UNPLUGGED: a standalone novel

by LK Collins

  “Oh, man, you better close the Serrano deal, or your old man is gonna lose it.”

  “How much you think it’d cost to hire a hit man?” I ask him jokingly.

  We both laugh, and I tell him, “In all seriousness, I think I saved the deal. They’re gonna answer me in the morning.”

  “You mean you stole it from me?”

  “Fuck you; you stole it from me.”

  We both laugh and he says, “So I heard you saw Quinn.”

  “She call you?”

  “Yup, all worked up and shit.”

  “You should’ve warned me that she worked in that building.”

  “I’m busy, man, I don’t have time to worry about who works where and cross-reference it by your oh-so-important schedule.”

  “Shut up, bitch!”

  “So did you hit it again, get in a good nooner?”

  “No, and now she’s being all bitchy about seeing me.”

  “Who cares? She’s been hurt. You know how women are. Don’t give up on her…that’s what she’s expecting.”

  Hanging up with Ari, I never imagined he could make so much sense. I dial Quinn’s number, and she answers, “Did you seriously hang up on me?”

  “No way,” I lie. “My cell phone died, and I just got it turned back on.”

  “You really didn’t hang up?”

  “Nope. So what are you wearing?”

  “Merritt!” she scolds me.

  The alcohol urges me on, making me very brave. This is where we first connected—sex. If I can make her see how good we are together, even through the phone, maybe I can convince her to give things with us a shot.

  “I get that you don’t want to see me.”

  “It’s not that. I’m…I’m scared to be alone with you. Just being in the elevator today was a lot.”

  “Do you trust me?” I ask her, the same way I did when I blindfolded her.

  “Yes, you know I do.”

  “Good, now go into your bedroom and take your clothes off.”

  She doesn’t answer me, and I imagine her standing there stark naked, her soft white skin, alluring and tempting. Wanting to be touched.

  “I’m naked.”

  I get undressed myself and say to her, “Look in the mirror.”

  “Why?”

  “Trust me.”

  “‘Kay.”

  “Do you see that freckle on your right side, next to your tit?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to close your eyes and imagine my lips on it.” She’s breathing hard, and I grab my cock, knowing I could come at any moment, but I’ll wait for her.

  “Can you feel my lips?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Good, now, touch yourself.”

  “Oh God, Merritt,” she moans, and I have to let go of my dick. I close my eyes, listening to her ragged breathing and hope she sees how good we are together, how fucking well our bodies react to one another’s.

  “Tell me what you’re doing,” I command her.

  “Touching myself. I just laid down on my bed.”

  “I bet you wish my cock was inside you, huh?”

  “God, yes.”

  “Mmm, keep pleasing yourself, baby.”

  “Jesus, I wanna come. Will you come with me?”

  “No…” I respond, and she gets eerily quiet.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m saving it for the next time I’m inside your sweet cunt. Good night, Quinn.”

  Chapter 23

  Quinn

  Reading the clock on my nightstand as it changes from 2:16am to 2:17am, I haven’t fallen asleep yet. All I have been doing is tossing and turning all night, my mind fighting with my body, the two wanting completely different things.

  After Merritt and I messed around earlier and he teased me and then basically left me hanging by a thread, my body is a jumbled mess. I need to see him, even though I shouldn’t. I want him one more time…but it’s such a bad idea.

  Shutting my eyes, I fight with my brain to be quiet and hope this time I can fall asleep. But all I hear is his voice and the way he coaxed me on.

  Fuck, it seems hopeless, the clock still reads 2:17am. On my nightstand is the keycard for his hotel. I pick it up, spinning it around and around in my fingers. Then, I drop it and get up, hoping that maybe a bath will tire me out.

  After soaking for what feels like an eternity, it doesn’t help a thing. If anything, I feel even more awake. As I slip my sweat pants on, my clit is still twitching for him, and I’ve made my mind up. I need to go to him; I need to figure out the reason for this constant pull. Maybe one last time together will stop it. Slipping on my boots and coat, I leave.

  I decide not to call him, what is the point of that? I have a key after all. Hell, maybe he’s with someone else like a typical traveling man would be and walking in on it would make me be done with him in an instant.

  Getting into my car, it’s cold and takes a few minutes to warm up. On the drive, there is literally no one out on the roads.

  The drive is short, and I park my Jeep on the street outside of his hotel, then make a dash inside. The old eclectic décor seems to span from floor to ceiling. I’ve never actually been inside of this place. Looking for the elevators, I spot them, right as the desk clerk looks at me with a curious expression.

  I guess it could be because I am wearing sweatpants and pretty much look like a cute hobo. I press the call button and instantly the doors open. Taking the car up to the fifth floor, I’m reminded of the interaction that Merritt and I had in the elevator earlier in the day. He was so domineering, the way he kissed me on the cheek, so close to my lips, like I was his, and held my hand while he pressed his body right along mine, ignoring everyone else sharing the space.

  The doors open to the fifth floor and my palms are sweaty, not really sure what I’m about to walk in on.

  Room 503 is at the end of the hall. As I stand in front of it, I listen for any sounds or noises, but there aren’t any. Placing the key into the door, it flashes green, and I remove it.

  I open the door and look around the dim hotel room. The TV is on some infomercial which is illuminating Merritt’s sexy, naked body.

  He’s alone, just like I hoped he would be.

  Quietly, I close the door and latch the lock, then take my coat and boots off, leaving them by the door. Walking to the bed, I sit on the edge of it, taking everything in. There’s a half-drunk bottle of whiskey next to him on the nightstand. He must still be naked from when we messed around earlier on the phone.

  Maybe this entire time, everything that I’ve been worrying about shouldn’t be a worry. Deep down, I really don’t think he’s like other guys. He could have any girl in the world. Look at him: perfect body, gorgeous face, huge cock, and he wants me.

  Sitting this close to him and not touching him is driving me crazy. Getting up, I strip naked, all the while my eyes are on his dick. Then I hover over him, pressing his dick against my pussy as I brush my hair to the side and lean down kissing him.

  “You came,” he says against my mouth and stretches, pushing his cock against me. His eyes are still closed, but he knows it’s me.

  I kiss him again, and he knots his fingers into my hair and flips us over, his tired eyes finally waking. I relinquish all of my control, giving over to him, forgetting about all of my worries and reservations.

  “Tell me you want me,” he brushes his nose against mine.

  “You fucking know I do.”

  “Tell me, Quinn.”

  “I want you, Merritt. I want you inside me, I want you to—”

  “Like this?”

  I gasp as his hard shaft fills me. He pushes more and more into me, burying himself as deep as he can. With my legs held around him, I hold our bodies close, and neither of us moves.

  The thudding of his heart pulsating through the tip of his dick makes me want to come. I wiggle my hips, and he begins to pump, both of us getting lost…carried away in the most amazingly intense
orgasms ever.

  That’s all it took was our connection, and we are dangling from a cloud of bliss, falling…together.

  My throat is tight as I search for air, and for the first time with him, I don’t hold back. My noises aren’t quiet. I whine loudly, his thick shaft coming inside of me as we give over to the pleasure.

  “Yes! Get loud, baby.”

  He slams my pussy, our eyes locked on each other’s as he now braces his weight above me. Our pleasure ends, but our bodies stay together. Merritt isn’t in a hurry to move. Pulling the messy covers over us, he stays nestled inside of me and asks me, “Please stay with me.”

  I trail my fingernails up and down the rigid muscles of his back, sleep already invading me and I fight it, not wanting to drift off. Because I’m reminded it won’t be long until our time together has to, yet again, come to an end.

  Chapter 24

  Merritt

  Getting dressed so I can head to the airport, Quinn is fast asleep, I hate to wake her, but I can’t just leave her. Last night was amazing, and I don’t want to go, but if I’ve learned anything when it comes to dealing with Quinn, it’s to give her space.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed the way I did so often in Steamboat, I watch her. She awakes from the weight of my body and yawns. “Why are you all dressed?” she asks.

  “I have a flight to catch in about an hour.”

  “No, already?”

  “Yes, I told you my flight left early today.”

  “Don’t go,” she begs me, wrapping her arms around me and resting her face on my thigh.

  “I have to, plus you have work to do today, remember?”

  “I can do it tomorrow. Please stay.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, it’s Saturday and you don’t have to go into work until Monday and…oh, I have tickets to the Nuggets game tonight. Come with me—you love basketball.”

  “Are you bribing me?” I ask her, and she nods, then unzips my pants and takes my cock out. The feeling of her hand alone makes me stiff as a rock.

  “Don’t do that,” I tell her, knowing if she starts with me, I won’t be able to leave her.

  “Stay,” she says and goes down on me. Leaning back, resting my weight on my forearms, I watch her mouth, her sweet goldmine of a mouth stretched so wide as she puts it to good use.

  Fire radiates from my head to my toes. I sit still, letting her have all the control and hope if I stay, this could be the beginning of us.

  My cum is close, and I hold on to it, fighting the feeling, not wanting her to know what she can do to me so quickly. The control she has over me is unreal…but she pulls it out of me. Taking my pleasure as if it were her own.

  When she pulls her mouth away, the first thing she says to me is, “So you’re staying?”

  “Maybe, but if I do, what does it mean for us?” I ask her.

  “What do you want it to mean?”

  “Quinn, you know I like you, and I get that you’ve been through some shit, so I understand why your heart is guarded, but I want you to realize you don’t have to guard it with me. I’m not going to hurt you…ever.”

  “I want to believe you. That’s why I’m here, and I want you to stay longer. I don’t know what the future holds, hell…no one does, but what I do know is, if I keep guarding myself and living like I have, then I might push away the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m sorry, I just feel like my brain is all over the place.”

  “It’s all right, just be honest with me.”

  She smiles at me and says, “I’m scared if you stay, but… I’m even more scared if you go.”

  “Then I’ll stay, and we’ll just spend the weekend together, okay?” I ask her, and she nods, agreeing. “Good, will you hand me my phone, please?”

  She gives it to me and walks off to the bathroom as I email my assistant, Suzy, asking her to book me a later flight.

  “So, you’re taking me to the Nuggets game?” I ask her as she uses the restroom.

  “I am—courtside seats too.”

  “Wow, how did you score those?”

  “My boss owed me for working on a deal over the weekend.”

  “I’ll be sure to send a thank you myself. You hungry?” I ask her as she struts back into the bedroom, stark naked.

  “I could eat.”

  “No, fuck that. I’m not taking your sexy ass out. I’m gonna make you my sex slave.”

  “A hungry sex slave is not a happy sex slave.”

  “Okay, true. So is there anywhere around here to eat?”

  “Yeah, there are a few good places, but I only have sweats to wear and you…well, you have that suit.”

  “I love your sweats. Let’s go. Time is gonna fly by.” I smack her ass, and she scurries to get dressed. When she is finished and looks back at me wearing a thin long-sleeved t-shirt and a red pair of sweatpants, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look more beautiful.

  ***

  After breakfast, we stopped back by Quinn’s so she could shower and change. I didn’t think she needed to, but I get that she wanted to. Sitting on her couch, I love her place—it’s so perfectly her. I notice a stack of paperwork that must be for her work, and I ask her, “So what is it that you actually do for a living?”

  “I manage people’s money. We invest in all sorts of things, from the safest of the safe to the riskiest investments. Do you have your money with a firm?” she asks me.

  “No, I have it in the bank, with FDIC insurance covering it.”

  “You should look into your options to even make a little return on what you have sitting there. I mean, I won’t do it, not after my last experience, but I can refer you to some good companies.”

  “What happened, like for real?” I ask her, really wanting to know how things went so wrong with her ex.

  “The story is so complicated; I’m not even sure where to start.”

  “The beginning.”

  “Uhhh, God, this is so weird to be telling to you. Um, I met him out one night, having a drink with co-workers. At the end of the night, we hooked up. I left my card on the hotel nightstand, and he contacted me for business purposes. When he came in, I realized who he was and long story short, I signed him to my company. From there it was a whirlwind of a romance, until one day, he was done with me.”

  “So why did it end? Why was he done with you? He’d have to be crazy in my book to end things.”

  “He just broke it off, out of the blue, for really no good reason that I could see. It made me feel like there was something wrong with me.” Tears fill her eyes, the pain of going back there evident and I don’t want to see her upset. “I should’ve known meeting him at a bar that it wouldn’t be anything long-term, but I fell for him…like I always do.” Pulling her into my arms, I hold her close. “Well, I’m happy it didn’t work out because it gave us a chance.” She tenses in my hold, and I can tell that I’m pushing things, so I drop it.

  She doesn’t say another word, and I fear that in the back of her mind, she thinks I will end up feeling the same way. That I’ll hurt her like her ex did…but I wouldn’t. Because for me, there’s nothing that could make me want to leave her in the first place…ever.

  Chapter 25

  Quinn

  “Do you ever wish you’d stuck with basketball?” I ask Merritt as we sit on the side of the court before the game begins. The players are all practicing shooting and doing drills.

  “Now that’s a loaded question.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Have you ever dreamt of doing something, but knew deep down it was too much of a long shot?”

  “I’ll have to think about that one.”

  Then he says, “Well, for me, that was basketball. It was my life-long dream. I had scouts visiting me in high school, colleges were lined up, and I was ready to take the leap. Duke had offered me a full ride. But at the end of the day, I had a choice to make, and my father is very persuasive. He made it hard for me to say no to him.”

 
“But you wanted to play basketball more, right?”

  “I did, but he offered me more money than I was likely to get in the NBA, and I didn’t have the risk of getting a career-ending injury. He also promised me the company when he retires.”

  “But that wasn’t your dream?”

  “No, it wasn’t. But, I’ve adapted and grown to love my work.”

  “Merritt, that’s like marrying the wrong person because your parents want you to. When you know, it’s wrong. How could you be truly happy?”

  “Now, now, Dr. Phil, let’s not get carried away—no one’s getting married.”

  He tosses his arm over my shoulder, and I lean into him, hating how terrible of a person his father seems to be. What kind of parent would take away their child’s hopes and dreams for their own benefit?

  “You want another beer?” he asks me as the beer vendor walks by.

  “Sure.”

  He orders us two more, and the game begins. I love how into everything he is. Yelling and screaming, able to call fouls and plays like a coach would. All the while his hand is bracing my thigh, squeezing tighter and tighter, making my pussy wet and my body so horny.

  It’s just too bad that he’s not one of the players, ‘cause he should be. I can see the pure love for the game that lives inside of him. No matter what his dad does or what career he chose, nothing will ever take that away.

  ***

  “You owe me a hundred bucks,” he tells me as we leave the Nuggets game.

  “You know…I blame Ari for that; he’s the one who makes us always bet.”

  “You can blame Jesus for all I care, but you shook on it, so you still owe me.”

  “Can I pay it off in sexual favors?”

  “What does one get for a hundred dollars these days?”

  “I don’t know; we can probably ask that girl.” And I point to a slutty looking woman on the corner of the street that we can see through the windows as we ride the escalator down. She looks like she’s out working.

  Both of us laugh as we emerge into the chilly winter night. Walking to my car, I can’t seem to get there fast enough, and Merritt is right along with me, holding my hand tightly. “Fuck it’s cold.”