The Everlasting Chapel (8 page)

“Are you alright?” Spencer asks.

“Can we go home? I’m not feeling all that
well,” I say.

“Of course,” he says, rising to his feet
right away. We get our jackets, and head to the car.

“I’m sorry I kissed you earlier. I mean, I
don’t usually maul my dates like that,” I say once we’re on the
road.

He grins. “I rather liked it. You can do
that to me anytime, anywhere,” he says. “But is something bothering
you? You were gone for a while, and when you came back, you seemed
pissed off at the world. I hope you aren’t regretting kissing
me.”

“I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“If it was the kiss…” he starts.

“I guess when you started dancing, and with
the music and tequila…I shouldn’t have done it.”

“Yeah, my dance moves usually have that
effect on women.” He glances at me sideways and grins.

His comment immediately puts me at ease and
my lips widen into a smile. “Well, I just need to let you know that
I’m not ready for a relationship. I’m sorry I overstepped my
boundaries.”

“Is that what this is about?” he asks.

“It’s part of it,” I say, not wanting to get
any further into the details. I’m still really turned on by what
Michael said, and being alone with Spencer now, feeling the alcohol
taking effect, this could be a big problem.

“Listen, we don’t need to talk about
commitment or anything. Let’s just be friends, and if benefits
follow, then great. If not, that’s great, too.” He has stopped at a
light and looks directly at me.

It might be the alcohol, it might be how I
hate Michael right now, but suddenly Spencer has become extremely
attractive. And with how I feel at the moment, I really need
someone to…

No! I’m not a slut. I’m not a slut. I am not
a slut. Dammit. I’m still so revved up from Michael that I don’t
know how to come down. “No commitments?”

“Not if you don’t want.” He glides a hand
down my cheek. “Sex doesn’t have to be so serious, and one doesn’t
have to be in a committed relationship to enjoy it. At least that’s
my philosophy.”

“Can we go back to your place?” I ask.

“Are you…are you sure? I mean, I know you
drank quite a bit back there. I absolutely don’t want to take
advantage even if there are no commitments.” When I don’t say
anything, he continues. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I
would be more than happy to pleasure you all through the night, but
I need to make sure it doesn’t ruin our friendship. I don’t want to
lose it or you.”

“I’m buzzed, that’s all. And no, I won’t let
it ruin our friendship as long as you won’t either.”

“I won’t,” he says with a smile, biting the
tip of his tongue. “I’ve had a lot of practice.”

“Good,” I say. I need someone who can give
me max pleasure and make me forget.

8

Once we arrive at Spencer’s bachelor pad
apartment, the tequila is really making my head spin. On the ride
over, I had some time to come down from the frenzy of need that
Michael put me in and to think about what the hell I’m doing. My
conclusion is this: I absolutely shouldn’t be dong this, but I also
absolutely don’t give a shit right now. Forget tomorrow. Forget
yesterday. All I want is to live in the moment, to be free, and to
have a great orgasm with no strings attached. I deserve it after
what I’ve gone through.

Spencer lives on the top floor of a one
hundred floor building, and has a garden on the roof. His place is
nice, clean, and new, with white marble floors, a gourmet kitchen,
an open floor plan, and a great view of the city.

After hanging my coat up, he squeezes in
behind me, wraps his arms around my waist, and leans his cheek
against mine.

“Are you still sure about this?” he whispers
into my ear. “Because we could just watch a movie if you want.”

A shiver of delight rushes through me, and I
turn around to meet his intense, green eyes. Cupping his face with
my hand, I say, “Yes, I’m sure.” I kick my wedges off, and stand a
few inches below him. Michael is much taller, but Spencer
definitely has more muscle on him.

“Are
you
having second thoughts?” I
ask.

“Hell, no.” He gets a scheming smile on his
lips. “Would you like a drink?”

“Do you have any scotch or rum?” I ask.

“Rum, coming right up,” he says. He goes
over to the bar—yes, he has a bar in his apartment—and pours me a
glass. He turns on
Crazy Right Now
and walks back to me, the
mood immediately changing. Handing me the half-f glass, I stare
at him. He doesn’t seem phased by my stare. I remember again how he
used to be a stripper, and he’s probably used to girls drooling and
ogling him.

After he watches me down my drink, he pulls
his shirt off, revealing a stunning chest, and a to-die-for six
pack. Hell, there’s no fat anywhere, and I can see every single
muscle on his upper body. I reach out and touch his chest, letting
my fingers drag downward across each deep indent. His tan, silky
skin turns to goose bumps beneath my fingertips.

“You look amazing,” I say. He must really
have been one of the club’s favorites. From the bulging biceps to
the defined shoulders, to the deep lines in his abdomen that lead
to the bulge in is pants, every part of him oozes sex.

I feel my breaths quicken. Am I really going
to do this? Can I go through with it? No commitment? Not even a
desire for one? And when my heart belongs to someone else entirely?
Not only can I, I must. I have to break this spell Michael has on
me, the very one that is tearing me apart and keeping me from
moving forward.

“Are you sure you want this?” Spencer asks.
“Because…”

If he asks me that one more time, I’m going
to slap him. Instead, I reach behind his head and draw him close to
me, closing the space between our lips. For every kiss, the voice
in my head that says I’m making a huge mistake grows stronger and
stronger. I stuff it down, and instead focus on how firm his ass is
and how hungry his arms are.

The way he moves his hips, definitely turns
me on. It’s more refined than what Michael does. Spencer’s hips
have a smooth, controlled motion to them, and the way he touches me
almost seems choreographed.

He leads me into his bedroom while pulling
off my tank top. I unhitch my bra, ease it off, and let it fall to
the floor. I slide out of my black leather miniskirt, and shimmy
out of it so I’m only standing in my panties.

He takes a step back, his eyes scanning me
up and down. His smile widens into an excited grin.

“I have feeling we’re going to make each
other very happy tonight,” he says.

* * *

I wake up to a hand softly stroking my
cheek. At first, I think it’s Vivian, but when I hear a deep voice,
I abruptly open my eyes.

“Sleep well?” Spencer asks. He has a towel
wrapped around his waist, and his blond hair is messy and wet.

Then…holy crap. What did I do last night?
And, shit…I’m naked! I pull the white silky sheets over me,
although I realize it’s way too late for modesty.

“I made you some breakfast. You’re more than
welcome to stay as long as you’d like, but I have to get to work.
There’s an emergency, and they need me at the hospital.” He lifts
up a key. “These are for my blue Audi so you can get home. It’s
parked in the basement parking garage in spot number sixty-nine.”
He winks at me and I feel my cheeks heat up. “The door to the
apartment will lock automatically, so you don’t have to worry about
closing up.” He places the key on the white nightstand, kisses me
on the forehead, and stands up. “I had a great time last night. I
hope we can still be friends.”

I rub my eyes, trying to remember exactly
what did happen last night. Too much tequila, too much rum. I watch
Spencer pull on his scrubs.

“I won’t be back until very late. I hope you
have a great day. Want to do lunch again tomorrow?” he says.

I drive my elbow into the mattress and lean
my head into my palm. “I’d love that.”

Watching him move, he seems lighter and
happier somehow. Me, however, I’m just putting up a façade and know
the minute he leaves, I’ll start to second-guess what I did. Hell,
I’m already second-guessing it.

He sits down at the base of the bed and puts
his shoes on, and the next thing I know he kisses my lips, and then
he’s out the door.

Falling back into the mattress, memories of
last night flood my mind.

The way he had been so attentive to my every
need, asking me if I liked it. How gentle he’d been, his fingertips
and lips skimming across every part of me, warming me up. Spencer’s
breath turning hard as I struggled with his belt buckle. The
passionate, desperate kisses in between. Spencer removing his pants
as I fell into his bed laughing. The vibrator he’d suddenly
produced and used…

Oh, God. He used a hot pink vibrator on me
and I had come several times! I grab a pillow and scream into it.
Last night I hadn’t even blinked when he asked me if it was okay
that he used it. Today…gosh, I can’t even think about it without
giggling.

…
Spencer’s erection springing free as I
tore off his boxers. My anticipation growing stronger as I took in
the sight of him. Wrapping my fingers around his hardness. Plunging
him into my mouth. His loud, sexy moans that vibrated through me.
His hands caressing my face as I sucked hard. Laughing as he picked
me up and gently shoved me onto the bed. The rip of foil, and him
rolling on the condom. Him kneeling before me, his eyes wild with
desire, my insides throbbing with need. The moment he had entered
me. So gentle. So filling. So delicious.

His kisses on my face as he held himself up
on his elbows. Me wrapping my legs around him, telling him to go
harder. Not hard enough. Him laughing, whispering for me to be
patient as he warmed me up. Our thrusts coming together, slowly
increasing in speed and intensity.

My desire building. A moment where I closed
my eyes and saw Michael’s face. Me burying the pain deep, deep
down. Spencer’s moans bringing me back, his pants, grunts, and
calling my name pushing me over the edge, so I found my
release.

Him collapsing on top of me—limp. Our
breaths labored, competing against the R & B music in the
background. Him kissing me one last time, telling me how wonderful
it was for him, and how he hoped I enjoyed it. Me thinking hell,
yes, I enjoyed it, but all his concern for me became a little
annoying, and made me feel weak. Me collapsing into his arms, and
quickly drifting off to sleep.

I am not going to regret this. I am going to
hold my head high, and not feel guilty for one second. The
unfortunate thing is that when you have to tell yourself that you
will not feel something, you already are feeling that exact
emotion.

But why should I feel guilty? I have no
commitment to Michael and he hasn’t committed anything to me. Well,
other than that he would wait for me. But in reality, I can’t trust
that. Only time will tell, and until that time, I’m going to
continue to live my life.

I slowly make my way into the shower,
feeling delightfully sore and still slightly dizzy. Last night,
Spencer had felt so gentle the entire time, and it had all been
like a dream. Of course it could have been the tequila and rum in
my system, but something tells me Spencer has had a lot of practice
in the woman-pleasing department.

I see the vibrator on the bathroom counter
and laugh as I pick it up. God, I need to get me one of these.

I have nothing to wear other than the mini
skirt and tank top I wore last night, so I slip those on. When I
get to Spencer’s kitchen, I see a plate of scrambled eggs and
English muffins. I smile. He’s so thoughtful, and always a
gentleman. A girl could get used to this type of treatment. But
even as nice and wonderful as everything has been, I still can’t
ignore the fact that I feel there’s something missing. Spencer
definitely feels like a friend with amazing benefits type guy.

Michael, however, is a lover.

9

I take the elevator down, and easily locate
Spencer’s cobalt blue Audi in the parking garage. It’s so clean and
shiny, I wonder if he just bought it. He’s going to let me drive
this? I mean, I’m a pretty good driver. I haven’t had an accident
since I backed into the principal’s car at the beginning of my
senior year in high school. That was embarrassing, and everyone at
school teased me about it the rest of the year. But Spencer’s
really putting a lot of trust in me. It’s sweet. What does a car
like this cost? A hundred grand? Well, I suppose once the check
clears, if I wreck his car, buying him a new one won’t be an
issue.

I hop into the car, and start the engine.
When I press on the gas pedal, it purrs like a kitten. Driving out
of the parking garage, I hardly feel the bumps in the road, and the
vehicle handles tight and shoots forward with the slightest push of
the gas pedal.

When I finally get out onto the streets,
though, I find that traffic is horrible. Then I remember—there’s a
huge concert today at the Portland Expo Center. To avoid the
congestion, I decide to take a shortcut through one of the
not-so-well-known, wooded backstreets.

About halfway home, however, I drive over
something, and immediately after, the car starts wobbling
uncontrollably. Feeling anxious that I might have destroyed
Spencer’s perfect car, I pull over to the side of the road and get
out. Dammit! I knew it was too good to be true.

Skirting around the car, I see that one of
the tires has a flat. Crap! What do I do now? I don’t have any type
of insurance at the moment. Spencer is at the hospital, and
unavailable. Anne is probably in the middle of a church
service.