by Holly Jaymes
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but event planning was about setting a scene.
“Anyway,” he continued. “Through the old client, I had access to celebrities. How about you?”
“I got a job in high school at one of the resorts. I worked with the concierge, which I enjoyed and then one year I worked in the event planning department and I was hooked. I especially loved the weddings.”
He grinned. “You’re a romantic.”
I turned to look out over the lake not wanting him to see that he was right. “There’s nothing wrong with love.”
“I never said there was. But you light up when you talk about it. Pax’s slide with his wife down the tubing hill. The Romeo and Juliet story of overcoming a century long feud.”
I turned forward to start the engine so we could leave.
“Hey.” His breath wafted along my ear. “I’m not knocking it. I believe in love, Sasha. At least for some people.”
I turned my head, putting our lips inches apart. “Not for you?”
“Love has eluded me. It’s possible it’s not in my DNA.”
I scoffed. “It has nothing to do with DNA.”
We couldn’t see each other's eyes, but I was looking at his sunglasses and I got a feeling he was looking at mine as we sat in silence.
“We should go, Sasha, because I’m precariously close to kissing you again.”
For a moment, I thought why not? We’re in the middle of nowhere. No one would see us. But then I remembered that every time I kissed him I didn’t want to stop.
I broke the moment, turning forward and pressing the button to start the snow mobile.
Chapter 8: One More Night
Reece
I was right. This town was a great place to live but only because of Sasha. Actually, the town wasn’t so bad, but Sasha was the one through which I was learning that. Of course, that also made my life here a living hell. Spending time with her and not kissing her or touching her was making me crazy. It didn’t matter how many times I jerked off at night or in the shower each morning, the minute I saw her, the urge to hold her was almost more than I could bear. The only thing that held me back was knowing how much she loved her job and not wanting to jeopardize that.
After snowmobiling and nearly kissing her there, we headed back to town, and went our separate ways. At home, I worked on my next screenplay, a rom com about two small town kids caught up in a family feud.
But on Sunday, I noticed her car at her aunt and uncle’s home, and apparently, I was a glutton for punishment, as I headed over with another bottle of wine under the guise of thanking George and Carly for lending their snowmobile to me and Sasha the day before. The lot of them, including Sasha, gave me an impromptu cross-country ski lesson in their backyard. She said it was like walking. It wasn’t.
Thank goodness when Monday morning came, I could occupy myself with work. I wondered if she was doing the same as she spent most of her time locked in her office. But as the days and next few weeks went by, I learned from earth mama Janice, that in fact, Sasha worked all the time.
“The girl only takes days off because Carolyn forced her to. She really needs a hobby.”
So she wasn’t avoiding me. She was just ultra-committed to her job. Or she felt like it was all she had, which was sort of sad. With all the activities going on in this town, even in the bitter cold, I’d have thought a vibrant woman like her would be enjoying time with her family and friends.
The few times we had office meetings, I was reminded of her talent and creativity in doing her job. I also saw that she had the respect of everyone working around her. It made no sense why the home office hadn’t hired her for my job.
Since she was dedicated to her job, I thought I’d help her. My goal was to be out of this place in six months, maybe a year. Even if I wasn’t able to quit to be a fulltime screenwriter, my being here was holding her back. She deserved my job more than I did. So I’d help her get it starting by taking her with me to Los Angeles for a meeting I had at the home office.
“Why would I want to do that?” she asked when I pitched the idea to her. I left her office door open so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch her or say something inappropriate for office ears to overhear.
“Because you want my job and I said I’d help you. The reason you didn’t get it was because they don’t know you. If you want to move up in Sterling Starr, or even just to have their support and autonomy to run events as you see fit, they need to know you.”
She bit her lip and I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t jumping on this.
“Out of sight out of mind. You’re just a name on paper to them. They need to see your energy and hear your enthusiasm for your work,” I pushed.
“I don’t know.”
I shrugged. “I can’t help you if you don’t help yourself.”
She made a face. “You should become a motivational speaker.”
“I’ve planned many motivational speaking events.” The truth was, I paid attention and was using all that positive thinking mumbo jumbo to try and make something of my screenwriting career. “It sounds like horseshit, but how you expect to get ahead if you don’t take action, I don’t know.”
She blew out a breath. “Yes. Okay.”
“Great. We leave Friday, seven a.m. We have to meet with the leadership team at ten.”
“It’s only two hours to L.A.”
I rolled my eyes. “Country girl. It’s two hours to L.A. and then an hour in traffic to get to Sterling Starr.”
“Right.”
On Friday morning, we drove over to the home office to meet with the leadership team. One other thing I learned from motivational speakers were tips to being focused and not let distractions derail me. Until I met Sasha, the focused part was fairly easy. She, on the other hand, was a major distraction. But I used the tips I’d learned, and we had a successful meeting with powers-that-be in the home office.
I could see in their eyes as they realized something special in Sasha while she delivered the Eden Lake office report. They asked a few questions about the retreat, and like me, asked about bigger venues, but she responded like a pro focusing on what Mason and Allie said they wanted.
Feeling good about the meeting, I took her to lunch out at the beach. We sat outside and I soaked up the sun’s warmth.
“I miss seventy degrees,” I said sipping iced tea after we ordered.
“Wuss,” she joked. “Wait until summer. It will be toasty warm, but you won’t have this pollution or traffic or noise.”
She was probably right. I had to admit it was nice to not have to factor in crazy traffic when deciding then to leave for work or a meeting.
When we finished lunch, I wasn’t quite ready to head back to Eden Lake yet. I told myself it was because I wanted to soak up the warm southern California sun and beach air.
“How about a walk on the beach before driving back?” I asked her.
She eyed me suspiciously but agreed.
We walked for a bit without saying anything, and yet it was a comfortable silence.
“I get the feeling you’re avoiding going back to Eden Lake,” she finally said.
I glanced over at her. Her honey-colored hair blew in the wind and my fingers itched to run through those lovely strands. I realized then that I wasn’t avoiding returning to Eden Lake because of the cold.
Taking a chance, I slipped my hand into hers. Her eyes widened but she didn’t pull away.
“No one knows us here,” I said.
She arched a brow.
“No one to gossip if we’re seen together. No risk to our jobs.”
Her breath hitched and I knew then she was aware of what I was saying. I tugged her hand to stop her, turning to look at her.
With my free hand, I brushed my fingers through her hair. “I have the urge to kiss you again.”
She swallowed. For a second, I thought she was going to tell me no, but then she stepped closer. “Do you always warn a woman before you ki
ss her?”
“No. But under the circumstances, it seems like I should make sure you’re on board with it.” I was her boss after all.
“I won’t stop you.”
The breath I’d been holding whooshed out in relief. “Well then.” I cupped her neck, gently pulling her in. I watched her eyes for a moment before letting my gaze drift down to her lips.
I gently pressed my mouth to hers. This time I was able to keep it slow and sweet, even as my insides heated up to inferno levels. She tasted like sunshine and sweetness.
“Sasha,” I said breathlessly as I kissed her jaw line toward her ear. “Stay the night with me here in L.A. One more night.”
She pulled away and I was sure she was going to say no. “I’m supposed to help Janice tomorrow with the Conway dinner.”
I stepped back trying to get out of the magnetic pull of her. “It’s okay to tell me no because you don’t want to take the risk or you just don’t want to.”
“I think you know I want to.”
I didn’t but her words at least took away the sting of rejection.
She looked down for a moment and when she looked back at me, she stepped toward me, pressing her hand on my chest. “I don’t have to be there until four in the afternoon.”
I swallowed as I felt like I was on the verge of having another night in heaven with her. “I can get you back by then.”
She bit her lip. “Well then…”
I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her in for another kiss as the warm sun beat down on us and the waves crashed beside us. It was a kiss I’d never forget.
Twenty minute later, I opened the door to a local boutique hotel room. It had a view of the ocean, but I didn’t see it for when the door closed, I pressed her against it and let the tether on my control go.
“I can’t stop wanting you,” I said as my hands roamed her body, freeing her soft skin from her clothes. My mouth consumed hers.
“Me neither,” she gasped when I bent down and sucked her tight, hard nipple into my mouth. She’d gotten my shirt open and her soft hands were warm on my chest. I was ready to fuck her right there against the door, but no, I wanted a bed. I lifted her naked body up and she wrapped her legs around me. I carried us to the bed. I lay her back, spread my body over hers and kissed her like it was going to be my last kiss.
Her hands pushed my shirt away. “Reece.”
With a groan, I pushed back and stood, yanking my shirt off. I shucked off my pants, grabbing a condom, and put it on right then as once I was back on her body, I wasn’t going to stop for anything.
I knelt on the bed between her thighs. Sitting back on my heels, I lifted her legs and set them on my thighs, resting my raging hard dick on her belly.
She looked up at me with a flirty smile. “You okay there, slick?”
“I’m trying to make this last longer than thirty seconds.” I caressed her thighs. She had such lovely skin. Soft. Warm.
I leaned forward, rubbing my palms over her distended nipples, loving how she gasped and arched. Her head rocked back exposing her neck. I ran my tongue along her collarbone.
“Reece.” Her hand pressed my dick into her stomach, making him twitch, and instinctively I started to pump.
I levered back up, pulling her hips towards me as I positioned my dick at her entrance. “Are you ready, baby?” I ran a finger through her folds. They were wet. So wet. All for me.
“Yes. Reece, yes.”
I pushed in, wanting to go slow, but each centimeter was like fucking heaven and by the end, I plunged in, wanting to be cock-deep inside her.
Our groans filled the room.
“You feel so fucking good,” I managed as I gripped her hips and withdrew and then slid back inside.
She whimpered as I pumped in and out of her. Her lovely round tits swayed as I moved. She was the sexiest vision I’d ever seen. It was so fucking unfair that having her meant risking our jobs, because as I thickened, as my balls contracted and I neared total bliss, I knew this one night with her still wouldn’t be enough.
“Yes…Oh Reece.” Her fingers gripped the sheets arching up and her pussy contracted once, twice, and then she cried out as pleasure swept through her. Only then did I give in to the clawing need in my dick. I let go, thrusting in and then flying into oblivion.
Chapter 9: A Moment Out of Time
Sasha
I’d been a nervous wreck walking into the meeting at the home office of Sterling Starr. I’d planned to simply observe, but Reece kept nudging me to join in the discussion. By the time we walked out of the meeting, I felt like I’d done a good job. Like I’d shown the powers that be that I wasn’t just a good planner, but that I could be trusted with more responsibility.
At lunch, Reece confirmed my feelings, telling me I’d done well. He could see that members of the leadership team were impressed with me. Then the work-aspect was done, and we were walking on the beach. He even took my hand, which felt glorious even though it also felt dangerous. And then he kissed me and asked me to spend a night with him.
The rational, smart side of me knew I should have said no, not just to one more night, but to the kiss on the beach. But I wasn’t able to say no. Not to him. After weeks of having my hormones constantly lit up as I worked with him, I couldn’t deny them anymore.
And now I was soaring in pleasure. He groaned, thrust inside me, giving into his own release. Like on Valentine’s Day, it was magical. Being with him like this, away from the real world, was like taking a respite inside of a fairy tale. Of course, those weren’t real, but for right now, in this moment, away from my job and Eden Lake, I was going to live in this bubble we created.
He collapsed on me and after a moment, he maneuvered off of me, but pulled me close. I rested my head on his chest listening to his heartbeat.
“That took the edge off. Next time I promise to make it last a little longer.”
I laughed. “I don’t know why you’re concerned about your finesse. If you’d made it last longer, I’d have been angry.”
He rolled, and we both lay on our side looking at each other. “How about champagne? Let’s live it up, Sasha.” His fingers pushed my hair back over my ear. He had a way of touching me, of looking at me, that felt heady. Like there was something more than lust there, but that was a dangerous feeling. Even if there was something more there, he was my boss. We both could get fired. But for one night, I wouldn’t think about the risk.
“Okay.”
He smiled, his hazel eyes flickering with green. “I’ll be right back.” He got out of bed, disposed of the condom and went to the phone to order champagne.
When he was on the phone, I went to the restroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. I had the appearance of a woman who was well-fucked. My hair was a wanton mess.
In the reflection, I saw a large tub. I turned on the water and dumped in the mini bottle of bubble bath. I let it run as I stepped into the main room.
“How about a bath?” If we were going to have a fairy tale night, it seemed to me it should include a bubble bath, champagne, and a hot man.
He smiled. “Getting into the romance of it, eh?”
My stomach clenched because I knew this wasn’t really romantic. “I was thinking sexy, but—”
His smile faltered slightly. “Sexy. Yes.”
The champagne arrived and we brought the bottle and flutes to the tub overflowing with bubbles.
“If we drown, I don’t know that we’ll be found under all these bubbles,” he joked as he sat in the tub.
“I’ll save you, slick.” I got in and sat between his legs, leaning back against his chest. He poured the champagne.
“To stealing a night,” he said, clicking his glass against mine.
I sipped the golden bubbly, liking how it tickled my nose.
He set his glass aside, then filled his hands with bubbles and caressed my shoulders and arms.
“Are you writing?” I asked.
“Right now? No.” His lips b
rushed along my neck making me shiver.
“I didn’t mean this moment.”
“Actually, I’m nearly finished with a draft of something.” His hands slid up my belly and cupped my breasts.
I leaned my head back on his shoulder. “Does it involve bubble baths?”
“Depending on how well this goes, maybe.” His thumbs brushed over my nipples making me gasp at the shot of erotic pleasure it sent through my body.
I reached one hand behind me and cupped him.
He groaned. “You should put this down.” He took my flute of champagne and set it aside.
I turned in his arms, straddling his thighs, thanking God for the bathtub manufacturer in having the foresight to make a tub wide enough for bath sex.
I rubbed my pussy along his dick loving how his hazel eyes flashed with green and gold.
“You’re playing with fire,” he said.
“Will I get burned?”
His hands slid up my back, and pulled me close. He swirled his tongue over my nipple. “We could get out and find out.”
“Get out?” I teased his tip with my entrance.
He gripped my hips. “I’m not wearing a condom.”
Oh. Right. I settled back on his thighs. “Do you have a long history of taking women in hotels to bed?”
He cocked a brow. “Do you really want to talk about our sexual histories now? How long has it been for you?”
Talking about past encounters seemed like a sure way to ruin the moment, but at the same time, it was important.
“About six months,” I said, surprising him. “It was Kip, a deputy from the sheriff’s department.”
“I hate him already.”
I laughed. “Your turn.”
“What happened with you and Kip?”
“We dated a couple of weeks, but our jobs didn’t mesh. We never had time for each other so it just fizzled out. He’s seeing someone else now. And I’m naked in a tub with you. Your turn.”
“Her name was Shelly. I put on a big gala for her producer father. She went out with me to piss him off.”
I frowned. “Why would dating you piss someone off?”
