When they roamed lower, palming the bulge in his jeans, a thread snapped on his control. He groaned and pushed into her hands, and his lips sought hers once again. Deep strokes as desire grew, and her hands had him dangling on the delicious, razor sharp edge of pleasure.
With her, every sense was heightened. Brighter, bolder, and better.
He worked her jeans open and sank to his knees, kissing every available inch of skin as he helped her shed the rest of her clothes. Lingering when she shivered or sighed. Drawing out every pleasure to give her as much as he could. Muscles shaking, he rose and lifted her into his arms.
Ashley stroked her fingertips along his skin, setting off little powder kegs of desire. Need grew until it swamped everything else. Desire pulsed hot under his skin, demanding to be released. He laid her on the bed. She looked like a goddess waiting to be worshiped.
He kicked free of his jeans and boxers and followed her down.
She immediately wrapped her arms around him. Xavier covered her lips with his and stroked a possessive line down her center. Her skin was softer than silk and warm and sweet. She felt so good moving against him.
Eyes glowing with passion, Ashley sought to destroy his control. Her nails scraped and her fingers stroked and squeezed his skin, igniting his need. He answered every touch and matched every taste until they were thrusting together in the soft as a cloud bed.
Keeping her eyes on his, she opened for him. Xavier rolled on protection and eased inside. Slow, to savor the tight heat. Ashley slid one hand into his hair and clamped one on his hip, as though she wanted to make sure he wasn't going anywhere. With a steadying breath, he began to move.
Slow and deep, sensual as skin slid against skin and they watched each other. And then faster and harder, as desire crashed into desperation with gasping requests and urgent pleas and snapping hips. He linked their hands together as passion overtook him. His movements grew rough, frantic, as they met thrust for thrust. She came apart underneath him, the waves of her release setting off his own. His muscles seized as pleasure exploded like a supernova, whiting out his vision.
He fought to catch his breath. As always, her eyes captivated him. Ashley's fingers squeezed his as they watched each other. He lowered his head and kissed her, then pushed himself up to deal with the condom.
He returned to the bed and lay on his side, facing her. "Want to stay?"
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"I want you here." He rolled onto his back. And smiled when she snuggled into his side. Her fingers walked across his torso until she found his hand, and she linked their fingers together.
He'd help her however he could and however she would let him. But right now, he felt stuck, like they were in a holding pattern until the competition ended.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ashley checked the items lining her station. With set-up complete, she slipped away and, still too nervous to eat breakfast, bought her third cup of coffee of the morning from the shop on the ground floor.
As she stepped back into their stainless steel mini-kitchen, Xavier pounced, grabbing her arm, nearly upsetting the coffee in her hand. "The producer just told me they're planning on doing a follow-up TV show with the competition winner."
His boundless enthusiasm was far more potent than mere caffeine, and Ashley soaked up the energy. "Wow, that's a good idea. I imagine they'll tie it in with the magazine release."
"He also said you've got good camera presence."
She couldn't let herself even begin to think along those lines. "Even with flour covering a good portion of my face?"
"Just think, maybe that'll lead to your own baking show on their network."
"Did the producer say anything about that?"
"Not specifically, but it could happen. You could even put out your own line of dessert cookbooks."
"Not to take the air out of your soufflé, but, there is a small matter of winning this thing first."
"It'll be a piece of cake, pun intended." He laughed and rubbed his hands over her shoulders. Smugness slithered into his voice. "I know you're a better baker than Blackstone."
She appreciated his confidence. Maybe she needed more of his winning attitude. "Even if I am, they were good enough to survive this far, and so was the other team."
One of the producers approached them. "Xavier, can you come with me? We're getting a few photos of the Frenzy players."
"Sure." With one last squeeze of her shoulders, he walked away.
Alone, Ashley toyed with the edge of a cake pan. He might not be worried, but she was. All her hopes rode on how well they performed in this round. Saving her business without the winnings seemed an impossible feat. What would happen if they didn't win? What would she do? Nerves curled and swelled, and fear rolled into her stomach.
She wiped her sweaty palms on her apron and pushed the worry aside. She'd done the best she could so far, but earlier rounds didn't matter.
As more of the audience filed into their seats, Ryan, Everson, Shane, and Mike came into view. They took seats beside Katie. Relief rippling through her, Ashley exhaled a small sigh and smiled as Xavier greeted his family and shook hands with members of the audience. Having their support meant so much.
Ashley's gaze connected with Xavier as he threaded his way through the crowd. He crossed their station and brushed his fingers across the back of her hand. A little thrill of excitement moved through her, mixing with concern at the tension tightening his features. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "It just hit me that almost everyone I care about is in this room. I want to make you all proud."
She needed the confident man back. Worry could lead to second-guessing and mistakes. "You do that anyway."
Gary, the cameraman closest to their station, wandered over and stood
