Hustle Into Love - Chapter Five, Part Two

Hey all,

Well, how do you think Mace will respond to Chantal's temper tantrum?  Will he blow up in return or do something unexpected?  Let's find out!

Hustle Into Love

~*~

Surprise lit Mace’s face as he too stood upright. He stared down into Chantal’s angry face. “No it’s not. I thought I was doing the right thing…the honorable thing.”

Chantal snarled out a word he was sure was illegal in several countries. “Of course you did. You’re Chinese and British. You’re filled with so much damn honor you’ve got it dripping out your ears.”

He shook his head, unsure if that was a compliment or an insult. “I was trying, Chantal. I know now how wrong I had it, but you have to understand, I wanted to do the right thing. I didn’t want to hurt Lì. He means too much to me.”

She stared at him for several long moments before the fire died from her eyes. Sitting back down on the bench, she rubbed her forehead tiredly. “I know you do. If I’ve learned anything since actually meeting you, I know that.” She gave a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry. I told you I’d listen and instead I got angry.”

Relieved the reports about her temper blowing over quickly were accurate, he sat again beside her. “It’s okay. As long as you understand.”

“I think I do.” She glanced up at him from under her long eyelashes. “You were jealous.”

Hearing the word aloud made him want to squirm, but he nodded. She deserved his honesty. “Yeah. I was. It was stupid, and if I’d had the courage to push through it and meet you, things might have been a lot different.”

To his surprise, she turned pink. “I guess I should tell you I was jealous, too.”

“What?”

She laughed at his expression. “Not in that way. But Lì drove me crazy talking about you. How Mace did this and Mace did that. Every wonderful thing you’ve done, I know about. I’ve seen your war citations and even got to hold that one medal you won.

“It’s not a medal.” He grinned, embarrassment and pride warring inside him. “We call it a decoration.”

She giggled. “Whatever you call it, he drove me crazy showing all your awards off. Sometimes I just wanted to shoot you just so I’d be put out of my misery.”

He could only stare at her. “Seriously? I felt the same way. Lì was always telling me about how well your career was doing or your last honor or triumph. God, sometimes I just wanted to wring your neck because he cared about you so much.”

“But not in the way you thought.”

“No.” He took her hand again. “That’s what was so hard. I was jealous of you for being able to be with Lì more than I could, and I was jealous of Lì because I wanted you for myself. I was a pretty mess, so I thought the best thing to do was just stay away all together.”

“What a tangle.” She sighed. “I stayed away sometimes too, just for that reason. I didn’t want to meet the perfect Mace D'Avranches.”

“You did?” Now he was surprised. “You avoided meeting me?”

Chantal nodded ruefully. “Silly, weren’t we? I think a part of me was hurt you seemed to shun me, so I decided I didn’t need to ever meet baby brother.”

“Just what is that about?” His eyes narrowed. “You calling me baby brother. I know I’m older than you, and I’m damn certain we aren’t related. Thank God.”

“Oh.” She looked embarrassed. “I started calling you that at the beginning because I didn’t know your name. It was before Lì actually met you face to face. Got to be a habit and it just stuck.”

He thought about that. “Perhaps. And perhaps it was a way of keeping your distance?”

Awareness lit her eyes. “Maybe so. Maybe I thought I was protecting myself.”

Taking a chance, he lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss over her fingers. “But we don’t have that distance between us any longer. Now we both know the truth, and before we go any further, let me say I’m so sorry I said all that rot about how you got to where you are. I know it isn’t true. I always did, I just didn’t want to see it.”

She went still. Her eyes were troubled when they met his. “But how do you know I have talent? Lì said you never accepted any of his invitations to see one of my shows. He said you didn’t want to.”

Mace felt like the slime left behind by one of the garden slugs his grandmum was constantly at war with. It was easy to see his actions had again hurt Chantal. Instinctively wanting to comfort her, he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, honey, I lied.”

“You…lied?”

“Yes.” He put his forehead to hers. “I’ve seen you dance. But I couldn’t tell Lì. He’d have pushed for me to go with him and watch you. It was easier to pretend I wasn’t interested.”

“You’ve seen…me dance?” It was obvious she was having trouble with the notion. “Not just right now?”

He laughed. “No. Not just on this stage, though I have to say you’ve never danced better. I’ve been to the states, Europe and even Hong Kong. I just didn’t let anyone know.”

“But I would have seen you.”

“You didn’t know what I looked like.” He smiled apologetically. “I…ummm…I made sure of it.”

“Oh, my God.” Her mouth dropped open, and he saw the moment she understood. “That’s why there are no pictures of you at Lì’s house. And why all the ones at your parent’s home are of when you were a child.”

He nodded. “What were you saying about being silly? I hid all the ones I had taken after I left school, and I’ve refused a family portrait for the last decade because I was afraid you’d see it and blow my cover.” Shrugging, he brushed back a loose lock of Chantal’s beautiful hair. “It wasn’t a hundred percent. You still might have seen me in a news photo or some snapshot I wasn’t aware of, but either way, looking back on it now, I can see how ridiculous it all was.”

“Your secret was pretty safe,” she admitted. “I wouldn’t have gone looking. Anything to do with baby brother sent me running the other way.”

Mace looked down into her amused face and grinned. “I can’t believe we went to so much trouble to stay away from each other. Especially when all I ever wanted to do was hold you in my arms. Just like this.”

Chantal blushed. “Sorry. I can’t say the same. Although I was curious. Mostly, all you were to me was Lì’s baby brother and an irritant at that. Which—” she narrowed her eyes, “—didn’t change once I met you.”

He shrugged apologetically. “I couldn’t help myself. You walked into that airport surrounded by fans, and you were so damned beautiful. I was angry with myself for wanting you. I felt like I was already betraying Lì. And when you thought I was Cái, I figured why not get back some of my own.”

“Hmmm.” She chewed her lip and his libido immediately stood up and started doing the tango. “You know I could have done the same to you when you thought Lì and I were lovers. I want points for the fact I didn’t.”

Snorting out a laugh, he dropped a kiss on her smiling lips. “All right. After everything we’ve been through today, I guess I can spot you those.”

“Mace, I’m sorry, too.”

He frowned down at her. “Sorry? For what? I was the one who had it all wrong. God, when I think of the things I said to you, I want to kick myself.”

“No.” She blushed again. “I mean, yeah. You screwed up and I’m not sorry I hit you.”

Mace couldn’t help but grin. She looked like a tiny defiant faerie. “And you pack a pretty good punch, I must say.”

She lifted her chin proudly. “Thanks. You should see me do Kung Fu. Lì taught me. He wanted to make sure I could take care of myself. But anyway, I am sorry.”

“About what?”

“For…for what happened in the office.” The eyes that met his were filled with regret. “I’m not usually a tease, and I did really want you. But then you said how it was only for the moment and I—”

“Whoa!” He interrupted the spate of words. “There is no need for you to apologize for that. A woman can always say no. I shouldn’t have called you a tease. But—” he glanced ruefully down at his cock which was still sporting a hard on from watching her chew her lips earlier, “—I was reacting with the…wrong head.”

She looked down as well then her gaze snapped up to meet his and she blushed again. “Oh. Ummm. Wow.”

“Good thing you aren’t Lì’s main spokesperson,” Mace laughed. “You can’t seem to put two words together.”

Chantal punched him. “Stop it. But I am sorry. It’s just, I don’t usually do things like that.”

“Like that?”

Her gaze dropped. “I’m n-not as experienced as you might think. I’ve never…in an office…or anywhere else like that. I mean I’m not a virgin, but—” She sighed. “God, I’m no good at this.”

Lust curled in Mace’s belly. It was written all over her face. She hadn’t meant to tease him, rather she’d pushed him away out of fear and confusion. The primitive need to make her his own welled up so hard and fast, he had to battle it down or toss her on top of the piano. But he was pretty sure she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet at least.

“Then you need to understand something too, Chantal,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands. “You misunderstood me.”

She took his wrists in her hands as she met his eyes. Her lips trembled. “I did?”

“I know I said only for that moment, but you took it wrong. I just wanted you to focus on your own pleasure. But I had no intention of making that an afternoon quickie or a one night stand.”

“You…you didn’t?”

He shook his head. “No way, lady.” He bent and kissed her gently. “As far as I’m concerned, we have ten years to make up for.”

~*~

See...they did it to me again.  I was aiming another way, and they did a 180 and went off another direction.  But I like it.  I think I know where they are headed now and I think you'll like it as well.

So make sure you comment.  Today is the last time you can enter for the December drawing.  And we'll be back again on Tuesday to find out just how Mace plans on making up those ten years.

Hugs to all,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/frosty/frostytherealman.htm 
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Five, Part One

Hey all,

I hope you had a wonderful and very Merry Christmas holiday.  Ours was AWESOME.  Make sure you check out my CHAT BLOG tomorrow for the day we spent at Hong Kong Disneyland.  A lot of fun in so many ways.

I wonder how Chantal and Mace did over Christmas?  I know they left me alone until I started writing again after the holiday was over.  This time I wasn't sure what they were going to do.  LOL   But I was pleasantly surprised.  Let's see if you are, too.  Enjoy!

Hustle Into Love

~*~

Chapter Five

One look into Mace’s deep, dark eyes told Chantal he was just as upset and confused about what had happened between them as she was. She’d spent the remainder of the afternoon furious with herself for how she’d handled it at the end. To Mace it must seem as if all his fears were true and she did use her body to tempt and tease. It didn’t matter that she'd pushed him away because what he’d said had hurt her unbearably. She had responded and—if she was honest with herself—she might have gone even farther with him if his words hadn’t sent her into a shamed panic.

But how could she admit that to him? How could she tell him for all her travels, experience and open friendliness, she wasn’t the experienced Lolita he might think she was. She didn’t do one night stands, had never had a quickie in an office and the last quality time she’d spent with a lover had been—she shook her head in denial—almost a full year ago. And that man, although she’d really cared about him, had never made her feel what Mace did by a single touch of his hand.

After their confrontation, Chantal had been so upset and bewildered, she’d done something inexplicable. For the first time in her career she canceled a rehearsal. She knew she hadn’t the heart to instruct and teach, even knowing how badly the dancers needed it. She was wise enough to know if she’d tried, she might have taken out her pain and misery on them and that would have been beyond unfair. So instead, she made her way alone to the small stage and tried to find solace in the sensual rhythms of the dance.

And as she danced, at least for a little while she was able to forget the anger on Mace’s face and the horrid things he’d said to her. She could push away the fact he thought she’d slept her way to the top. She could even ignore the surprising fact he didn’t even know his own brother was gay.

But no matter how hard she tried, no matter what intricate dance steps she accomplished, she couldn’t quite put aside the scent of his skin or the taste of his deliciously sexy mouth. She couldn’t forget the feel of his lips on her breast or the heat of his body against hers.

So when he’d appeared before her, regret carved into his handsome face, all she could think about was how good it had felt to be held in his strong arms. And when he held out his hand to her, asking for her forgiveness, she could do only one thing.

She took it.

He sucked in a deep breath, obviously relieved. Then he smiled cautiously and brought her fingertips up to his mouth for a gentle kiss. “I’ve treated you abominably. Will you give me a chance to explain why?”

Her generous heart would have it no other way. In only a few days, after just a couple of meetings, even though they’d spent most of that time arguing, she’d already learned to care for him. Perhaps it was because she already knew him so well. After all, Lì had told her all about his younger brother for years, so Mace had never felt like a stranger. And then there was that instant and explosive attraction she now knew they both felt. If it had been any hotter they would have burned the casino to the ground.

“Chantal?”

Taking a deep breath herself, she squeezed his hand. She suddenly had the crazy feeling the rest of her life depended on the next few minutes. “All right, I’ll let you explain.”

“Thank you.” Giving her a little tug, he led her over to the piano bench. “I’m so damned sorry about what I said to you. All of it. I don’t even know where to begin.”

“You stayed away on purpose, didn’t you,” she asked him, remembering all the times they could have met in the past. “All those times I came to England. You didn’t want to meet me.”

“I did stay away.” Mace’s high cheekbones reddened with embarrassed color. “At first it was—like I said—because I hated the thought he was letting you use him to climb the ladder. But then later it changed.”

“Changed?” she echoed, ignoring the pang of hurt she felt when he spoke again of his misconception about her and Lì. “What do you mean, changed?”

He met her gaze. “I saw you dance.”

Chantal frowned. “So?”

A laugh broke free from him. “Christ, woman. Don’t you understand what you do to a man when you dance the way you do? You’re so fucking sexy, I can’t believe someone hasn’t snatched you up and carried you away.”

“I usually have a bodyguard.” The words were said absently as she chewed on what he was saying. “So you liked my dancing and that made you stay away? I don’t get it.”

“Chantal—” he gave their entwined hands another squeeze, “—don’t you understand? I liked it too much. Jesus, every time Lì would talk about you, I’d remember you dancing, and I couldn’t take it. It was just too much.”

“Too much what?” she cried, her frustration taking control. “What did I do so wrong?”

“Oh, baby,” he murmured, pulling her closer. “You didn’t do anything wrong. That’s just it. Everything you did was wonderful. Your dancing was superb. So sexy and thought provoking, you made men drool. But even more than that, you made Lì happy.”

“So? Why did that make you hate me?”

“I didn’t hate you, Chantal.” Mace sighed again. “I was jealous of Lì, and I hated myself because of it. Do you see what I’m trying to tell you? I wanted to be the one you were with.

Her mouth dropped open in shock. “But…but we didn’t even know each other. How could you want me?”

He shrugged uncomfortably. “I could say you tell a lot about yourself in your dance, and that would be partially true, but it’s not the real reason.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I wanted you like a man wants an attractive, sexy, exciting woman. I wanted you so much I was afraid of meeting you. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to control myself, and Lì would see what I was feeling.” His eyes darkened. “I didn’t want to hurt my brother by lusting after his woman.”

“Whoa. Wait.” She blinked. “You ignored me for ten years because you were afraid Lì would see how much you wanted me?”

“Yes.”

“And you believed the tabloids when they said Lì and I were lovers. You didn’t bother to ask him yourself?”

He shook his head. “I wish I had asked him. It would have changed so much. But like I said, honey, any man would swallow his tongue watching you dance. I couldn’t believe he wouldn’t want you. Any man would.”

Chantal was torn between pleasure that he’d wanted her so much and anger that his desire was so damn superficial. Was it only Lì who saw she was more than a beautiful face and body?  “So you stayed away because you thought you were being honorable.”

He looked a little wary now, but still nodded. “Yes.”

Fury won. She jerked away from him and pushed to her feet. “Bullshit. That’s just bullshit.”

~*~

Well, they almost made it through the whole installment before one of them lost their temper again.  LOL Obviously, Chantal isn't buying some of Mace's explanation.  Maybe on Thursday, he'll do better!

Anyway, see you then.  Don't forget to comment.  December is drawing to a close and another winner will be drawn!



Hugs to all,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/frosty/frostytherealman.htm 
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Four, Part Four

Hey all,

It's the day before the day before Christmas and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend.  Christmas is a time for love, forgiveness and togetherness, so let's see if Mace and Chantal can have any of those things.  At least for a little while.

Enjoy!

Hustle Into Love

~*~ 

* * * * *

In all his years Mace had never felt the way he did now. Not only did his body hurt—his cock still ached like a sore tooth—but his heart felt like it had been run over by a herd of very aggressive, very angry tap dancers.

He’d been furious with Chantal. Coitus interruptus. He snorted at the memory. They hadn’t gotten far enough to experience her newest word of the day. The thought of being inside her made his lust and fury burn even hotter, and even though he knew a woman had a right to say no, it didn’t help the pain in his groin. But he knew he had only himself to blame. 

He hadn’t meant the words, one moment in time, as Chantal had taken them, but after he’d railed at her earlier, he really couldn’t fault her for thinking the worst of him. So, after she’d made the announcement about vocabulary, he’d pushed back the frustration he was feeling, turned on his heel and stomped out of the office.

There he was met by a very worried Cái…and two paramedics. Mace had to laugh as he recalled the scene. The boy was a great assistant, but he needed to learn when someone was talking tongue-in-cheek. 

Mace’s smile fell away. He’d had his tongue in Chantal’s cheek. In her mouth and almost down her throat. The memory of her taste would keep him up, literally, for many days to come. And if he couldn’t figure out a way to get her past her anger, it might be the only way he’d get to taste her again.

After he’d apologized to the paramedics and left them and the confused Cái, he’d gone straight to his office and put in a call to his brother. It wasn’t that he doubted Chantal. Not really. But what she’d told him flew in the face of years of belief. That was something not so easy to toss away.

Luckily, he got through to Lì, and when he told him what had happened, he had to grit his teeth and listen to a lecture that all but singed his ears off. How could he, Lì asked him, believe such a thing about Chantal. She was beautiful inside and out. She would never use her body like that. Why had Mace acted in such a dishonorable way?

So, of course, Mace had to tell him about being jealous of Li and wanting Chantal, even knowing she belonged to his brother. About how he’d hated listening to Li talk about her and how he’d begged off meeting Chantal for fear of his brother discovering how he felt about her. Then he had to grit his teeth and listen to Lì’s irrepressible laughter. 

Maybe having a big brother wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

But eventually the teasing ended, and he was able to ask the really difficult question. Are you gay? And when Lì admitted he was, Mace had to ask the even harder one. Why didn’t you tell me?

It took a long time before Lì could convince Mace he had never told anyone. Period. Chantal was aware of his lifestyle choice but not because he’d ever said anything specific. It was one of those things she just knew, but they never talked about.

For Mace it was a little different. The way Lì was raised—the whole Chinese culture—made it more difficult to tell a male relative the truth. So instead, Lì hoped he, like Chantal, would pick up the clues and understand without saying. The fact Mace hadn’t, meant ten years of confusion and pain for his younger brother.

Mace could tell Lì regretted that deeply. His heartfelt apology went far to soothe the anger and confusion in Mace’s heart. And when they signed off, he was able to tell his big brother to enjoy his sabbatical and mean it.

But none of that really helped with what he was going to do about Chantal.

He paced to the window in Lì’s office and stared down at the Cotai strip. It had taken exactly one kiss to make him realize all those sweaty dreams and longings he had for her didn’t come close to the real thing. The taste of her lips, the feel of her soft, scented skin. The sounds she made when her passion took wing. When she’d been in his arms it was as if he’d discovered paradise.

Yet a single stupid statement had sent him spinning out of heaven and into a cold hell of his own making. It wasn’t easy for a D'Avranches to eat crow, but if he wanted more from Chantal, he was going to have to consume a big helping of it.

He rubbed his heart. She’d hurt him by believing he was only looking for a quick bout of sex, but he’d hurt her with all his accusations and erroneous beliefs. He swore aloud. His misinterpretation of hers and Lì’s relationship had cost him ten years of truly knowing Chantal. Would this misunderstanding keep them apart for another decade? His dark eyes narrowed and he shook his head.

Not if he had anything to say about it.

* * * * *

He found her where he expected to. Alone in the practice hall. He’d heard she’d canceled the evening rehearsal, and his heart ached when he realized he was the cause. Knowing Chantal’s work ethic, he must have really upset her to make her call off something she knew was so desperately needed. Just another thing he’d have to apologize for.

Yet when he slipped in the door, he found he couldn’t even announce his presence. His throat closed up, and his heart began to race. His palms dampened, and his cock throbbed to life.

Chantal was dancing.

And God, she was magnificent. He knew without her saying a word she was still hurt and distraught over what had happened between them. Her body told him so with each move it made. No sharp and sassy dance motions now. No, this time it was as if she wept as she moved across the floor, dipping and swaying like a trembling leaf caught in the wind.

Each step she took told a story filled with pain and sorrow. Her arms rose over her head, her face lifted to the sky, and in her eyes he saw all her broken dreams and shattered wishes. Her hands fluttered and dropped, and Mace mourned along with her as she crumpled to the floor and then so slowly it hurt to watch, she came to her feet and started all over again.

Glorious.

How could he have ever believed it wasn’t her talent that had made her the star she was? What maggot in his brain had destroyed his thoughts so much he couldn’t look at her and see the awesome gift she had? Was it the jealousy that had made him such a fool? Why had he been so blind for so fucking long?

Not even aware he was doing it, so caught up he was in her heartfelt expression of regret and longing, he walked down the aisle towards the stage. And so into her dance was Chantal, she didn’t even notice him until he stepped up onto the stage. Then she froze in place, looking at him with pain-filled eyes. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. 

Unable to do anything else, recognizing this could be a beginning or an end of everything between them, Mace held out his hand. “I’m so sorry, Chantal,” he said, his voice hoarse with his own regret. “For everything. Can you ever forgive me?”

~*~

Okay, so I didn't expect that at all.  See what I mean?  They've gone off on their own.  What will they do now?  Will they continue what they started in the office?  Or will she turn and walk away?

We'll find out next Tuesday.  Until then, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very happy Christmas.  May it be filled with  love, laughter and beautiful dreams.

Merry Christmas!

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/frosty/frostytherealman.htm 
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Four, Part Three

Hey all,

It's the week before Christmas and all through the blog, Chantal and Mace are locking lips, they're going whole hog...

I know...that was horrible.  But it's true.  They've finally kissed.  So how far will they take it?  Find out below!  And enjoy!

Hustle Into Love

~*~ 

Every bit of resistance Chantal might have felt leaked out her ears to puddle at her feet the moment Mace’s lips touched hers. She knew she should push away. Punch him or kick him in the balls. Damn it, he’d just finished telling her he thought she’d slept her way to success. Letting him kiss her was the stupidest thing she’d done in a very long time. But pushing him away was almost an impossibility. It just felt too good.

Baby brother sure knew how to kiss.

She’s been kissed before, of course. By sweaty-handed dancers, playboys and princes. By rich men and poor. By men she could care about and those she just liked. She’d even once been kissed by a flinty-eyed sheik who’d wanted to trade some camels for a lifetime of her company.

But never…ever had a single kiss made her mind stutter to a complete and total stop. And she couldn’t, in all her adult life, think of a time her panties went wet just at a man’s taste.

His lips weren’t tentative. No testing the waters for Mace D'Avranches. He plundered her mouth as if he had every right. Like he’d done it a thousand times before. While that sort of arrogance should have infuriated her, for some reason it did the opposite. For the first time in her life, Chantal wanted to give up all control. To surrender everything she was to a man.

To Mace.

It should have scared her, that melting trembly feeling short-circuiting her brain, but instead she welcomed it, instinctively knowing she was exactly where she was supposed to be. She’d waited her whole life to feel this way. To care about a man like this. Her hands went up to grab his hair, and she stood on tiptoes to hold him closer. He froze for a moment then shuddered and whispered her name. It was easy to feel his surprise, relief and then pleasure at her response. He kissed her even harder, his deep groan fueling the heat burning in her belly.

If possible, her panties went even wetter at the knowledge she turned him on so much. She kissed him back, her tongue dancing with his, touching and teasing him in return. It was a passionate duel as they both strained for control, all the while learning the desires of the other. Gone were the thoughts of pushing him away. Forgotten for the moment was the pain and anger of misunderstanding. Now all she wanted was to be as close to him as possible. All she needed was to have his delicious mouth on hers again and again and again.

She heard him mutter her name and then one arm banded around her waist to pull her tighter against him. She gasped when she felt his cock, thick and hard and throbbing against her stomach. The trembling grew stronger until she could barely stand up. Never had desire taken over her so completely. A part of her was shocked she could feel this way after just one kiss. 

As if he knew her dilemma, he lifted her, sitting her almost roughly on the desk behind them. Still kissing her, he pushed between her thighs, jerking her lower body close to his. The feel of his erection sliding against her spandex-covered mound made her shiver with longing and desire.

“I want you,” he growled softly. “Damn it, I’ve wanted you for years.”

At his muttered words, her heart melted along with the rest of her. Suddenly it made sense why he’d been so angry and hateful. Why the thought of her and Lì had bothered him so much. Maybe even why he’d stayed away from her in the past.

He was jealous.

So maybe what they were feeling was more than simple sexual attraction. The idea made her smile, but her grin was quickly wiped away when Mace’s hand reached under her crop top to fondle her breast. Her mind emptied again, and she moaned in delighted passion. Arching closer, she almost whimpered when he pulled away the sports bra she wore and his fingers encircled her nipple. Her cry of surprise made him jump, but again he covered her lips with his own and swallowed any other sound she made.

And she couldn’t be quiet. His fabric-covered cock rubbed against her clit in the same rhythm his tongue used in her mouth. With his fingers rubbing and plucking at her nipples, she went to flashpoint in seconds. All she could do was clutch him tighter and hold on for the ride.

His lips left hers and trailed down her slim throat sparking nerve endings she didn’t even know she had. For a moment sanity fought for purchase. What the hell was she doing? She was furious with Mace, wasn’t she? No matter what they might have together in the future. So why in God’s name was she letting him make love to her on her desk?

But before she could talk herself into being sensible, he pushed her tank up out of the way, and his talented mouth traced over her breasts. Any thought of stopping drained away when he took her nipple in his mouth and sucked.

Stars exploded behind her eyes. Her muscles screamed with tension as her insides slowly and inexorably unraveled. It was like being hung over an abyss. Being caught at the edge of a cliff. You couldn’t see what might be coming at you, but you knew it didn’t matter.

As long as you were able to go along for the ride.

“Let go,” he growled hoarsely, tugging at her sensitive nipple with his lips. “Don’t think about anything else. Just think about this. What we’re feeling right now. This single moment in time. That’s all that matters. Just let go and come for me.”

Instead of sending her flying into climax as he intended, Mace’s words had the effect of a cold bucket of water in the face. Chantal froze in his arms. This was all that mattered? A quick fuck in the office? 

Anguish shot through her chasing away most of the desire. Reality came rushing back and with it a combination of anger and shame. What had she done? What had she almost let him do?

Putting her hands on his strong shoulders, she pushed him hard, sending him reeling back against the wall. Jerking down her top, she slid to the floor, brushing away the tears that had suddenly pooled in her eyes. She’d been a fool. Letting him get to her that way. Stupid.

One kiss and she’d been thinking of forever, but for Mace it was all about getting his rocks off. He wanted her body…not her. And that was something she refused to accept from anyone. Even him. Especially not now. Not with what she was beginning to feel for him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Mace snarled, shaking his head. The frustration on his face was apparent. “I didn’t think you were a tease.”

“I’m not a tease.” She was so confused and hurt and angry she wanted to cry. “And maybe I shouldn’t have let it go so far. But I’m not someone you can have a ten minute fuck with and then walk away from. When I have sex with a man I want it to mean something.”

“Ten minute fuck?” He swore under his breath. “Mean something? If you’d have let me finish what I was doing, it would have taken a hell of a lot longer than ten minutes, and it would have meant something for both of us.”

She ignored the single tear that traced down her cheek. “I heard you, Mace. This one moment in time. That’s all it would mean to you.”

“God damn it, Chantal—” he stepped closer to her and shook his head, “—that’s not what I—”

“One-night stands,” she interrupted him, “aren’t in my vocabulary, no matter what time of day it is.”

He only glared at her, but she thought she saw confusion along with the anger. “Just what word is in your vocabulary then?

“Coitus interruptus." She tossed her head.  "It’s my new word for the day.”

~*~

So, whatcha think?  I know I was surprised with what the characters had me write.  I'd expected Chantal to pound on him a little bit longer.  Or maybe a quick kiss and nothing more.  But this was a little heavier than I was prepared for.  And it makes me wonder what they'll do next.  Obviously, they aren't following any script I had thought of.

I've lost control!  LOL

But we'll see what happens on Thursday.  How will Mace deal with this latest misunderstanding?

Hugs to all,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/frosty/frostytherealman.htm 
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Four, Part Two

Hey all,

You ready to see Mace's response?  I have to say when I wrote this scene I expected something different, but as usual my characters surprised me.  Let's see if they surprised you...

Enjoy!  And remember to comment!!!

Hustle Into Love

~*~

Mace couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. The statement was so ridiculous he couldn’t believe she’d even said it. “Not sleeping with him? Please, honey. Everyone knows you and Lì have been lovers for years. Christ, you probably started the night he dragged you out of that two-bit club in Vegas.”

He blocked the fist that nearly took off his aristocratic nose, but missed the one she’d aimed at his gut. His breath shot out of him with a strangled whoosh, but he grabbed her wrist before she was able to hit him again.

“I told you,” he gritted out, “not to do that again.”

“You think I’m going to listen to a no-good-rat-idiot with illusions of grandeur?” Chantal raged. “I don’t care if you’re Lì’s brother or not, you have no right to say that to me.”

Rubbing his stomach with one hand, he pushed her away with the other. “Knock it off. I’m sorry you’re angry, but lying and saying you and Lì aren’t a couple is just stupid.”

Incredibly, he saw hurt in her eyes. She shook her head. “Why do you hate me so much? You’ve been on my case since I got here. Even if Lì and I were together—which we aren’t—you’re treating me like the enemy.”

“Not the enemy,” he corrected, ignoring the guilt curling in his gut. She was playing him and doing a damn fine job. “But, damn it. Seeing you lead Lì around by his dick for the last ten years has made me angry.”

Her mouth fell open. “I beg your pardon? You think I lead your brother around by his…dick?”

The word sounded incongruous coming from Chantal’s cupid-bow mouth. “Hey. It’s pretty fucking obvious. He paid for you to get where you are, he’s never misses a major performance that I know of, and he doesn’t do anything when you cheat on him. He just smiles and continues on with your relationship. And it’s easy to see it’s your way or the highway. You do what you want, when you want. That tells me you’ve got him by the short hairs, honey. And you’re right. I have hated you for that.”

“You think I’ve cheated on Lì,” she echoed. “You really believe I boss your brother around.” The look in her eyes had gone from pain to confusion to fury again. “And you think he’s not man enough to stop me from doing it.”

Mace’s temper flared. “Lì’s the best man I know. But when it comes to you, he’s a bloody idiot.”

“Then it’s genetic,” she snarled, her eyes going to molten fire. “You’re an idiot, too. An even bigger one because you are so damn wrong about this.”

“You still singing that song?” he scoffed. “Why? Having a sugar daddy is an American custom, isn’t it? I’ll bet when Lì walked in that club you thought your ship had come in.”

“You know, when I told Lì he should try and get to know you, I had no idea you were such a stuck up, arrogant prig.” Chantal clenched her fists again and without thinking he braced himself. She had a damned good right hook. “Maybe that’s why he hasn’t told you the truth.”

“The truth?” Mace shook his head. “What truth is that, baby? I know everything there is to know about you. Once I saw how you’d latched onto my brother I made it my business.” He kept the fact he’d been interested in her to himself.

“You’re serious.” Her mouth fell open again. “You investigated me? Why?”

“He’s my brother,” he said simply. “And I love him.”

To his surprise, all the anger drained out of her face. She just stared at him, her eyes narrowed. After a long moment, she sat back on her desk. “And that’s the only reason I’m not knocking you into next week. I think you really do.”

Suddenly her words from before popped into his mind. “What do you mean you told Lì he should get to know me? What did you have to do with it?”

She shrugged and a faint touch of pink brushed her cheeks. “He was lonely and he often spoke of you. I nagged him into visiting.” She shrugged again. “Lì needed his family.”

He had her to thank for Lì taking that step to build a relationship? It had meant so much to Mace and to their mother. Warmth touched his heart. Damn it, she was doing it again. Making him like her. It was bad enough to lust after her, but liking her was even more dangerous. He put her generous action out of his mind with an effort. “Are you sure it wasn’t something else?”

Chantal frowned. “Like what?”

Mace crossed his arms. “Lì’s a wealthy man, but the D'Avranches are even richer. If you got him to connect with my family...”

She stood abruptly and he saw that the anger was back, but this time it was mixed with shock and a pain that was palatable. “You think I’d do that?  Go to all the trouble to bring you and Lì together just so he'd get more money. Because somehow in the end, I'd benefit?”

Mace knew in a heartbeat whatever he might think about Chantal, he’d missed the mark on this one. No one was that good an actress. Doing that had never occurred to her. “No. Damn it to hell. I’m sorry. That was a filthy thing to say.” He pushed his hand through his long hair. “Look. Let’s just forget this, all right? I’m sorry I brought you and Lì up. It’s not my business.”

“You really do hate me.”

More guilt shot through him. She looked like someone had stolen her favorite dancing shoes. “I don’t hate you. Not really. I just hate the idea of you and Lì together. It pisses me off.”

“Have you ever asked him about me? About us?” Chantal looked up at him with swimming golden eyes. 

“I said it’s none of my business,” he muttered, not wanting to admit he’d steered every conversation as far away from Chantal Montgomery as he could. It was the only way he could make it through a night with his brother some times. As it was, he often had to go home and take a cold shower whenever Lì had waxed eloquent about something his “dear friend” had done.

Her lips narrowed. “If you haven’t talked to him, this ‘truth’ you think you know? Where did you get it? The tabloids? Because there’s no way your investigators could have told you Lì and I were lovers.”

Mace frowned. She was right. None of the investigators he’d hired had come back with those specifics, but then he hadn’t hired the kind that peeped into windows either. “Come on, Chantal. I said let it go.”

“You don’t even know your brother, do you?”

That pissed him off anew. “I know him a hell of a lot better than you do.”

She shook her head and he was taken aback by the serious look in her eyes. It was as if she was coming to a decision, because after a couple of moments, she sighed. “Mace. I’m going to say this one more time. Lì and I aren’t lovers. He’s my best friend on the planet, but…he doesn’t think of me that way.”

“Damn it.” Mace was abruptly furious. “Anyone with a heartbeat would think of you that way.” When her eyebrow winged up, he realized exactly what he’d said. Red touched his cheeks. She had him saying things best left unsaid.

“Thank you. I think.” She sighed again. “Mace, you know where Lì is right now, right? On some sort of sabbatical with…a friend?”

Now it was his mouth that dropped open. “You know about that?”

“Of course I know,” she answered. “He didn’t keep it a secret.”

“I don’t understand.” Mace stared at her. “You know he’s cheating on you and you don’t care? Do you have some sort of open relationship or something? Is that why he doesn’t care if you sleep with someone else…because he does, too?” Immediately, he shook his head. “No way. I don’t believe that. Lì wouldn’t do something so despicable.”

“Maybe you do know him,” Chantal murmured.

“I’m sorry, honey.” He touched her arm. “I know it’s got to hurt he’s with another woman.”

“He’s not.”

He frowned at her. “He’s not what?”

She sighed again and bit her lip. “He’s not with another woman, Mace. Damn it. He should be the one to tell you. Not me.”

Confusion was fast approaching. “Tell me what?”

She rubbed her forehead and took a deep breath. “He’s…he’s with a man.”

Mace just stared at her. “A man.”

Nodding, she searched his eyes. “Yes. Someone he cares about very much, and has for years. But you know how difficult it is in his culture—for his generation especially—to admit such a thing. So they often go away together.”

There were so many thoughts tumbling around in Mace’s head, he couldn’t even think. He understood immediately what she was trying to say and for the life of him, he didn’t see a reason why she’d lie about something like that. It wouldn’t do anything for her. Get her anything or protect her in any way. So…if it were true… 

It wasn’t that he had problems with the lifestyle overall. Hell, he had a few mates back in London who’d come out of the closet, and he’d stayed friends with them. But…his own brother? Knowing everything he knew about Lì, he was having trouble believing any of it. “You’re telling me my brother is gay?”

Chantal pursed her lips. “I’m not saying anything other than what I said at the beginning. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask him. But Lì and I aren’t lovers and never have been. And this is one of the reasons for it.”

“If he’s gay,” Mace went on, not even hearing her, “that means you aren’t sleeping together.”

She rolled her eyes. Well, duh. I’ve only told you that a dozen times.”

Abruptly, he realized that if that were true, most of the thoughts he’d been harboring about Chantal over the years were wrong. She hadn’t used his big brother and she wasn’t a mercenary bitch he had to keep from stealing the family jewels. His resentment, anger, jealousy and pain whenever he’d hear about her from Lì or his mother was unwarranted and unnecessary. And if all those emotions were unnecessary, then that meant…

With one stride he was next to her, and her eyes widened when he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her against him. At the feel of her, everything inside him went hard and hot. His heart pounded and his cock stiffened painfully. Finally, his body shouted. Finally she was in his arms where she should be.

“Mace, what—”

Ignoring their earlier argument, the news his brother was gay and the idea she might not want anything to do with him, Mace did what he’d been longing to do since he first saw her shake her stuff at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

He kissed her.

~*~

Well, look at that.  Another cliffhanger.  What a naughty girl I am.  *grin*  But what Mace did is even naughtier.  I wonder just what Chantal will do now?  Punch him again or give him a kiss that will set his hair to smoking?  We'll find out on Tuesday!

Hugs to all and have a wonderful weekend,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/frosty/frostytherealman.htm 
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Four, Part One

Hey all,

Are you still hating me for the cliffhanger?  LOL  I can't help it.  I'm not bad, I just write that way.  *VBG*  

Anyway, are you ready to see just how Chantal handles Mace's misinformation?  Will she tell him the truth or let him stew in his very jealous--yet sexy--juices?  Let's find out! 

And don't forget to comment!

Hustle Into Love

Chapter Four

Chantal went completely still. She was so surprised over Mace’s words, she barely noticed him shaking her like a rag doll. What had he said about Lì? She blinked as she replayed his last statement in her mind. Did he really think she and Lì were a couple?

Amusement warred with anger. How the hell had Mace come up with that bit of wisdom? Yeah, there had been some speculation in the press in the early days of her career, but that had passed pretty quickly. Most of the time, they both led separate lives, so neither she or Lì had bothered to dignify the rumors with an answer. They knew what they were to each other, and it was something private and special. The details weren’t anyone’s business but their own.

But both Mace’s parents knew the truth, so why didn’t Mace? Chantal swallowed back a giggle as she stared up into his handsome, irritated face. Baby brother had sure gotten his wires crossed somewhere. 

An evil thought danced in her mind and her eyes narrowed. This would be a perfect time to get back some of her own for how Mace had treated her when she first arrived. He’d pretended to be her assistant and embarrassed her to no end. Well, she could pretend to be Lì’s lover. And since it seemed to bother Mace so much, she could work that until she had him squirming under her very sharp thumbnail. Then she’d drop the truth on him like an over-weighted scenery truss on opening night.

Her mouth had actually opened to start the teasing, when suddenly her conscience poked her hard in the shoulder. She let out a silent groan as her inner dancer tut-tutted, shook her head and tapped her foot impatiently. Chantal realized a heartbeat later Lì was too important to both Mace and her to use in such a manner. Even if it would have been so perfect.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” she muttered aloud, struggling one last time against her sense of right and wrong. “Can’t I have any fun?”

“Fun?” Mace growled, giving her another shake. “Is that all it is to you? You’ve used my brother for over a decade as your meal ticket, and all you can come up with is that it’s fun?”

“Excuse me?” All amusement fled at his snarling words. The rest of his angry tirade suddenly came to her and any thought of laughing disappeared completely. Did Mace really believe the only way she’d made her career was on her back? By having sex with Lì? 

Pain shot through her as she studied him. He did. It was written in those gorgeous eyes. Forget her talent and hard work. Forget the time, sweat and tears she’d put into it. He thought she’d gotten to where she was by sleeping with his brother. And he was royally pissed at the idea.

“Why the hell are you looking at me like that?” Mace snapped, finally letting her go and pushing away. “Everyone knows what you’ve done. Hell, I can’t even say I blame you. You saw the gold ring and reached for it. And Lì took care of you. It won’t be the first time a woman used her…charms to get where she wanted.”

The pain was still there, but now Chantal’s famous temper made an appearance, and she welcomed it. Better angry than hurt. Mace would find out no one accused Chantal Montgomery of sleeping her way to the top. Not and have any teeth left afterwards.

“You think,” she said very quietly, “that Lì and I are lovers.”

Mace tossed a disgusted look at her. “Christ, Chantal. It’s not a secret.”

She nodded and tamped down the bubbling brew of fury that threatened to explode. “And you think the only way I’ve gotten to where I am, is because I fuck—” she used the crudity purposely, “—your big brother on a regular basis.”

He flinched, just as she’d known he would. “Damn it. I know you probably…care about him.”

“Well, how kind of you to say so,” she murmured, her tone overly sweet. “I can’t tell you how much that little caveat means to me.”

Pushing his hand through his hair, Mace glared at her. “Don’t get all self-righteous on me. I’m not the one who “danced” her way to stardom. You’ve got some nerve calling Chóngdé less than virtuous when you did the same thing.”

Dimly, Chantal saw the red thread holding her temper snap. She was around the desk and standing in front of him without even being aware she’d moved. Of its own violation, her fist shot out and connected with Mace’s hard jaw. It snapped his head back and sent him stumbling back against the wall. 

The pain was awesome but so was the satisfaction. “You son of a bitch. Kai dei. Trou du cul.” Chantal went from English to Cantonese to French to vent her spleen properly. Chinese curses tended to center on the cursee’s family and no way was she going to do that to Lì or his mom. “How dare you? You think I’m going to let you stand there and call me a whore?”

Mace’s eyes burned with dark fire as he wiped blood from his mouth. “I didn’t call you a whore, damn it. All I said was that you’re a hypocrite for telling me not to sleep with someone I work with when you’ve been doing it for the last ten fucking years.” He stepped closer. “And I don’t care what you get away with when you’re with Lì. Don’t you ever hit me again.”

She just sneered at him. “Do you think you scare me? Go to hell. There’s nothing you can do to me that’s worse than what you just did.”

That stopped him in his tracks. “What I just did? All I did was tell the truth…and point out that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t toss stones. And honey, your house is pretty damn fragile.”

Chantal shook, she was so angry. Part of her fury was knowing that Mace’s poor opinion of her was more painful than anything she’d dealt with before. She’d actually begun to care about him, and that’s what hurt so bad. Obviously she’d been mistaken about the attraction she’d felt between them. But it didn’t matter, there was no way he or anyone else was going to smear Lì—let alone herself—and get away with it. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“Baby brother, I’m going to say this just once. And then you can get your high and mighty self out of my office and stay the hell out of my way. I don’t want to see you, talk to you or even smell your aftershave. You stay up in your lofty towers and don’t come near my stage.”

Mace lifted a perfect eyebrow. It was such a dismissive look, she felt her hands curling into fists again. “I’m listening,” he drawled, “but I’m not your fucking baby brother.”

She ignored the warning in his voice and tried to calm her escalating temper. She’d rather kick him in the balls for what he’d said, but she had to do this right…for Lì’s sake. “It’s true. I do care about Lì. In fact, I love him. He’s the most important person in my world. I’d do anything for him. Learn this crazy language, become his spokesperson for Forever Young, dance until my feet bled, or even give up my life in France to come and fix up this mess he calls an entertainment division.”

“Oh,” Mace growled, “I’m sure you’re getting compensated just fine.”

“Shut up, you son of a bitch” she snapped, struggling again for control. “I’ll have you know I’m not taking any salary for doing this. I’m doing it for one reason and one reason only. Because I love your brother.”

“No salary?” he scoffed, shaking his head. “Sorry, honey, I’m not buying that. A woman like you wouldn’t give it away for free. Period.”

A red mist came over her eyes as more hurt pushed past the anger. “How dare you? You don’t know anything about me…about us!”

Mace gave a laughing snort. “I know all I need to know. What makes you think I’ve got it wrong?”

“Because,” she screamed, finally losing control. “Lì is not my lover. I’m not sleeping with him and I never have.”

~*~

There you have it.  Just what you've been waiting for.  The big reveal.  So how do you think Mace will respond?  Will he believe her?  Will he scoff and walk away?  Or something else?

I'm loving this story and I think it's on it's way to heating up very shortly!  LOL

Hugs and see you on Thursday,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/frosty/frostytherealman.htm 
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/