“Beautiful,” he whispered against the soft skin of her stomach.
Jack reached into his back pocket and pulled out the condom he had planted for this exact purpose. She whimpered when he pulled his hands away to put it on. But never ceasing to amaze him, Sterling picked up where he left off, and brought her hand between her legs.
“Hurry, Jack. I need you.”
He unzipped his pants and fumbled with the wrapper, but regrouped quickly. When he was sheathed, he positioned himself at her center.
She stroked his cock a few times before placing the tip at her opening to guide him inside, slowly, ever so gently, until he was buried to the hilt.
Never in his life had he thought he’d find something that brought him as much pleasure as cooking, but here it was. Here she was.
He moved inside her, picking up speed with every stroke. His hands latched on to her hips as he thrust. Sterling’s hands found her nipples, tugging at the stiff peaks.
“Faster,” she pleaded. “Harder.”
Jack was always one to give a lady what she wanted.
He moved his hips faster, the sound of flesh slapping flesh echoing in the kitchen. Sweaty skin squeaked against granite, and his knees banged into the counter. But he didn’t stop.
He couldn’t stop.
Sterling let her hand glide down her body and she reached for him. He grabbed her arms and pulled her up, fusing their bodies together as he pumped into her over and over. When their lips collided, he found his heaven.
Maybe expanding Chicago wasn’t where he belonged. Maybe he belonged with Sterling. It felt right. And she was worth sticking around for.
“There is so much I want to show you, Sterling.”
Her fingers curled around his nape and when he pumped harder, her nails dug into his skin. “I don’t need anything from you, Jack.” She moaned. “Just you. Like this.”
Something tightened inside him at her words. He didn’t have to pretend with Sterling. He never had to be “on.” He was just Jack. He was good—just as he was—because she wanted nothing. But for the very first time, he wanted to give a woman everything.
The countdown to his release had begun. “So close.”
“It’s all right.” Her hands moved from his neck to his cheeks. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Before she had even finished her sentence, the waves of release had rippled inside him. He tensed, his cock pulsing in a mind-blowing orgasm that triggered hers, her muscles tightening and clenching around him while she shuddered in his arms.
When their sweat-soaked bodies had recovered, Jack took Sterling’s face into his hands and gazed into her satisfied eyes.
Having Sterling one more time didn’t mean their deal was back on, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to survive the next three weeks without her in his bed.
He was just going to have to do everything in his power to convince her that this was a damn good idea.
Chapter Nine
The week had gone by in a blur and Sterling’s new favorite day had finally arrived. Saturday. Madewood Day.
Although things had escalated last week to a level she hadn’t intended, it was the best sex of her life. Jack Vaughn was impossible to resist and he didn’t have to do much coaxing to get into her panties again.
After they did it on the counter, they continued to feast. There wasn’t much food left by the time midnight rolled around. That’s when they took the party to Jack’s bed, where he pleasured her two more times before the sun came up.
Waking up next to him in the morning had been her favorite part, and before he left for work he had brought her breakfast in bed. But then he was gone, leaving Sterling alone to contemplate the gravity of her actions.
What would happen now that she’d slept with her employer? Again. She was making things much more complicated than they should be. This job was about money. Money she needed to secure her future. And she hated to admit it, but her heart might also be at stake. If she wasn’t careful, Jack was going to conquer that, too, just as he had her libido. This situation was so screwed up.
So then why did “screwed up” feel like the most awesome thing in the world?
Sterling was working in the closet when a booming voice from the main floor made her jump.
“Jack!”
She tensed at the sound of the strange man’s voice as it grew louder, closer.
“Jack?”
She poked her head out of the closet, a nervous tremble in her stomach, but she sighed in relief when she recognized the man. “He’s not here.”
“Shit.” Cole grabbed at his chest. When he saw her there, he smiled. But he still looked concerned, shaken. “Sterling. You scared me.”
He stood in the doorway, his thick frame taking up most of the space. His eyes were intense, sad. He brushed his hand through his hair.