"Yeah, I'm headed home in the morning," Gavin said, releasing his hold on her.
She stepped back, giving him a wide berth, not wanting to invade his personal space, no matter how much she wanted to cling to him. "Yeah, me too." She tucked hair behind her ear and toed the ground with her sneaker, suddenly nervous.
"Are you going to the dead dog?"
Her eyebrows furrowed as she forced her attention back towards him.
"The dead dog social, tonight?"
"Oh, um, I didn't know there was one." Elation eclipsed the nervousness she felt a moment ago. This was it, the chance she'd been waiting for.
"Yeah, sort of a wind-down kind of thing. I heard there might be drinks."
A drink she needed, if she was going to remain calm, collected and figure out how to get her muse away from him. A crackle of electricity charged the air between them and with it came the hum of her muse. "Sounds like fun. What time?"
The elevator doors opened with a chime. Gavin took a tentative step forward, turning back slightly. "Seven-thirty. You should come. It'll beat hanging around an empty hotel by yourself."
Piper looked around. The commotion of the last three days had disappeared in a flurry. She was having a hard time imagining the way it looked, even just hours ago, with hundreds of people taking up most square inches of space. "Thanks. I think I will."
With a nod, Gavin slipped through the doors of the elevator just as they began to close. He turned and gave her one last consuming look that melted her from the inside out.
She was definitely going to the social. The way her heart skittered in her chest made her realize she was still very much attracted to the man who held captive her muse, which further complicated things. Either way, she knew the night would end on a high note, she was sure of it.
When she pulled out her phone, the clock told her the night wouldn't be starting for a couple more hours. She'd have to find something to do in the meantime to calm the restless itch she felt.
When seven-thirty arrived, Piper took the elevator to the second floor. She'd been foolish, forgetting to ask where the social was happening. As the stepped off onto the second floor, she could hear conversations coming at her from all sides. It seemed there were still lots of people left over from the conference, ready for one last hooray, ending Northern Write Con for another year.
She chose a direction and headed towards the closest set of voices, poking her head through an open door. A few people sat, drinks in hand, in a circle of chairs. A girl strummed a guitar and a friendly face smiled, a hand waving at Piper. She returned it, but at the disappointment that came from not spotting Gavin sitting in the group, she moved on.
The next open door made way to a bunch of conference goers sitting around a large table, stacks of intricate and colorful cards laid out over the top. They were in deep conversation, playing a game that Piper vaguely remembered from high school, but again, there was no Gavin.
Another room yielded more conference stragglers, but none resembled the tall, masculine man she was in search of. As a wave of disappointment threatened to cloud Piper, bringing down her spirits, she realized there was one more room she hadn't yet explored. A little faster on her feet, she headed towards the weekend hospitality suite. A hold-all of everything a starving writer could need; bottles of water, coffee, cans of soda and snacks. Piper had found herself there a few times over the weekend, ducking her head in just long enough to grab a soda and a cookie from the tray of baked goods, or sneaking a few extra bottles of water to store in her hotel room fridge for later.
Piper rounded the corner, headed towards the last place Gavin could possibly be if he'd planned to attend the evening festivities. She heard the voice, calling out to her like a beacon. It took all her restraint not to run the last distance, instead casually entering the room, the busiest of them all.
The temperature definitely rose a few degrees as she stepped over the threshold, more than a dozen mingling bodies cramping the small space. And there, right by the door, leaning against the wall, was Gavin, a beer bottle in his hand, wearing that smile she hadn't realized she'd missed.
The trick now was figuring out what to do, now that Gavin was finally in her sights.
Piper slid down the wall and joined him where he stood. She stayed silent, trying to follow along with the conversation, until Gavin paused, noticing her presence.
"You came," he said, sounding almost excited to see her. His delicious hazel eyes brightened.
"Yeah, well, I didn't have much else to do, and I heard there'd be booze."
"Great, well, let's get you a drink."
From out of nowhere, a fresh beer was thrust towards Piper and she wasted no time taking a long pull from the neck of the bottle. Liquid courage. Either that or a really awful idea. Only time would tell.
Gavin seemed to be the center of conversations, being pulled in one direction or another, and keeping close to him proved difficult. She needed to stay close. Piper swore every time his hand innocently brushed against hers, she heard the titter of her muse whispering, reaching out, trying to reattach itself.
However, as the night dragged on, Piper was no closer to her end game. She'd yet to capture his attention entirely. Nor devise a plan to steal back her muse. She found herself wandering through the lobby, out the doors, and into the growing night for a cigarette just to calm her nerves. The beers she'd consumed were catching up to her, warmth running through her veins, the gentle buzz of the alcohol slowly gnawing away at her inhibitions; the time also ticking away like a bomb ready to explode.
She made her way back to the second floor, another round of courage fueling her steps, as she realized the cramped party at the hospitality suite had moved to a bigger conference room. Piper was able to find a chair open and luckily for her, it was right next to Gavin. Finally, the break she needed.
Conversation this time came effortlessly, the liquor buzz becoming useful. She was able to join in, and found herself talking to Gavin with little pressure. For a moment, she wasn't terrified. She felt safe, and her muse spoke louder to her than ever before the more intimate the conversation grew.
There were new faces, and Gavin was kind enough to introduce Piper, seeming to know just about everyone in the room.
After a few more beers, Piper had finally relaxed enough to let her true personality shine through, just as it seemed Gavin took to flirting with her. But then, she wasn't completely sure.
"We should have music," someone said. "Does anyone have any speakers?"
Piper joined the consensus, saying, "Music would be great."
Looking right at her, Gavin said, "I do, up in my room," with a suggestive tone.
"Would you go get it and bring it down here?" someone asked.
"Maybe later," Gavin replied, his eyes still focused on Piper.
A few minutes later they engaged in a conversation about music, the two laughing. Gavin's hand found Piper’s knee and gave it a squeeze. The whisper of her muse yelled something Piper couldn’t discern, but quieted down when his touch slipped away.
"Shit. My drink's empty," Piper said to no one in particular, but then Gavin was right there, a gentle hand back on her knee as he leaned in towards her.
"I think I might have some, up in my room." His warm breath tickled her neck, sending a shiver up her spine.
She laughed; that expression had become the running joke of the night. Piper could make a list a mile long of all the things Gavin had up in his room. It was everything from a pen, an ARC of his latest novel, candy, to the skeleton he often toted around with him as part of his author branding. All of which he tried to use as a way to entice her, spoken with an intimate tone, longing hazel eyes, and most definitely directed at her.
* * *
"I'm not leaving. Not unless Piper comes with me, up to my room," Gavin said to a conference goer sitting across from them. Someone must have been demanding an item from his hotel room. She had tuned out the most recent conversations. But that was a clear
-cut invitation. And it exploded her core with intensity. It burned hot, and she almost fell out of her chair. Gavin was quick to push her back to center, his warm hand searing the exposed skin of her arm.
She turned slightly towards him, licking her lips, relishing in the heat that came from his tender touch.
"So, will you? Come up to my room?"
Piper flushed with excitement as she looked away.
He leaned closer. "Please."
Turning back towards him, she found herself at a loss for words. Her muse began to take over, the chatter inside her head growing so loud it was about all she could hear. She realized Gavin's hand was still resting on her arm. She looked down at it, the connection they shared, and searched his eyes to find they were filled with the same desire she was sure was being exuded from hers.
"I don't know if I'm drunk enough," she said innocently, thrusting her empty bottle towards him.
"Well, I said it before, I've got more beer, up in my room."
Piper licked her lips again as her muse continued to rage on inside her. She swore she began to feel it crawling from Gavin’s hand, up her arm, spreading over her. It tried to reconnect with her, stitching itself to her veins, figuring out how to gain access to her soul. Piper was sure it would only take a few more minutes, but then Gavin pulled his hand from her, severing the bond between them.
The muse protested, ringing in her ears, trying to stay entwined with the host it now desperately wanted to be a part of. All too soon the loud yelling became less audible until it was a low murmur, and then, gone again.
Though Piper wasn’t sure it was a good idea to go to Gavin's room just yet, she did manage to say, "Maybe, you should go get it." She batted her eyelashes.
He stood from his chair. "I'll be back," he tossed over his shoulder and made his way towards the door in long calculated strides. The exit so hasty, it left Piper reeling.
Now, not only was the mumble of her muse gone, but so was Gavin, and Piper unexpectedly regretted sending him away. She counted to ten in her head, stood from her chair and said, "I'll be back, just going outside for a smoke," to no one, in particular.
Piper headed for the elevator, reaching it in time to see the doors slip closed, Gavin inside. She pushed the button and impatiently waited for the other elevator. She could follow him up to the 14th floor, she was sure of it. When the doors finally opened, Piper stepped inside, her heart racing.
She stuck in her key card, pressed the button that would take her to Gavin, only it wouldn't stay lit. Cursing aloud, she tried again. Key card in slot. Press 14. The light still wouldn't stay on. The elevator wouldn’t move. Finally, she realized the catastrophic error she'd made. Her room was on the 9th floor, which meant that was as high up in the elevator as she could go.
Piper punched the wall, slammed her thumb over the button that would take her to the lobby and tried to ignore her devastation.
She wandered through the empty hotel, and the farther she got from the party, and Gavin, the sicker she felt. The loss of connection pulled her muse away again, just as she wondered, was it really that simple? Yet a cruel joke? The irony of the situation caused her to laugh out loud.
Suddenly, she knew how to get her muse back.
Maybe she'd known all along and didn't take it for what it was. She'd have to do something unimaginable. Release inhibitions she kept locked away tight, and for once, simply indulge in what she wanted most but never allowed herself to have.
A night of unadulterated bliss. No strings attached. She wanted to be taken the way the women in novels were, but could never bring herself to write about. In part, because she'd never experienced something so spontaneous and out of character. That's why she'd turned down her muse’s relentless suggestions to switch genres. How could she write about something she knew nothing about?
Her experimentations, when it came to anything outside the norm, weren’t winning her any awards in the risqué department. Hell, she'd never done it on anything that wasn't a bed. Maybe this was just the push needed to step outside her comfort zone. Way outside it. Gavin was apparently taken by her, being flirtatious and asking—in more ways than one—if she'd accompany him up to his room. And she, undoubtedly, was attracted to him; the muscles in her stomach tightened merely at the thought. New warmth spread over her cheeks at the mere possibility of his hands exploring her body, his lips kissing the gentle contours of her skin.
Yes, she was more than a little attracted to him, it turned out. Just the idea of his body pressed against hers sent a surge of desire through her, awakening even the most sensitive parts of herself.
She tossed her half-smoked cigarette away and turned towards the lobby. Using the glass of the entrance as her mirror, Piper adjusted her T-shirt, fluffed up her hair and applied a little more lipstick. Inhaling a deep breath, she closed her eyes, focusing on the mission of reclaiming her muse. Yet, as confident as she felt, she was still unsure if she'd be able to follow through in the end. She wanted it. Badly. But timid might as well have been Piper’s middle name. That was a characteristic of herself she would never be able to change. She didn't think she could be as forward and direct, telling him what she truly wanted, as he seemed to be able with her. She had to be willing to at least try.
Of course, she also knew that nothing ever really came with no strings attached. A night like this would change them both. One of them was probably going to get hurt in the process. Mostly likely Piper.
* * *
As Piper took one more deep calming breath, she felt a current prickle the back of her neck, raising the hairs on her arms. That odd sensation of being watched, eyes boring into the back of her head. Piper swallowed. Gradually, she lifted her eyes, catching sight of another reflection in the glass. Just a second ago, she’d been alone, and yet, Gavin now stood behind her. He held a beer in one hand and two paper cups in the other.
"I thought I'd come down and find you." His eyes searched hers for a reaction.
She sucked in another breath, slowly turning around as her heart skittered in her chest. "I'm glad you did," she spoke honestly, smiling up at him, ignoring the miniscule tug of her conscience that was questioning how he’d managed to sneak up on her. She swore her eyes had only been closed for a moment, not to mention, having a clear view of the lobby made it even more peculiar.
"Are you ready to head back inside?”
Piper wasn’t sure if it was the cool summer breeze or the closeness of Gavin, but a shiver ran up her spine. She nodded in answer, taking a step towards him. Gavin turned on his heels and together they walked through the lobby doors and towards the elevator. He juggled the beer in one hand and slipped his card into the slot. His fingers hovered over the button that would take them to the second floor, but Piper knew, this might be the last chance she'd ever have with him. Alone. She gently pushed his hand away and quickly pressed the button that would take them to his floor, and from there, to his hotel room.
"Are you sure?" He cleared his throat, sounding surprised, caught off guard by their sudden change in destination.
"I am. Besides, I hear the view from your floor is much better than from mine."
He laughed easily. "Well, I am up just that bit higher, which helps."
As the elevator counted up the floors, Piper grew surer of herself. He'd taken a step closer to her, arms brushed together again, and her muse was right there with them.
The door to Gavin's hotel room clicked closed behind Piper. The room, similar to hers, was filled with a king size bed, a small table, and two chairs. On the wall opposite the bed, a TV flickered on mute. She took a step farther in, as Gavin set down the beer and shrugged off his jacket. He laid it gently on the back of a chair. Tonight he was wearing brown slacks, a black button up shirt and the discarded jacket, a charcoal gray. He undid the buttons on his sleeves and rolled them up one at a time, as he asked, "Would you like a drink?"
"Sure. I mean, yes, please. I'd love one,” Piper responded, as she took another step into the room
but hesitated, suddenly unsure of where she should be. Would sitting on the bed seem too eager and suggestive? Or would the chair across from it make their encounter feel too casual? The argument with herself didn't last long. She settled on standing and watched as Gavin carefully popped the top off the beer and poured two paper cups full.
He closed the distance and offered her the drink. Eagerly, she took one of the cups and downed the contents in two large mouthfuls. A little more liquid courage, at that point, could only help matters. She'd come this far, and if she left now, she'd only be a tease.
"Can I get you more?" He motioned to the empty cup in her hand, eyeing her curiously.
She hated that his features gave nothing away. Gavin seemed so calm, collected, whereas she was still trying to suppress any lingering doubts. "Sure," she replied, handing it back over to him. He filled it again and moved towards her, this time stopping even closer, toe to toe, towering over her. "Thanks." She downed the alcohol just as quickly as she had the first time.
"Easy there," he said, taking the cup and setting it on the TV stand. He swallowed. "Are you nervous?"
"No. I mean, yes. Maybe, a little." She shook her head and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Look, I wanted you up here. That was pretty obvious. But I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with." His tone was soft as he reached forward, gently brushing the side of her cheek with his fingers.
Biting her lip, it took Piper a second to reply. "I'm comfortable," she said, surprising herself, as she realized she wasn’t lying. At all. She felt relaxed and safe. And though she'd only just met him, she could tell Gavin was a gentleman. He wanted what she wanted, but he wouldn't force her to do anything she wasn't ready to do.
Gavin set his untouched drink down next to hers and then stepped forward, dissolving the last bit of distance between them. He opened his arms and pulled her into him, a tight embrace. This time, however, he let his hands wander; at first, smoothing down her back gently. His touch was barely there, but then pressing harder as his hands swept back up. He paused at her shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze, before letting them drift again. By the time Gavin pulled away slightly, her face was cradled in his hands.
Capturing the Muse Page 15
