by Suzanne Rock
For days he had been working on almost no sleep and a constant bombardment of emotional distraction. He needed a reprieve before he did something stupid that couldn’t be fixed.
“Even if I did see my brothers—which I didn’t—there’s nothing I could possibly tell them that they didn’t already know.” Ari moved a stray hair from her face and curled her fingers into her palms. The woman was stunning when she was all fired up, and Jason struggled to control his rising desire.
After adjusting his suit jacket to hide his erection, Jason crossed his arms and leaned against the side of the elevator. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just … your brother offered me his hotels in Asia and I was wondering why.”
“He did what?” she asked.
“Leo offered me all of the Perconti Asian interests. It doesn’t make sense for him to let them go—unless there is something about them you aren’t telling me.”
“That bastard.” Her eyes widened in shock. “He told all of us before the wedding that we’d each have a stake in the company and help make decisions.” She fisted her hands. “Once again, my brothers are making decisions without consulting me—”
“So there is nothing wrong with those hotels?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Leo has put a lot of work into expanding in Asia…”
“Oh, I know, which is why I think that his proposal might have an ulterior motive.” He searched her face for something—anything—that would give him a clue as to her true feelings. Was everything between them a lie? Was she helping her brother in some elaborate con?
Jason steeled his jaw. No, Ari wasn’t the one who had made a living conning people. He had, and he was being paranoid.
“There shouldn’t be any secrets between us, Ari.” He pushed off the wall and took a step closer. “If you know something about your brother’s plan for his Asian holdings—”
“I don’t know anything. I swear to you, Jason. If Leo is planning to give up anything in the company, he’s doing it without my consent.” She shook her head. “I’m not the one holding things back in this relationship. You are.”
“What?” he asked as he stopped his advance. “What are you talking about?”
She lifted her chin. “I met your brother.”
“Deacon?” Shock slammed through his system. “Where?”
“Right here, in the staff hallway.” She pointed her finger at his chest. “You never told me you had a brother.”
“He wasn’t worth mentioning.”
“He seems to think he is. Is he staying with you? Why have you never spoken about him before?”
“None of your business.” He turned away as fear exploded through his system. He fisted his hands as he wondered how much his brother had told her, and if he had even told her the truth. Deacon was a master at spinning facts to get someone to sympathize with him.
“Why have I never heard of him?” she asked. “You hear me talk about my brothers all the time.”
“Your family is different from mine.”
“I can’t see—”
“It’s just different, okay?” He turned to face her. “Not everyone has a good relationship with their siblings like you.”
“Good relationship?” Ari took a step forward. “Good relationship? My brothers try to control me, Jason. They orchestrate my every move and smother me all in the name of family. That’s not exactly ideal.”
“But they care about you. They order you around because it’s their way of protecting you,” Jason soothed. “At least you have that.”
She searched his face, but Jason couldn’t imagine what she was looking for.
“What happened, Jason?” she asked after a long moment. “What happened to you to make you so afraid of trusting anyone?”
Jason stepped back. “I’m not afraid.”
“You are. I can see it all over your face.” She took a small step toward him. “What happened?”
“Nothing happened. I’m just realistic.” Recovering from the shock, he closed the last inch of space between them and tucked an unruly strand of hair behind her ear. “Trusting someone will only make you vulnerable, princess.” He repeated the movement again with a second strand, this time much more slowly. As his fingers brushed over her temple, awareness tingled over his skin and desire rushed through his veins. “People make a living out of manipulating innocents to get what they want. Things are much safer when emotion isn’t involved.”
She placed her hand on his wrist, stopping his movements. “You sound as if you speak from personal experience.”
“I am.” Jason eased his hands away from her face and around to the back of her head, slipping them through the thick strands of her hair. “I know what you think you want from me, Ari.” He inched closer, so close he could smell the strawberry scent of her shampoo. An innocent scent, he reminded himself. Innocent, but oh, so intoxicating. “I can’t give it to you. I won’t.” He stroked her hair gently, enjoying the softness against his fingers.
“Why?” The word escaped from her in a breathy exhale, causing his pulse to quicken.
Good question. Never before had he been so tempted to toss his resolve out the door. It would be so easy to give in to temptation, to tell her about his dysfunctional family and how he’d been left to survive on his own. He wanted to tell her about how much his own family had hurt him, and how, as his life crashed down around his ears, he swore that he’d never allow himself to be hurt like that again. Survival meant he needed to stay one step ahead of his emotions, and loving her, trusting her, would make him vulnerable to his enemies and a danger to himself.
“I know you aren’t as heartless as everyone believes,” she whispered when he didn’t respond. “If you just stopped pushing people away, I’m sure that they’d see what I see.”
“And what’s that?”
She inched closer. “A kind man. A good man.”
“You’re a fool if you think that about me.”
“I don’t think so.” She ran her fingers along the lapels of his suit.
“Good men always finish last when it comes to growing a business, princess.” He curled his fingers in her hair and tugged, lifting her gaze to his and causing her lips to part in surprise. “And in case you haven’t noticed, I play to win.” Jason leaned forward and plunged deep inside the soft recesses of her mouth, hoping that this time it would be enough to satisfy him. Knowing that he was as much a fool as she.
Chapter 10
The kiss was hard and punishing, but that wasn’t what surprised her. Jason had been rough during sex before. No, there was something more there, a desperation in his kiss that tugged at her heart. He was trying to prove to her that he was a bastard, but nothing could be further from the truth. He might be an asshole in front of the camera, but that wasn’t the real him. His kiss told a different story, one that made her feel needed and cherished, and that in turn made her body heat all over.
Ari gripped the lapels of his suit jacket tighter, drawing him closer. He groaned and tilted his head, deepening the kiss. Ari felt as if she was being consumed, and loved every second of it. Her mind began to fog with lust as she slid her hands down from the lapels of his suit jacket and wrapped them around his waist.
“Take me,” she said as she pulled away from his lips.
“Here?”
“Right here.” Ari dragged her hands down and slid them up under his jacket. “I don’t think you want to wait, either.” She tugged at his shirt and pulled it from his pants. As their tongues dueled, she slid her fingers under the fabric, desperate for the feel of skin on skin.
“Ari.” He pressed harder against her body as he inched down from her breast and grabbed her ass.
“Yes,” she whispered as he fumbled with her skirt. After gathering the material around her waist, he nibbled a long line of desire along her jaw and neck.
Ari gasped and leaned back, resting her head against the elevator wall. She slid her hands up along his spine, feeling it cu
rve as he bent over her body.
“Jason,” she whispered.
Jason responded by nipping the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. She rubbed up against him, enjoying the feel of his swollen erection against her lower abdomen. She dug her fingers into his back and lifted her leg, placing it against his hip. In response he inched forward, wedging himself in between her thighs.
“Yes.” She arched her back and rubbed her hips against his erection. With a groan¸ he slid his fingers around the curve of her ass and locked her leg in place. “Hurry.”
He eased his other hand from her hair and slipped his fingers around her other leg. “This will have to be quick,” he whispered.
“I like quick.” She dug her nails into his skin as he lifted her other leg and pressed his body against hers, positioning her against the wall.
She moved her hands between them and attempted to undo his belt. “I need you inside of me.” Ari’s mind blanked with pleasure. His belt buckle came apart easily in her fingers. Within moments she’d unhooked the button and zipped down his pants. She reached inside and freed his long erection. Gripping the base, she stroked him from root to tip.
Jason groaned and broke the kiss. “God, that’s good.”
The elevator began to move. “Someone pushed the button,” she whispered, her entire body frozen with shock.
“Hurry,” he said. “Before the elevator doors open again. The condom is in my pocket.” Jason moved his fingers until her panties were pushed aside. She sheathed his cock and angled it until the tip pressed against her opening. With a swift thrust he pushed himself balls-deep inside her body.
Ari gasped and clung to his shoulders as pleasure poured through every inch of her body. “Yes.”
“That’s it, sweetheart,” he said. “Come for me.” He slipped his fingers in between her ass cheeks and around her opening. “Give yourself over to it.” He eased back and thrust deep once more, pushing her hips against his fingers. She whispered his name as his finger inched inside her body.
“The elevator…” She glanced at the control panel. First floor, second …
“Ignore it.” He kissed her neck. “Stay with me, princess.” He moved in and out of her body, from both the front and back. Each stroke was like a caress, filling her with need.
“Yes, that’s it. Keep going,” he urged as he quickened his movements.
Third, fourth … They were moving up. Ari could feel the elevator climbing. She had no idea who had pushed the button. Waiting on the other side of those doors could be a guest, a staff member, or anyone, really. The elevator could open at any moment, on any floor. The knowledge made her dizzy with desire.
“Ari, I’m close.”
Jason was so intense, and she was climbing too fast. Ari moved against him as her body began to stretch toward her orgasm. The sound of their flesh coming together filled the small space, driving her higher.
“Jason—”
“Almost there.”
She could feel the elevator slowing, arriving at its destination.
“God. Jason.” With a burst of energy, her orgasm blasted through her body with the force of a thunderbolt. Ari bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. Euphoria swept through her system, stealing her breath. Jason buried his head in her hair as he plunged deeper and deeper inside of her core.
“Oh, God, Ari. You feel…” Jason shuddered, then groaned as he emptied himself deep inside her.
The elevator dinged, signaling that they had arrived at their destination. Jason quickly retreated and set her on her feet. Ari straightened her skirt as Jason got rid of the condom. The doors opened just as Jason was sliding his cock back into his pants. Ari glanced at the control panel and noticed that they were on the fifth floor. An older couple walked in holding hands. Thankfully, they were too wrapped up in each other to notice her or Jason.
Ari started to push Jason away, but he wouldn’t budge. She looked up at him and raised her brows.
Jason leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “Give me a moment.”
The older man pushed the button for the tenth floor, and Jason quickly pushed the one for the ninth. When the elevator started to climb once more, he placed his back against the wall by the control panel and positioned Ari in front of him.
“Look, Duncan,” the older woman said. “They remind me of us when we were younger.”
Ari felt Jason slide his arms around her waist and pull her close.
“Thank you,” she said as she covered his roaming hands.
“Take care of her,” Duncan said, nodding to Jason. “A woman worth keeping deserves to be treated well.”
“I will,” Jason said as the elevator doors slid open. Tightening his grip on her hand, he dragged Ari out of the elevator and around the corner.
“That was close,” Ari said.
“I know. I just hit a button so we could get off as soon as possible.”
Ari put her hand in front of her mouth to hide a giggle. “I can’t believe they didn’t suspect anything.”
Jason smirked. “I don’t think they were as oblivious as you think.”
“If they knew what we’d just done, then why didn’t they say something?” she asked as she tugged him toward the room.
“Would you?” He took her hand. “Come on. Since we’re on this floor, we can double check the honeymoon suite to make sure you didn’t forget anything.”
As she followed him down the hall, Ari glanced inside one of the honeymoon suites. The place still had drop cloths and ladders, still had paint cans and long two-by-fours leaned up against the wall. There wasn’t anyone working, but that wasn’t necessarily unusual. Despite the lack of people, the place looked the same as it always did.
Ari thought back to their conversation earlier and how Jason had said that he had hit a snag in construction.
She dug in her heels, bringing them both to a stop.
“What is it?” he asked.
“What happened with the honeymoon suites?”
“Nothing happened, why?”
She narrowed her gaze. “You said that the renovations had hit a snag.”
He dropped her hand and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, it’s under control now.”
“Is it?” she moved away from him and peeked into the room.
“Yes.” He tried to draw her away, but she pulled out of his grasp. “Show me.”
“Show you what?”
“The renovations.”
“Perhaps another time.” He started moving back toward her room. “Come on.”
Ari crossed her arms. “What’s going on, Jason?”
He stopped and turned to face her. “What?”
“You left me in a rush earlier because of problems with the renovations. Now no one is working, and you are blowing off my questions about the rooms.” She tilted her head to the side and studied his face before continuing. “The problems have nothing to do with the renovations. Do they?”
He hesitated for a moment, then relaxed his shoulders. “No.”
“Then what happened?”
Jason began to close the distance between them. “You remember our agreement. When we’re together, there’s no talk of our families or work.”
“This is different.”
“Why?”
“Because something’s happening that is upsetting you. I can tell.” She brushed her fingers against his arm. “I want to help, but I can’t if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m not hiding anything, Ari.”
“Yes, you are. For starters, you have a brother staying in this hotel.”
“He has nothing to do with us.”
“He does.” She waved her hand in the air. “He made me realize that there’s this whole side of you that I don’t know, and will probably never know.”
“That side of me is in the past, Ari. It’s buried, and needs to stay buried.”
“But—”
“We have an agreement. If that agreement isn’t w
orking for you anymore, then we aren’t working anymore.”
She stared at him for a long moment before responding. “What are you saying?”
“You came to me because you needed a break from your family.”
“True.”
He flexed his fingers at his sides. “You agreed that this would be nothing more than—”
“Sex, yes.” Sadness crossed her features as she turned toward her room. “But sometimes things change, Jason.”
* * *
Things change. Jason remembered Deacon’s words from the hotel restaurant. You can’t change who you are inside. If he opened up to Ari about his brother and his past, then she’d know all about the business he used to run with his brother, and how they’d con lonely women into giving them money.
If she ever found out about that, then he’d lose her, he just knew it. Jason couldn’t risk Ari finding out about the truth. Ever.
“We don’t change, Ari.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the suite next door.
“What are you doing?”
He slammed the door closed with his foot and pulled her deep into the living area, by the ladders.
“Jason—”
He stopped and turned abruptly, tugging her toward him. Ari dropped her suitcase and crashed into his body. “Things change, but we don’t,” he said as he wrapped his hand around her neck. “We’ve been together for a little over a year now, and during that time a lot has happened. One thing has always remained the same, however, and that is my need for this.”
As Jason’s lips crashed over hers, Ari felt his desperation. She felt as if she was being knocked over by a tidal wave of lust, and it was hard not to get swept up in it.
“I know you need this, too,” he whispered against her skin. “It’s what drove you to come to me on your wedding day, and it’s what’s preventing you from going back to your family now.”
He was right. Lord help her, he was right. She needed Jason’s fun, his live-in-the-moment attitude. Her family was so oppressive sometimes with their obsession about appearances and manners. With Jason she could leave all of that behind her and just be herself.