Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

“All right, two truths and a lie.” Jen sat forward in her seat, holding her wineglass in one hand. Hard to believe it was only eight o’clock. She’d told Travis she’d pick up Colby at eleven. Which felt a bit too late. Travis had told her not to worry about the time, but she couldn’t help checking it.

Jason leaned across the table with the last spoonful of crème br?lée. “Let’s see. I graduated from college at age twenty. I’ve climbed Mount Everest. And chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite flavor combo.”

She took the crème br?lée he’d offered and grinned. “Don’t expect me to suddenly take up running because you’re my fake boyfriend, by the way. Which also means you probably shouldn’t feed me all this dessert.”

She hadn’t had this much fun on a date in a long time.

Then again, she’d never been to such an expensive restaurant. She’d nearly fallen over when the server had handed her the menu.

And since they were there on a Tuesday, they seemed to have most of the restaurant to themselves. On their one side, a wall of floor-length windows gave a view of ski slopes. With the clear night and full moon, the view was gorgeous.

She refocused on his answers, squinting at him. “You know, we might not make it. Because I have a feeling you don’t like chocolate and peanut butter.”

“Hate it.” Jason smiled, then signaled the server. “And you, of course, love it.”

“Because I’m not crazy.” Could she even pretend to date a guy who hated chocolate and peanut butter?

“Chocolate and mint is a far superior combination. Not that I really like chocolate all that much.”

She winced and put one hand over her heart. “Maybe this was a bad game.” Then she leaned closer. “You really climbed Mount Everest?”

He nodded, then sipped his wine. “A buddy of mine from college wanted to do it. I was the only friend he had who didn’t mind the cold. So we did.” A shadow crossed his face. “But it feels like a long time ago.”

Jason slipped a card from his wallet, then handed it to the server. Between the bottle of wine and the food, they must have run up a bill of a few hundred. The ease with which he handed the server his card without even waiting to look at the bill was stunning. She swallowed the last sip of her wine. “You’re not some sort of con artist who pays for dates with one woman while running up another woman’s credit, are you?” She gave him a teasing glance.

He chuckled, grazing her fingers with the knuckle of his forefinger. “We should probably send Natasha a thank you for this amazing meal. Oh, damn, I shouldn’t have told you her name.”

She laughed. “Well, if you are, you made a poor choice in women this time. I still maintain I’m completely underdressed for this place. I’m in jeans.”

“I sincerely doubt the server has been staring at your jeans this whole time. His gaze has been distracted by two objects due north.”

She shot him a look, then pulled out her purse to reapply her lip gloss. But she’d caught the server staring at her breasts, too. And his banter with her made her happy. “So tell me this—you said you’re a CFO. But Everest must have been expensive.” Asking if he’d been born into wealth was gauche and nosy, but it would explain a lot about him.

“My great-grandfather started a family business that did well. It’s been in the family since then.”

So he’d grown up rich.

“You know, I rarely date rich guys.” She rubbed her lips together to smooth out the lip gloss. “In fact, the last guy I was dating—Brad—was apparently keeping a running tally on how much he’d spent on me. But he was an accountant.”

Jason leaned back in his seat. “I think we’ve established Brad was an idiot.” But he gave her a humoring expression. “What sort of guys do you normally date?”

“Broken ones.” She threw her hands up. “I seem to be a magnet for guys with issues. Colby’s dad was a drug addict when I met him.”

Jason stiffened, his steel-blue eyes flicking up toward hers, then back down. The server arrived and laid the check presenter on the table. Jason busied himself with signing it, and Jen felt a trace of tension constrict her chest. Did he think she had a past like Kevin had? “I—I mean, I was never into drugs. Just so that’s clear. I never even smoked—”

The look Jason shot her silenced her. “I wasn’t thinking anything bad about you.” He put his credit card away, then stood, holding his hand out for her. “Ready to go?”

She nodded briskly, then took his hand. Once again, his touch steadied any feeling of being off kilter. He led her from the dining room, then straight toward the elevators. They climbed inside, and she asked, “Where are we going?”

“To the room I reserved.” He pushed a button, then lifted his phone to a scanner on the elevator. The elevator started up.

She’d assumed they’d go back somewhere tonight but had figured it would be to his cabin. He’d rented a room at the lodge? “I didn’t pack a bag,” she said. “And I have to pick up Colby.”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, her fingers tight between his. “I know. And we don’t have to go up if you don’t want to. I just thought it might be nice to have some time alone.”

The elevator chimed to announce their arrival, opening to a hallway with only a few doors. Jason led them to one of them and used his phone against the scanner on the door. A beep and flashing green light came from the scanner, and Jason unlocked the door. The lights were already on inside, revealing the largest suite Jen had ever seen. The décor was modern and lavish, the living space in the room bigger than her apartment.

Two double doors led to a bedroom with a massive bed, perfectly made with plush white bedcovers. The same floor-to-ceiling windows that had been a feature point of the restaurant were here as well, but a door led to a balcony, and there were curtains to be drawn for privacy.

Jen stepped into the room, her eyes falling on the champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries on a table beside the sofa. This room must have cost a fortune.

And he’d booked it just to spend a few hours with her?

She spun to face him as she set her coat and purse down on a nearby chair. “I’m not going to lie. I feel a bit like I’m in Pretty Woman .”

He smirked, then set his phone down on the table. “You’re a lot prettier than Julia Roberts, to start.”

She went up to him and placed her arms around his neck. Nervous energy was ricocheting down her limbs, making her feel a little unsteady. They’d talked about what came next. Yet now that they were here and the opportunity was perfect for it, she felt strangely awkward.

What if she didn’t live up to his expectations?

Dinner had been wonderful—they’d talked about favorites and swapped some stories—but it hadn’t felt casual. And she hadn’t even come close to laying out guidelines on how things should go with Colby, especially since he was going to do her the favor of entering the baking contest as her boyfriend.

Jason set his hands on her hips, then slid them forward to slip his hands into her back pockets. Damn, that was sexy.

“You seem nervous.” He scanned her gaze. “We don’t have to—”

She kissed him to shut him up. Not a passionate one, just a soft brush on the lips. His lips curved upward in a smile against hers. “Why don’t we look around the suite? I’ve never been in a room like this.”

Taking his hand, she pulled him from the living room into the bedroom. The bedroom also had a balcony door. On the opposite side, it opened to an enormous bathroom, complete with a Jacuzzi. She let her fingers glide over the complimentary soaps and shampoos. “When I was a kid, I used to beg my dad to bring these back to me as souvenirs from his business trips.”

Jason came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. They were in front of the mirror, and she stared at their reflection as he kissed her neck. Her eyes closed, and she reveled in the feel of his lips against the soft skin by her jaw, trailing upward. She turned her face toward him, and his lips descended on hers.

Her heart slammed into her ribs. Something about seeing them together in the mirror was more of a turn-on than she’d expected. He was hotter than any guy she’d ever dated, and somehow, she felt beautiful and sexy as a result.

His kiss was commanding and purposeful, his mouth opening against hers. His tongue stroked against hers, determined and sensual, the taste of wine still on his lips.

She pressed back against him and pushed herself against his groin, rubbing against the hardness she found there. He pulled away briefly, scanning her gaze. “Is this okay? I don’t want to rush you if you’re not ready.”

Whatever his thoughts on one-night stands were, his approach caused her core to melt into a pool of hot liquid. She nodded. “I want to.”

“You don’t know how much I’ve been dreaming of fucking you.” Jason deftly unbuttoned her pants. He set his chin on her shoulder, watching her in the mirror. As he slipped his hand down into the front of her pants, she tensed against him, her eyes widening. They both watched in the mirror now, and his hand dipped lower, pushing past the skimpy fabric of the thong she’d worn.

She knew she was wet, but his fingers glided against her with skillful ease as he pushed one, then two inside her. She gasped, and his other arm braced against her breasts, pushing against them. Watching the pleasure she took from his touch seemed to embolden him, and he pulled one finger back against the tender spot that throbbed against him.

Her knees almost buckled. Still, he didn’t release her. His fingers continued to glide in and out, pushing deeper and rubbing against her with command. Pressure built within her. She hadn’t been with anyone for so long, so it wouldn’t take much.

“Oh my God, Jason,” she moaned.

Jason paused, one finger still inside her. The other finger pushed against her, back and forth, then in a circle, her own wetness the only slickness he needed to elicit electric jolts from her. She opened her eyes and met his in the mirror.

He wasn’t just finger-fucking her.

He was claiming her.

The possessiveness of his grip, the intensity of his gaze locked with hers, and then her orgasm mounted, lifting her higher until she could barely stand. His arm kept her upright, her knees shaking as he refused to relent and release her.

The lights in the room seemed to flash with her climax, and she melted back against him, a feeling of complete satiation filling her. Oh. My. God. That was incredible.

Her breath was ragged as she came down, her heart pounding through her shirt. He kissed her temple and chuckled softly, the vibration in his chest against her back. “You’re so fucking gorgeous when you come, you know that?”

What was she even supposed to say to that? Thank you? He’d just given her an incredible orgasm and hadn’t even removed a single article of clothing from her.

“Thank you,” she stammered and then opened her eyes once again. Her face was flushed, her lips redder.

He grinned, then led her away from the bathroom toward the bed. “We’re not even close to done.”

She still felt wobbly, but she slid onto the bed.

“Be right back.” Jason went out the double doors toward the living space. When he returned, he had the champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries in his hand, along with two champagne glasses.

He poured them each a glass of champagne, then set it on the nightstand.

Was there a sexy way to take jeans off? She should have thought this through more before she planned her wardrobe. Her button was still undone, and she pushed the fabric from her hips, then pulled them off her legs. Dropping her jeans to the side of the bed, she said, “I absolutely can’t stand when people leave cabinets and drawers open. It’s my biggest pet peeve. Your turn.”

Jason blinked, then gave her an amused look. He pulled the Henley he’d worn off in one swift, fluid motion, revealing his well-sculpted abs and chest. He was one of those men who genuinely looked better without a shirt. Not because he didn’t look good with a shirt. She might come again just staring at him, if that was possible. “I hate Lima beans.”

She rolled her eyes. “No fair, you already gave me a good one.”

“Fine. You get a bonus one.” He shrugged, those strong biceps showing every ripple of muscle. “My biggest pet peeve is when other people are late.”

Such a good quality. Also, so the opposite of her. “I’m always late.” She pulled her own shirt off, and the room suddenly felt colder than before. Goose bumps covered her torso. She sat back on her heels and dropped her blouse, enjoying Jason’s eyes on her body.

She’d worn the sexiest lingerie she had. “I lost my virginity when I was fifteen. To a senior on the football team. Then he broke up with me and told the entire football team about it.”

“How is it that you don’t hate men?” He winced, then unbuttoned his own pants.

“I hate some of them.” She shrugged, then crawled toward him.

He took in her position, and she could see the lust burning in his eyes. “Remind me to fuck you just like that before we go.” He pushed his pants from his hips, and her eyes went to the bulge in his black boxer briefs. “I lost my virginity when I was sixteen. My grandfather was out of town, and I threw a party. Of course, he came back early and found me having sex in his bed with my high school girlfriend.”

“That can’t have gone over well.” She pulled him down to sit beside her.

“It didn’t.” He leaned over and held her chin between his forefinger and thumb. “He transferred me to an all-boys boarding school.”

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you’re not gay, or that would have totally blown up in his face.” She set her arm over his shoulder. They both chortled, and she pressed her forehead against his.

“I think it works out for both of us that I’m not gay.” Jason took her wrists and pinned her back to the bed. “Now, I’m going to take off the rest of your clothes, and you’re welcome to tell me two facts...later.”

“As long as you tell me one.” She nodded toward his boxer briefs.

“Deal.” He lowered his mouth to hers again. Her lips moved against his, her tongue colliding with his as his hands released her wrists and then slid to her breasts. His thumbs brushed against her nipples, over the fabric, and she moaned.

His fingers quickly unlatched the hooks, and he pushed the bra away, revealing her breasts to the cool air. He pulled his head back, staring at her breasts. “You are spectacular, Jen.”

His head lowered, and he kissed her nipples, one after the other, sucking on them until white heat curled through her. His hands pulled the thong from her hips, and he parted her legs with his knee, his fingers seeking her entrance once again.

As his kisses grazed lower, she trembled. He paused briefly, taking her in with his gaze, then pushed her knees so they were bent, her feet flat against the comforter. He dropped his head between her legs, his kisses gentle, then more demanding as his tongue explored further. “Jason...” she breathed, and he held her hips.

“You taste incredible,” he whispered against her, pushing two fingers inside her.

As his tongue stroked her, her hips rose against his mouth, her body feeling like it was floating as the movement drove her to heights that made her moan uncontrollably. She dug her fingers into the top of his head, gripping his hair. “Jason—”

“Yeah, babe?”

The term of endearment almost undid her. “I want you inside me.” She looked down at his head, nestled between her legs, his eyes cutting to her with full control of what he was doing to her. “Please.”

“Soon,” he promised, and then his tongue stroked her harder. She groaned, her hips rising against his mouth, and he locked her there, holding her hips as her body tried to get away from the incredible rise of spectacular bliss that poured through every nerve ending of her legs, making her feet tingle, rising through her in waves. She was moaning louder than before, crying his name.

Her heart didn’t slow as he lifted his head, then kissed her mouth. “You’re so wet. And I’ve wanted you for days. So it might be rough, is that okay?”

She nodded. She wasn’t sure when he’d taken off his boxers, but staring at him now, her own lust took control. He was bigger than she’d expected he’d be. As he reached for a condom in his jeans, she tried to catch her breath.

Once he’d covered himself, he pushed her legs apart once more, holding her hips. He encircled her entrance, pushing against her with gentle pressure, and then he took her in a swift motion.

Oh my God.

She closed her eyes, the pressure of his length hitting deep inside her, ripping a scream of pleasure from her throat. She’d forgotten how good this could be.

Had it ever been this good?

He pushed harder and harder, her hips rising to meet her movement. Then he stopped, pulled away, and she gasped at the lack of him. He flipped her onto her stomach. “Can you get on your hands and knees again?”

She nodded, and his palms cupped her ass, and he pushed inside her once again, going deeper this time.

Thank God they were in a suite. Her volume was too loud. She was practically screaming cries of pleasure as he drove deeper. One hand slid around her hip and down between her legs, playing with her once again. “I want you to come again for me,” he told her. “I’m going to keep fucking you until you come again.”

She drove her face into a pillow, holding it against it as he continued to pound against her, his hand relentless in stroking her until he’d brought her to another height of pleasure, shattering her completely.

His own release came soon after, and he stilled, then withdrew, collapsing on the bed beside her. His chest heaved, his eyes closed.

Jen lay there, out of breath, then reached out for a chocolate-covered strawberry. She took a bite, then turned her face toward him. “Two things.”

He laughed. “I don’t know if I can even talk right now.”

She could barely think straight, the euphoric feeling of pure bliss still cascading over her body. “Number one, sex with you is better than this chocolate-covered strawberry. Which is the actual best chocolate combo of all, by the way, so that’s saying a lot. And thank you.” She offered him the rest of the strawberry.

“Thank you. ” Jason opened one eye. He grinned, then finished the strawberry. “And I concur.”

She smiled. “You concur with what?”

“Definitely the strawberry thing. Best combo. But also—sex with you. I may be addicted.”

He was probably just saying that, but she still liked to hear it. “And number two...I really like you, Jason Sutter. And I don’t think that’s going to end with tonight.”