by Beth Mikell
Hex upon Me
By Beth Mikell
Smashwords Edition
ISBN: 9781301159970
Copyright 2013 Beth Mikell All Rights Reserved.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold
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of this author.
**Note from Author: The following is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. All names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover by Kardo Designs Copyright 2013
Dedication:
To my Husband: You are my ultimate hero, Mohandes. Thank you for supporting my crazy
vision and even crazier ride--I couldn't have done this without you. I love you.
To my kidlets: You make up the difference in life worth living.
To my dear friend, LS: For all the hours of chitchat, shopping, excellent Mexican food,
medieval appreciation and love of books.
To Jen: You're awesome with a precious gift of smiles from afar.
To another dear, Kathy: Most would run for the hills, but you are, indeed, a true friend.
Just think it all started in a little office the size of a shoe box!
An extra special thank you all wrapped up in a red bow to Tracey Romero for her second set
of eyes. You're the best!
You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not
trust enough. ~Frank Crane
Chapter One
Fate leads the willing and drags along the reluctant. ~ Seneca
Naked?
Savannah Deason groaned softly, peering around the room with one eye opened. The hotel room seemed familiar as in Sherrod Towers, her brother-in-law’s posh hotel chain, but not the warm, delicious body pressed up against her. Her dark, brown eyes widened as she observed the handsome man curled up next to her still sleeping. Oh God…what had she done? And who the hell was he?
Closer inspection revealed a mini god of sin all muscle-bound and gloriously au naturel, the sheet barely covering his lithe body. He had an angry Celtic, black tattoo over his left arm, spanning his whole shoulder down to his elbow, which happened to be carelessly thrown over her waist at present. Great, of all the types of men to end up in bed with, she woke up next to a possible biker? Nice one Deason. But, he was easy on the eyes with thick disheveled black hair, high cheekbones and full lips--that no doubt kissed of sensual pleasure. Somehow, Savannah ached to give that mouth another test run, sober of course.
Last night…what the hell had she drunk? She wasn’t a heavy drinker by any means—a few glasses of wine or cocktails, maybe, but something knocked her flat on her ass and then some. But as dim recollections bombarded her mind, shots of tequila filtered through the haze of memories. After work, she hit a new nightclub with several guys from work in downtown Atlanta called SWAT and everything began normally with drinks and laughs. But, what else? How in all that was holy had she ended up in bed with a stranger? Well, chalk that up to Mr. Tequila and his ripping banditos because apparently El Gringo Loco included a hotel room of her choice, not to mention a hammering headache bulldozing her through her skull like a meat-grinder.
Sighing, Savannah eased out from under the muscular grip around her waist, careful as not to wake the handsome biker god next her. She rolled up to a sitting position as a wave of nausea shimmered over her. She really needed to invest in better friends because obviously hanging out with her foreman and his war party needed a revision, the sooner the better.
She flipped her long blonde hair up over her head and her eyes fell on the nightstand noting three used condoms chucked in the ashtray.
Again…new friends needed by far.
With one last glance over at sleeping beauty, Savannah trekked naked to the bathroom, picking up her strewn clothing along the way. After a few short minutes to revive her borderline hangover and redress in her cursed, little black dress and high-heeled boots, Savannah opened the bathroom door to find her biker god awake, watching her with lazy blue eyes. He wore a half-smile on his face as he sat with his arms folded up underneath his dark head.
Awkward much. Conscious he was even more beautiful with a black, shadowy beard to reaffirm his outlaw appearance and deeply tanned body. He didn’t have just one tattoo, but the other shoulder claimed the same black, fierce design and she vaguely wondered if he had a Harley parked out in the hallway. God, she really needed to see if the hotel had a bingo night rather than sexing it up with a random guy.
“Hey, where are you going princess?”
He spoke, she was hoping for mute. “Clearly we are finished here, are we not?”
His chest rumbled with a deep chuckle, "Depends…morning sex can offer up its fair share of delights.”
Sexy voice to match, wow. Savannah handed him the golden apple, the man oozed sexual charm like warm honey over a biscuit. He was beautiful, but she knew to be wary and offered a tight smile. “I’m so sure, but we should call this like it is…a one night stand and walk away.”
His blue eyes glinted with amusement, he shrugged, “Suit yourself princess.” He moved the sheet, rolling up to a sitting position, uncaring he wore cords of scrumptious muscle and nothing else over his lithesome body and obvious stirring erection.
When she continued to stand in the bathroom doorway gawking, he looked up and smiled. “Are rethinking your second wind? I’m not opposed.”
Her lips drew in a flat line and she gave herself a mental shake. “Yeah, well...I do have a question. We…did use protection, right?” A visual on condoms didn’t mean they were careful…enough.
His azures still warm with merriment, mocked her. “You don’t remember anything do you?”
Savannah shook her head, sarcasm in place, glaring at him.
Biker god stood, towering a head above her and stretched--unabashed by his nakedness. The movement pulled, bunching his muscles taut across his hard body. “Well, we were both fairly shit-faced as I recall, but I'm very certain we gloved up,” he said rather crudely, lowering his hands to place on his lean hips, still smiling. “You were perfect by the way. I hate to think you wouldn’t have a memory of this night to take with you.” He winked to drive home his point.
She arched a dark brow, “I’m…good, thanks.” She left the protective arch of the bathroom doorway, spying her purse on the table beside the hotel door and turned to give biker god a final glance.
Savannah gasped as he caught her up around the waist, hauling her into his arms and he was right, she fit him. Her legs splayed over one of his hard thigh, which nudged the center of her body in a warm welcome. She grasped his tattooed shoulders to keep her balance, the thinness of her dress offered little protection against him—against every rippling tough, sinewy bit of him pressed into her. Yum came to mind.
“What the hell are you doing? You’re not going all weird on me now, are you?” she asked with wispy breathlessness, his flawless, chiseled lips just inches from hers, the heat and heady male scent of his body overpowering her mind.
“No, but I would like a kiss goodbye...seems only fair.”
Before she could protest his tongue slid across hers in warm greeting, Savannah groaned deep in her throat. Her arms slithered up around his neck and tested his inky hair, p
ulling him closer. All the air punched out her lungs in a hard lick of desire, liquefying her insides into a blaze of heat and unconsciously, she sought after his firm flesh nestled up against her body.
He broke free of her mouth, trailing a silken path over to her right ear, nibbling on her lobe. His hands grasped her hips, grinding his hardness into the core of her body for extra sexual emphasis. “Mmmm, you taste amazing the morning after.”
With her breath sawing in and out, Savannah wondered what crazy train her senses hopped on. “I think we should…leave it at that, don’t you?” She hated to admit it, but his offer for seconds was duly noted and tempting by every aching degree within his arms. Who was this guy? His smile alone should be illegal and he kissed of darkness with a hot undercurrent of scantily leashed wildness. Damn, he was hot.
He smiled and let her go--easing her away from his body that left no doubt the underlying passion he sported. “See you around, princess.”
Savannah cleared her throat, stumbling back against the door still too shaken from his kiss. Without a word, she turned away, reaching for the doorknob because really…what more was there to say? She had been a complete hussy last night or at least from what she could remember of it. She stepped out in the hotel hallway, looking around for the Harley, chuckling under her breath as she shut the door. Savannah could have sworn she heard him laugh.
She walked with purpose to the elevator, sending up a silent prayer it was empty as she entered, and then...hung her head in shame. Could the day start any worse? Hell, she didn’t even know what floor she was on, but assessed she was on the thirteenth floor, right under hers. How profound, she mused.
Last year was a ride from the pit of hell, after her sister Laura’s car accident left her in a coma for three months, while her husband of three years, Devon died. But, the history went deeper. Laura hadn’t loved Devon Merrick rather she was in love with Sean, Devon’s brother and deficit to say Laura and Sean ended up having an affair resulting in a baby…Savannah’s one year old niece named Devon in honor of her uncle that passed away. Savannah shuddered under the thought of deep relationships—complicated and a definite waste of time. Yeah, her opinion of commitment ranked no higher than an ant on steroids--impossible.
With an education in advertising, she had been a top manager for Wendell, Stokes and Cossack Ltd. Savannah received a job promotion to vice president in their England office, but during Laura’s coma, she placed her life on hold, uncertain of her sister’s outcome. Her promotion and job fell by the wayside, yet she hadn’t cared—not when dealing with the sister she loved. Her devotion, care and attention hadn’t gone unnoticed by Sean. He offered her a position in Merrick Industries in their Georgia office, while Savannah never studied construction she found a fresh pleasure in the drama and deadlines required by her new position. Plus, the workers were a hot, yummy bonus to look at—never underestimate a sweaty, half-naked man in a hardhat.
Currently, she had a dependable team under her supervision that traveled with her to other hotel locations in need of major repair or construction overhaul. They were a great group of dedicated men who respected her position and authority. Plus the guys decided though she was a goddess to look at and swore like a sailor, they stamped their approval on her.
She could get an apartment or house with as much money she had made over the years, but found it easier to bounce through each Sherrod Towers Hotel...no cooking, no housework and free to live her life just as she pleased. The benefits of living in such a way were amazing and the prospect helped that her brother-in-law was also her employer—another perk. Not that she took advantage of it…because she loved Sean or ‘handsome’ as she dubbed him.
But, right now she needed a shower and coffee—in that order. When the elevator opened and her sister Laura stood beside her door. Frowning, Savannah tried to recall if she had missed an appointment, yet nothing memorable popped with her headache pounding.
Laura turned at the sound of the elevator, her eyes widening as she caught sight of Savannah. “Hey you, I knocked, but no answer. I thought you were sleeping.” Hugging her sister, noting Savannah’s rumpled dress and wild cloud of hair hanging down over her shoulders, along with her bloodshot eyes. “Rough night?”
Shaking her head, Savannah dug into her purse for her door card. “Craptastic. Apparently I needed a lesson in alcohol management and boy was it a doozy.”
Laura lifted a dark brow, “Sounds cryptic. Do you want to tell me?”
Savannah grunted and opened the door, tossing her purse and door card on the side table without care. “Oh, let’s not, shall we? The deets won't change the outcome.” She headed towards the shower, but stopped, looking back at Laura and pulled a face. “Wait, were we going somewhere?”
Laura pushed back her wheat colored hair over her shoulder, rolling through a soft laugh, “Err, yes, we were going to look at flooring for the new renovation. Are you okay? You’re never one to forget the details.” She was entirely worried about her sister, observing her with a critical eye.
Savannah shook her head, trying to thrash memories of biker god out of her mind, “Call it bad judgment with a tequila chaser. By the way, where is squirt? I miss her,” she called out reaching down to shuck off her boots in rush to finally reach her long-awaited shower.
Squirt so aptly named was Laura and Sean’s one-year-old daughter Devon.
“She’s with Jean,” Laura replied missing her little one as mother’s do, but knowing she was taken care of, she didn’t worry. Jean was once a flight attendant for the Merrick jet, but now Devon’s sometimes nanny and full-time friend of the family.
After twenty minutes called a semi dousing revival, Savannah stepped out of the bathroom wearing a white bathrobe and towel wound around her head, feeling one hundred times better. Laura appeared with a steaming cup of coffee in her hand and offered it to her sister.
Savannah grasped the hot cup, eagerly taking her first sip of heaven for the day. “If you weren’t my sister, I think I’d have a girl crush. You are a godsend, sweetie.”
“So my husband tells me regularly.” Laura winked. “And he has more than a crush, I believe.”
“Ha! You’re damn right he does! How is handsome?” She moved sit on the plush white sofa, propping her feet up on the coffee table. “I haven’t seen him much these last few weeks.”
“Staying busy with CEO duties at the office and he mentioned going to Europe soon for a mini vacation.”
Savannah waved off the remark with a twist of her hand and rolled her velvet, brown eyes, “Lucky bitch!”
Laura’s smile widened, “Savannah, oh my god!”
She shrugged. “Just sayin'! You deserve it, sweetie and I mean that. But, for the love of Godiva chocolate, get me something hideously expensive or prepare to endure my sisterly wrath!”
The younger sister giggled, saluting, "Sir, yes sir! Already on it! But enough about me, you
seem…distracted.”
Savannah nearly snorted, but sighed instead, “Do I? Sorry, I’ve got a deadline and time is eating away.” True, but it wasn’t like her morning after her one night stand hadn’t fucked her over too, damn Tequila.
The Sherrod Towers Hotel in Atlanta, GA was receiving a bit of makeover, though most of it cosmetic, except for the banquet hall, which was being transformed by a complete refurbishing. Savannah only had a month to strip down the internal construction and rebuild it with a modern twist. MK Steel Co., a very prestigious and wealthy steel company planned to hold a fundraiser in the rebuilt anteroom shortly after over her deadline.
Apparently, the owner had a penchant for children causes and they were good friends with Sean. Her brother-in-law loved a noble cause, so when his friend approached him to hold the gathering at Sherrod Towers, Sean, in turn, began updating the face of the hotel hoping to attract new clientele and rich spenders.
Laura’s forehead drew into a pensive frown, “That’s not like you to be nervous about deadlines. You usually have everything �
��in the bag’ as you say.”
“Not this time. I’ve had some major hiccups with the subcontractors and I’ve had to change suppliers due to rising costs and budget issues. Anywho, it’s nothing I can’t work out—you know me. I just need to get the flooring picked and haggled over because I haven’t much time before we install. So, let me get dressed and we’ll go.”
“Be right here.”
She donned her favorite designer jeans, boots and blue blazer with a white button down un-tucked. Savannah stepped out of her bedroom looking refreshed. She even threw up her long blonde hair in a messy twist for good measure. She appeared what she called urban casual rather than her usual dress suits and stilettos. Lately on construction sites, she found herself wearing more and more jeans with boots rather than skirts and heels, which was too hazardous around piles of concrete, metal or other debris. Besides, she wasn’t exactly gifted with excellent coordination.
Downing the last bit of her coffee, Savannah grabbed her sunglasses and purse before facing her sister.
“Ready sweetie?”
~~~
Hexon James Montgomery otherwise known as Hex James to most everyone stepped out of the shower after free handing his erection--not that he was opposed to a little five-finger-discount, but the blonde set him off to the point of no return with her hot sexiness. He wrapped a towel around his lean hips, rubbing the excess water off his face and then pushed his hands through his black hair. What a night! He hadn’t meant to go out to the new nightclub, SWAT, but he found himself there nevertheless.
And the blonde, well…she was a definite surprise to say the least. Not that he fought a little feel-up with a stranger, but he usually preferred knowing a woman before taking her to his bed. Last night, however, he tied one to many on and enjoyed himself a little too well. Hell, he used protection, but he can’t honestly recall using it their first round…everything was a bit fuzzy in the memory department. Now, he wished he had gotten her name and number to check up on her later. He didn’t need any surprises because he had enough in his lifetime.
