“So fucking tight, Blue.” His thick erection swelled even more, but he was holding back, trying not to hurt me. His desire to protect me jolted me to the core. My sex ached. My heart ached. I wanted all of him. Everything.

“Please, Chase. Don’t hold back, I need you, harder!” I pleaded, hoping he abandoned his self-control. As if my words were a shot of adrenaline to his chest, he powered inside with brutal force. My climax built with his deliciously punishing rhythm. He reached down and rubbed and squeezed me. The pressure, the insanely intense pressure, took me over the brink. “Chase, Chase!”

He pumped twice more, powerful and punishing pumps, and buried his face against my shoulder, biting down hard. His pelvis glued to my sex and he released fast and hard. I loved every second of it. He rolled us onto our side and discarded the condom.

“That was amazing,” I panted. Amazing didn’t even begin to cut it. Was there a word for mind-blowingly hot? For perfect?

He tucked me into his side. He was drenched with sweat; we were drenched with sweat. “This is only the beginning, Blue.” He kissed my temple. “Now, let’s get cleaned up, beautiful, before I actually tie that hot body to this bed and my small town girl misses a day in the city.”

I wasn’t sure what sounded better—being tied to this man’s bed or being called his girl. Damn, I liked the sound of both.

“You were hungry, huh?” He laughed.

“Um. I worked up an appetite, and besides, I’m pretty sure it aids in the healing process,” I quipped, popping the last bit of my insanely delicious crab cake sandwich into my mouth.

“Baby, I think we can both agree. You’re all healed.” He mischievously raised his brows. This man was sexy.

“So where to next, Dr. NYC?”

Not that I was in a rush. Ocean Grill was situated right across from the Museum of Natural History and Central Park. Our quaint sidewalk table provided the perfect view to people watch. It screamed NY, but not in an obnoxious touristy way. I loved it and Chase knew it.

“How’s a little shopping sound? I know a boutique on Fifth Avenue…”

In general, anything with the word boutique was totally out of my price range. And I knew enough about Manhattan to know anything Fifth Avenue was definitely out of my league. Crap.

“How about Bloomingdale’s?” Still a little above, but I felt like splurging.

His phone vibrated, luckily distracting him enough to agree with me. “Sure. Sounds good.” He held his phone up. “I’m gonna grab this.” I nodded. “Hey Ash, long time no talk.” His silver eyes brightened as his mouth curved slightly. “Yeah, I’m in town for the weekend, came in this morning.” He leaned on his elbow and grabbed his forehead. “That’s tomorrow ... no fucking chance ... yeah, yeah, I know. You’re going?” He leaned back in the chair and gazed toward the park. “Hey listen, let’s not talk about this right now ... you have plans tonight? Great ... there’s someone I want you to meet. Why don’t you swing by and meet us for a drink. How’s eight ... Asiate ... yeah, yeah you’ll meet her tonight. Later, Ash.” He ended his call and met my curious stare.

“That was a good friend, Asher. Don’t get to see him much. He’s in town too, do you mind if we grab a drink with him before dinner?” He continued without waiting for my response. “I can cancel. I should’ve asked you first, but I really want him to meet you.” His nervous banter was adorable. This was a totally new side of him. My heart fluttered, he genuinely cared for my opinion. And he wanted to introduce me to an old friend? The flutter got faster.

“Chase, I would love to meet him. Really. It sounds like fun and maybe I can learn a bit more about Dr. Mystery.” I winked. “Why doesn’t he join us for dinner too?”

“Baby, if he wasn’t my best friend, we wouldn’t even be having a drink. Not sharing.” He chuckled. “Let’s get out of here.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Come.”

The rest of the afternoon, Chase dazzled me with all things New York. He redefined shopping. It was alarmingly clear that money was not an issue to Chase. At all. I grew up poor, but spent enough time around Sierra to recognize serious wealth and not be intimidated by it. Money was just that. Money. It bought things, not people. And definitely not happiness.

I was, however, a little surprised at the level of Chase’s wealth. We weren’t talking successful neurosurgeon wealth, but more like mega-millions winner wealth. And he was beyond generous. By the second store I gave up attempting to pay. There was zero chance I was winning that argument.

I’d be totally lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his over-the-top shopping spree. But Dr. Rich didn’t hold a candle to Dr. Sexy, Playful or Affectionate.

Four very large and very heavy shopping bags later, I was one very spoiled girl. Too spoiled. I told him half a dozen times that his generosity made me uncomfortable. The first time his response was a little odd. “I can’t spend it or give it away fast enough, baby.” As if “it” was a dirty word. The other five times he ignored me and grinned. Dr. Rich liked what he liked and didn’t take no for an answer. To hell with price tags. And it just so happened, Chase definitely liked heels. Oh-my-god killer heels, to be exact. Despite my best protest against the holy shit, this could be a down payment price tag, I was the proud owner of my first pair of slingback camel peep toe Louboutins. And because I was spoiled, a pair of classic black patent Jimmy Choo pumps.

The kid inside me couldn’t wait to call or text Sierra, but Chase rubbed off on me. This was our time. No interruptions. I wasn’t in the mood to share either.

“So which pair are you wearing tonight?” Hmm. I loved his voice.

We strolled through Central Park with our hands entwined, sipping iced coffee. Somehow not carrying any bags. Dr. Colton, would you like your purchases delivered to the Dakota? What did that even mean? They’ll be waiting for you when you get home, Miss.

“Why do you care?” I retorted.

“I don’t. But I might need to reserve the table by the bathroom in case we need to excuse ourselves.”

“You’re such a tease.” I batted my eyelashes and definitely blushed.

“I’m not teasing. If you don’t stop doing that, I’ll take you on that park bench.”

My breath caught and I giggled. I clasped my arms around his waist and kissed his chin. He matched my embrace.

He glanced at his watch.

“Am I boring you?” I loved how lighthearted our banter had become.

“Never, Blue, but we should head back if we’re going to be on time.” Add Dr. Punctual to the list. He tugged my earlobe into his mouth and sucked. “And I want to make sure I have enough time to up your tally before drinks.”

While biting my tongue and gripping my thighs together, Chase easily added one to my tally on the cab ride back. My thong count, on the other hand, decreased by another.

“Hmm, this is starting to become a habit.” He stuffed my ripped thong into his jeans pocket. I slunk from the cab, careful not to spread my legs too far apart, silently thanking Sierra again. She’d insisted I borrow her adorable cocoa halter dress for the summer season. At least I changed my dress from earlier and avoided replaying the light colored fiasco.

“Chase, I realize you like me pantiless,” I whispered, getting onto the elevator. “But I think you’ve ruined at least five pairs and it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours yet.” He laughed out loud and the tenant in the front of the car peeked over her shoulder. “Shhh. You’re disturbing the tenants and I would really like to be invited back.”

“Oh really, and who’s inviting you back?” He quietly taunted. “The wrinkly guy on the fifth floor might need some company, I can press five. What floor did you need, ma’am?” he said, raising his voice. I grabbed his hand and grinned. I was definitely falling hard for Dr. Playful.

“Chase, can I tell you something?”

“Sure, baby, anything.” He tucked me into the crook of his body, a place I was growing very fond of and kissed my temple.

“I haven’t been this happy in a long time, thanks.”

“Me either.”

His eyes softened as he led me into his bedroom. “I want to show you something.”

Hanging in his closet was my new wardrobe. My splash of color infiltrated his dark palate. “I thought maybe you could leave some of your new clothes here.” My butterflies awoke and fluttered. “I mean, if you want.” He was nervously rambling again. I smiled wide and nodded as tears pricked the back of my eyes. Speech was impossible. I turned in an attempt to compose myself, but he snaked his arms around my waist and kissed my neck. “It means a lot to me, baby.” I melted more. “I have another surprise for you in the top drawer over there.”

I looked toward his built-in, eleven-drawer dresser and pushed my emotion aside. “Sierra would go ape shit for this closet.” It was the size of my studio. Literally.

“And just when I thought you were going to say something sentimental.” He sighed. I shrugged. If he only knew what his statement had done to me. “You seem to always keep me guessing.” He directed me toward the dresser. “I had the top two cleaned out and filled just for you.”

Wait, when did he do that and who was cleaning out his drawers? “Filled?”

“I figured since I was playing a large role in ruining your panties, the least I could do was replace them.”

“You didn’t have to do that, I was just teasing you before. Wait, when did you-?”

“Blue, I could have finished two craniotomies in the time you spent fooling around in the dressing room this afternoon. And as far as saying I didn’t have to do it, you’ll learn soon enough that I only do things I want to do ... and spoiling you just became my new favorite pastime. Go look, see how I did.”