Page 4 of Body

I gasp at her crassness.

“You’ve been uptight lately. You said yourself he’s the kind of guy women want to bed. Just think about it. You’re young,mi amiga!Start acting twenty four instead of forty four.”

I sigh and blow out a long breath. “You’ve got a point. I’ll think about it. How ‘bout I call you tomorrow after my first board meeting. I’m going to head to bed so I can hit the gym first thing.” I yawn loudly, and realize I’m spent.

Maria really does have a point. I have been way too uptight. The last relationship I had, if you could call it that, was with Daniel, the wimp.

That’s unfair. It’s not really that he was a wimp. He was just too sensitive for me. Treated me like a princess and cried at chick flicks. I rarely cry. He was also really boring in bed. Only interested in the missionary position, never straying from the norm. He freaked out when I suggested he take me from behind. His shocked voice rumbled in my brain,“You want to be fucked like a whore, Gigi? Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”The thought of the jerk makes me ill. I need a man who knows his way around a woman. One who will excite me; make me come regularly without fearing being hurt. Daniel never gave me much pleasure, but he never once touched me in anger.

Ria’s disgruntled voice brings me back from my reverie.

“Ugh! You are always hitting the gym. Bree would be proud though. Me, I’m going to sit down and enjoy a fat dinner with Tommy. Things are heating up, and I think I’m finally going to get him to take me to bed!” she exclaims excitedly.

Watching Maria fawn over a man is completely new territory. Most men fall all over themselves to be near her, not the other way around. “Anticipation makes the experience all the better,” I remind her. “Enjoy the attention he’s lavishing on you. At least he actually wants to be with you, not just jump your bones.” I laugh and hear her frustrated growl.

“I wantmis huesosjumped!”

“Good luck with that. Enjoy your dinner. I’m exhausted from traveling and its two hours ahead here,” I remind her with another loud yawn.

“Goodnight,Cara Bonita. Te quiero. Besos.”

“I love you too.Besos.”

I hook the phone to the charger and slip into a nightgown. After scanning my texts, I decide to do a mass text to the girls and Phillip. My other soul sisters will want to know I’m safe and sound in the Windy City. Phillip comes unglued if he doesn’t hear from me. One quick text to the group stating I’ll reach out tomorrow after the board meeting, and I’m ready to hit the hay.

I’m nervous about the day, never having been to a Board of Directors meeting for the Safe Haven Foundation. My hope is that I can impress them with my campaign statistics and fundraising accomplishments for the year. Closing my eyes, I slow my breathing, allowing jumpy nerves to relax. I fall asleep dreaming of Caribbean blue eyes and strong hands caressing me into oblivion.

Chapter 2

Heart pounding, muscles screaming, sweat slowly trickles down my back. My breath comes in harsh pants. I’m close, so close, just a little farther, and I’ll be there. Euphoria hits, and I push that extra bit harder, taking me right over the edge. Runners high. Sweet baby Jesus, it’s so good.

My feet pound against the treadmill, and I smile in victory. A loud whoosh of breath, almost a moan, escapes me. I close my eyes in pure bliss, relishing in the feeling of being completely alive.

“Incredible,” someone whispers behind me.

I’m startled out of my nirvana. My foot hits the rubber at a slant, and I’m falling. In a useless attempt, I grapple for purchase against the metal bars of the treadmill, but my sweaty fingers slip and my body flies backward. I tumble over myself, limbs flailing. Strong arms grip my waist and haul me off the machine. I’m crushed against a solid wall of hard muscle.

“Jesus, Gillian! You could have been seriously hurt!” Chase Davis’ worried eyes search my face.

I’m stunned into silence. I feel dazed and confused. My heart is pounding a mile a minute, legs weak and wobbly and my breath comes in huge panting gasps. I grip the skin of his back tightly, trying to get my equilibrium back. His right hand caresses my face, and his left firmly holds me around my waist. If he wasn’t, I don’t know that I’d have been able to stand on my own.

“Are you okay?”

“Um, yeah. I think so.” I shake my head and bring my hands to his shoulders to steady myself. They meet naked, moist flesh, and my body becomes all too aware of just how close Chase is. Our bodies are plastered against one another. His stomach touching mine, skin to skin, as I take deep breaths. Every surface that’s touching him is warm, from his hard abdominals to his strong shoulders. Sweat trickles from his hairline, dripping down his neck. I want to lick that drop of sweat off just to see how he tastes.

Having his arms around me feels safe, as if nothing could harm me, not even him. It’s a feeling I’m unaccustomed to, but one I crave deep down to the depths of my soul. I’ve always believed those were feelings I would never, could never have, after what I’ve survived.

“Are you okay? You scared the hell out of me.” He continues to hold me while things around me slip back into focus. His thumb caresses my cheek and I look up into his eyes. I was not prepared for his level of concern, or the worry furrowing his brow. Maybe he’s not just an overconfident man with a pretty face and slick words. Begrudgingly, I realize that it’s a definite possibility that strong, dominant males don’t all use their strength to hurt others.

The pad of his finger sweeps my bottom lip. I gasp and his eyes go dark. He licks his lips. I feel his grip tighten around my waist and his hand presses against my back. He’s going to kiss me.Oh my God.

Frantically pushing away from him, I step back and hunch over to take in huge lung filling bouts of blessed air. I peer up and stand again.

His eyes question mine and a sly grin adorns his beautiful face.

The man was going to kiss me. I know it. Did I want him to kiss me?Hell yes!My mind screams. Then why the hell did I pull away?

As I come down from panic induced delirium, I finally notice him in all his glory. And oh what a sight. Glory, glory, hallelujah. Can I get an Amen? Wow. Just wow.

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