Fuel to the Fire

by Kait Gamble

  Her climb to orgasm was fast—too fast.

  Jackie gently pushed him back. She wanted to savor the moment. “Let me on top.”

  His thrusts were slow and penetrating before he relented. Logan sat back, keeping hold of her. For a moment, as he shifted inside her, Jackie almost lost it. She sat motionless on him for a bit while she fought the impending tsunami of sensation.

  “Something wrong?” Logan brushed her hair out of her face and cupped her cheeks to peer into her eyes.

  She sighed happily as she rocked. “I’m just trying to make it last.”

  He chuckled, gripping her hips in his hands and helping her move. “We’ve got the rest of our lives, princess.”

  That was all it took.

  Bright spots appeared in her vision just an instant before her orgasm caught her off guard and slammed into her, knocking her breath from her lungs.

  Logan joined her seconds later, clinging to her as he fought to regain his breath.

  Jackie held him, loving the closeness she felt with him at that moment. What was there between them wasn’t going to go away.

  * * * *

  The instant they walked back into the hotel, they were caught up in a whirlwind. A darkly handsome man stood at the reception desk having a hushed argument with the receptionist there. The man quailed, shook his head helplessly. His eyes widened when he spotted Logan. He pointed and both men turned to look directly at him.

  “Give me a second, will you, Jackie?” He kissed her cheek and started walking over to the men. Just as he was about to relinquish her hand, he stopped. “Actually, come with me.”

  Jackie held his hand and followed. “Who is he?”

  “Gabriel Sosa, quality assurance for Totally Five Star. I’m betting he’s here because of how the security feed’s been glitching.”

  Jackie slowed him down. “Logan, he’ll be livid if he finds out what you’ve been doing.”

  “Just let me handle it.” He squeezed her hand. “It’ll be fine.”

  She wasn’t so sure.

  “Logan. Good to see you.”

  “Good to see you too, Gabriel.” He proudly put his arm around Jackie. “This is Jacqueline Pennington. Jackie, Gabriel Sosa.”

  Gabriel took her hand and kissed the back of it, giving her a charming smile. “A pleasure.”

  Jackie’s her cheeks heated up at the contact. His accent was charming as well. Spanish was her guess. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Your man here is a genius.”

  She grinned and jostled Logan. “I like to think so.”

  “I hope you’ll forgive us speaking about business for a moment.”

  Jackie shook her head with a shrug. “No problem.”

  Nestling further under Logan’s arm, she anxiously listened.

  “I’m just on one of my stops. I like to check in unannounced to see how things are going. I’m pleased to say that things here are running almost effortlessly. I wanted to thank you for staying around, Logan. I’ve been told the cameras have been acting up, but you’ve been right there to sort them out every time.”

  Logan smiled, and his muscles relaxed slightly under her fingers. “No thanks are needed. I’m just glad that the system is up and running.”

  Gabriel turned to Jackie, nodding apologetically. “I’ve taken up enough of your evening.” He kissed her hand again. “I hope you have a good night.”

  Logan shook his hand. “I’m sure we will.”

  He jostled her when they were out of earshot. “You’re blushing.”

  “I was panicked.” She fought the urge to fan her cheeks. “He’s very handsome.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “But not as handsome as you,” she soothed.

  Logan swatted her ass with a laugh. “Nice save.”

  Her spirits were high as they walked through the hotel. They avoided everything to do with the wedding and headed straight into the building. When they arrived at his suite, Logan swiped his card and held the door open for her.

  Jackie gasped as she walked in. The room had been filled with exotic flowers and candles. Out on the balcony, a table had been set up with two chairs, more candles…

  “This is beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you think so.” He dropped her suitcase on the floor and urged her toward the balcony.

  “I suppose that’s what the texts were about.” She smiled up at him. “You know, every time we’ve been together you’ve being doing stuff on your phone.”

  “Okay… In the spirit of full disclosure.” Logan paused.

  “Well?”

  “I’ve been using the hotel cameras to find you.” He put up his hands when her eyes bugged. “Only when I couldn’t find you or needed to talk to you. And…”

  “There’s more?”

  “I kind of ensured our privacy when we were naked in public.”

  All at once, she felt both violated and wonderfully taken care of. “What happens if they find out what you’ve been doing?”

  “Let me worry about that.” Logan pulled out her chair for her. “Right now we’re going to enjoy dinner.”

  She sat. “How do you expect me not to worry? It’s your name on the line and you did it to be with me.”

  Leaning over the table, he gave her a lingering kiss. “I would risk a hell of a lot more than that to be with you, Jackie.”

  He sat back and waved at the table. “Bon appétit.”

  Heart fluttering, she eyed what was waiting for them. A huge lobster, sautéed vegetables, a salad, and a bottle of chardonnay sat ready to be shared.

  “When we were younger, this was the meal I wanted to be able to give you whenever you wanted.”

  “I mentioned it one time.” Jackie laughed. It had been in passing one night when he asked what her family had had for dinner that weekend. She had answered honestly and never thought any more about it. Obviously Logan had. “This is amazing.”

  “Also.” He revealed a tray he had hidden next to him. “I have this as well.” He lifted the concealing dome to show her a vanilla cheesecake.

  Her favorite dessert. “You remembered.”

  “Of course I did.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. “You did all this for me, what’s in it for you?”

  “I got you.” Logan paused and looked her in the eyes holding her gaze.

  Jackie knew there was no going back once she saw Logan again. Once they’d made love. There was no man on earth more fitting for her than Logan.

  “You do.”

  He relaxed in his seat and smiled. “You’re letting your food get cold.” Before she could dig in, he picked up a piece of the lobster in his fingers and dipped it in the butter before offering it to her.

  Jackie opened her mouth and let him slip it in between her lips. Butter dribbled down her chin.

  “Let me get that.” Logan delicately kissed it from her skin.

  It was succulent, sweet and delicate. Delicious. It was a shame that he wasn’t enjoying it as well.

  “But what about you? Aren’t you hungry?” Jackie copied his move and slipped a bit of the lobster into his mouth, but made sure to be as sloppy as possible in getting it to her goal.

  When his tongue darted out reflexively to collect the stray butter, she swooped in. The combined flavors were even better than the meal alone.

  Jackie licked his lips before sitting back again.

  “I love you, Jackie. I need you to know that.”

  And she did. Jackie could see it shining at her through his eyes. She sensed it coming off him in waves. “I know. I love you too. So much.”

  He grinned. Logan ran his hands up her thighs. “Traditionally, a declaration of love would be celebrated physically.”

  Laughing, she arched her eyebrows at him. “Really? I’ve never heard that.”

  “No? I guess I’ll have to teach you all about it.” Logan stood and extended his hand.

  She took it and let him lead her to the balcony. “Please do.”

  Logan
wound his arms around her and rocked them to an imaginary beat. “Well, when two people love each other, they tend to get naked a lot.” He tugged down the zipper at the back of her dress.

  Jackie let it slip down to fall at their feet as she went to work on his shirt. “Do they? And what do they do without their clothes?”

  She shrugged out of his shirt and helped her with the fastening on his trousers. “Whatever comes naturally, of course.”

  “I see. What happens if one of them is a bit shy?”

  “Then the other does their best to ease their anxiety.” He stepped back to look at her.

  Standing in the glow of the candles in her lingerie under his scrutiny, Jackie had never felt more relaxed and happy. He ran his hands up her sides to twine them behind her back and pull her close.

  “You are beautiful,” he whispered. “And smart and so strong. I don’t know how I got so lucky to find you again.”

  She rested her cheek against his chest to listen to the strong beat of his heart. “We both lucked out.”

  Logan lowered his head to capture her mouth with his. “Promise me we’ll never let anything come between us again.”

  She cupped his cheek. “I swear. Nothing and no one.”

  With a grin, Logan picked her up and carried her back into the room.

  He peeled away her bra and panties slowly, reverently, treating each bit of skin he revealed with a kiss and a caress. Jackie arched under him, luxuriating in every sensation that he coaxed out of her. His touched feathered over her skin sensitizing it incredibly despite him barely making contact. He kissed his way up her leg, stopping to kiss her belly, her breasts, to pin her to the bed with his body. The feel of him pressed against her sparked more heat.

  The liquid ache low in her belly grew more insistent as he continued to languidly explore her body. Logan drove her crazy, building the tension to a fever pitch without breaking a sweat. Jackie wasn’t going to lie back and just be a spectator.

  Dragging a hand down over his chest, she stopped to close her hand around his arousal while she slid her other hand up his back and into his hair to pull him in for a kiss.

  Undulating against him, she grinned when Logan groaned against her lips. He grabbed a condom and slipped it on an instant before burying himself inside her.

  The pace he set was slow and deep and oh so satisfying. Every vein on his erection dragged against her, creating the most incredible friction. Every hitch of his hips bumped her clit, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her.

  When her orgasm exploded, Jackie clutched Logan to her as he plunged into her and came with a groan.

  Still trembling from the aftershocks, he rolled them both to their sides so he could gaze into her eyes.

  Jackie knew nothing would keep them apart again.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Jackie held Logan’s hand as they walked into the hotel lobby. For her Christmas vacation, as a surprise, he’d whisked her away with him on a business trip to Vienna.

  She stared at the interior of the hotel in awe. Over the past year, Logan had taken her to a string of Totally Five Star Hotels and none had ceased to amaze her. Each one seemed to top the last in opulence and pure decadence.

  “What do you think?”

  She stepped up to the lavishly decorated tree and stared at the glittering ornaments. “It’s incredible.”

  “I thought you might like it here.”

  He knew her so well.

  The truth was, she liked being wherever he was, and he seemed to enjoy being with her. Knowing how important her job was to her, Logan had come to visit her at her tiny house as often as he could. Over the past couple of months, he’d shown up more frequently and finally admitted that he’d been scouting the area for a place for them both so that she wouldn’t have to quit her job.

  He showed her a selection before they’d found the perfect home in a penthouse apartment twice the size of her house that was only a short commute to work. On the night she moved in, Logan had proposed with a massive diamond ring and Jackie hadn’t even had to think about it. Everything had just fallen blissfully into place.

  “I’ll get us checked in.” He pecked her on the cheek before stepping away.

  Jackie nodded. She wanted to get a good look at the lobby. Each hotel was fantastically unique and she loved to see the differences. What she never got tired of was seeing how the local flair colored the décor. In the tropics it was all about the exotic flowers and ornately carved woodwork. In Europe the designs were all about gleaming stonework and Old World opulence. Each time she walked into one of the hotels, she found a new favorite. She couldn’t wait to visit ones in the Far East or South America. She could only imagine how magnificent they would be.

  They certainly hadn’t skimped on decorations. The scent of fresh pine and holly wafted through the air, mingling with cinnamon and the Totally Five Star signature scent. It was muted, but it gave the ambience another level of sophistication.

  She wandered through, admiring the décor. The dark wood furniture that graced the waiting area gleamed. The plush carpet muffled her steps as she explored the beautifully decorated space. Jackie circled the tree again, marveling at the sheer size of it. How had they brought it in? She had to walk almost to the wall to see a hint of the glittering golden star at the top. It grazed the uppermost part of the glass dome overhead.

  Jackie ran her fingers over the greenery that was wound around the walls and decorated the tables. It was all real. The upkeep must have been a nightmare.

  “All set.” Logan wound an arm around her waist, leading her away from the desk.

  Jackie leaned into him with a smile as they made their way back through the lobby. Nothing could be more perfect in that moment.

  “Jacqueline?”

  Jackie hesitantly turned toward the startled voice and froze. She barely managed to choke out, “Mum. Dad.”

  Logan tensed next to her.

  She stared numbly at her parents. They looked the same as she remembered them, though perhaps a little grayer. Well-dressed and poised, they could have been any wealthy couple staying at the luxurious hotel. They fit the ambiance, as if by design. But to Jackie they were little more than strangers staring at them with wide-eyed surprise.

  Unsure of what she was supposed to do in this situation, Jackie stood anchored to Logan’s side, waiting for them to start the conversation.

  Logan held her tightly, lending her his strength, standing tense and silent as if he understood what was going through her mind. He would follow her lead and back up whatever choice she made.

  “It’s lovely to see you again.” Her mother took a half step forward, but stopped, clearly unsure of what to do as well.

  Jackie forced a tight smile as her father eyed Logan up and down.

  She saw the grudging admiration as her father sized them up and felt a surge of pride as her father grumbled, “You’ve certainly come up in the world.”

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you.” Logan’s arm tightened around Jackie. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”

  “Wait.” Her mother reached out to snare her hand, pausing a moment when she noticed the huge diamond sparkling there, rivaling the ones she wore. “Would you both have dinner with us? We’re here for the next few days. If you’re willing, I hear the hotel has several excellent restaurants.”

  “We’ll see.” Jackie smiled up at Logan who still looked grim. “We have a busy week.” In the spirit of the season, Jackie gave her mother, then her father, brief hugs. “Merry Christmas.”

  As they walked away, Logan hugged her close. “I’m sorry. If I’d known they were here…”

  “What? You’d have left me at home? Gotten them kicked out?” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “It’s okay. Really. It was bound to happen sooner or later.” With the amount of traveling they’d done lately and the wanderlust her parents had, it was amazing that it hadn’t happened sooner.

  “You have a kind heart, Ja
ckie.” He sighed and led them to the elevator. “I just don’t want you getting hurt again.”

  Neither did she.

  After everything they’d been through, she knew their relationship was secure. The last thing he had left to worry about were her parents. More for her sake than anything else.

  “I’m sure I can handle anything with you at my side.” She pressed the button. As they waited she smiled impishly up at him. “Speaking of things bound to happen…”

  His expression darkened, but he waited patiently for her to continue.

  Jackie shifted from foot to foot. “You know how I promised nothing would come between us ever again?”

  He glowered at her. “Yes.”

  When he tried to pull away she held him fast. So they were pressed so tightly against each other that nothing could get between them. “We need to make the most of this because when my stomach is out to here”—she stretched out her arm to demonstrate just how big it could possibly get—“it’s definitely going to come between us.”

  Slack-jawed, Logan stared at her a long moment before a stupidly happy grin spread over his face. “You’re serious?”

  She nodded.

  Logan let out a whoop, picking her up and swinging her around without a care about who saw. “I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. It’s incredible. You’re incredible.” He gently settled Jackie back down on her feet before cupping her cheeks and kissing her deeply.

  He shuffled her in the instant the elevator doors opened and closed them before anyone else could enter.

  “This calls for a celebration.” Staring at the camera discreetly tucked in the corner, he pulled out his phone and quickly tapped on the screen. The little red light faded away just before he picked her up and pressed her to the back of the elevator. “Right now.”

  Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:

  Totally Five Star: Monaco

  Breaking Rossi’s Rules

  Kait Gamble

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  “Ms. De Winter! Ms. De Winter!”