Her breath caught and her eyes darkened at his frank, sexual dialogue and very intimate touch. “Matthew . . .”
He liked the way his name sounded on her lips, a soft, sweet plea that let him know she was his for the taking. When the time came. “But first, we’ll take it slow and easy and work our way up to that particular fantasy,” he said, and let his hands settle on the feminine curve of her waist. “Pull off my boot, sweetheart.”
Regaining her composure, she tugged hard on the heel, and the tight-fitting shoe slowly eased right off his foot. She grinned at him, looking amazed at her efforts. “Hey, that really did work well!”
He chuckled. “Of course it did. The view was just an added bonus for me.”
She helped him remove his other boot and put both of them in the rental box. Then he stood, slipped the suspenders down his arms and let the bulky, red velvet trousers drop to the floor. Her gaze flickered down the length of him, taking in his snug boxer briefs that outlined every detail of his solid erection.
He reached for his jeans and stepped into them. “If you don’t quit staring at me like that, there’s no way I’ll be able to zip up my pants and walk out of here without being accused of indecent exposure.”
A light shade of pink swept across her cheeks. “Sorry,” she said, not sounding apologetic at all for checking him out.
Shaking his head in amusement, and despite his own discomfort, he did his best to fasten the front of his jeans. “There’s something I want to ask you,” he said, switching the mood from sexy and frisky to something more serious. He needed to know what was going through her head as far as he was concerned, which would give him a better idea of what he was ultimately up against with her. “You’ve been turning me down for the past six months. What made you change your mind about me?”
Faith mulled over his question for a quick moment, deciding how to best answer it. “I’ve been turning you down, yes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”
“Which makes your request all the more intriguing,” he murmured, and covered that broad, muscled chest of his with a beige cable-knit sweater.
She shrugged her shoulders and strove for a nonchalant attitude. “Maybe it’s a simple matter of wanting each other—”
“And getting it out of our systems?” he finished for her.
Hearing her thoughts coming from his lips, she had to admit that her plan had a shallow ring to it. Then again, she was being honest with him, and their agreement thus far was all about mutual pleasure, nothing more. “Sure. Why not?”
He stared at her, his gaze direct and intense. “And you think one night together is going to accomplish that?”
There was a wealth of doubts in his statement that surprised her, yet she had to remain firm. One night would have to be enough, because anything more would mean involving her heart and emotions, and she wasn’t willing to risk that part of herself with him, knowing they had no real future together.
Beyond their attraction, he was way out of her league socially, and she’d already traveled down that road with Martin. She was a simple elementary school teacher who lived modestly, and from what she knew of Matthew Carlton, he’d grown up in a very wealthy, privileged household. And apparently, judging by his broken engagement and the slew of women he’d dated, he wasn’t looking for anything long term or permanent.
Well, neither was she, she reminded herself determinedly.
“That’s all I’m asking for, Matthew. I wouldn’t think my request would be a problem for you.”
A slight frown etched his brows. “And why is that?” he asked, obviously interested in hearing her explanation.
She leaned against the wooden table behind her that employees used for their meal breaks and braced her hands on either side of her hips. “You do have a certain reputation around here at the hospital for being quite the ladies’ man.”
“Trust me, that reputation is highly over-rated,” he muttered, seemingly very bothered by her perception of him.
She regarded him speculatively. “Are you denying that you’ve dated some of the nurses in this hospital and all of them on a short term basis?”
“No. I’ve gone out with a few of them, all on casual, friendly dates.” He shrugged, as if the time he’d spent with those women was insignificant. “Nothing serious at all, but that’s by choice, and the women knew that up front.”
“Exactly.” Those same women had shared intimate details of those dates, fueling the gossip around the hospital about Matthew’s notorious reputation. “And I’m letting you know that I respect your rules, because I’m not looking for anything serious, either.”
He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture reflecting the sudden frustration she saw flitting across his expression, though she had no idea what had him so bothered when she was willing to make their affair as uncomplicated as possible between them.
“One night is all I want,” she told him again, her tone adamant.
That brief moment of discontent faded, and his mouth quirked into a slow, sexy smile that tightened her nipples and made her melt inside, despite her convictions. “Okay, I’ll agree to that,” he said. “For now.”
A contradictory statement if she ever heard one. His gaze glimmered with ulterior motives as he slowly stepped toward her, and her heart beat wildly in her chest as he grasped her waist and pushed her back against the table, giving her no choice but to sit on the hard wooden surface.
“Umm, what are you doing?” she asked curiously, though she wasn’t at all opposed to whatever he had in mind. Not when her body was already humming in keen anticipation.
“Something I’ve been wanting to do for months now.” Splaying his palms against her knees, he pushed her legs wide apart so he could move in between and her thighs bracketed his lean hips.
A slow, insidious ache spread through her limbs, a need so strong it nearly overwhelmed her. A need as hot as the wanting that blazed like blue fire in Matthew’s eyes. “And what’s that?” she asked breathlessly.
The grin that eased up the corner of his sensual mouth was pure, unadulterated male. “I want to see how well we fit together.”
CHAPTER THREE
Matthew had no doubt that their bodies would be a perfect match, that physically they’d complement one another flawlessly. But this moment was all about giving Faith a preview of what was to come. A bit of foreplay to increase the hunger already smoldering between them, and show her just how amazing making love was going to be . . . his reputed reputation be damned.
Cupping her bottom in his palms, he pulled her forward and pressed the hard ridge beneath the fly of his jeans against her sex. A moan slipped from her throat, and if it wasn’t for their clothing, he would have been inside her by now. Deep inside her. Mindlessly lost in the softness and heat of her body.
Pushing that erotic image from his mind, he framed her jaw in his hands, lowered his head, and nibbled delicately on her plump lower lip. “I want to see how compatible our mouths are, and I want to taste you deep inside,” he whispered in between soft nips of his teeth and the lazy, coaxing stroke of his tongue. “I want to feel your breasts against my chest, your belly against mine, and your legs wrapped tight around my waist.”
“Yes,” she breathed and parted her lips for him, offering him everything he asked for. Everything he craved. Her passion. Her desire. Her heat.
With a raw, primal groan, he slid his hand into the silky mass of her hair, tilted her head, and angled her mouth beneath his for a deeper, more satisfying possession. His tongue delved into the honeyed warmth of her mouth as he kissed her hotly, greedily, thoroughly. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of her sweater top, and he groaned once again when his fingertips encountered soft, baby-smooth skin. Skimming higher, he traced the undersides of her full breasts, then enclosed a taut mound in his hand and kneaded the generous, female flesh. The fabric of her bra was thin and insubstantial, all satin and sheer lace, enabling him to roll and pluck her taut nipple between his fingers.
Her breathing deepened, and she slid her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, a little wild and a whole lot needy. She arched into his touch, causing her breasts to crush against his chest and their bellies to brush and align. When she hooked her long, slender legs around his hips and rocked against his stiff cock, it was all he could do not to come right then and there in his too tight jeans.
Knowing things were spiraling way out of the realm of his control, and quickly, he pulled his mouth from hers, reluctantly released her lush breast, and buried his face against her throat. She smelled so good, so sweet and deliciously feminine, and he couldn’t stop from taking a soft bite from her neck.
She gasped, and he soothed the sting with the damp stroke of his tongue, then nuzzled the soft underside of her jaw. “God, that kiss was so worth waiting for.” She was worth waiting for, and his goal was to prove that to her over the course of the next twenty-four hours.
“Umm, yes, that was very, very nice,” she agreed, her voice a sultry purr of sound as her palms slid lazily over his shoulders and down to his chest.
He was tempted to strip off his cable-knit sweater and t-shirt, just so he could feel her hands stroking his bare flesh. But here in the nurse’s lounge wasn’t the place, and they’d already lingered longer than he’d intended.
“There’s a whole lot more where that kiss came from,” he promised, and lifted his head.
He met her gaze, saw the unquenched desire in her eyes, and a reciprocating heat washed over him in waves. “I want this evening to be special and memorable for you. A night you’ll never forget.” A night that would hopefully change her opinion of him and open her eyes to what was truly between them.
Her lips, damp and puffy from their shared kisses, lifted into a slumberous smile. “I want that, too.”
“In order for me to give you that night to remember, I need some time to get a few things taken care of.” He tenderly brushed back a wayward strand of hair from her cheek and grazed his thumb along her jaw. “Do you mind waiting for me in the children’s ward for say, about an hour?”
“An hour and no more,” she said sassily, then leaned forward and took his mouth in a kiss that staked a sensual, mind-blowing claim on him.
#
Less than an hour later, Faith found herself sitting in Matthew’s Lexus Coupe as he maneuvered the sporty vehicle into the circular drive in front of Chicago’s St. Claire Hotel and Spa, an elegant, five-star establishment that was known for its opulence and extravagant amenities. Matthew came to a stop at the curb, and a valet was immediately there, opening the passenger door and offering his hand to help her from the car.
She stepped out onto the sidewalk, pulled her winter coat closer around her body to ward off the chill in the December air, and stared in awe at the beautiful architecture of the old building. The exterior of the hotel was gilded in gold accents and adorned with lavish Christmas decorations and an abundance of twinkling lights, and as she glanced around and took in the rich look of the hotel’s guests, she couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by the excessive wealth surrounding her.
Matthew came around the front of the car and met up with her on the sidewalk carrying a small leather duffle bag, and an easy going smile in place. “Have you ever been to the St. Claire before?”
She shook her head, though he was obviously very comfortable in such a luxurious environment. “No. A place like this isn’t exactly within my vacation budget,” she said wryly. “What are we doing here?”
With a hand pressed against her lower back, he guided her toward the double doors leading to the lobby, which a doorman promptly opened for them. “This is where we’re spending the night.”
Stunned, her jaw nearly hit the floor as two things registered at once. First, that he was actually going to pay the astronomical price they charged for a room. And secondly, he was giving her the entire night together, until the next morning, sleeping in the same bed, when she’d only expected a handful of pleasurable hours with him.
Oh, wow.
She glanced up at his face, struck anew by just how good looking he was, how astonishingly sexy and confident. And for the moment, for the night, this incredibly man was all hers, and she decided that she was going to enjoy him and everything else about their short time together. Including their stay at the St. Claire. “You sure do know how to dazzle and spoil a woman, don’t you?”
He winked at her. “You haven’t seen anything yet, sweetheart. Before the night is over, you’ll feel completely and totally pampered.”
Silently admitting she liked the sound of that, she looped her arm through his and whispered in his ear, “And seduced, I hope.”
“Oh, yeah, seduced and sated,” he said, his tone positively sinful.
Faith stood by his side as he checked in at the registration desk and mentioned the reservations he’d made an hour ago. It was then that she realized what those “things” were that Matthew had mentioned to her in the lounge that he needed to take care of. At the time, she’d briefly wondered if he had another date he needed to cancel to spend the evening with her, and was relieved to find out that he was merely a man who liked to plan things and be prepared.
Staying in a hotel was the ideal arrangement for their tryst, as well. It eliminated the intimacy of having him in her apartment, or her in his male domain. In the morning they’d part ways, no muss, no fuss, and no evidence of their night together to deal with once they checked-out.
Yes, it was the perfect plan, except she realized she didn’t have an overnight bag with her, and he did. As soon as they’d secured their room key and were walking across the lavishly decorated lobby, she said, “Matthew, I don’t have a change of clothes, or toiletries—”
“Trust me, you’re not going to need much,” he said before she could finish, the intimate insinuation threading through the tone of his voice quickening her pulse. “And what necessities you do need, I’ve got covered.”
Before she could argue, he steered her into the hotel’s boutique, a specialty shop that offered guests everything from men and women’s casual and formal wear, to jewelry, to accessories and even high priced gifts and collectibles. She immediately felt out of her element and overwhelmed by the high-priced items.
Matthew smiled at her, oblivious to her sudden discomfort. “I hope you don’t mind, but before you and I head up to our room, I have a few last minute Christmas gifts I need to buy, and I was hoping you could help me pick out a few things for my sister, Tracy.”
“Me?” she exclaimed incredulously. “I don’t even know your sister.”
That didn’t seem to be an issue for him as he led her over to the women’s section of the boutique. “Let’s see. She’s twenty two, the baby of the family, and a senior at Yale who’s home for the Christmas holiday. She’s about your size, maybe an inch or two shorter, her taste runs to the more modern than traditional, and she loves the color purple.”
Faith rolled her eyes at him. “I still don’t know her well enough to judge what she’d like.” And no way did she want to be responsible for any kind of gift he bought at these outrageous, over-inflated prices.
“Okay, then how about your opinion, from a woman’s point of view?” he suggested, and selected a designer purse from a nearby shelf and showed it to her. “What do you think of this?”
The four hundred dollar price tag flashed in front of Faith’s eyes, and her heart nearly stopped in her chest. She was certain Matthew didn’t want to know what she thought of a purse that cost more than her monthly car payment. Luckily the approach of a woman—a saleslady Faith assumed—saved her from responding.
“Hey, Dr. Carlton,” the beautiful, sophisticated blonde said in a friendly, bemused greeting. “How have you been?”
Matthew put the purse back on the display and smiled fondly at the other woman. “I’ve been great, Ash.” He kissed the woman’s cheek affectionately, then made introductions. “Ashley, this is Faith Roberts. Faith, Ashley St. Claire. The St. Claire�
��s are long time friends of the family.”
Oh, yes, she was most definitely way out of her league, Faith thought. “It’s nice to meet you.” She shook Ashley’s hand, and instantly felt enveloped in a gracious and friendly warmth that dispelled a bit of her insecurities.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Ashley smiled from Faith back to Matthew, her eyes sparkling inquisitively. “I haven’t seen you in a while. What brings you by?”
“Last minute Christmas gifts,” he said, waving a hand over the display of women’s accessories and keeping his explanation for their presence as discreet as possible, which Faith appreciated. “I didn’t want to fight the crowds down on Michigan Ave., and I remembered how much my mother and Tracy love the stuff here.”
Matthew glanced back at Faith and gently squeezed her hand. “Would you excuse us for a moment?” he asked her. “I have some business I need to discuss with Ashley.”
“Sure. Go ahead. I’ll be right over here looking at the collectibles.” And keeping her hands to herself, because she wasn’t about to test the “you break, you buy” policy.
With her fingers clasped behind her back, Faith pretended interest in a collection of crystals and prisms while watching Matthew and Ashley out of the corner of her eye. His dark head was bent close to hers, their voices too low for her to decipher. Ashley looked her way a few times, nodded at something he said, and made some kind of reply of her own. When Matthew gestured toward the women’s section of the boutique, Faith decided to let them have their conversation . . . privately, without her trying to figure out what they were talking about.
As she continued to gaze at the crystals, she found herself drawn to a three dimensional prism. The multitude of cuts were striking, enabling the overhead lights to catch on the many facets, which sent shards of rich, brilliant colors against the wall and ceiling.
Guilty Pleasures: A Collection of 3 Super Sexy Novellas Page 12
