Stella in Stilettos

by Romes, Jan

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The remaining two hours to Key West were amazing. Trish finally confessed that she knew all along that Alex was Mr. Right and that it had taken all her strength to keep it inside. She hadn’t even told Steve. Stella hugged Trish and had thanked her for keeping it a secret.

  The three of them sat in the sun making small talk, holding hands and anticipating the moment they could be alone.

  Finally, the boat docked and they checked into the hotel and were on the way to their rooms.

  Stella gasped with happiness when Alex propped her gently against the door. The sensual movement infused her with a blistering heat. He lowered his mouth to taste her with deliberate, drugging kisses and she had no choice but to arch against him and moan with approval.

  “You make me lose my mind, woman,” he whispered against her ear.

  Stella’s heart melted on the spot and she knew for certain she loved this man. She also knew with complete confidence she would never be the same without him. She circled his neck with her arms, but Alex removed them and carefully extended them above her head

  He brushed tender kisses across her forehead and the tip of her nose, before caressing her eyelids with his lips. Alex moved to her mouth and parted her lips so he could invade, plunder, demand everything from her, until she thought she would pass out from bliss.

  While one large hand held her arms above her, his free one started down the front of her shirt until his fingers made contact with eager flesh. The sound of people coming off the elevator broke the fevered movement and they jumped apart.

  Stella giggled nervously and planted her hands on his chest. “Maybe we should go inside.”

  Alex lifted a roguish brow. “Good idea.”

  He struggled to get the keycard in the lock. Stella was oddly happy to know she wasn’t the only one flustered.

  After getting the door opened, Alex pulled her into him and nudged the door shut with his foot. The second it closed, he was all over her. His mouth and hands continued what he’d started outside. He slid the straps of her tank top off her shoulders and his greedy fingers cupped her breasts over her bra. Stella trembled when he slid his thumb and forefinger under the bra to seize her nipple.

  Passion shot through her veins like liquid fire. An involuntary cry of delight bounced around the room.

  Alex kiss-whispered her mouth. “You’re a dream come true.” Then he drew back so she could see him smile before descending to her chin which was undoubtedly her strangest erogenous zone. He suckled the tender skin lightly before trailing his tongue her ear lobe where he nibbled hungrily. He trailed a path of fire back to her mouth.

  Stella whimpered when he removed his hands from her breasts. When he unsnapped her Capri’s the moment of distress vanished and was replaced with raw pleasure.

  Alex slowly undressed her, making the hunger grow.

  When Stella was down to bra and panties, Alex dropped to her neck for a taste. Warm, moist lips nipped her skin.

  He raised his head with a serious grin. “No bruising today, I promise.”

  Stella inhaled a breath to stabilize her unmanageable eagerness. Alex had stripped her of more than just her clothes. Her willpower was completely gone, so was her voice. The only thing she was capable of was a trembling smile.

  Alex ran his thumb across the fullness of her lips before blazing a fiery path to the valley between her breasts. “You’re put together perfectly.”

  She would’ve snickered at the comment if she was capable. Her breasts were small and her hips were too wide for the rest of her. Spindly legs supported it all. But he made her feel perfect – with his eyes and his touch.

  Stella gasped softly at the thudding of her heart. It was telling her she loved him.

  Alex’s blue eyes deepened in hue. He smiled tenderly and dropped to the swell of her breasts. He whisked his lips across her delicate flesh. It was an incredible sensation that made her eyes widen and the breath catch in her lungs. With deft fingers, her breasts became free of her bra. Warm hands smoothed across them, tweaking her nipples, radiating ecstasy through every inch of her.

  Stella panted with need, and Alex guided her to the bed, positioning himself over her. His face was tight but his eyes shimmered with desire.

  Excitement pulsed with exquisite anticipation. “I need you,” she whispered demurely; although there was nothing demure about the energized rush to undress him. She couldn’t get his shirt unbuttoned fast enough. She tugged at his belt and sought his eyes before continuing.

  Alex arched his brow with approval before helping her make light work of his jeans and boxers.

  His large, gentle hands worked their way to her hips where they secured the elastic of her lacy, white thong. In less than a second, the tiny bit of fabric became a lamp decoration.

  Powerful arms scooped Stella from the bed. “Trust me,” he said, visibly struggling to keep his own need in check.

  Stella nodded, giving him permission to do whatever he pleased.

  With gentle care he backed her against the inside of the hotel door and kissed her while slipping on a condom.

  Braced against the strength of oak, they made love, wild and breathlessly.

  Alex devoured her with his mouth and his skillful movements ignited a passion so hot Stella thought they would burn down the hotel. She spiraled quickly to fulfillment and Alex soon followed. The near-simultaneous peak of wonder had them struggling to catch their breath and smiling as if everything in the world was perfect.

  In the weak light of the room, Alex’s eyes sparkled and Stella felt like the most desired person on the planet.

  “I love you, Stella.”

  “I love you too, Alex.”

  * * * *

  Alex inhaled the sweet fragrance that was distinctly Stella and smiled at the arm she’d thrown across his chest and the leg she’d tangled with his. They’d made love twice. Finally, Stella drifted off to sleep. He tried to do the same, but his thoughts were still revved. He shook his head in amazement. Stella and Blonde1 were one in the same.

  Loving her had been out of this world. He never dreamed how great it would be to make love standing up. It had been impulsive and adventurous, and Stella had been completely involved. She was as wild and out of control as he was, yet tender and loving at the same time.

  A short time later, they’d made love a second time. Unlike the first time, it was an unhurried exploration of one another.

  Two very different experiences each centered on…love.

  Alex ran his hand tenderly down the length of her arm. So soft. He smiled in the broken light of dusk.

  Stella was quite the woman, not just in the physical sense. She had no idea how she single-handedly changed him. In the last couple of weeks, she had him rethinking everything – his hopes, dreams, vision for the future. Until now, he’d been in charge of his life. Did things his way. Called all the shots. It was somehow limiting. He wanted more. Needed more. He needed Stella. And he needed to share her with his family.

  Playing Marc Thompson’s game was over. Alex exhaled with exhaustion. The second his eyes closed, they popped back open. He was fooling himself if he thought he could doze off after a powerful thought like that. It was time to shake things up and he didn’t want to wait until he was back in Ohio to do it.

  He listened for the gentle inhale and exhale of contented sleep before he removed his arm from Stella and inched his leg from beneath hers.

  Alex carefully slid from the bed, slipped into his clothes, and out of the room.

  Moonlight peeked through the small slit where the curtains met and Alex currently had his fabulous buns backed against her thighs. Waking up with him had been a fantasy that had come true, and Stella doubted life could get any better. Actually, the only thing better would be to wake up next to him for the rest of her life. Getting way ahead of things, Matson. It was hard not to get ahead of herself since they made love. Alex was an unselfish lover who paid strict attention to detail, including wh
at was going on in her heart and head.

  The memory of her chat-conversation with MightyMike surfaced. Mr. Right had strayed into the discussion about ‘paying attention’ and he obviously heeded her advice. Her brain fired LOL.

  Alex stretched his legs and she moved with him so he wouldn’t wake up. She stared at his muscled-back and wanted to run her hands along the curve of his shoulders and plant kisses on every part of him not covered by the blanket.

  Jace Fairchild popped into her thoughts for some reason. Instead of scowling like she would normally do when she thought of him, she allowed a half-grin. If he hadn’t been a two-timing, heart-wrecking spawn of the devil, she wouldn’t have been free to fall in love with Alex. She no longer felt animosity toward the rat. She’d spent a grueling year fretting over spilled milk, but in a few short weeks, Alex sopped it up and healed her heart.

  The object of her affection rolled over with sleepy violet eyes half-open.

  “I’m glad you’re awake,” she said softly.

  Alex yawned. “Me too.” He leaned up and brushed his lips across hers before pulling to a sitting position against the headboard. “What time is it?”

  “Almost seven.”

  “Dang. We’re supposed to meet Trish and Steve in the conference room at seven-thirty for that formal get-together. I’d rather blow it off and stay right where we are.”

  His words projected a path of joy to her heart. Stella blinked up at him and he dipped his head to kiss her. “I love you, Stella Matson.”

  “Ditto, Mr. Clay.”

  “Shower time.” He threw his legs over the edge of the bed and pulled her with him. “Care to join me?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  Before they made it to the shower, the phone rang.

  Alex frowned with pretend annoyance, but he answered with a cheerful, “Hello.”

  Stella watched the conversation. Alex smiled and frowned. She heard him say, “Go on without us. All right. All right. Quit nagging.” He hung up and made a face.

  “They wouldn’t let us off the hook, would they?”

  “If we’re not downstairs in ten minutes, they’re coming after us.”

  Stella headed for the suitcases. They hadn’t taken the time to unpack. “We’d better get it in gear then.”

  Alex locked his arms around her. “We have ten whole minutes.”

  The thought of making love in such a small amount of time sent a shiver of excitement through Stella. To tease him, she crushed her breasts into him.

  Alex pushed a curly tendril from her face and ran his tongue across her lips which sparked the embers from earlier. Since there were no clothes to deal with, his fingers roamed intimately until she was putty in his arms.

  Without breaking their kiss, he skillfully pulled her on top of him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Stella sprinted barefoot across the sandy beach, silver stilettos dangling from her fingers. She was getting pretty good at walking in the darned things, but it felt good to let the sand sift through her toes.

  Alex had been playful all day, and now, he’d challenged her to a foot race on the beach. Get him away from the office and that stiff business façade fell away. Stella loved this side of him. Actually, she loved most things about him. If someone would’ve told her a few weeks ago that she would give him her heart, she would’ve scoffed.

  “I might be small, but I’m fast,” she giggled. “You’ll never catch me.” In the daylight they would probably be raising a few eyebrows since she was in a black and silver dress – again loaned by Misty – and Alex was in a crisp white shirt and black trousers. They were still in their dress clothes from the formal chat gathering. They’d stayed long enough to say hello to Red and then left to check out Hog’s Breath Saloon.

  Alex grabbed her arm. “I’ve seen turtles faster than you.” He swung her around and into his chest.

  “If I had my sneakers on, you’d be eating my dust.” Stella gave him a toothy grin. “Make that sand.” She could’ve kicked it in and possibly beat him, but letting him catch her was much more fun.

  “In your dreams, Matson.”

  Alex’s voice, teasing or otherwise, made her heart flutter in her breast and when he gathered her in his arms it was like he draped a warm blanket over her. When he kissed her currents of electricity snapped through her veins, short circuiting her ability to think of anything but him. She could tell by the sparkle in his eyes that she was about to be short circuited.

  Alex swooped down and captured her mouth.

  Under a heavy moon and sky filled with twinkling stars, they dropped to the sand.

  “I love you, Stella,” he whispered, grazing her ear lobe with his tongue before commencing a series of slow, shivery kisses under her chin and the hollow of her throat.

  “I love you too.” The rasp of passion cracked her voice.

  Alex cupped her breast over her dress with one hand; the other caressed her bare thigh. The sound of her moan was drowned out by the crash of the waves into the shore.

  The waves, however, weren’t loud enough to drown out Steve. “Okay you two, no hanky-panky on the beach.”

  The moan turned to a groan.

  “Killjoy.” Alex laughed and pulled Stella to her feet.

  “I’m saving your sorry ass, Clay,” Steve snickered. “Beach patrol is headed this way and I didn’t want you to have to explain why a corporate communications guy who’s well on his way to becoming CEO of a well-known lingerie company is accosting this beautiful woman on their beach.”

  “Accosting?” Stella chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what was happening.” Steve laughed. Alex didn’t. In fact, he went curiously silent.

  “Come on, join us,” Steve urged.

  Stella grabbed Alex’s hand. It might’ve been her imagination, but she felt something different in his touch. She didn’t want to make more out of it than there possibly was but it like he was suddenly somewhere else.

  Trish sat huddled in Steve’s suit coat. “Who won the race?”

  Stella and Alex said “Me” at the same time.”

  Trish laughed. “Stella obviously won. She has the speed of a cheetah.”

  Stella cracked up laughing. “A cheetah? How much have you had to drink tonight?”

  “More than I should have but enough to still know that women are faster than men.”

  “No way. Men are faster,” Alex said, giving Steve a high-five.

  “Their mouths certainly move faster,” Trish quipped, giving Stella a high-five.

  “Good one, O’Brien.”

  Alex sat on the sand. Stella cozied up beside him. Even if something was suddenly amiss, she wouldn’t let it keep them apart. When he was ready to tell her what was on his mind, he would. She slid an arm around his back. “This is the life. Sand, surf and warmth. Let’s not go back to Ohio.”

  * * * *

  Over the next two days, they discovered Key West – the Conch Republic. Alex was back to his old self; laughing, kissing her every chance he got and making love to her like a man who couldn’t get his fill. Whatever bothered him the other night was long gone.

  They rented bicycles and visited the monument that marked the southernmost point of the United States. They toured the lighthouse that was put in moth balls in 1969 and The Hemingway House where Ernest Hemingway wrote some amazing books.

  Trish guided them to Sloppy Joes, the famous bar frequented by Hemingway and then to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville where they listened to a rockabilly band and sipped margaritas while wearing Parrot Head t-shirts.

  RedHairedHoney talked them into joining the group for a ghost tour which took them off the beaten path; along the shadowy streets and lanes of Old Town while a narrator entertained them with ghost stories and legends.

  Of course, their trip to Key West wouldn’t be complete without checking out the shops that lined Duval Street. Actually, Stella and Trish shopped while the guys drank beer and ate conch fritters.

  Their time on the island was fast coming
to a close. In fact, tonight was New Year’s Eve. Tomorrow they’d board the express catamaran that would take them back to reality.

  Stella checked her look in the mirror. The low-cut red dress she’d bought in one of the shops on Duval Street fit her like a glove. The red stilettos with rhinestones on the ankle strap she bought to go with the dress lengthened her legs and finished the look. As long as she could walk in them without snapping an ankle in two, things would be perfect.

  Alex came up behind and nuzzled her neck. “That dress was made for you, sweetheart.” He nipped the tender spot just below her earlobe that seemed to flip on her pilot light. “And those shoes, Stella, wow! You are sexy, woman!” He made a throaty noise at the back of her neck. “Let’s skip the party so I can slowly undress you and make love to you while you wear those shoes.”

  Heat blasted through Stella like he’d taken a blow torch to her body. “I would love to stay here too, with nothing on but my shoes, but you know Trish and Steve.”

  Alex growled. Stella laughed.

  He turned her around so their foreheads touched. “We’ll let the world have us until midnight. After that, it’s just you and me and that dress and those shoes.” He brushed his lips across hers, making her tremble.

  A knock at the door was followed by “Helloooo! Are you decent?”

  They danced and sipped champagne until the stroke of midnight. Alex divvied out hugs to Trish, Steve, and Red, but he dove at Stella like they were the only two in the ballroom. “Happy New Year, sweetheart.” They kissed until Steve nudged them.

  Party horns and noisemakers added to the atmosphere of joy and hope that always came in those first few minutes of the New Year.

  Alex grabbed two more flutes of champagne. He handed one to Stella. “To new beginnings,” he said, clinking his glass against hers.

  A strange look darkened Stella’s face for no more than a second, but he’d seen it. Whatever she was thinking, she covered it with a smile.

  “To new beginnings,” she seconded.