by Rhonda James
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting my niece to find true love.” Mark reaches over and removes the bottle from my grasp, thus putting an end to my fidgeting.
“Who’s asking for love? Hell, at this point I’d be happy if she found someone to have wild monkey-sex with,” Kelly quips tartly.
“Kelly!”
“Guys,” I interrupt, “if that’s all it takes to get you off my back, then fine. The guy. The one I met tonight. I just left his hotel suite after spending a very intense hour with him.” I sit back and wait for that little nugget to sink in.
“Get out!” Kelly reaches out and smacks my arm in such a way I’m sure to have a bruise tomorrow. “Well, how was it?”
“Kelly!” Mark chastises again.
I massage the affected area and shake my head. “Nice try, Kel, but I’m not giving you the dirty details of my sex life.”
A small pout forms on her face, but it doesn’t remain there for long. Kelly is rarely anything short of happy. “So, are you going to see him again?”
I shift my gaze and stare longingly at the couples swaying on the dance floor, quietly wondering the same thing.
Truth? I’m quite certain I’ll never lay eyes on him again. And I can’t say I blame him. I mean, I felt the length of him pressed against me. There was no denying he was just as turned on as I was. And when I took off, I guess I did sort of leave him hanging.
Great. Just thinking about that leaves me feeling embarrassed and turned on.
“I highly doubt that will happen,” I answer without looking at either of them.
“Never say never,” Mark says, raising his beer in a lone toast.
“Considering I snuck out after he just had his hand up my dress, I think it’s safe to say he never wants to see me again.” My head falls forward into my open hands. “I’m so embarrassed. I participate in a sexual act with a stranger, then creep out while he’s distracted with a phone call. Who does that?”
A weird sound comes from Kelly, and she immediately tries to play it off as if she’s having a coughing fit. But she’s fooling no one.
“Sweetie, allow me to give you a valuable piece of advice.” She leans forward as if she’s about to whisper, which she doesn’t end up doing at all. “When you go back to school, make sure you leave off that ending. It’s much hotter to keep them guessing. Did she get off or didn’t she? They’ll never know.” Her brows dance suggestively. “And while you’re at it, do me another favor. If you ever see this hottie again, run to him, not away from him.”
“Kel, I probably just humiliated him, not to mention I left him with a raging hard-on. I seriously doubt he’ll come chasing after me.” I can’t help rolling my eyes at her delirium. When I realize she’s not going to let me off the hook until I agree, I cross my arms over my chest and blow out a frustrated groan. “Fine. If I ever see what’s his name again I promise to fall at his feet and beg for forgiveness.”
“Hold up. Let me get this straight,” Mark interjects, waving one finger in the air while his mouth hangs open. “You meet a guy, dressed like this”—his hand passes over me before he continues—“don’t bother getting his name, let him into your panties, let him get you off, then you leave him with a raging boner?”
They both look to me, eyes wide, waiting for me to say something. Anything.
“Well, y-yeah,” I stammer. “But it’s not as if we met and started going at it like a couple of savages. We talked. Downed a shot or two. Maybe four. I’m not really clear on that minor detail.” I distractedly massage my temples with the pad of my thumbs. “Then, at some point, I may or may not have rubbed myself against him.” Even I have the decency to grimace when I finish that sentence. “God. When I put it that way, I sound like such a whore.”
“Nooooo.” Kelly instantly comes to my defense and pats my hand. “You were just cutting loose and having a little fun. No harm done.”
“Yeah.” I nod and take a drink of the cold beer Mark mercifully places before me. “It’s no big deal. And it’s not as if I’m going to see him again.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t count on that,” Mark chuckles wickedly. “If this guy is anything like I was at his age, I’d have come chasing after your ass. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s out looking for you right now.” I must look either concerned or confused because he elaborates. “Think about it, Laney. You set out the bait, let him sink his teeth into you, then pull a disappearing act. Face it. You’re the one who got away. Most guys I know can’t resist that shit.” He raises his beer to mine and clinks them together. “Well played.”
Played? I wasn’t trying to play anyone.
“Well, maybe so, but considering I never told him my name, I highly doubt a reunion will be taking place anytime soon.”
Surely, Mark is mistaken. He wouldn’t come after me.
Would he?
He was really good looking. And I know at one point he most definitely checked out my ass.
And how about the way he slammed me against the window?
God. That was hot.
His hands? Good heavens, his hands were perfect. And he definitely knew how to use them.
Fuck.
It seems as if everything that happened between us came about so quickly. One minute I’m chasing him down an empty hallway, the next I’m lost in the sexiest pair of eyes I’ve ever seen. They are this incredible shade of blue, and the way he looked at me made me think he’d devour me if I let him get too close.
The tiny hairs on the back of my neck prickle at the thought of having his mouth on me.
God. I’m such an idiot.
I don’t need to turn around to know he’s here. My body picks up on his presence the very moment he steps into the room. My breathing becomes shallow. My heart feels like it’s beating right out of my chest. So many thoughts are running through my head.
Is he here to yell? Sweep me off my feet?
I don’t even know him. Why does that last thought leave me feeling warm all over?
Worse yet, what if he’s only here to finish what we started?
I realize I may have been the aggressor before, but is that what I even want anymore?
Sex with a man who doesn’t even know my name? I mean, who does that sort of thing?
Not me. Nope. Definitely not this girl.
Which was the very reason I dashed out of there the way I did.
I’m Delaney Dixon. Dance major. Straight-A student.
I’ve slept with two men, and been in love only once.
Sure. Thousands of men have seen my naked breasts. But that’s only because of my job.
You see… I’m a stripper.
But not exactly by choice.
Sometimes life has a way of throwing you a curveball. A curveball you don’t have the option of letting slip past you. No. Sometimes life demands you go after that ball. Sometimes you may even have to get a little dirty along the way.
Bottom line, the curveball came at me and I had no choice but to take a swing.
Stripping is just a means of getting me back home.
“Laney?”
Jeezus. Just the sound of him saying my name makes my toes curl.
I hear conversation taking place around me, but I’m so caught off guard, I’m unable to focus on anything being said.
Wait a second…He knows my name.
How the hell does he know my name? Did I confess all of my secrets with that orgasm, then somehow forgot about it?
He moves to the side of the table and, because I can’t help myself, I allow my gaze to travel the length of him.
Believe me when I say the sight of him standing before me does not disappoint.
He is by far one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen. Trust me, in my line of work, I see a lot of men.
Broad shoulders that extend into strong arms, corded with sinewy muscle. Arms that lifted me as if I weighed nothing.
Did I mention I have a thing for muscular forearms?
The Armani suit he’s we
aring fits him perfectly, accenting all the right places.
I haven’t seen his naked ass—because of that whole escape thing—but my fingers may have brushed over it while his hand was in my panties. He has a very nice ass. Firm, as if he’s done a lot of squat thrusts.
Does this guy live in the gym or something?
Suddenly, I’m picturing him naked with a set of dumbbells in his hands, lunging across a stretch of red mats.
Those mats look soft enough. Maybe I can throw him on his back and ride him until my knees are raw from friction and we both—
Holy shit. Now he’s across from me with his hands on the back of the chair. Rather than risk looking directly in his eyes, I settle for staring at his hands. His lips are moving, but I have no idea what he’s saying. I clench my fists under the table, willing myself to focus, but all I can think about is how good it felt when those hands touched my bare skin. Steeling myself for what’s to come, I shift my gaze to his mouth and realize he’s asking me a question.
Shit! What the hell did he just say?
CHAPTER SEVEN
LANEY
“Mind if I join you?” He takes a seat, not bothering to wait for my reply, and I find myself face-to-face with my ‘almost’ lover.
“I… Um… Ahh…” It’s not much, but at the moment it’s all I can manage.
Smooth, Laney. Real smooth.
Kelly’s brow rises sharply at my inability to formulate a coherent sentence. I wear a thong and grind a pole for a living. So why is it I can’t speak to a guy who just performed exploratory surgery on my mouth with his tongue? What’s up with that?
“Hi, I’m Kelly and this is my husband, Mark.” She stretches a hand across the empty seat to meet his open palm. Mark follows suit. I watch the interaction with great interest, feeling a strange sense of pride. Seems my stranger is quite the gentleman.
“This one here is my niece, Laney.” Kelly hooks her thumb in my direction and I offer him an awkward wave, still unable to speak. “You’ll have to excuse her. Sometimes in the presence of hot men, she forgets how to speak English.”
The evil look I flash her is meant to send her bursting into flames, but I only succeed in making her laugh.
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Derek,” he says while chuckling then turns his attention back to me. His heated gaze burns straight through me, and within seconds, I’m transported back to his room. Back to where he held me against the glass. Lost in the memory of his calloused fingers between my legs.
As if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, his lip quirks slightly to the left before he speaks again. “It’s quite alright. I’ve already been introduced to the broad spectrum of her linguistic abilities. In fact, I believe she may have been speaking in tongues right before she snuck off. Isn’t that right, Laney?”
OMG Did he really just say that?
I can’t even look Mark in the eye, but he and Kelly are laughing so hard they’re crying. All at my expense.
Scratch what I said about him earlier. He’s no gentleman.
Not by a long shot.
After the required amount of suffering has taken place, Kelly takes mercy on me and holds out her hand to her husband. “Dance with me?”
Mark wiggles his brows playfully before offering me a sympathetic smile. “Are you kidding? Maroon 5 is playing. Don’t have to ask me twice.”
With that, only the two of us remain.
Amazingly enough, once we’re alone, I find my voice.
“Why are you here?” I ask warily.
He shakes his head and rises from the table. For a moment, I’m struck with fear he may actually be leaving, and then I’m angry with myself for wanting him to stay.
“I’m here because I thought we could talk. Maybe get to know each other a little better. Why don’t you think about it for a minute or two while I grab us a couple more beers?”
Hard as I try, I can’t resist following him with my eyes. He looks so damn sexy he puts all other men in the room to shame. Sorry, Mark. I’m just thankful his back is turned so he won’t catch me staring. The line at the bar is pretty long. Seems Kevin has attracted quite the following. Guess that must happen often during receptions, what with so many women riding a post-wedding high.
With his back turned, I have free rein to check out his body. He left his jacket hanging over the back of the chair, so I start at his shoulders and lower my gaze, passing over the broad expanse of his back, then taking time to appreciate the narrowing of his waist. He has a great ass. Round globes firm enough to grab hold of while you’re pressed against the window and his cock is buried deep inside you.
Holy shit! I really need to get my mind out of the gutter. Maybe that’s the tequila talking.
Or maybe it’s because you were about to do just that before a phone call brought you to your senses.
Damn my annoying subconscious and its quest to make me a good girl.
A muffled chime sounds, and my eyes scan the table to see if Mark or Kelly left their phones behind, but I don’t see anything. A second chime goes off, and I reach down as if to search my own pockets then remember I’m wearing a dress. When it sounds again, my eyes settle on the pocket of Derek’s jacket. The chime is definitely coming from that direction. I sneak a quick glance toward the bar before bending over to pat his pockets. There’s definitely a phone in there. I hear the noise again, so while I keep one eye trained over my shoulder, I slide two fingers inside and curl them around a familiar rectangular shape. With my ass in the air, I look down and realize not only is this where the sound is coming from, but the phone in my hand is actually my own, and I have five missed messages.
The first is from Kelly and probably came while I was up in Derek’s room. Laney? Where’d u run off to?
The rest are from an unknown number, but it only takes a second to figure out who’s been sending them.
You’re checking out my ass. Aren’t u?
Don’t even try to deny it.
I love it when you’re bent over. It provides me with an excellent view of your ass.
It’s perfect, by the way. Your ass, that is.
I whirl around, and sure enough, he’s staring right at me, wearing a smirk that fills his insanely gorgeous face. Gah! No one should have the right to look that good. Seriously, it’s mildly unnerving and I have to look away. The look in his eyes tells me exactly what he has in mind.
Talk, my ass.
The kind of talk he’s referring to would probably include filthy words whispered in my ear while he fucked me into oblivion.
I hate to admit it, but I wouldn’t mind hearing him say those words to me. Even if they were promises spoken in the heat of the moment. I won’t deny it’s been a while since anyone’s whispered anything in my ear. Anything worth listening to, that is.
I get the feeling Derek Davis is a man who has a lot to say, but something about him makes me want to believe what he promised wouldn’t be lies.
Our eyes lock together once again, and a shiver runs down my spine when I see the desire behind his gaze.
Part of me wants to promptly sit and deprive him of further inspection, while another, the part that remembers the sweet taste of his lips and where we were heading before I chickened out, tells me to live a little.
So I turn back around, thrust my ass skyward, and give it a little shake.
I’m uncertain of the affect it has until I feel him behind me, feel the brush of his body against mine, and the words he whispers in my ear.
“I know I said I wanted to talk, but damn if I don’t want to take you back upstairs and finish what we started.” When I turn to voice my thinly veiled objection, he takes that opening to capture my lips in a heated kiss. He pulls back an inch, and our eyes meet for the briefest of moments before our lips find each other once more. “But I have a better idea,” he smiles and offers me his hand. “Dance with me.”
I slip my hand inside his and marvel at the way his large hand engulfs mine. Lacing our fingers together, he brin
gs my hand to his mouth for a gentle kiss as we walk onto the dance floor. The song is half over, but it doesn’t really matter, because the moment his hands settle on my hips, I’m a goner. Being a dance major, I love a man who knows how to dance. And Derek does not disappoint. No words are spoken as we move to the music. He spins me once, and my hand easily finds its way back to his shoulder as we sway from side to side. It’s been a long time since anyone’s held me this way. It feels intimate, yet somehow different than the kind of intimacy shared during sex. I close my eyes and allow myself to get lost in the moment. The song ends, but we keep dancing. At one point, he rests his forehead against mine and blows out a sharp breath before speaking.
“Hi, Laney.” Even with my eyes closed, I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Hi, Derek.” Hard as I try, I’m unable to control the giggle that escapes. Even though names weren’t exchanged, I almost feel as if we were properly introduced the moment his hand touched my thigh. Surely, sharing an intimate moment such as we have constitutes as some form of introduction. “Thank you for bringing me my phone.”
“Well, I figured you were probably missing it,” he says with a smile as another song begins to play. After spinning me around a few more times, he pulls me back to him as the beat plays on, and I can’t help getting caught up in the way his blue eyes glimmer under the reflection of the spinning disco ball.
“It was very kind of you. Especially after the disappearing act I pulled.”
“Yeah, I was going to ask you about that. I thought things were going really well between us.” His hips rock forward until our bodies press together, and there’s no mistaking his desire is back. Then again, maybe it never went away. “Imagine my disappointment when I turned around and found you gone.”
“I’m sorry about that. It was a cowardly reaction.”
“What were you reacting to? What we’d just done? Or where it was leading?” His hands trace circles over my back, teasing all the way down to the dip of my lower back before coming to rest on my hips.
Just that quickly, I’m caught up in the pleasure of his touch, find myself lost in sound of his voice. Everything that has taken place between us happened so quickly. Me bursting into his room. Him beside me on the balcony. The tequila. The stolen glances. The piercing stare that left me feeling as if he could see right into my soul. Then he said those things. Things that were so eerily accurate. With everything I’m facing, maybe he was right. Maybe I am seeking an escape. Just for one night. One man who can get me out of my own head and take me to places where none of the bullshit exists. It sounds amazing, but would I be able to let go of myself enough to be swept away by the magic his words promise? Could an evening of lies and half-truths be the answer to all my problems? Do I take that risk, knowing it’s only one night? A part of me whispers no, because my problems won’t magically go away simply because we fucked. They’ll still be there in the morning. But a louder voice screams yes! Yes, because something in his eyes tells me that one night with him will be worth the price I’m sure to pay later.
