Now to figure out how the hell to apologize in the morning.
Chapter Five
Stasia glanced at the clock. One in the morning. Staring at the ceiling was less depressing than watching the minutes tick by.
Everyone else in Vegas was probably still out and about, having a glorious time. She was lying in a king-sized bed, all alone, in the suite of the most ridiculously sexy man she’d ever met. When he’d stripped off his pants, it was all she could do not to rush over, drop to her knees, and lick the skin of his Adonis belt. Did Evan have an ounce of fat on him anywhere? She’d almost crushed the champagne flute as desire had rushed through her.
The other women in his life probably would have done exactly what she’d imagined. There wouldn’t have been a moment’s hesitation. It was the kind of thing he’d come to expect from women, but she hadn’t been able to do it. The instant she thought about it, all she saw were those other, perfect-looking women on their knees in front of him. She couldn’t be that. Not in the boldness category or the body. Paul had told her so often enough that she couldn’t pretend otherwise, no matter how she fought against the reminders.
But then Evan had been behind her, lips dancing on her neck while he offered, in no uncertain terms, to make her night unforgettable. To make her feel like she was beautiful.
And she’d freaked.
God, she wanted to smack herself. Even if there were no real feelings coming from Evan, how had she passed up acting on her attraction to him? She’d lured him in with the damn game of pool, and he’d played along even when she revealed that she was a much better player than she’d let on. Clearly, he wanted something to happen, too. But after Paul had proved their marriage had been nothing but a farce, she couldn’t tell up from down with Evan.
Fake engagement.
Real flirting.
Fake kisses for the paparazzi that felt real.
Champagne and strawberries.
So, what was the moment in the other room? Real or fake or just horn-dog male coming on to the only pair of boobs in the room?
She hated that she felt the need to question it. Hated even more that she’d been so terrified of finding out she’d run from Evan in the first place. Hated most that she felt so unworthy if he was actually attracted to her.
Now, here she was, lying in bed, wide awake and staring at the stupid ceiling.
She blinked.
Why the hell was she just lying here? The answer, assuming he hadn’t left after her freak-out, was in the next room.
Sitting up on the bed, she felt around for the clothes she’d flung off when she came in. Instead of her shirt, she found the button-down Evan had forgotten on the bed. She’d left it where it was, liking the way it smelled of his cologne. Drawing it to her face, she inhaled deeply, shivering as her body responded. No matter what else, she had to stop denying she wanted him. The stupid rule she’d put in place about no more sex was just that—stupid. It was only bound to drive her crazy in the long run if she tried to stick to it.
Not wanting to forget her newfound certainty, she slipped her arms into the shirt, wrapping herself in the scent of him.
The main room was dark when she cracked open the door. Light from the Strip cast it in a multicolored, otherworldly glow. Instead of on the sofa, Evan had made up his bed on the floor behind it—away from the windows and lights. One arm was thrown casually over his head, the other stretched out next to him. Stasia bit her lip and toyed with the sleeves of his shirt as she made her way across the room.
I can do this. Really. I can be the kind of girl he’s used to if I can put all my doubts in some deep, dark corner.
It wasn’t until she knelt next to him that she noticed the sweatpants he’d worn earlier were still draped over the back of the couch. Memories of the way he’d pressed against her surged to the surface of her mind as she inched the blanket up in order to curl next to him.
With a sharp intake of breath, Evan woke, his gaze immediately focusing on her. “Am I dreaming?”
At least it wasn’t a what the hell are you doing. Stasia didn’t move, her original plan shattered by him waking up so quickly. She had to remind herself that she’d come out here for this purpose or else she might have run straight back to the bedroom. “Only if I am, too.”
“Then this is one of the best dreams ever.” His brows furrowed, and he touched the hem of the shirt. “Mine?”
“Yes. I—” She what? Wanted him so much she needed to wear a piece of him?
“I like it on you.” His hand slid under the fabric, and she flinched. Freezing, he waited until she met his eyes. “Am I reading you wrong, Stasia? Because say the word, and I’ll back off.”
“No.” She blew out a shaky breath. “You’re just the first guy I’ve been with since Paul. And what happened earlier scared me. It still scares me, but I want you. I want this.”
“We stop whenever you say so. I want you, too, but I’m not in this to make you uncomfortable.” Propping up on an elbow, he combed his fingers through her hair. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Stasia ducked her head. That wasn’t a word for her. Cute on a good day—that was about as good as it got. “You’re just saying that.” Because you want to have sex with me.
He caught the back of her neck and pulled her closer until there was only room for breath between them. “I’m saying that because it’s true and because you clearly never heard it enough from the idiot you married.” His lips grazed over hers, barely a kiss, just a hint at the heaven of his mouth. Still it left her remembering all too well the kind of magic they could make together. He murmured against her skin, “It’s up to you where this goes. We can either snuggle all night, or you can let me show you over and over again exactly how beautiful I think you are.”
“What would option B entail?”
Chilly air licked at her nipple when Evan opened the shirt. The heat of his fingers chased the cold away as he rolled the bud between them. “I’d start by feasting on your breasts. Lavishing them with my undivided attention until you beg me to give you more.”
Moisture pooled between her legs. “And next?”
He nipped at her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth until she groaned. “Next…” His hand traveled the length of her body, over her abs, and cupped her through her panties. He shifted until his thumb pressed against her clit. With the way he smiled against her lips, he must have felt it when more heat and moisture washed over the thin cotton separating them. “Let’s save next until we’re there.”
Simply the pressure of his hand on her sent Stasia’s mind past the point of no return. She wanted Evan in ways she’d never wanted anything in her life. And she could tell this wouldn’t be the frantic, desperate sex they’d had earlier—it was going to be so much more. “Okay. In that case, please take me there.”
He scooped her into his arms before responding. “With pleasure.”
The way he held her—it was just like one of his movies. Stasia had always wondered how he made carrying women around look so natural and right. Now, she knew—it was just Evan, like hero was part of his genetic makeup. He settled her onto the edge of the pool table and tipped her backward. She caught herself, propped at an incline on her arms. The borrowed shirt fell open, exposing her breasts.
“Like I said, babe, you’re beautiful.” He leaned down and sucked her nipple into his mouth, rolling his tongue around it.
She lost herself in the feel of him on her. “Oh God…”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Evan switched nipples, his fingers replacing his mouth on the first one. Pinching and squeezing and twisting gently.
Stasia’s eyes rolled back. Too much. It was too much but would never be enough. He was pressed against her, his erection hard and hot against the increasing wetness of her panties. “Please, Evan.”
His lips left her breast as he trailed kisses up to her neck, but he didn’t stop the attention his fingers were giving. It was all she could do to hold on when he whispered into the
shell of her ear, “You’re so wet. You’re already soaked through, but I want to give you more. You want more, babe?”
“Yes. Please, yes,” she panted. “I want all of you.”
Shifting her panties to the side, he said, “Not quite yet. We’re still working on what comes next.”
Then he thrust two fingers inside her as his thumb pressed against her clit, and she cried out his name as an orgasm ripped through her.
…
It took all Evan’s self-control to not take Stasia on the pool table. With the way she responded to his every touch… He’d never been with a woman like her before. His fingers pumped her through the orgasm and her quivering aftershocks as her juices soaked his hand. By the time she finally eased down from her tremors, his cock was twitching, and he ached with need.
Eyes hooded with satisfaction, Stasia smiled at him and sat up. She caught his face between her hands and kissed him like he was air and she’d been suffocating. He couldn’t get enough of her. Sliding his fingers free, he tangled both hands in her hair and pulled her head back, dragging kisses all over her throat until she moaned her pleasure.
“I want you, Stasia. Right now.”
“I want you, too.” Her voice was rough with desire.
He helped her stand, and then he knelt, tugging off her panties. Her skin glistened with sweat and her need. As he got ready to stand, he swiped his tongue over her folds, and she shivered, sagging back against the pool table. “Touch yourself for me. I want to watch you while I get a condom.” When she didn’t move, he licked again and dragged her hand forward. “Touch yourself, Stasia. Just the way you like.”
“I don’t—”
“Yes, you do. Everyone does. Only this time, you’re going to do it for me.” On his feet again, he moved toward the couch and his abandoned sweatpants, watching as she tentatively pressed two fingers to her clit and started rubbing in little circles. “Yeah, babe, just like that.” He dug in the pocket of his sweats, catching the foil packet he’d snagged earlier just in case. When Stasia arched her back, though, he almost dropped the damn thing between the seat cushions. He slid his underwear down as he approached, kicking them free as soon as he could. Her gaze fell on his cock, her previous task forgotten. “Don’t stop.”
Difficult as it was, he didn’t move any closer until she started masturbating again. Only when he was between her thighs with the condom rolled on did he shift her hand out of the way. Without a word, he wrapped her in his arms, picking her up. She wriggled against him, her goal crystal clear as he carried her to the nearest wall—the windows overlooking the Strip.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” She cast a nervous glance at the view behind her.
“Babe, it’s the middle of the night, and we’re several hundred feet from the ground. No one is going to see us.” As soon as she was pressed securely against the glass, he eased her over the head of his cock.
“Oh God, Evan. Go slow. Please go slow.”
He wasn’t sure how slow he could go, considering how tight she was around him. For the same reason, though, he had little choice if he didn’t want to hurt her. He caught her mouth with his, tugging her lower lip between his teeth. “I won’t give you more than you can handle.”
Stasia shook her head, and her hair shifted on the glass, forming a tangled mess as her nails dug into his shoulders. “I want it all. Every inch of you.”
Even with how slick and ready she was, sheathing himself in her was the most amazing kind of torture. Both of them were gasping when she reached his hilt. Her hips shifted as she rubbed against him, her insides squeezing even tighter. He growled in her ear. “Keep that up, and I’m going to come before you want me to.”
She trembled against him. “I want you to. And then I want to do this again. And again.”
Fuck. She undid him with her words as much as with her body. If it was the last thing he did, he was going to spend the night erasing sex with her ex-husband from her memory. And he’d enjoy every second of it. “As many times as you want.”
Gripping her ass to hold her in place, he thrust into her while he nipped and kissed every inch of skin he could reach. Far too soon for his taste, Stasia’s muscles clenched around him as she came again, screaming his name. The pressure pushed him to the edge, and he couldn’t hold on. The orgasm ripped through his entire body, and he bit down on her shoulder, hard.
When he realized what he’d done, he pulled back, but the imprint of his teeth was clearly visible. The glazed look in Stasia’s eyes, and the smile crossing her lips as she leaned in to kiss him, said she didn’t care one bit. “Thank you,” she murmured before she nibbled at his earlobe.
“Anytime.” He meant it, too. They’d said they were going to avoid sex in favor of focusing on the plan, but now that he’d had another taste of her, Evan wasn’t sure how he’d handle it if she tried to put a stop to things again. As it was, he didn’t want to give this up, but keeping her forever wasn’t an option. He had a duty to his family, and that meant his career came first. The only choice he had was to try to work her out of his system as soon as possible. He’d get on that just as soon as his dick decided to get with the program again.
They had sex once more against the window; this time, he took her from behind so they could both see the lights on the Strip. He wished he could have taken a picture of the moment when her breasts had been pressed up to the glass and he’d tugged her hair back so he could kiss her.
Even thinking about it had him ready to rise to the occasion again, but Stasia had already made it clear she’d overestimated her ability to keep going tonight. Instead, they snuggled on the couch, wrapped in the blanket that had been his bed, and watched as dawn slowly lit the sky.
She sleepily nuzzled his neck. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything?” She ran her hand down his chest, her fingers tickling as they raked past his hair. “You did exactly what you promised. You made me feel beautiful. Hell, you made me feel wanted.”
“You are beautiful—and wanted.” He breathed her in, wishing he could freeze time. One week. He only had her for a week before she went back home to get on with her life. Before he went back to the madness of LA. It wasn’t going to be nearly long enough.
But it had to be—both for his career and his sanity. As a leading man, there was a certain type of woman he was expected to date. Models, starlets, socialites. The type whose goal was to see and be seen. That was what his team was pushing for in his new—structured—dating life, and what he’d agreed to. He wouldn’t get attached to them, and it would be all business. No romance and no tragic heartbreak at the end—only a lot of press for everyone involved.
There would be no women like Stasia in his future. Not for a long time. Maybe not ever. It was what he had to do if he wanted to get his career back on track. And he did. He really did.
Besides, there were her continued feelings for her ex to consider.
His grip on Stasia must have tightened, because she tensed in his embrace, but as soon as he started combing through her hair with his fingers again, she relaxed.
“I don’t want you to sleep out here. Will you come to bed with me?” She said it so quietly he wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it or not. But she looked at him with the question in her eyes and her lip caught between her teeth. As if she thought he might say no.
He dragged her lip free with his thumb. “I would love to wake up next to you in the morning—or the afternoon in this case.” He swept her into his arms, holding her close as he carried her into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them. When he laid her on the bed and curled up next to her, he tried not to think about the fact that they were officially counting down the days until the premiere. And one was already gone.
This wasn’t about some happily ever after they couldn’t have, though.
Even if his career wasn’t at stake, he’d spent too much of his life wrapped up in his own selfish desires. This week was for Stasia to reg
ain control of her life—whatever that really meant for her—and he was going to count himself lucky for every moment of intimacy she offered. He wrapped her in his arms, determined to hold her close for as long as she’d let him.
Chapter Six
The clock said it was already noon when Stasia rolled over. For a second, she couldn’t understand why that felt wrong. She was in Vegas. Mornings weren’t on the agenda since any press events leading up to the premiere and party were at night—and optional since Evan was unlikely to attend any where his presence wasn’t required.
Evan.
She blinked at the empty expanse of bed between her and the clock. He’d come in with her this morning, snuggled close, and then they’d fallen asleep. Or so she’d thought. Pushing up, she listened intently, hoping to hear the shower running. Nothing.
Was this his modus operandi? Sex, snuggling, and then leaving before the woman woke up in the morning? Is that why there was always so much animosity from the women in his past?
Or had she just not measured up sexually, and he’d gone off to find someone who could finish the job to his liking?
It’s what Paul would have done. How she’d ever convinced herself Evan might actually be attracted to her and not just looking for a warm body to…
A muffled voice came from the other room, “I know. I’m sorry, but I forgot.” Wrapping herself in one of the fluffy hotel robes, Stasia cracked open the bedroom door to find Evan pacing, cell phone glued to his ear. “Yes. I’m aware it’s your job, and I haven’t made that easy on you.” He sighed so deeply his shoulders sagged. “Then spin it as the story being exclusive to those who are here for the premiere.”
Tempting Her Fake Fiance Page 7
