Take Me To Bed: Bedtime Quickies

by Alex Grayson

  Aiden: Is that all?

  I don’t answer. Instead, I pretend to be interested in Joseph. I remove my shawl, lean in, then touch my neck, run my fingers down to my cleavage. I can’t figure out what is going on, but I haven’t been this hot for a guy in years. Not even when William and I first dated. Yeah, I’d had a drink, a double for that matter, but still, I was saying and doing things I wouldn’t normally consider. And for a man I haven’t spoken to yet either.

  Aiden: Anywhere else?

  Joseph asks me questions I barely realize I’m answering. I think I reply “Aiden” when he asks what I like to do for fun. I peek over at Aiden to find him staring. He winks and I play it off with a hair flip. Then I bring my hand slowly down into my lap where he can’t see it. A moment later a text comes.

  Aiden: Is that where I think it is?

  Looking at Joseph, I nod once. The bell sounds and Joseph rises. When everyone shifts, I lose sight of Aiden. When we’re all seated, one woman sits alone. I swing my head from side to side. What the hell happened to him?

  4

  Kelsey and I dart from the event, leaving our forms empty. Aiden bailed so I didn’t see the point. I can’t help wonder if he was screwing with me. He has my number so time will tell.

  “I need a drink after that snooze fest,” Kelsey says as we walk back to the bar. “Kelsey was not digging that scene.”

  “Ya think?”

  As soon as we enter, I scan the room for Aiden. Why am I so focused on him when I have scores of men to choose from?

  “Come on.” Kelsey grabs my hand and pulls me toward a long high-top table at the back, where a large group has gathered. Shots line the table and as we approach, a tall blond guy hands one to each of us as if we are part of the group. Then he takes Kelsey by the shoulders and shoves her between two random people lined up at the table. He does the same to me and I comply even as I’m thinking this isn’t the smartest thing.

  “Get ready!” a girl across the table shouts.

  I eye Kelsey because I don’t know what the hell we just walked into. Everyone is staring at the girl holding her shot up. When she downs it, she turns to the guy to her right and kisses him on the lips. Then he downs his shot, turns to his right and kisses the girl next to him. Kelsey and I exchange another look. Only hers is the opposite of my horror. I start to back away and she glares at me. I guess we’re doing this.

  As the kisses and shots go around the table, I wonder if this singles week is a “swingers” week. Yet, the kisses are tame, playful, and a couple of people do a kiss on the cheek. When the guy next to me shoots, I decide to stop being a prude. He gives me a peck, fiery whiskey on his breath. I laugh and shoot mine, turning to the redheaded dude on my right and pecking him on the lips. Kelsey takes his quick kiss and after slamming her shot, grabs the guy next to her and devours his mouth. Whoops and hollers race around the table.

  My phone vibrates/dings in my purse as more shots are delivered. I sneak away from the table, seeing that Kelsey is having too much fun to notice.

  Aiden: Should I be jealous?

  I can’t fight my smile as I glance around and look for him, but I don’t see him anywhere.

  I’m just about to type a reply when another text comes.

  Aiden: Lose the frat boys and meet me on the fourth floor terrace.

  Just in case, I shoot Kelsey a text saying I’m going to walk a bit and get some air, then make my way up and over to the terrace. My pulse races, thinking of Aiden waiting for me and finally hearing his voice.

  But when I arrive on the balcony, he’s not there. This guy better not be messing with me. Somehow I know he’s not, so I toss the doubt away and wait. After a few minutes, I send a text.

  Me: On the terrace…

  I look out over the garden, dim lighting showcasing lush trees spotting a path that winds around the property. My mind wanders, trying to figure out what kind of man Aiden is. He seems smart, confident, and not a singles week guy. Then again, I didn’t think I was.

  I check the time and huff. I put my phone back in my purse, telling myself if he’s not here in one minute, I’m leaving, then deleting his contact. “This is freaking ridiculous,” I mutter under my breath, humiliation turning to anger as I spin to stomp away.

  I gasp when I slam right into Aiden, my eyes traveling up to meet his just before he grabs me by the waist with one hand and pulls me hard against his body. Our eyes lock in a heated stare. His other hand snakes under my hair, behind my neck, and pulls me in, guiding my lips slowly to his mouth. His kiss isn’t greedy or desperate. It’s soft and pressing, an invitation, one I wholeheartedly accept by parting my lips, letting his tongue slide over mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and melt into his hold as our lips touch and brush against each other like two lovers getting reacquainted. How could this man’s touch, his kiss, take me to a place I’ve never been before?

  “Thank God! There you are.”

  Aiden and I pull away, our eyes sharing the realization of that kiss before we both turn to find Kelsey standing there. Before I can say a word, she grabs my wrist and yanks on me. “We have a huge problem.”

  I pull back against her hold, look over my shoulder at Aiden looking confused. When I turn back to Kelsey, I see the problem; William is coming up behind her. My blood boils as he approaches and when he stops short of the terrace, I jerk my wrist from Kelsey, slap both hands on Williams chest and shove. He stumbles back and I follow with another shove. “What the hell are you doing here?” I say in a low strain. He holds his hands up as if surrendering. “Please I just have to talk to you. Give me a few minutes.”

  I pull in a deep breath and sigh it out, feeling trapped. I’ll need to hear him out to get rid of him so I shake my head and push past him, heading toward the elevator, torn between anger and embarrassment. Then a flash of recognition hits me and I stop short, look back at the terrace. But only Kelsey is standing there.

  5

  William and I sit in the café, my anger having subsided when as we walked over he told me his mother had passed. She was terminal on hospice care when I ended our relationship.

  “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone, but at the same time when I found out where you were…”

  I shake my head. “No, William, you can’t be serious.” What part of ‘I don’t want to see your face again’ was not clear? Except that wasn’t possible since I am the administrator at the law firm William works at.

  He tries to take my hand but I slide it away. “Listen, baby, I couldn’t handle what my mom was going through. What I did…it was stupid but I truly believe it was the pain.”

  Holy crap, this guy. “Look, William, I’m so sorry about Susan. Please send your family my condolences. There’s nothing more to say.” I stand and touch his shoulder. “Have a safe flight.”

  As I walk away without a second look, a sense of relief comes over me. It’s tragic about his mother but this little reunion shows me I have no feelings left for the man. The only thing on my mind is that kiss…

  When I round the corner, I run into Kelsey. I give her the 411 and she tells me the guys from earlier are getting together tonight, then going to the midnight buffet. “You go. I think after what happened, I just want to chill in my room.”

  Kelsey doesn’t push and twenty minutes later, I’m soaking in a hot bath with a glass of wine when my phone pings.

  Aiden: Looks like I’m not the only one who can’t stay away from you.

  Me: Sorry about that. My ex.

  Aiden: That makes sense. Is he still there?

  Me: Nope. I’m soaking in the bath.

  Aiden: Ah, hell, what are you doing to me?

  Me: Funny, you seem interested—especially after that kiss—yet you keep disappearing on me.

  Aiden: I apologize. That wasn’t by choice. Trust me.

  His words make me smile. I can’t believe I’m having this conversation—naked in the bath.

  Me: You don’t seem like the type of guy who’d go to a sing
les event.

  Aiden: I’m not.

  Me: Then what made you go?

  Aiden: You.

  I let a tiny gasp out and almost drop my phone. But I recover quickly, knowing all this could be his schtick.

  Me: Right!

  Aiden: It’s true. After I saw you at the bar, I followed you. I couldn’t risk you meeting someone.

  I can’t decide if I should be nervous, flattered, or totally turned on. But I don’t have a choice because all three are happening. As questions whirl through my mind, I see the three dots bouncing.

  Aiden: I hope that doesn’t scare you?

  For some reason it doesn’t. That kiss we shared felt so right, like every part of him was speaking to every part of me. I think I’d know if he was a stalker or something. So I decide to ask him why he’s staying at the hotel if he’s not here for the singles week.

  Aiden: I own the hotel.

  I laugh.

  Me: Shut up! Then I get up out of the bath, set the phone down, and throw on my robe. This has been fun, but I’m looking for more than a role-playing scenario.

  I go to my suitcase and slip on a strappy silk nightie and get on the bed. Still no response from Aiden but the dots jump just before a knock sounds at my door. I hesitantly approach and when I open the door, I’m taken aback. A woman holds a large vase with long-stemmed red roses. Once I get them into the room, I spot the card and open it: Do you believe me now?

  Not only do my cheeks flame and a smile takes over my face, but a pulsing desire shoots through me. I jump to my bed and check my phone.

  Aiden: I wouldn’t lie to you, Meg.

  Though I don’t know his voice, a deep baritone rolls through me saying the words. Another text comes with a link, which I click on, and chortle. It’s a bio page with his image, looking sexy as hell, and confirming he is indeed the hotel owner. That explains a lot.

  I apologize and after thanking him for the roses, I add a lame compliment about the hotel I regret sending. But he’s gracious, then turns the focus to me. We text for an hour, me sharing about my job, William, and my friendship with Kelsey, him sharing about a long-ago fiancée who died, the hotel, and how it’s doing so well he’s opening more locations, one in the near future. At one point, Aiden says we should stop texting and meet downstairs. I don’t hesitate with my reply.

  Me: Why don’t you come to my room…

  6

  I wait nervously for Aiden to arrive. The knock at the door sends butterflies to my stomach. As soon as I open it, his lips are on mine, and he’s backing me up to the wall, his hard body pressing into mine. My heart beats so wildly I almost pass out, and I break away toward the bathroom.

  Following me to the sink, he comes flush against my back. He brushes my hair to the side and kisses my neck as I breathe deeply, bracing myself on the counter. My breath catches when he reaches to one of the straps on my nightie and pulls it down to kiss my shoulder, exposing my bare breast to him in the mirror. This frantic sexual need is new to me, a thrill like nothing I’ve ever felt.

  He palms my breasts from behind while he sucks lightly at my neck. Our eyes connect in the mirror, his dark and heady, before he drops one hand to reach under the flowy satin, running it up my inner thigh. I arch my back against him, getting more aroused by the second. I’m so ready for him but I also want this feeling to last forever.

  Aiden flips me around and slides my nightie all the way down over my hips and to the floor. I stand there in only a black lace thong as he looks me up and down, his chest heavy, his mouth parted.

  I make my way over to the bed and crawl on as he watches. At that moment I realize we still haven’t said a word to each other. This is insane.

  “Aiden,” I say just so I can hear it. So I can make it—him—real.

  His eyes sparkle and he comes over, pulling his shirt off on the way. Then he removes his shoes, pants, and boxer briefs. He stands, beautifully taut, staring down on me as I lie on my back on the bed. When his eyes wander the length of me, a pulsing heat begins between my thighs.

  “Show me again where you want my mouth,” he says.

  Holy hell, his voice is everything I expected and more.

  I run my hands over my breasts slowly as he watches and then down…

  He sits on the edge of the bed, leans over me, and follows the path of my hands with his mouth, burning a hot trail as he goes.

  As his lips paint my skin, I run my hand over the rippled muscles of his back, then feather my fingers through his hair. He makes his way back up and just before he covers my mouth with his he whispers, “You’re perfect, Meg” and every inch of me melts.

  His lips nip at mine, teasing, then he consumes my mouth, and the kiss is everything. Hot. Hungry and sweet, exciting yet familiar, like I’ve known him my whole life. Feel safe in his arms. Cherished and wanted.

  Every move he makes, every touch is blissful as if he’s reading my mind or like we are both following a choreographed dance. We continue to explore each other’s bodies until an urgent need ignites in us, and I wrap my legs around his torso, urging him to take me, to finally fuse our bodies as one.

  I moan his name and he locks eyes with me.

  “I got you,” he whispers and then he becomes a man on a mission, shooting us both to nirvana.

  7

  Aiden strokes my hair, staring at me in the dim light when I realize I dozed off at some point. “What time is it?” I ask.

  “Who cares?” he whispers.

  I laugh and he kisses me gently before pulling back to look at me with a thoughtful expression.

  “What are you thinking?”

  He lies back and I snuggle against his chest as he pulls me in. “I’ll probably have my man card revoked for this, but I was watching you sleep, wondering…why this all feels so right.”

  I fill my lungs and my heart speeds up. “I feel the same way.”

  “It’s crazy, right?”

  I run my hand along his chest. “Insane.”

  Suddenly, he bolts upright. “So what are we going to do about it?”

  I lean up on my elbow. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re leaving in what? Two days. I don’t want you to go. At least not yet.” He shakes his head and runs his hand over his jaw. “Shit, how bad does that sound?”

  “It sounds wonderful…but I have to go back to work…to my life.” Though, there’s not much beyond work these days.

  “Work…” He shakes his head. “It’s all I thought about for too long.” He bends forward and presses his mouth to mine, then trails across my cheek to my ear. I hold his head as he licks a line down to my collar bone, then quickly moves back to my mouth, delivering a searing kiss that heats me up for round two…until he pulls back. “Get dressed.”

  I’m in my nightie, covered only by my shawl, and Aiden barefoot wearing his pants and his shirt unbuttoned as he guides us stealthily down the hall to the elevator and up to the top floor. We pass some curious onlookers but keep a steady pace until we get to a set of double doors.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I say when he lets us in. I survey the expansive suite, complete with living area, sunken bathtub, and full bar. “But are we supposed to be here?”

  He tilts his head, grabbing me by the waist. “I don’t think we’ll get into trouble.”

  I giggle as he pulls us both onto the bed, him on his back and me on top, my hair falling around his face. “God, you’re incredible,” he says and then kisses me.

  I could live off those kisses if I were starving on a desert island.

  He rolls us so he’s on top and the weight of him is heavenly. I don’t want to think about leaving; I just want Aiden. I slip my hands into the back waistband of his pants and pull him into me as I wrap my legs around him.

  He pulls back and chuckles. “I was going to ask you if you wanted a drink first but…”

  “I’m not thirsty,” I say, pinning him with my gaze.

  “All right, then. Guess I’ll spend the rest of the night
worshipping you.”

  And that’s exactly what he does—in the bed, on the bartop… until my body is completely and pleasantly spent.

  Aiden calls for room service; we earned indulging in cheese, wine, and fruit. We talk the night—and early morning—away in bed, both avoiding the elephant in the room.

  His arms around me make me feel so safe I dread leaving this position, leaving his arms even though I feel like I should go back to my room. I fight against my heavy lids and relaxed muscles but at some point the battle ends.

  8

  “You little slut. Kelsey’s impressed.”

  “Come on, Kel, I’m serious.” We’re sitting at a small café in the hotel, not long after I did the walk of shame from the hotel suite. Only that wasn’t why I snuck away. I’m terrible at goodbyes. I had such an amazing experience with Aiden, I couldn’t bear to look into those eyes one more time, knowing I’m leaving tomorrow.

  “What do you want from me? If this is some fairy-tale romance, then why’d you leave?”

  “I told you, I panicked. I swear, the night was just…I can’t even explain it.”

  She lifts her coffee mug, sips, then points it at me. “He slip something into your drink?”

  “Of course not. Kel, this guy…he’s everything I ever wanted.” I hold up my hands. “No, it’s more than that. He makes me feel everything I want to feel. He told me he’s never met anyone like me and that…I make him see the world differently. And the sex…”

  Her eyes go wide and she slaps me on the arm. “Holy shit, Meg.”

  “I know.” The smile I share with her fades when I realize I don’t know for sure he feels as strongly as I do. Maybe he just got swept up. Then as if on cue, I spot him over her shoulder in the middle of the lobby. “Oh my God,” I whisper.