by Tara Andrews
He held up a bottle. “Red okay?”
“Perfect.”
Blake inserted the corkscrew and opened the wine, his focus, though, on her. She stood out against the sophisticated décor. In a good way. A splash of color in the otherwise industrial glass and chrome of the suite. Vibrant. The style reminded him of his apartment in California: cool, no nonsense, clean. In comparison to Jill, the furnishings seemed lifeless.
He was long overdue for a change. And eager for it.
When Jill stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows to stare toward the downtown Manhattan skyline, the setting sun glowed around her. Fascinated, he joined her, handing her a glass of wine.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Are you hungry?” With food the last thing on his mind, he longed to ask what her expectations were for their evening together.
Jill shook her head. No food then.
Still, he saw no reason to rush things. They had all night—maybe longer if things worked out—for him to learn why Madame Eve paired him with Jill. “So, it seems strange not to ask you how you’ve been.” He took a sip of wine. “What have you been up to?”
The residual heat in her eyes drained away. Nothing like a little small talk to cool things down.
Chapter Three
“I would not have pegged you as the romantic type.” Jill’s smile kicked up his temperature as she eased back into the couch. Her dress rose up her thighs, exposing more creamy skin Blake itched to touch.
“What gave me away?”
“Dimmed lights, soft music.” She flicked a wrist left and right. “Releaser of inhibitions,” she added, holding up her wine.
Blake laughed, her teasing stirred hope and provided a promising relief at the same time. “Not what you expected?”
She shook her head. “Better.”
His temperature spiked again, but he resisted the urge to unbutton his shirt. “Why did you contact 1Night Stand?” He shouldn’t ask. But his curiosity got the better of him.
“That’s not fair.” She stiffened, though her tone remained light.
“You’re right.” He wanted to know, but not at the expense of her comfort. “Sorry.” His fingers reached down, unable to help himself. The contact with her skin sent instant yearning racing through his bloodstream.
She glanced toward his touch but did not move away. Approval lit her eyes. “Speaking of expectations,” she began, “am I what you expected?”
“No.” He shook his head. “But you’re exactly what I wanted.” He heard her quick intake of breath. No need to lie. Madame Eve had reached deep into his past, into long-forgotten dreams, and pulled out his fantasy woman. A woman he never thought he’d see again, let alone be given a chance with.
Before she offered a reply, he trailed his fingers across her shoulder and up her neck, his touch bold. He reached for her hair, and then allowed the soft strands to slip through his grasp.
Given the way Jill leaned toward him, they were moving past the getting-to-know-you part of the evening. She sighed and her eyes drifted close. He’d have to remember she liked to be petted.
He caressed her arm, laced their fingers together, and stood. She came to her feet without additional coaxing.
“Um. I’m a little….” Her voice shook, but she didn’t finish the sentence.
Blake stopped inside the bedroom then turned back to her. “A little what?”
Jill hesitated. Nerves wreaked such havoc on her body, she expected to jump out of her skin at any moment. Let alone her clothes. “Nothing.”
Blake released her, then stood in front of her. Reminiscent of earlier. “Well, I’m glad you’re here with me.” He reached out, and with a warm caress traced the V of her neckline.
She shivered despite the heat of his touch. “That’s good.”
“Yes, it is.” He moved behind her so his chest pressed against her back. Her pulse and her breath sped up. His smooth, light caress slid over her hips to her belly, bringing home the reality of the situation. Blake Anders wanted her. And, lord, she wanted him, too. “So beautiful,” he whispered.
Luckily, before she did something stupid like ruin the moment protesting his assessment, he swept her hair to one side and kissed the nape of her neck. She lost all train of thought, and her knees went weak. A gentle tug at the clasp, followed by the zipper’s soft whir. Cool air hit her back, but his hands moved inside her dress, heating her flesh in their wake as they traveled up to push the fabric off her shoulders. It caught at her waist after she pulled her arms free. He kissed the bared skin, sending shivers down her body. She resisted the urge to turn around, though she wanted to kiss him back. To taste him.
Don’t rush this. No one ever went to such length to seduce the clothes off her before.
He cupped her through the bra she’d spent twenty minutes picking out. The roughness of the pink lace served to heighten sensation as he gently massaged her breasts. She sagged against him, ready to melt into a puddle at his feet. Blake groaned, squeezing her nipples in what she perceived as a reward. Yes!
She had never before experienced such a deep connection with anyone. The way Blake maintained physical contact with her from the moment they entered the bedroom introduced a new level of intimacy. He grasped the dress around her waist, pushing it past her hips so it slid to the floor. As he did, his fingers teased, coming close to where she ached the most. A ripple—more like a tsunami—of desire stretched outward toward her head and toes. The decadence of being admired, seduced…appreciated, left her captivated. But when he grasped her ass and gave it a gentle squeeze, it sent a jolt through her system, breaking her daze.
“Turn around.” His roughened voice excited her. She complied.
He watched her with hungry eyes. Suddenly the night wasn’t just a dream come true, rather one long overdue.
As if in accord, they fell together, mouths meeting in a greedy kiss. Her arms tightened around his neck, and their mouths slammed together, his tongue diving in to dance with hers. His busy hands were everywhere. From her hair, over her back and sides to her bottom…. Oh, yes.
Then his lips were gone along with the heat of his body. Confused, she opened her eyes to find him watching her as he unbuttoned his shirt. She forgave him for the temporary interruption.
Conscious of standing there in her shoes and underwear, with her dress pooled at her feet, she stepped forward. He grinned and stopped his stripping when she moved to finish the job. She tried to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat in response to his soft expression. Far too private, and far too affectionate. After a single night with him; she couldn’t let herself become infatuated.
She peeled back the edges of his shirt as if opening a present. The sculpted chest she revealed, dusted with the right amount of hair, beat any gift she ever received. Her fingers itched to study and memorize the muscles of his pecs, the ribbed texture of his abdomen.
His eyes closed and his mouth tightened. The need to taste his skin had her closing in, her eyelids drooping. But before her mouth could reach its target he tugged on her hair. Her head fell back under his guidance and his lips were on hers. Wild. Demanding. He groaned a sound of pure pleasure into her mouth, which she matched with her own.
He shifted from foot to foot, kicking off his shoes. Then he worked the buckle and fastenings at his waist between them, brushing her bare stomach with his knuckles as he undressed. One night. One chance to fulfill all her needs. She forced herself to pull away, stepping backward to watch the show. His pants hit the floor, followed by the shirt.
An impressive man stood before her, the loose fabric of his boxers tented against evidence of his arousal. Her gaze lifted to his eyes and her breath faltered at the desire there.
Her legs hit the side of the bed and her knees buckled. She dropped to sit on the edge of the mattress. I’m so ready.
He strode toward her and braced his arms on either side of her. She whimpered, under the spell of his deep blue eyes, awash in the intimacy o
f the moment. Why had such a simple thing been missing from her life? Something to think about another time, not while what she craved stared at her like nothing else mattered. And when he kissed her again, the rest of the world faded away.
He guided her backward until the cool silk of the coverlet shocked her overheated body, but offered relief at the same time. His lips moved down her neck to her lace-covered breasts, clasping a nipple between his lips, sucking it into the wet warmth of his mouth right through the fabric. She arched her back, desperate for more. He tugged at her panties, and she lifted her hips to help. His fingers slid and explored before he slipped one inside, mimicking the motion she yearned for. “Yes,” he groaned returning to her mouth for another deep, consuming kiss.
Jill broke away, clarity coming from somewhere. “Condom?”
He released her to take a quick trip to his bag. When he returned, he flicked a silver packet up to stand between his fingers. She sighed with relief. The five seconds it took to roll the condom onto his impressive length lasted an eternity.
Blake hooked one of her knees over his arm and dragged her to the edge of the mattress, entering her in one swift thrust. She closed her eyes, absorbing the deliciousness of him inside her. His weight shifted and she opened them again in time to accept his kiss. He slid in all the way, pulled out, and drove back into her.
She moaned. Kept moaning. Each and every movement brushed against her throbbing clit. A tempting pressure built, urging her to let go. Her muscles tightened. Just a little longer. So close. She arched her back, gave in, and fell over the edge. All the while he maintained the same smooth rhythm, dragging her release out forever and at the same time not long enough.
When her body relaxed, his rhythm became harder, faster. Soon he groaned and tossed his head back. She lay watching him, thrilled he found such pleasure with her. Then his movements slowed and stopped.
Blake gazed down at her. His lips tipped upward on one side, his eyes bright and satisfied. Jill’s heart, once again, responded. She leaned up and kissed him, then shuddered and lay back, overwhelmed at the connection she felt, and scared.
Chapter Four
Jill took a sip of water then set the glass on the counter by the sink. Had she really thought a few moments in the bathroom would help her to compose herself? Who am I kidding? She didn’t need composure, she needed a reality check. All the freshening up in the world wouldn’t change the fact that in the morning she’d have to watch him walk away. She wasn’t doing herself any favors by wishing for more than one night. And, God help her, she did.
She pulled the terrycloth robe belt tight; the complimentary garment clearly made for a larger person. “Get a grip,” she told her reflection, leaning in closer to make sure her mascara held up. She couldn’t face Blake sporting raccoon eyes.
Straightening, she hit the empty glass with her baggy sleeve, sending it crashing to the floor. Jill leapt back as shards of glass scattered everywhere. “Crap!” She took another step away and a sharp jab of pain pierced her foot. “Ow.”
She spun at a rap on the door.
“Jill, is everything okay?”
“Yes…no.” When the bathroom door opened, she held up a hand. “Watch out, there’s glass everywhere.”
“Are you hurt?” He asked from the safety of the carpeted bedroom, wearing boxers and looking sexy as hell.
“I stepped on a piece. Be careful.”
He grabbed a towel and threw it on the floor. Using his foot he swept the glass under the counter. Then he laid another towel out and reached out to her. “Funny, you didn’t strike me as clumsy.” He laughed.
She gasped. “And I thought you were charming.”
“Charming? Me?” He lifted her by the hips and sat her on the counter. Then he knelt in front of her and took her foot in his palm. “Never.” He turned it this way and that. “It’s a small piece. You’re not going to cry if I take it out, are you?”
She stifled a grin, despite the sting. Nothing more charming than seeing him on his knees taking care of her little injury.
“I can do it.” She tried to pull away but he held tight.
“Did you pack a first aid kit?”
“No.” Why would she have brought bandages to a resort hotel? First aid never crossed her mind.
“Well, luckily, I always pack one.”
Of course he did…in addition to being a magnificent lover, he came prepared for any situation.
He left the room and came back in a flash, carrying a little black case. Brandishing a pair of tweezers he dropped to one knee and plucked the pea-sized fragment from her heel. It didn’t hurt at all. “It’s not bleeding too much,” he said, stroking her arch.
She tried not to melt into a puddle at his tender care of her. Most guys would have yelled from the other room, ‘You okay?’ But as nice as she found the gesture, it didn’t help the part of her that wanted more than a single night.
He wiped her sole with an antiseptic square from the kit and placed a Band-Aid on her heel. She didn’t have the heart to tell him as soon as she walked the Band-Aid was a goner. He squeezed her toes reassuringly before he leaned in and gave her little injury a peck of his lips.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He slid his palms up her legs, under the robe and to her hips. “But, I think you owe me now.”
“I do?”
Blake nodded. “Definitely,” he said, pushing the robe open.
She pushed at his shoulders until she could see his face. “What are you doing?”
“Nervous?” He guided her knee over his shoulder. Jill tensed at the extreme intimacy of the position. He nudged her to lean back a little, while pulling her bottom closer to the edge. “I want to taste you.”
She shuddered. Maybe she wasn’t normal, but she’d never found any pleasure being on the receiving end of oral sex. She could never relax enough. When his mouth brushed her mound, she wanted to cry at her inability to enjoy it. She braced for more, closing her eyes tight and clenching her fingers on the edge of the counter, but he stopped and rose to his feet. Pulling her close, he pressed his cheek against hers. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to, but you have to let me know.” He nibbled his way to her ear and scraped the lobe with his teeth.
She shivered and turned her face into his neck, placing a kiss there and inhaling the scent of him. “I want you to. More than anything,” she whispered. Begged the powers that be.
He pulled away, his expression serious as he ran a caressing hand over her hair. “Then I’m going to do my best to make sure you enjoy it.” He swept her up in his arms and strode into the bedroom where he dropped her onto the bed.
Jill laughed, some of her tension dissipating. He followed her down as she lay back, spreading her robe open as he did.
“That’s better.” He rested his weight on his arms, caging her in. She ran a lazy trail up each of his sides with her fingers before freezing at her boldness. “Feels good,” he murmured with his mouth against hers. “Don’t stop.”
She brushed her lips against his, beginning a kiss that was soft, tender, and her undoing. They were more than two people thrown together for a few hours. Blake took care of her and respected her uncertainties; nothing prepared her for that.
His kindness and willingness to let her take the lead, gave her the courage to give in to the moment. Allowed her to let go and trust him to help her overcome her reservations. Or, maybe, because she wanted every second with him to count, she offered no hesitation when at last he slid down her body.
This time she welcomed his mouth on her. She parted her legs, giving him silent permission to do whatever he pleased to her body. He pressed his lips to her inner thigh and settled onto the bed more. His arms slid under her legs and he pulled her closer, completely bare and vulnerable to his attentions.
His tongue offered a feather-like caress she strained toward. Then he brushed his lips against her core, his hair tickling her thighs as he moved his head back and forth. Ea
ch time his touch changed, a little bolder than before. By the time he stopped his patient preparation, she was eager for more. The soft swipe and swirl of his tongue, the gentle scrape of his teeth and feel of his lips on her drove her mad. Release remained out of reach. Please. Let it come. The pleasure continued to build until she feared relief would remain out of her grasp.
Then it snapped, the last of whatever resistance she maintained. A wave of pleasure rushed through her, over her. Dragging her under.
It took a tremendous amount of control for Blake not to explode as he rolled on a condom. Another second and he’d have lost it for sure. He sank into her as she trembled and clung to him in the aftermath of her orgasm. Slowly she began to move, her hips meeting each thrust of his hips. Her inner muscles grabbed on to him, coaxing his pleasure higher until his control snapped. His climax came over him, her name pried from his lips as he collapsed.
He didn’t move, and she didn’t push him away. Good, progress. He rested his forehead against hers and waited for his breathing to return to normal. He’d never been so aroused before. As if with her every step of the way, oddly in tune with her.
“Thank you,” she sighed.
Blake rolled off to the side. Jill turned and murmured something he didn’t understand. He chuckled. “You better not fall asleep on me.”
She shook her head. “I won’t.” But her eyes were already closed.
Chapter Five
Showered and wearing a pair of boxers, Blake climbed back into bed. As predicted, Jill had drifted off within seconds of her denial. But letting her sleep for a while might be his only chance to appear more than a sex crazed maniac.
