it vanishes into the ocean. I quietly set the plates on the table and then walk over to Chelsea and run my lips up her beautiful neck. I start at the base and work my way up until I reach her lips. She moans in pleasure as I lick, suck and make love to her mouth. I tug lightly on her bottom lip with my teeth and then pull away only to hear her whimper as I leave the deck to return to the kitchen and grab a bottle of red wine and two glasses.
“Tease,” she glares at me when I return.
“It’s not a tease, baby. It’s a preview.”
Chelsea throws me a sexy smile then looks down at her plate. “Wow, it all looks so good. I can’t believe you cooked all this.”
She seems impressed with the food and I’m wondering if I should confess that I had a little help.
“I love a man that can cook.”
Fuck that, I ain’t confessing to anything. It’s not like it’s a huge lie. Right ? “Do you now?”
“Thank God I have the metabolism to be able to eat like this.” She says as she stuffs a fork full of roasted potatoes in her mouth.
God that mouth.
“Because I love to eat.”
Note to self. First thing tomorrow, sign up for cooking classes. “Eat up, baby.”
“So when do you leave again?” Chelsea asks between bites. “Don’t you have a few games coming up?” She pushes away her empty plate and looks up at me.
“Sunday afternoon. We’re flying to Atlanta to play against the Braves and then off to Chicago and Kansas City.” I hate to leave Chelsea at this point, but I have to put my career first right now.
She looks down at her wine glass and fidgets with the stem.
I wonder if she’s disappointed that she won’t see me for a week. She says she doesn’t want more from me. Damn woman is so hard to read. And they say men are unreadable. Fuck. I wonder if she would come with me. Maybe I’ll just throw it out there and see what she says.
“You know . . .” I pause, not knowing if I’m ruining this chance with her. Chelsea takes a sip of her wine, looking over the rim of her glass at me as she does. “You could always come with me if you want.” I casually gaze at her, all the while my insides are a bundle of nerves.
Chelsea almost spews her wine all over the table. She grabs for a napkin and dabs her mouth.
“It was nothing more than a suggestion, Chelsea. I didn’t ask you to marry me.” I push back in my chair, feeling annoyed. I reach for the dirty dishes to take them to the kitchen.
I’m rinsing the plates in the sink when I feel Chelsea’s hand on my back. “Derek,” the feel of her lips on my shoulder blades burns through the fabric of my shirt. Everything about this woman sets me on fire. “Honey,” she whispers, her fingertips trailing up and under the hem of my shirt.
I shut the water off and spin around until I am facing her. “No more talking.”
Placing my hands on her hips, I push her backwards until her ass is up against the counter island. My lips make a beeline for her neck. Chelsea grips my biceps, pulling me closer. My mouth makes its way down to the curve of her throat, lightly nipping at the delicate skin over her collarbone.
I tug on the hem of her shirt. “This is in my way.” I say as I pull it up and over her head. I toss it on the floor, never allowing my gaze to leave her beautiful body. Licking and sucking my way down to the soft skin on her chest. I wrap my arms under her ass, pick her up, and carry her up the stairs, down the hall and into my bedroom.
I set her down in front of my bed. “Derek,” she moans into my chest.
“Shhh,” I unzip the zipper on the front of her denim skirt, sliding it and her panties down until they pool at her feet. “Spend the night with me.”
Chelsea doesn’t say anything. She just looks longingly into my eyes, or at least I hope she is. She’s probably scared to death of me trying to get more from her. God, I wish I could read her mind. I can’t figure out why she is so into me one minute, but the second I ask