Hold Me Until Midnight

by Christina Phillips

  “Give me everything.” Was that really her voice? She sounded sexy and uninhibited. She could do or say anything and none of it would come back to taunt her in the morning. There would be no tomorrow with Jackson.

  He rocked into her, filling her so completely she forgot how to breathe, how to think. His fingers tangled in her hair and she was crushed against the tree, immobile.

  He filled her so completely. Erotic tremors rippled through her.

  “You’re so tight around me, Scarlett. I can’t fucking breathe.” His mouth crashed down on hers, his tongue claiming her as thoroughly as his cock. She bucked helplessly, and he teased her clit with the tip of one finger. Pleasure spiraled, and when he groaned it pushed her over the edge.

  A frenzied, wild haze enveloped her. She clawed to get closer to him.

  Jackson pounded into her, harder and faster. “Scarlett,” he whispered against her lips as he came.

  Their mouths clung together. After endless moments her mind surfaced from its cloud of bliss, the thud of her heart slowed and breathing eased.

  And she remembered where they were.

  At her father’s wedding.

  His fingers released their brutal grip on her hair and slowly he withdrew from her. She sucked in air as he made himself presentable, her palms pressed against the tree behind her. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to stand unaided just yet.

  Had anyone seen them? She risked a sideways glance, but the shadows revealed no one.

  For a moment he stared at her. Her face heated, but she couldn’t look away from him.

  God, what happened now? Was she supposed to pull herself together, stroll back into the marquee with him, and act as though nothing had happened? Since they’d had sex would he consider his duties over for the night, and vanish?

  Her inner vixen quailed at facing scores of wedding guests. She pressed her fingers against her bruised lips. Everyone would know what she’d been up to.

  But she had no regrets. She had never been so taken before. Even the lingering memory was enough to cause exhausted quivers through her tender flesh. So mind-blowing orgasms didn’t just happen in romance novels.

  Ask him to come back to your room.

  He tugged his jacket across her breasts and then lingered there, his knuckles pressing against her through the material. Desire stirred, licking through her blood.

  Once just wasn’t enough. She wanted to get naked with him, run her hands over him and explore his hard body at her leisure.

  “You in a hurry to get back?” He nodded toward the distant marquee, but his gaze never left hers.

  She licked her dry lips. “Not really.”

  “Your room or mine?”

  He didn’t have a room. Her father had booked them all.

  Jackson’s room might be miles away.

  “Mine.”

  “Sounds good.” He slung his arm around her shoulders. She pulled back, slightly appalled he expected them to simply stroll into the hotel straight away. Suppose they bumped into her dad?

  The last thing she wanted was for him to see her right after she’d had sex. That would give him another heart attack for sure.

  “Jackson.” She sounded mortified but couldn’t help herself. “I need to…” Her voice trailed away as the truth hit her. Where exactly did she expect to freshen up? She had no intention of returning to the marquee, and there wasn’t a bathroom located among the jacarandas.

  “You need to what?” He appeared genuinely clueless. She knew it was dark, but couldn’t he see what a mess she was?

  “My hair.” She was sure it looked like a bird’s nest, considering Jackson had plunged his hand through it and rubbed it all over the tree.

  “You look great.” He pulled a lily from her hair and brushed the soft petals along her cheek. She wasn’t sure she believed him, but relief tumbled through her all the same. “You look like you’ve just been fucked up against a tree.”

  Chapter Six

  Jackson followed Scarlett into the elevator and hid his grin as the doors swished closed. She’d been ramrod straight in his arms as they walked to the hotel, and her regal acknowledgment of the receptionist’s greeting hadn’t hid her mortification.

  It was obvious she had never been in this situation before. He wasn’t sure why that amused him, but it did. And while anyone with half an eye could see they had just had a heavy make out session, he was damn sure no one would guess what had really gone down among the jacarandas.

  It was equally clear Scarlett thought the entire world knew. Just because her hair was a bit messed up.

  Okay, so he hadn’t exactly said the right thing, but he hadn’t expected her to take him seriously. He backed her into a corner of the elevator and planted his hands on the walls behind her shoulders. “No one saw us, babe.”

  “I know.” Her hand fluttered up toward her head before she stopped herself and folded her arms instead.

  “No one knows I just fucked your brains out, either.”

  “Only because we didn’t meet anyone on our way back here. I’m sure the guy at reception suspected something.”

  He resisted the urge to laugh. Generally, he believed high-maintenance girls were a pain in the ass, but Scarlett’s fussiness was cute.

  “The only reason he couldn’t take his eyes off you is because you’re the hottest woman at this wedding.”

  “Well, hardly.” She gave a small smile, as though she didn’t believe him. “At least you don’t look as though you’ve been ravished by one of the bridesmaids.”

  “How do I look, then?”

  She licked her lips. “Like the hottest guy at the wedding.”

  That’s what she thought of him? “Is that right?” He couldn’t help the grin. “You sure?”

  “Stop fishing for compliments. We’re here.” She prodded his chest and, with reluctance, he backed off. Scarlett glanced up and down the hallway before she left the elevator.

  “Should I check the fire escapes?”

  “I’m sure this is hilarious for you, Jackson.” She sighed and inserted the keycard into her door. “But I’m pretty sure we’re safe now. Dad has the Presidential Suite on the top floor.”

  Her dad? She’d been worried about meeting her father?

  He kicked the door shut and waited until Scarlett turned on the lights. For a second, the opulence of the suite distracted him. But only for a second.

  He grabbed her hand and swung her around to face him. “I don’t get it. You were fine with your dad and all the guests thinking we were lovers, before we’d done anything. So what’s the problem now?”

  “But there’s a difference between everyone thinking we’re lovers and actually coming face-to-face with people right after… you know.” A blush stained her cheeks. “That would be just…” She bit her lip. “Awkward.”

  For one crazy moment he was plunged back into his wild teenage years. After the illegally organized street fights he’d been involved in, there was always sex to be had in the surrounding abandoned buildings. Nobody cared who saw you, either during the act or afterwards.

  Sure, he’d moved on from that lifestyle years ago, and he didn’t miss either the fights or the fucking. But he had never given a shit if someone knew he’d just had sex.

  He tugged on one of her curls and then wound the silky strands around his finger. Awkward wasn’t the way he wanted her to remember their night together. Fucking hot was more like it. He was going to enjoy wiping every last negative thought from her head before morning.

  Thank God he’d stuffed a pack of condoms in his pocket at the last moment. He almost hadn’t bothered. Scarlett was off limits. But in the end his cock had ruled his head.

  Just the way it had under the jacarandas.

  “What are you smiling at?” Scarlett sounded defensive. Surely she didn’t think he was laughing at her? He pulled her closer and feathered the tip of her curl across her full lips.

  “The way this night is turning out. Got to be the best wedding I�
�ve ever attended.”

  “It’s certainly a lot more fun than my dad’s last wedding.”

  He really didn’t want to discuss her father. But the comical distaste on Scarlett’s face made him laugh. “No hot hook up to make the night bearable?”

  She made a sound of disgust. He could feel the tension draining from her. “Hardly. I was eighteen and had just left boarding school. The deal was sealed on the family yacht in the Bahamas. They were divorced a year later.”

  Boarding school. The family yacht. Her world was so different from his that they might as well have been born on different planets. But tonight she was his, and their backgrounds didn’t matter.

  “How long do you give this one?” He led her into the sitting room. It was all muted gold and forest greens and was bigger than the ground floor of the house he and his brothers had grown up in.

  “If Clarissa has her way it will be forever, and Dad is besotted by her, so who knows?” She shrugged and glanced at her shoulder, clearly surprised that she was still wearing his jacket. Just as well he’d given it to her when they left the marquee. Otherwise her back would’ve been scratched raw by the tree.

  “True love, huh?” He took the jacket from her and tossed it over an elegant loveseat.

  “I don’t think so. His one true love died years ago. Cognac?” She made her way to the mini bar.

  “Sure.” He loosened his tie and dropped it on top of his jacket. Scarlett poured them both a generous measure of brandy before handing him a glass. He swirled the amber liquid and inhaled its rich, fruity aroma.

  “Here’s to us.” Scarlett clinked glasses. “For one night only.”

  “I’ll drink to that.”

  She threaded her fingers through his. He’d never noticed before how the touch of a palm against his could be so arousing. “So, is there anyone special in your life, Jackson?”

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to get so personal with Scarlett, but her question bugged him. “Do you think I’d be here with you now if there was?”

  “Oh.” Scarlett raised her eyebrows. “Good answer.”

  “Just so you know, I haven’t done this before.”

  She looked enthralled. It wasn’t exactly the response he’d been looking for. “Shouldn’t that be my line?”

  “I’m not talking about one-night stands.” He’d had plenty of those.

  “I know what you’re talking about. And I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sure you’d never be unfaithful if you were in a relationship.”

  For a second he was speechless. How had they gotten onto the subject of relationships and being faithful? The truth was, he’d never been in a proper relationship before. Didn’t believe in them. He had the feeling if he told Scarlett that she would be less than impressed.

  Not that he wanted to impress her. But why go out of his way to disillusion her about his nonexistent good qualities?

  “You didn’t offend me.”

  “Good.”

  Since she’d brought the subject up, he decided to satisfy his own curiosity. “What about you? Aside from that asshole Edward, is there any other man in your life?”

  Just because she’d hired him to accompany her to this wedding, didn’t necessarily mean she wasn’t seeing someone on the quiet. Although he doubted it. Despite tonight, she still struck him as a commitment kind of girl.

  “First of all, Edward isn’t in my life in that way, even if that would make my dad’s day.” She gave an impatient sigh and shook her head, as though she wanted to dislodge that thought. “And secondly, no I’m not seeing anyone else. I told you I was single. You don’t seem like the type to think a woman’s not whole without a man in her life.”

  He remembered she’d said that was Edward’s view of the world. The possibility she had just likened him to that prick stung. Even if it was his own fault.

  “I’m just surprised a beautiful woman like you is single. That’s all.”

  Scarlett didn’t appear thrilled by his attempt at flattery. He really needed to practice if he was going to make a habit of it. But until tonight he’d never even attempted flattery.

  He took a long swallow of his cognac before he dug himself any deeper into the hole.

  “If you must know I haven’t been in a relationship for over five months.”

  He had no idea what to say in response to that. When he hooked up with a woman he wasn’t interested in her previous sexploits. Except this time he’d asked Scarlett. And he hadn’t just asked her. He actively wanted to know.

  What the fuck was that all about?

  Chapter Seven

  It appeared Jackson had no intention of responding. Scarlett had always thought discussing personal details was off limits when indulging in a one-night stand, but it hadn’t stopped Jackson from asking about her love life. And she was pretty sure he was experienced when it came to this kind of situation.

  Within three seconds, she couldn’t stand her curiosity any longer. “So how long has it been since you’ve been in a relationship?”

  He sent her a smoldering look. Did he practice those sizzling glances or did they just come naturally? Her nipples chafed against her dress and she took a sip of brandy before she started drooling.

  “I don’t do relationships.”

  Somehow that wasn’t a surprise. The pang of regret that speared through her chest, however, was.

  Get a grip. She didn’t care if Jackson was a commitment-phobe. We’re not dating.

  “What do you do, then?” The question was out before she could stop herself. “I mean if you don’t date, is your life a succession of one-night stands?”

  That’s kind of sad…

  “I wouldn’t say that.” He frowned. Had she pissed him off? “Usually I know the women I sleep with. No misunderstandings that way.”

  The penny finally dropped. God, he must think she was so stupid. “Fuck buddies.” She nodded sagely, as if that notion didn’t totally squick her out, and finished off her brandy.

  Jackson put his glass on the bar. “Fuck buddies implies we’re friends. I don’t fuck my friends.”

  “I’m sure they’re very relieved.”

  For a moment he stared at her and then his lips twitched. She couldn’t keep a straight face any longer, and giggled. Honestly, could their conversation get any more ridiculous if they tried?

  “Do you fuck your friends, Scarlett?”

  “Only if I’m dating them at the time.”

  He pulled a crumpled lily from her hair and tossed it onto the bar. “What do you do between dates?”

  Good question. Not that she wanted to discuss it with Jackson. If she told him she didn’t do casual sex, he’d want to know why she was with him tonight.

  Could she really blame it all on rampant hormones? She’d gone without sex for extended periods in the past without jumping the bones of a virtual stranger, no matter how ripped he was.

  Only I’ve never met a guy as ripped as Jackson Grayson. No way was she telling him that.

  “I fight off fortune hunters.”

  “Fortune hunters?” He sounded disbelieving. But he hadn’t grown up with the Ashford name and everything it entailed. Sometimes it seemed half the people she met only wanted to know her because of her family connections, and the other half wanted to stab her in the back for the same reason.

  She gave an exaggerated sigh, so he wouldn’t guess she was telling the sad truth. “It’s a real pain in the ass.”

  He pulled her against him. “The next time a fortune hunter comes knocking, you send him to me. I guarantee he won’t bother you again.”

  “I might just do that.” She wouldn’t, of course. “Maybe I should keep you on retainer.”

  “Maybe you should.” He pulled a few more lilies from her hair and dropped them onto the carpet. Belatedly she remembered she’d wanted to freshen up. But that moment had long passed. Jackson obviously didn’t see anything wrong with the way she looked so why should she worry about it?

  …

 
Jackson pulled the last flower from Scarlett’s hair and tossed it onto the floor. If he had any sense, he’d leave her now. They’d had their fun. And while he wasn’t opposed to enjoying a lot more of what she had to offer, he’d just confirmed, as he always suspected, that Scarlett didn’t go in for casual sex as a rule.

  Why had she changed her mind tonight? He had no idea. And he didn’t want to know.

  “What’s with the frown?” Scarlett walked her fingernails up his chest. Why had he wanted to know about her sex life? Now he was obsessed by the possibility this was her first one-night stand. Instead of wanting to cut and run he was…

  What the fuck was he?

  Flattered.

  Shit. That was a first.

  “I wasn’t frowning. I was thinking.”

  “You said you didn’t have second thoughts.” She undid a button on his shirt.

  “I don’t.” Except that wasn’t true. Since the minute Scarlett had walked into his office his thoughts concerning her had been a mess. He wasn’t used to a woman getting inside his head like that. Luckily after tonight, when he’d gotten her out of his system, she would no longer be a problem.

  In any case, he still had two more condoms in his pocket. Since Scarlett was clearly willing, they might as well take advantage of them.

  “Because I wouldn’t want to think I have you here under duress.” She slid another button free.

  “No chance of that.” He pulled a glittery clip from her hair and sent it the same direction as the flowers. Her blonde curls tumbled around her shoulders in sexy disarray. “I haven’t seen you naked yet.”

  Her fingers stilled. “Is that the only reason you’re still here?” She sounded as though she wasn’t sure whether to be offended or not. He traced the outline of her ear with one finger, and her long diamond earring sparkled against her neck. Had he just slung a diamond-encrusted clip across the floor?

  “You haven’t seen me naked, either.”

  Her frown disappeared. “That’s true.” There was a husky note in her voice now. “Shall we go through to the bedroom?”