Paradise Falls: A Bassett Hotels Novel

by AJ Riley

  “Would you care for dessert?” Russ asked.

  “You mean I get a choice?” Amanda joked. Russ watched as she thought about his question. “Sure, if you would like to split something with me. I don’t think I could eat a whole dessert by myself. What do you recommend?”

  Russ ordered a slice of chocolate cheesecake and coffee for them both. He had never felt so relaxed with a woman. He loved how they could talk about anything. They talked sports, which surprised him. She had favorite teams that she followed when she had time but was not a diehard fan. They had the same taste in music and movies. He was surprised to find that they had such a wide range of topics that they could choose from and the evening flew by faster than he liked.

  During a brief lull in conversation they looked around the restaurant and noticed that the place was all but empty. Taking pity on the staff Russ took one last drink of his coffee and then pushed back from the table. Amanda took the cue and mimicked his movements. Automatically he reached for her hand interlocking their fingers.

  At the restaurant entrance Russ had a decision to make. Head toward the elevators and end their evening or find a way to prolong the time he was with her. Since he wasn’t ready to end the evening he looked around and quickly thought of what they could do.

  “Want to get a drink?” he asked motioning toward the bar.

  CHAPTER 10

  She was stuffed from dinner and dessert, but she didn’t want to end their night so soon. She was enjoying his company far more than she should. She felt him slid his arm around her waist and pull her gently into his side. She liked how she fit snuggly into him, as if she was meant to be there. Breathing in the scent of his cologne mixed with a scent that was just him she didn’t know if she would ever smell anything so arousing or so masculine ever again.

  As they reached the bar entrance Amanda thought that Russ would put some distance between them. In anticipation she leaned away from him slightly hoping that he got the hint that it would be okay, instead she felt his arm tighten around her waist as if he couldn’t let her go. She smiled because right now she was feeling the same way.

  Her eyes roamed the room and landed on the beautiful bartender and wondered if she and Russ and a past together. The spark of jealously was instant and she tried to tamp it down. The thought of the two of them together made her heart sink. She couldn’t compete with a woman that beautiful. She had to remind herself that she had competed with Janice, albeit unknowingly and won. That made her feel slightly better but when Russ started to stroke her hip to get her attention she started to feel a lot better.

  Amanda looked up into Russ’ eyes and caught him looking down at her. “You okay?” he asked her and held her closer as if she wasn’t plastered against his body as it was.

  “I’m good I was just thinking I don’t want to get you into trouble since you work here and I’m a guest.” She couldn’t help but let her gaze wonder over to where the bartender was staring at them.

  “Its fine come on.” He said and lead her deeper into the bar.

  As they approached an empty table Amanda got a feeling of Deja-vu. Slowly she looked around and it dawned on her that this was the table from last night. As Russ stopped at the table he pulled the stool out for her. Sliding onto it she turned to look at him.

  “Don’t tell me that this table just happens to be empty. Especially with how busy this place is.” She smiled at the sweetness of his gesture.

  “Well actually it just so happens that I know the bartender and she saved it for me.”

  “I just bet you do.” She mumbled under her breath.

  She must not have been quiet enough because he chuckled and reached for her hand. Once again threading their finger together he brought her knuckles up to lips and placed a gentle kiss on them. “Not like that. She and my sister have been best friends their entire lives. She’s family, she had some personal problems and needed a job. I was able to get her one.” He said as if it was a simple enough answer.

  Blushing, all she could manage was “Oh that was nice of you.” She couldn’t believe the spark of jealousy that speared through her for a moment. She just met Russ, neither one of them were angels before they met.

  In the next moment, the bartender showed up with two glasses. A beer for Russ and what appeared to be a Whiskey and Coke for her. Wow what a great memory.

  Russ thanked her and then turned to Amanda. “Amanda this is Stephanie. Steph this is Amanda.”

  The two women shook hands and then Steph returned to the bar with a knowing wink in Russ’ direction. Amanda wanted to ask what that was all about but was afraid of the answer.

  As Amanda sat there and let the classic rock surround her, she felt Russ take her hand into his. She noticed that he couldn’t seem to keep his hand from finding some way to touch her. It made her feel special, and as his thumb started to rub small circles on the back of hers, it made her start to feel other things as well. Just that small contact sent shivers across her body. Why was she reacting to him like this? She never had this kind of reaction to a man before. Maybe it was her body’s way of telling her that it had been too long since she was with a man. That it craved intimacy.

  The warmth from his hand started to migrate up her arm until she could feel her face heat with a flush. She wanted desperately to blame it on the alcohol, but she hadn’t even touched her drink yet. She swiveled her head slightly and met his gaze. Before she knew what was happening he lowered his head and kissed her in the middle of the bar. He brought his hand up to cup the side of her face and angled her mouth to deepen the kiss.

  She didn’t think it was possible for a kiss to be hotter than the one that they had shared earlier in her room, but she had been wrong. This kiss was more intimate, even though they were in a bar full of people. The feelings that he could incite in a kiss made her want to climb into his lap not caring who was watching. Luckily for her, and her modestly, he broke the kiss before she could embarrass either of them.

  “Are you ready to get out of here?” he asked huskily not removing his hand from her face.

  “We just got here.” She replied breathlessly.

  His eyes had darkened with desire and she could feel the unsteadiness of his hand as it cupped her face. She knew in the moment he truly desired her.

  “I don’t care” he replied huskily, “I want to get you out of here, but the choice is yours. Do you want to stay, or do you want to go back to your room?”

  Amanda leaned away from the hand on her cheek, took a big gulp from her drink, grabbed his hand, and proceeded to lead him out the door. She had made her choice before he had even asked.

  Barely resisting the urge to continually press the elevator button Russ ran a frustrated hand through his hair. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he gently pulled Amanda inside and all thoughts fled his mind. He had to have her in his arms and there was no way he could wait until they reached her room.

  He pulled her into his arms and heatedly kissed her, unable to get her close enough. He ran his hand though her hair holding her mouth in place as he devoured her. His other hand splayed on her lower back and held her to him. Even with the knowledge that the elevators had cameras in them he couldn’t pull away from her. He couldn’t stop himself from pushing her back against the wall of the elevator and devouring her mouth. When he felt her leg slide up the outside of his thigh his hand immediately went to pull her closer. His hand slid up the hem of her dress to cup her ass, as he heard her moan he thought he might come on the spot. Damn where was his legendary control?

  At the ding of the elevator they both looked up in surprise. How was it possible to reach her floor already? Russ felt guilty that his mind and body was so consumed with her that he had forgotten to take care of her. Anyone could have boarded the elevator and he would have embarrassed her. Hell, he had forgotten about the security cameras on the elevator. He would have to figure that one out later.

  There was no way that he would allow his staff to gossip about the woman in his
arms. She meant too much to him already. He had to convince her to stay, to not leave at the end of her vacation. He had no idea how that was going to happen, but he would make it happen.

  As they quickly walked down the hallway to her room he watched in amusement as Amanda fumbled in her purse for her room key. It seemed that she was just as shaken by their chemistry as he was. He couldn’t stop himself from bending down and nibbling where her collar bone and neck met. He couldn’t keep his hands, or his lips off her.

  The moment that the little light on the door turned green she flung the door open and pulled him into the room. As it banged closed they separated slightly, both breathing heavily. He could see the lust in her eyes and knew that she must certainly be able to see the same reflected in his.

  He watched in amazement as her eyes lowered in embarrassment but before his anger could surface her confession had him freezing.

  “Contrary to how this must seem to you I don’t normally do this kind of thing.”

  Her confession made Russ’ heart tighten, God she was beautiful, and she didn’t even know that every time she got shy it just about killed him. He couldn’t believe that he was with her. That she had given him a chance even after telling him that she wasn’t interested in a fling. He would thank whatever higher power that had smiled down on him to bring this woman into his life.

  Russ tilted her chin forcing her to make eye contact with him, it seemed to be a habit for her to avert her gaze when she confessed something to him. He wanted her to hear him when he spoke to her. “You have caught me completely off guard and if you want me to leave, I will. I want to get to know you and if this is moving too fast for you all you have to do is tell me.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Earlier this evening hadn’t she thought the exact same thing? That whatever this was between them was moving too fast for her. Just hours ago, she had wanted to slow this down but now seeing the earnest look in his eyes her hesitation fled. This was going to happen. She was going to spend the night with this man and her heart felt like it was going to over flow with desire and happiness.

  Amanda put her lips to his and let her kiss be his answer. Her hands went to the buttons on his shirt and started to hurriedly undo them. The thought flashed through her mind about grabbing the edges and ripping the buttons free, like they did in her romance books, but she couldn’t do it. She wasn’t bold enough or strong enough, so she would do it the old fashion way. One heart stopping button at a time.

  Each button gave her a glimpse of the body that the shirt had hinted at. The body of someone that not only worked out in a gym but did physical labor in the sun if his tanned abs were anything to go by. Once the last button slid free she ran her hands over his impressive chest. She wanted to run her mouth across his pecks and down the six-pack of his abs. She wanted to kiss and caress every inch of his body and God he had a great body. All toned and tanned. As her hands started to travel down his stomach toward his belt, he stopped her. She looked up into his eyes suddenly unsure.

  “My turn to undress you.” Came his throaty response.

  The sound of his voice told her better than words could have that his control was slipping, and she was the cause. She could see her desire reflected in his eyes. He wanted this as much as she did, and that single thought was enough to have her moaning.

  My God, she thought as his mouth brushed a kiss over her lips and then moved to trail kisses from her ear lobe down her neck to her collarbone. She felt his hands at the zipper on the back of her dress. If he pulled that zipper open any slower, she was going to scream in frustration. She tried to rub her body against his, but he kept her just far enough away that she couldn’t brush against him. She was going to reach back and undo it herself when she felt the dress start to slide from her shoulders and pool at her feel.

  She heard his intake of breath and that sharp inhale let her know better than any words could have that he found her beautiful and sexy. There was no faking that sound and it turned her on even more, if that was possible.

  “You are so beautiful.” He said almost reverently. He reached behind her, unclasped her bra, and let it fall into the pile on the floor, reaching out slowly to cup first one breast and then the other. He lowered his head and brought one to his mouth sucking the nipple into his mouth. She could feel his smile against her skin as she moaned in pleasure. She couldn’t stop herself from splaying her fingers through his hair. Russ moved onto the other breast and he gave it the same attention as the first. When he had worshipped both to his satisfaction, he trailed kisses down her stomach until he reached the top of her panties. When he placed an open mouth kiss on the silky fabric, she felt her legs start to collapse.

  In a fluid movement, he came to his feet lifting her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. The fire behind that kiss scorched her, left her feeling needy and wanton. She needed him, she needed him to fulfill the fantasies that her mind had been concocting since she first saw him on the plane.

  She felt the cool sheets on her naked skin when he laid her on the bed, her eyes fluttered open and took in his rock-hard abs still half covered with his shirt, “You have way too many clothes on.”

  Russ smiled at her and reached for the buckle of his belt. Once undone he sat on the bed and removed his shoes and socks then stood and faced her. Never removing his eyes from hers as he undid the button and zipper on his pants and slowly lowered them to the floor. The thought had slid through his mind that he had never stripped for someone before.

  Normally he would shuck his clothes and climb into bed but with Amanda he couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers as he removed the rest of his clothes. Watching her take in the sight of him, her eyes widening, made him grow even harder.

  “Better?” he asked playfully. He put one knee on the bed and started to lean over to take her mouth. He couldn’t get enough of the taste of her.

  “Yes, but one of us still has clothes on.”

  “Well let’s remedy that shall we.” Russ slid the silky black panties down her legs and tossed them on the floor, not giving a thought to where they might end up. The sight of her laying there naked, his for the taking had his heart beating even faster. He skimmed his hand up her calf toward her inner thigh. When he reached her wet folds he slowly encircled her clit with his thumb.

  Amanda’s hips jerked up willing him to fill her, but he was content to massage her clit. Looking into her face he knew when she was reaching her breaking point and he slipped two fingers inside of her but never lost focus on the slow lazy circles he was making with his thumb. When his fingers slid out and back into her she moaned in pleasure and her breath caught. He watched as her breathing quickened and her inner muscles started to clamp around his fingers, he could tell she was getting close and he wanted to prolong the pleasure she was feeling.

  His warm wet mouth closed over her nipple, sucking it gently was enough to have her flying over the edge, feeling her inner walls clamp around his fingers and she moaned loudly.

  “Oh my God don’t stop.” She begged. As she rode the crest of her climax only coming back to herself when her legs started shaking and the high started to clear. She opened her eyes and the look in them had Russ almost losing control.

  “That was amazing.” She breath out.

  “Were not done yet.” He said smiling into her face as he removed his fingers from inside her and replaced them with his cock.

  Holy shit Russ thought as he looked into Amanda’s eyes. She felt so tight around him that he had to concentrate not to come. He wanted Amanda to remember tonight. He wanted to remember tonight. As he pulled almost all the way out and rocked back into her as deep as he could, he heard her moan. He started to build a rhythm, but she had plans of her own. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips giving him deeper access inside of her.

  He couldn’t tell where his pleasure ended and hers began but it didn’t matter. As long as they got there together, and he was so close. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hol
d on. He lifted away from her just far enough that he could slip a hand between them while keeping his weight from crushing her. As soon as his fingers found her clit he applied a faint pressure and made a circling motion. He could feel her start to tighten around him. With a few more stokes from his finger and a few thrusts from his hips they both found the release that they needed.

  As she cried out his name he brought his lips down to meet hers in a tender kiss. He couldn’t remember the last time that he had felt tender after sex. He rolled them both to the side and without thinking snuggled her into his embrace. He wasn’t one to cuddle after sex, but he didn’t want to let her go. He didn’t think he would ever be able to let her go.

  CHAPTER 12

  The feeling of Amanda’s warm body pressed up against his was a sensation that he could get used too. The feeling of her in his arms settled him in a way that he didn’t know was possible. From dinner to drinks, just being with her last night was unlike anything he had experienced

  A wide smile split his face as thoughts of last night resurfaced. How was it possible to want a future with someone after only one night together? Was it even remotely possible to feel this strongly for someone this fast? Any other time he would have called Greg and tried to hash this out, but it felt wrong to talk about what happened between them. It was special and something he didn’t want to share with anyone, not even his best friend.

  Gently sliding out from under her arm he stood staring down at her. She was unlike anyone he had ever met and so beautiful. He was reluctant to leave her even knowing that leaving would be the fastest way to get back to her. With a sigh of resignation, he bent down and brushed a kiss against her exposed shoulder. She murmured his name as she reached across the bed for him.

  He leaned down a placed a kiss on her cheek and whispered in her ear “Sweetheart I have to go. I have some work to finish and then I’d like to take you out for the day. Do you have plans?”