“I have this image in my head of the Peppertree as a boutique resort,” I confessed suddenly. “I’ve never told anyone about this, but I always thought my father’s style was a little too old-fashioned.”
“Oh, really? You want to question the taste of the formidable Geoffrey Simmons?” Chase teased me. I blushed.
“I know, I know. But I just always pictured this place with a different look. Cleaner. Smoother. With a punch of color. Maybe some light feminine touches here and there,” I described, the picture in my head totally vivid, at least to me.
“You know, I actually agree. I think this could be revamped as a celebrity hangout,” he mused. “My brother knows all kinds of big names. I could always give him a call and have him tell his friends to come stay here. Free publicity.”
“Really? You would do that? Do you think he would do that?” I inquired breathlessly.
“Of course,” Chase answered. “He’s my brother. Your brother-in-law. Besides, I’ve rescued that guy from so many hairy situations, he owes me. Once all the renovations are complete, he can send over his celebrity buddies to stay. That would really help reverse some of the negative publicity this place has garnered since your father’s passing.”
“That would be amazing,” I whispered. My head was full of images-- celebrities pulling up to the resort in their stretch limousines. Paparazzi waiting outside the iron gates, begging for a peek of the famous guests. The papers, printing rave reviews from a star-studded guest list. The bedraggled travelers and witless ghost hunters would be replaced by a five-star clientele bound to catapult the success of the Peppertree into the stratosphere.
“But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Right now, there’s work to be done,” Chase reminded me. I laughed.
“Yes. Of course. You’re right. Plenty of time for obsessive daydreaming later,” I agreed.
We continued to tour around the property for the majority of the day and then the next day, as well. We joked with each other when appropriate, and jumped right back into business mode when it was necessary. We bounced ideas off of one another and brainstormed more ways to spruce up the resort and bring way above the industry standard. It was glaringly obvious that Chase knew more about the ins and outs of the business of running a resort. With the lifetime of training and practice he had, and the vast number of properties under his name and management, it made perfect sense that he would have such a firm grasp on how to make it all run smoothly. I, on the other hand, lacked some of his sharp business acumen, but what I did have was an obsession for detail. And on top of that, I had a pure love for the Peppertree and its staff, all its quirks and features, that made me the perfect person to reimagine it. I knew this property like the back of my hand, having grown up here. Maybe I didn’t have a whole portfolio of resorts under my name, but what I did have was passion and perseverance.
By the end of Sunday, we were both exhausted and exhilarated from compiling a massive list of everything that needed to change about the Peppertree. We were tired but happy, and I was positively lit up with anticipation of the rebirth to come. The two of us were lying in bed, cuddled together while the cozy heat of the fireplace warmed us. We had just finished off a couple glasses of mulled wine, courtesy of my favorite bartender in the lodge restaurant, and we were feeling pretty content with life.
“I still can’t believe this is all happening,” I mumbled. My head was resting on Chase’s powerful chest as he stroked my hair softly.
“Believe it,” he told me. I could hear the smile in his voice without even looking.
I sat up and looked at him adoringly. There was no stopping my heart from chasing after him. I knew it was stupid, and I knew I would hurt later on down the line, but for now I couldn’t stop myself from being infatuated with Chase Hawthorne. Again.
“You know what could make this moment even better?” I began slowly.
“What?” he prompted. I straddled him and leaned forward to kiss him.
“If we could make a baby,” I whispered against his lips. That was all it took. Chase grabbed me and stripped off my clothes, his mouth trailing down my body as he kicked off his jeans and boxers. He stood up and pulled off his sweater, looming over me while I watched in quiet excitement. He shook his head, looking me up and down.
“What is it?” I asked, confused.
“It’s like you’re more beautiful every time I look at you. I don’t know how you do it,” he murmured. There was genuine awe in his voice. He leaned over me and kissed me softly, cradling me in his arms as he pushed his magnificent cock inside me. I moaned and clung to him as he began to thrust, slowly at first, like he was trying to take his time. He kissed my cheeks, my neck, my breasts, his tongue flicking over my stiffened nipples. I shuddered with pleasure as he nipped and sucked at my breasts, one of his hands sliding down to massage my clit while he fucked me. I had never felt so adored, so perfectly safe and content.
But he was too gentle, too patient. I wanted more. I wanted him to lose control with me again, to use my body and pump me full of his sweet seed.
“You don’t have to be so gentle,” I whispered in his ear. “Give me everything, Chase. I can take it.”
He groaned, lifting me so that we were facing each other, straddling each other as he rocked his hips, fucking me faster and faster as he started to give in to the animalistic desire to make me his own, to claim my womb for his heir. I wrapped my arms around him, holding on tightly. Waves of intense, almost unbearable pleasure ripped through my body. At this angle, his pelvis brushed against my sensitive clit with every motion, and it wasn’t long before I was crying out, shivering with orgasm.
“Oh God, it feels so good,” I sighed breathlessly. “Give it to me. Fill me up. I can’t wait to give you what you deserve. I want to give you a baby, Chase. Please.”
My words spurred him to move faster, to fuck me harder and harder until both of us were writhing, shuddering with every overwhelming spasm of bliss. Chase kissed me, his tongue probing into my mouth as we crashed against each other again and again. There was one singular motive, one shared desire above all others: to make a child. I found myself wanting it just as badly as I knew he did, and instead of frightening me, it only made the pleasure more intense.
A few more almost violent thrusts and Chase groaned, clutching me tightly as he released his seed deep inside my clenching pussy. We stayed that way for several minutes, wrapped in each other’s arms, breathing as one unit. I never wanted to let him go. This was the only place I ever wanted to be-- with Chase, in the rush of pleasure and emotions we had yet to name aloud.
But the weekend was over, and in the morning, he was on a plane back to Chicago.
21
Chase
I made my way down the windy streets of Chicago and stepped into one of my favorite coffee shops. It was a cozy little place that had been owned by the same family for generations, and it still had the best brew on this side of town.
There was no better cure for a chilly winter’s day away from my wife.