His Loving Caress

The image of such appeared at the forefront of her mind, and she had to shut it off and fast before she did the unthinkable. Suppressing a gulp, she conjured up a smirk. “Hmm...and your singing is still off-key.”

He released a hearty laugh, but then closed the gap between them and rested a dark stare on her. “Baby, I don’t sing. I play the piano and another instrument very, very well. And if memory serves me right, I used to make you go way off-key, though I’m sure you remember.”

He glided a finger down her arm that induced a warm sensation to flow through her, and her nipples hardened as if cold air had hit them. Elle did remember all too well. She still dreamed of making love with him. He was the only man that knew just how she wanted to be caressed and handled. And he was right. The sounds and moans he used to provoke from her were totally out of tune, but she never cared and neither did he as his hands and tongue would travel over her body until she could barely remember her name.

“Yeah...well...vaguely. That was eons ago.” She gave a cool shrug and strutted away with a purposeful slight swish until she made it back to their empty table. She looked out to see the rest of the Chase family on the dance floor. Preston had left immediately after the auction with his date who had won him for ten thousand dollars. She grabbed her purse from the chair and looked up to see Braxton standing over her with a heated gaze.

“Well, maybe you need to be reminded.”

No need. I’m reminded in my dreams. She crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him carefully. “Maybe you should just give it up. That should come easy for you, right?” she asked sarcastically.

“I’m not that man anymore and you know in your heart this isn’t over with. There’s something still between us.” He paused as a smug grin crawled up his jaw line and he leaned over, placing his lips just inches from hers. “I mean, you still have the tattoo on your neck.”

Puzzled, she tilted her head up to him and stifled the swallow in her throat. “What are you talking about?” Elle tried to keep her tone calm and steady. She’d made sure before she left the suite that the makeup and diamond choker had concealed his initials. The choker hadn’t been as wide as she’d thought but the foundation had blended well. Mya and the makeup artist had made sure of it.

“All the sweating you did while stepping with your sorors erased some of that makeup. I saw it when I was behind you during the Electric Slide. I’m flattered,” he teased. “I’d thought surely you’d have it removed. That just gives me hope that you’ll be mine again.”

“You keep thinking that. Goodbye, Mr. Chase.” She patted his cheek and walked away praying he wouldn’t follow. She needed to get to her room and into an ice-cold shower. The evening hadn’t gone as planned. She wasn’t supposed to get hot and bothered over him. The goal was to irritate the heck out of him, not have him think she still wanted him and would even consider having dinner with him. And now that he was aware his initials still graced her neck, he was definitely feeling cocky and confident. But if he thought they were ever getting back together, he was sadly mistaken. Yes, she could admit that she still felt something for him. She knew in her heart that she would always love him, but she’d moved on and was happy with her life.