Pleasures of Promise Lake

by Marti Shane

  Jake recognized the two men so broad they had to go single file. They played for Dallas, he thought. Mario managed them. When the space opened up, there was another group about the same size. Mario’s brother was one, his wife tucked into his side. The two curtain hangers were back, this time with strips that looked like bumper stickers in their hand.

  “Just the men,” Sam instructed, and one of them molded the strip across his chest. The guy ran his hand across twice, smoothing it flat to the fabric and then pulling it off. Inspecting his shirt, there was nothing there. Nothing he could see anyhow. Sam peered around the edge, whispering something before a slow song started to play. “Okay,” She addressed the group. “The floor’s darker than usual. When you see your color, trickle out and dance in that spot. You know what to do after that.”

  The women giggled softly, already in on whatever they were doing. He gave Mario’s brother a quick what’s up before his wife pulled him by the hand.

  “We’re blue,” Sam mouthed to him, sharing a quick smile. The dance floor was dark, only clusters of lights shining towards the floor. When a spray of blue marked their spot, he was more than ready to hold Sam in his arms. “Keep your chest covered,” she whispered, stepping in front as they slipped past Mario and Kimmi, taking up the center of the floor.

  Sam turned her body to his, her arms wrapping his neck under the blue lights. His chest glowed between them, the word Congrats lit up. He glanced over the couples, seeing a glimpse of the letters glowing on their chests. Sam’s eyes were sharp on Kimmi, lips curving into a smile. “Now,” she whispered, queuing a ring of light.

  The group stopped swaying, the music changing to a nursery song as images of pacifiers and baby rattles and cribs danced in a circle around Mario and Kimmi. Jake realized he and Sam were part of the circle of family and friends surrounding Mario and Kimmie. Congrats was written on everyone’s chests. Jake took in the scene, watching his friends’ faces light up. Pacifier….crib…Congrats.

  “Oh my God!” Mario shouted in shock, lifting Kimmi and spinning her around. Her smile lit the room as she spun, everyone clapping for their news. Kimmie pointed them out when Mario finally put her down. They were surrounded by family and friends she’d selected to share the news with and, somehow, Sam was in charge. Mario glanced from shirt to shirt, the black lights in a sequence overhead. How fucking cool?

  Sam pulled the piece from her ear, disconnecting her phone. She slid both into his pocket, relief washing over her features. Kimmi was swimming in hugs and Mario could hardly stand still. Wow, he was going to be a dad.

  “How long have you known?” he asked Sam.

  “Last night.” She snaked her arm around him. “Kimmie didn’t want to tell him over the phone, and she couldn’t hold it in until he got home.”

  “Do you know Kimmie?” he asked, thinking he would know.

  “She called The Royal in Boston and they put us in touch.”

  “She knew you worked at the Royal?”

  “I should let you know she’s mad at you.”

  “You’re damn right I am,” Kimmi huffed, her dark eyes glowing under the black lights. She settled her hands on her hips, tapping her bright red pump. “You’ve been dating for five months? I see where we stand.”

  “Congrats, sweetie.” He wrapped her in a hug, ignoring her rant. She gave in, hugging him back and then whispered softly into his ear.

  “Love looks good on you, Jaeger.”

  “Break that shit up.” Mario slapped him on the back, and he turned to congratulate him. He was flying ten stories high, bear hugging Jake and thanking him for being part of the plan.

  “I had no idea.” Jake held up both hands. He liked how Sam snaked her arm back around him and he pulled her closer to his side. She needed a social shield he realized, her situation shifting from professional to personal in a group of strangers. Mario locked in on Sam and he felt her tense.

  “This was great, Sam.” He thanked her, and Jake felt her shrug. He was still processing she made all of this happen in less than twenty-four hours.

  “Kimmie was so excited. I’m glad it worked out,” she offered in return.

  “You were right about her,” Kimmi told Mario. “She makes it look easy.” Kimmie hugged Sam, breaking her free from Jake’s side. She was a hugger, and this was a pretty big night. Sam hugged her back, then accepted the same from Mario. They were so happy and couldn’t help but to pass it around. The happy couple mingled with the friends and family surrounding them, Jake ecstatic for his friend.

  “I can’t believe you flew to New York to do all of this.”

  “I could do this from the office. When she called, I was already here.” His chest squeezed tight.

  “You flew in last night?” The emotion in her brilliant green gaze put all his worries on pause. She answered him with a look that didn’t need the words she struggled to find. He loved her secret shy side that only he got to see. She’d chosen him, followed him on a whim she couldn’t explain.

  “I thought if Mario knew I was here, he might try to fly back to Dallas tonight. Kimmie wanted to do it in New York.”

  “I guess I can give up one night for you to pull this off. He’s stoked.”

  “You’re not getting off the hook, tonight.” Her eyes pooled with desire, her painted lips a sinful invitation. His dick answered, the erection quick and painful against his fly. Her finger traced the silky strip of fabric draping her breast, pushing it barely aside of the swell. The black lights over head caught the white heart printed on her dark skin. Be mine was printed in the center. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Excitement and nerves combusted in Sam. Jake was happy to see her, maybe even happier than about Mario’s news. She’d made some pretty heavy choices in the last twenty-four hours, but they felt right at the time. They still felt right, but she couldn’t help feeling foolish, running out here to announce she’d quit her job. The conversation was too heavy for tonight, especially the way Jake was looking at her. The tiny stencil of the Valentine heart illuminated his interest, and his dick was rock hard.

  “Can you walk with that thing?” She smiled against his lips, her body shielding the tent in his pants.

  “Walking wasn’t what I had in mind.”

  With the space still mostly dark, she led him back to the corridor and placed her thumb on the keypad to the service door. She’d taken service paths since last night, needing to stay out of sight. Her departure from A.P. wasn’t official as of yet, preserving her access to behind the scenes. Nick wanted to speak with their top clients one on one, not send out a blanket email.

  A room service cart was ready at the elevator, the server standing with it stepping aside. It was protocol to step aside for VIPs and take the next ride.

  “Go ahead,” Sam told him when the doors opened. “We won’t tell.” He looked nervously to Jake, who had his arm wrapped around her abs, using her to shield his bulge. He stepped in.

  “You got any of those red velvet chocolate things?” Jake asked him when they were behind the closed doors.

  “I can bring some up,” he answered, white gloves clasped at his waist. Sam was happy to leave this part of her career behind. She was good at it, but wanted more. The doors opened at his floor and Sam gave him a nod.

  “Are you like his boss?”

  “I’m no one’s boss.” She turned in his arms. His erection pressed against her belly. “Surprise.” She smiled up at him, his hands roaming the bare skin of her back.

  “I love your surprises.” He took her mouth in a feverish kiss. Her body awakened to his touch, one of his strong hands gripping her nape to control the kiss and the other cupping her ass. It was all she could do not to climb him, cursing the cameras overhead.

  Jake was impatient with the door, lifting her heels from the floor to carry her inside. The dimly lit suite had ornate furniture too delicate for his hungry mood. He broke their kiss, her back finding the marble counter top as he cleared th
e surface with one sweep. The contents of what was probably a welcome basket clattered and bounced across the floor as her back slid over the smooth surface, her skirt bunching at her waist.

  Jake’s growl was primal, lowering his mouth to her core. Ripping the skimpy lace barrier, he sucked her clit between his lips. The suction was greedy and intense, making her thighs quiver on each side of his head. Her grip found his hair egging him on. She didn’t want slow and savory, she wanted passion and hard. Her back arched, Jake meeting the task. His tongue dove into her folds, his thumb circling her clit. She was slick with desire, his fingers slipping inside her.

  Sam didn’t bother with self-control, her body coiled tight and brain deliciously numb. She loved the edge of climax when the pleasure is so intense all you can do is beg for more. Harder, faster, deeper…wanting it to last forever but in such need of release. Her toes curled under in her constricting shoes, Jakes’ wicked tongue to her clit dangling her from the edge.

  “Go ahead, baby,” he rasped over her nub. “Cum.”

  Her orgasm gripped hard, the surge of pleasure blurring her vision white. Jake chuckled against over-sensitized nerves, her pleasure almost too much to bear. He knew her body as well as he knew her. She lacked patience once she started to climb, which he used to torture her. It didn’t suck. The man was talented in bed. She loved that he let her sprint tonight, knowing she needed the release. Sex was a drug, just like her bike.

  Her fingers massaged his scalp as he nibbled inside her thigh. As her breaths calmed and her muscles reformed from mush, she pushed herself up to sit. Jake rose before her, taking her mouth with his. She loved the taste of herself on him, his lips punishing against hers. She worked his erection free, enjoying his breath hitch as she wrapped his hard length. Smoothing the precum at the tip over his perfectly shaped mushroom head, her core begged for more.

  She could never get enough of this man. His body, his taste and his smell. She loved how he kissed her now, starved for her. They only had a week left of this, the realization making her deepen the kiss. Her legs gripped around his waist and his hands kneaded into her ass. He lifted her, aimed for the bedroom, only to misstep over the counter’s contents spread all over the floor.

  They stumbled into the wall first, her heels stabbing the wall. Jake shielded her head, crashing to the carpet on his side. They rolled foil-packaged nut and raw fruit, laughing when they came to a stop.

  “You okay?” he grunted, concerned.

  “Safe,” she laughed, asking him the same as she rolled on top. She raised to her knees, one on each side as she looked over him. It wasn’t a hard fall, and he hadn’t cried out in pain.

  “Thank God, no.” Jake finally laughed. “I wouldn’t want to explain.”

  “It’s fitting, being the sexiest athlete and all.” His erection twitched against her hovering sex. “Really, you should lie still.” Her fingers found the lowest button of his shirt, releasing them one by one. He caressed her thighs, his hands callused and strong. Pushing his shirt to the sides, she revealed the hard muscle beneath. She leaned over him, lips trailing the thick vein of his neck. His erection bobbed between her legs, his breath sucking through his teeth on contact with her sex.

  She slicked his length, teasing as she massaged him between her folds.

  “Sam.” Her name was a command, his muscles tight with need under her hips. His fingers dug into her hips, hard enough to bruise. She lifted, gripping his erection and taking him deep. She raised onto her knees, shifting to accommodate his thickness. He guided her with his grip on her hips, and he pushed impossibly deep. Their moans mingled with their scents, the air thick with sounds and smells of sex.

  She caught her weight, the rippled meat of his abs flexing under her hands as she found her rhythm. Pleasure overwhelmed her, the friction of his rod deep inside her, and her clit grinding the soft skin of his pelvis. He pulled the silk from her breast, her nipples puckering with a delicious sting. His mouth wrapped one of her peaks, his abs tightening and sheening with sweat. She quickened her pace, pussy slick with her building release.

  Pushing his shirt down his arms, she wanted her hands on his back. His hands stilled her hips, flipping her underneath him and letting her get her feel of his strong body at work. Thrust after thrust he called her name, telling her she was his. He was worked up, his ass flexing and thrusting in her grip. Tears pricked at how much he needed, what she was willing to give as her orgasm built. Her cry split into the silence of the room, Jake stilling inside her. His pelvis ground her clit, cock spasming on release.

  Sam followed him over the edge, her sex gripping and quivering as he spilled into her. She floated in complete bliss, sated and content in the erotic wave they both rode. Their breaths calmed in the same time, Jake’s blue eyes burning under his heavy lids. He kissed her softly, his gaze intense.

  “Marry me, Sam,” he whispered, the question sincere.

  “Yes.” The word left her lips without thought. Jake was someone she couldn’t be without. His lips curved, even though his brows lifted with doubt.

  “Yes?” he questioned her response. “You’ll marry me?”

  “Where do I sign?” She smiled, relaxed and elated beneath him on the hotel floor. “I’m all in.”

  Sam admired her favorite smile on Jake. It wasn’t the dazzling one that made your heart ache, or his famous half-grin when he knew his shit didn’t stink. No, he wore the goofy drunk grin he couldn’t control. She saw it when he was truly happy, and now he wore it just for her. Her heart was lighter without all the what-ifs, and from the looks of it he was lighter, too. Of all the proposals she dreamed of, his was perfectly delivered and perfectly timed. There was no ring or speech prepared. She simply felt wanted, loved and adored.

  Jake pulled from inside her, his dick still half-hard. Her stomach growled angrily, two orgasms zapping her fuel when she was already on fumes. Her nerves had been on edge and she hadn’t braved food. The doorbell chimed through the suite as if on cue. Jake sat up to his knees, a hand raking sweaty hair.

  “That’s your cake.” She plucked his shirt from the floor as he hauled her to her feet. He kissed her breathless, until she couldn’t help but smile. She laughed, giddy and so relieved. Shrugging on his shirt, she watched him gather oranges and pomegranates from the floor on his way to the door. The picture was crooked on the wall they tumbled into and her knees burned from contact with the rug.

  Jake let room service in, the same server from the elevator pushing the silver cart. His gaze followed the littered rug landing on Sam, full of concern. Heat washed into her cheeks. She was sure they glowed the same color as what was left of her dress.

  “We’re getting married,” Jake announced, an arrogant grin splitting his face. The server’s eyes darted from Sam, realizing she wasn’t hurt. Jake lifted one of the stainless lids, eyeing what was inside. “Can you bring champagne?”

  “Clos Du Mesnil,” Sam ordered. She wasn’t usually a wine snob, but she just got engaged. “And two clubs with extra bacon and a hummus tray,” she added, starved. Jake handed him a bill, treating him like an old friend as he walked him to the door. His warm personality sometimes made her feel cold. He didn’t know a stranger, felt comfortable in anyone’s company.

  “I can’t believe he brought cake,” he said, browsing the assorted plates. That was Jake, assuming people only did what made them happy and ignoring that the guy got paid. Sam stepped out of her dress and shoes, buttoning the bottom two buttons of the shirt as she crossed the room.

  His broad body sprawled on the small sofa, decadent layers of red velvet, chocolate and cream cheese balanced on his fork. He pulled her across his lap, offering her the first bite. She accepted, the bite heavenly and rich. Her deprived stomach grumbled for more, making Jake frown.

  “Shut it,” she warned playfully, forking more cake. “I ordered food.”

  “How can you work around this all day and not eat?” he asked, taking a huge bite. Setting her fork down, she was less anxious a
bout sharing her news.

  “I didn’t work here all day,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm. “I quit A.P.” Jake’s expression fell, eyes swimming with concern.

  “You love your job,” he said, confusion furrowing his brows.

  “I love parts of my job,” she confessed. “I understand service and anticipating the client’s needs. I build the tools to manage their workload. Once they’re comfortable with the tools, Nick replaces me with a PA.”

  “Like the app for J&J?”

  “Sort of, but on a much larger scale.”

  “Like The Royal?” She smiled, the concierge dashboard her best work.

  “I have a different approach to service. Efficiency is ninety-nine percent of the game. Having someone open the door for you isn’t an ass-kissing courtesy, it’s so you don’t have to slow down. The Royal caters to businesses, not celebrities. Busy guests don’t want to call the concierge desk and boss someone around. They want someone to anticipate and fulfill their needs with as little instruction as possible.”

  “Doesn’t Nick see it the same way?”

  “When Gram was sick, he had to step in for me at The Royal. He was impressed.”

  “Why’s he letting you leave?” Jake tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to understand.

  “He’s been gently nudging me for a while. He knows I don’t like training concierges or being with clients in the long haul. I like problem resolution and process engineering.”

  “But why leave? Can’t you guys redefine your role?”

  “We did. I’m an independent contractor and he’s my client.”

  “So, what you did for Kimmie tonight?”

  “A favor. I still have access to AP resources, but I don’t care to do that anymore.” Jake’s hand ran up and down her back, studying her for a while. She was good with her decision, and capable of building a client list longer than she could manage. She might even start her own firm. He cupped her cheek, thumb caressing her skin.