She shuddered and tightened her legs around his waist, lifting her hips. She groaned his name and he thrust again and again until he felt his orgasm about to wash over him. He reached between their bodies and found her clit. He rubbed it as he pressed into her again and this time her body contracted around his cock. She gripped his shoulders, and screamed his name, holding nothing back. Her release was complete.
He pumped into her once more before coming inside her. Seated, he lay there with his head resting against her breast, letting his breathing slow. He tried to shift to his side but she still had her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders.
“Don’t go. Not yet,” she said.
He moved sideways so that their bodies remained connected. The room felt cool now that the sweat on his body had dried, and though he knew he shouldn’t stay, he ignored that voice. Instead, he pulled the comforter up from the end of the bed and tucked them both in it.
A part of him was more than ready to acknowledge that truly he didn’t know how they might make a future together, but for tonight he was content to just hold her.
9
SATURDAY DAWNED BRIGHT and clear. It had been four days since the night at the beach and Jay had fallen into the habit of spending most evenings at Alysse’s place. They’d taken his bike and gone for a long ride up the highway from San Clemente last night and while she hadn’t been able to truly forget their situation, she had to admit she’d enjoyed it.
This morning, though, she really hadn’t been able to think too much about Jay. The kitchen was busy with two additional bakers who were helping since she and Staci had an event.
Alysse and the part-timers finished loading the last of the cupcakes for the Dana Point anniversary party into the back of her van. She and Staci had hired the two college students for weekends primarily. Marissa and Courtney were both eager and followed orders well, and someday they hoped to have their own kitchens where they were in charge. Marissa had said as much to Alysse ten minutes ago when Alysse had made her redo the icing on one batch of the cupcakes.
Alysse had been hoping that with the bakery being extra busy, she wouldn’t be alone with Staci given what she and Jay had started...which was what? “Seeing each other” didn’t sound right.
However, they had managed not only to see each other every day, but to spend their nights together, too. Still, there was no point to hiding; Alysse would be spending the next forty-five minutes alone in the delivery van with Staci.
She got behind the wheel and pointed the van north toward Highway 5 and the anniversary party. “Did you get your dish sorted?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Good. Was it for something special?” Alysse asked, knowing she hadn’t been paying that much attention to her friend’s life lately as she’d been consumed with Jay.
“Actually, it is. I’ve decided to try out for Premiere Chef,” she said.
“Really? Isn’t that a pretty intensive show?”
“Yes,” Staci said. “It is. If I get on I’d be gone from Sweet Dreams for ten weeks. I wasn’t sure how to bring this up because you’ve been busy with Jay and everything.”
Was Staci thinking of leaving Sweet Dreams? Alysse didn’t know if she could handle that right now. “It’s fine.”
“You look pale and about ready to wig out. It’s just that I’m getting restless.”
Alysse concentrated on her driving. “When will you know if you’re a contestant or not?”
“I’m going to L.A. tomorrow to pre-audition. How lame is that? You have to try out to try out,” Staci said. There was a note of nervousness in her friend’s voice.
“Lame,” Alysse agreed with a laugh, trying to act as if she was cool with it when inside she was slowly going into a meltdown. “Why are you doing the show? You don’t have anything to prove.”
Staci ran her hands through her spiky hair and then shook her head. “I do. I hate the thought of those cocky jerks on TV, whom I know I’m better than, being named Premiere Chef. I mean, come on,” she said.
Alysse just had to laugh at her friend’s ego. But she’d tasted Staci’s dishes at more than one dinner party and knew that she had the cooking chops to back up what she said.
“You’re definitely a good chef, but the competition on those shows is stiff and you’ve been a baker like me for the last four years,” Alysse said. Baking was different than the type of cooking that Staci would be required to do on Premiere Chef. She’d have to cook a meal in less than ten minutes and come up with unique dishes under pressure. It was a challenging environment.