Burning Hunger Read online

  The next time she tried to pull her arm away from him Chaz, let her. She opened her mouth to say something but since it appeared he wasn’t expecting a response she turned and started walking again. She caught his heavy sigh behind her and smiled. It wasn’t in her nature to dislike anyone, or let them think that she did, but in this case, it might aid her in keeping a good, safe distance between them.

  It surprised her when she started to reach for the door to the lobby of her apartment building and his hand got there first. “Thank you.” She stepped inside the decorative foyer, passed the concierge, and headed straight for the elevator; avoiding Chaz’s eyes she punched the button to the elevator.

  “Is there some place else you’d rather go on vacation than Florida?”

  The deep rasp of his sexy voice drew her gaze to his sensuous mouth. “Purgatory?”

  Chaz threw back his head and the deep rich sound of his laughter filled the lobby. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a skier. You look more like the beach goddess type.”

  Was he being purposely obtuse? But the longer Val starred into his amused eyes the more she realized that he knew exactly what she’d meant. The elevator door opened and they stepped inside. It was about to close when a voice called out, “Hold the elevator, please!”

  The man just managed to stick his arm through the narrow opening, forcing the doors to open again. Chaz slowly moved in front of her as though to protect her, forcing Val to take a step back. His large bulk grew taut, and she sensed he was on guard.

  “You live here?” he casually questioned the man.

  “No, not yet,” the stranger replied. He had a long way to go to meet Chaz’s gaze. “But hopefully soon, I’m meeting my wife and the realtor at the apartment now.”

  Chaz nodded, and Val saw his stance relax somewhat, apparently satisfied that the man wasn’t a threat. She smiled, imagining that an angry Chaz would be a force to be reckoned with. He looked like he could handle anything. Then she realized he was watching her reaction in the mirror surrounding them. Her smile vanished, and she looked up to see what floor they were on.

  Why is it taking so long to reach the seventh floor?

  Finally the doors opened and the stranger stepped aside so they could leave. Val turned down the hallway leading to her apartment, digging in her purse for her keys as she walked. When she stopped at her door to unlock it she could feel Chaz’s presence behind her. He was close; she could feel his warm breath against the back of her neck. A tingle shimmied down her spine. Val couldn’t get the door open and alarm off fast enough.

  “Well?” She laid her purse and keys down on the marble countertop when they reached the kitchen. “What’s next, cowboy?”

  Chaz grinned. “While you were making sure your father hadn’t forgotten anything work related, I made a phone call. A friend is going to fly us to the Keys in the morning.”

  The Keys. I haven’t been there in ten years. In spite of herself, Val was growing excited about Chaz’s vacation choice. She was suddenly looking forward to some sun and relaxation.

  “Have you been to Florida?”

  Val nodded. “A couple of times. Once on spring break, and again ten years ago.” Suddenly feeling ashamed of how she’d treated him earlier, she asked, “What about you?”

  “It’s been a while for me, too. In fact, I’m due for a vacation.”

  “Then maybe we’ll both get a little something out of this.”

  Aware of how suggestive her comment sounded, Val wasn’t surprised by the silence that followed, and she couldn’t seem to draw her gaze away from Chaz’s darkly, sensual one. He glanced away first. She felt her nipples rise when his gaze dropped and lingered a little too long on her breasts. Was he wondering how her D-size breasts would look in a bikini top?

  Val was tall and slender, yet cursed with large breasts that drew more attention than she liked, especially in her line of work. Normally she wore a concealing jacket, but had skipped it today in favor of a more feminine look. Without being obvious she glanced past Chaz at the mirror on the wall. She still looked professional in a lavender blouse made of flowing georgette, and a gray pencil style skirt.

  As his gaze continued a slow descent down her body she kicked off her heels which brought her down at least two inches. Standing so close to Chaz made her aware of just how tall the man was. Why am I suddenly so nervous? Maybe it was because Chaz was eating her up with his eyes, and not being very subtle about it.

  Val had seen that hungry look in a man’s eyes before, plenty of times. After work and on weekends she liked to go dancing at the local bars and flirt with men she met there, had even gone home with a few in her younger days. Craig’s marriage proposal had been a quick fix to end her careless ways when she’d grown tired of one-night stands.

  But that only reminded Val how long it had been since she’d had the sexual gratification of a good one-night stand. Something about doing it with a stranger was as exciting as it was dangerous. And suddenly she found herself horny beyond belief. Trying for nonchalance she reached for the clip in her hair and released it. Once the blonde tresses fell across her shoulders she ran her fingers through them and massaged her scalp.

  “What time will you pick me up in the morning?”

  Chaz had been watching the cascade of thick hair tumbling down around her face when her words finally seemed to register. His gaze met hers. Then a slow smile made the corners of his sexy lower lip turn up. Damn, she wanted to bite that lip, and then draw it into her mouth and suck on it until they were both a little breathless.

  “I’m not going anywhere tonight.” His words were clipped and final, and he backed it up by crossing his arms over his massive chest.

  “I can turn on my alarm. I’ll be safe,” Val insisted. The thought of Chaz spending the night was as exciting as it was frightening.

  He shook his head. “No good, remember what your father said? I’m your shadow.”

  “I only have one bedroom,” she lied. Well, it wasn’t exactly a lie. Her guest bedroom had turned into a huge walk-in closet a long time ago. There was a bed in there somewhere.

  Chaz’s gaze moved to the couch. “Won’t be the first time I’ve had to sleep on the sofa.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Val slapped her hands on her hips, unaware that the action pulled her blouse tight across her breasts.

  “Yes, ma’am.” She began to tingle all over from the sensual look melting the chocolate of his eyes. “Unless you have a better idea.”

  Yeah, you can always sleep on top of me. Val quickly banished from her mind the erotic thought of a naked Chaz keeping her warm. She thought about the vibrator under her pillow. It would come in handy tonight. She’d have to keep it on low so he wouldn’t hear it from the next room while sleeping on the sofa.

  “Sorry,” Val said. “A pillow and a couple of blankets are all you’re gonna get from me.” She turned and went to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Her victory of getting in the last word was short lived, though. When she turned to glance at the clock she found that it wasn’t anywhere near bedtime.

  She opened her door. Chaz hadn’t moved from his spot, standing there with an amused grin on his face as, if knowing she’d be right back out.

  “It’s too early for bed,” she said, feeling a little embarrassed.

  “How about some dinner?” He suggested.

  Val thought about the club she favored. The Moonshine Club had good food, drinks, and dancing. It sure beat staying home and eating something tasteless from the pantry, and sharing an awkward evening while trying to make polite chit-chat with a man she was hot to fuck.

  “That sounds good. Let me go freshen up first. And there’s a bathroom down the hall if you’d like to do the same.”

  Val turned and left before he responded.

  Chapter 3

  “This was a good choice.” Chaz sipped his beer, soaking up the celebratory atmosphere surrounding them. Between the conversations and the music, the place was lo
ud, packed with patrons at the bar, and on the dance floor. Most of the candle-lit tables were full, too, with the exception of a couple. Waitresses hustled to and from the kitchen, while the aroma of food swirled around their heads.

  Val nodded, glancing around as if looking for someone. A couple of times she waved at someone but by the time he looked whoever it was had gone back to what they were doing, becoming just another face in the crowd, another body twisting on the dance floor.

  “Looking for someone?” Chaz wondered if it was Craig, whom she had yet to explain her relationship with. Not that she had to. He was just curious.

  “Old friends,” she explained. “I haven’t been here in a while.”

  Chaz lifted an eyebrow but remained quiet. He’d known what kind of woman Val was the moment they’d met, yet her behavior toward him had surprised and amused him. He knew their attraction was mutual, yet the lady was definitely nervous around him.

  She smiled. “Oh, come on, Mr. Evans. I used to thrive on the nightlife. The bar hopping and parties, the one-night stands.” She took a sip of her wine. “Just like you.”

  Chaz’s gaze lingered on the pretty lips taking in wine. “So you think you know me?”

  She shrugged. “It takes one to know one. And I could tell you were a Casanova the second my eyes lit on you at Marissa’s last month.”

  She was right. He liked women, all women. And until recently he was the fuck-them-once-and-move on-type. He wasn’t proud of himself. But it wasn’t as if the lady didn’t benefit from it, too. Most of them were like him, and understood that a night in his bed was all they would get. He wasn’t looking for emotional attachments or happily ever after. Neither were they. Just fun and games. The problem was the last couple of women he’d been with hadn’t satisfied him. Something had changed.

  Chaz supposed that now that his brothers Beau and Blade had found love, he wanted that too. He’d never seen them as happy and content as they were with Marissa and Callie, not to mention little Mason Evans, born just a few days ago. His brother Beau, older than him by four minutes, was captivated by his first son. He couldn’t help but wonder if Callie and Blade would be starting their own family soon.

  Bringing his beer up for a long drink he stared at Val over the rim. She was a beautiful woman, and a month ago he would have wooed her into his bed, fucked her senseless, and said goodbye. He’d known she was a party-girl. Yet something significant had changed that evening. A man knew when a woman was interested, just as he knew when she was giving off “keep your distance” vibes.

  “Come on; let’s dance before our dinner arrives.” Chaz got to his feet and held his hand out to Val.

  She rose slowly. It gave him a chance to run his gaze over her changed appearance with appreciation. She’d exchanged her skirt for a pair of form fitting jeans. The georgette blouse, though loose fitting, flowed against her figure giving him glimpses of her generous breasts and slender waist. Chaz had the urge to feel her curves against him. When she finally put her hand into his he led them to the dance floor.

  She turned gracefully into his arms, and he pulled her even closer against him. The first thing Chaz noticed was her light scent, then the softness of her fragrant hair against his nose. He clenched his teeth, unprepared for the rapid reaction of his body. They moved slowly to the music, and he was aware of every movement her lower body made against his tortured hardening cock.

  A soft sigh escaped her, and to his surprise Val wound her arms up and around his neck. It meshed their bodies until they became one. Does she know what she’s doing? There was no way he could hide his hard-on, and he found he didn’t want to. He wanted her to know what she was doing to him, to know that he wanted her. Without protest from her he wedged his leg between hers. He felt her shudder.

  His hands flexed against her waist. Then, unable to help himself, his palms smoothed over her hips and around to her shapely bottom. Her jeans were skin tight, letting him feel that she wasn’t wearing panties. His cock throbbed at the discovery and he squeezed her rounded cheeks before he could stop himself. His breathing turned heavy as he imagined what it would feel like fucking her sweet ass.

  Chaz wasn’t the only one breathing hard. Val was definitely affected by their intimate proximity. In fact, the lady was straining against him like a cat seeking to be petted. Smiling to himself, he nuzzled his nose into the hair behind her ear, before clamping his teeth down onto her earlobe and giving it a tug. He wanted to devour her.

  She gasped and pulled back to meet his eyes. Even on the dark dance floor he could see hers were ablaze with desire. “I think we should return to our table now.”

  Her tone was barely above a whisper, and shaky, and yet Chaz heard her loud and clear. He glanced over to see that the waitress had just delivered their food. “Maybe we can finish this later.” A vision of their naked, entangled bodies brought him into full-blown arousal, the kind that would linger until fed.

  He seated her and then went around the table to sit in his own chair. God, he was hungry. And it wasn’t for the thick steak sitting in a puddle of blood on his plate. He was ravenous for Val, not just any woman, as it had been in the past. He wanted to taste every inch of her…inside and out.

  He fought down the primal lust simmering in his blood and decided it would be best to focus on his dinner, as Val was doing. He grinned to himself when it became obvious that she was keeping her head bent so their gazes wouldn’t meet. Maybe she’d been as turned on as he had been, and was fighting it, like he should be.

  “That was good,” she said sometime later, putting her napkin over her plate and pushing it aside. “I always get the veal when I come here.”

  Chaz had finished up long ago, and had just sat back and watched Val eat, pretending interest in his warm beer and the activities around them. He was always aware of the woman across from him and what she was doing to him. She had to know he wanted her. Yet when she was able to look him in the eyes again she remained aloof, and, if he didn’t know better, slightly amused. He narrowed his eyes.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  The waitress appeared as if she’d been waiting for them to finish. “Can I get you folks anything else?”

  He and Val exchanged glances. Chaz got the impression she was as ready as he was to get out of there. “Just the check, please.” The waitress pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him, and at the same time, he saw Val reach for her purse. “I’ll get this.” He reached for his wallet.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “Least I can do, considering you’re going to lend me your couch tonight.” He got to his feet. “Let’s get a good night’s sleep. Our plane leaves early in the morning.”

  “We’re leaving already? And here I thought you wanted to finish that dance,” she teased. She rose to her feet and reached for her purse.

  So, she got her kicks flirting when she assumed it wouldn’t lead anywhere. That was a mistake on her part. He wasn’t some inexperienced young kid who suddenly found himself tongue-tied when a pretty lady pays him a little attention. Chaz didn’t move, and waited for her to realize it. Her gaze came up to meet his. He was careful to keep his expression indifferent. He didn’t want Val thinking she had him under her control.

  “What?”

  “Don’t play the innocent with me, Val. You’re playing with fire if you think I won’t take the bait.” He wasn’t in the mood for games

  Her eyes rounded with innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She sounded so sincere, only Chaz knew better. Had she already forgotten that they were cut from the same cloth? He knew how it worked. He decided to let it drop for now. It was the wrong place and the wrong time. Would she test him when they were alone? He couldn’t wait to find out the answer.

  “Let’s go. Stay close.” He led the way to the door, carefully scrutinizing the surrounding area and people as they went.

  Once outside, a different kind of threat greeted them. It was dark,
and though the businesses along the road were well lit, and there were street lights spaced regularly between the buildings, darkness still lurked well beyond what he could see. Plenty of places for someone to hide in wait. Chaz didn’t like being out in the open. He grabbed Val’s arm and pulled her along side of him, picking up speed.

  He’d been forced to park across the street. Checking both ways, they ran the rest of the way to his truck. He crowded Val against the passenger door with his body, ignoring her indrawn hiss, unlocked the door and quickly ushered her inside. Not until he was pulling out into traffic and heading back to her place did he spare her a glance.

  “Sorry for any unnecessary roughness.” He wasn’t sorry that he’d had a moment to enjoy the feel of her pressed snugly against him when he’d been crowding her against his truck. It had taken all he had not to touch her the way he wanted to, and then take her lips in a hard kiss.

  “That’s okay, cowboy, I won’t break.” Her tone was light and understanding.

  “Is there another way to get to your apartment other than through the main lobby? A delivery entrance?” Chaz was almost certain there was. An upscale place like Ivory Towers wouldn’t want cleaning services and deliveries walking through the foyer all day long.

  “I know there’s a loading dock, and I’m sure there’s a back door entrance, but I don’t know where it’s located. Why?”

  “I don’t like the idea of taking you in through the front.” Too much could go wrong between where they parked and walking to the building.

  “That didn’t bother you earlier today,” she said.

  “It wasn’t dark then,” he explained, shooting her a look.

  She laughed softly. “Well, I can guarantee you that no one will expect to see me pull up in a truck.”

  She had a point. If Cramer had made plans to get rid of her, they’d be looking for her Mercedes which was back at her office. Unless, we were followed from the club. There was really no way of knowing the who, when or how of any attack planned by a psycho. Chaz was glad they were flying out of there in the morning.