hand in his. “I hope that doesn’t scare you, but this seemed like the perfect time and place to say it.”

Paula was moved to hear the words, agreeing with him wholeheartedly that the moment could not have been more perfect. “It doesn’t scare me at all,” she assured him, meeting his eyes. “The truth is, I’m also falling in love with you.” Paula spoke from her heart.

Chase grinned widely. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Her eyes grew wide. “How could I not develop such feelings, Mr. Everything?”

He chuckled. “That would make you Ms. Everything.”

She glowed. “I can accept that coming from you.”

“Then you can also accept this….”

Chase leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Paula could taste the wine on his mouth. She slid her tongue inside, gently probing till she found his tongue.

“Oh, yes, I can accept that anytime, anywhere,” she assured him with affection.

Chase pulled back and looked at her longingly. “Consider it a kiss to build on.”

“I’m looking forward to the building process.” Paula puckered her lips, closed her eyes and eagerly dove back into the kiss.

Chapter 18

“C
hase told me he was falling in love,” Paula told Isabelle two days later as they had lunch at her grandmother’s favorite restaurant.

Isabelle put her fork down. “I’m not surprised at all. What took him so long?”

Paula smiled. “I guess some men need longer than others to get in touch with their feelings,” she joked. “Yes, I know it has been a whirlwind romance of less than two months. But some people click sooner than others.”

“Don’t I know it,” Isabelle said over a cup of tea.

Paula looked across the table. “Exactly how long was it before Gramps uttered those magical words to you?”

“Oh, it took him only about four weeks to say he loved me.” She chuckled. “He probably wanted to tell me after the first couple of dates but showed some restraint for fear of how I might respond.”

Paula grinned while putting down her chicken sandwich.
“So you were confident he was being sincere and not just hoping to get lucky?”

Isabelle colored. “Oh, yes, he was definitely speaking from his heart. In those days, men couldn’t count on ‘luck’ to get what they wanted. Certainly not from me, and with my daddy looking over both our shoulders.”

Isabelle laughed, and Paula did the same. She knew that her circumstances were different from Isa’s, as were the times. But the issue of love was every bit as serious and real. “I suppose, by comparison, Chase waited forever to say he loved me.”

“What’s important is that he said what was in his heart and put the onus on you to do the same,” Isabelle said.

Paula sighed. “Actually, I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear those words from someone who meant them.”

“And why not?” Isabelle’s eyes narrowed. “You’re the type of woman any man in his right mind would fall for.”

Paula took a bite from a pickle. “I don’t know if I would be right for any man. With Chase, we get along great, have tremendous chemistry and are in sync romantically. I just wasn’t sure if he would be able to get past the love he had for his late wife in order to be able to feel that way about another woman.”

“Well, now you know that the man’s living for today and not yesterday. It’s you who has become the center of his world, and he wasn’t afraid to spit it out.”

Paula nodded. “I realize that now.”

Isabelle crinkled her eyes. “The fact that Chase has given you the love you deserve makes me extremely happy.”

“I’m happy, too,” Paula assured her, trying not to get too emotional.

“So, I take it you also opened up with Chase and told him how you really feel?”

Paula beamed thoughtfully. “Yes, how could I not? I told him I was falling in love with him. I’ve known it for a while now, but didn’t want to jump the gun before I knew how he felt.”

“Makes sense,” Isabelle said, forking a piece of lettuce from her salad. “Women always get there sooner than men.
I’m old-fashioned enough to believe it’s best to wait for the man to tell the woman how he feels first. That way she can be sure her love isn’t being wasted.”