Conference Cupid

by Eden Elgabri

  He stopped in the middle of saying her name as two of his employees burst into the room, stopping short and almost tumbling over one another.

  Momentarily, they stood frozen in shock. From deep down in their bellies they burst into laughter.

  “You need help, boss?”

  Devin shut his eyes, hoping when he opened them the scene would be different.

  What the hell was he thinking when he allowed her to tie him to the bed? He was thinking of her fucking him, sucking him, urging the seed out of his cock until his body shook in orgasm. And he was thinking he could trust her.

  Now everyone in the hotel would know about this little escapade before the hour ended. Not that Gunther or Ken would be malicious. It was just too big of a piece of gossip not to spread. And hell if he’d walked in on something like this he wouldn’t be able to keep it to himself either.

  “Come on guys; get me out of these,” he said pulling on the binds.

  Gunther walked to one side and Ken the other. They made fast work of the knots that held him.

  Devin went to jump up and realized he had nothing on under the sheet. He pulled it up with him and grabbed his clothes. “Thanks, guys. I can handle it from here. And can you please try to keep this to yourselves?”

  They nodded, but their shit-eating grins made it clear they wouldn’t be able to do any such thing. They left the room, smirking, and Devin collapsed in the chair, elbows on his knees, and head between his hands. He gazed at the bed where he’d first set eyes on Keary’s naked body. He could see her as well as if she still rested there. Pink nipples hardened with lust. His mouth watered for a taste. He licked his lips, dry from want.

  He couldn’t hold on to the anger. She’d only betrayed him because he’d betrayed her first. Fear enveloped him instead.

  What if he never got to taste her again?

  * * * *

  Peter crossed his arms and stared at Maggie and Keary, glancing from one to the other. “People should keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves unless they know what they are talking about.”

  “I didn’t know what was going on. I told my friend Suz about you. She put the pieces together. But why wouldn’t I tell a friend that a man she thought was someone else played her?”

  “Because you know nothing about it. You know nothing about him.”

  “You wouldn’t help one of your friends? Or relatives?” Keary asked.

  “I’d find out the truth before I shot my mouth off,” he said, glaring at Maggie.

  “Right,” Maggie said. “And how would I find out the truth? Ask you?”

  “That’s right. You could have asked me and you might have been amazed at what you would have found.” Peter glanced at Keary. “The guy’s crazy about you. Hell, he’s been in love with you since he started high school.”

  “High school? What are you talking about?”

  “High school cheerleader right?”

  “Devin went to Amdale High? I don’t remember ever seeing him there.”

  “No, try Amdale Academy. He begged his parents to let him switch to the public school, but considering they owned half the town, it wouldn’t have been acceptable.”

  “Barnett. Oh good God. He’s one of those Barnetts?”

  “Yup. And still this hotel he acquired on his own. Not that he won’t inherit a bundle someday. He is the heir apparent. The point is he was sort of nerdy in high school. Not like me,” Peter said and shot a cocky look at Maggie.

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “So big deal. He still lied to her.”

  “That’s right; he did.” Keary crossed her arms over her chest and her eyes narrowed. “What difference does it make that he had a crush on me in high school. He didn’t even know me and it has nothing to do with now.”

  “But it does. He changed in college and finally had the nerve to search you out. Found you too. But before he had the chance to accidentally run into you so he could ask you out, a guy at his fraternity beat him to it. A guy who knew how he felt about you. A guy who hated Devin. Can you take a guess at who that man was?”

  Keary reached out for the couch with her hand to steady herself and then fell into it. “My ex-husband?”

  “Bingo.” Peter stared down at her.

  “Are you trying to say my husband never really loved me?”

  “No. Just that he didn’t like being number two and he always wanted whatever Devin wanted. He could never beat Devin. When he met you senior year he kept you away from the frat house and away from Devin. But he rubbed it in his face every chance he could get.”

  “That would certainly explain why his interest died so soon after we were married. I didn’t realize.” She put her hands up to cradle her head. Maggie sat down next to Keary and placed an arm around her.

  “Why didn’t Devin just introduce himself to Keary when he saw her at the conference? That would have been the smart thing to do.”

  “He wasn’t thinking. He never did when it came to Keary. He only heard a few things. She divorced the asshole she married, it had been a while since...well, and her friend planned on finding her a model to play with while she stayed here. He just stepped into the role. He didn’t think far enough ahead. I think he just wanted to be with you on any level and he’d take what he could get.”

  “If he’d only been truthful.”

  “About which part? Hey you were my fantasy girlfriend in high school? Or I wanted to go out with you in college but when my nemesis found out he married you? Which one would have gained your interest?”

  “He could have simply introduced himself as the owner of the hotel. Let it out where he came from...”

  “Yeah, you’re back to him lying if he didn’t then say he was nuts about you. He was screwed from the beginning. I hoped he’d have a good time and get over you.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because whether you want to admit it or not, the man fell in love with you for real. Not some high school fantasy, not some vacation fling, the real deal. He’s a good guy and you totally fucked him over.”

  “I fucked him over?”

  “Sending his employees to release him from a bondage situation? And taking pictures of it? Nice touch.”

  “Is that what this is all about? The pictures? He’s afraid of what I might do with them?”

  Peter shook his head. “No. He wanted to find a way to tell you. A way that would entice you to continue with the relationship. The guy is broken up inside and you don’t seem to care at all. I shouldn’t have come here. You’re not worth it. And you,” he said to Maggie, “We’re done.”

  With that Peter turned and stormed out of the room.

  Maggie sighed. “Looks like they’re a passionate family.”

  Keary’s heart beat wildly. What if what Peter said was true?

  What if Devin did love her? Would she ever be able to trust him?

  * * * *

  Devin paced the lobby and eyed every woman checking out. Did she know about him and Keary? Which ones had Keary shown her pictures to? He didn’t want to talk to her but he had to. He wanted to scream at her. He wanted to lick every inch of her body until she screamed out his name.

  Most of all, he still wanted to stop her from walking out that door and out of his life.

  He sensed her presence before he saw her. He always knew when she walked into a room. Devin glanced up and there she stood at the top of the stairwell. His eyes caught hers and she stopped moving.

  Then the earth tipped and everything played in slow motion. The tote bag she carried slipped from her shoulder and tumbled in front of her. She reached forward to try to catch it and her ankle turned.

  Devin’s breath caught and his heart beat faster. He moved in an all out sprint for the stairs, knowing there was no way he could stop the forward momentum. Susan screeched and reached out to grab Keary but she was already sailing down to her knees and then tumbling.

  He caught her before she reached the bottom but a significant amount of damage had
already been done. Her face, now ashen, was contorted in pain and her breathing shallow. One look at her right leg told him it was broken. “Get an ambulance,” he said to Susan without looking away from Keary. He slipped his hand in hers. “Hold on tight as you need to. Grip my hand to get through the pain.”

  Kerry whimpered but couldn’t speak.

  Chapter Twelve

  Neither Devin nor Suz left her the entire time she waited in the emergency room. A balding doctor with dark circles under his eyes took her to a room and kicked them out so he could place on her cast.

  Six to eight weeks.

  How would she ever do it in her apartment? She’d never be able to manage the stairs.

  Work would be out of the question. She’d have to work from home until the cast came off. But then how would she get home? She couldn’t drive.

  If she only hadn’t looked down and saw Devin. She didn’t have a handle on the big bag as it was but the second she saw him, she lost her focus and everything went to hell. What was she going to do now?

  The downside of being alone was not having anyone to take care of her. The thought of convalescing with parents at her age was more than she could bear. They still couldn’t figure out how she let, in their opinion, the perfect marriage fail.

  As if the blame had been entirely her fault.

  But then again they’d been in awe of Jacob and his money. What a catch. But they didn’t have to live with him and put up with his neglect.

  He never would have held her hand the way Devin did. He’d never even looked at her the way Devin did.

  But then again Jacob didn’t lie. Always brutally honest, Jacob let her know how she was lacking and when he was ready to move on to other women.

  It wouldn’t have mattered; if she remained married to Jacob she still would have been alone.

  That was the difference with Devin. With him she’d been complete. Wanting nothing more than Devin’s arms wrapped around her, Keary held back the tears that threatened. She hadn’t cried when her husband left her and she wouldn’t cry now.

  * * * *

  Devin had every intention of using this time wisely. He’d set Keary up in one of the suites and would make sure her stay extended longer than necessary. Certainly in that time he’d be able to fix the damage he’d done and find a way back into her heart.

  There had to be a way to make up for the mess he’d made.

  Keary sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her pale skin radiating pain Devin wished he could erase. She winced and glanced at the floor.

  Afraid he’d reach out to touch her, Devin stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ve got a limo waiting outside.”

  She looked up at the sound of his voice. “Why would you do that?”

  “No ulterior motive, I assure you. What do you suggest? I let you take a cab?” The soft, almost reverent undertone in his voice erased the sarcasm of his words.

  “I wasn’t planning on that. Suz is here.”

  “It’ll be more comfortable in the limo. I’m moving you to another suite. One on the first floor.”

  Keary looked confused. “I should be leaving today anyway.”

  “The extra stay is complimentary.”

  “I’ve already had a taste of your complimentary fare.” She locked eyes with Devin. His heart beat faster remembering the massage that kicked off their affair, his first touch of her tender skin. The thin cotton of the hospital gown did little to hide the supple mounds of her breasts. The cold from the air conditioning had them hardened to pin points and he longed to drop in front of her and suck them through the cloth. Erase her pain with a flood of pleasure.

  “I made a mess of things. I don’t know what I was thinking but I couldn’t wait any longer for you. I knew if you gave me a chance we’d be perfect for each other.”

  Keary crossed her arms over the hospital johnny and her jaw clenched before she answered. “We might have been if you’d been honest rather than just trying to get me in bed.”

  “No. That’s not—” He stopped and saw the situation through her eyes. “I guess you would see it that way. But you can’t imagine... there’s no way I can explain it. You’re right. What I did was wrong. There’s probably no way I can make up for it, but that has nothing to do with your stay at the hotel. You were hurt there. It’s the least I can do.”

  Keary remained silent as if contemplating his words.

  “Did you come to the hotel with Susan?”

  It didn’t appear that she would answer at first, but then she shook her head. “No, I drove myself.”

  “How are you planning on getting back? You can’t drive with your right ankle in a cast.”

  “I know. I’ll have to talk to my boss and work from home for the next few weeks.”

  Or work from his hotel. The longer she stayed the more time he’d have to win her back.

  “You’ll be my guest until you’re able to drive.”

  “Don’t be absurd. It could be six weeks before the cast comes off. I can’t be out of work that long. Out of the office, that is.”

  “We’ll work it out. Just plan on staying until you’re more mobile.”

  * * * *

  Keary could easily get used to this life. Two weeks had turned into three and a half. She wrote while Devin worked. He joined her for meals and talked her into a temporary leave from her job while she was disabled.

  Keary never had any intention of blaming Devin or the hotel for the fall, but Devin wouldn’t hear of her leaving. To be honest, he made it too easy to stay.

  At first, between the pain and the anger, Keary didn’t think she’d be able to forgive Devin. As time went on they became increasingly more comfortable with each other.

  Peter had been right. Love shone in Devin’s eyes each time he looked at her, but he held back.

  So did she.

  The more time they spent together, the more Keary wanted him back inside her. She ached to touch him, to have him buried inside her, to wrap her lips around his hard cock and suck the life out of him.

  Even if he lied to seduce her, somewhere along the line, his teenage obsession had turned into love. Keary was ready to forgive him but she could see in his eyes, if not in his tone, that Devin had lost trust in her. He never asked about the pictures, but the question remained, hidden beneath the surface.

  Keary glanced at the uploaded pictures on her laptop and smiled. She’d write her way out of this one.

  * * * *

  He’d almost deleted the e-mail. Keary’s name on the attachment made him want to open it. The picture floored him. Nothing more than his cock covered by the sheet and women flanking him. “Hotel Owner Very Accommodating” the title blazed across the page, the byline, Keary Galloway, sealing his fate.

  His hands shook and he wanted to gag. Damn her. How could she do this to him? Prepared for the worst he began reading.

  Devin Barnett, owner of Hotel Royale Suites, rolled out the red carpet for romance writers across the nation in their annual writer’s conference. The planning committee was more than pleased with how smoothly this year’s conference went, and has planned to bring the conference back there in the future.

  From the acoustics in the conference rooms to the sumptuous meals, this year’s conference, set a standard hotels in the past have not been able to compete with. This in part has to do with the owner and general manager, Devin Barnett. Mr. Barnett personally saw to all the little details that made the conference such a success.

  And to prove he was a good sport, he even posed as a cover model in a mock up for my upcoming erotic novella titled Conference Cupid which is about a lonely writer falling in love with the man of her fantasies at a romance conference. Thanks for the inspiration, Devin. I’m sure this novella will write itself.

  Whether you’re there for a conference or just there for a night the rooms are beautifully decorated and spotless. The staff is friendly and instantly assists with all of your needs. And be sure to check out the top notch spa. You’ll believe in
fantasy. You’ll believe in romance.

  His heart pounded within his chest. He couldn’t ask for a better advertisement. Women everywhere would read the article and his hotel would be the one they’d choose.

  Conference Cupid? That wasn’t what Keary was writing. A writer falling in love at a conference. Could she mean them? Hope stirred for the first time since Keary walked into his hotel.

  Devin left his desk and strode toward Keary’s suite at breakneck pace. He halted before the door and composed himself. Knocking twice, he slipped the key card into place and entered the room.

  “Oh Devin, is it time for lunch already?”

  He didn’t answer her, just closed the laptop and pushed it away from her on the table. She took in a breath, confounded at his rudeness and gasped as he lifted her over his shoulder and slapped her ass.

  Carefully dropping her down on the bed in consideration of her cast, Devin untied the hotel robe and stripped off the pajama bottoms and thong. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt without uttering a sound. Keary stared wide-eyed and her nipples hardened to points under the thin silk covering her breasts.

  She wanted him. It was enough to keep him going. Shucking his clothes in the quiet, Devin finally stood at the foot of the bed, naked and ready.

  When he made no move to join her, Keary slid her arms from the open robe and lifted the pajama top over her head. Her eyes locked with Devin’s and she slowly spread her legs in invitation.

  His gaze lowered to her pussy, open and slick.

  Ready.

  Wanton.

  Excited.

  Crawling onto the bed, he slid inside her wetness in one easy stroke and pushed as far into her as he could. Leaning up on his elbows Devin kept his eyes riveted to hers, his face a mere five to six inches away.

  Neither one spoke.

  His engorged cock grew longer and thicker, filling her completely. Her tightness made his balls ache with longing. Joined, they were complete. He thrust forward and she raised her hand to bring his face—his mouth—toward her.