Let Your Hair Down

by Rachel Lacey

  Ruby spent the next few minutes flipping through the playbook, familiarizing herself with the cast and the theater. And then, the lights dimmed.

  Ruby was still smiling as they left the theater three hours later. “That was amazing.”

  “Maybe you should see another show while you’re in town,” Flynn suggested.

  “I just might.” She hooked her arm through his as they walked out onto the street. “I booked my hotel room for three nights. I could do this again tomorrow and the next night if I wanted to.”

  “Will you fly home at the end of your three nights in London?”

  “No, I’ve got another week until my flight home. I was thinking about seeing more of Europe, but I’m not sure where else I could go without adding another flight, which could get complicated…and pricey.”

  “Scotland is very nice,” Flynn said. “You could also take the EuroStar to Paris.”

  “What’s the EuroStar?”

  “It’s a high-speed train that runs under the English Channel. It’ll take you from London to Paris in about two and a half hours.”

  She stopped in her tracks, looking up at him. “I had no idea that existed, and I’ve always wanted to visit Paris. I might totally do that.”

  “You should.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I think you’d enjoy it.”

  “I think I would too,” she agreed, ideas unfurling inside her brain like one of the tapestries in Pippa’s restaurant. She could visit the Louvre, climb the Eiffel Tower, sit at a sidewalk café while she sipped wine and ate amazing cheese and pastries. Already, she couldn’t imagine doing anything else to finish out her adventure.

  “Are you up for one more stop tonight?” he asked. “There’s someplace I’d like to show you.”

  “Sure.” She ought to be exhausted, but she was too high on the excitement of the day to feel it. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s right around the corner,” he told her.

  “Okay,” she agreed easily. He hadn’t steered her wrong yet, and she wasn’t quite ready for their day together to end. They rounded the corner together, and Flynn guided her toward the entrance of a fancy hotel, tucked back from the street and grand in the way of many buildings here in London, like it was etched in history. The word Savoy was illuminated over the entrance, and it sounded vaguely familiar, although she wasn’t sure where she’d heard it before.

  “The Savoy is probably the most famous hotel in London,” Flynn told her. “And it has one of the most famous bars as well. I thought we could stop in for a nightcap before I take you back to your hotel.”

  A concierge in a black suit with white gloves held the door open for them as they walked inside. The lobby looked like it had been carved out of marble, glossy and important, its floor a patchwork of black and white squares like a chess board. She paused just inside the door, taking it all in, before following Flynn as he strode across the room like he owned the place. Briefly, she wondered if he did.

  Then they were being escorted into another room, a lounge dotted with luxurious-looking leather seats and framed black-and-white photos on the walls. There was a piano near the rear of the room, at which a man in a black suit sat playing soft jazz music. Flynn gestured for Ruby to sit in a curved over-large seat meant for two. She slid onto one end of it, and he sat beside her.

  “This is called the American Bar,” he told her as he passed her the drink menu. “And I didn’t bring you here because you’re American.” A smile touched his lips.

  “No?”

  “It’s a well-known spot here in London. A place to see and be seen, if you will. I thought it might be a nice addition to your adventure.”

  Ruby darted a quick glance around the room. It was the type of place she’d never come on her own, fancy and expensive and exclusive. And it felt like the perfect place to wrap up this day. “It’s perfect.”

  They ordered drinks while Flynn explained some of the history of the hotel and the bar to her. The black-and-white photos on the wall were all celebrity portraits, as glamorous as the room itself. As it turned out, the drink menu was inspired by the portraits. The cocktail she chose, called “The Debut,” was inspired by a photo of mother and daughter actresses Judy Garland and Liza Minelli, shot to celebrate Liza’s debut in showbiz.

  Ruby thought it seemed fitting tonight, as she debuted this new side of herself. She sipped from her drink, feeling sophisticated and worldly in this posh bar with a handsome man at her side. If she squinted her eyes, softened her focus just a bit, she thought any one of the glamorous stars from the photos around them might walk into the room, brought to life in startling color.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Flynn said, sipping his own drink.

  She grinned at him. “I’m just thinking how fancy I feel right now.”

  “You look very fancy as well,” he told her, his gaze dropping to her dress.

  Heat spread over her skin in its wake. Good God, she’d had a lot to drink today, between their champagne on the London Eye, wine with dinner, and now this. It was a lot more than she usually drank, but it had been spread out enough that she’d never gone beyond comfortably buzzed. Now though, she felt her inhibitions slipping away.

  “Do you come to places like this often?” she asked.

  “Truthfully?” His gaze locked on hers. “No.”

  “Really?” That did surprise her. He had the money and class to do this every night.

  “I actually prefer to leave the hotel world behind when I’m not working,” he said with an amused sort of smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “What do you enjoy, then?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”

  She’d touched that nerve again. “You don’t enjoy your job.”

  He looked away, taking a long sip of his whiskey. “I enjoy many things. I just seem to have trouble making any of them stick.”

  “Do you have to work for Exeter? I mean, couldn’t you do your own thing like Pippa?”

  “I could.” He didn’t elaborate, so she decided not to pry.

  “Well, I’m a good listener if you want to talk about it,” she said. “And I’m a safe person to talk to, since you never have to see me again after tonight.”

  “A shame about that last part,” he said, before his expression softened. “And I appreciate your offer. It’s nothing nearly that serious. I just haven’t found my place within the company yet, that’s all.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find it soon.”

  “Thank you.”

  They shifted to safer topics as they finished up their drinks. Flynn called for his driver to pick them up, and then they were in the car, headed for her hotel. Ruby felt a bit blurred around the edges, a mixture of alcohol and emotion. Their day together had come to an end, but she wasn’t ready for it to be over. If she was fully committed to embracing her wild side on this trip, then she had to own the part of herself that unabashedly wanted Flynn in her bed tonight.

  “I’ll walk you in,” he said when they arrived. He walked into the lobby with her, pausing to kiss her, a soft, gentle kiss that nonetheless lit every cell inside her on fire.

  “Would you like to come up?” she asked, emboldened by the events of the day.

  “Are you sure it’s what you want?” he asked, ever the gentleman, even as his pupils dilated with lust.

  “Positive.” She hooked her fingers in the lapel of his jacket, fitting herself up against him.

  “I don’t want to do anything you’ll regret in the morning.”

  She lifted her chin to whisper in his ear. “The only thing I might regret is letting you walk out that door right now.”

  A slow, sexy grin spread across his face. “All right, then.”

  His next kiss was nothing like the first. This was a kiss with intention, a promise of the pleasure to come. She ran her fingers down his tie, feeling his warmth, his strength as her knuckles grazed the front of his shirt. And then she led the way toward the elevator.

>   6

  Ruby swiped the keycard and led the way into her room. She flicked on the small light by the door, which threw a soft glow over the rest of the room, casting deep shadows everywhere. On the far side of the bed, London glittered outside the window.

  She looked at Flynn, momentarily tongue-tied as she took in the sight of him in her hotel room. He looked so handsome in that charcoal-gray suit, so posh, but at the same time, just Flynn, the man who’d been charming her since the moment they met. It might seem impulsive, inviting him up to her room, but she was doing this for herself, taking what she wanted for once, no holding back.

  “Seems impossible we’ve only known each other for twenty-four hours.” She stepped closer, tugging at the knot of his tie, loosening it before tossing it over the chair behind him.

  “It does.” He settled his hands on her hips, toying with the lace shapes cut into the design of the dress.

  “Do you do this a lot?” She wasn’t sure why she’d asked, because she didn’t really care what the answer was. She already knew everything she needed to know about him for tonight’s purposes.

  “What do you think?” he asked, his gaze never wavering from hers.

  She unfastened his belt and pulled it free. “Probably more often than I do.”

  “Maybe, but that’s still not very often.” He brought his hands up to cup her face, pressing his lips to hers. His kiss was as intense as it was brief, leaving her gasping for breath as he lifted his head. “It sounds like tonight is out of the ordinary for both of us.”

  “I like that,” she whispered, shivering with pleasure as his hands slid over her shoulders and down her back, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. He gripped her ass, bringing her hips against his.

  “I can’t even begin to tell you how sexy I find you in this dress.” His voice sounded like he’d swallowed sand, thick and gritty. “Which is not to say I haven’t found you sexy in everything I’ve seen you in, because I have. But this dress…” His fingers bunched in the lace overlay, tugging gently.

  “That’s a shame.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m ready to take it off.”

  Then they were kissing again, mouths meeting messily as their hands roamed, groping for buttons and zippers. She had his shirt halfway unbuttoned by the time he’d unzipped her dress. But instead of removing it, his hands went to her hair, gently removing the clasp that held it in a knot on the back of her head. It tumbled down her back, settling against her exposed skin, and Flynn groaned in appreciation.

  “That’s better.”

  It’ll only get in the way while we’re having sex, she started to say but stopped herself. If he wanted to see her with her hair down tonight, she was happy to indulge him. She took off his jacket and pushed his shirt over his shoulders, revealing the undershirt beneath. “So many layers,” she teased as she hooked her fingers beneath the hem and lifted it. He raised his arms, allowing her to slide it over his head.

  “More like it.” She ran her fingers over his bare chest, appreciating his athletic frame and the coarse rub of his chest hair beneath her fingertips.

  “My turn.” He slid the dress down her arms, helping her to step out of it. He tossed it on the chair behind them, his gaze raking appreciatively over her body. “And you, by comparison, have very few layers.”

  She’d foregone a bra tonight since the dress had a fitted bodice, and as a result, she was now standing before him in nothing but black satin panties while he still had on his pants. She reached for him, intending to level the playing field, but he was kissing her again as his hand slid down her stomach. He stroked her over her underwear, and the hum of desire that had been buzzing through her veins elevated to a roar.

  “Yes,” she gasped, her hips moving to the rhythm of his fingers, her senses overwhelmed by the throbbing need he’d ignited in her core.

  “You’re so beautiful, Ruby.”

  She fumbled the button on his pants, finally freeing it and pushing down his zipper. Flynn stepped out of them, tossing them in the direction of his shirt and her dress. His boxer briefs tented impressively in front, and she ran her palm over his length, thrilled with the feel of him, so hard. It had been over a year since she’d had sex, maybe two, and she felt absolutely starved for his touch, to feel him on top of her, inside her, literally everywhere.

  “Hurry,” she mumbled, pushing his briefs to the floor before stepping out of her panties. She lay back on the bed, drawing him down with her.

  “What’s this?” He slid down to press his lips against the little red bird tattooed on her hip.

  “I got it after my bone marrow transplant, once I was well.” She gasped as his tongue swirled over her skin, hot and wet. “To celebrate being able to spread my wings.”

  “You were free of your cage,” he murmured against her hip, his breath sending goose bumps over her skin.

  “Yes.” She curled her fingers into his hair, wanting to keep him there, but also wanting to feel him everywhere.

  “I’d say you’ve flown pretty far.” He kissed his way over her belly to her breast.

  “I didn’t at first,” she said, her voice gone whisper-soft with pleasure. “But I am this week.”

  He took her nipple between his teeth, tongue flicking against the sensitive nub, and she made a sound she didn’t even know she was capable of as desire rolled in a hot wave through her body.

  “Oh my God,” she panted.

  “You like that?” He looked up at her with a smug smile before turning his attention to her other breast.

  “Mm hmm.” She arched her back, increasing the pressure of his mouth. Her legs slid against his, their hips rocking together in an imitation of the act their bodies were demanding. His cock pressed against her, and the ache between her thighs grew. “There are condoms in the table beside the bed.”

  Flynn lifted his head, eyebrows raised. “You came prepared.”

  “I’m a woman of the twenty-first century,” she told him. She might not have her spreadsheets this week, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still plan ahead. “Besides, I bet we’d have only had one if I’d left it to you.”

  He gave her a rueful look. “Guilty as charged, and grateful for this modern woman who will allow us to properly enjoy our night together.”

  “As you should be.” She nipped at his earlobe, giving him a gentle nudge toward the side of the bed.

  He opened the drawer and grabbed a condom, leaving the box on the table for easy access before covering himself. “You’re a woman of many surprises, Ruby Keller,” he murmured as he settled himself over her.

  “I’m trying, anyway.”

  He reached between them and stroked her, circling her clit, and she groaned, tilting her hips into his hand, seeking more pressure, more friction, more everything. He withdrew his fingers and replaced them with his cock, pushing into her in one long, slow stroke.

  “Fuck, yes.” He withdrew and thrust again, stretching her, filling her.

  “Yes,” she echoed, swamped in sensation. She drew him closer, feeling the weight of him against her, the rough scratch of his chest hair against her sensitive nipples, the incredible heat building between them as he pounded into her. That unruly lock of hair bounced over his forehead with each stroke, adding something endearing to the otherwise erotic image of him hovering over her, eyes blown with desire, sweat beading on his brow as he grew closer to his release.

  They rolled to the side, and her hair twisted around her neck, choking her. She pushed at it, raising up on one elbow to free herself while Flynn chuckled. He swept it back, settling her against the sheets as they resumed their previous rhythm.

  “Flynn,” she said, but it sounded almost like a whine. She clawed at him, trying to bring him closer, arching her back to increase the friction where their bodies met.

  “I’ve got you, love,” he murmured, bringing a hand between them. He rubbed her clit, matching the rhythm of his hips as he pounded into her, and she sighed in relief eve
n as the desire inside her coiled impossibly tight, ready to burst.

  “Yes,” she moaned. “Just like that.”

  Flynn made a sound of agreement, stroking harder, faster. Her feet left the bed, wrapping around his legs as her eyes closed and her breath caught.

  “Oh God,” she gasped, and then she was coming, release rolling through her like a wave that left her weak and tingly in its wake.

  Flynn dropped his head to kiss her, his movements becoming more frantic, hips bucking against hers until he broke with a groan, his hips going still, his cock pulsing inside her as he came. Neither of them moved, arms wrapped tight around each other, panting for air, giddy grins on their faces.

  She reached up and tugged at that lock of hair hanging over his forehead. “Stay the night?”

  Flynn woke in stages, first aware of the whisper of Ruby’s breath in his ear, the tickle of her hair over his chest, the vaguely sweet, feminine scent of her. He’d always loved the way women smelled, but Ruby was especially lovely. Everything about her was lovely. In another time, under other circumstances…

  But he was incredibly thankful for the day they’d shared.

  Beside him, she stirred, peeking over at him out of bleary eyes. “Morning.”

  “Good morning.” His voice was scratchy, rough with sleep.

  “Do you have to go already?” she asked, snuggling closer. She looked different first thing in the morning, bare faced without her glasses, hair spread out across the pillow behind her.

  He was already infatuated with her, but this vision of “first thing in the morning Ruby” was definitely going on his list of favorite things he’d ever seen. “Not quite yet,” he told her.

  “Good.” She leaned in and kissed him. First thing in the morning Ruby wasn’t as sweet and innocent as she looked, though, because before he knew it, she’d rolled on top of him, and their good morning kiss had turned into something a lot hotter.