Consume Me (Master Chefs #3) Read online

  Sam’s exuded a warmth and comfort he’d never experienced before; a sense of coming home, and as they made their way toward the back of the restaurant the sense of warmth filled him. The moment he heard Sam’s voice coming from the kitchen, giving orders to his Benicoise crew, he knew where that warmth and comfort came from. Even as she bossed the crew around, she did so with a calm, generous and respectful hand. She made herself clear without being condescending, as many top chefs, including himself, were guilty of. She had her needs met without belittling her employees. She made them feel like part of the family as opposed to a paid worker.

  “Mom,” Tar called out as she made a beeline for the kitchen.

  Glancing at Tar, he realized he felt that same warmth and comfort with her, although there was something notably different.

  Bobby, donning a chef’s jacket and hat, was busy at a workstation whisking the contents of the bowl in his hand. Impressed by the young man’s growth since first meeting him, Errol smiled. Seemed the young Casanova really knew his way around the kitchen, something that hadn’t been evident when Errol had lectured Bobby’s class.

  “Tar!” Sam shouted as she spotted her daughter. Turning her back to her crew, she hurried to Tar and pulled her into her arms. “What are you doing back so soon? I thought you were going to spend the week in Paris.”

  “I told you I wouldn’t leave you alone for that long.” Tar pulled back enough to look into her mother’s eyes. “Besides, I already missed you.”

  Sam’s warm laughter filled the kitchen. “Right… in Paris with your new boyfriend and you’re eager to come home to your old ma. Care to tell me another story?” She glanced beyond Tar and noticed Errol. “Oh, I see.”

  “Hello, Mrs…”

  “Sam.” She held out her hand for a handshake, then pulled Errol in for a hug. “I didn’t know you were coming back with Tar.”

  “Hey, what are you guys doing here?” Bobby called, still whisking away.

  “Hey, Chef Bobby,” Tar said.

  Beaming with pride, Bobby whisked even faster.

  “See,” Sam said. “There was no reason for you to rush back. Bobby’s trying out his new culinary talents on my patrons. I’ve had more help this weekend than I know what to do with.”

  “Well, I’m happy to be back all the same.”

  With a flourish, Bobby put the finishing touches to his dish and popped it in the oven. “Did you leave the most romantic city in the world to come home and watch your baby brother make it big in the culinary world?”

  “Word of your boeuf en croute made it all the way to Paris and I had to rush back to taste it,” she teased.

  Bobby jutted his chest out, but glared as he saw Errol. “You brought your French toast back with you?”

  “Bobby,” Sam quickly reprimanded.

  “What?” he said defensively. “Something must have happened to make her come back so quick and just look…” He pointed at Errol’s face. “Look at the guilt written all over his face.”

  “Bobby!” Tar spat.

  “Sorry. No offence, but a guy’s gotta watch out for his women.” He put a protective arm around his mother.

  “Hey,” Errol said with a chuckle. “I can understand you wanting to protect your sister.”

  While the kitchen bustled with hectic activity, the foursome was suddenly cloaked in uncomfortable silence for what seemed an eternity.

  Why did Bobby insist on being so mistrustful? Did Taryn’s entire family have issues of trust? They should know by now just how much he loved her. She should know he would never do anything to hurt her. Grinding his teeth, he tried to find the words that would convince them he was trustworthy. God, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Taryn. She had his heart.

  It was hard to believe that only his old reputation was responsible and the more he thought about it, the more he suspected an outside influence. And just as the name of that outside influence came to him, Matt walked in.

  Of course, Errol thought. Matt, the old friend, the friendly fireman, the ever present, reliable gentleman… and judging by the hungry look in his eyes, the man who wanted very much to win the heart of Taryn Cummings at all costs.

  What had the nice looking and somewhat insipid fireman said to Taryn in his absence. More than anyone Errol knew the stories a man could spin when he wanted to woo a woman. A few conquests of his past had been won by spreading an unfavorable word about a rival.

  All’s fair in love…, he thought wryly as he set a possessive arm around Taryn’s shoulders and smiled as amiably as he could considering the dislike he harbored for the young man.

  “Tar!” Matt exclaimed as he rushed to Tar, and despite Errol’s possessive hold, he picked her up and squeezed her in a bear hug as he twirled her around. “When did you get back? I thought you were gone for a week or so.” He put her down and looked longingly into her eyes.

  “You know I can’t stay away from Sam’s too long.” Taryn smiled up at handsome firefighter giving her lovelorn puppy dog eyes, which Errol nearly wanted to poke out.

  Matt gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, but, chaste or not, Errol stepped in and pulled Tar to his side. His lips parted with the intention of reminding the young man that Taryn was his fiancé, but he pressed them tightly together and remained silent.

  “Or is it that things didn’t go as planned in Paris?”

  “Matt!” Tar said. “How can you say that when Errol is standing right in front of you?”

  “Right,” Matt said, shoving his fingers through his hair. “Nice of you to bring Tar all the way back home.”

  Errol nodded and muttered, “Of course.”

  “After all, it appears you have a rather busy schedule, being a world class chef with his own cooking show. It mustn’t be easy for you to get away and take proper care of the ones you love.”

  While the words might have seemed innocent enough on another person’s lips, Errol understood the venom behind the calmly spoken words. Squeezing Tar against him, he grinned. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make my beautiful fiancé happy… happy and secure.”

  Far from returning Errol’s forced grin, Matt’s hard glare remained steady as he crossed his arms and parted his powerful legs in a stance that spoke volumes about his feelings about Errol and his fiancé.

  Errol’s gaze traveled quickly over Matt’s oversized biceps and strong stance. Rarely given to moments of inferiority, he gritted his teeth as he considered the time a fire fighter had to work out and keep in shape whereas his profession had him standing at a counter and tasting rich and creamy dishes.

  “Well, I certainly hope you’ll keep her wellbeing in mind regardless of the work schedule you have.”

  “Taryn means the world to me and I’ll make sure she knows it every single day.”

  Tar looked from one contemptuous man to the other. “Okay, so now that my happiness has been taken care of for all time…” She nodded at Matt while tugging at Errol. “I have a few suitcases to unpack and I want to relax and get settled in.”

  “Rough flight?” Matt asked.

  “Yeah, you look like hell,” Bobby injected. “I heard jetlag could be rough, but… maybe a nice long nap and hot shower will set you right.”

  Tar shot him a playfully irritated glance. “Actually, the flight was fine and I had plenty of sleep, but thanks for the suggestion all the same. Truth is, I just want to get home.”

  “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just trying to give you a heads-up. I mean, you're a good looking girl, even if you are my sister, but even you need freshening up every now and then. Take it from me, men want their woman to look and act like a lady… and smell like one, too. Unshaved armpits might be the big thing on the other side of the pond, but here… you’ve got to keep your looks up.”

  “Thanks, little brother.”

  “As it turns out, Bobby, I happen to love Taryn’s womanly scents and all, just the way she is. There is nothing sexier than a woman who smells like a woman. When you love a wo
man, really love her, you love every scent that comes with her. That’s the real chemistry. When you meet that right woman and fall in love, you’ll not only love all those special scents that are just hers, but you’ll crave them.” He lovingly pinched Tar’s cheek. “Besides, I think she looks radiant when her hair is disheveled and she has no make-up on fresh in the morning when she gets up.”

  Matt swallowed uncomfortably and grimaced.

  Grinning, as if happy to have learned a new life and love lesson, Bobby grinned. “Whatever you say, Master Chef. I’ll put the old schnozzle to work the next time I’m out with the ladies… anything to be as successful as a Master Chef like you.”

  “Dream big, young man. You never know how far you can go.”

  “Yeah,” Matt muttered to himself.

  Errol ignored him. “Maybe I could even give you a hand, Bobby.”

  “That’d be great.”

  “We’ll get together some time and make a game plan. Your future could be even brighter than you imagine.”

  “And my love life?”

  “Oh, Bobby,” Tar said with a chuckle. “Bye, Mom. I’ll see you later.” She turned to Matt. “Nice seeing you, Matt.”

  “Sure,” Matt said. “I’ll see you again soon.”

  “Don’t wait up for us,” Errol called over his shoulder as he led the way out.

  Once in his car, he turned the car toward his penthouse.

  “I wanted to go home, Errol,” Tar argued.

  “And that’s exactly where we’re going.”

  Chapter 15

  Taryn

  She knew there was no point arguing with him. Truth was, she was eager to be alone with him. The events of the day had worn her out and she was in dire need of escape, and she knew Errol’s expert touch would erase everything she’d been through.

  They entered the building with tense silence while the electricity passed from one to the other. They hadn’t even touched yet and her every nerve ending was on fire. Though the flight had been endless and painful, one bright moment shined through it all. Of course Errol had been thoughtful and tender, but at that very moment, what struck her was the sensations she’d felt while she’d slumbered. In the haze of her panic attack, she’d distinctly felt Errol’s roaming hand as he’d innocently consoled her. Repeatedly his hand had slipped into her shirt to fondle a breast under cover of the darkness that had enveloped the plane.

  At first the sensation entered her consciousness through vague waves of eroticism that invaded her dreams, but as his thumb had run circles around her nipple, a shock of excitement had coursed down to her thighs.

  Now, as they entered the elevator, the sensations of his thumb over her nipple returned to her, reminding her that her erotic dream had been halted when the lights had turned back on and she’d stirred to full wakefulness.

  The elevator doors slid shut and they stood side by side for a second, staring hungrily at each other. Just as she prepared to throw herself at him, he grabbed her and pressed her to the mirrored wall. His lips clasped over her mouth, sucking her in and devouring her with a hunger he’d never displayed before.

  As the elevator rose, so did her arousal. Errol pressed his hips against hers, showing her just how aroused he was. His hardened shaft pressed into her and she let out a pleasurable groan.

  “I’ll make you forget that nightmare of a flight soon enough.” He kissed her neck and trailed down between her breasts. “Let all your tension out, Tar and enjoy the moment.”

  She pulled away slightly. “Let’s just wait until we get to your place,” the logical side of her brain commanded.

  “Afraid we’ll get caught?” he teased.

  “Think of your reputation, Errol. If one of your…” She let out a long, slow hiss of breath as his lips found a nipple. Breathing heavily, she continued. “… your neighbors… What if they… Ah! Errol. What will they think?”

  “Any woman who comes upon us will think ‘lucky girl,’ and any guy who sees us…”

  Suddenly the thought of getting caught added to her arousal; the thought of being seen, of being watched was arousing. She almost wished the doors would slide open. Perhaps a group of young men would stand there and gawk at them.

  “Loosen up, Tar. Let go and lose yourself in the sensations of your body. Stop thinking and just feel,” he said as he passed his tongue over her nipple. “Feel it and let the tension go.”

  “Oh, it’s gone, Errol. You’ve already succeeded,” she murmured. “And now all I want is your cock deep inside me. I want to ride you, Errol. I want to feel you.”

  He jacked her skirt up and ran his finger over her swollen lips. The thin fabric of her panties was too much of a barrier and she longed to have his fingers directly on her. She wanted skin on skin contact, but he continued to tease her for another excruciating moment.

  “Errol,” she whispered.

  Hearing the full weight of his hushed name, he pulled the panties aside and ran his finger through the moisture that’d accumulated. “Yes, oh Baby, that’s more like it,” he groaned as he brought the moistened finger to his lips. “You certainly let go. You’re even hornier than I am… and considering the stiff hard-on I have, that’s saying a lot.”

  Narrowing his eyes with hunger, he grabbed each panel of her shirt and tore it apart then attacked the front clasp of her bra. With an expert flick of his fingers, he released her breasts.

  Once again the thought of strangers watching them aroused her. Her full breasts perked and her nipples stood erect in anticipation of all to come. She opened her eyes and caught their reflection in one of the mirrors. They made for an exquisitely erotic picture.

  Errol plunged between her breasts, licking, sucking, and kissing with his lips while grasping with both hands. To see him, one would think he’d never seen a pair of breasts before.

  The elevator came to a stop, and in her foggy mind, she heard the doors slide open and imagined the expression on the faces of those who watched. They were shocked, but unable to pry their eyes away. They were flabbergasted, but enticed. They were aroused and eager to see more. Instead of her usual course of action, becoming inhibited and wanting to stop, she became more wanton and all sensible thought abandoned her. She arched her back and threw her head back, giving Errol even more access to her breasts all while allowing the onlookers a glimpse of the aroused orbs.

  With a wild need to fulfill every sense, she pulled Errol’s shirt open and kissed his chest, quickly bringing her lips to the waist of his slacks. Moving with rushed and impatient speed, she unzipped his pants and freed his erection, holding it with a tight grip.

  “You want a taste?” Errol said as he teasingly pulled back.

  She leaned into him, refusing to allow his cock to escape her. With hungry lips, she kissed the tender tip and he moaned his pleasure.

  “Take it all in.”

  Holding back, she continued to kiss the very tip of his erection. “I’m not sure you deserve it.”

  He drove his fingers through her hair and pulled her head closer to his crotch. “Damn it, take it all in. Suck hard until I tell you to stop.”

  She shook her head and licked the length of his shaft, well aware of the open elevator door.

  “Do you love me, Errol?” she whispered.

  “Yes! Forever.”

  “Do you deserve me?”

  “I’ll prove it to you every day.”

  She took in a full inch of his cock.

  “Ah, Lord have Mercy.” His fingers tightened around her head and he rammed the full length of his cock into her mouth.

  Tar welcomed him, sucking on him, licking him and pulling up on the rigid shaft, delighting in the soft and sensual feel of her tongue along his cock until he groaned deep within his chest a primal groan that shook his entire body. Knowing how she affected him, aroused her more, and she eagerly took him in deeper, sucking harder.

  With a quick and harsh motion, Errol pulled her up, spun her around and pushed her head forward as he poked his cock
along the moistened folds of skin.

  “I wanted to keep this until later, but you're driving me crazy. I can’t hold off.” He plunged deep inside her from behind, rocking her hard as he thrust in and out of her frantically. “Look what you do to me, Taryn.” He slapped against her, the sound of their colliding bodies filling the small space of the elevator. He gritted his teeth and exhaled, “I can’t get enough of you.”

  She heard a gasp and wondered if it’d come from Errol or one of the onlookers. Either way, she groaned with pleasure and swung her hips from side to side in a provocative manner.

  Errol reached around her, and while his cock probed her innermost core, his fingers delved through her lips and clitoris, massaging the tiny little nub to the edge of an explosive orgasm.

  “You want it?” Errol asked, never stopping the motion of his cock or fingers.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “You want it now?”

  “Yes!” she shouted as the waves of pleasure reached an ultimate high and hovered there waiting… waiting… waiting… until. “Yes!”

  Errol pounded into her just as her orgasm shook her entire body. Groaning his own climax, he straightened her up, leaned into her, and pushed her flat up against the mirrored wall as he pumped into her, pouring every last drop of him into her.

  The cool glass, in sharp contrast to the heat of the moment, brought her sensations full circle. After a day that had begun, so many hours ago, with the dreaded notion that Errol was duplicitous, she was now entirely fulfilled and satisfied… and eager for more.

  Suddenly mindful of the open elevator door, she turned to find the corridor empty.