“You won’t even know I’m here.”
He might have said the words, but he’d said it like we both knew it wasn’t true.
I growled in frustration as I snagged my bag and headed to the bathroom. “I’m going to shower,” I announced for reasons I didn’t understand.
His chuckles followed me all the way there and I might have closed the door a little hard because there was nothing else I could do.
Gratefully, this hotel had generous-sized bathrooms even for basic rooms. I unzipped my small carry-on and pulled out what I’d brought to wear to sleep.
I’d moved out of my mother’s house and hadn’t left much behind. So there had literally been one item I had. My reasons for bringing it was because Dubai was hot, and I would be alone. No one would see me in the overpriced La Perla lace teddy I’d bought to surprise Carter with when I’d planned to tell him I’d loved him. Instead, he’d broken things off before my grand plan and I couldn’t return the expensive lingerie.
With one finger, I held it up. With the other, I pulled out Grant’s t-shirt. The one he’d lent me at the hotel, and I hadn’t returned it or the thermal. I’d only brought it in case the teddy was uncomfortable. Now what? We were scheduled to fly back early the day after tomorrow. I’d planned to stay in and order room service, catching up on sleep, writing, and relaxing with a movie or two.
The one outfit I brought was a long-sleeved linen top and jeans. I couldn’t wear that to bed.
Silently, I pounded my fist in the air, unsure what to do and raging at fate’s cruel justice. I turned on the shower, knowing I had no good options but forced to choose one.
Twenty
Grant
Jolene walked back into the room all bundled up in a fluffy hotel robe, wearing it like armor.
“Great robe, Highness.” The look she gave me was priceless. “It’s a little warm for that, don’t you think?”
She looked ready to claw my eyes out and I had to chuckle.
“The bathroom is yours if you want,” she said, like it was pulling teeth to talk to me.
“Thanks,” I said, but didn’t move.
I could make it easier for her, but it was cute watching her squirm.
When she looked ready to lie on the comforter, I moved to pull it back. “Wouldn’t want you to lie on that. Who knows when it was laundered last,” I said, making reference to our night at the motel.
“Thank you.” She’d spoken the words so saccharine sweet, I thought I might get a toothache.
I chuckled to myself as she slid under the covers, robe and all.
“I feel like you’re hiding something from me.”
My gaze fell to the sheet she pulled up to her neck.
“You know, you were dancing around topless the other night in the motel. This is a little extreme.”
Her eyes grew to the size of quarters and I decided to cut her some slack.
I got out of bed and headed to the mini bar, which, thank fuck, was stocked. It was going to be a long night with my reluctant bride. I pulled out a full-size beer and used the handy top opening from the drawer.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it,” I said in Jolene’s general direction.
“It’s not a big deal,” she began. “The airline pays for our hotel and meals.”
She sounded so relieved to be talking about something else, I made a decision.
“Look, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I can try to get the app on my phone and call customer service if I need to get things activated.”
She pushed at her hair and put on a brave face. “I’m not uncomfortable. Besides, you never know if you may run into security. It’s better this way.”
I pointed at her. “Yet, you’re wrapped up tighter than a burrito like you think I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself. But I think I’ve proven that I can. Then again, maybe the getup is so you won’t jump me.”
It was a win when she graced me with a smile, albeit a sardonic one.
She shimmied out of bed and stood to face me. “I’m sure I can keep my hands to myself.”
I held out my hands. “What’s the problem then?”
She reached for the ties that kept her covered before stopping and looking up.
“Don’t get the wrong idea?”
I raised an eyebrow and she sighed while releasing the robe.
My grin could light up the world as I took her in.
“You’re wearing my shirt.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not what you think. I wasn’t assigned this flight. I took someone else’s spot and I didn’t have clothes at my mom’s because I moved out,” she said, rambling on.
“It’s okay. It’s cute. You didn’t want to forget our time together,” I teased as her eyes rolled. “You shouldn’t do that. Your eyes might get stuck.”
When she flipped me off, I laughed harder. I reached into the mini bar and pulled out a single serving-sized bottle of wine. “You look like you need this,” I added, handing it to her.
Surprisingly, she took it without complaint and unscrewed the top before getting into bed without the robe.
Instead of getting back into bed, I sank into the desk chair and stretched out my legs.
“Are you going to wear that pilot’s uniform all night?’ she asked.
It was the first time since walking into the room I noticed what I’d been wearing. I hadn’t been able to think about anything else but her.
I focused on her as I sat up and took off my jacket.
“You can turn off the smolder, pretty boy. It’s not going to work.”
I held up the beer in her direction. “Pretty boy, huh?”
“Don’t blow up,” she said. “I’m sure women gas you up all the time. You don’t need my validation.”
No matter what she said, I was grinning ear-to-ear. “I’m stuck on the fact you think I’m pretty.” I called her out when her eyes headed toward heaven. “Ah, ah, ah.”
“Obnoxious doesn’t look good on you,” she said.
“It doesn’t? Because I swore you called me pretty.”
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
I took a long draw on my beer as she tilted the wine bottle back. We said nothing more until both our bottles were empty.
Then I got up. “For the record, I think you’re pretty too.”
I removed my tie and started with the button on my shirt as I sat on the bed. My back was to her, which was why I was caught unaware.
“Kiss me then.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice. I turned and cupped her cheeks, drawing her up to crush my lips to hers.
The buildup over the last several days exploded. Each of us tore at the other’s clothes like there was a stopwatch nearby.
Every touch felt like a new experience from the softness of her breasts under my palms. They were as full and heavy as I remembered. It wasn’t until I removed her shirt that I thought I would lose my shit. A lacy surprise awaited me.
“You come gift-wrapped,” I said, before laying her flat and savoring the moment, or maybe memorizing it.
If I didn’t get my shit together, things would be over sooner than either of us wanted, which would be a first for me.
“Are you sure?” I asked, giving her a last chance to stop this.
Twenty-One
Jolene
This is such a bad idea, my brain warned. A memory of Carter tried to surface, but I let the wine that warmed my belly smother it.
“Yes,” I said, answering his question of consent.
Grant lifted up and crawled backward, leaving a trail of kisses down to my sweet spot.
His kiss on my clit, even through the lace, sent tingles all over me. I cursed the teddy for its barriers. The only reason I wore it was because I’d forgotten clean underwear. Once I’d put it on, it was too revealing to wear alone. I’d pulled on his t-shirt, but couldn’t walk out only wearing that. I’d taken the robe conveniently hanging behind the door and hidden what I was
wearing beneath it.
Now I longed for it to be gone and was gifted that with his next word, “Sorry,” before the sound of tearing lace filled the room.
I would mourn the loss of the expensive garment another day. One when I could think beyond the word yes I kept repeating over and over again. I could have sworn I’d torn through the sheets fisted in my hands as I came down from orgasm number one.
When Grant crawled back up my body and captured my mouth in a searing kiss, I wasn’t bothered by tasting myself on his tongue. I just wanted more, more than I’d ever had before.
I was eager and tore at his belt. In the end, he stopped me and removed the cursed pants all in one smooth and seamless motion.
We were both a little reckless with our desire at a fever pitch. He teased me with the head of his cock, sliding it through my wetness down to my opening and back again. My need was far too great, and the next time his cock positioned just right, I grabbed his ass and drove him forward.
We both groaned at the contact. Me from the sudden fullness, and him from just holding there as if he was catching his breath. I wrapped my legs around him and bucked underneath him, urging him on.
Though his cock stretched me almost to the point of pain, the friction from his thrust erased anything but pleasure from my mind.
“Spread your legs,” he demanded in a ragged whisper.
I thought I was doing that, but I unlocked my legs and did what he asked. Damn, if the moment I was spread eagle, he didn’t slide deeper.
My moans could have surely woken up the dead. I’d never been that vocal during sex. Even with Carter, whom I might have called out but I’d bitten my lips and kept all feelings inside. I’d been afraid to displease him in anyway so he wouldn’t have a reason to dump me. In the end, he had anyway.
With Grant, it was different. I couldn’t keep what I felt bottled up. I cried out as I came. Before I could go limp, he flipped me over, lifted my hips, and plunged back in.
He bent down to whisper in my ear. “Don’t get tired on me. I’m not done with you yet.”
He was true to his word and had the claw marks on his back to prove it. The man was insatiable. I barely slept. At one point, I woke up with him inside me. His hand curled around my front, working my clit as he fucked me from behind.
I couldn’t count the number of times I’d orgasmed. What I did know was I had a bit of a limp by the next day.
We ordered room service, ate, screwed, and then repeated.
It wasn’t until my father called early the next morning did my bubble pop.
“Jo, you need to get home now.”
“Why? Is something wrong with Gran?”
“No, just get on the next flight.”
Confused, not just for his sudden concern but the fear in his voice, I checked the time and said, “My flight leaves in a few hours.”
“Good, you need to get back to New York.”
“I will.”
Then he was off the phone, and without explaining more. When I hung up, I answered Grant’s questioning gaze.
“I don’t know. Dad said I need to get back.” Then it hit me. “Gran,” I whispered. Had he been lying to me so I wouldn’t worry on the long flight home?
When I looked back at him, I realized something else.
“This was a mistake,” I said without thinking.
His mouth opened, but then closed. “So that’s that?”
I nodded. “It’s not like it could work. You live in Maryland and I live in Florida.”
His response was to get up. He went into the bathroom as I covered my face. I wasn’t sure who I was crying for, Gran or Grant.
We didn’t speak when he came out. I went in and cleaned up. I was back in my uniform when I got out.
“Shit,” I said when I looked at the clock. “We’re going to be late.”
It wasn’t until I was in the van that I felt the rings back around my neck. He’d left his on the desk near my purse and I’d made no comment as I felt a fist-sized pain in my chest.
I couldn’t deny the unbelievable time we had together. But I’d felt the stir of something more. I couldn’t break again. I feared this time I wouldn’t be able to put myself back together. Better to run before he could tear my heart into pieces.
Twenty-Two
Grant
Fuming as I was, I said nothing. I didn’t think she was the type of woman to play games. Yet, here we were. One minute, she couldn’t get enough of me, the next she told me it was all a mistake.
The only mistake we’d made was not using protection. Something I’d never done with another woman ever. Something she’d failed to mention.
Yet, there I was watching her every move, wanting her with a need I’d never experienced before. There was something about her that was refreshing. She hadn’t wanted anything from me. In fact, she’d done her best to stay stubborn against my charms, which was really attractive. I was finding it damn hard to walk away.
“Grant, we missed you in the bar last night,” the stunning blonde standing next to me said.
I thought her name was Lanie or Lana, but I didn’t take the time to confirm.
“Yeah, I was… otherwise occupied,” I said, smiling to myself, thinking just what I’d been doing all last night and well into the morning.
My eyes drifted to the brunette that consumed my thoughts. She may have been easily the best-looking woman I’d come across in a while, but that wasn’t why I was so damn captivated.
The problem was, I had no idea how to change her mind about us. She was right. We did live in different cities—hell, different states. But we also worked for the same airline. Conceivably, we would see each other more often than not, assuming we were assigned to the same crew.
Plus, what was holding me in Maryland? Nothing really. Dad was self-sufficient. I was out of the family business. And Florida wasn’t all that far.
Was I really considering a move for a woman I’d known less than a week? Slow your roll, Grant, I told myself. She wasn’t the only woman alive.
I kept my distance from her as Lana droned on. She could have been telling me I was a jackass and I wouldn’t have noticed until Jolene did.
When her eyes narrowed, I smirked and turned to the blonde and heard her say something about airline food. I murmured a non-verbal response and caught Jolene marching off.
So she wasn’t as unaffected as she played out to be. If I were a betting man, I’d say she was jealous.
“Hey, kid.”
I turned as Carter clamped a hand down on my shoulder and then he waved Lana off. Carter wasn’t that much older than me, if my guess on his age was accurate. Was the kid comment a way to put me in my place?
“I thought I warned you about Jolene?”
Annoyed, I asked, “What about Jolene?”
“It’s obvious something happened between the two of you the way she’s avoiding you like the plague.”
“Is she your girlfriend?” I asked.
“No.”
“Is she the woman you sing about every flight?” He’d told me her name was Kendall, but it was worth checking.
“No,” he said.
“Is she the woman that’s got you all messed up?” I’d noticed and I didn’t know him that well. The crew knew him better and had commented about his change of mood, or those were the whispers I’d overheard.
“No.”
“Then it would seem to me, it’s none of your business what goes on between Jolene and me.”
Carter’s eyes hardened, but no more than mine already had. “It’s my business because she matters. She’s already been hurt.”
“By you,” I reasoned.
“Yes, and I don’t want to see her hurt again.”
“If this is some kind of penance you’re doing, that’s between you, her, and God. What goes on between Jolene and me doesn’t include you. And for your information, I’m not some kind of asshole you have to protect her from.”
I walked away before I said
something else to who was effectively my boss, at least on this flight.
He didn’t know her as well as he thought he did. She was doing a damn good job of protecting herself, which included kicking me out of her life when I’d only had one foot in. But he was right about another thing. She mattered to me. I wasn’t giving up without a fight.
Jolene had disappeared in the bathroom and I’d gone for coffee. The lines were long, and when I arrived at the gate, Carter was way too close to her as the gate attendant checked their badges before opening the gate door.
I didn’t like when his hand curled around her arm. It only reminded me that he could have touched her in similar ways that I had this morning. I also didn’t like the soft expression on her face as she gave him a shy smile. The man was good-looking. Anyone could see how he’d talked his way into many of the flight attendants’ hotel rooms.
Did he want her back now that he assumed he had competition? Would Jolene take him back? How deep had their relationship ran?
“Grant, are you coming?”
Lana was there with a pretty smile. I was fairly certain I could go there if I wanted. I took another sip of my coffee and said, “Sure.”
I wouldn’t lead Lana on. I wasn’t that guy. But it didn’t hurt that Jolene turned and visibly looked annoyed to once again see the beautiful blonde standing next to me.
“Are you and Jo together?” Lana asked.
I looked down at her and answered truthfully, “No.”
“But you want to be?”
When I didn’t respond fast enough, she sighed. “Lucky girl,” she said and quickened her pace to catch up with another attendant.
Once on board, I spotted Jolene alone. I made a beeline in her direction.
“Jo—”
Big brown eyes met mine. “Mr. King—”
Mr. King. What had Carter said to her?
“We have a busy flight. Jack will be in to take your drink order in a minute.”
Jack. So she wasn’t going to attend to us this flight?
“Grant, what can I help you with?”
I turned my head and spotted the speaker, Jack. “Nothing,” I muttered and walked away.
Arrogant Savior: A Hero Club Novel Page 10
