"I have to go.” She turned and reached for the door security lock.
"Wait. I don't even know who you are. You can't leave, not like this."
He jumped up from the bed, his long legs carrying him quickly across the room toward her, but before he got there Trish managed to slip out the door and was on her way down the corridor. He was stark naked. No way he could leave the room and come after her.
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Chapter Three
Monday morning arrived much too quickly for Trish. Her body still tingled from the night of passion she shared with Jonathon. A night that would live in her memory forever.
But now she had to face him and act as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, as if their relationship was the same as it had been when they left the office on Friday—that of employer and employee. Her nervousness jumped into high gear the moment she had pulled into the parking lot and saw his car. He had gotten to work early. She hesitated a moment as she took a steadying breath, then opened the door and entered her office. She called to him through the open connecting door to his office.
"Good morning, Mr. Rutledge. You're certainly in early."
He looked up at the sound of her voice and offered a warm though somewhat distracted smile. “Good morning, Miss Andrews. I had several things I needed to take care of, some early morning phone calls to make. Did you have a nice weekend?"
A quick jolt of guilt combined with a heated rush of excitement as the memory flooded through her mind. Her nipples puckered, the sensitive peaks brushing against her bra as a tingle pulsed between her thighs and deep inside her body. “Yes, I did."
She wasn't sure what else to say. Something she hadn't anticipated had suddenly presented itself. A question he had asked her dozens of times, a simple question with no ulterior motive now meant much more than it had in the past. Much more than she was sure he intended it to mean. Nothing was the same as before. What should have been a normal Monday morning had become a journey into uncharted territory. She tried to swallow down her nervousness as she placed her purse in her bottom desk drawer and switched on her computer.
She turned her attention toward the credenza. To her surprise, he had already made coffee. There appeared to be the equivalent of one cup missing from the pot. She poured herself a cup of coffee, then carried the pot into his office and refilled his mug.
The scent of his aftershave attacked her senses. It was the same as he had worn Saturday night. He was dressed casually in jeans and a pullover shirt, the way he usually dressed in the office when he didn't have an important meeting. But what she saw was a perfect specimen of the male physique without the encumbrance of clothes. And most prominent in her vision was his impressive erection standing proud and tall. And oh so very ready.
She moved away from him. Had she stayed there a moment longer she wouldn't have been able to resist the temptation to touch him, to run her fingers through his thick hair, to taste his mouth. To rip off his clothes and ravage him, taking him deep inside her body as she cried out in one exquisite orgasm after another.
She tried to force a calm to her pounding heart and rapid pulse. She turned her attention to the office plants, checking to see if they needed to be watered. “I trust you caught up on your sleep from your London trip."
"I didn't have much of a chance to catch up on my sleep until last night, way too many things to do. Sunday evening was the first time I had a chance to really relax. But I'm feeling fine now, all rested and ready to start a new week."
Jonathon watched for a moment as she filled the pitcher and started to water the plants. Feeling fine ... that was a laugh. He hadn't felt fine since his mystery lover ran from his room after an incredible night that had continued to play through his mind the rest of the weekend. One painful moment remained burned into his consciousness. The one where he stood frozen to the spot as the hotel room door clicked shut behind her. He had been unable to follow her, totally helpless as she made her escape.
He had no idea who she was or where she had come from. Marty didn't know who she was. How was he ever going to find her? The same strange sense of loss as he felt Saturday night again invaded his reality. He didn't fully understand it, nor could he explain it. But neither could he deny it. Saturday night someone very special had run out of his life. And Jonathon Rutledge, the dynamic and forceful businessman who had no problem juggling several multi-million dollar deals simultaneously, didn't know what to do about it.
All he had to track her down was the hope that someone at Marty Collins’ party knew who she was. He had already placed phone calls to Marty and four other people who had been at the party. They all remembered the mysterious woman, but none of them knew who she was. They were going to check with other people who had been at the party. Someone had to know her. She couldn't have just wandered into the hotel wearing a mask in hopes of finding a costume party.
She had to have known about the party in advance. And that meant she had some connection to at least one of the people invited to the party. The slight frown creased his forehead. Or maybe she worked at the hotel in some capacity and knew the ballroom had been booked for a costume party. A sigh of dejection made its way past his lips. Or maybe she knew someone who worked at the hotel. The elusive connection he sought seemed to be moving farther and farther from his grasp.
Somehow he had to find out who she was. A private detective? It was a thought that he filed away in the back of his mind. If nothing else worked out, then it was a possibility. But for now, he had a desk full of work and a serious problem with trying to concentrate on what needed to be done.
He looked up just as Trish finished watering the office plants. “Miss Andrews, could you bring me the file on Premier Associates? I need to do some restructuring on the proposal. I thought we had a done deal, but last Friday's meeting said otherwise."
Trish located the file and brought it to him, thankful for the distraction of business as usual. Somehow she had to get her mind off of Saturday night and back into reality. But it was so much easier said than done. Every time she got within fifteen feet of him a tingle of excitement rippled across her skin, her pulse raced and a throbbing need between her legs dampened the crotch of her panties.
She had convinced herself that one night was all she wanted. One night of unbridled passion would be enough. She now knew she had only been kidding herself. She had to have another night with him, but how? The costume party had been a perfect setting for a mysterious meeting with total anonymity. What could she come up with that would duplicate those circumstances? Something that would entice him yet assure her anonymity?
The more she thought about it, the more determined she became to somehow orchestrate another night of passion with the incredibly sexy Jonathon Rutledge. Would that be pushing her luck one step too far?
She dismissed the negative thought. The rest of the work day progressed in a busy manner, leaving her little time to speculate and day dream. But as soon as she arrived home, she made it the number one item for the evening.
By the time she went to bed, Trish Andrews had come up with a plan. There was only one little hitch. In order to implement her plan, she would have to let Jonathon know that his mystery lover knew who he was. It would no longer be two strangers at an accidental meeting. Would he go along with her plan without knowing her identity? It was a chance she would take. A chance she needed to take.
She purchased a box of lacy ultra feminine stationery in a passionate pink color. She wrote him a note, using a script font on her computer so he wouldn't recognize the handwriting. She had given a lot of thought to the exact wording of the note. She didn't want it to sound pornographic, but she definitely wanted to arouse him.
My Dear Captain Sparrow: My body has been on fire since our meeting. I ache for more of your touch. There's so much left for us to explore. I want to see you this Saturday to continue where we left off, including wearing the same costumes we wore when we shared that marvelous night of passion
. I've reserved room sixty-nine at the Bayfront Inn on Old Shoreline Road. I'll be so disappointed if you reject my invitation. I'll be waiting for you at seven o'clock. Until then...
She signed the note The Lady In Red, sprayed the envelope with a hint of the special perfume she had worn that night and mailed it on her way to work the next morning. She knew it would be delivered the following day.
A nervous energy coiled inside Trish for the rest of that day. Jonathon appeared busy, but she couldn't help notice that he also seemed distracted from time to time. He obviously had something on his mind other than work. She hoped it was the memory of his mystery lover, that their night of wild abandon was as profound for him as it had been for her. She would soon know the answer, but would it be the answer she wanted to hear?
By the next morning her nervous energy had progressed to full blown anxiety. She remained on pins and needles until the morning mail arrived. She immediately spotted the passionate pink envelope that clearly stated personal and confidential next to his name and address. After opening the rest of the mail as she normally would, she carried it into his office and placed it on his desk.
He looked up at her, but before he could say anything she handed him the envelope. “This one was marked personal. It doesn't have a return address. Do you want me to have security check it out?"
Jonathon caught a hint of the fragrance his mystery lover had worn. Could it possibly be a note from her? But how could that be? How would she know who to send it to? And where?
"Uh ... no need, Miss Andrews. I'm sure it isn't anything that requires the attention of the security department.” He took the envelope and stared at it for a moment before returning his attention to his administrative assistant. She seemed to be waiting for something. “Is there anything else, Miss Andrews?"
"Oh ... no, nothing."
He watched as she left, then closed his office door so he could turn his full attention to the mysterious envelope. He inhaled the fragrance. It was definitely the same perfume. An image of a stunning body immediately filled his mind followed closely by a hard jolt of heated lust. His cock twitched as the memory of that incredible night came rushing back at him, of the way his cock felt buried deep inside her hot pussy, of the taste uniquely hers. His hand trembled slightly as he opened the envelope and read the note.
Two conflicting emotions immediately clashed inside him, each battling for dominance. His stiffening cock and emotions won out over his intellectual concerns. Maybe fate had stepped in to give him another opportunity to identify his mystery lover. He couldn't allow the opportunity to get away, but he needed to take some precautions. She knew who he was, but he didn't have a clue about her other than no one else had made him throb with hot need the way she did. He glanced at the closed door again, making sure no one could hear him. Then he reached for his phone.
Trish saw the light go on showing Jonathon's line was in use. Was it a business call or something to do with her note? It was too late to take it back. She had initiated phase two and had to see it through.
The rest of the week seemed to crawl by. The end of the work day on Friday finally arrived. Jonathon hadn't made any mention of the pink envelope, and Trish couldn't ask him about it without arousing suspicion. Had he thrown it away in disgust? Had he dismissed it as a joke? Did he plan to be at the inn at seven o'clock? Had she done a totally stupid thing in sending the note?
Her original plan had been for one night of passion. She slowly shook her head. One night wasn't enough. Would two nights be enough? She instinctively knew the answer. A hundred nights wouldn't be enough. A thousand nights wouldn't be enough. She would never have her fill of Jonathon Rutledge. The rest of her life would be spent wanting more.
Her entire body tingled with the need to have him embedded deep inside her. To feel the thrust of his rock hard shaft moving in and out. To once again experience that incredible surge of rapture when he sucked her clit into his mouth. And in a little over twenty-four hours she would hopefully know that excitement again.
* * * *
Jonathon pulled his car into the parking lot of the Bayfront Inn. He had dressed in the wide collared shirt with dark vest, sash, leather belt with large buckle and pirate boots he had worn to the party. The buccaneer hat and headwrap with the attached beaded braids rested on the passenger seat.
He parked, then sat in his car for a minute before making any effort to open the door. While he appreciated her flair and the obvious message in booking room sixty-nine, he couldn't help but wonder if he was about to make a colossal mistake. He closed his eyes and reveled in the memory of the way her hot tight pussy closed in around his cock, her enthusiastic response, her delicious taste exploding in his mouth. He opened his car door. He wanted another night with his mystery lover.
And he had to find out who she was.
He walked the short distance from where he had parked to her room and knocked on the door. It slowly swung open. The sight that greeted him had his cock standing tall and screaming for immediate attention. Everything that had so captured his attention at the costume party again assaulted his senses. And this time there was the added knowledge of exactly what he would find underneath that sexy red dress—what it looked like, how it tasted and how it made him feel.
A long, low whistle escaped his lips. “Oh, yes, my sexy beauty. Last Saturday was a warm up. Tonight will definitely be a night to remember."
"You're not wearing all your costume.” A hint of disappointment surrounded her words.
"Since you saw me without my mask last week and obviously know who I am, I didn't see any reason to don the full regalia. You, however, are still a complete mystery."
She stepped aside, allowing him entry to the room. “Please come in, Captain Sparrow. I'm delighted that you decided to accept my invitation."
"I'm altering your plans.” Even with her mask covering most of her face, he could see the apprehension dart through her eyes. He didn't know what was behind any of this other than the obvious incredible sex, but he wasn't about to allow a stranger to predetermine where they would have their tryst. If there was some sort of ulterior motive behind this, perhaps a hidden camera or something of that sort, he at least wanted control of the place where he intended to spend the entire night fucking his mystery lover. “I've taken the liberty of reserving a different room for us just a short walk from this one."
A quick moment of panic hit Trish. This was not the way she had intended for the evening to progress. Was her hoped for night of passion beginning to self-destruct right before her eyes? Then he flashed that incredibly sexy smile and her insides melted. He held out his hand toward her and she accepted it.
He quickly glanced around the inside of the room. “Is there anything here you need to take with you?"
As she had done a week ago, everything was in the trunk of her car and the doors could be unlocked by the keypad so she didn't need a key. She finally shook her head when she couldn't force out any words. Just the feel of his hand grasping hers had her clit tingling in anticipation.
He led her to a room five doors away from the one she had booked. As soon as he unlocked the door and stepped aside for her to enter, she saw why he had chosen it. It was no ordinary room.
She had known the caveman room at the inn existed, but had never seen it. Everything about it screamed unbridled hot passion from the round king size bed to the rock walls, the waterfall shower enclosure in the bathroom, the hot tub in front of the wood burning fireplace. The ice bucket containing a bottle of champagne and two glasses next to the bed didn't escape her attention, either.
As he had done before, Jonathon put out the Do Not Disturb sign and set the security lock. Then he turned toward her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Please take off your mask. I want to see your face."
She brushed his hand aside. “No. As we agreed last time, no—"
"Not so fast. Last time we also agreed to no names, just two strangers indulging in a fantasy night of passion. Well, it seem
s that those rules no longer apply. You saw my face, and then I found that you knew my name and where to reach me. Doesn't it seem a little unfair that you won't allow me to see your face?"
"No ... not yet.” At that moment, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she had made a huge mistake. If he was determined to remove her mask, there was absolutely nothing she could do to prevent it. Would he honor her request? She held her breath, waiting to see what he would do.
"All right.” He flashed a grin. “For the time being."
Just the sight of that devastatingly sexy smile puckered her nipples, the sensation running all the way down to her already wet pussy. Then his next words told her just how incredible it was going to be.
"Why don't you slip out of that gown? I've got a hunger gnawing at me that I know you can satisfy."
Conversation time was over. As captivating as she was in that red dress, Jonathon wanted her naked on the bed. His cock had been standing at rigid attention from the moment he set eyes on her when she opened the door of the other room.
He extended a confident smile in an attempt to cover his concerns. “I'll get rid of my clothes, and we'll see if we can find something better to do than stand here staring at each other."
He pulled off his boots and unbuttoned his shirt, but before taking it off, he opened the champagne and poured two glasses. He handed one to her. When she took it from his hand, he noticed the delicate gold filigree ring she wore on her little finger. It suited her. Beautiful on the surface, yet composed of an intricate pattern too complex to immediately unravel. Just like her ... wanton sex kitten or a woman with limited experience pretending to be something she wasn't?
He clinked his glass against hers in the form of a toast. “Here's to another incredible night."
She smiled. “Yes, another incredible night."
"This time I've had a good night's sleep. No jet lag. No exhaustion to detract from a night of indulging all sort of uninhibited fun. We can fuck until dawn. In fact, we can fuck all day Sunday or until we dissolve into a puddle of total collapse—whichever happens first."
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