Covet

by Rosanna Leo

  ***

  “Can I see what you’re working on?” Alex crept up behind Dana.

  “Sure. Have a seat.”

  He joined her on the kitchen bench. She smelled good, like faded perfume and bedding. There was a faint mark at her temple, from where the pillowcase had bunched up under her head, and he wanted to kiss it. Resisting, he left a bit of space between them.

  He was glad she’d fallen asleep. She’d slept for a good couple of hours. He’d used that time to squeeze in a run on the treadmill and had grabbed forty winks on the couch. After she’d vacated his room, he went upstairs to take a shower, only to notice she’d slept in his discarded shirt.

  It wasn’t hard to figure out why and it made him happier than he’d been in a long time.

  Dana had been hard at work for the past hour and he’d stayed out of her way, but his curiosity was getting the better of him now.

  She clicked on an icon and a website appeared. “This is the delegate website that I maintain for our clients. I tailor it for every convention, based on what their interests are, where they’d like to eat, that sort of thing. Of course, I have to ensure all our customer companies are represented in some way, but very often, convention reps will tell me if delegates have particular needs. I try to organize the data in a way that makes sense for each group.”

  Dana handed Alex the mouse and he perused a couple of the pages. She had placed a vibrant “Welcome to Las Vegas” page at the start. With links to YouTube and succinct blurbs from travel magazines, it caught the eye. Unlike so many of the advertisements for Vegas, it wasn’t focused solely on gambling. It included images from theater shows, fine dining, and a sumptuous hotel room.

  “Hey,” he said with a smile. “That’s a Vice room.”

  “Of course. It’s the hotel they want, so I included it. The rooms at Vice are outstanding. I want them to feel indulged, right from the get go. I have stock photos for every hotel on the Strip, but what’s the use of including a picture from the Luxor if they aren’t going to stay there?”

  “I like the images you used. That’s a nice collage of the bedding and the marble in the washrooms. I didn’t realize we had those kinds of stock photos.”

  “You don’t. I took some of my own shots when I was there. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. These are excellent.”

  “Thanks. I’ve always thought a good picture should engage the senses. Look around any room at Vice and you’ll see the most amazing textures. Silk, marble, metal. It seems a shame not to show that off. That’s why people want to stay at your hotel. It’s a feast for the senses.”

  She was good at her job. Very good. “Show me more.”

  As Dana reached for the mouse again, their hands touched. A spark of electricity made her gasp.

  Alex fought the urge to clear the table with his arm and lay her on it.

  She cleared her throat as she clicked on another page. “Well, my contact has told me which cities the mystery writers are coming from, so I’ve put together a “Getting Here” page, which will show how many miles are between them and Vegas.”

  “I like it. The page has good information, without being cluttered.”

  “Thanks. There are pages for dining, shows, sports, and of course gambling. I have a page on what to do in the surrounding areas. I’ve even made up some digital postcards so delegates can send them to family when the time comes. See? You click on the back of the card, write an email address and a message, and voila! It’s sent, without ever having to buy a stamp.”

  “You love your job, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” She sat back. “I really do.”

  “It shows.”

  “Thanks, Alex.”

  “I can see that’ll make it very hard for me to steal you away.”

  “From my work?”

  “No. From your job. Come work for me, Dana.”

  “What?” She shoved his good arm. “Get out.”

  “I mean it. You already know my conventions team. I’d have no trouble putting you in charge of them. You’d be doing the same sort of work, only for Vice, Sin, and Luxe.”

  “Alex. You’re joking.”

  “Do I look like I’m joking? What do you make right now?”

  “That’s a personal question.”

  “If I don’t ask it, how will I know what to double?”

  Her mouth fell open. “You want to double my salary?”

  “I don’t mess around.”

  “I should warn you. I’m not cheap.”

  “You’re worth it.” His gaze dropped to her lips, her kissable lips. He leaned in.

  Dana scooted out the other side of the bench. “Alex, I’m flattered, I really am. But you’ve made it clear you’re interested in me, you know, as more than just an employee.”

  “True.”

  “So how do you reconcile that with offering me a job?”

  “Easily. There are plenty of couples out there who work together.”

  “Yeah, but how many of them slept together before the work started?”

  “Are you trying to confuse me with facts?”

  She leaned across the kitchen bench and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. You’re sweet and it’s a very tempting offer, but I really do love my job. I get to talk to people from all over the world, sharing the best that Vegas has to offer. Visitors trust me to help them sort through the maze of attractions on the Strip. They may be here to work, but I have the privilege of making sure they have fun while they’re at it. I get to put smiles on people’s faces every day, and I can’t envision a day where I don’t get to do it.”

  “That sounds an awful lot like fulfillment.”

  “What do you know?” Her face grew pensive. “I never really thought of it that way.”

  “And I wouldn’t dream of messing with that.”

  “I appreciate your offer.”

  “Fair enough. It doesn’t mean I won’t try again, though.”

  “And it doesn’t mean my salary won’t have gone up by then.” She hummed in amusement and sat back down. “I hope you have deep pockets, Mr. Markov.”

  Alex grinned and let her get back to work.

  ***

  By nine o’clock that night, Dana knew she should really be getting home. Tomorrow was a work day for both of them, and she’d trespassed on Alex’s hospitality long enough.

  His Summerlin “retreat day” had done the trick. She’d managed to do far more work than she would have done at home. In her condo, she would have found ways to avoid her laptop. Eventually, errands and chores would have dragged her away. At Alex’s place, she could forget all those things and concentrate on her job.

  Of course, now she had all sorts of chores to catch up on before she went to bed. She hadn’t even done any grocery shopping for the week ahead.

  They had enjoyed a long, leisurely dinner in each other’s company. Alex had ordered in. Something made out of eggplant and chick peas for him. Steak for her. She’d felt guilty eating meat in front of him but he didn’t make an issue out of it. He’d offered her some of his dish and she’d been surprised at how delicious it was.

  Alex surprised her in many ways.

  They sat around the kitchen table now, enjoying the last of their coffees. Neither of them had said anything for a while. Alex kept looking at her, desire darkening his gaze. No matter how much coffee Dana drank, she couldn’t seem to quench her thirst.

  She didn’t want to go home. They may not have done anything exciting today, but it had been the best day she’d had in recent memory. Just being with him in his space was comfortable, natural.

  Alex put down his coffee and loosened his splint. He prodded the skin underneath.

  “Is your arm hurting?”

  “It gets sore at the end of the day. I’m dying to take this thing off.”

  Dana got up and moved her chair in front of his. She sat before him and held out her hand. “May I?”

  Alex removed the splint and extended his
arm.

  “Where is it sore?”

  “Near my elbow.”

  She held his arm carefully, bracing it on her knee. “I won’t touch the fractured area, but I can rub your elbow for you.”

  “That would be nice.” He frowned but not in anger. His expression was too full of heat.

  Making slow circles around his elbow, Dana massaged his arm. As soon as she touched him, Alex let out a long breath. She drew closer, spreading her legs so his knees could sit between hers. As she kneaded his skin, their heads fell together, foreheads touching.

  Alex closed his eyes.

  His nose tickled hers. His breath landed on her cheek. Her womb clenched, wanting to take him in as deep as it could.

  She moved her fingers up his arm, luxuriating in the bulges at his biceps and triceps. Caressing her way up to his shoulder, she continued. Because he wore short sleeves, she was able to enjoy almost every inch of warm skin. When her fingers dipped under the collar of his shirt to touch his back, Alex moaned.

  “Dana.” Her name was followed by a quiet curse. “Stay the night.”

  She let go of his arm. “I want to, I really do, but—”

  “No.” He cupped her cheek. “Don’t overthink this. This doesn’t have to be hard. Just say what you want.”

  Each of her breaths was shakier than the one before. “I want you.”

  He bit his bottom lip and smiled.

  “What about your arm?”

  “We’ll be careful.”

  His lips at her neck caused all thought to fly away. Dana closed her eyes, brushing her chest against his, and let him worship her skin. With his tongue, he traced a path along her jaw, back to her mouth. As his lips met hers, he clutched at her bottom with his good hand, urging her closer, digging his nails into her jeans.

  As they kissed, his hand journeyed between her legs, toying with the denim seam. Jolts of pleasure shot through her limbs, liquefying her. She writhed in her chair, trying to ride his hand, but the jeans proved a horrible barrier. She couldn’t get close enough.

  “Time to take these off, angel.”

  She nodded.

  “I can’t undress you with my arm the way it is.” He shook his head. “I wish I could rip your clothes off.”

  “Let me do the work.”

  With difficulty, Dana stood and removed all her clothes. Once she was naked, she moved between Alex’s legs. He licked at her nipples, nibbling each one in turn, and held her by the bottom. His left hand caressed her ass cheek, plumping and squeezing its fullness, grazing the area between her legs.

  As her juices coated his fingers, Alex marvelled. “Fuck. You are so beautiful.”

  His talented digits prodded, spreading her moisture. On a gasp, Dana opened her eyes.

  Just outside, the tempting waterfall by the swimming pool beckoned.

  “Alex,” she whispered. “Let’s go outside.”

  He looked up from her breast. His eyes were hooded, like a drunk man searching for his next mouthful of wine. Upon seeing her intention, they darkened. “Is that what you want?”

  “God, yes.”

  His head dipped in a solemn nod. “Sure.”

  She helped him undress, taking care not to hurt his arm as she removed his shirt. She bent down to untie his shoes, conscious of his gaze. After removing his sport socks, she hooked her fingers in his shorts and boxers and pulled them both down.

  An enormous erection sprang before her.

  Already on her knees, Dana took advantage of the moment and licked him from base to tip.

  Alex touched her chin and encouraged her to stand. “If you do that, I’ll be a goner.”

  She stood and he led her to the pool deck. Testing the pool water with her toes, she sighed at its heat.

  “Don’t worry.” He stepped onto the steps and held out his left hand. “I keep it warm.”

  Stepping gingerly, she joined him in the pool. The water lapped at her knees, thighs, and the valley between them. He dove into the water, coming up dripping, and held out a hand. Although she knew her puffed up coils would pay her back later, she threw caution to the wind and dove after him. Together, they swam toward the waterfall.

  The pool was lit, and it seemed they moved through a blue sea. Once they reached the waterfall, they dove under it, entering the nook from underneath the cascade. A bench was carved into the pool’s side and they sat there. It did indeed feel like their nook at Covet, only here, they could sit and listen to the gentle water coursing.

  Alex sat on the bench and Dana scrambled atop his lap. Clutching at her with his good hand, he let the right one sit off to the side. Their mouths met in a frenzy. She ground down over him, dragging her core over his girth.

  “Shit,” he said between kisses. “The condoms are inside.”

  In that moment, Dana didn’t care. She certainly couldn’t get pregnant. Still, it was probably best not to get too carried away. “We can go inside soon.”

  “It might have to be very soon.” Alex closed his mouth over her nipple and sucked.

  They rocked and rocked under the waterfall. So hungry for him, Dana almost slid his length inside her a few times. She was so wet and ready and her body had a mind of its own. Her thighs shaking with her lack of control, she ran her fingers over his rippled chest, amazed at the patterns created by the lights around the pool.

  Alex never took his eyes off her. He gazed at her, seemingly enrapt.

  She was falling for him.

  The realization caused her to cry out. How had it all happened so fast?

  She didn’t want to fall in love. Not yet. She didn’t trust her heart.

  Mistaking her cry for one of pleasure, Alex slid two fingers inside her. “Come for me, angel.”

  With the heat of the Las Vegas night enveloping her, and Alex’s stronger heat filling her, Dana came. It was unavoidable. One touch from this man and her spirit shot into the sky, a phoenix taking flight.

  She needed to cage that bird and control this situation.

  “I love doing that to you.” His tongue flicked at her lips. “I love holding you and feeling your body shake.”

  “You’re very good at this.”

  “It’s not me, Dana. It’s us. Together. We’re good together.”

  “The sex is amazing.”

  “It’s not just the sex and you know it. This isn’t just about me making you come. Any idiot can bring a woman to orgasm.” He frowned and swiped at a few droplets of water that trickled from his hair into his eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  “The pool…I should have stayed inside.”

  Oh, no. The pool. Of course. The papers had reported Shannon had died by the side of the pool at their resort. “Alex, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

  “Believe it or not, the pool is one of the reasons I liked this house. I just haven’t used it until tonight.”

  “Let’s get out.”

  “No. I can’t hide away forever.” He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “Dana, this past year, it’s been hell. Knowing what some people think of me. There have been times when I haven’t even wanted to show my face. The shame…it’s unbearable.” He blinked and tears appeared in his eyes.

  “Oh.” She kissed his eyelids, wanting to take his sadness away. “You have no reason to feel ashamed.”

  “Don’t I? I destroyed Shannon.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “I might as well have. I may not have bashed her head on that resort floor, but I initiated the chain of events that got us there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It all started when I opened my clubs in New York. The funny thing is I met her there. She was one of my first customers. We got to know each other. She was beautiful and fun and it seemed right, but from the beginning, I sensed she was clingy. It didn’t bother me at first. I liked having her around, but it got intense. She didn’t like me talking to other women at the clubs and used to hang on my arm, watching their reactions to me. I wasn’t
flirting with anyone else. I’ve had girlfriends cheat, and I made up my mind I would never do it. But Shannon never trusted me, not really.”

  “Why not?”

  “Same story as everyone else. She’d been cheated on herself, several times. I didn’t blame her for being suspicious and I promised her she didn’t have to worry about me. But as my nightclubs became more popular, the clientele began to change. It wasn’t just New York club kids anymore. Celebrities were starting to call. I added VIP suites. We started getting a lot of attention.”

  “You were growing your business.”

  “To Shannon, those movie actresses and popstars were just more women she couldn’t compete with. She stopped coming to the clubs and would ask me a hundred questions when I got home, grilling me on who was there, who I’d spoken to. It got on my nerves, and little by little, I started to spend more time away from home. I didn’t want to have to account for all my actions.”

  “Of course, not.”

  “My circle of friends expanded. All of a sudden, I was rubbing elbows with some very influential people. I won’t lie. I found it exciting.”

  “Anyone would. Look at your friends, Alex.”

  “Friends, right. The thing is, these people who come to my clubs, they’re not really my friends. They use me as much as I use them. My clubs became a place for me to forget, a place to escape. A place to, well, covet what I couldn’t have.”

  Just as Covet had become that place for Dana.

  “Some mornings,” Alex continued, his voice quiet, “I wake up and I hate those people with everything in me. Shannon recognized that but I wouldn’t listen to her. She got tired of competing with fakes and losers, and I don’t blame her anymore. After she died, my business seeped into my life. I’ve kept everyone at arm’s length. No real connections meant no pain. Deep down, I think I might be the biggest fake of all.”

  “Oh, Alex. You’re not a fake. You’ve been nothing but real with me.”

  “I want to be that for you. I want to be everything you need me to be, and not just because I couldn’t do that for Shannon. Because you mean a great deal to me and I think you might be one of my only real friends in the world.”

  It broke her heart. Although surrounded by adoring people, Alex felt utterly friendless.