His mouth turns into a sly smile as his eyes rake over me. “Chloe,” he says, his voice low and deep.
“Hudson.”
“Looking good. It’s been a while.”
I float my gaze over the suit-clad body I used to find incredibly sexy. In fact, it was the way he wore a suit that attracted me to him the first time we met in this very hallway. When he asked me to go home with him, I thought I hit the jackpot, considering he wasn’t looking for anything serious. No dinner. No dates. No drama. No promise of something more. I’ve never wanted anything more than a fling before. I shouldn’t want anything more now. I don’t want to want anything more.
“It certainly has been. Perhaps too long.”
Sauntering toward him, I fix my expression. Maybe if I just feel Hudson again, I’ll remember why I chose this path all those years ago, why I put my rules into place. My eyes darkening, I place my hands on the lapels of his jacket, tugging him against me.
“Are you here with anyone?”
He slowly shakes his head. “No one important. You?”
“Just some friends.”
“Boyfriend?”
I laugh, throaty and low. “You know I don’t date.”
“Another reason I admire you.” He pushes my hair behind my ear.
Whenever Lincoln did that, it sent a shiver down my spine. With Hudson, there’s nothing. Isn’t that what I want?
“Wanna get out of here? Go have some fun? Just like old times?” He doesn’t even give me a chance to respond before covering my lips with his.
He thrusts his tongue into me in a way that makes it feel like he’s fucking my mouth, and not in a good way. I never paid attention to his kisses before. They were unimportant, a necessary evil to get to the main event — a decent orgasm. But I’m not even close to getting to the main event. I’m so far away from the main event that I’m not even in the same hemisphere.
I try to take control of the kiss, slowing him down, craving the way Lincoln kissed me. His kisses were reverent, passionate…honest. He never tried to hide from me. A rarity in this world. And in our bubble, I didn’t hide from him, either. Do I really want to resign myself to a life of mediocrity, of lackluster kisses, just because I’m scared? Is giving someone a chance really that difficult? Is it any worse than what I’ve been doing?
Unable to shake the feeling this is a mistake, I push against Hudson, freeing myself from him.
He stares at me, confused. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t want to sleep with you anymore.”
“Excuse me?” he scoffs, his eyes widening, expression indignant. “You think you can do better than this?” He gestures down his frame.
He does have a great body. For a woman like me, he’s perfect. But I’m no longer the woman I was last week, which is why I don’t knee him in the groin at his arrogance. No. This new Chloe takes the high road and simply smiles.
“I know I can.”
Whirling around, I ignore his shouts to come back there and finish what I started as I rush to the bar.
“What’s going on?” Evie presses when I stumble to a stop. She furrows her brow at the wide grin on my face.
“Is everything okay?” Nora inquires.
“Better than okay.” I check my phone to see it’s just a few minutes after nine. If I hurry, I can still make it. Reaching into my purse, I grab a few bills to cover my portion of the tab and throw them onto the bar.
“Where are you going?” Evie asks as I shrug into my jacket, then pull on my gloves and wrap my scarf around my neck.
I meet their curious expressions, parting my lips as I struggle for a way to explain this. There’s so much I should tell them, but time is not on my side. Instead, I give them the short answer.
“I need to go see a man about a pair of panties.”
Then I turn from their confused faces, running as fast as I can in my rather impractical boots away from the bar and toward the Park Hyatt. At least Lincoln chose somewhere close to our usual Thursday evening spot. I would’ve been screwed otherwise.
For the first time since the blackout, I feel energized as I push through the crowded sidewalks, tourists and locals not moving as quickly as I want them to. The air is frigid, the wind whipping my face, but I’ve never felt so warm, so sure, so happy.
When I reach the hotel, I momentarily pause, staring up at the tall building. Everything’s about to shift. I’m taking a risk if I walk inside. And I’m taking a risk if I don’t. But now I know which risk I want to take.
Resolved, I step into the foyer, then take the elevator to the lobby. The ride seems to last an excruciatingly long time instead of the few seconds it actually does. When the doors open, I exit and am instantly swallowed up into the frenzied atmosphere of the lobby in the Manhattan luxury hotel.
I scan the area, my heart rate picking up when I spy The Living Room past the check-in desk. With slow steps, I head toward it, my heels seeming to echo as I cross the threshold into the swanky lounge. Couches and chairs fill the area, giving it the feel of being an actual living room instead of a bar.
My eyes float between the tables, looking for a familiar face. But I don’t see one. I grab my phone out of my purse to check the time. 9:30. Maybe I’m too late. Maybe he’s already left, thinking I wouldn’t show up.
Deflated, I turn around, my shoulders dropping. Then my gaze settles on a pair of familiar green eyes at a table in a secluded corner. He’s dressed similarly to the way he was during our first few encounters — tailored jacket, crisp shirt, designer shoes. It’s been less than forty-eight hours since I last saw him, but it feels like it’s been an eternity, especially now that I know the path I want to take.
His gaze unwavering, he slowly stands, buttoning his suit jacket as he makes his way toward me. The world around us instantly disappears. We’re no longer in a popular lounge in midtown Manhattan. I’m no longer thinking about all the noise in my life. It’s just Lincoln. Just us. Just this bubble. Maybe I got it wrong. Maybe the bubble didn’t burst when the lights came back on. Maybe we are the bubble.
His scent grows stronger as he approaches, wrapping me in comfort. I thought it would be strange to see him anywhere other than Vegas, but it’s not. It feels…right.
“You’re late.
“I’m rarely on time.”
It’s silent for a moment as he stares at me, almost convinced I’m not real. “These panties must be pretty special if you came all the way here just to get them back.”
I slowly shake my head. “You can keep them.”
“Then why are you here?” He arches a single brow, his gaze pleading with me to give him the answer he craves.
I stand on my toes, my mouth feathering against his. It’s a whisper of a kiss, yet it touches me deep in my soul. Lincoln has touched me deep in my soul.
“For you.”
He brings me into his warm body, enclosing me in his perfect embrace. “God, I was hoping you’d say that.”
He’s about to kiss me when I press my hand on his chest, stopping him. “But this doesn’t mean I’m going to move in with you,” I say, repeating the same words from his own plea. “This doesn’t mean I’m going to be your girlfriend… Not right away. All this means is that I’m willing to get to know you. That I’m willing to let you know me. That’s all this is. Just a chance.”
“That’s all I ever wanted with you, Pixie. A chance.” He curves toward me, his lips landing on mine as he kisses me so sweetly, so reverently, so completely. I sigh into him, my heart feeling full.
“A chance.”
***
Thank you so much for reading NIGHT GAMES! I hope you enjoyed it. There is a lot more planned for these characters. If you’re wondering a bit more about Chloe’s friend, Evie, and her story, be sure to check out DATING GAMES! If you love a sassy heroine, a sinful hero, and a whole lot of laughs, then you'll love this fake relationship, modern Cinderella story. Grab your copy here.
ABOUT T.K. LEIGH
; T.K. Leigh is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works ranging from sexy and sinful to fun and flirty. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, beautiful daughter, and three cats. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over twenty fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or chasing her daughter around the house.
T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.
Connect with her online!
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BOOKS BY T.K. LEIGH
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
The Beautiful Mess Series
A Beautiful Mess
A Tragic Wreck
Gorgeous Chaos
The Deception Duet
Chasing The Dragon
Slaying The Dragon
The Vault
Inferno
Standalones
Heart Of Light
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
The Redemption Series
Promise
Commitment
Redemption
ROMANTIC COMEDY
The Other Side Of Someday
Writing Mr. Right
Dating Games
MATURE YOUNG ADULT
Heart Of Marley
MYSTERY / SUSPENSE
Vanished
For more information on any of these titles and upcoming releases, please visit T.K.’s website:
www.tkleighauthor.com
ABSOLUTELY MINE
By TERRI E. LAINE
CHAPTER 1
How could this be happening? Eddie McCabe was there, not two yards away. My older sister Chris, his best friend, hadn’t warned me. Not that she should have. She had no idea I had major one for the record books crush on him.
I can do this.
Crushes were for high schoolers and I was in college not three hours away in Los Angeles. I could totally ignore him.
I went to the bar and grabbed a drink.
“There you are,” Mandy, my wayward friend, slurred, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “You see those hot guys over there. One is staring at you like you’re his next meal.”
Her grin was way too bright and I followed her line of sight to the blackjack table Eddie and his friends stood around. There I met Eddie’s eyes. Clearly, she was drunk because his dark gaze looked more menacing than hungry.
Quickly, I glanced away and tossed back my drink. “Another,” I said to the bartender.
Once the drink was in my hand, I helped Mandy who was swaying on her feet back to our friends. I tried my best not to look back at where Eddie had been. Instead, I focused on one of the guys who’d found our group.
My thoughts continued to circle back to Eddie. He’d seen me and had probably already called my sister to find out why I was in Vegas like I was some little kid.
Apparently, I’d I drunk too much. A tap on my shoulder sent me spinning around way too fast to face who’d touched me and I saw double. If not for the steel band of an arm landing about my waist, I would have face-planted.
The guy I’d been talking to lost cool points by not coming to my rescue. Pussy.
I pushed my hair back from my eyes as a gorgeous face coalesced in front of me. Eddie.
The guy I’d been talking to was instantly forgotten as a wistful smile played across my mouth.
“Hey,” I said, trying to sound sexy not sloppy.
One perfect brow shot up and I knew I missed the mark.
“I think it’s time for you to call it a night,” he said.
I poked out my bottom lip.
“You’re not my father. I don’t even know who my father is.”
“You’re not twenty-one either,” he whispered in my ear.
The outfit I’d chosen to wear left bare flesh exposed near my waist his fingertips exploited sending a shiver down my spine.
I ignored it and bared all my teeth in a wicked grin. “That’s not what my ID says. Besides, girl code won’t allow me to bail on my friends.” I turned to the group. “Right, girls?”
They stared at Eddie like he’d walked the red carpet. A few of them bated their eyelashes at him or so I thought. I couldn’t be sure that my drunken brain wasn’t playing tricks on me.
“You ladies don’t mind if I steal Jillian. I’ll make sure she gets home safely.”
Later, I would reflect on his choice of words. He hadn’t said room, but home. At the moment, I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be treated like a child.
“I’m staying,” I said, firmly planting my feet.
Like a bulldozer, he uprooted me with ease. He half carried me as my feet tripped along trying to keep up with his pace. We stopped at a craps table, where I looked over at his friends. Each one of them was hot in their own right. It had to be illegal.
I missed all of what he said but the last.
“I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
He sounded way too sober for my liking as he whisked me away.
To me, he said, “What’s your room number?”
Stubbornly, I locked my jaw and refused to utter a word.
When we reached the north bank of elevators, I somehow managed to stand my ground.
“I’m not a baby.”
Fire in his eyes nailed me like a solar flare. “Well, stop acting like one.”
I glared at him and took a moment to collect my words so I could punch him with them. But what I said hadn’t been planned.
“I’m not. In fact, I’d been talking to the guy I planned to give my virginity to.”
If eyes could be the size and shape of quarters, I’m pretty sure Eddie’s were. I took the opportunity to march off.
It wasn’t like I planned to be someone’s potential cherry popper, but it was hard when no guy measured up to the Eddie stick. He’d lived next door for as long as I could remember and over time had become unofficially the man of our house when our dad went MIA so long ago I could barely remember what he looked like.
Eddie stepped in and did small repair jobs my mom couldn’t handle for little or nothing. And though he would never say, I’d assumed he’d been the Santa who’d left extra presents under our tree when there was little more than enough food in the house. It wasn’t like he had a lot more than we did, but I knew he’d done those things for us with money he’d earned from odd jobs he did in the neighborhood.
The memory took away some of my buzz and I was grateful for the woman who materialized in front of me.
Let me tell you, waitresses in Vegas were amazing. The drink I’d ordered from said waitress before Eddie had stolen me away found me. Just as I was about to swallow it down in one gulp, it was wrenched from my fingers without spilling a drop. And there was Eddie swallowing it down.
The waitress hadn’t moved. We were far too close to the elevators. Eddie though had pulled out a wad of cash and peeled off a couple of bills and gave them to her. She curtseyed of all things before toddling off.
Mustering all the anger I could, I said, “That was my drink.”
“You’ve had enough.”
I closed the distance and poked his rock-solid chest.
“If I’m old enough to get married, then I’m old enough to drink however much I want.” I stepped back. “Now I’m going to find that guy and give him the best damn ride of his life.”
Before I could make my grand exit, he caught my wrist.
“Is that really what you want? To hook up with some guy you don’t know.” He held my gaze. “I remember the girl who wanted to get married first.”
I’d been stupid to tell him that. But I’d been a naïve girl. If he only knew, that little girl though she would marr
y him.
“Yeah, I’m not twelve anymore. I’m a grown ass woman and I’ll screw who I want.”
He didn’t let go and the growl from his chest stopped me.
“Never. Going. To. Happen.”
I blame alcohol on my slow reactions. A squeak let loose from my mouth as he scooped me up and over his shoulder. Which was saying something considering I wasn’t beauty pageant thin like my sister. I was a girl with curves, lots of them.
He smoothed my short skirt over my bottom, holding it there so I wouldn’t flash anyone, as he marched us into an open elevator and up we went. My protests were weak as I was busy fighting the sudden nausea from being upside down.
When he put me on my unsteady feet, we were in his hotel room. I leaned into the wall and pushed at my hair, which fell wildly over my shoulders.
“I’m dizzy,” I said.
Then he was there, too damn close. So much so, I felt his long hard length pressed against me. I may have wigged some to put pressure on the place I really needed.
He stepped back and shook his head.
“I can’t do this. Chris would kill me,” I swore I heard him say.
“Chris?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
He moved into the room, which I now realized was a suite. He stopped at a credenza and poured himself a drink, downing it all.
My mouth was suddenly dry, and not because I wanted some myself. With his shirt arms rolled to his elbows, his forearms were left exposed and they flexed with muscle. Though he looked like the lawyer he would be once he passed the bar exam, he was too damn sexy for words. Then there was the bulge in his pants.
A knock sounded at the door, stopping my heart for a second. Wanting escape, I opened it before Eddie could make his way over.
Blackout: A Romance Anthology Page 41
