Blackout: A Romance Anthology

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  “You’re going to get the hotel’s signature notepad as a wedding gift,” I said with a sigh.

  She pulled on my arm. “Come on, let’s go over there.”

  “Are the sparkly lights calling you?”

  “Yes.”

  Somehow Sarah had this sense. I could swear the machines called to her. She’d put in five dollars and get twenty. I would play the machine next to her and lose forty in the same time frame.

  I stood in front of a machine, refusing to sit because I’d commit to feeding it more money just to get the bonus game.

  A gasp escaped at the shock of hands on my hips that exploded up and around my body.

  “Hey, stranger,” a familiar voice tickled my ear.

  That voice. Smooth, deep, with a slight gruffness at times. It was enough to make my knees go weak, and I might have fallen if it wasn’t for him holding me up.

  I turned to find Reid smiling at me, and found a similar grin forming on my lips. “Hey.” I glanced around and spotted two guys about ten feet away seeming to be with him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was walking through and spotted you.”

  I wasn’t sure I believed that he was just walking through, not with the couple of guys hanging back a good ten feet escorting him. Or maybe I just wanted to believe he was seeking me out.

  “Are you done filming?”

  He shook his head. “On a lunch break, but I wanted to give you this.” He handed me one of the hotel room keys that looked a lot like my own, only it was gold and not the aqua color of mine.

  “What’s this?” I asked as I held it up.

  “A key to my room.”

  My eyes widened. “You’re giving me a key to your room? How do you know I’m not a complete psycho who will use it to come over in the middle of the night and take advantage of you?”

  That sexy, wolfish grin spread on his lips. “I can’t say I’m opposed to that. At all. Take all the advantage you want.”

  I couldn’t help biting down on my lower lip, heat spreading through my cheeks. “What am I really doing with this?”

  “I want to see you later, but it won’t be until later in the afternoon. I can text you, and if you’re free, just come on up.” He pointed to the key in my hand. “You need it for the elevator.”

  “Oh, right.” Something I would never forget.

  “Does that sound good?” he asked, suddenly not as confident as he did moments before.

  “Hmm?”

  His brow knit and his lips formed a thin line. “It doesn’t exactly sound the best.”

  I thought back on what he said. “Coming when you call?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Honestly, I’ll take any time I can get, so I’ll gladly be your beck and call girl.”

  “Ha! How did I know you’d take it there?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Sixth sense? Proficiency in perverted thoughts?”

  “That must be it.”

  “Anyway, we’re going down the strip as soon as Sarah finishes off that twenty, but we should be back mid-afternoon.” I was going to make damn sure we were, and I knew Sarah would as well.

  “Excellent,” he said as he leaned forward, his lips pressing against mine.

  A gasp left me and heat flooded me at the brief contact.

  “Sorry,” he said as he pulled back. “I couldn’t help myself.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to me, our lips meeting again. I needed to double check what I felt, but the second time I was totally wrong.

  It was more. My whole body bowed into him as his presence intoxicated my blood. It went from our lips pressed together to his arms around me, holding me close as his tongue caressed mine.

  “Holy moly,” I said when he pulled back.

  “I…damn, girl.” His eyes were a darker shade of grey, and he didn’t release his arms from me. “Where did you come from?”

  “Was I in your dreams last night?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s where.”

  He let out a sigh and pressed his forehead to mine. “You don’t understand how true I’m beginning to believe that is.”

  “Reid, we need to go,” one of the guys called.

  It was then I noticed we’d gathered a bit of an audience, and I saw a few phones out.

  Great.

  “This afternoon?” he asked.

  I nodded. “I can’t wait.”

  He beamed at me and placed a kiss to my forehead before tearing his arms from me and holding them high in the air as he walked away backwards.

  “Gotta deactivate my magnets before the pull is too great and I never let you go.”

  I threw my head back and laughed. “You’re so extra.”

  “Extra what?”

  “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

  “You let me know first thing,” he said with a wink. “Later, beautiful.”

  “Later, man of my dreams.”

  He threw his fist in the air in a Breakfast Club way. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

  “What did I miss?” Sarah said, popping up beside me, her gaze glued to Reid’s retreating form.

  “Did we die in a plane crash on the way over here?” I asked.

  “I don’t think so. Why?”

  “Because I can’t figure out if that man is heaven or hell, but he’s definitely not real life.” Pain shot through my forearm, and I winced as I rubbed at the spot Sarah just pinched. “What the hell?”

  “You’re not dreaming. That man really does want you. Lucky bitch.”

  ***

  I’m back. Not much time, but if you’re free, I’m here – Reid

  I stared down at my phone, my stomach in knots as my skin vibrated. At least that was what it felt like.

  “He’s back,” I said to Sarah. I bent over and blew out a breath. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  We’d headed to the outlet mall after Reid left and spent a few hours there before returning to the hotel for some food and more gambling.

  “You’re going to be fine,” she assured me. “Just breathe, and remember how his lips felt on yours. Go get that man.”

  “Why do I feel like your sexual science experiment?”

  “Because you are. But besides that, I haven’t seen you like this since Will in college. He was really interested in you, but you never acted on it and lost out, and that was only a fraction of what I see right now.”

  “Yeah, well, Will was my league. Reid is so many levels above me.”

  “Stop selling yourself short!” she Fuck Jeremy for making you doubt you could be the one for someone. He was a fucker who used you. Reid’s different.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Blind faith. Now go to that man, and report back after you’ve drained him.”

  “I’m not fucking him right now!” My eyes popped wide. “Wait. Do you think that was what he meant by all this?”

  Sarah sighed, turned me around, and pushed. “Stop overthinking shit.”

  Anxiety spiked with each step, my heart beating wildly as I drew in gulping breaths. What was I doing? I hit the button and closed my eyes as I waited.

  Sarah was right. I had to get over the insecurities Jeremy left with me, but saying and doing were two totally different things. Nothing would change unless I initiated change, and going up to Reid’s room was the first step.

  The doors slid open, and I stepped in. With shaking hands, I pulled the card from my back pocket and waved it in front of the receiving pad. The numbers lit up, and I pressed the button for the penthouse floor.

  I was worth more. I was worth a man giving me more than words and false sincerity. I deserved a chance to dive into whatever was happening with Reid.

  When the elevator slowed, my nerves spiked again. Each step was ghostly, like something else was driving my body closer. I reached out and knocked.

  A minute later, the door swung open and I blew out a breath of relief at the blonde wh
o answered. There were people, which meant no sex.

  Probably.

  “Who are you?” the blonde asked snidely.

  I was taken aback as all of Reid’s people had been super nice. Even Kiki with her protective edge wasn’t like the woman in front of me.

  “Um, hi. I’m Harper.”

  “Who?”

  “Reid is expecting me,” I explained.

  “No, he’s not.” She started to close the door, but I stepped forward.

  “Yes, he is,” I said as I attempted to move past her.

  She stepped in front of me, blocking the way. “You’re not getting in.”

  “Fine.” I pulled out my phone and texted Reid. The chick rolled her eyes and slammed the door in my face.

  Some bitch won’t let me through the door – Harper

  Once it was sent, I pulled the key Reid had given me from my back pocket and waved it in front of the door. Why that hadn’t occurred to me in the first place I blamed totally on my mini freak out. The click sounded, and I turned the handle and pushed the door open. Bitch’s eyes widened as she gasped in shock.

  “You fucking psycho! Deon, call security!” she called over her shoulder.

  I flashed the key at her. “You can’t open the door without a key, you stupid bitch.” Of all the things trying to keep me from him, she wasn’t going to be one of them.

  “I can’t believe you went that far, you fucking stalker,” she spat.

  “Excuse me?” I’d never been in a fight before, but if she kept it up, that could change.

  “Oh, damn. Reid, you better get out here,” the guy I was guessing to be Deon called out.

  “Why?” I heard him say from the bedroom area, and I watched him come out, pulling a T-shirt over his head. I was glued to his six-pack, how his muscles rippled with any movement.

  Sex with this man? Yes, please.

  “I will rip every hair from your scalp if you don’t get the fuck out of here,” the blonde spat, drawing my attention back to her.

  “Who the fuck said you could talk to my guest like that, Jenn?” Reid growled.

  The blonde’s eyes popped open and then suddenly morphed. “Reid, this girl tried to break into your room. I was only trying to stop her.” I nearly gagged at the bubbly fakeness of her voice. Talk about two-faced.

  Reid’s eyes narrowed on her. “Get out.”

  She whipped around to me, a wicked smile on her face. “You hear—”

  “I was talking to you, Jenn,” he interrupted her.

  She blinked at him. “What?”

  “Get. The. Fuck. Out.” He was pissed now. My thighs clenched at the sound, and I felt heat surge to my face when his eyes locked onto mine. The man did things to me without even trying. “Go back to your room and stay there until you can act like a fucking human.”

  She didn’t move, just stared at him. “Reid.”

  He stepped forward, into my personal space, and grabbed onto my waist. With a tug, I slammed against his chest. “Hi.”

  I smiled up at him. “Hi.”

  “I’ve got an hour laid out for just the two of us.”

  “That doesn’t seem nearly long enough.”

  “It’s not, but it’s what I have.” He turned and looked at the blonde who was staring at us. “You’re still here? Go to your room, Jenn.”

  “But—” she tried to say something, but Reid cut her off again.

  “Deon,” Reid called out. The man I’d marked as Deon stood and headed over. He was imposing and it only increased with each step.

  “Yes, sir,” Deon said.

  “Can you please escort Jenn out and revoke her access to my room?”

  Deon nodded. “Of course.”

  “Wait, you can’t do that,” she argued.

  “Says who?” Reid glared at her.

  I watch as Deon ushered the still-gaping blonde out the door. As soon as she was gone, Reid turned his attention back to me. “Now, where were we?”

  “Wow,” I said, still amazed by the way things had gone down.

  “Wow, what?”

  “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

  He laughed at that. “You don’t have to worry. She was already hanging by a thread, being clingy and possessive like I was going to fuck her the second we were alone and she could seduce me, which would have been never.”

  “That’s reserved for me,” I said in a low voice, hoping for confirmation.

  “Hell, yes.” He beamed at me.

  “Who is she? I mean, why do you keep her around?”

  “She won’t be anymore. It’s only been a week, and I’m fucking sick of her. The studio assigned her as an assistant for the movie.”

  “Studio-assigned assistant?” I asked.

  “She does the menial tasks that my assistant doesn’t have time for.”

  “Like?” I asked. His whole world was so new and interesting to me.

  “Get my protein shakes, grab something I left in the room. She’s a gopher.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Did you just call her a gopher?”

  “Yeah. Go. For.”

  “I seriously thought you just called her a rodent,” I said as the laugh left me.

  “My dad always twists words and sayings. I was chief gopher as a kid. Had the shirt and all.”

  “Pics or it didn’t happen.”

  He let out a laugh and pulled out his phone.

  “You have it on your phone?” I asked as I peeked over at his screen.

  “No, but I’ll have my mom find it.”

  I blinked at him. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  It seemed an awful lot to do just for me, some random woman.

  “Who is your normal assistant?” I asked, trying not to think too hard about a deeper meaning.

  “Oh, shit.” His eyes went wide like he’d forgotten something and turned his head. “Yo, Tre.”

  The dark-skinned man from across the room held up his finger as he typed furiously on his laptop and spoke into a bluetooth earpiece. After a minute, he finished up and walked over.

  “You’ve got makeup in thirty, and Josh wants to go over the argument scene again.”

  Reid nodded. “Okay. Now, say hi to Harper.”

  Recognition sparked in Tre’s eyes, and he gave me a wide smile and held out his hand. “Hey, nice to meet you, Harper. Someone can’t stop talking about you.”

  I shook his hand and gave a shy smile. “He’s not the only one.”

  “You can’t stop talking about you, too?”

  My eyes went wide. “N-no, I meant…” My face felt like it was on fire, and I avoided looking at Reid from embarrassment. “I can’t stop thinking about him either.” I shot a quick glance over to Reid, and my heart nearly exploded from the smile on his face.

  “Well, I said talking, but that’s about the same as thinking for Reid,” Tre said, ribbing his boss whose mouth was dropped open.

  “Really, man? I should fire you for that shit,” Reid said, but there was no malice in his tone.

  “I’d like to see you try,” Tre countered with a smirk, making it obvious it was a normal back and forth for them.

  “I could do it,” Reid argued.

  “Right. Keep telling yourself you could function without me. In the meantime, I’ll be over there organizing your shit show of a schedule.”

  “Speaking of, did you do it?” Reid asked.

  Tre nodded. “Yeah, you pain in the ass, it’s done.”

  “Thanks. We’re going to go upstairs.”

  Tre nodded in understanding. “Have fun.”

  Reid’s fingers caressed my palm before slipping between mine. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  He led us out into the hall and the elevator, but instead of pressing the button to go down, he pressed up. I hadn’t even noticed it as the penthouse button had been larger than the rest, but above that sat an R symbol. A short trip up, a few steps, and the concret
e walls opened up to a large rooftop deck. Plush outdoor couches were speckled around along with some glass tables. There was even a small pool, but it was closed.

  We walked up to the glass railing and leaned onto the edge. The drop wasn’t far, the upper deck only taking up a portion of the roof, so that was comforting.

  My mouth dropped open as I looked out at the awe-inspiring view. “Wow.” The entire strip could be seen, all the way down to the airport. The mountains circled all around, standing much taller than the roof we stood on.

  “Nice, isn’t it?” he asked.

  “Amazing. A perk of having the penthouse?”

  “Yep. Only the upper floors have access.”

  We stood there just looking out. A breeze blew by and a shiver rolled through me. Reid wrapped his arm around my shoulder and rubbed my arm to warm it.

  “You and Tre seem close.” The vibe was not the typical boss and employee.

  He nodded. “He’s been working for me for almost a decade. I trust him more than anyone else.”

  “I bet that’s a hard thing.”

  “It is. That’s why I have a tight circle.”

  “I’ve watched you throw two people out of your room,” I pointed out.

  “There’s my inner circle, and then there’s the outer circle. The inner circle wouldn’t pull some of this shit those two did. For one, the inner folks already know about you. They’re the people I trust the most and are closest to me in my life. They’re my ride or die.”

  “What do they know about me?”

  “About how I’m interested in this random chick I met in an elevator. They got a kick out of it.”

  My heart leapt at his interested comment, but I tried to play it off and not show my excitement. “Did you tell them your magnet story?”

  “Hell, yes. I’m using that as our official meeting.”

  Another gust of wind whipped by, and he guided us over to sit on one of the couches.

  While his room held a small handful of people, the day before had been bustling. “Do you normally travel with such an entourage?”

  He shook his head. “No. I had a little downtime over the weekend, so I brought some friends out for the opening. Everyone today is because they’re necessary.”

  “That’s a lot of necessity.” I’d counted at least three people, and only one had been one of the escorts when he found me in the casino.